Scrapbooking Monday

This is a late Monday night post for me.....I didn't Scrapbook today; BUT cleaned and re-organized my tiny Scrapbooking room. This room is all of 8' x 6' with a closet.  I've been piling purchases on top of my small workspace for 3 weeks now and - in the quest to 'keep it real' the first picture shows the mess.

I truly feel I'm not the only scrapper that gets their work space messy occasionally. I sure hope not.  I spent 8 hours today putting all the dozens of new embellishments away in my Scraprack, filing papers away, tested out four new Cricut cartridges I just got (the all work; yes!), sorted hundreds of pictures and taking care of kits that had come in.  Whew!

My Scraproom is not pretty but is well organized and very usable for me. A non-crafter would walk in there and think "holy cow; what a mess!" 

Before

After

I use two of the BasicGrey Magnetic mats and love them. When not using the mats for cutting I keep my Bazzill Basic Splat Mats on top. They are wonderful to use as nothing sticks to them....wipe clean very well.

At the top of the picture you can see a hanging white shelf on the right. It turned out to be an accidental storage area for my Stickles. The shelf consists of interlocking wire, creating small square holes. The Stickles tops fit in well and sit upside down...just the way we need to store them.

See ya all tomorrow.

Boot Camp - Creative style

Day 2

Today's inspirational word is: Picnic

Now; as I sat here at the computer and thought about that word all type of things popped into my head... ants, food, family, sunshine, water.

Really folks, it's still like winter here: rain, rain, rain

No ants to be found today, no sunshine, only food around here is a few leftovers in the refrigerator (and not pretty), and the only water is the RAIN!

So; flashback to last summer. Our annual July Family Picnic was rained on...but we do persevere and have a good time anyhow: undercover!
I share a picture:

The younger kids were off puddle jumping or playing in the wet sand.

I confess this is not a photo of creativity; nor a creative photo but it's all I can do...no creativity in me today!

Boot Camp - Creative style

Day 1

Today's inspiration is "Ivory"

Ivory...hmmmm Ivory...  I chose photography as my inspiration for this two week Creative Boot Camp (see Saturday, June 5th post about that) and started thinking "what do I have to photograph that is Ivory. Don't own any carved pieces of ivory.  Ok...."think Diana, think", my brain said.

Ivory colored scrapbooking embellishments came to mind. I have some and easily searched for them in my Scraprack. I don't consider myself a good Stager so this WAS a challenge to me to lay the Ivory items out in a creative way. This is it folks:

I love that ribbon with the hearts on it and plan to use it in the Wedding Book I'm working on (my wedding, son's wedding and daughter's wedding). I also show an eyelet lace photo corner, a crocheted flower and a flower I put together with an ivory brad.

Have a creative day and look for something Ivory colored.

Boot Camp - Creative style

I found this today and have decided to join in with the medium of photography. I know I don't have time to do scrapbooking so this is my second choice.  But; having said that I'm sure I'll be happy I chose photography as I need to stretch myself.

I've not joined in this Boot Camp before so this will be a learning experience.... will share my journey with you.

The Sun Came Out - Oh for Joy!!!!

....Seriously...THE SUN... I grabbed my camera to get proof of it.... (That's Sun coming thru the window)...woohoo.

Planter boxes just waiting for bedding plants....soon and very soon!

Hubby and I headed out to look for some garage sales before starting in on long needed yard work. We found a few things to buy; one being a Scrapbooking kit w/album and lots of paper in it....yes!

So after I did about 4 hours of work outside I snapped a few photos of some of the beauty around us:

This is one of my favorite rhodys in our yard...just love the throat.

I hope your day was sunny and you found some beauty to admire.

Garage Sale Friday, Ramblings and Crafting

Rained Out!

Rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain........Had enough?  We have!!!!!

Somebody at work this week asked me if I felt ok?  "Yeah, why?"  You look so pale.   YES........haven't been in the sunshine for two months now. I get my suntans by driving my mini-van around, or doing yard work.

Still lots of driving but no sunshine = no tan at all.....

Not doing yardwork either.

I do use sunscreen all the time (you should too). I like to think it'll keep the old age wrinkles and spots from appearing, and maybe it's helped; but for some reason it doesn't keep the 60+ age old skin from sliding off my facial bones.... somebody invent a cream for that please!!

My 'Honey-do' list I mentioned yesterday: well I went shopping for a filing cabinet yesterday. I thought I'd be frugal and buy a used one; but wowzer all the ones I found are so beat up....icky!  I then went to an antique store that sells fabulous antique furniture. I thought I could, maybe, Go Green and buy a cool used wood one.  He has none in stock but told me he has a container arriving from England next week and there might be some on it. Then he shared he had one in the last container and sold it quickly for $1,000.  $1,000....Well........there goes that idea!!!  So after checking and rechecking Craigs List, I'm about to order a new Metal one....but I have a few more places to check before doing so.....  I keep thinking of what else I could do with the money it would cost for a wood one.....

I received in the mail yesterday a new Cricut Cartridge called Cindy Loo and am so anxious to give it a try. I have to at least try it out to make sure it does work and I don't need to return it....even though I have no time to scrapbook. 

ok, I close with a few pictures of our rain....not exciting I know.  I do want to share my sadness at not even being able to enjoy the rhodys in the back yard...the last three weeks of rain has beat them down horribly.....gosh they only flower once a year and this is so so sad to me.

This first picture has tiny very faint whitish streaks in it (see them?). That's rain coming down. We don't even have our cabana cover on yet...latest we've ever put it on I think.  Ok, I'll stop complaining......to you anyhow! 

See those poor beat down rhodys?

Have a great weekend and go buy a pretty, bright new umbrella....I hear we have another week of rain coming.  In the meantime; get outside and keep living the life: outside.

'Honey Do' List

This is a month of honey do things and I'm the Honey. I just seem to have a lot of little nagging things that need doing and it's time TO DO. My brain has gotten too full of all of it.


The first 'Honey Do' list I posted on the refrigerator for my; then young hubby, was take off and torn up and thrown in the garbage by him. I learned early he needs to be personally asked to do or help with something or after I start up he’ll join in. He hates the planning process though.



The first thing tackled already this month was to buy a new nightstand for my side of our bed. We bought a new bed three years ago and I needed one then – the bedroom ‘set’ had a night stand but I hated it and didn’t want to own it…...certainly didn't rush into buying one did I?


 I did shop at that time though and found one a Fred Meyer's I liked and I knew it would match the wood bed we bought; but am frugal in ways and didn't want to spend the money they were asking. Well it was 50% off last Sunday so I rushed down and bought the last one.......in a box; not assembled. Ugh!.....shades of frustrating Ikea furniture, we've helped Daughter with, zoomed thru my head....


Well it turned out that this company packed all the items needed and even gave one extra of each screw and thingy-maboob.

What will be missing?

Stopped before I even started!

Hubby was lurking in the Kitchen as I opened the box.

Being I'm a visual person and don't know a wood screw from a 'thingy-mabob' I like charts.....and like to be organized for the task at hand.

These dropped from the sky and I heard a "you'll be needing these."

(thanks hubby)

Hmmmmm; just who were these tiny charts made for? Eyes younger than mine I'm sure. I needed a magnifying glass.

Ok.....ready, set, GO!

Progress.......can you see Baci; my cute little helper?

DONE.....yes, seriously.....only took 55 minutes!  (ok, so...yes, Hubby came out of the kitchen and sat down and helped!) Thanks honey.

TA - DA!

It looks good next to our bed and I now have a pretty Fenton lamp on it along with my alarm clock and the latest book I'm reading.

Yiippeee....one nagging 'honey-do' item crossed off MY list!

Oh, and just in case you are wondering....I stitched that pretty clock in the '70's. I still love it.

OK, onto #2 on the list: a new filing cabinet and reorganizing all those ugly files!!!!

Bye for now. Take care and do a kind deed (come help me with my Honey Do stuff)...hehe.

The Redheads in my Life

A blog I'm now following:  In A Yellow House...



is having a photo contest this week. RED is the subject....  I'm entering this photo....my two favorite Redheads - my Granddaughter and Granddog.

I'll be voting for myself........

Good Will Wednesday

Good Wednesday to you.  Shhhhhhh; Grandbaby is sleeping not too far from me. Daughter and she stayed here last night...oh boy did I get my huggin' and a kissin' in. I haven't seen baby girl for two weeks: darn busy schedule and head colds.  She's so so precious and with her red hair and fair fair skin looks like a China Doll.  She does stand out in a crowd of baby's with that red hair. We had a conversation last night: baby and me. She missed me as much as I missed her....she told me so.

So big news: Hubby and I have an outlet for our better quality Goodwill, Salvation Army and Garage Sale finds now. We rented a space in an antique mall......to be a way of getting rid of all the stuff we've accumulated. Our stuff is too nice for garage sale so this is a good way to clear out.....

My garage is like some hoarder's home....boxes with a path....no - not in the house though! Speaking of Hoarders; I can't watch that show. Just turns my stomach and I am impatient with the format and the people.

Ok, back to bargain hunting....GW Hunter and I were in the Big City Friday and ended up at an old Salvation Army (SA) store. Wow, it's a mess.  But I focused on the task at hand and found a few good items. I picked up a cranberry colored vase that look great (very dirty) and it turns out to be a Fenton vase; not old old, made in the early 90's.  $2.99....yippee. I love the way SA marks their stuff "Bric a Brac".  I think that's charming.  That SA is closed as of today for remodeling (thank goodness).

The vase:

After we finished up at the SA we went to the GW there and found a few little things.  This Waterford vase was pushed to the back of a shelf and was unbelievably dirty....hubby spotted it though.

Have a day filled with Good Will everyone. Oh and happy June. This is the month for me to take care of some home projects and clear out the garage.

Folklife Festival

Yesterday we attended a Folklife Festival in the Big City. The weather cleared about noon and a lot of people were at the Festival. Everywhere you walked you could see an individual or a group making music. Before walking around the festival we attended a performance of two great nieces and two great nephews. They dance in a Croatian group. They did so well and it was great fun to be their audience.

..enjoyed being with family.

I really liked the brooms this man makes...now that I'm home I'm sorry I didn't buy one.

Everywhere one looked there was a food booth.

The bread sellers slogan made me laugh.

I really liked the chanting and drumming this American Indian group did.

This man didn't juggle unless someone put money in his jar.

It was obvious these people were just learning to steel drum....good for them for their effort.

He has a miniature toilet in his guitar case for money....a sign of his talent - ?crappy?

Cool water features being enjoyed by lots of people.... the sun was out: finally!

Have a good day all. Make it count and do a kind deed.