checking in...

It has been a long, long time since I had a post on this site. I loved my blog and blogging. I think I was better at it when the Design Team for Scrappin' Good Times were encouraged to update their blogs. I was more creative then too! However, one of my resolutions this year was to start scrapbooking again and to USE some of the supplies that I have been "hording" for the past several years. So, I started a Christmas Album to put on the coffee table at Christmas time. It will just contain Christmas events from each year - plus I might add a Year in Review page so I remember what happened in each year. The years seem to blend, as I have been asked to find photo's for my sons graduation video, I am surprised by how many years have past. I would look in a folder from two years ago - when actually the event was from four years ago. Oh my!!!

What has happened in the last year for me is:

1. Laid off from my job of 8 years. Very depressing. I have not been able to find work yet.
2. Lauren went off to college out of state, so I miss her tremendously.
3. My husband sold his web business so he is "semi retired" now.
4. I just found out (or just developed) an allergy to Dairy Products!

I have to comment about my allergy as this is quite a blow to me - the person who loved to drink milk with ice in it everyday. I am allergic to dairy products. All of a sudden. I broke out into a heavy rash - hives actually. My tongue swelled, my face was swollen and my eyelids became puffy and distorted. The pads of feet swelled to the point it was uncomfortable to walk. I now can no longer have anything with dairy and have to carry an EpiPen. I am so sad when I think of all the things I love that contained dairy that I can no longer have: Egg Nog, Pumpkin Pie, Banana Cream Pie, Chocolate Shakes, Pancakes, Pasta with a Creamy Sauce, Lasagna, Tortilla Casserole... oh I can not write anymore - this is depressing. I am experimenting right now with various Soy Milks and Almond Milks. I made Chocolate Pudding despite the box stating that Soy Milk could not be used. Maybe I'll post some Dairy Free Recipes when I come up with some that are good. I did find a good Dairy Free Butter... tastes the same.

Anyway, wanted to make a quick post. I will post my layouts I made for the Christmas Album and I will let you know about my books that I am reading. I absolutely love so many lately. And I will post some Dairy Free Recipes! Thanks to those who are still on my Network Blog list. :)

Gift for Nonie

We celebrated Nonie's 92nd birthday last night at Gale's in Pasadena. Lauren and Jackson each made Nonie a gift. Jackson wrote Nonie a letter in Italian. He went on the internet and found out how to spell what he wanted to say in Italian and made a very lovely message. Lauren, the little artist decided to draw a picture for Nonie with a poem about angels...

Very sentimental gifts for a milestone birthday! Happy 92nd Birthday Nonie!!!

Opening Ceremonies - A Folly?

There is so much anticipation for the Opening Ceremonies. The last summer Olympics were in Beijing in 2008. The opening ceremonies that year, were so spectacular that is was going to be hard for any country to come up with a contender. This year, the summer Olympics are in London. The Opening Ceremonies lent themselves more towards a British play production than an audience involved display. Was this a folly?

The Opening Ceremonies was conducted by Sir Simon Rattle...

  There was a cauldron in the center of the arena that featured two hundred and four copper petals. Each of the petals signified the two hundred and four competing nations. The petals were brought into the stadium by each team as they entered into the arena at the beginning of the show. The petal was placed on a long pipe in the center of the arena. Once they were all placed and the show began the petals each had their own flame.

The Opening Ceremonies lent themselves to British propaganda. This scene had actors lying in beds to represent Britain's National Health Service.

An oddity for sure, with a wizard like creature towering over the hospital beds???

There were actors that began to enter the arena dressed as though they were on a production stage. The ceremonies then went into a production of Danny Boyle's grand party. (Danny Boyle, the "Slumdog Millionaire" filmmaker). The show began with England's early years and the Industrial Revolution. The show went into a plethora of Mary Poppins' and the villain (child catcher) from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

The show featured televised excerpts from Daniel Craig (James Bond 007), Mr. Bean, Lord Voldemort. Kenneth Branagh performed an excerpt from Shakespeare's "The Tempest." Music was performed by Dizzee Rascal, Arctic Monkeys and Paul McCartney - who encouraged a giant sing a long to his famous songs which included "Hey Jude."

It is said that this was the most watched opening ceremonies to date. But, how did it compare to the spectacular display of Beijing? Did not even hold a "torch" to it, in my opinion. Too many vignettes going on. I was lost on the prerecorded screen displays. I never did like it when shows switch from live to screen and then back live again. The precision of Beijing,  the colors and the elegance that was felt watching the dancers is yet to be challenged.  

I wrote about it here, in Oh 8, Oh 8, Oh 8!

California Mission Pojects

It is so much fun to see the California Mission projects when the kids start to bring them to school. It is always enjoyable to see each students interpretation of the mission that was assigned. Some kids are so creative, they use the most unique materials in their projects. Thinking outside the box and not purchasing pre-made kits! Michael's carries a paper mache that once it is mixed with water is easily moldable, as in this Mission of San Francisco.

Raffia, used for the roof! Inexpensive and creates a wonderful roof top that any fourth grader can assemble. Precut the raffia into four or five inch pieces and adhere with a craft glue. Save your cardboard! Especially the board that has the ripples. Doors to your mission can be cut out of the board and painted. The cardboard can also make perfect head stones if you were to make an adjoining cemetery.

Styrofoam cut into squares and then colored with a brown dye, makes a realistic building. Mixing your media with some homemade items and some purchased, always looks nice. Purchased Mission items are expensive though. Michaels' stores generally have a "sale" section. I would check here first if you wanted to mix and match your media. Some Mission items find themselves in the sale section just because of the sku numbers being dated.

Adding jewels to the Mission makes a wonderful entrance. Windows can be made from jewels, or in this case the front embellishment above the door adds the right detail.

Make sure when you build your Mission, it is on a sturdy base. Styrofoam boards can be purchased at the craft store and then cut down to the required size. Do not make the base too big, as it will be hard to carry - and hard to display. I have seen beautiful projects that have been left on top of the cabinets only because there was no room left to display them when it came time for Open House. A manageable display always gets displayed.

Rooftops can be assembled using pasta. Lasagna pasta, Rigatoni, and Farfalle (bow tie pasta) are used the most. Pasta is easily glued on to the project, and pasta is easily painted. This student took it a step further and sprinkled colored sand on top of the roof to add a rustic element to his project. Gives the mission a feel for being out in the middle of no where - like how they were. Roof tops are usually painted a reddish color or brown. I discussed the use of
pasta on mission projects on an earlier post.

 A California Mission made from a cake mix (actually they used five cake mixes), came out beautiful! I have not seen this done before, but apparently it was easy and alot of fun to do! This student even included the step by step instructions on how they assembled this masterpiece!

For more ideas click here! And if you found this helpful, please let me know by making a comment.

Japan

This past scrapbook weekend, I was able to work on Lauren's Japan album. She traveled to Japan as part of the People to People program when she was in seventh grade. It is only now that I am taking the time to put together a travel albun of her ventures with the People to People program.

The first layout was from the town of Kyoto. That was one of the groups first stops. The next layout was of a tea ceremony. Lauren said the tea was thick and "not good."

Another layout was of a drum demonstartion that was made to the group by the local students. The students played instruments and played large drums. Each member of the group was given a chance to try and play them. Lauren really liked Japan. She said the whole country was so clean, and the people were so nice and very trusting!

Basic Grey Kissing Booth Layout - Valentine

My kids no longer hand out Valentine's - except for Jackson. So when the scrapbook companies come out with way cute Valentine paper, I am always wondering what I would use it for? The pictures in this layout were taken at Christmas time when all of the kids were together. I used Basic Grey's new Kissing Booth line. I like this paper because it is centered with the brown. The rose colors, fuscia, deep fuscia, a mint green and a deep coffee brown.

Some of the embellishments were from the Martha Stewart Collection from a couple of years ago. But I always like her embellies! Especially the felt ones. They look like they were made by hand! The pearl effects on the scalloped paper were made with the NEW Liquid Pearls from Ranger. I love this stuff! When I use it I find I am putting in on everything! I like the Liquid Pearls and the Stickles. They both come in such wonderful colors! 

The lettering is from Thickers. I used the foam lettering. American Crafts comes up with the best lettering! I use Thickers on most of my layouts, even though I own die cut lettering and could easily punch some out quickly for a title. I only wish now that I could photograph my layouts with better color. These pictures do not do the Kissing Booth line from Basic Grey justice. I guess you will have to see it in person to know what I am trying to write!

Scrapbook Weekend

I have never gone on the scrapbook weekend with the girls before. It never worked with my schedule until this past weekend! I had so much fun! The girls are such die hards - they get up early in the morning and can scrap as late as three and four a.m. the next morning! I brought enough supplies to do four layouts which I finished and I was able to start on Jackson's Valentines's for his classroom.

This first layout I used paper from Crate Paper from their "Static Collection." I bought the paper when the scrapbook store was still open, and I am just now am using it! I am so far behind! The pictures are from when the kids went up to Pismo Beach - Avila Beach - and San Luis Obispo after Christmas with the Dad's.

The second layout is "Turkey Time." This is from thanksgiving this past year! I used American Crafts paper from their Night Fall Collection. I like the colors and how it was balanced with the black. Thanksgiving is always fun to scrapbook, but it makes you hungry!

The third layout I worked on was the finishing touches on Jackson's Cub Scout Fire Department tour page. He is now in Boy Scouts, so I am behind in his Scouting Album also. Fun to see how much he has grown since these pictures were taken. Seems like only months ago... yikes! The fourth layout I'll share later. I amde a Valentine layout.

 I was pleasantly surprised at how nice the Scrapbook Inn was! It was a brand new house with an awesome view. My friend, Valeree and I were able to sit at a large window and look out while we scrapped and munched on snacks. The girls all brought something to share which made it really nice. There were no "food" runs. A new snack or lunch/dinner item was brought out for everyone. How nice!

 We were greeted with this nice sign to help yourself to snacks. Our bedroom had these cute footsie socks with a cute note attached with a ribbon. The home was so clean. You felt so comfortable walking around and using the kitchen and the facilities. I was very impressed. Plus I figured the rowdy group that went were going to get rowdy... but no. They are some serious scrapbookers and got right down to business and worked until the wee hours in the morning. I was even able to finish my book I brought. It was just so relaxing! We did put on the movie The Bridesmaids and cracked up! Thank you Judy for bringing some comic relief! What an awesome Saturday Night!

This is my friend Valeree. We finished up on Sunday and drove to Toms Farms for a late lunch and then headed home. Such a nice way to start of the New Year! Thank you Trish for inviting me!