Scrap Girls Digital Scrapbooking Adventures

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

Quality Time

Having three small children and being a full time working mommy is quite challenging. Sometimes it's hard to find time to do the fun things my kids want to do. Especially when they all want to do different things!

I decided recently that I would start taking my kiddo's on their own outings, this way I can focus just on them. I'm taking them out this round, next time they can find something fun they want to do with their daddy. It may not always be something grand, but they still think its special.

The other day Braden and I went to get something to eat at his choice of location. Afterwards we went on a hunt to find Braden a piggy bank. When he found a simple red one he said, "I like this Piggy Bank!", so the red one it was. After we got home he said "Thanks for going with me Momma. I had fun!". That makes it so worth it, doesn't it?

Supplies Used: Knick Knack Frame Embellishments

This to That

I have a notebook of ideas/to dos that is constantly laying on my desk. It may be an idea for a collection, set of templates or anything else for that matter. Perhaps, just a picture that inspired me for some reason, loosely sticking out of the pages of my notebook.

Last year, I noted that it would be cute to do a collection based on all of the cutesy things I call my daughter, as well as things that just remind me of her. The first paper I started working on was filled with brightly colored cupcakes and candies - the epitome of sweetness. By the second paper, my focus totally changed - it went floral and had nothing to do with my daughter. The base idea I had eventually led to my Euphoria Collection.

I do this a lot. Things start and happily end up something totally different. But, I did just happen to finish up a collection based on my daughter - minus the cupcakes.

(Pho Sure)

Kuyteav is one of my favorite things to eat... ever. It's a Cambodian noodle soup usually with meatballs (or some other type of meat if you wish) and eaten with hoisin and sriracha. I love it because you can slap anything in there you like. Mine is usually topped with cilantro and green onion. Some may be more familiar with Pho noodles, they’re pretty similar.

Surprisingly, it’s something all of my kids will eat. Sebastian takes his "with no green stuff." Braden takes his with mostly noodles and a little broth and Evelyn takes hers with a little broth and her meat cut up really fine.

It also reminds me of a cat I had years ago. She loved it. She was a gray cat with a white underbelly and paws. If we ever had Kuyteav, she would make her way up to the stove once it was cool and drink the broth straight from the pan. Lord knows how long she actually had this habit, but I didn’t know about it until I caught her in the act one day. She took hers minus Sriracha I believe.

Photo uses: Brush Set: 4x6 Florid Ink.

Paint It Red

We have been working on some things around the house. I have always wanted a red front door. A few weeks ago I got around to painting it, while my husband painted the shutters red. He only painted one set red before he declared that he thought the house looked better without the other shutters on the other four windows. I disagree. And I'm still not sure if he was just saying that because he didn't feel like painting them. I’ll be painting the rest of them here and there as I find the time.

My husband is in the process of laying bricks for new edging and then replacing mulch etc. I want pea gravel instead of mulch, something else my husband doesn't agree with. We will see who wins that one. So right now we've got random bricks about, old mulch, and windows sans shutters. We'll see how everything looks when we're done.

(Elements from V's Decorate Collection)

Reason 1

Why is digital scrapbooking such a big part of my life? Some reasons may be big, others small. There are tons of them. I'm going to share one with you. (Probably the biggest.)

My kids. I want to remember all of the little things that may otherwise be forgotten. Something funny one of them said one day or maybe even some trouble they got into. I hope my kids will enjoy all of my layouts when they are a little bit older.

At home

There are many things that make up a home. The people, the smells, and memories. I try to take moments to photograph day to day things. Of course I scrapbook things like major holidays, but to me the small daily things are just as important if not more important to remember.

Try taking time to take random pictures around your home. Don't think about it too long, just snap pictures all over your house. Go back later and go through your pictures. What treasures did you capture? What pieces of your life and family can be found in these seemingly uninteresting photos?

I snapped this picture from my front door. I realized I captured my "Welcome" sign, my husband making pizza, and a random note posted on my bulletin board. These small things say a lot about our family and home. That welcome sign makes me smile every time I see it. My husband enjoys making pizza, even his own dough (and he is really good at it!), and of course I leave notes everywhere (I'm a list maker). These are all things I could make a digital scrapbooking layout about - but may have never thought about it unless I took this photo.

Purse Thief

Going through old pictures, I'm amazed at how much my daughter looks like a tiny me. Besides looking just like I did as kid, she’s certainly showing interests in things that Mommy enjoys.

When I'm in front of my mirror "putting on my face," as the women in my family like to call it, she sneaks up and runs off with my makeup brushes. I'll catch her in the hall, stroking her face with her hijacked booty, enjoying herself. Oh, and purses! I have a purse fetish. Evelyn enjoys them as much as I do. She has a few of her own that she will just carry around the house. This little girl knows where Mommy puts the purses that I'm not currently using - in the bottom of my closet. If she ever sees the closet open, she runs for her favorite purse, a small red Dooney and Burke that I've yet to use. When I say run, she runs! Usually to the kitchen with it, hoping I don't catch her.

As she grows, I hope we can continue to have things in common - and I hope digital scrapbooking will be one of them. I doubt that my two boys will go this route. I'd just love to have a scrapbooking buddy! But, for now, we can share purses.

Decorate

I've always been crafty. I've always wanted to decorate things, even if things didn't need decorating. I like taking something boring and adding a little of "me" into it. Moving into my new house was exciting. I could paint the walls any color I wish, hang as many pictures as I wanted to - I wasn't limited to something crazy like three nail holes per wall that my previous apartment complex enforced.

I was trying to decide what to do with the space above my mantel. I found some 8x8 frames at my local Target, and the choice was made for me. It was a perfect place for me to display my favorite digital scrapbooking layouts. Currently displayed are one for each of my children. I ordered a ton of prints at once, and I plan to change them out when I feel like it. All this freedom and blank walls brought me to a simple solution. Displaying my favorite people in a format that is very much a part of my life.

Digi What?!

I think a lot of people are highly confused about what I do clicking away at my mouse on my computer. It's a normal conversation to enter. "What kind of work do you do?" "I design Digital Scrapbooking supplies". That's when they reply "Digital What?!". Then the conversation goes on a little farther I try to explain to people that I create pretty things people use to scrapbook with. Just like paper scrapbooking, but less messy and we use a mouse instead of scissors. Most still don't get it. In fact I'm pretty sure my mother doesn't even know what I do. She just tells people that inquire "my daughter works on the computer." That works.

Even if people don't understand what I do. I love my job. I love the ladies I work with. I'm grateful to be able to work from home. And I'm grateful to have found a great way to be creative, and help others do the same.

Here's where the so called "magic" happens. In my small hutch desk in the corner of my living room tucked away next to my fireplace. It's not a huge setup, but it works for me. And as I type I can keep an eye on my one son pulling the other by his feet on the couch across from me. (also note the hidden tweety bird doll that a little someone named Evelyn hid for me under my desk).