BLOG-HOP: Getting Ready for another LOAD...

Hi!
If you have arrived here via the LOAD Blog -hop ---WELCOME!!!

If you have arrived here because you are lost in the web of the internet---WELCOME!!!

I know that reading down the side bar of my blog you can probably tell
I have been a participant of every Lay Out A Day Challenge that
Lain Ehmann has held since the very first one she held at Big Picture
Scrapbooking as a month long free challenge.

I don't know what it is about making a lay out a day for a set number of
days but for some reason I just manage to scrap more if I set myself the
goal to finish '28 layouts in 28 days' or '31 layouts in 31 days'. The
challenge of dropping everything for 15 to 20 minutes a day to quickly
put together a layout that I might never have put together is big. Every
day is busy, every evening is full of taking the twins to extra curricular activities
and getting dinner ready/cleaned up. Nothing really changes from day to day,
except for that certain number of days I actually remind myself to stop and
play in the scrapbook materials for a few minutes and require myself to actually
post the results to prove to others that I did, indeed, take a few minutes for me.

Just about every layout I have done for the LOAD challenges have been super
fast (for me) projects. They were almost all put together within 15 to 20 minutes
and are probably not my best creative work but I'm happy with 99% of them.
(There is one I wasn't happy with and re-made later but on the whole I'm
pleased with most of them!)

My best piece of advice for LOAD? Leave perfection behind!
Scrapbooking becomes super easy!
Grab a photo, some paper, a few embellishments (or not)
and slap it all together and viola! It's a layout!

I have a pile of photos that I have printed out over the last
couple of years (I just keep adding to the pile) and I flip
through a few and choose one (or a few) and that is the
focus for my layout of the day. I grab paper and embellies
and go to town making a quick but cute layout. Now, I'm not
the most creative scrapbooker in the bunch but I do like to
get artistic every now and then. Those pages do take a little
longer but not much. I have also learned to quit fretting over
the 'perfect paper' or the 'perfect embellishment' or the 'perfect
ribbon', etc. You get the idea. I glue and go.

Also- when I'm not home during LOAD, and there have been
several different challenges where I have been on the road, I
use freebie digital scrapbooking supplies that I have downloaded
over the last several months. As I get emails of sales from digi-scrapping
companies that have freebies or free w/purchase kits I squirrel them
away for LOAD. I have learned how to change a background in Photoshop
and add the layer or cluster or whatever to my photo. It's quick and easy
and already on the computer so no photographing required before uploading
to the Flickr account. Pretty handy in a hotel room! I have learned to let go
and just put that photo on a page. Then, when I get home, I print it out as
a 12x12 layout, maybe add a little handwritten journaling, slid it into a
page protector, and add it to one of my albums. Easy- peasy- lemon-squeezy
as my kids would say!

The biggest thing to remember is - LOAD is FUN not stressful. Don't make it
work and don't stress over it. It is supposed to be a fun 'you time' activity
and a chance for you to be creative for a little while each day. Don't over think
it and you will enjoy it a whole lot more.

Here are a few posts I have done in the past showcasing my
LOAD layouts...

October 2010

February 2010

October 2009

Obviously, there are lots more posts on my blog regarding LOAD
but I didn't want to fill up a whole page just listing old posts. Feel
free to check the archives and take a look.

Now that you've visited me you need to go here and visit Tambur.

And if you are just starting on this Pre-LOAD hop check
Lisa's blog and then continue on through the rest of us!

Here's the list of all the participants! Enjoy!

Lisa: http://lisahausmann.blogspot.com

Katherine: (me) http://www.csmoferret.blogspot.com

Tambur: http://myhearties.blogspot.com

Pam: http://dailypamage.blogspot.com

Katrina: http://k84mansramblings.blogspot.com

Christie: http://mrsingie.com

Lisa: http://lisamzepponi.blogspot.com

See you soon in the next LOAD Challenge!!

xoxox

Csmoferret

Happy Independence Day!!!!

We have been really patriotic around here
and usually go see the fireworks displays
in a nearby city but since we are in an
extreme drought we thought we would
decorate with non-fire-fireworks!

What do you think?
With the flags outside and the flag painting inside


and the flag quilt I am sewing

(yep-that's my FIRST quilt Ever!!!)
I'm feeling pretty patriotic!!!

Enjoy!
xoxox

Csmoferret

Tipsy Canvas....

has me hooked on acrylic painting!!! That's part of the reason
I haven't been online in a while. The other part is I just don't
have the time I thought I would even though it is Summer!!
: )

Here are the canvases I have painted in order from the
very first one that got me hooked to my most recent
painting...

1) Bluebonnets (now on the wall in my dining room):

2) Reflections of the City (now on the wall in the guest room):

3) Fruits of the Spirit

4) Cherry Blossoms (Punkin has claimed this for her room):

5) Palms on the Beach (on the wall in the family room):

6) American Flag (above the fireplace in the family room):
The flag is my favorite but I really have had a blast painting all of these
pictures! I am going to have to start mailing these out for Christmas gifts
if I keep this up! LOL! This is just so much fun!!!

Enjoy!
xoxox
Csmoferret

LOAD days 3,4,5,6...

Day 3: Buddy's class at school. I just couldn't resist adding the ogre ears to the
circle that shows where he is.

Day 4: Punkin's class photo. I didn't dare add the Shrek ears to her circle. LOL.

Day 5: Digital layout using our New Year's Day 2009 photo.

Day 6: Punkin in front of her artwork (upper left corner) hanging in the
CC Art Museum during a young artist contest.

More soon!
xoxox
Csmoferret

LOAD 511 is rolling...

Here are the first two layouts of May...

I'll be making lots of digital layouts this month since I'll
be traveling from the 4th through the 21st but I love the
paper layouts best so I'll be scrambling to get another
done tomorrow and early Wednesday and then all of the
layouts from the 21st on to the end of the month.

Just 2 more 'wake-up's before I head out on the first
leg of my Inspired Artist Week trip! Yahoooo!!

xoxox
Csmoferret

Happy Happy...

Happy Easter 2011
to your family

from ours!

xoxox
Csmoferret

Yep, We Painted Bluebonnets!!!

Well, last night Tipsy Canvas set up a class at the local Country Club and then
walked 41 women through the basics of painting Bluebonnets. It was a total
blast! There was wine and appetizers provided and the canvases and paint
brushes were also provided. We showed up, picked a spot to sit down, and
were off and painting! I had such a great time and the ladies in charge were
really very nice and extremely encouraging. My friend Amy Jo went with
me (because I didn't want to keep all that painty goodness to myself!)

Here is a photo of the finished canvases we both painted!


Oh, and I know you can't really tell in this photo but we were both
wearing the SAME SHOES! Same color, same style! Too funny!

More later about more!
xoxox
Csmoferret

Check out this Awesome Giveaway!!!

http://jeanneoliverdesigns.com/blog/2011/04/15/amazing-art-supply-giveaway-helping-you-show-up/#comment-12806

LOAD 211 => Day 1

Yep, I'm doing it again! This one used the first photos taken
with my 'new Polaroid' camera. I love the little 2x3 size photos!
See you tomorrow!
xoxox
Csmoferret

View from our window...

we are on our family reunion ski trip and this view from
a window in the living room of our condo really inspired
me to get out the paints, water color crayons and
colored pencils to create this...

I had fun doing it and it has already inspired me to sketch out
a couple more ideas. Love how that works!

I'll post my sketchbook pages in order over the next few days
because I can't seem to get them small enough to be
accepted by email.

Enjoy.
xoxox
Csmoferret

From my family to yours...

Wishing you a
Very Happy, Healthy
& Safe New Year!

Good-Bye 2010!
Hello 2011!
Happy New Year!

xoxox

Csmoferret

Merry Christmas...

and A very Happy, Healthy, Safe New Year !!!!

Love & Hugs

Csmoferret, Hubby, Buddy, Santa & Punkin!

I completely missed this announcement but...

oh what a surprise when I got the box today!!!

Check out this link to the Cocoa Daisy Blog! LOVE me
some Cocoa Daisy kits!

xoxox
Csmoferret

Last Day of LOAD 10/10

I'm behind on posting my completed layouts for LOAD here but
I've kept up with creating them and getting them posted to the
group on the correct days. I feel like I accomplished something
this month just getting those 31 layouts done.

This is just a list of the photos. I will edit this post with the
details later - I don't have access to them right this minute.


Day 23 (digital -Lindsay Jane Designs cluster frames)
Day 24(digital template from Shabby Princess Designs)


Day 25 (digital -will post info later)


Day 26 (digital- will post info later)

Day 27 (digital -will post info later)

Day 28 (digital - will post info later)

Day 29 (digital template/ cluster -will post info later)

Day 30 (digital quick page- will post info later)

Day 31 (digital quick page -DSS designs- will post more info later)

Thanks for visiting my blog during the October Lay Out A Day
Challenge. I enjoyed posting my layouts and sharing the little
details.

xoxox
Csmoferret

Day 22 of LOAD 10/10

The challenge for today was to draw attention to your
photo or story in some way other than a size difference.
So I decided to use this digital quick page.


This is the Apple Hill Quick Page by Ella of
Gingerscaps.net and I used spring school photos of
the kids because they actually are dressed more for
Fall than the Fall photos (where they are dressed
for 100 F temps.) I'll be adding journaling around
the edge of the green paper once it is printed out.
I liked this quick page for today's challenge because
the stack of stuff in the middle of the page draws
your eye to it and then down the column. Not
something I usually notice but it's very cool!

I'll be back with another LOAD layout
tomorrow! See you then!
xoxox
Csmoferret

Day 20 & 21...

Day 20 => Challenge? Make a layout in 30 minutes or less -
grab and go, people, grab and go.

So, I used this digital quick page by Ali Edwards (AE Shutterfly
Quick Page) and added photos of Daddy and the Twins taking
down the play set in the backyard. They decided that the
swings were too small and the slide was too low and they
couldn't play on it anymore. So, we decided to just take
it down and also take down the old rickety trampoline and
get rid of it all. We got $9.00 for all the metal in the
trampoline and the wood from the play set went to the
farm. Now, the kids can run and play with the dogs in the
backyard because we can actually walk back there now. The
dogs are simply beside themselves and don't want to come
indoors! It is just too funny. This layout took longer to
print out than it did to make and I added journaling
around some of the flower shapes.


Day 21 = > Use a very large embellishment or element to
help tell your story and draw the reader in.


Is this embellishment/element big enough? LOL! I drew
this tree trunk on a 12x12 piece of chipboard (from the
back of a pad of scrapbook paper), cut it out while
waiting for the kids to get out of school, base coated it
with a soft brown paint, then used Crackle Medium and
top coated it with a dark brown paint. Then I covered the
back with pop dots and stuck it down to a piece of
Summery patterned paper. I cut out leaves too but
didn’t want to haul out all of my different paints so
I used a package of Prima leaves and added them with
some more pop dots. Basically, I just played and I’m
thrilled with the way it turned out. I think this
may be my favorite photo-free layout ever!

Well, off to bed. See you tomorrow for Day 22.
Only 10 more days of LOAD 10/10 left!

xoxox
Csmoferret

Day 19 - It feels like it took all day!

I read through the prompt this morning and printed out the
sketch we were supposed to use and then headed back to get
ready for the day. As I passed the backdoor I saw Wiley sitting
on the leftover sand from the playset that we removed a few
weeks ago. He was looking so pleased and content that I ran
back to the kitchen for the camera and took some zoom
photos of him. He really reminded me of the Sphinx (I've
been reading several novels thattake place in Egypt lately)
and so I decided that my accent on the sketch would be a photo
of the Sphinx and then I would use 2 photos of Wiley in that
same position. I love the picture of him yawning - that
one really makes me smile!

Of course, after uploading the photo of the layout to the
Flickr group I realized the mini-alphas of the title are hard
to read. SO I am going to dig out some of my alpha stamps
and use brown ink to stamp "Our Little" on the tag where
the alpha stickers are and change that just a tad. That way the
title will be more visible.

Using the sketch made parts of this layout easier than
others but I still had a hard time adapting my usual
12x12 format to the 8.5x11 format. It's hard to believe
but in 17 years (1993-present) of scrapbooking and
memory keeping I have never used just a plain ol'
8.5 x 11 inch sheet of cardstock as my foundation!
I have always either cut it down or used 12 x 11.5
(the old CM measurements) or 12 x 12 in layouts.
It was fun to try something new. I will be doing
that again soon, too!

See you tomorrow for Day 20!
x0x0x
Csmoferret

Day 18 - Got it done Early today!!

Well, the challenge today was to 'go hybrid' and I have been holding on
to this quick page by Marshmella Designs for a while now so I thought
I would go ahead and use it. Now the hybrid part kicks in once this
beauty finishes printing on the HP wide format printer and I can use
a Sharpie pen to journal around the edges on the line! So, all done
for today! Hip Hip Hooray!! Now I'm off to clean the house and
finish some laundry -can't have anyone going to school or work
in their birthday suits. : )

See you later!
xoxox
Csmoferret

LOAD Day 17 & 16 revisited...

Okay, I said yesterday that I didn't really like the layout I put together
and I knew I would be rearranging it before too long. I just didn't expect
it to happen at 3 am! LOL! I moved the photos around and then this
afternoon I found a journal box sticker that worked better than some
of the other things I tried. I also added some more crystals to the top
of the page and now it feels done.

Then I spent part of the day helping both twins finalize their diorama
designs and stuck around to make sure I was available for help if they
got stuck (they didn't need my help after all!) and by the time I realized
I needed to make a layout for today I was kind of crafted out. So I just
grabbed the extra photos from the group I printed out yesterday and
the extra branches I fussy cut from the flower paper yesterday and
created this layout...


It could use some more of the yellow crystals across the top like the
layout from yesterday but I don't have anymore...maybe one of these
days I'll find some and add them. I also don't have any journaling on
this page because I am going to create a pocket on the back and have
a tab that pulls up from the top so the journaling is hidden but still
available. But it's done and that's really all that matters.

See you tomorrow!
xoxox
Csmoferret

LOAD Day 16...

Today's challenge was to put everything we done so far to good use.
I don't think I managed that but here is my layout for today.

This is part of an old Scrap Jammies layout kit but I modified it and
added some stuff, etc. I am not real thrilled with the photo layout
and I had a journal tag above the small photos but I didn't like it
there and ripped it off before uploading my layout to the Flickr
group for LOAD. I know I'll figure something out that will work
better but I'm going to bed -maybe I'll come up with a better
design tomorrow.

Good Night!
xoxox
Csmoferret