Saturday morning Jam session

Sometimes I think I'm as addicted to my kid as I am to coffee.

I don't really care to waste time wondering if that's good to bad, but in the meantime... I thought it'd be nice if we had some photos of us doin' what we do when we're hanging at home on a saturday morning.  This jam session happened after we built a snow fort in the living room.  We froze our toes off the day before so I decided to be lazy and just bring the snow in so I could enjoy coffee and the couch while she enjoyed the snow.  

I think it's important to stop organizing, stop packing, stop worrying, stop everything and just enjoy being exactly where you are right this moment.

I usually forget that and just run around the house like an  angry person and stay up all night fretting and scheming.
So for my new year, I'm going to not plan to do anything or stop doing anything.  I'm going to just try to remember to enjoy what I have today, and realize that I can live with much less.

And I'm going to put down all the sad pages...





Along with the happy ones.



I'm still trying to get my december daily mini album finished, so I'll get to that...  it's just these darn impromptu photo shoots that get me side-tracked!



I feel like I don't know what the heck I scrapbooked about before Eleanor?  I don't know what I did? lol.  I know all parents say it, but it's so true...  have no clue what life used to be before I had a kid.  All I do know is that it's so much better.  No matter what hard times we're going through.

:)  xo Fitts

Halloween Spread

And the follow-up scrap layout of the Halloween pics!
I only really had a handful of pics due to the whole... darkness and rain... stuff goin' on. And I didn't get to see the family as much as usual so I didn't get my goofy nephew pics.



But I'm glad I thought to take some pics around our block before it rained...



I'm enjoying another bowl of mashed potatoes as I type this... I had a sandwich in the car... but I was hungry again when I got home... and luckily Daryl didn't eat all the mashed potatoes.



And here's the making of the 12x12. The other side is PL style...



And now!!! Onto CHRISTMAS PROJECTS!!! WEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Keep Happy in a box, that way you'll never lose it.

So one of my favorite people to follow on Youtube is a gal who's channel goes by the name of PAPERSPEAKS.

Her name is Mel and she has a fun sidekick Pat ( a big white gloved pointer ).  She's a super duper nicehead and she does a lot of hand-made journals and cards and really cool stuff.

She recently posted a challenge to create something that would be like an aid when you're creatively blocked, or, as she put it, when you've lost your mojo.

And it happens to all of us no matter what we're into.   We play a crappy game of baseball, we sing bad notes, or sometimes we just wanna sit in the corner and cry.  And it's times like that where even the thing we love doing the most seems like a waste of time.  Though it probably doesn't seem like it... I feel like that quite often. I just wanna pack up my paper and photos in boxes and try to forget that I ever enjoyed scrapbooking. I start to wonder who I'm doing it for...  Will my daughter dread having her entire life documented in volumes when she's older?  I'm pretty sure the dog (s) don't mind.

Well anyhow... what I decided to make for myself was a recipe box just simply filled with photos that I like to look at. Because for me, the photo is what makes me want to scrapbook.  It's not the scrapbooking stuff...  it's taking a photo, printing it out and thinking...  SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEE... this photo is so delicious I could eat it!  And what makes it hard is that I take a gazillion photos a week, so just picking out a few to scrapbook is tricky. So for me ( for you for me... )  scrapbooking isn't solving my problem of getting photos out of boxes (or hard drives) and into scralbums, it's just highlighting what's in the boxes. I may actually get some good ol' fashioned photo albums and coordinate them with my scrapbooks.  So I can have the bulk of a photo shoot in a photo album, and then the real important stuff in the scrapbook.

So this was one of those CTMH recipe boxes I've had forever.   I had two.. but Roo decided to make one also.  She filled hers with smurf.  Who doesn't get a little happy from a box of smurf?

So I have different sized photos in here, some I took from Pinterest, some I took from my own photo stash, and I just tabbed the tops so I can pull em' out easy.

So out of all the challenges I've missed, I'm glad I was able to sneak this one in, because I think I actually will pick through this box when I'm feeling blue.  There's plenty more room in it to keep adding stuff so now as I come across something, I can just toss it in there.

Here's a link to what Mel made to help get her Mojo back.  I love it!

And thanks again Mel for the great challenge idea!  Looks like everyone got a very good something out of it!

Weekend Revisual: Project life July 20-21, 2013

Hi there frens!

Had a great weekend!  Just wanted to throw out some weekend pics, and then how we put them together for a weekend project life spread!

This first collage was actually made with a windows app called Turbocollage.  So far, a benefit is the ability to use a lot of pics in one collage.... like 20!  So I was able to sum up a birthday party pretty completely in three 4x3' spots on my PL layout.  Well... plus a couple 4x6's that stood out...

Here's some of the other pics we used:

And here's our spread!

And here's a video Roo did to tell you a very quick version of the entire weekend's activities...  she also goes on to demonstrate some Gelatos...  so if you're in need of toddler entertainment...  it's right here....  in a barbie dress.

Thanks and enjoy the rest of your crafty week!

This is me

So last month I took part in an online Studio Calico class called "This is me"with Lexi Bridges. She is awesome, just go check her out!

For some reason, I feel almost wrong scrapbooking about myself... like I'm saying...  "Hey, I think I'm cool!" or something.  It's like a selfie on facebook, you just don't do it unless there's some good reason or you have something ridiculous on your face that covers most of it. I don't know, but I think you all agree, it feels weird to move the direction of the focus off of our family, friends, and pets and onto ourselves.  And if you're a mommy, it's always all about the kids.

What intrigued me about this class was that the goal was to make a mini album. This is something I've never done. Like cards, I had little interest. But I can't lie, I'm now hooked. I love the idea that you don't have to pick out a cover (you can), but you can create the entire thing from scratch.

I cut some chipboard, covered it in fabric and vvvv wwaaa laaa I had the beginning and the end.  Now I just needed to fill it. To do the pic on the cover, I used printable fabric and then sewed it on the cover fabric that I chose before I modge-podged it to the chipboard.

The whole process was pretty dang enlightening. What was I going to include? That was tough... I feel like there are so many things that can be part of someone's life.. things that affect them on a daily basis. Though I felt like cleaning the house was not something that particularly touched me on an emotional level. Though re-organizing does have a way of setting free the endorphins of inspiration!

No, but seriously... I pretty much have to re-arrange my peg board or something before every craft session to get the juices going. It's like magic!

So anyway,  I narrowed my book down into a few catergories:

1. Family: ok, I know... but that's what makes me who I am. My family. And they're the most important. So of course, there's a big spread of my favorite little lady as well as the Hubs and the fuzzys.

The big swingy pic of Roo was also printable fabric. 

2. Interests/hobbies: Basically my crafty adventures using paper and a collection of sewing machines that each have a strength and weakness.. one with the fatal weakness of not working! Yikes!

3.  Music: Besides giving piano lessons, music is a big part of my life. When I was making this book, I decided to collect a handful of artists that I admired and just make a little pic collage. By no means did this include all, but whatever came to mind or what I've been listening to lately. This is where I really got sad... and happy at the same time... because I couldn't remember the last time I just sat and listened to an album... just for the sake of enjoying it. Granted, there's been a lot of disney and nick music blasting in my car due to Roo, but in-between audiobooks, there hasn't been a recent "GOD I CAN'T STOP LISTENING TO THIS SONG!" So I'm on a mission to change that. To make an effort to just listen like when I was a teenager with a new Belinda Carlisle cassette on the bed following along with the lyrics.

 4: Some random current interests/likes.

5: Goal. Yes one goal. To cure my headaches.

6. A short note to my Grams.  She's the one person I think about everyday. She was awesome and I miss her.

It's not over embellished... some pages are down right messy! But I decided not to over-think it and just let it be what it was going to be. So it ended up longer than I imagined, and much more journally than I imagined. I felt like I had so much to say about every page...  and in the end I was re-introduced to myself and I'm now kinda itching to pick up things that I put down throughout the years.

To not do things because I care what people think, or don't think... or say or don't say... but just to do them because it's fun and enjoyable.  To share for the sake of sharing and not worry about who will make fun of me tomorrow...  After all, does it matter? The most important things are the simple ones. So ENJOY them! And don't forget to take pictures!

I know ... I keep saying I'm going to do a workshop and never follow through... but I will! And I think this would be a great first project. So if anyone's up for finding yourselves in June, I'll make it a point to set something up.

Valentines

This is nothing new and exciting..  just an idea that I pulled onto the rotation for the week! I thought it was the perfect idea to use up scraps of ribbon and scraps of cardstock.

Honestly, I never bothered to do cards for Eleanor's class before...  (bad mommy) I was just never big on making cards on a regular basis.

But this year I thought I'd redeem myself and do the 20 cards and be done with it! And turns out, It was the perfect activity for Eleanor and my niece Norah to do together this past weekend. They picked out some Christmas ribbon... Dora Ribbon... Spongebob Ribbon...etc.

 



And it was also a great way to use up a bunch of that ribbon that's just collecting in a box that I probably won't ever use all of.
I only used a little bit of this lace trim because I do use that quite often..

Anyway so here's what you'll need:

1. Ribbon, trim, or fabric scraps

2. Card stock

3. Some kinda glue,  I used Liquid glass...(Elmer's would prob do the trick too, but I think Roo ate it all... I mean...  dumped it in a bucket and dipped her hands in and pretended she was getting a paraffin manicure.)

4. Scissors



FIRST:

A. Cut hearts out of squarish peices of cardstock.

( I totally used my die cut machine... I can't lie, I was just being lazy and didn't have enough safety scissors around.  If you have a big heart punch?!? )

B. Cut strips of ribbon no bigger than your square.

You can either buy blank cards from the craft store, or fold your own cardstock to make the actual card.

C, D- See visual below:



There are several ways you can attach the heart.

I sewed all of mine on...  but if you don't have a sewing machine;

You can glue them,  affix them with brads... even staple them...



So that's the main event... after that you can either leave em like that, or add some stamping or words. I just added a little decorative border stamp underneath the heart. I was looking for some kinda smooshy word stamp at first, but I gave up and figured the heart showed enough love on it's own...

And that's it. Clean, simple, and easy.


oh, and here's our new friend Kevin... he wanted to say hi and that he loves you.

Fashion Show Music

Sometimes ... life is really stinky.

And it makes you wonder how things like this:

fit into it.

She's next to me now telling me how her baby bear is growing up too fast as she's drawing on the chalkboard wall. The thought of her growing up makes me want to cry because I feel like the world isn't good enough for her. I feel like I'm not good enough for her sometimes too...

But we try to have fun as much as possible. 

These are pics from last weekend when we got a dusting of snow. We enjoyed it until the afternoon sun melted it almost away.

Our house got flipped, turned upside down...  well, two houses and we didn't bother to pick em up. They were just as much fun knocked over.

Hopefully we'll get enough snow to build a third house this weekend!

So this page was from pics of her popping her head through that side window of the knocked over house:

I plan on doing some of the other pics from that day this weekend.



Because keeping up with PL is actually easier than I thought. I don't do a pic from every single day..  but at least a highlight or two each week. We may have to dig into making some Valentine Cards for her classmates this weekend also...

I'm bad about tracking my materials ...  there's not too much stuff involved that didn't come from a SC kit. The embossing powder and heat gun I've had forever from being a CTMH consultant. But you can get that anywhere... Any craft supply store would have it.  You can also get it from me if you wanted?  lol.

I just watched a video by a well known scrapbooker, Shimelle Laine, and she talked about how Scrapbookers kinda hide their hobby from those who aren't into it.

And it's so true, because we feel it's not something that is a respected by most people as more than a waste of time.  I get crappy comments like "you must have nothing better to do." But I think it's important to leave time for things you enjoy...even if you're  a single mom of 17...  I didn't have much time for it when Roo was a screaming baby 24/7 but now she can do it with me... or any other art project she wants to at the time. It's the perfect kid bonding time.  So if it's between watching TV every night and scrapbooking... which one is a waste of time?

Here is the making of this last layout:

Twelve by 12' ROO flower layout

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZ1WNVK40Gs]

Enjoy!  And it's probably going to be a great night for staying indoors so craft on my frens!

p.s  I wish I had some good fashion show music to go with this vid...   dang.

xo fittsnersalad

Life is a project... Make it pretty damn it!

Just a project life installment here.

Sometimes there's no good reason for a photo shoot. That's the best kind! And Roo seems to think every minute has potential for good photo making... as do I.

So this scrap session is all about any ol saturday

Where not much of anything was going on...

but we had fun enough to document!

Please enjoy the making of this installment here below

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It IS super easy!

Is is sooo easy to throw a layout together in less than 30 minutes and still say "Yes. Instead of throwing that away, I will hang onto it!"

There is very little involved here...

1. Three different papers

2. Some letter stickers

3. A couple velum arrows

4. A few brads

5. A a touch of sewing and doodling.

ALL optional.

I threw together this super short vid... it's just a series of photos showing the very short evolution of this layout. Just to throw it out there that YES, you can do some scapbooking on a weeknight! I did this page on a thursday night in about 33 minutes. I used the December Studio Calico kit exclusively! Joining kit clubs I think is a great way to be inspired every month. It keeps things fresh and exciting!
I will be starting one in January for those of you who need a little push! And I will post some ideas along with each kit to get the juices flowing!

The video is not so great, I apologize... but it was the best I could do with my current set up here... :)
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irzbvzwz8lk]

If your bear needs to help with the cooking...

Then you might want to let them help in the cutest way possible!

I decided to put my holiday material to good use and whip up some aprons for my new shop.
It's less than a day old, so I only have a few things... but I picked out some super duper cute paper crafting items from my favorite suppliers (studio calico, pebbles, american crafts... etc.) and they are on the way and will be shortly available to get started on some Holiday paper crafts!                                                                                                                     These aprons make adorable gifts or grab em' for your own little sweetie to help you in the kitchen, or for playing in her own kitchen! I also take custom orders, Just send me a note through my contact page!

I wish I could say I have more of this yellow material with the

"kitchen ladies" on it... but I'm afraid this is it. It just makes me wanna bake and bake and bake and let my husband think I tattooed the smile on my face!

Well, I hope everyone is well on their way to a Merry and Happy season!  If you are shopping, shop indie! It's more personal and makes it highly unlikely that the person will already have that thing!  So check out my new Fitty's Arty Shop page! Like I said, it's like a naked christmas tree right now, but I figured, why wait..  you can even register so when the Christmas scrapbooking kits come in, you won't have to re-type all your info!

Hope the rest of your week is awesome!  And tomorrow, tell someone how nice their sweater is... unless it's not nice. Then offer them yours.

Happy Baking while looking super cute!

Oh, and here's some extra entertaining from Roo..

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-hkLiNluas?list=UUbDRrw83_KmF8dQqN-UO8Wg&hl=en_US]

Hand turkeys

Just a quick post to wrap up Thanksgivings and move onto to Santa!  ( I think I skipped Halloween?  I'll catch up later...)

Besides eating, We did this!!:


My fren Shannon sent me a link from Pinterest of this "todo" on Thanksgiving, and since I already had a blank canvas of a table cloth on my little kitchen table, I decided I might as well get it decorated!


Though Roo kinda made 28 prints of her hand so it might be hard to compare if I tried to add to it next year...  but we'll think of something...  Maybe I could cut out sections and sew em onto a "new" cloth...

And I just thought I'd share another idea that I kinda transferred from my craft room to the mantel.  I kept messing with hanging up photos in the dining room, and in the end the dining room wall is still naked and I just threw this puppy up on the mantel.



I am very short-term relationship when it comes to decorating.  I just use the same stuff around my house and move it to new spots... Like these picture frames.  I got most of em' at a thrift store... but it's funny how once people see stuff in your house, they tend to collect it for you if they come across it for free.  So I've had neighbors and friends surprise me with empty frames for my decorating.  This one was in my kitchen framing the area of magnetic paint that I had my "cheeseburger language words" on.  But since I repainted the kitchen and took it down, It was free for a new purpose.



In my craft room, I had photos hanging on a few lines of twine like this just as a kinda "on deck to be scrapbooked".  So I tied some more twine around the sides of this frame and hung some "not to be scrapbooked" photos. And if you don't have clothespins, paper clips work well too. You can been neat and symmetrical, or messy and overlappy.  I think this what I did is somewhere in-between.  Or you could just keep adding to it and you print new photos.  I dug up some old ones for this just to enjoy that little *sigh* of  remembering whens.

And now my TADA (to do) twine is bare!   And I really like that visual "to do" so photos I really like don't get lost in a box somewhere, so I better re-fill it!

And now onto some Merry Merry Craftings! 
Hope you and your families had a wonderful Thanksgiving! xo

Jersey Smash

Here's just another smashed page from another good day in Jersey Pennsylvania!
I know a lot of bad days have been going around due to the past couple weeks of nightmare weather, and I can't even begin to understand the devastation that some people are dealing with now... but I know there are gobs of good days to be had and are starting to get made in the making of being made to be making good of more days.... of noodles... and noodling noods of needles. Yes. The too light blue paint fumes are seeping through my skull and I can't be held accountable for what words make up this post.
In other news:
I'm postponing the first workshop due to power outages and the like... Not having the interwebs just kinda held up my supplies and togetherness puttings. So... now that it's back, it's time for thanksgivings already!!! AHHHH I can't believe it. Nough' said. Time to think about a different color to paint these walls...

Planning is Important!

I say turn everything into a scrapbook! Like your planner!



Peter: "Hey Fitts, you up for roller skating this saturday at 6pm?  All the cool kids will be there!"

Me: "Yea sure, that sounds off the chain! Or should I say, off the left side wheels on my right foot! I'll be there for sure"

Peter: "Cool franks!  I'm so glad you could come, Wendy is going to be there and she hasn't seen you in like... EONS!"

Me: "No way! That's awesome!  I can't wait to catch up with her!"

and then my friend Mo texts me and says "ARE YOU SO EXCITED ABOUT GEORGE'S WEDDING TO PRINCESS BEAUTIFUL THIS SATURDAY!!!" 

and then I check my planner calendar thingie shoved in my way too many notebooks bag and there it is with little flower and heart stickers surrounding it. "George and Princess Beautiful get married"

So anyway, I'm on yet another mission to make my planner so damn cute that I can't go  a day without adoring it's pages and consuming the dated information!

Well, off to werky...  Have a FUN Wednesday and stay dry if you're in Jersey like me!

xo