Scrap pages for our loved ones no longer here...

As the Christmas holiday approaches I find myself really missing my love ones. My dad and puggy JuJu passed away very recently and the crying (which I hardly ever do) has become more frequent. I have been able to scrapbook one page for my JuJu, but have not been able to do it for my dad. His pictures are on my desk and they have been sitting there since he passed away in May. I have holiday break coming up, so hopefully I will be able to sit and scrap something special for him.

Why I haven't blogged in forever...

OH NO! I thought for sure I would be better with my blogging, but I did not anticipate how busy I would be over these past 3 months. Work is great and my students are awesome. I love my job, but working in the special education department can be stressful. I am also in school full time trying to earn my Masters degree as quickly as I can. I read texts and write papers every additional moment I have.

This is the reason I have hardly been able to scrap. I did take one Sunday and scrapped a page of vacation with my best Pug JuJu. Gosh I miss her. I will be sure to post that page next weekend. My plan is to complete as much work this week so that I scrap my little heart out the entire Thanksgiving extended weekend.

I am also working on placing a Stampin' Up! order. SOOOOO excited. I am looking forward to playing with the Glimmer Mists. I have a box full of photos waiting to be scrapped.

Happy stampin' and God Bless.

Ivy

Stampin' Up! Haul

So, I finally received the order that I had eagerly awaited. I must say that the anticipation was unbearable. The sheer joy upon seeing the UPS man with my two Stampin' Up! Boxes was indescribable. The contents of the order included the basic tools for demonstrators.


Above, Sizzix Big Shot Machine (#113439), Sizzix Bigz Top Note (#113463), Sizzix Texturz Plates Bachground (#114512), Sizzix Texturz Accessory Impressions Pad (#114614), Sizzix Texturz Accessory Silicone Rubber (#114615), and Texturz Plates Perfect Details (#115962).


Above, Heat Tool (#100005), Heat & Stick Powder (#100625), Embossing Buddy (#103083), Stampin' Emboss Powder - Clear (#109130), Stampin' Emboss Powder - Silver (#109131), Stampin' Emboss Powder - Black (#109133), Uni-Ball Signo Gel Pen (#105021), Mat Pack (#105826), Textured Cardstock - Bold Brights (#108698), Cardstock - Rich Razzleberry (#115316), 3/16 Corner Punch (#109047), Curly Label Punch (#112208), Scallop Oval Punch (#114889), Bugs & Kisses Stamp (#116580), Designer Series Paper Patterns Pack III (116234), Paper-Piercing Tool (#116631).

...and now I am off to play. I am so awful about posting. I am hoping I have an opportunity to create tonight and post tomorrow.

Rainy Day Haul

I was only going to go to Staples because it was the Teacher Appreciation giveaway and decided to go to Michael's which was only a couple of stores over. I ended up leaving with another JetMax cube (the ribbon and accessories organizor), glass beads, wire, a wooden cut-out of a sailing ship and circle scallop die cuts from the dollar bin. I chose the glass beads because I thought it might bring a new dimension to my scrapbook pages. Perhaps, sort of a challenge to myself to add a different medium. I was hoping to post some photos of my scrap area, but my camera's batteries ran low. So, hopefully I will be able to upload sometime soon.

THANK YOU!!!

I would like to send out a huge thanks to my fellow scrappers. I have spent this week reading so many blogs and the sheer number of artists is amazing. I am so inspired by all of you and have become so much more confident when I scrap. Again, thank you for sharing your beautiful art work. Sincerely, Ivy

If I won the lottery...

After supporting my favorite charities...I would purchase a home with a very large area dedicated to scrapbooking/crafting only. I would purchase every product from the Stampin' Up! Idea Book and Catalog. Then I would head over to Michael's and purchase whatever my heart delights. Wow, this sounds incredibly selfish, but to be honest, this is what makes me happiest. I love sitting with pictures of my family and friends. I love the process of choosing colors. I love the different textures and patterns of cardstock.

Oh yes, I must not forget...adopt as many doggies as my town ordinance will allow, save all of the race horses at the livestock auction houses (horses sold for human consumption) and build a playground for my little cousin.

What would you do?

Consistency

I really must be more consistent with my posts. One post every three weeks isn't sufficient. Sadly, I have not yet placed my Stampin' Up! order. I can't believe it myself. It will be my biggest order to date.

The other day I purchased my first JetMax cube from Michael's. I purchased the cube with the three draws. It took me about two hours to put it all together. I know that is way too long, but I was watching the movie "Push" simultaneously. Good movie, but I am not a fan of movies that leave an open ending. I like my endings to be neat and conclusive.

It's 9:30 and I haven't moved from the sofa. About to shower and head to Michael's to purchase another one of the cubes. I beginning to amass everything I will need for my scraproom. ...And I love Michaels 40% off coupons.

Later that day.....

Back from a day of shopping. I visited AC Moore (in Middletown) for the first time today and I wasn't too thrilled. It appeared more like an over-priced dollar store. It was really disorganized. Luckily, there was a Michael's next door. I purchased two JetMax cubes, each at 40% off. What a deal.

Thoughts

Wow! It has been quite a while since I last shared my thoughts. I spent some time thinking about the direction I wanted my blog to take. Would it just be about my creative inspirations? Perhaps some random thoughts? Maybe about the hardships I have endured? I guess I will have to wait to see.

I have been working on some scrapbook pages that I hope to post very soon. I am going to place a Stampin' Up! order this evening (if I don't fall asleep first). I am looking forward to playing with some of the embossing toys. I have become incredibly addicted to watching the craft videos on YouTube. I also love the videos showing off the different styles of craft rooms and I am so jeolous. The rooms are spectacular. I have been so inspired.

Argh! The summer is almost over and I feel as though it has just become really hot out. this was my first week of vacation and it flew by. I haven't gone anywhere and I don't plan to go anywhere on vacation. This will be the last time I do that. I will plan an exciting getaway for next year. I would love, love, love to go to Paris or England. My only worry would be that it would not be relaxing. Or, I have been spying Paradise Island, although I have seem some crazy hotel prices. Celebrity/Bill Gates kind of prices. Either way, I will keep my seesaw thoughts posted on this blog.

My first blog - SUPER EXCITED!!!

So, I have been working on a scrapbook page dedicated to my beloved pug, JuJu. My JuJu passed away in April and I have been so lonely without her. She really was my constant companion. Since I want my page to be perfect, I have spent about 2 days on the 8" x 8" layout. I am using the Stampin' Up! Certainly Celery designer paper series. That is about the only this I am certain of. I am certain that this page will take me a couple more days to complete.

My dad passed away in May and I have begun to think about a 12 " x 12" double layout for him. The photos are chosen, however, his death is still too painful and I have been hesitant to begin the layout.

On a lighter note...I am so excited because I am expecting a Stampin' Up! haul. I am a demonstrator and I did not sell any product this quarter so I had to purchase the product for myself to meet the quarterly sales goal. I am kind of slow getting started, but I expect it to pick up soon enough. Just need to get over my shyness and jump into the waters of demonstratorship. Take a look at my Stampin' Up! page at http://stampinivy.stampinup.net. Or leave me note telling me what you think about my blog so far.

I am looking forward to blogging and hope you are excited to take this journey with me.

Ivy