A Week Has Gone By and....

I have yet to work on those samples! I have procrastinated on so many things this week! I just don't know what it is. I do know that my week went to 'hell in a handbasket' early on and lost all motivation that way. My husband and I celebrated 25 years on the 5th (last Wed.) and although the day was gorgeous, nothing worked out for us. Just as in life we hit curves, bumpy roads, road blocks, detours, got lost, side-tracked, rained on and just about everything else. Whew!

Our plan was to go to Strawberry Banke in Portsmouth NH. We go there often on our anniversary and we love it but we what used to be free parking now costs a handful of money! So, we drove to another area where we figured it would be free but it's quite a walk to the downtown area. Well, the temp was around 92 and it was humid! We started walking and we gave up. We realized we were too far from where we wanted to go.

Back to the car we go and head off to The Oar Restaurant down on the water. No parking as the lot was full but the worst thing was that a woman had parked (yes, PARKED!) her car in the middle of the road. No one could get past her. The road is only a single car wide. So, my husband decides to back up down the narrow road to get out and we're all of a sudden blocked in by a truck that has come to deliver to the restaurant!! It was just too much! Finally the woman comes out to her car and leaves. What an idiot!

We drive through all these side streets looking for a decent restaurant and everything is packed solid. It's Wednesday--noon time! Doesn't anyone work!? So, my husband decides to check out Warren's Seafood across the bridge from where we were. Do you think we can get to it? We can see it from where we were, but to get there was a whole different story! We had gone all around it via different roads knowing we were close, but just beyond reach. Finally...we get there and I wish you could've seen the parking lot. Bumper to bumper cars! No parking. And there was a line of people a mile long waiting to get in. I estimated there had to have been a 45 min to a one hour wait. Forget it!!

So, now we're heading down Rte 1 in Kittery and decide to stop at The Weathervane. We're not fond of the place, but we're getting hungry. Guess what? Yup. Mobbed. Long waiting line. By this time, my husband is fuming and the day is pretty much bust! I'm on the verge of tears because what I had wanted to do to celebrate was going down the drain. We were hot, hungry and aggravated!

We leave and head further north and decide to make one last attempt before giving up and going home. We drove into Dover and stopped at Newicks. They have great seafood dinners. Finally! No Wait! Yay!

I had a scallop/shrimp platter with fried rice and a cup of homemade seafood chowder. It was delicious! Michael had the Seafood platter. We were going to head back to Strawberry Banke after we ate, but at this point, it was nearing 2:30 and by the time we got there and parked, it was going to be around 3:30. Michael wanted to be home by 5:00 and we had a 45 minute drive back! So, we drove approximately 2 1/2 hours to have a 45 minute lunch!!! I'd have to say it was not the best anniversary. The day just proved what our marriage is like---full of surprises, frustration, aggravation and a little bit of happiness. Go figure!

New Ideas Abound!!

I've been coming up with some ideas for mini-albums and paper piecings to sell at a local craft store. I'm still debating on whether to stay with Etsy or not. I need to check out ebay as well. I've also got some ideas brewing for page kits. Alot of the girls I work with want the pages and albums, but don't want to do the work, so I figured if I did the work for them and all they had to do was add photos, then I think they'd be willing to fork out the money just to make it easy on them. I'll post soon with what I've been working on. I need to create some samples.

I've Been Neglecting

this blog because I spend so much time at my other place 'A Scrap Mom's Musings. I've been putting together ideas and went shopping today for some additional items to create some mini albums to sell at a local craft across the street from where I work. I also have ideas brewing for items to sell on Etsy. Oh, I did sell an item from my Etsy shop a couple of weeks ago! It was an altered clipboard and the buyer just loved it! I am more motivated now! Also, my husband has encouraged me to make some items to sell at craft fairs in the fall and also for sale on Etsy. I don't think he realized that he just about gave me permission to do some shopping!! But, I'm sorry I haven't been here as often as I should. I've just been busy and well....lazy too, I guess. There is no excuse, really. I just have to sit my butt down at the scrapping table and get to work! So, for now, I wish all of you a good night.

So Much Work To Do!

I went shopping yesterday and bought some stuff to make some items for my Etsy shop. I'm hoping they will sell. In this market, you have to have unique items and I'm hoping to pull it off. I went to several yard sales yesterday as well and bought some items to be repurposed for my own personal use---well, maybe! I'll be showing them off on my other blog--The Creative Cottage. If you haven't been to to my scrapping blog you can reach it HERE

Thanks for visiting.

Lots of Ideas brewing....

I've got lots of ideas on what I want to create for my Etsy account. I'm hoping to spend the next few days creating some samples and see how they will look. I'll try to post pics over the weekend. I don't want to make anything that's already being sold on Etsy. I want to create something unique. So, wish me luck!

Late Posting-----again!

I seem to post everything on A Scrap Mom's Musings when I should be posting here as well. Sorry----again. I'm still working on ideas on how to get this business up and running. I did upload some items to my Etsy shop on Friday. That was a relief. I'll do my best to upload as I create new items. There are so many ideas going through my head and I think alot of them have potential, but I won't get my hopes up until I can sell a few. I also need to give my daughter, Valerie, some business cards to bring to work and see if I get a few "bites" that way as well. Wish me luck!

New Design--what do you think!

I found this design through Template Mama. I just love it! I also liked my old one too, but sometimes I get bored with a design and need to change it. It's like buying a new dress, but after wearing it a few times, you just get tired of the look. That's the way it is with blog designs. Although I should keep it consistent. Not good for business if I keep changing the background! I'm hoping to start uploading projects soon. Keep a lookout!!

Redesigning the Blog!

I am currently re-designing the blog, so it will be temporarily down. Fingers crossed I don't lose everything! Check back later!

Different Styles

I thought I'd share two layouts I submitted to Memory Makers several months ago. One (Celebrate) is a two page layout of my bridal shower. Excuse the quality of the photos and the upload. This is a shabby chic style of scrapping if you're not familiar with that style. I used clusters of Prima flowers, bling (shiny stuff!) lacy border (Queen & Co.) paper doilies that I thought added a nice background to the clustered flowers. I also used a cloth doily cut in half and adhered to the edging of the paper to give it a more feminine, wedding type feel. Anything that looked feminine and vintage, I added. The other image "First Dance" uses the decorative paper as embellishment. I bought a second piece, cut out the leaves of the tree to give the page a 3D look. The paper is so pretty that I didn't want to cover it with other embellishments. I just did journaling around the half-circle and added some bling amongst the decorative print to give it that wedding feel. Thanks for looking!

Lots of New Inspiration!

I attended a blogging party through Cupid's Charm and found so many inspirational blogs. I am so motivated now! I'm hoping that through Scrapmom's Musings that I can get more to follow me here. This blog will be strictly for the sale of handmade paper art projects with an occasional post about my daily life. A Scrap Mom's Musings (http://scrapmomsmusings.blogspot.com) will be more interactive with tutorials, display of my layouts, daily talk of everyday life, etc. I'm really hoping this blog will take off. I just ordered business cards (and a t-shirt!) from Vista yesterday. I do hope they come in before I go to CKC. That will be a way to drum up business. Well, it's off to find some more inspirational blogs!

Please be Patient

I am now in the process of creating and uploading projects as a sampling of my work. I'm also in the process of designing and printing out business cards and brochures, so check back often. I appreciate your patience.

Time to Get Serious

It's time I got serious about getting this consult business going. I created some business cards this morning. Now I need to work on some brochures. But, I also need to post some of my layouts and other creations on this blog so visitors can see what I'm capable of doing. So here's a few pics of my layouts.....so far. The first layout is titled "P" for Prom. This design is not my own. It was created by Valerie Salmon. This was one of the challenges for Got Sketch 102 that I participated in. The second layout is "18th Birthday". This is a fun layout using felt hand cut flowers, ribbon, and scalloped circle. The third layout was one I created for Memory Makers (that wasn't accepted) for their Wedding theme. I used chipboard (painted), lots of bling, sheer ribbon, lace and elegant papers. I created the heart with a cluster of flowers which holds the journaling. The black and white picture is actually printed on a transparency. I'm happy to share these layouts with you. Thanks for looking.

Yes! Found a nice background

Okay, I've been playing with backgrounds from The Cutest Blog on the Block and I really like this one! It's RetroSpring. I think I'll stay with this one. Now.....if I could only get some followers......

Changed the background of blog

I decided that the four leaf clovers needed to be changed. I didn't realized that it was a March (month) theme. Still not sure if I like this one. I'll have to give it a while and see what I think. It might change again soon!

Just added two videos....

from YouTube. One is a technique to make your own acrylic embellishments and the other is stamping techniques. Scan down the page until you come to them. Enjoy!

More Thoughts....

Just realized I need to create some business cards. What I have in mind won't print on a standard business card template so I'm going to create my own and print on cardstock then cut with a trimmer. I got the idea from a friend of mine, Sandra Knapp, who also has her own business--All Keyed Up. Hmm, speaking of that, I need to check out her site. I also want to put some tutorials on here, but don't have a way of videotaping it, so I'll have to take pics with step-by-step directions. I'm off to design a business card!

I have my First Follower!!!

Wow! I'm thrilled! I have a follower! Geez, I was feeling a bit lonely around here. I should check to see if my followers are allowed to leave messages. Still getting comfortable with the blogging thing. I'm pretty much adept at uploading photos and creating slideshows which has my mind at ease. I want to post some how to's and videos as well.

Saturday's Crop was Fun!

Jackie and I had alot of fun at the Scrappin' for Schools cropping event last Saturday (4/4). Stacy did a fantastic job organizing this event. I got 3 mini albums completed that I've had stashed away for 3 years!!! Jackie worked on some Red Sox pages by using photos she purchased from Tracy of Mainely Memories. Tracy took the pics last year when she went to a Red Sox game. They're great photos, but we can't take the credit for them. I entered lots of raffles, but didn't win a darn thing! I did win a door prize though---a g.c. to Bull Moose which I'll let Jackie use. I'll post pics soon.

Getting Ready for Saturday's Crop!

Jackie and I are going to an all day crop on Saturday to benefit the Acton Elementary School. I need to get a raffle basket ready which is primarily geared for beginner scrappers. I've spent about $50 on it. I've been wracking my brain trying to figure out what layouts to do, looking for sketches for inspiration, figuring out what papers to use, when a sudden thought occurred to me! Why not finish--yes---FINISH---the mini albums and page kits I've collected over the last few years?! So, that's what I'm setting aside---or will be doing as soon as I'm done with this post. I've also been working on my family website as well and finally figured out how to create a slideshow! When a have some extra time (yeah, right!), I'll make a slide show of my layouts. Until then.....

Creating My Site

I've been uploading some of my designs as well as deciding on a background. I still can't get it to where I want it, but I'm still trying. I'll be uploading more designs soon.

Starting my own consulting business

I've been getting some info from Val that people are interested in ordering pages and possibly albums from me. They're also showing an interest in having me teach them some scrapbooking skills. So, my plan is to create some business cards and a brochure to give to Val to give out at work. Who knows? This could prove to be better than I had hoped.

New Blog!

Well, I just finished creating a new blog strictly for scrapbooking. I hope to add lots of ideas to help inspire others.