Scrap Girls Digital Scrapbooking Adventures

Pretty Pedi Pals

One of the best things about Scrap Girls is the friends that I have met online. Three years ago we had our first Scrap Girls retreat where we met "in real life." It was so wonderful to be able to see each other in person, to hear their voices and connect the photos of these women with a real person.

It was such an odd feeling, that I already knew these women and yet I had never met them. It turns out that I have made some of the best friends in my life, even though we only 'see' each other once a year. I so look forward to being with my Scrap Girls friends at convention and spending time with these important women in my life.

This year, we were lucky enough to plan in a little girl time and pamper ourselves with a massage and pedicure. I've never had a pedi before! The pampering was great, but just being with my girlfriends was the best part. We had a wonderful time together, and I hope I don't have to wait another year to 'see' my friends again!

Photo folds from the ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Photo Folds 4 , word art from the Brush Set: Handwritten Life Biggie, and background papers from Photo Mojo Collection.

Bingo?!

“BINGO!”

Without a doubt, one of the highlights from last year was the Bingo game, and I suspected that this year would be the same. It didn’t disappoint! From the moment that our spectacular Bingo man made the first call, the atmosphere in the room was simply electric.

Imagine this: Our Bingo caller (who happens to be Paula Wrights’ step-father), places a Santa hat on his head – with accompanying laughs. In his best Bingo-calling voice, he entertains us with a few anecdotes, and some instructions – and we are off!

Amidst cheers, we have one winner after another. When a bingo winner would call out, “BINGO!” not only were there cheers, but also a few calls of “SING IT!” – and there were even a few brave gals who would sing out, “B-I-N-G-O! and BINGO was his name-O!” It gets even more exciting as Ro announces various prizes: personalized layouts from layout artists, an iPod, a hard drive, gifts from designers, collection mini’s designed for you by designers, a gorgeous purple hand-knitted monkey made by Sara Peterson – can it get any more fun?

I walked around snapping photos of the game – and it was so fun to see everyone having such a great time. There was much laughter, sometimes hilariously, when the Bingo man said especially funny things. Laughter when “B4” was called, and Amanda McGee would call out, “OR AFTER!” There was wild applause, or even a table or two doing the “wave” when a member of the table got the prize.

You had to be here, but believe me when I tell you: there is NOTHING in this world comparable to being in a room full of happy, excited, laughing, wonderful ScrapGirls during a Bingo game.

Bingo, anyone?

Layout by Joann Brown uses: Scrap Girls Event 2009 Collection Biggie, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Transparency 4901, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Price Tags Biggie, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Micro Glitter 6401 Super Biggie, Dynamic Brush Set: Paper Piercing 8201, Old Friends Collection Biggie & Freedom Collection Mini.

Quick Card

Did you ever happen to forget to purchase a wedding card? It happened to me the other Saturday when we were invited to a wedding. While cooking in the morning I tried to "plan" the rest of my day. When I realized we didn't have a card for the couple and that I had less than 4 hours before I had to get myself and everyone else ready I almost panicked.

But then I thought about digital scrapbooking. I love creating personalized cards, but I really try to prepare them well in advance! While I was still cooking I tried to "visualize" the card to speed up the design process. When I was finally able to sit at the computer I didn't like my first results. Then I simplified things. It always works for an elegant affect! I quickly printed it out on photo paper and glued it to some textured card-stock I had available. Then I looked for a matching envelope, wrote few wishes right from our hearts, and the card was ready! Thank God for digital scrapbooking!

I used All About Marriage Collection Biggie.

Blackberry Pie

I picked wild blackberries several times over the summer and froze them in “pie sized” portions so that I could easily prepare desserts over the holidays. I usually grind my own flour and thought I would do a practice run using soft white wheat flour for the crust. It was the ugliest pie I’ve ever made. Don’t get me wrong, it tasted great and the men in my life cleaned the pie plate quickly, but I wanted to make something that looked as good as it tasted.

There is just something about home-ground flour that makes the crust fall apart and not have the elasticity of store-bought flour. As I lamented this fact and the thought I would not be able to take a gorgeous home-made pie to present to the hostess of our next gathering, my husband walked into the kitchen, looked over my shoulder at the pie and said, “Guess that’s why women in the old days made so many crumbles instead of pies.”

Duh, why didn’t I think of that?!

Layout uses: Sweet Whimsy Collection Prairieland Collection Waters Edge Collection Dressage Artistry Collection Farmer's Bounty Collection

For The Love Of The Game

I'll admit I have a problem. I have become one of those obsessed football moms. I don't know what's come over me. When the boys played soccer, I didn't care if they won or lost. I was just "there" in the cold watching their games. Baseball was about the same. Only instead of freezing while watching the games, we sat through them and got a sunburn. Of course I was happy when they got a hit, and as they got up to bat I would watch. But other then that it was a time for the moms to get together and catch up on what's happened since the last time we talked.

But football, now that's another story. I find I'm right there with the rest of the dad's, pointing out all the missed calls to the referee's and being a sideline coach. I think a lot of it has to do with living in the Midwest and in a small town. Once the football season starts, the town comes alive. You know where you'll find almost anyone that lives here on a Friday night during a home game. So I'll admit, I have a problem. I'm almost as excited for each game as the boys are. And to think this is only their first year of flag football. We've got many more years of football to come, that is if they will allow me to come to their games.

Layout uses Football Collection Mini

Sickly

Evelyn woke up really sick the other morning. She had a fever and was crying non stop. I called to make her a doctors appointment and not soon after, she started vomiting non stop! I called the doctors again and they let me move my appointment up.

I'm fortunate because usually trips to my pediatrician are fairly fast and painless. Of course that day with a very sick little one, the wait was long. Evelyn wouldn't let me sit down, she wanted me to hold her as closely as possible and rock her standing up. After more than an hour of this, she finally fell asleep in my arms. Soon after we got into a room I laid her down to rest on the table.

My little one was sick enough to warrant the doctor giving her a antibiotic shot although he didn't like to because they're painful. Afterward we went home and she took a long nap. The next day she awoke like the same little Evelyn she normally is, coughing some still of course, but I'm amazed how much better she got, and so quickly!

Supplies used: ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Photo Masks - Nostalgia, Euphoria Solids Paper Mini