Working Moms and scrapbooking: A space and time dilemma

HIYA!
The last friday of June! Aeeee!
Where did my favorite month go?
It's been so CRAZY here!
I'm working 10 hour days and on my days off I have to do the laundry, the grocery shopping, the last minute scrapbook assignment finishing(not a good way to work AT ALL) and squeeze in Mom and wife time as well.

A page I made for the Gauche Alchemy newletter.
New washi prints are in at the Gauche shop! Thereare also new individual rolls available.
Swing by and check out the offerings! Gauche Alchemy on ArtFire.

I had NO IDEA how organized and truly amazing some of my favorite bloggers where till I tried working full time myself.

WAIT! Before I annoy a lot of people- being a Mom is full time but my two year old naps twice a day. I used nap times to do the chores so my evenings and weekends were free.
Well no more!

I'm on my feet most of the day- when I get home all I want to do is lie down and feel sorry for my poor exploded feet.

THANK YOU Aerosoles! I found shoes I can stand on for hours.  Soft soled, comfortable leather
and the color is awesome- yes they still look sort of grandma like but WHATEVER!
I need my feet TILL I am a grandma! :)

I'm having so much fun it's hard to admit I'm letting people down. The work I'm making could be better, the family wants me to PAY ATTENTION, my friends are all wondering where the heck I went.
Something has to give.
I salute the women who "play this game" every day- you are AWESOME! You are MORE than AWESOME!
You are heros.

AAAA!!! LOVE!!!! From gifbin.com

I'm currently working on a schedule of ALL my time and how I spend it.
I can't believe how much awful tv I watch and how much time internet shopping eats up!
The click through time and the waiting for photos to load is also telling me I need update my computer.
And my shopping was already a problem so it's getting cut off from the schedule entirely! (Except for Two Peas newsletters. I need to keep up somehow!)

I'm a hard worker but even scrapbooking can turn into a chore if you have to schedule it in.

Chevron paper is from my LLS- I believe it's intended for invitations.
I used my Smash tape for the first time- the machine is kinda flimsy but I love it anyway.

Is that the world's smallest violin playing JUST for me?
I take that jammy and SMASH it on the floor! Like THIS: SMASH SMASH!!!
No. self. pity!
I'm gonna WIN at this working Mom stuff!
All I need is a better schedule and I must admit- a strict routine.
Instead of seeing that as a bad thing I will remember I don't HAVE to scrapbook- that I love it and that  routine will enable me to keep doing it and getting better at it (which was my goal with this blog and with joining DTs in the first place)

So wonderful friday readers- what do YOU do to ensure you create consistently? Any hints on scheduling or organizing your space for most efficiency? Let's chat!!

So this is why I got myself into the busy mess I'm currently in.
Family.
The number 1 priority.

MuChoS SmOoChEs!
Michelle

Here comes DA BOOOOOM! Scrap FX STENCILS yo!

Hello scrap happy folks!
It's friday and I have HUGE Scrap FX product news!
Scrap FX, Australian chipboard manufacturer, has a whole new line of environmentally responsible plastic stencils!!!!

EEEEEEKKK! A whole new product category from my favorite company?
I'm SO EXCITED!!!!
You KNOW how much I LOOOVE me some stencils!!!!

Coming to a store near you (soon):

Chevron/arrow design model number  2012152

Stained Glass Quarter model 2012159

Arrow collage stencil model number  2012130

These are just three of the 28 new designs. Sorry the photos are so small- you'll see the actual stencils in a few weeks BUT

Design team co-ordinator Michelle Logan made a STUNNING page for you to drool over-
check it out!  It's on her blog:
http://mlogandesigns.blogspot.com.au/2012/06/arrowchevron-heaven.html

Scrap FX has been rocking my world lately- here are some product shots from the June 2012 release:

Scrap FX Instant photo frames (a) model number 2012113 and
(b) model 2012114 as well as  Mini Instant frames model number 2012115.
The patterns on these are AMAZING! 

Scrap FX Happy Birthday Banner model number 2012100,  Bow Frames model 2012108,
 Ribbon Bow model 2012105, Bows set of three model number 2009280.

What do you think?
Swing by the Scrap FX blog and let us know!!!

Sneak peek on what's coming up on the Scrap FX blog.
We post new projects daily so add us to your reading list!

The Scrap FX June release focuses on birthday parties, frames for your special occasion images and
horses- perfect for the little ones in your life!

MuChoS SmOoChEs!
Michelle

Ormolu Friday (so it's a DOUBLY GREAT day!)

I'm not even gonna front.
This is me hoping I can somehow land a spot on the Ormolu design team this summer.
I love Ormolu.
I love how versatile their products are.
How green the print process is.
Ormolu prints on recycled cardstock with soy inks.
They even use wind power for the process!
I love their clean and simple designs and their blog.

SO the question is- WHY haven't I submitted yet?

Here is a card I came up with last night:

ALL my current faves!!! Ormolu, Hambly, chevron and washi tape! WOOT!
Materials: Ormolu Fact or Fiction journaling spots, flair button and kraft letters from packaging
tags set, Hambly transparency, Stayz On Dove Grey ink, Studio Calico Chevron background
stamp, Orange/Yellow washi (from Target!), grey washi (from Gauche Alchemy),
Green washi (from Amy Tangerine's line),

I made this for a certain love of my life who's been especially awesome lately.
Thanks Dave!
Here's a quick close up of a fun trick I often do when encoutering an alphabetic bind:

I wanted the card to have an unusual message and I wanted to use the color palette set by the journaling spots from the Fact or Fiction line.
I had the kraft tags- these:

I. LOVE. the new Hispstamatic Loftus lens!!!

So I took and H from the "Happy" tag and a U from the "About" tag, layered them, cut the H down and boom- instant M.
Now the colors are consistent since I seem to have billions of Thickers but nothing in that Kraft color and COOL font.

GRATUITOUS CUTE TODDLER PHOTO!!!!!

Noemi was a year old lipsticked menace once.
(hee hee! She's gonna kill me!)

I wanted to let you know about a new FABULOUS company with incredibly exciting scrapbook products- it's Polish and it's AMAZING.

Swing by Sod^licious to check it out for yourself!
(I didn't want to step on any copy right toes by putting photo without permission here- sorry)

I just need to figure out how to import their entire catalog without robbing a bank first because their stuff is bright, modern and completely fresh.

MuChOs SmOoChEs!
Michelle

Last call for neon challenge!

Not sure why I'm so obsessed with it but I LOVE Neon.
Maybe it's because I was just a kiddo in the 80's and depended on my parents getting it for me.
This time I am in the driver's seat and I am determined to incorporate it into as many projects as possible!

A card:

Hi! card
Materials: Mulberry paper, Amy Tan Sketchbook paper (cameras and chevron print),
neon price sticker backing, Sticko puffy retro alphas and
heart felt ribbon from Sabrina Alery of Honor Roll.

The hearts ribbon is officially a favorite- Thanks Sabrina!

A couple of neon(ish) Hipstamatic shots:

Neon chevron (ish) socks from Target

Neon Koi at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden

Neon Graffiti

A sneak! This is part of something you will see over at Gauche Alchemy later this month!

Grey, washi tape, punchinella and embroidery floss!
What's not to love?

Talking Gauche.. there is a new special edition neon mixed media color kit in the store! SO AWESOME! I just got mine a few days ago and I LOVE IT!

Last call to post your project over at Do More With Less.
You have until Friday the 6th. Come on and give it a try will ya?

Oh and one more thing- there IS a crafty products prize! (I've been known to sneak ALL KINDS of extra stuff in my give-aways!!!)

Now get going- the project doesn't have to be new!
MuChoS SmOoChEs!
Michelle

The call of the WILD- Neon Color Challenge

Ok scrappy friends yesterday's post (you can scroll down a post if you are curious) got all emo and serious so today I dedicate to FUN.
Side note- Girl with a Dragon Tattoo? Too awesome for words. See it.

Isn't it sad the bathroom people aren't shining? AWWWW!

Amigas- I need your help!
My Neon color challenge doesn't have any entrants yet and there's 9 days left to link.
The last day will be April 6th.
Can you- will you- join the fun?

Here is another inspiration piece:

Ok so THIS was REAL fun!
First I tried using black gesso on a Crafter's Workshop template but OH NOOO it bled right through the borders so I had to use white gesso to stamp the borders of the template back on.
I made the pin wheels myself and If you remember the 80'd were not complete without stripes and polka dots so the blank side of the paper got special attention.
I used a Bam POP! paper pad I've had a VERY LONG TIME. I bought it on a whim and got scared of the totally 80's neon print. I also used Hambly mini trannies that I LOOOVE and will be getting more of as well as my go to item- Gauche Alchemy punchinella in black.
Last minute yellow twine.. there's probably too much happening here but hey- take this as your moment to teach ME a lesson on restraint! I don't mind!!!
I LOVE SCHOOL!!!!

I turn to you my FIERCE and loyal readers! (Yes all 3 of you!!!)

Go on out to Target and get some neon index cards or  some price stickers or maybe a child's paint set and GET TO WORK.
Link up here pretty pretty please with a nice cherry on top. :) 
Perhaps you want to stick around and to take a look around Yvonne's blog?
Her work is amazing!

Detail shots:

I haven't used the word "rad" since last week so I made sure to add it to my page to
make super duper SURE ya'll got the HINT. If you aren't slam dancing to Billy Idol
right this very second you are making this short Puerto Rican girl cry.

Pinwheel! Makes me happy!

So there you have it- a shameless self promoting plea and a call to action.

GRATUITOUS TODDLER PHOTO!!!

The Hipstamatic can easily provide neon photos to match neon layouts.
I use an iTouch- it's cheaper and doesn't require a data plan.
Plus you could score a great one online used- who wants an iTouch
when the new iPhones have better cameras? (ME!!!)

Muchitas gracias!
Michelle

Thank god it's... saturday?

OOPS! I was supposed to post this yesterday since I know most people are out doing fun things on Saturday.
I saw a BEAUTIFUL page on Scrapbook.com by Jolaine Frias and I simply HAD to lift it.
By "lift" I mean take an idea I loved in her layout and try it for myself. I wouldn't try to copy the whole layout- she's too fabulous- it would take WEEKS of learning new techniques.. now that I mention it- maybe I should go ahead and try it.

Here's my version:

We were just walking around the neighborhood when I started seeing all these awesome messages.  It was like the walls were telling me to CHILLAX- others are feeling it too. I used a mist tube taping technique I picked up while watching a Swissgirl Designs video- can't believe it took that long for me to "get it".
Materials: Bazzill paper, Crafter's Workshop brick wall 6 by 6 template, Prima brick stamp, American Crafts Rootbeer Thickers, Colorbok glitter arrows, Tattered Angels Sunflower, October Afternoon Buttermilk mist, Studio Calico Schoolhouse, Atmosphere and Calico White mists, Hero Arts alpha stamps, Red Stickles, Smash Polka Dot tape

What I loved about Jolaine's differently styled page (which is also up on her blog) is her gorgeous tone on tone brick stamping. It's a small detail in the layout but I really liked how controlled and thoughtful the design is. The pattern is placed in just the right places to add visual complexity to an already fabulous layout but without adding visual clutter- a trick I haven't quite gotten the hand of yet.

Here are a couple of close ups:

I love Lola's pose! I think these are too blurry- I took them in late afternoon light.
I'll have to reshoot this again but I was so excited I had  to share! I used a Crafter's
Workshop brick template I've had for over 6 months- why did I wait that long?

The alphas started as brown glitter. I added some red Stickles and I really like the effect.
The red gets depth from the brown underneath and the edges stay dark for extra pop.
I'll have to keep that in mind for my next Thicker alteration.

This page came together rather quickly after I printed the photos and penned the brick pattern. I see I'm getting a little more abstract in my work- a little more minimalist. I like this new direction- it feels authentic to me.

GRATUITOUS CUTE BABY SHOT!!!!

Lola likes Broccoli- a LOT! I will keep encouraging this wonderful eating habit-
it keeps me from raiding the potato chips.

MuChOs SmOoChEs!
Michelle