Two New Layouts

Do you ever buy a kit, or get it in a grab bag, and think.... I might use this once... and then it turns out to be extremely versatile?! Well for me that kit is Dani Mogstad's Softly Falling. I got it as part of my purchase of The Digi Files #8. So averaged out, it cost me maaaybe 75 cents? lol and I have used it on some great pages already.

I really thought with the fall theme, and the fact I dont' really take fall photos much, this would not get much use. But I've already used it on this layout and this layout too. And now, a 3rd one!!

Wedding Brunch & Frisco BBQ:

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Here is my other new layout, and I think a new favorite. I just love the bright colors and I love the photos we took on this outing!

Eldorado Springs:

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Bits n' Pieces of Happiness

With some of the stressful things going on lately, it's time to focus on a little bit of happiness. I read this today -

10 Things Science Says Will Make You Happy

The first one is very appropriate right now:

I have been finding a lot of cheer lately in little things... a frappucino at Starbucks... a good conversation with a friend... making a scrapbook page... getting a new laptop bag that I love! I really think they key to not getting depressed is being able to recognize these little things and be happy about them. Apparently I've been REALLY happy about them. When I got a bunch of my scrapbook pages printed and put them in my album, I hugged it. Hahaha. And when I got my new laptop bag and it turned out to be even more wonderful than I thought... well, I hugged that too! I felt a little silly getting so happy about little things... but reading this article today showed me that it is actually a good thing. So, let's celebrate that... here's some of my new scrapbook pages I've done recently:

And here is my new -Pink!- laptop bag! I just love this bag. A digi-scrapper's dream!

Now it might not be everybody's cup of tea, but I am just loving it. Besides being cute, it has more pockets than I could ever need and it's really great quality. It is cheering me up and I just want to find some place to go hang out tomorrow so I can use the bag and take my laptop somewhere! :)

One more thing that is really making me happy is this blog that just started January 1st... It's all about digital scrapbooking. And it is so chock full of awesome things every single day. It brings a HUGE smile to my face. In fact, this article about happiness was posted on THERE today! That's where I found out about it and that gave me such a pick me up :) If anybody is interested, here's the site - The Daily Digi.

In other news... I think I might have my very first client for my teaching business! My friend Christine who is a digital designer has a good friend who would like to learn digi scrapping. I told her I am not totally set up & ready yet, but that I would gladly teach her friend for half price if she doesn't mind sort of being my guinea pig and letting me sort of figure things out as we go along. I'm waiting to hear back about all of that, but it looks pretty promising. It would be such a great experience for me to have a person to teach as "practice" so to speak.

More Scrapping

Some MORE scrapping! Kind of all over the place...a page from Christmas 2006, Ian's New Zealand trip in April 2007, and a layout from our Fraser trip April 2008 as well as an additional engagement page from that trip. Hope you enjoy!!

Tea Party Pages and More

Wow it's been a while since I got any pages done! First of all, I did these first three about a month to 6 weeks ago. The first two pager is from a small family gathering with some distant relatives which took place in August 2007 (Yep I am waaay behind.) The 3rd one is from my birthday tea party, September of this year.

So I had started off the tea party pages with that one of Sarah, but then I didn't touch the project again until this week. I used some quick pages to get these done - I'm pretty happy with them...

So I'm feeling good that I'm finally getting back into my scrapping. There is SO MUCH I want to do! I really really REALLY want to finish off my 2007 album and of course my Greece and Turkey album. I think oh 2008 isn't so bad because we're still in it... then I realize it will only by 2008 for another 7 weeks... holy crap! So much to do. SO SO MUCH. I would freaking LOVE to be caught up, but does that EVER happen????

I got my 8x8 prints in from MyPicTales.... still waiting on the 12x12 prints. I placed my order October 5th so this waiting game is making me mad. I guess it's worth it with a coupon for 100 free prints, but I don't see myself continuing to use their service after this. Maybe for bound books but that's it! I'm going back to my beloved Costco.

It was nice getting the 8x8 prints though, because I've never really SEEN them before. I always thought 8x8 would be too small for me to enjoy them... but I actually do like them a lot. After I finish 2007, 2008, and Greece/Turkey I might switch to 8x8 fully for future stuff. Except maybe vacation albums.

Here's my 8x8 prints:

That's all for now... more soon, I hope!

For My Dad

I made a scrapbook page with a picture or two from when my dad was in the hospital. I went to start writing the journaling for the page, and a poem just poured out of me. It may not be a stunning work of poetic art by any means, but for me it was the perfect way to express myself. I plan to give him a framed copy of the scrapbook page when it's done, so he will know how I feel.

If you had left me...
There would be a huge hole in my heart
It would be so unbearable
for us to be apart.

If you had left me...
I would not be complete
With so much left to learn
And you not here to teach me

If you had left me...
A light would have gone out
I don't know how I'd learn to be
in a world that is without

If you had left me...
It would have been much to soon
There's so much left for us to see
So much left for us to do

If you had left me...
I'd have to pull it together and move on
although it would be difficult
you've taught me to be strong

If you had left me...
It would feel like life was done
But I know I would eventually heal
and I know life would go on

If you had left me...
I would just want you to know
Although I'll miss and love you forever
I am prepared for when you go

If you had left me...
I'd want you to understand
I would be okay because
you have made me who I am.