When Life Gets Away From You

Crafting has taken on new meaning in the last few months.  I started out to simply make a nice little scrapbook using the OLD family photos.   It hasn't been that easy.  I needed to get with the program and identify all those old photos.  I needed to find photos of some of the ancestors.  Before I could start any of it, I needed to do something else as well.

It seems that I know very little about my family history.  I guess I just went around with my head in the sand for years.  I didn't pay much attention to all the family things.  In fairness to myself, before I beat me up for this lack of knowledge, I'll say that both of my ancestors were not really available when I was young.  My paternal grandfather died long before I was a thought, and my maternal grandfather died when I was three.  I do remember a little of my paternal grandmother, but she died when I was young also.  My maternal grandmother I remember quite well.  All of my great grandparents were out of the picture long before I was around.  My maternal grandmother was an orphan at the age of twelve.

This story is getting longer and longer... and I'm suppose to be talking about crafting.  The point is that my crafting got completely sidetracked by the need to know.  I'm afraid genealogy has stepped in and bitten me badly.   I'm busy trying to find out about all these family members and identify old photos as belonging to some of them.

It's working.  I happened upon a cousin... second cousin once removed... who is an expert in genealogy.  He has been doing this for years and has been a treasure trove of information.  With his help, I'm finding lots of information and am heading back to my original plan soon.  I had to buy a genealogy software program as it is the only way to really keep the information straight.  My original plan has expanded beyond all reason.   It grows each day.

If I could say anything on this post to encourage anyone to start collecting family stories, identifying pictures, or in any other way preserving your family history, I'd be a happy person.   I spent too many years throwing photos in drawers and ignoring that kind of thing.   If nothing else, take your pictures and write with a  photo safe pen on the back of the picture.  Identify the person/persons in the picture.  Tell how they are related.. a date, if possible.  A few clues on some of the pictures really helped.

I'll be back with more... sooner than later, I hope.

Apology

The confession: I'm afraid I've been more than neglectful about this page.

The excuses: Life seems to keep me from doing everything I want to do. The calendar fills up too fast, and I don't seem to get around to the fun of crafting like I wish to do.

The apology: I'm so sorry!

Planning:

I do have a big scrapbook project that I'm trying to get into. It has been a long time in coming, and perhaps I can share here as I get into it.

I've never been one who is compelled to spend time in genealogy research. However, I realize that if I don't get busy and put together some of my family history, it will not be done. I've been trying to find information on some of my ancestors: The standard dates and such, some pictures and other records, and some personal stories. My plan is to use my love of scrapbooking to create an interesting album of my family history. Actually, when I get one made, I'll probably duplicate it for some other family members.

Supplies:

I have a ton of photographs that I've gathered from my mother and other family members.

I invested in a dedicated Epson Perfection V500 photo scanner.

My closet is full of Creative Memories scrapbooks and other accessories that will help me make beautiful albums.

The Promise: I'm excited about doing it and will try to post here to let those interested know how things are coming along.

Stamping Brenda's Crafting Paradise

This week I visited Daughter I-Needa. We were treated to a home tour of Stamping Brenda's new residence. She and her husband just recently settled into their new home, and it didn't take Stamping Brenda long to settle into her new dedicated stamping room.

This room is truly amazing. It seems the perfect place for anyone to truly enjoy their hobby.

Stamping Brenda has been crafting cards for years and truly has a creative gift. She has collected many items through the years to use in her card making, and all that stuff has to go somewhere. At last, it has an organized and beautiful place to be.

Here Stamping Brenda shows off one of her cards to Daughter I-Needa. Just look at the beautiful cabinets... Lots of space to put things!

She has lots of counter space, a worktable in the center, and storage galore!

She has open wall units for storage as well.






What a nice work station... complete with a TV.

Very very nice, Stamping Brenda






You are such a blessed girl!








I-Needa is looking over all the stuff on the table. Just look at the storage.... The closet is full of stamps and stamp sets!!





I'm not sure there is anything that Stamping Brenda doesn't have. Oh.... envy.... such a great room!!

Me? I haven't made a card or done anything since I took on my kitchen remodel. It has completely consumed my life. It is almost done.... and this room of Stamping Brenda's just may give me the incentive I need to get my own few things out and start creating again. One thing for sure is that I'll never have a workroom like this one. I could only dream.


I will admit that at this point, I really don't deserve a place like this. Stamping Brenda does. She so deserves it and will do it justice.

It has also occurred to me that Stamping Brenda just might buy more stuff. I guess that wouldn't be a problem. She certainly does have more storage space and can find anything she needs in an instant.

There is a place for ribbon by the roll, ink pads, punches, papers,... you name it, she has it.

If you've wandered here and are looking at this dream come true room for stamping, you may just feel like organizing something. I know my friend Crafting Ida will probably jump up and run organize her room again. She does that frequently. I've managed to get my supplies (another word for stuff) into one closet. I haven't been crafting cards very long, so haven't managed to buy like this gal.

I hope you have enjoyed looking at this beautiful place. If you are a crafter, you understand.

Ready for the New Year

I have just written on my Humor and Doings site that I'm working on my resolutions for the new year.  I'm examining what is working and what is not.  It is a good time to evaluate and change.  I started this blog with good intentions, but it is one of those things that must be attended to almost daily.  I have so many other things that I both need and want to do, and writing and posting hasn't been as high on my list as it should be if I'm going to keep going.  

I am giving myself permission to vacation from the need to blog.  I appreciate those who have come to visit.  I do intend to be working on my photo albums and scrapbooks.  I have a long list of items that need my attention if they are ever to be completed.  

May all have a blessed new year.

CJ

My House Repair Album

Since my entire October was taken up with the great saga of my home repair, I decided that I must get it into a book for sharing. The home fixing up thing took over my life. It really did.

Thankfully, I did manage to find some humor in the whole event. I took pictures by the tons. My nice Master Carpenter Man grew accustomed to my snapping his picture. He just gave up and ignored me.

I purchased an 8 x 8 traditional album from Creative Memories in chocolate. I thought that nice rich brown would go well with all the pictures of Master Carpenter Man tearing up my house with saws and such. I used white pages and, of course, page protectors.

I started the album with a few pictures of Master Carpenter Man when he was working for my mother. I wanted it clear that I knew what I was getting into when I commissioned him to come make a mess in my house. I was fully aware that there would be issues of what I called 'Tim Droppings'.

I used some paper that I had purchased previously from CM and decorated the page. I even cut a few circles with the circle shape maker and think it adds a bit of interest in the border... almost like pegs in wood.


I printed my own photos for this book, so sized them smaller and also used an editing program to add some comments directly on the picture. When I thought about doing this, I have to admit that I was rather pleased with myself.

Again, I went for the simple look in decorating the pages. A bit of colored cardstock cut in triangles to give a little accent.




I even followed Master Carpenter Man into the attic and managed to bug him there. Like I said, he managed to ignore me most of the time.

I accented this page with some CM paper that I'd saved. Again, I used a triangle on one page and a random cut of paper on the other. I used some orange cardstock and cut holes with CM's Bubble shape maker. Lining the holes up so I could see them, I then used the large Square shape maker. I even saved the little dots left when I punched with the Bubble maker. Using CM's Precision Point Adhesive, I glued the little dots around the square. I rather like the look.

I've had a few friends visit since the dining and living room ceilings have been redone. I've kept this book on my coffee table in the living room. When friends look at it, they have been amazed at exactly how much work went into this whole fixing up process. They have chuckled and seem to have enjoyed looking at the pictures. I've given you just a sampling. There is more... much more.

I've enjoyed them too. I have plans to have Master Carpenter Man return to work on the kitchen. Each time I look at this album, I wonder about that. Oh, there will be more pictures and more pages added to my book.

Christmas Card

My Stampin Up friend, Crafting Ida, rallied us for a get-together to make some new cards. I love it when she does that. She teaches us new techniques and moves us along to newer card crafting heights.



This is one of my favorites from our recent class.
The mistletoe is from SU's A Cardinal Christmas. Of course, I had to order that set as liked the mistletoe very much and will use it for many other things.



I do believe the mistletoe is stamped with 'Old Olive'. Ida kept us busy with the ornament as used embossing for the gold, then glue and glitter for the eye popping color.

I have to confess that as hard as we tried, I do believe we left glitter behind to be spread throughout the home of our lovely hostess. Kids of all ages... even ours... can be deadly with glitter. I'm glad it wasn't at my house. I also remember why I didn't use glitter for my art projects when still teaching fourth grade.

I realize that the public expects full details as to how to make items that are shown on blogs. I'm looking for the stamp set name for the ornament. I'm sure as soon as Ida sees this, she will be e-mailing me. I, of course, will amend my instructions to include that pertinent information. Tah Dah.

Crafting Ida taught us to make a bow. This I'm going to do in another post. I'll need to get out the camera and do a step at a time. It will make more sense. I just wonder why that secret was lost on me before now.

Stuff Going On

I have a confession. I realize that I've not posted for awhile. I can't promise an everyday posting. I admire those who have their daily lives disciplined to include all those important things. I just can't seem to get it all together. Sometimes I rebel.

This past August, I signed up to be an independent Creative Memories consultant. The policy of the company kept me from being too verbal about it. They have guidelines, and posting on blog sites about all of it wasn't permitted at the time. However, the company has revised their guidelines, and I am now able to be more up front on my blog space about what I'm doing.

I've told you before that I'm into scrapbooking. It really is all about preserving memories and telling stories. I plan to be back and let you know what I'm doing.
I will be back with pictures, etc. soon.... Really... I will.