100 Things About Me

A tradition here in Blogland dictates that when you reach 100 posts, you list 100 things about yourself. Well, this is my 100th post, so here goes--

My 100 things in no particular order:

1. I was born in October.

2. I grew up in Orem, Utah.

3. I got married when I was 17.

4. I had my first baby when I was 19.

5. The only other state I've lived in was Florida.

6. I lived there for 6 months.

7. I hated all the big bugs!!

8. I was relieved to come back to Utah.

9. I now have 6 kids, 3 girls and 3 boys.

10. My favorite colors are black and pink.

11. I have a Bachelor's degree in Business Management.

12. I own an online retail scrapbooking business.

13. I'm an aspiring LDS Fiction author.

14. I recently finished my first book.

15. I work as a transcriptionist at Brigham Young University.

16. I also work as a Digitial Preservation Specialist at The Generations Network. (Graveyard! Yuk!)

17. I'm almost single! (Long Story.)

18. I recently discovered Facebook and I'm having fun connecting with old friends.

19. I have the most awesome writing critique group ever!

20. I'm also a member of ANWA.

21. I used to trade Foreign Currency. (The market is too scary these days!)

22. I'm the only girl in my family.

23. I have two brothers.

24. I lived in a foster home for a while when I was 15.

25. I love Mexican food.

26. My favorite fruit is raspberries.

27. I love chocolate--the darker the better.

28. I like to cook.

29. I have burping contests with my 11 year old. (Gross! I know.)

30. My kids friends love me. (I'm cool, what can I say?)

31. I love to read.

32. Historical fiction is my favorite.

33. I've tried homeschooling, but found I wasn't very good at it.

34. I broke my elbow when I was 8 months pregnant.

35. I had surgery on it later.

36. I hate dogs!

37. I really hate dogs!

38. Okay, I admit it. Dogs scare me.

39. When I was a kid my mom would hear me screaming and running down the street and know I'd seen a dog. Did I mention don't like dogs?

40. I'm not really fond of any animals.

41. I play the piano.

42. I like to sing, but I'm not that great.

43. I have had up to four kids playing competition soccer at a time and watch TONS of soccer games every year.

44. I drive them to practice too.

45. Sometimes I think I should just paint taxi on the side of my car.

46. I really like to go on cruises.

47. My whole family runs marathons, and I'm determined to run with them someday.

48. I cut my head open falling off the merry-go-round when I was two.

49. If you knew my over-protective mother, you would never believe that could happen.

50. My dad must have been watching me.

51. My dad is my greatest hero.

52. I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

53. I didn't go to church between the ages of 13 and 16.

54. I think it's really hard to think of 100 things about myself. :)

55. One of my favorite movies is "Savannah Smiles."

56. I like to keep things organized.

57. I hate to be late.

58. My house isn't always clean.

59. When my house is too clean, I'm ornery because I yell at everyone to keep it that way.

60. So I've decided everyone is happier with a little clutter.

61. I like to cook.

62. But I don't have a lot of time, so we've been eating way too many frozen things lately.

63. I'm determined to do better.

64. On my birthday in October, I promised myself this would be my year to get healthy again.

65. I'm making slow progress--but still--it's progress.

66. I'm stuck in the middle of a story. I think it's called writer's block. Ask my critique group? They'll tell you all about it.

67. I have to write a chapter for this week and I haven't started yet.

68. I spent Thanksgiving without my kids this week and it was sad. :( (The downside of divorce.)

69. But I get them for Christmas. :)

70. I'm intrigued by family history.

71. I'm related to Keith Fisher. We both have the same great, great, great, (not sure how many greats) grandfather. But we came from different plural wives.

72. I didn't graduate from high school with my class.

73. I graduated from the Adult high school after I was married.

74. I had four kids by the time I graduated from college.

75. I blog for yourLDSneighborhood.com.

76. I also write articles for wisegeek.com.

77. I recently got a blogging job with Prevention magazine. (Don't know the details yet.)

78. I also do some independent contract work for Morningside Partners.

79. My minor was in accounting.

80. I actually like doing my taxes.

81. I hate my small business bookkeeping though.

82. I want to learn more about digital scrapbooking.

83. I need to learn more about website design.

84. I love learning new things and learning has always been easy for me.

85. I think 84 counts for two!

86. I like to cook, but I hate doing the dishes afterward.

87. I hate laundry. I think my kids purposely put clean clothes in with the dirty ones.

88. I love it when it rains.

89. I like to curl up with a book when it's cold outside.

90. I love soup and rolls on a snowy day.

91. I love to scrapbook, but I don't have much time.

92. I HATE public speaking.

93. I read fast, and even faster when I'm nervous.

94. I'm shy and sometimes people think I'm just snotty. But I'm really not--just shy.

95. I don't like to take naps during the day. I wake up with a headache.

96. I don't fold socks. We have a laundry basket full of them. My poor kids just have to dig through the basket when they need some. Needless to say, their socks often don't match.

97. I'm really good at spelling.

98. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.

99. My kids make life worth living. I'd be lost without them.

100. I'm thankful for all the new friends I've made through blogging! You guys are awesome! Thanks for visiting my blog and including me in your circle.

Christmas Gift Ideas

I know you won't actually see this posted on yourLDSneighborhood until Monday, but I'm writing it on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, so I've kind of got Christmas on the brain.

Yes, I was crazy enough to go shopping this morning. I didn't come home with any great finds, in fact I didn't buy a single thing. But I did come home feeling a little unsettled. There is so much news around us about the state of the economy and how a lot of people are struggling financially. I was surprised by how many people were out shopping early today, but even more than that (after all I was one of them), I was surprised by the vast quantities of stuff people were purchasing. There were consumers who had three or four shopping carts piled high with toys. Nobody needs that much stuff!

Anyway, I thought today I would give you a few ideas of small, inexpensive Christmas gifts you can make with scrapbooking products. I know most of you have them lying around unused, so you might as well put them to good use.

The first item is a family recipe book. I found this fun idea on Debbie's World blog. You should check it out. She has lots of cute ideas. This book is made by using spiral bound index cards. Decorate the covers with cardstock, stickers, and embellishments. The wire is perfect for tying ribbon on. Then simply, write your recipes inside. You can also add stickers and embellishments to the pages inside as well.

Another fun idea to use products you already have is to create a scrapbook calendar for the new year. You can either buy a calendar to decorate or make your own. I'll give more details in an upcoming blog later this month. Grandparents love these. Especially if you fill in all the birthdays, anniversaries, and other important events for them. It's a great way to showcase your favorite pictures taken throughout the year.

You could also create a Thank You/Love You box. We did this for Thanksgiving this year, but it would also be a great Christmas gift. Purchase a box (we found one at the dollar store), or decorate your own. Then make small cards out of cardstock. You can decorate each one with a sticker or embellishment. We simply used paper flowers with a brad through the center of them. Then have all of your family members write a note to whomever the gift is for. Put them in the box. This is a very simple, inexpensive gift that will be treasured forever.

My hope for you is that you and your families can make this Christmas a simple, yet memorable one, focused on the true meaning of Christmas. Hopefully some of these ideas might help.

Return to the Neighborhood.

Be Thankful

I just came home from taking my daughter to a friends house. We took an unusual route and my daughter complained it was taking too long and questioned my decision to go that way. On the way home, I came back by the way we would have usually gone. There was a bad accident which delayed traffic for several miles.

Now, I'm not saying had we gone the way we usually go that we would have been involved in the accident, but it likely occurred at about the time we would have been passing by. Somehow, seeing someone else's suffering causes us to reflect on our own blessings.

With the approach of the Thanksgiving holiday, my thoughts have turned to things I have to be grateful for. I know this blog is departing from my usual subject, but since it will be posted on yourLDSneighborhood on Thanksgiving day, I thought I would take a little bit different approach. I appreciate your patience with my self-indulgence.

It’s been a difficult year for me, but as I look back, I realize I have much to be thankful for. My sweet children have stood by my side as I made choices that have affected their lives as much as my own. I appreciate their never ending support. My parents have stepped up and helped with things I’ve been unable to do for myself and I’ll be forever grateful.

I’m thankful for my association with Candace and the other people at yourLDSneighborhood. I appreciate the opportunity it has given me to develop my talents and share them with others. The growth I’ve experienced in the process is immeasurable.

My writing group deserves a big thank you as well. They push me to be better and support me in all aspects of my life. I couldn’t ask for a better group of friends. They’ve lifted me in ways they will never know. Thanks guys! I also have a few special friends, whom without their support, I would have completely fallen apart--you know who you are. Words cannot express what you have done for me this year. All I can say is thank you.

And I can’t forget my Father in Heaven. He unfailingly supports me in all I do. Even when I falter, he’s always there to pick me up, helps to dust me off and gives me a nudge in the right direction.

Take time this week to express thanks to those around you and your Heavenly Father for all the blessings in your life. It’s a hard world we live in and there are things going on around all of us that seem tough at times. With the love and support of loved ones you can make it through.

And don’t forget, the whole purpose of scrapbooking is to document and preserve precious memories to share with your loved ones now and future generations to come. Thanksgiving is the perfect time to create an album of thanks. Take pictures of all the things you are thankful for and create a small album. It will be fun to look back on and will help you realize you have an awful lot to be thankful for.

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Thanksgiving Memories

I can’t believe Thanksgiving is almost here. It seems like school just started. Because of changes in my life situation, I’ve been working. I’m amazed at how the time seems to fly by when life is dictated by someone else’s clock.

Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays. You get the feeling of family togetherness, without the busyness Christmas brings. I remember when I was young and we would all gather at my Aunt’s house and I’d play with cousins all day. Eventually, as we grew up and started having children of our own, the group got too large and we started meeting with only our own family. I miss the days of gathering with relatives I don’t see as often.

When I was a teenager, I hated the time before dinner when we’d go around the table and say something we were grateful for. It invariably brought tears to my eyes which at that time I was too proud to show very often. I wish I had photographs to look back on those happy times, but I don’t so they will have to live on in my memory.

This Thanksgiving, take the opportunity to create memories you will never forget, but also remember to document them through photographs, journaling, and even scrapbook pages for future generations to look back on and enjoy.

Here are a few Thanksgiving scrapbooking ideas to get your imagination started. Look through them and plan now how you will save the memories of this special day.

-Pictures while preparing the meal or carving the turkey.
-Pictures of people watching football and the children playing.
-New members of the family – babies or in-laws.
-Traditional family recipes.
-List of things you are thankful for.
-Have those present sign a slip of paper with what they are thankful for and include them on your page.

Thanksgiving Page Title Ideas:
Count Your Blessings
Friends, Family, Food and FOOTBALL!
Turkey Time
Gobble ‘til you Wobble
What a Bunch of Turkeys

Have a happy holiday! Return to the Neighborhood.

A Stitch in Time

Sewing? On paper? Yes! Sewing can be used for a variety of reasons on your pages including to hold items down, to add a decorative border or just for embellishment. Sewing on paper adds texture to your scrapbook pages and is lots of fun!

At first, sewing on paper may seem difficult. It isn’t quite as forgiving as fabric. If you make a mistake, you generally just have to start over because after removing thread, holes will be in the paper. Once you get the hang of it, I’m sure it will become one of your favorite techniques.

It helps to lightly draw a line with a pencil to guide your stitching. It’s a good idea to use heavier threads because they will show up better on your project. You can machine stitch using a regular sewing machine or one specially made for scrapbooking and other paper crafting projects. Provo Craft has a small portable Sew-Easy machine which retails for $12.99. It isn’t heavy duty, by any means, but works well for sewing paper.

Another fun technique is cross-stitching. To make it show up, use several strands of embroidery floss. It helps to mark and pre-punch the holes with a paper piercer or a large needle. You can also use other types of materials for sewing; yarns, silk ribbon, or even fibers are all possibilities. Don’t forget decorative machine stitching. Most sewing machines, even basic models, have a variety of stitch patterns. Get out a piece of cardstock and try them out. You’ll be amazed with the zing they can add to your pages. Since there are about a million different thread colors, it’s really easy to get just the right color to go with your patterned paper.

Here’s a few ideas you can try:
· Add a stitched border on a card or scrapbook page.
· Include decorative stitching across a length of ribbon or twill tape.
· Stitch to create a photo frame.
· Use stitching to create a pocket out of fabric or paper.
· Attach an embellishment or decorative item to your project

If you like the look of sewing on your layouts, but are too intimidated to try, there are a lot of products on the market including stamps and rub-ons which make your layouts look like they’ve been sewn.

I hope you’ll try some of these fun and easy techniques. One last hint is that it’s always best to adhere your paper or fabric to the cardstock before you start to sew so that it doesn’t slide around.

Return to the Neighborhood.

Framed Layouts

Do you remember when you first started scrapbooking? If your initial attempts at scrapbooking are anything like mine, you probably want to leave those pages in the archives. I’ve been tempted to redo them more than once. But the task seems too daunting and I can’t justify redoing pages already done and in albums when I have boxes full of pictures still waiting to find a home.

Scrapbookers spend hours creating amazing layouts, but then hide their works of art in the deep recesses of bulging scrapbooks. A recent trend—framing—helps you enjoy your layouts today, rather just putting them away for future generations.

Creating pages for framing is not much different from creating pages for a book. If anything, it’s even more fun. You’ll showcase your scrapbooking skills and decorate the house while you’re at it!

Creating layouts designed specifically for wall display adds a whole new dimension. You are no longer limited to the size and shape of a scrapbook. You could make huge poster-sized pages, oval and round pages, long thin rectangle pages . . . you get the picture. Any size or shape of frame can be turned into a scrapbook layout.

Often, framing allows you more depth to utilize bulky embellishments or memorabilia you wouldn’t include in a scrapbook. For example, the layout on the right includes a baby page you might see in any regular scrapbook, but because it’s in a deep frame, the knitted hat the baby wore in the hospital is also included.

Shop around for unique and unusual frames. Practically any frame can be turned into a scrapbooking layout. Check junk stores, department stores, garage sales, and even the dollar store.

Select a frame, and then picture where you want it to hang in your house. You can even decorate the frame and the page to match the surroundings. Check out my altered frames articles for some ideas. Don’t limit yourself!

Start today by seeing if you have any old frames lying around. Frames are also available in all standard scrapbook sizes from 6x6, up to 12x12. You can usually find them right alongside the scrapbooks in your local craft or scrapbook supply store.

Return to the Neighborhood.

Happily Ever After

I admit it. I'm a sucker for a good romance. I want the hero and heroine, boy and girl, frog and princess to get together. I knew I was in trouble last week at my critique group when Tristi prefaced her comments about my most recent chapter with something like, "Remember, I love whom I chasteneth." Then she went on to tell me that the romantic scenes I'd written were coming too fast and too soon in the story

I can honestly say I knew this when I was writing it. I'm working on a new book and it's been a struggle. I have a man and woman trapped in a remote mountain cabin for several weeks. I'm trying to come up with ideas of things they can do, or things that can happen during this time. There's only so much you can do in a two-room cabin. Any and all ideas are welcome? (As long as they are clean!) Please send them my way.

It's actually very motivating to receive feedback and suggestions on my writing. I come away from our critique group every week having learned something new and a better writer because of it. We have way too much fun discussing plot holes, scenes that won't quite work, points of view, doctrines of the gospel, and in my case just plain old trying to rush things. (Did that about sum up last week's meeting?) Thanks guys! I'd be lost without you.

Tristi, Heather, Danyelle, Keith, Me, and Nichole

And Tristi, thanks for reminding me that happily ever after doesn't come in the middle of the story!

Stamping Basics

I have always loved the effect of stamped images on scrapbook pages. But I didn’t want to learn how to use them because I thought it would just be another trend that would start to fade as soon as I invested the money in it. Once I learned how to use them, I wondered why I’d put it off for so long. Rubber Stamping has been around a long time and is here to stay because of its uniqueness and versatility.

You can use stamps to create distinctive titles and journaling. You can also embellish your pages as well as create fun backgrounds to accent your photos. Once you discover the varied uses for stamps, you’re sure to fall in love with them.

There are tons of stamping products available, but you can start out with just a few of the basics. Choose stamps you know you will use on more than one project. The most useful stamps are alphabets, geometric shapes, background stamps, and phrases you know you’ll use over and over such as “Happy Birthday!”

One of the easiest ways to use stamps is to create background paper. Stamp one image or several images repeatedly to get the look you want. Try using white ink on dark paper for an impressive look. Use Alphabet stamps to create titles or to stamp individual words you want to stand out in your journaling.

Be sure to stamp on a hard, even surface. Hold the stamp securely and don’t rock it from side to side as you apply pressure or your image will be blurry. Instead, press the stamp down firmly to ensure all areas of the image receive the same amount of pressure. Always let the image dry before you touch it.

As an alternative to ink pads you can use markers and color right on the stamp. This makes it easy to use varying colors on the same image. Or simply stamp the image in a solid color and then use markers, colored pencils, or chalk to color in the image.

The easiest way to clean your stamps is to use alcohol-free baby wipes. Another option is a 1:1 ratio of water and window cleaner. Spray it on a folded paper towel and then stamp on the wet surface until all ink is removed.

I hope these simple tips make the idea of using rubber stamps less daunting. Experiment with them. They are ideal for all sorts of projects: handmade cards, gift bags and tags, wrapping paper, bookmarks, gift books, scrapbook pages and more.

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Altered Art: CD's

I’ve gotten lots of positive feedback from the other altered art articles I’ve written, so I guess I’ll keep them coming. Today we are talking about altering CD’s. You all have old disks lying around. Sometimes they come in the mail, others just stop working. Well, there’s no reason to throw them away. Instead, turn them into a work of art. There are a million ways to alter a CD. Here are a few examples of what you can make by altering a CD:

• Make Christmas ornaments for your friends and family. They'll love the fact that they're homemade and you'll love the fact that they're cheaper than the alternative!
• Add pictures of your family or friends for a very unique picture frame.
• Send an altered CD as an alternative to the traditional greeting card.
• Create a CD and attach it to your next housewarming gift as an unusual and beautiful tag.
• Combine several altered CD’s to make a unique photo album.
• Don't be afraid to decorate the CD case, as well, for the whole package. This makes a VERY impressive gift.

Have fun and be creative. And don’t worry—you won’t mess it up. Altering by nature is out-of-the-box and funky. I think you'll quickly realize just how addicting these things can get!

Return to the Neighborhood!

Organization Tips: Paper Scraps

Patterned paper, cardstock, stickers, die-cuts, brads, buttons, flowers, chipboard, tools, and the list goes on and on. Most scrappers have a huge stash of supplies. If you are like me, you buy supplies faster than you can use them. So, how do you organize all of these items? I know if I don’t have my supplies organized, I forget what I have, I cannot find what I want when I need it, I get frustrated and then decide it’s easier just not to do it.

Organizing all your supplies is a big project. I suggest doing it in baby steps, organizing one item at a time. Before you know it, you’ll have everything organized and be ready to scrap. First of all, decide what bugs you the most. For me it’s paper scraps. So today, I’m talking about scraps. I’ll give you some ideas of what’s worked for me. If they work for you, great! If not, or if you have an even better idea, please share it with me. I love new ideas and I’m sure some of yours are better than mine.

Organizing Scrap Paper

Every scrapper has scraps of patterned paper and cardstock. It’s hard to throw them away, but unless they are somewhat organized, you’ll never be able to find what you need and the scrap pile will just keep growing and growing. What should you do with them? What size is okay to throw away? How do you organize them? Read on for a few ideas.

First, I purchased an expandable storage case made for storing 12x12” paper. I keep a 12x12” sheet protector in each pocket, with the open side up so I can slip scraps in. This helps me quickly pull out an entire section to look through, without making a mess.

First, I separate cardstock from patterned paper. I don’t sort the cardstock. I just throw it all in a plastic bin set aside for cardstock scraps. It’s fairly easy to look through and find the color you need. Next , I separate my patterned paper scraps by color. Then I file each color in alphabetical order. It is very simple and easy to find what I need when I want to use scraps.

As a general rule of thumb, I keep any scrap over an inch wide. I use them for everything: die-cuts, accenting cards and layouts, matting photos, and journaling.

I also have a second plastic bin where I put scraps I know I won't use. This is for the kids. They love having their own scraps that they don't have to ask permission to use.

I’ll have a series of organization blogs coming up to help you get your scrap space organized. In the meantime, sort those scraps and come back soon!

Return to the Neighborhood.

Book Review and a Contest

My friend, Anne Bradshaw, wrote a fantastic book review for Heather Moore's new novel, "Abinadi." Her review made me excited to read it.

Click here to read the review and details about how to win a copy of the book.