the nitty gritty

It has been quite some time... I must say.

Pretty much the last time I posted was when I started working full time and I hated it and my back was a victim of it so now I am not working with some back issues. Lots of school work, blah blah blah.

I really want to get back to making things...I have that house album that was mentioned a bit ago with a few pages done that is calling my name. I'm actually in the midst of selling a great deal of my scrapbooking supplies. I'm never going to use all of it and I really need the money for those 60 mile a day trips to school. So be on the watch for that in the next week or so....

There will be several Basic Grey Collections, a beginners lot, probably several prima lots, and who knows what else....

Hopefully I will post again soon ...possibly with pics of that house album! (It's being made with Crate Papers Katlin collection).

filler!

It is has been quite a bit since I have posted! Truely, I haven't had anytime! I started working at Walmart in the electronics dept. on the 8th and have barely had a minute of time for myself! Apparently part time is 40 hours?

Anyway, since my last post I had been working on a house album for about two days before I didn't have anymore time. I got my wisdom teeth out on monday, and I am doing pretty good I think (went back to work on Wednesday) just some oozing. Gross I know.

going to vegas in 4 days! Wooo!!

Princess!

Sorry that has been a bit since I last posted. I have been super busy.
The camping trip a few weeks ago was... something. It rained a lot. And when we went on our canoe trip on the Wisconsin river, we were pounded by hail, wind, sand, and rain. Enough said. It was still fun :)

I did in fact start that second house, have a couple of pages done, but thats about it! I might get some time at night this week if I am not tired. I start working at Walmart tomorrow (already did orientation) and I work 9 hrs (minus lunch) every day and I get random days in the middle of the week off which isn't very useful but oh well, I really need the money.

I went to David's Bridal to go try on dresses to get ready for Running of the Brides...and ended up going home with one :) Originally it was just going to be me, my cousin, and my best friend, but my mom and aunt ended up coming too. My aunt picked out my dress and well my mom paid for it! How about that? We figured out that white did not look right on me at all so they started grabbing ivory/champagne dresses and I think the third one of that color I tried on was the one (after about 20 others!). It's not the typical dress fabric (the heavy one) its much lighter and you can't tell but throughout the bustle there are sparkly beaded flowers. Straps are coming off for the reception. Here's a stock photo of it in white:

It makes me feel like a princess and that's all that matters! It was an amazing deal too... but I won't share that much. Going to the eye dr. in a bit hopefully to find out that the eye infection that I have had for over two years has subsided so I can wear contacts that don't cost an arm and a leg!

Brave the wilderness!

Well it's not really wilderness, but I will be leaving on a camping trip tomorrow morning until Sunday in Wisconsin. The only animals we really see are cows. Yes cows, there's a cow pasture right in front of our campsite. They are awesome, they moo. No raccoons or anything like that even, I guess we're just too noisy for them. Hopefully it doesn't rain too much, Wisconsin has had enough flooding lately! I am dropping off Milo at my mom's because it is supposed to get pretty hot here and I don't want to leave him alone. This is him below:

I have a job interview at Sony in a few hours. Hopefully they'll pay enough to be worth driving 60 something miles a day for. Ohhh and I am going to David's Bridal next Friday the 3rd to figure out what styles and sizes work for me. I hear they make you seem like a whale with their sizing but oh well.

I have been working on this house shaped album, let me tell you, it's not easy! I shouldn't have tried to tackle a rounded house as my first attempt. I already have plans for a next house that I will start next week. Here's a mini peek at the mushroom house:

Well everyone have a good weekend!

Good morning!

Hello! It's a little chilly this morning probably because it's not quite 8 in the morning. I have a job interview on Wednesday at the Sony store at the outlet mall, we'll see how it goes. But really I wanted to let you know what I am going to start today:

A House Album!!!

I am sure many of you have seen them, only rainedakota has really made them. Now she has her instructional cd coming out on Monday, soon they will be all over eBay. But I want to make one first before the rush of sellers pops up.
Plans are for a colorful house, fairytale/cartoonish, using the My Mind's Eye Magnolia collection.

I will most likely be out of town from Thursday till Sunday on an annual camping trip, but I am not sure yet. With all of the flooding and rains here in the midwest, I don't know if the trip up to Wisconsin will prove to be very good :o\

Well I'm off to start the house, I put up a preview as soon as I have something substantial! I've never done one before so I am not sure when that will be :)

look ma! No hands!

You may be wondering about the title... long story short, my car likes to wander off the road if you don't have a death grip on the steering wheel. Well my brother got it all fixed, finally! And I don't have to worry about ending up in a ditch or the wheel falling off... :)

In other news, Periphery purse is complete! Here's a peek at the cover:

It will be up on Sunday night on the Bay. Finally, a purse that isn't so feminine it will knock you over. There is some new page styles in this purse, too.

I *hopefully* (fingers and toes crossed, will have a job VERY soon! I went to more populous area (I live in the country, surrounded by corn, seriously) and found a few places to apply and one said that you will most likely be hired. !!WOOO!! I hope I am not getting too excited here, but I REALLY need it.

What causes a cat to act like a dog? And is THERE A CURE?!
My cat every morning, like clock work, walks into my bedroom yelling like the building is on fire, or, like he has to go outside like a dog would. It drives me nuts! It's not like he doesn't have food or water or something, it's all there. I think he's having an identity crisis. He also plays fetch.....???

What is the point of a quiet lifestyle community if it is not enforced?
The guy below me has his music/tv/BASS loud every single evening and I've complained and nothing. For example, its nearly midnight, and hes had annoying bass music on since before 8pm. I can jump up and down on the ceiling until something falls off the wall and still nothing. Some people have no respect I tell ya!

My cutie is coming over tomorrow..YAY!!
Alright that's enough rabbling for one day!

*Pixie Dust*

As promised, here's a look at my latest: Tinkerbell Purse!

I love how the cover came out! More previews available upon request... It will be up on the Bay on Sunday night most likely accompanied by a periphery purse which has been half done for weeks :) I am having another spring cleaning sale, have to do something since I have applied to 30 or more places and haven't even been called back.

I might start venturing into a different scrap area... paper piecing sets. Seems like a lot of people are doing their own scrapping so we shall see how it goes. Many people do not allow them to be resold, but I think I will if they are included in layout or a purse or something not just resold.

I'll have some preview pics of the other purse within the next 2 days!

Finally...

My biology class that was taking up my entire day is OVER! Woo! Yea but that rash I've told you about is still there, so I am going to the doctor tomorrow.

But today!!! I am making a Tinker bell purse, it should be a lot of fun to make, and maybe I'll have a preview up later today, if not by Tuesday since I will be in Chicago again this weekend. It's the first non-paper line themed purse I have ever done so it should be interesting.

Maybe I'll have a job by then!! No joke I've applied to probably 2 dozen places. I applied to another 3 yesterday alone. I'd really like to work at a bridal shop, I think it would be a lot of fun, but there aren't really any near me... so I would probably be spending $13 on gas every time I went... eh... I would love to be able to work from home but I can't find a place that I really trust or there isn't some contingency on it.

Happy Father's day too!

TGIF!

I miss the good ole TGIF back in the day... when it was step by step, full house, and boy meets world. Anyone? Does it even exist anymore?

Anyway... ( I just said a lot of 'any' words...)

This humidity is driving me up a wall. It was over 90 yesterday and the humidity was terrible! I was sweating like I should be in a gatorade commercial. And I am pretty sure it's going to rain again, like before I am done writing this post.

Rude awakening of the week: The cost of wedding photographers.
Why?: I have been looking into all things weddings, trying to get a good idea of what I want (and don't want, speaking of which please take my poll on the left-->) to make a budget and goal for saving. I figured I should start doing this before student teaching next fall. I like to plan ahead :) I was expecting maybe a thousand dollars, hoping less, but seriously... four thousand??? Those photographers must live awfully nicely.

This weekend should prove interesting...me and the bf just got hip waders (rubber boats to walk in water) and plan to go fishing this weekend and catch some tadpoles. Hopefully nobody falls in, rather, I hope the camera doesn't fall in. I'll test out the durability of a ziploc I guess.

first layout in a long time!

After watching many other auctions do well lately, I decided to venturing back to my beginnings: layouts!

It's a fairy layout with tear bears. here's a pic:



My biology class ends in a week and I can't wait!! It's driving me bonkers! I have literally 2 assignments due everyday! I sat down today and did like 3 of them just do I could work on a poster today and tomorrow that have to be done before I can start on the powerpoint that goes with them next week.

(I still have that rash from the field trip....?!?!)

Has anyone done the "Running of the Brides"? I am thinking about doing it this year :)
Check it out:
http://www.filenesbasement.com/bridal.jsp

My bf hasn't OFFICIALLY proposed but we already know we're going to be together for ever:)

Which brings question: is buying a dress before you're engaged bad luck????
I need opinions!

Some people...no respect!

Ever noticed when you really want to do something, there's always something else stopping you from doing so?
I don't know what "LAW" it actually is, but Murphy's is close...
"if something can go wrong, it will"

I just want to doing my scrapping but noooooooo the Biology Monster is attacking me. Literally, I have a rash from the marsh I went to the other day on my legs and I have several Biology assignments due this week. GRRRrrr!

Some people have no respect!! Specifically my UPS man.... I have been awaiting a package (of waders for my bf and I) and the delivery day was today. So I went to check the website today to see if it was on it's way here, and it said it was already delivered and some mystery man named David signed for it.... UMmmm WHO?!! In the past, delivery people always put those sticky notes on the door saying the package is at my apt. complex and he definitely didn't. I am glad I checked the website. I get to the office and the lady there said he just left it in front of the door when they weren't there. HOW RUDE! I live in a college town and you don't do that. Anything out is fair game! Luckily people have been home for the summer otherwise I would have been ANGRY!

And there are yet other people who charge you $14 for shipping and ship your item in an envelope you would use for a bill... SERIOUSLY, this happened to me. I finally got my swarovski crystal beads, just like that.

I am really not an angry person :)
I got my Gossip Girl books today. Yes I am reading them, just got into the show and figured why not do some reading? ;0)

Well back to attack the biology monster so i can snuggle with the scrapping fairy, haha!

So many birds, so little time....

So I am back from my field trip... I didn't think we were going to stay long because it has been nonstop storming here but we were there for about 2 hours before we went back to school to ANALYZE SPECIMENS. FUN! .... not? My instructor was like a kid in a candy store at the smallest glimpse of a bird. I personally just never know I could fill a sheet of paper with all the birds that lived down the street but oooookkkayyyy....... just don't poop on my car again.
In conclusion, do NOT drink anything near a marsh. It's gross.


I am determined to make the next $800 layout! I wish! I haven't done a layout in months ago!

I am going to try my hand at paper piecing. I can draw pretty good, but I don't know if I can get my ideas out onto the paper in this different media. It is going to be a tear paper fairy/mushroom layout... like so many that are already out there. So hopefully I won't ruin a classic. I'm using Basic Grey's Lily Kate for this one, which is already a bit whimsical.

I will be gone for the rest of the weekend to Chicago. My bf and I are going to a Chicago Rush (indoor football) game and a flea market. Maybe a scrapbook store... I dunno... if we have enough time :) OHH I'LL MAKE SOME!

does anyone really like being sick?

I think I speak for everyone when I say that I hate being sick. I wake up Tuesday with a migraine from the land of hockey sticks, ruined that day, yesterday my stomach wanted to hang out in the fish tank, and today its a combo of both. I think I'm having some serious sugar levels too.

Every time I turn around my doctors quit the practice without telling me. I usually find out when I called in to get an appointment, FIGURES! So I decided to change what practice I went to and you know that isn't effective until the first of the month. AGHHHH!!! I've only got a few more days....

Enough with me! Here's the goods:

I just finished another purse:

It was made using Basic Grey's Phoebe collection. It's girly yet funky :)

It's supposed to rain/thunderstorm tomorrow here in IL.... which I don't think is very good since I have a Biology field trip at a local marsh in the afternoon. I have a feeling I may be standing out in the rain in the middle of a marsh tomorrow....

A view of two...

Checkin in....
I was all excited about the semester finally being over...when my summer classes started 3 days later. Yargh!

Anyway, I have finished two purses since and have two started right now.

Basic Grey Sultry Purse

Crate Paper Katlin purse

I am working on two Basic Grey purses right now: a periphery purse and a phoebe purse. Phoebe should be done by the end of the week, if my Swarovski crystals ever come in, while I wait for more Primas for the periphery purse.

I need to venture into different paper collections... anyone have a favorite they'd like to share?

What's coming up!!!

Just checking in!

I am currently working on a Prom purse! I am using Basic Grey's newest collection: Sultry.
I just got a hold of Crate Paper's newest line: Katlin and you will can count on seeing a purse from this fun & girly line!

I promise to put up a preview of the prom purse this week!
Finals are next week so I will soon be done with school for a while, so you can count on many new things to come this summer!

Eye Candy

It's been a while since I have posted! Yikes! Well I have two more completed purses in that time... well one of them is a treasure chest! Here's a look at them!




And here's my pirate princess purse:




I am working on a prom purse right now hopefully it will be done in the next two weeks :)

TGIF!

Another week in the books, another purse completed!
My bunny face idea did not work out :(
The ears had no support they were just, well, there.
But nevertheless, I have made a very Springy Purse!
Here's a pic:



I've got two great ideas for purses right now, one has to do with the Pirate Princess line by Rusty Pickle, that one I am not giving away and a "Things I love about you" purse w/ Daisy D's Girlfriends Line. So I have a feeling April will be a productive month. Anybody have suggestions for a purse?

Easter Purse!!!

Woo Spring Break! Some spring break, it's snowing! Anyway...
This gives me plenty of time to finish my easter purse album!
I'll give you an idea what it looks like....
The face of a bunny
and Basic Grey's Gypsy/Romani paper in the inside.
It has spring written all over it!

I would say I am about 33% done with it, lol but I will definitely finish it this week!

Stay tuned for sneak peeks!

Welcome to my Blog!

Finally, I decided it was about time to start a blog to let everyone know what I am working on and what's going on here! I'll try my best to update often, but taking 4 classes and doing student teaching leaves little time!

I just finished my very *first* purse album! It is made out of Basic Grey's Two Scoops line.

I am very happy to have finally finished it, it took me nearly a month with all the things I have had going on. With family members in and out of the hospital and the recent NIU tragedy (I am a student there), concentrating on anyone thing is a task and a half!

Very soon... I think I will start an easter purse....