Too close for comfort

Only three days 'till Christmas. How many more things to do, yet left in the list? Well, I would love to say I am done, but I can not. I wish I could just blink my eyes, and be done. The day is much too close, and reality is setting in. What am I going to do? Voila "Le Gift Card", so now all I need is that spare cash!

In a blink of an eye

I can't believe that 3 month have gone by, since I last posted. It would be understandable had I been away on a secret mission or a grand tour of the world, or if had been deployed on a scrapbooking assignment across the continent. The sad truth is that I have taken for granted, the power to be able to speak, or in this case write. When I last updated my blog , time had fallen short of Fall in a blink of an eye today marks the beginning of Winter. As the snow of the first storm of the year melts, and Christmas gets closer I can not help to wonder , what in the world happened to my timeline. With no time to exhale, I must update not only my blog, but my life itself, stop taking time for granted, and make sure I take in a deep breath.

Semptember...

Today was one of those beautiful days. It was just right, not too cold not too warm. I think Fall is one of my favorite time of the year. September is mellow it leads us into the fall. Soon the leaves will turn, and the golden, and earth tone colors of the season will invite us to stroll by the lake. A year soon to put itself to rest, Nature accepting the finality of every thing that is, every thing that was.

MIA

I can't belief how fast my days have led into weeks of not updating this blog. "Nada" Spanish for nothing. Well, I could say that I've been extremely busy at work overwhelmed with the overtime, not! Or perhaps preparing for my PhD, not! I could have been involved in a mission such as saving?? lets say anything, but that is not true either . I have become hooked!!! Oh my, You Tube videos, that is where I've been.
I need to keep up with this blog after all that is why I started a blog. Honestly, part of the story is that I need to learn more technical things, so I can really do the things I want to do in this blog.
I have joined Marion's ATC club, this will be my first month. I am excited to swap with other people. I am finding it a little difficult to work on a small scale, remember for me more is better.
I hope the other swappers find my work valuable.

Card Swap

Tomorrow is the card swap. I have 16 hours (if I don't sleep) to design, execute, and complete 4 cards. Three cards for our out of town swappers, and one for moi (the sample card) Good luck to me!!! Every time I make the same mistake, and wait till last minute. Is it that I forgot, no!! Is it that I have no time, no!! Is it that I want to make the best card and impress every one, but I have no idea what to do? Yes, yes, yes, that's it. I suppose I like to line on the edge, dangerously close to failure, and rescued by my limitless imagination? Of course not, I am just a procrastinator. Picture will follow tomorrow.

Holloween layout

Okay, I know it is kind of early to think about Halloween, but I wanted to post one of my layouts and this one was the easiest to post. I made this for one of the girls at my scrapbooking group "LCN" I love this group. Each one of us made a 2 page layout of "First" and put it together in an album for her. Please let me know what you think of it.

Inspired

I can't believe that almost a month has passed since my last post. It is as if I was trapped in a time void, because honestly it feels as if July just began. The reality however is that August is here. Back to school just around the corner (where I live) I love school supplies, memories of childhood. Well, I have been inspired by Marion a very talented blogger. Her videos are very informative and well done, her art is inspiring. I must start posting some of my work. My blog has been mostly about thoughts a way to express myself, but I need to share my work and get a critique of my pages. I will post one of my layout by the end of the week.
I am also getting together with my friends for another card swap. We are doing Christmas cards. The thought of Christmas can be stressful, but we'll be ready!!! We are each (ten of us) designing a card then we put a kit together after a simple, brief explanation of "how to" everyone gets to do one of each card. I love these swaps. Talking and eating are of course incidental the cards are just an excuse to enjoy each others company.

Why?

Today Tammy forwarded EsteeLynn thoughts on why she scrapbooks. That started me thinking. So I asked myself the question. There are many reasons why I like scrapbooking.
I enjoy the process, meaning the planning of a perfect layout (not that all my work qualifies under this "perfect" heading). Planning the colors, what to use, or in my case what not to use as I tend to over embellish. Choosing the pictures to fit the thought. I also enjoy the people who like scrapbooking. I find them to be unique and yet so familiar. I love the social aspect, and meeting new people, making new friends. The colors and designs of the paper excites me, awakening my creativity, and opening new ways to express my inner self. Learning new techniques entices me, teaching some one what I've learn allows me to share this art.
Scrapbooking means to preserve moments, to make one instance last an eternity. It allows us to share this memories with all who matter. But the most important reason why I scrapbook is because I am. I am the person behind the camera who wants to capture time. The person who chooses to share her visions, I am the scrapbooker.

Gabriels card

Gabriel is my nephew who recently turned 13, girls watch out!!

My sister in law Zoraida celebrated the the occasion on July 4TH.

The party was grand. A presidential celebration befitting for this new teen. Red, white and blue dictated the theme. Flags decorated the many tables. Zoraida took pictures of the guest at the presidential entrance. The food and the music imported the Latin flavor of the hosts and guest.

This is the card that I made for Gabriel.

Already July?

I can't believe how fast time rolls by. Today begins the second half of the year. Independence Day will signal the beginning of a 3 day weekend. But we all know that July also means that Christmas is just around the corner. Time for us crafty girls to get started with our Christmas cards. On your marks, get set, goooooooooooooo!!! today is almost over. Happy July!

Friends

There are many things that I want, few that I really need, thanks be to God. Knowing the difference is the first step to be satisfied. Yesterday a bunch of us LCNers got together. We frequently get together to craft. We are always successful in the art of "talking", and although we always carry many heavy bags full of projects as well as good intentions, most of us never get to open the intended projects. Yesterday was a special day, not only did we get together and exchanged pleasantries, but we all managed to share our own creations, and created new and much needed "Thank you cards". We wanted to create those cards, we needed to share our friendship.

Satisfaction

Frequently, I find myself, double guessing my decisions. It is very difficult to really know if the decisions made were the right ones. Today I learned that I have, most definitely, made the only possible right choice. To look back at the past is a weakness that qualifies any person as a coward. The assertive individual makes a decision and lives with it.
I met with friends, old friends, with whom I've shared wonderful experiences. We talked for ever not realizing the passing of many hours. I miss them. I miss the old days of care free chit chat. Many of the things that I've learned, I've learned from them. Today I am a better person because of them. I have moved on in my life. My old friends share my thoughts, my heart, and my best memories. We also share a painful physical distance. I am sad for this lost, I am satisfied with my choice.

Opportunities

A dear friend of mine was recently faced with a decision. Forced is a more accurate statement. After working for many years in this particular department, she was in need of a change. Change does not come easily to my friend. Change compromises the safety that one finds in the familiarity of the status quo. Change evokes responsibilities new to us, and fearfully we ask ourselves: "Am I capable". Life is not stationary, as a matter of fact, life changes with each breath we take. But my friend just went for the ride not aware of the microscopic changes that took place around her daily. She just let it happen. A follower, whose opportunities were limited by other people's choices. She learned new protocols, and performed adequately, even exceptionally, unnoticed behind this anonymous status.
One day, her predictable personality met her emptiness. I don't know exactly what made her snap. Perhaps it was an awareness that she needed to take control of the impending changes coming her way. Perhaps it was a psychotic moment, she did not think twice about it. She moved on, leaving decades of seniority behind. Leaving "the status quo". She did not look back after she had made her decision. The same stubbornness that carried her all this year, liberated her from herself. Some people say that life begins at "50". Life begins when we become aware that we are alive. For some people the journey has many curves, others go uphill against adversity. Some people take the unpaved road, while others try to catch a ride, but the important thing is to get there.

New Beginnings

Today is Monday, not really the first day of the week, but for most of us it usually signals a new week. Back to work after the weekend off, the beginning of a vacation, or like in my case the first day back to work after a vacation. Mondays are difficult days. They signal us with a sense of duty. On Mondays we commit to a new week of whatevers. That is why I think Mondays are good days for challenges. I would like to invite you to join me each Monday in accepting a challenge, or in posting a challenge. For my crafting purposes, I propose a card, scrapbook page, journaling, or anything that fits your crafting needs.
This week lets make a card limiting ourselves to 3 colors: tan, blue,and you choose the 3rd color.
You must use at least one element to embellish, but no more than two. Theme and size your choice. Posting on Thursday.

Conflict: The HUBBY

Oh yes most of us in conflict with our hobby, have "THE HUBBY". At first he was supportive. Delighted to see you meeting new people. Happy to see you go away for the weekend with these new friends. He even put up shelves in that "room" in the basement. His excitement soon gave way to discontent as those supplies multiplied magically. The overwhelmed shelves required multiple additions, and the small room in the basement, took over the entire square footage of the basement. The money spent is also one of those delicate subject best left out of any discussion. God knows we try our best to bring those bags in when he is asleep, or even store them in the car trunk, but at times an explanation is necessary if the UPS guy comes when you are not home. My hubby's favorite phrase is: "You know all those things that you no longer buy on the Internet, they just got home". Of course I could see his point of view, if not for the clutter.
Clutter, another difficult problem to address, but so common . It often gets in the way of completing the perfect layout. Looking for that flower, or that ribbon that I know I have is frustrating, forcing me to purchase new stuff.
The coupon curseThis can be summarized in a few simple words. If I have a coupon for 40% off, I must buy something that is not on sale. The more expensive this Item is, the more I'll save. When something is on sale for 50% off, I usually get two. Thrifty, I know!!

Scrapbooking: Hobby or Nightmare

The beginning
At first glance one would say: scrap booking, it sounds fun. A new hobby to spend spare time. A pretty way to organize pictures, and momentous from an event in our lives. But soon this hobby will take a life of its own.
The archival intent of scrap booking will become "A need to collect".
Collecting
The need to collect will take over every waking moment, even over your dreams as all those gadgets, and supplies will flash in your unconscious mind. These dreams will soon become realities as you find yourself driving to the stores. As time goes by, you won't even need your car (this is good since gas is so expensive) you will find your fingers navigating you via the web to find the many on line places to satisfy your needs.
Money may be a problem, soon to be dissipated, as you know, that is why there is "Master Card". The biggest problem will be space, or rather the lack of it, as things will first pile on your dinning room table, and later on all over.
Space
Space, space, space a priority in the ever evolving world of scrap booking. The industry responding to the need to collect, and anticipating the 'more is better' phenomenon has responded with the over creation of new stuff; hence creating a conflict.
Most scrapbookers have taken over a room in their home, usually a spare room like a guest room, a room in the basement(a small closet like area) dinning room(who eats in?) hubby's computer room (useful as it houses a computer), or all of the above. But the one thing they all share is that after occupying the horizontal space, soon the scrapbooker will need to build up.
Places like Ikea, Target,etc have come to the rescue and cubes, and other storing structures have become available. So you might ask yourselves: Where is the conflict? The husband.
To be continued...

Finally Friday

The end of the week!! This would usually make me happy; however this was a vacation week, so today is the last day of my vacation. I still have the weekend off, but I can't help it, I am sad.
Today was Alex's last day of school(my 12 year old son) his vacation begins. Summer camp, camping with the boy scouts, pool parties with friends, hanging out with his cousin. To be young and carefree, just a memory for me. A great opportunity to take pictures, a wonderful excuse, I mean reason to go to crops, and create archives of times soon to be bygone.
Today is also the deadline to organize my craft room, label everything, make a master list of where things are, so later on I can find them, well I guess I won't be sleeping much tonight!!! Better get started.

What a wonderful day!!

Today is just glorious. The sky is beautifully blue, it is warm, and breezy, just perfect I tell you.
Last night was a different story. All of a sudden , it was like a hurricane. The wind was forceful, the thundering deafening, and lightning lite the sky, and the streets as the electricity failed. Eventually it calmed down, but not before a dreadful path of destruction. Branches down, debris all about, electric poles down after being hit by lightning. No air conditioning, and worst triple jeopardy; IO was out: no cable,no phone no Internet, even after the electricity was repair in the early hours of the morning. It was like living in the middle ages, not really. But how spoiled are we, and how vulnerable? That is why I will delight my senses and enjoy such a beautiful day.
Today is also Wednesday: a day of decisions. Like when one finds oneself in the middle of things, decisions, ( Weds. in the middle of the week). Since Krista was unable to show me how to download anything, I have decided not to do it eg. my decision for today.

Inspirational Tuesdays

Okay, so now that I finally started my blog, what do I blog about? I decided to do certain things each day of the week. Since Tuesdays are usually blah days, I will make it inspirational.
At this present time I am limited as to what to post(Krista needs to teach me how to do all kind of fun things) so I figured a quote for today would be good. I can't remember where I read this, but I found it memorable: "Live in such a way that those who know you, but don't know God will come to know God because they know you"

My new blog

I am very excited about this new adventure, and I hope to meet new people, and learn new things.