:QUOTES: A little inspiration...

ROSALIA DE CASTRO:
“I see my path, but I don’t know where it leads. Not knowing where I’m going is what inspires me to travel it.”

MARY KAY ASH:

“Aerodynamically the bumblebee shouldn’t be able to fly, but the bumblebee doesn’t know that so it goes on flying anyway.”

UNKNOWN:

“Nobody trips over mountains. It is the small pebble that causes you to stumble. Pass all the pebbles in your path and you will find you have crossed the mountain.”

:LAYOUT: Alley Cat

Hard to believe that Halloween was a week ago already...

I haven't had a chance to scrap this year's pics yet, but here's a favorite from last year.

I didn’t have enough of either type of chip letters to complete to whole title, so used two different types to add more visual interest to the title block.

The three black elements (title letters, bat/journaling strips, house/journaling strips) create a visual triangle.

Journaling:

Kaitlin decided she wanted to be a BLACK CAT for Halloween this year and we found the perfect costume. There is just no way that something this cute could bring bad luck!

Supplies:
Adhesive: Duck
Cardstock: Georgia-Pacific
Patterned Paper: Pink Paislee, My Mind’s Eye
Chipboard Letters: My Mind’s Eye, Making Memories
Chipboard Shapes: My Mind’s Eye
Ink: Colorbox
Font: Bleeding Cowboys

:PHOTOS: Downtown graffiti...

Yup...you can even find graffiti in little old Yankton, SD!

:REVIEW: The Scrapbook Embellishment Handbook

I think every scrapper would agree that there is no lack of product out there for us to engage in our beloved hobby.

Gone are the days of using standard construction paper and regular scissors and glue. (I actually still remember the days when Hobby Lobby only had ONE AISLE of scrapbooking supplies! How about you?)

Despite the wonder of all our choices, Sherry Steveson recognizes a real downfall to our current state of product overload in the introduction of her new book - The Scrapbook Embellishment Handbook. "Oodles of supplies can leave us overwhelmed and frustrated over what to do with it all," she writes.

However, she doesn't simply recognize this issue, but helps to solve it throughout her book.

The Scrapbook Embellishment Handbook is divided into 17 sections covering numerous types of scrapbooking embellishments including old stand bys like eyelets and stickers to mediums that are fairly new to the scrapbooking world like digital elements and acrylic.

The full list follows:

1. Acrylic
2. Brads
3. Buttons
4. Chipboard
5. Die-cuts
6. Digital
7. Eyelets
8. Fabric
9. Fibers
10. Flowers
11. Letters & Numbers
12. Metal
13. Ribbon
14. Rub-ons
15. Stamps
16. Stickers
17. Tags

Each section includes three different techniques for using the featured product.

1. Simply Create - Shows the product used in a simple (often more traditional) way.
2. Kick It Up - Shows the product used in a more creative way.
3. Think Outside the Box - Shows you how to stretch your supplies by using them in ways you may have never considered before.

Step-by-step instructions are included for completing each technique and most can be achieved in under four steps!!

The book also features 15 Quick Tips for adding ease and/or pizzazz to your crafting and a gallery at the back featuring 6 layouts with 1-3 variations.

In all, there are over 100 layouts included in the book. The talented list of contributors included Nic Howard, Jamie Harper, Cindy Tobey, Kimber McGray, Suzy Plantamura, Melissa Phillips, Judi Van Valkinburgh, Rita Weiss, Janel Ohlson, Katrina Simeck, Stephanie Vetne and the author herself.

Although the idea of this book is to focus on the product, I also gained endless inspiration in terms of color, design and more from these amazing artists.

If you've got stash of scrapbooking supplies and you're just not quite sure what to do with it and/or just need some fresh ideas, The Scrapbook Embellishment Handbook was written just for you!!

READER RESPONSE:
Of the 17 product sections listed above, what are your favorite three to use when you craft?

:PHOTOS: Red wall alley...

Just a couple recent pics...love the color of this brick wall!

:MEMORYWORKS EXPRESS: November 2009 Kit - "Bah Humbug"

It's no surprise that Christmas brings out the inner humbug as surely as it brings out the inner child in all of us!

Even though this seasons' stress can bring out the scrooginess in us, let's look at the bright and merry side of things. Think of all of the wonderful decorative seasonal patterned papers and festive red and green embellishments that can help us to create the most wonderful Christmas project ever!

This amazing kit includes:

Patterned Paper
{1} 12x12 Mistletoe - Pattern Stripe (Making Memories)
{1} 12x12 Mistletoe - Trees (Making Memories)
{1} 12x12 Mistletoe - Argyle (Making Memories)
{1} 12x12 Mistletoe - Big Green Dot (Making Memories)
{1} 12x12 Mistletoe - Advent (Making Memories)
{1} 12x12 Mistletoe - Flocked Snowflake (Making Memories)
{1} 12x12 Barcelona-Manresa (7 Gypsies)

Solid Cardstock
{1} 12x12 Intense Kiwi (Prism)
{1} 12x 12 Sugar Cream (Prism)
{1} 12x12 Blush Red Dark (Prism)
{1} 12x12 Black (Prism)

Embellishments
{1} 5 ½ x 9 ½ Sheet - Mistletoe Word Fetti Stickers (Making Memories)
{1} 5 x 7 Sheet - Mistletoe Chipboard Buttons (Making Memories)
{4} 5x7 Sheets - Retro Mix Blackboard Letters (Cosmo Cricket)
{1} 3" Fascinating Petals Flower - Black or Cream (Pink Paislee)
{1} Believe Frame Clear Stamp and Jewels (Prima)
{4} 2" Journaling Tickets - Assorted Styles (Tim Holtz)
{4} 1" Adage Tickets - Assorted Styles (Tim Holtz)
{3} Small Binder Clips (Shoplet)
{3} Black Mini Keys (7 Gypsies)
{1} Yard ½" Black with Cream Dot and Edge Ribbon (Creative Impressions)
{1} Yard ½" Green with Cream Dot and Edge Ribbon (Creative Impressions)
{1} Yard ½" Red with White Dot and Edge Ribbon (Creative Impressions)

Bonus Cards
{4} 5.5 x 8.5 Intense Kiwi (Prism)
{4} 5.5 x 8.5 Sugar Cream (Prism)
{4} 5.5 x 8.5 Blush Red Dark (Prism)
{4} 5.5 x 8.5 Black (Prism)
{4} 5.5 x 8.5 Panna (Prism)
{5} 5 3/4 x 4 3/8 Natural Envelopes

ALL FOR ONLY $29.95!! (plus $6.50 S&H)

Take a look at the amazing projects the MemoryWorks Design Team created using this yummy kit in this month's free Idea Express download!

If you are interested in this kit or subscribing to the MemoryWorks Express Kit Program, please contact me today for further details!

:PHOTOS: My little vampira...in black & white...

The same pics from yesterday...just in black & white.

Which do you like better??