packin'...

Getting ready for CKU-Albums in Chicago. Have an absolute TON to do before Wednesday. I love going different places and teaching, but the packing is so stressful. I want to be prepared, but not overpack. I want to take stuff to do, but will I do it? Getting together and chillin' with friends and making new friends always ends up being more fun! This is the cover and some pages from our Album project; Life's Lessons. I really like how it turned out. Just designing (with the help of Mandi!) and making it was fun, but adding the journaling has made it a treasure. I plan to add more to it as I go along - there is still some room in the album! I have another deadline I have to get in before I leave, so I had better get to work!

do you Realize...

This is a scrapbook page I made using my Simple Sweet Boutique Papers. I printed the title on transparency and then painted the back of the letters with bright, pink paint. The effect is bold and vivid. The journaling is the words of this great song by The Flaming Lips; do you realize?
The first line from the song is: "Do you realize, that you have the most beautiful face?" It just fit perfectly with this great picture of Chloe.

spring in the air...

Despite the fact that it has snowed the last two days and has been quite cold, it is starting to look like Spring. Before the snow completely covered the ground, I saw my tulips starting to sprout through the earth. I love Spring flowers - what a beautiful way to welcome the change of season from a dreary winter to an explosion of happy color. The All My Memories Retail store is getting ready for Spring too - we (the design team) are making some Spring time decorations for the store. Here is what I came up with - an Easter basket decorated with my Simple Sweet Meadow papers, and a mini Tag Accordion Basket in Meadow as well. The store will be making a beautiful transformation over the next week - come check it out! Flowers get me excited for Spring and creating with these colors makes it seem like it is just around the corner. Now, all I need to do is get the warm weather clothes out, do a little Spring cleaning around the house, and, get a some sun on my legs!

oakenisms...

A very favorite old layout is this Oakenisms page. Oaken had a unique dialect and I wanted to remember his version of some popular words. He didn't really start talking until he was about 2 1/2 years old and then we had to figure out what it was that he was saying. I love remembering him at this age and am so glad I have this page. Here are the words in the layout: Isabel=beow, binky=weewee, light=yite, truck=tu, buggy=ba ee, outside & slide= yide, pepsi & pizza=pappy, airplane=ma may, juice=ju, chocolate=chaket, milk=miew, fishy=fissy, money=mi ee, & chloe=umm. Whenever Chloe would tell him to say her name, he would just say umm - like he knew he wasn't going to be close so he didn't risk it.

another layout...

This is one of my very favorites. It was actually one of the pages from a class that I taught at All My Memories two years ago. I love using monochromatic colors and black and white pictures and this one turned out great. The title is from a song by Guster and it just seemed so perfect with the pictures. I love using lyrics in layouts - this site is also named after a song by Flaming Lips.

oldie but goody

I decided to post some of my favorite older scrapbook pages after reading the fun challenge that Robyn put out there. Scrapbooking materials, trends, and techniques seem to move and change so fast, its nice to reflect on old favorites. This challenge goes throughout the week so - here is day 1.

progress...

Do you remember the quote from The Sound of Music something like; "Whenever the Lord closes a door, somewhere he opens a window"? For some reason, it popped into my head when I took this picture of Jill. She is my youngest and last and I notice her progress more than any of my other kids (probably because she is the last). She is opening and closing doors all around the house now and this picture is probably the third time she has done it. It caused me to reflect about as we learn things in life, we naturally progress to the next stage. Jill will never again be stuck behind a door (unless it is locked) because she has learned how to get out. She loves practicing her new found trick but it makes me a little sad - she is progressing out of the baby stage and into toddlerhood. Now it is time for me to do a little childproofing and put the kid-proof door handles on - I don't want her to escape out the front door.

another page...

Here is another page I did in my art journal. I tried kickboxing at the gym and it was pretty interesting. I also tried going the next day after kickboxing and my muscles were still too tired - anyway, I slipped on some barbells and fell. I didn't hurt myself but I was embarrassed! Anyway - I would definately do kickboxing again. I used a transparency for the black lettering and squiggles and painted the back of the letters white. I love using transparencies - they are so adaptable to any project!

artsy challenge...

I stumbled across a challenge in Rhonna Farrer's blog and I just had to do it. It is funny that a stranger to me (with common interests and incredible talent!) can inspire this way. This has all of the elements of interest to me and is exactly what I need right now. The challenge is to conquer or create a habit through an art journal. I have never made an art journal before but have always wanted to. Not only does this challenge help with forming a habit but encourages me to create art every day. It has been so much fun! My big challenge is exercise and better nutrition and Scott and I actually gave up sugar and all foods sweet a few weeks ago so exercise was a natural fit for me.

pure joy...pure love...

I love watching the Olympics, especially the winter. I am always surprised at the pride I feel watching the U.S. compete but more than that, I have really enjoyed watching my kids watch and take pride in their country as well. "Are they from U.S. mom?" or "Did we get a medal?" My 7 year old is an ice skater and she has loved watching that. This picture shows just how she feels about it - Pure Joy!

My kids and I had the opportunity to go to the Humanitarian Center for a little field trip yesterday and talk about pride. It made me feel so honored to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints when I saw just what they do there. All of the clothes that are donated go to the center first and 85% of them are sent to people in need all over the world, as well as medical and educational supplies. Everything is recycled. Book bags and toy balls are made from airplace seat upholstery. Clothes that are too worn are sold and the money is used to buy new blankets. It is a perfect example of the Pure Love of our Savior. It was truly inspiring! Go and visit, you won't regret it.

LOVE...

Do you ever find yourself saying something with deep meaning on accident? For me it usually invovles talking to my kids or trying to get them to do something. I found these really great gold letters from Restoration Hardware and wanted my kids to hold them and spell out LOVE for a picture - inspiration for a Valentines scrapbook page. It is against the odds and probably some rules of the universe to get cooperation from all four kids at the same time and so, my boy wasn't going to hold his letter. All manner of threats and punishments came to mind and one of my girls said, let's just do it without him. I then uttered one of the most true statements for our family: "We can't have LOVE, if we don't have everyone". I smiled to myself as the words still hung in the air - how true it is. We can't have the love we need in our home if we don't have everyone's participation. A little more prodding and coaxing and, well, here is the result. Hope your Valentines Day was full of love.

music makes the world go round

I was working on a scrapbook page the other day and wanted to capture my feelings about music. As I thought about what it means to me, I realized that music is a universal language that conveys a universe of feeling. It doesn't matter our race, age, or education, music affects us all. I love watching my little kids' faces light up when they hear a song and watch them dance to the beat. They just can't help it, they have to move.

I took some pictures of my violin - something I have never done, and had a blast playing with the photos in photoshop. This photo is what I came up with - I love the color and shape. The violin is an instant visual message of music and feeling to me. I have played it in various orchestras and symphonies over the last 25 years (man that makes me seem old!). Some of the most powerfully moving music experiences I have had was when I played with the Mormon Youth Symphony. We would rehearse every Wednesday in the Tabernacle, which was open to visitors. Our conductor would turn to the congregation and ask who had come the farthest. Every single time, there would be people visiting from all over the world - far off places, and they couldn't speak English, but they could feel the power of the music. They could feel the message whether we played from any of the great composers or religious selections - it was a very powerful communicator.

I love all kinds of music and love playing it as well. Isn't it funny that we listen to certain songs at certain times? Like if I'm happy or excited, I always like upbeat songs, and if I'm thoughtful and reflectful, I like something else. Music really does make the world go round!

a big shocker...

Being a mom is certainly the most exciting & shocking thing I have done so far in my life. Right from birth, the kids have kept me on my toes. I try to anticipate what they will do, keep them safe, but still - sometimes they surprise me. For instance: my four year old son - Oaken - was standing with me in my bathroom last night. I was putting on my make-up and he was just standing there, playing with random stuff on the counter, and then it happend. A POP and a flash of light! The smell of ozone floats through the air. I was shocked at the sight - he wasn't. He had taken some toenail clippers and "clipped" the cord to our toothbrush charger - which was plugged in. He ran into the bedroom, a bit scared, and I had to follow to check him out. He didn't get shocked - nothing. There was a big, metal chunk taken out of the clippers, but he didn't get shocked - amazing. As I found out this morning, my hair dryer and straightener (which were also plugged in) were shocked too, they don't work. I will be going to the store.

A different kind of shocker happened a few days ago. My oldest, Chloe, eleven years old and on the brink of teenagerism shocks me too. It was a morning like any other. Madly rushing about the house, gathering homework and coats while eating breakfast and picking up rooms. Her dad asked her to deliver something to a neighbor on her way to school. She has to walk right past the house. "No" she said. "I don't have time." "It's on your way, come on and help your dad." I pleaded (okay, I kind of yelled, but she was being unreasonable). "I don't want to (whines a little) you can do it." She says to her dad and leaves the house. Her dad and I exchange "a little disappointment but not really too suprised" glances and he gets ready to deliver his package. A few minutes later, Chloe comes back in the house, grabs the delivery from the counter, gives a little smile, and leaves again. Now we exchange looks of shock - and then a little relief. Her concience got to working on her and she needed to make it right. We were proud of her decision. It's the little things that you hope for - those slivers of gold that show your kids are learning how to be nice people.

exciting times...

The buzz is all around - there is electricity in the air and adrenaline pulsing through veins. CHA begins and a bounty of new scrapbooking products is about to unleash itself upon the masses. For the average scrapper or hobbiest, it is exciting - for they can stand back and be entertained. Look at the broad selection of stuff; innovative products that make our pages better and better, colors, textures, shapes, sizes. Manufacturers have a feverish frenzy of a few days. They must encourage retailers to buy and come back for more...often! For the designer, it is both nerve racking and exhilarating. Choose me, choose me, buy my designs, sell them in your store.
This is where I fall, I design the scrapbooking line called Simple Sweet from All My Memories. Will scrappers like it? Will they want it? I hope so! I am especially excited for my new border papers, morsels, and page tabs.
This layout shows my new Milkshake line with border paper, alpha dots, and Page Tabs - this is a designer class I am teaching at the All My Memories retail store.

do you realize?

So, I've decided to start a blog...call it peer pressure, call it curiousity, call it a need for organization. It seems easier for me to collect my thoughts when I write them down, and here, I can keep them, organize them, learn by them, and use them later on. I'll most likely get a good laugh!

Why "do you realize?" for my blog name? Aside from it being one of my all time favorite songs by one of my all time favorite bands (The Flaming Lips), it is the perfect backdrop for a bigger picture. Do you realize - there will always be something more to learn, something more to experience, something more to share? Life just keeps going.

Here I go, trying out this new thing. It's gonna be fun!

joey