A Passion for Scrapbooking, Decorating and Shopping

Political wall decor...

My guy enjoys history, including war movies, documentaries and politics.  So last year, I decided to do something political-themed as a birthday gift for him and his passions. 

I purchased Presidential campaign buttons from each election (on eBay) beginning with the year he was born.  I then found a display box/frame online and arranged them on the board.  This was a project I completed over a year ago and in looking at the display tonight, I realize there are no George W. Bush buttons (need to return to eBay).  And note I only purchased buttons of elected Presidents.

He now has a conversation piece to hang in the area of our home where the pool table and poker table reside.  Not only do I need to purchase a George W. Bush button, but depending on the outcome of the election next week, I'll need to purchase another button.  And as a result, I will need another display box. 

And please don't read into it too much as you will notice we have more than one Clinton button.  When I made my purchase on eBay, it came as a set of 3. 

It makes for a fun and inexpensive hobby, depending on the year you begin with.  I have to admit that Kennedy's button was the most expensive of the bunch.

If there's a political buff in your family, this is certainly one option as a gift.  And the hunt for the right buttons makes it all the more interesting.

Blog organizing...

Spending the last 2 days reorganizing this site has me very distracted, thus no blog posts lately.  I am attempting to clean-up links that no longer work and sharing information in a more orderly fashion. 

At the top of this blog, underneath my banner, I have created links to topics I frequently "talk" about.  I've also included those same links on the right side of this blog under "A Passion For". 

So please pardon the dust while I continue to make this site a bit more functional. 

And tomorrow, I intend to share a gift idea of the political kind.  Stay tuned.

Where I've been in the last 24 hours...

In the last 24 hours, I have browsed a number of sites and thought while you are here, would you be interested in viewing some lovelies that could possibly accent your home?

Discovering new accessories always brighten my mood and I was brightened by this Chicken Note Holder Frame at Wisteria.  Perfect for a craft room or message area in your home. 

Carolyne Roehm's exquisite taste includes a lovely vase which I could also see using as a decorative pencil cup.  It would add sophistication and classic style to your desk or workspace.

Hurricanes, from Source Perrier, that represent a federal style (in my opinion) with hand engraved stars are an accent I'd welcome in our home.  It reminds me of something you would find in Thomas Jefferson's home, Monticello.

I've never seen metallic linen drapes until today on Pottery Barn's website.  Very chic.  It has inspired me in many ways.  We'll see if it materializes.

If I could, I'd decorate my entire Christmas tree with ornaments at Bayberry Cove by Wendy Addison.  The vintage glitter is what sets it apart from what you typically see in department stores.

And, last but not least, Linens 'n Things.  Did you hear they are going out of business?  You could always count on some much-need staples for your home, like bed sheets, organizers, bins, glassware, the works.  I'm disappointed to hear they will not be around much longer.  I am not one for crowds (you know how it is when the word of a sale gets around, particularly a going-out-of-business sale) but I will check out their website to see if I can find anything I can't live without for a good price.

I have also begun my holiday shopping.  And how I wish I could share them here but it would be hard to keep it a secret from the recipients.  I am very excited though about what I've chosen as gifts for family & friends. 

Tonight, I leave you with a resource on what to do with your pumpkin once Halloween is over.

Enjoy.

A Love Affair...

...with handbags.  I decided to document this fact in the form of a scrapbook page using a photo I've mentioned here before that involves me, my Aunt and my Mom circa the 1970's.

My layout inspiration is from Page Maps along with cute and feminine paper from Daisy D's Modern Romance #2 collection, a variety of Prima flowers I 'borrowed' from my best friend, Stampin' Up! ribbon and lovely Amy Butler Sola (handbag) stickers.

There's no denying my fascination with this fashion accessory and I know I've mentioned Anya Hindmarch many times recently as she is my all-time favorite handbag designer (her high-end style is featured in Vivre).  Recently a co-worker commented on on my handbag and I couldn't wait to tell her that I purchased it at Target.  Style is not always about the price but when you find a great deal on something, like a handbag, I feel the need to advertise it to the world, so to speak.

I also enjoy Vera Bradley accessories and handbags.  The straps on her bags are very, very comfortable on your shoulder.  And the hipster is one of my favorites.

A friend introduced me to Be&D whose leather is soft, supple and stylish.  You can find great deals at Nordstrom when they are having one of their fabulous sales.

One time I was shopping with my best friend at Target.  I was looking at a trash can for my bathroom and saw the price....$24.  I put it back and said "I can't pay $24 for a trash can".   She thought I was nuts because depending on the right handbag, I would go to great lengths to fit it into my budget.  But when it comes to a $24 trash can, I draw the line.

It's all a matter of priorities and where you want your hard-earned money to go.  And for me, handbags are on the top of my list.  My guy though begs to differ.  It's food on the table first before handbags.  And that sums-up my love affair with handbags.

Stampington & Co.'s Where Women Create...

The premier issue of Where Women Create arrived last night and I didn't waste a moment perusing the magazine. 

Admiring the creative spaces of such inspiring women is a true delight.  From what I read in the magazine, there will be opportunities for women to be a part of this incredibly creative niche Jo Packham has created. 

Shamefully, I admit that my little space is messy tonight.  And I can't blame it on being creative.  It's simply messy, to put it simply.

It has become the catch-all for anything that happens to be in my hands when I walk into the room. 

Messiness aside, it's my little piece of heaven. 

As for the aforementioned magazine, I understand it hits newsstands on November 1.  Or you can order a copy directly from Stampington & Co.

Wherever you create, may your little piece of heaven keep you happy and inspired.

I leave with a photo of a quote from the magazine...

Host chairs...

Our dining room table & chairs were a discovery I made in House Beautiful magazine back in 1990.  I phoned numerous furniture stores in North Carolina to find the best possible price.  Thankfully, I did.  We took our tax refund and bought those pieces and waited anxiously for their delivery 6 weeks later. 

There was not enough money in the budget for the matching buffet or china cabinet and we could only afford to purchase 4 chairs.  One day though, we intended to complete the set.  By the time we were ready to do so, the line had been discontinued.  Here's a photo of the complete set from an Open House magazine approximately 10 years ago:

Today, I'm glad we were not able to "complete" the set.  It was after reading design books, magazines, watching HGTV and acquiring a desire for a less-matched look led me to seek out host chairs for our dining room instead of 2 more chairs that matched the set.  Not that there's anything wrong with a matched set.  It's all about what you personally desire to be surrounded with.  And there are many different directions to go when it comes to interior design.

It was when I toured a Southern Living Idea House home in 1995 that I discovered the use of host chairs and it has stuck with me since.  When I came across chairs I liked, they didn't fit the budget.  In fact, they were way above our budget.  By the way, I just happen to come across the mini-catalog circa 1995 we received from the tour.  Here's a photo of what inspired me:
 

A couple months ago I received an email from Home Decorators that featured chairs that I knew instantly would work with our table.  My biggest challenge has been finding skirted chairs that did not expose the wooden legs.  If I exposed the legs, it would have to either match or coordinate very nicely with our table, which is tough to do. 

The two chairs I ordered from Home Decorators arrived a couple weeks ago and not only do I love them but my guy really likes them too. 

It took me 13 years to achieve my goal and am now content with the direction we're going in.

Our table of 18+ years needs some TLC and once I locate a furniture restorer in our area, it will receive the attention it deserves.

At Thanksgiving, we can comfortably accommodate 6 at the table without grabbing the folding chairs.  And this holiday season, we will be enjoying the comforts of home.  There's nothing like it. 

Presentations...

It's all about the presentation when it comes to giving gifts.  The perfect gift wrap, gift bag, gift box or anything we can do to achieve a festive look.  For efficiency, I typically choose gift bags.  They are recyclable in most cases and easy to handle.

And for the queries I received on the plastic storage containers for the gift bags in the armoire I posted yesterday, I wish I had resources to share with you instantly.  I could not find any online but can tell you that I purchased sets of gift bags in those plastic containers at Costco in years past.  Perhaps they will have them again this holiday season. 

There are times though where I feel like selecting chic gift wrap and coordinating ribbon in an attempt to make the gift look stylish.  It's similar to selecting patterned paper for your layout, right!?

For stylish gift wrap and anything else that pertains to gifting, I favor the Container Store.  Their selection suits my style and when I'm in the mood to coordinate gift packaging under our tree, I turn to their Gift Wrap Style Maker.

Truthfully, I spend more time being inspired by their ideas than actually executing them.  I cannot recall a Christmas where our tree and everything underneath it coordinated beautifully. 

I do make an honest attempt at gift wrapping packages with pretty bows.  My favorite type of ribbon is wired ribbon.  Without the wire, I am lost.  I like the ability to shape the bow and when it gets crushed en route to your parents house, you can easily perk it up a bit with a bend here and a bend there.

For the most spectacular presentations in gift wrap, Carolyne Roehm's book, Presentations: A Passion for Gift Wrapping, is a great inspiration.  Her website is another resource for classic-style gift wrap and ribbon.

When gifting baked goods, as we try to do each year, we turn to tins as they typically keep things fresh a bit longer than anything else we've tried.  With plain tins, you can go in many different directions with themes and the season.   Adding a bow in a particular color, like green & red for Christmas or brown for Thanksgiving, is what sets the tone.

And dearest Rachel made a great suggestion to include a set of alpha stamps in the gift armoire.  It's a classy way to personalize your gifts.

With the Giving Well class I am currently taking at Big Picture, Kolette kindly shared graphic images of gift tags which I've printed onto Bazzill Bling cardstock to include on the gifts we give.

It may sound a bit premature to be discussing holiday gift wrap, but it can't hurt to prepare early.  My past experience with last minute shopping means I spend more money than I intended.   My solution this year is to take inventory on what we have and make a list of what we need based on the gift-giving list we created.

And more importantly, I will try to take advantage of great deals on December 26th and stock-up for 2009.

An armoire for gift-giving...

When I'm away from home, I can think of many things I should be doing if I were home.  I then become anxious and get overwhelmed by those thoughts because I am not at home doing those things.

My solution to help calm my nerves and feel productive is to write those ideas and 'things to do' inside my little notebook.  If I can't be at home executing ideas I have in my head, I find it gratifying to jot them down.

So, my latest 'idea' was to move the armoire I originally had in my craft room down to the basement and designate it as a gift-giving work center.

This idea has been in the works for several months now and I finally got a chance to execute most of my plans today.

Here the armoire sits in the basement, still looking a little lonely but it's a work-in-progress.  Next to the armoire is a floor vase I purchased from Crate and Barrel several years ago where it is now a home to rolls of gift wrap.

Open the doors and you see where I am slowly organizing gift bags into plastic containers and identified each one by labeling them with Thickers felt alphabet stamps.  You just gotta love scrapbooking supplies, particularly ones that are multi-purpose like alphabet stickers.

I also added a Making Memories magnetic board to the door where I keep a list of special gift-giving dates of loved ones and a pencil cup for markers and pens.  There's also a decorative box/bag for cards and a little Jo Malone gift box I am using to house gift tags.

I have a jar (leftover from last Christmas) filled with pre-made bows, a box to store holiday cards and a cup for scissors.

In the first drawer, I filled it with various size boxes to organize tissue, bag fillers and ribbon.

I've designated the bottom drawer for gifts.  I'd share the contents but I can't reveal any secrets.  It's not a big drawer but it's enough to help me set aside some small items I've been saving for last minute gifts. 

I'm happy that the gift center is up-and-running in time for the holidays.  The nicest thing about this project was that I did not have to go out and buy a single thing.  I used items from around-the-house and re-purposed photo boxes, gift boxes and scrapbooking supplies.

As for my notebook of 'things to do'....well, it's growing every day.  What I find to be fulfilling is to open that notebook and take a red pencil and cross off 'to-do' items from my list as I complete each one. 

And tonight, I will sleep well.

An ultimatum...

If it has to do with exercise and fitness, I do need an ultimatum.  If you do not exercise, your muscle tone will continue to decline and gaining weight follows.  I know the benefits to exercise, how come I am not motivated enough to be consistent about it?  Two words...I'm lazy.  I'd rather read a magazine, scrapbook, go meet friends for dinner, watch a movie with my guy or stare at the sky. 

My friends will get a laugh out of this when I share the fact that I pre-ordered a new "game" for the Wii Fit.  I didn't know anything about it until my best friend sent me the link. 

So, Jillian Michaels, I need a Fitness Ultimatum.  Make me move, make me sweat, make me exercise.  And motivate me to be less sedentary.  Brainwash me.  Tell me I need this or else....

A chandelier fetish...

Lighting.  One of my favorite topics.  And I think my friends know how much I admire it because...

A friend made a chandelier card for me.

She also gave me a magnetic memo pad.

Another great friend sent me a link today to a beautiful scarf on Etsy.  I've never seen a chandelier image on a scarf before but this one on Etsy is quite nice.

And my best friend pointed out this acrylic chandelier stamp by Heidi Swapp during one of our shopping jaunts to our LSS.

I give 3 cheers to graphic designers who create the most darling images for us papercrafting gals.  It's what makes this hobby so darn fun.

A favor or two...

Our Stampin Up! consultant, Nancy, continually inspires us with crafty ideas.  So I am glad she finally began a blog to showcase her work.

And the crop we attended over the weekend, she created fabulous make 'n takes where I 'made' and 'took' a cute party favor.

A little halloween treat bag with my new favorite punch shape as a tag.

She also used the new Sizzix die-cut exclusive to Stampin Up! where we made a winter-themed tag.  This is where I fell in love with the new felt ribbon.  I wish it came in more than one color though.

On display at her table were various home decor-type projects, including a Christmas shadow box using their vinyl clings and patterned paper.  Nancy added battery operated lights and miniature ball ornaments and created a lovely piece of holiday decor.

I was also dazzled by her "business card"...

The inside contains a calendar and notepad.  All in the size of a matchbook.

The ideas are running through my head as to what I could do to customize these little projects into favors for Thanksgiving and Christmas. 

So I have Nancy and the Giving Well class with Kolette at Big Picture Scrapbooking to inspire me this holiday season.  Now all I ask is that Santa grant my wish.  And that is the gift of time. 

Getting to know your friends...

The more time you spend with girlfriends, the more you learn about them.  And this weekend, I spent 3 days scrapbooking with a lovely group of friends and learned a few things:

• Jelly Belly's are loved by many, including Amy.
• Starbucks is a must for some in need of a caffeine boost
• The Twilight Series is a must-read as it dominated the conversation
• Tool and supply-sharing is common practice
• Show-and-tell is expected
• Kits are popular (my favorites are It Kit and Creatologie....Amy's is Studio Calico)
• Deb is our favorite brownie-baker.  And there is someone who can bake Banana Bread!
• Do not lock your friends, or in a particular case that occurred this weekend, lock your sister-in-law in the car (you had to be there)
• The Scraponizer is a great organizing system as showcased by Marirosa
• Chick-fil-a is loved by everyone, including their styrofoam cups
• Two towels are a necessity for showering
• Chocolate in many forms is a necessity for sustenance and sugar boosts
• Laughter is a lovely emotion shared by all

It was an uplifting weekend and helps me start the work-week on a positive note.

Anya Hindmarch for Target...

I almost forgot that Anya Hindmarch's handbags designed for Target were available in store and online this week.  It was when I stumbled upon the handbag section of the store my heart began to race.

There they were, all pretty and shiny, fit and trim, tailored and classic. It took me a few minutes to take it all in.  Which one do I want?  I had to call my best friend and convince her that she too needed one of these bags.

I decided a small flap bag would be nice to have for weekends when I only require my wallet and cell phone.

My preference is usually a larger bag for everyday use, and thought the large shoulder bag would suit me just fine. 

I'm kind of ashamed to admit this but I actually purchased a 3rd handbag, a large shoulder bag in black.  It's a staple for one's wardrobe, just like a black dress and black shoes.  It goes with anything.  And that is how I explained it to my guy when he saw 3 new handbags on the table this evening.

And when you do the math, it is not nearly as costly as a Coach bag. 

Do I dare mention that I was eyeing the satchel online?!  I'm not even going to venture down that path right now.  Pushing your luck is what they call it, right!?

So tonight, I celebrate my love of handbags.  In particular, Anya Hindmarch handbags. 

Saturday Night Fever...

I love this soundtrack.

And for $5 on Amazon's MP3 downloads, I could not resist downloading it.

The Bee Gees were the first concert I ever attended.  I was 13 and in love with Barry Gibb.  Only if I had saved my concert t-shirt.   I'm sure it would be worth a lot on eBay today, although I wouldn't part with it at this point, if I still had it.

I remember sneaking to the movie theater just to see the movie with my friends without my parents supervision.  What a bad girl, but such fond memories.

Night fever, night fever....

And who could forget My Boogie Shoes.

Sharing Your Story...

When I'm in need of instant gratification concerning scrapbooking, I turn to mini-albums and/or mini-books.  So when Ali Edwards published a book, Sharing Your Story, specifically on this topic, I decided to purchase a copy.

I'm inspired by the various themes of mini-books in this book.  One of my favorites is the Photo Log.  Since I'm trying to learn more about the abilities of my camera, a photo log is a great way to create a cheat sheet of shots along with the particulars (ISO, aperture, etc.).

Some time ago, Ali shared how she displays mini-books in her home and boy, was I inspired.  I sought out a basket similar to Ali's and have begun showcasing my mini-albums.

And one day I hope to find a console to place the basket of mini-albums onto but for now it sits on the floor of our living room.

Now my family & friends can enjoy sharing in my stories.

A student of photoshop...

Getting the chance to learn and be creative with a software program that I'm not all too familiar with was very fulfilling today.  My friend Tammy so kindly shared her knowledge and time with me and Carol, trying to teach us the basics of Photoshop. 

With Tammy looking over our shoulders as we worked diligently on our respective laptops (we use Mac, much to Tammy's dismay as a PC user) as she showed us ways to touch up photos, resizing, collaging, layering among many other techniques we found extremely helpful.  Truly she did a wonderful job teaching us on a Mac given the difference in shortcuts between that and a PC.

To get us comfortable with certain tools in Photoshop, we got to have a little fun.  This is my digital artwork titled "Fall in love with Photoshop".

I have a tendency to go a little overboard when it comes to creative freedom.  It was fun to let loose with no specific agenda.  And I did all this using my mouse right-handed (I'm a lefty). 

One of our requests to Tammy was to teach us how to take a black & white photo and make a specific item in the photo stand out in color.  And voila...

 

I'm so excited to have learned some new things today.  Gaining a little more confidence with hands-on training is what I needed.  

One thing I know for sure is I will ALWAYS be a student.

Fig Newman's...

A confession...

I'm addicted to figs.  Not just any figs, but Fig Newman's.  Fortunately, they are low-fat.

But I eat so many that low-fat does not matter.

Tonight, I discovered fat-free Fig Newman's.  Oh my.

The Book of Decorating...

...by Domino.  It's insightful, helpful with how-to advice, and full of eye-catching spaces that leaves you itching to decorate your own home. 

To quote the author, Deborah Needleman:

"Connoisseurs say that looking, looking and more looking is the key to learning about anything visual, whether it's great rooms, gardens, art or architecture.  But over the years, I've found that I can understand a subject more readily and appreciate it more deeply when I have some context - a base of knowledge - on which to ground my thoughts while I look.  So that's how we organized the book."

And they certainly accomplished this within their book as a way to help us decorating enthusiasts by layering illustrations piece-by-piece. 

I am still taking it all in as I received this book only yesterday.  And I do love the decorative hardbound cover.  It's attractive and ideal to display in your home.

You also receive a free 10-issue subscription to Domino Magazine (there's a card at the back of the book to complete in order to receive the free issues).

I feel spoiled tonight, delighting in all the visual inspiration.  And may it inspire me to find the perfect color scheme for our bedroom.

The art of giving...

Right now my creative world is filled with online classes I've signed up for through Big Picture Scrapbooking.  I am playing catch-up with the photography class that began in July and preparing for Cathy Zielske's Design Your Life. 

I love to give gifts and after reading the description of Kolette Hall's upcoming class, Giving Well, I decided to enroll.  Creating the perfect gifts, holiday cards and tags sounds like a lot of fun to me.  And this is the class I need to motivate me to prepare for the holiday season. 

When I took Kolette's class last month at CE, I learned that she designs rubber stamps.  So I can only imagine the exclusive downloadable artwork she provides in her Giving Well class will be just as nice as her stamps.

And while I'm on the subject of Giving Well, feast your eyes on some pink greatness:

It's a pink Garmin GPS portable navigator.  If I didn't already have a navigation system, I'd place one of these cuties on my dashboard. 

Consider this a possible idea for your holiday wish list.  Merry Pink!