Putting a page "on hold"

This weekend I set out to be productive and complete my DT assignments ahead of time but it wasn't meant to be. Between watching "Mad Men" season 4 and "Shawn The Sheep" on Netflix (we are cramming in shows now that we've decided to drop our subscription on August 31 in protest of the new fees) and trying to keep Lola from jumping on the sofa, I barely have time to  think.


I really just want to follow my own ideas and make pages for myself right now. Trying to stick to a color scheme or a specific theme is really messing with my mojo. That being said.... (smile- I even break my own rules!)) I will be joining Stuff To Scraps' August color challenge because Chantal specifically asked me to and because the colors chosen are FABULOUS! Go check it out here: stuff2scrap.blogspot.com
The colors are

• SUGAR RUSH PINK
• TROPICAL WATER BLUE
• SPAGHETTI WESTERN RED
• PANDA EYES BLACK
• SOFT SERVE WHITE

Nice right? I thought so! 

So I will get started on that page right away because frankly, I can't ignore 2 very polite and complimentary requests to join the fun. 

So today I want to share this:

A Good Day
Materials- Studio Calico paper,  Ki Memories script title, Maya Road leaf pins, Hambly Studio washi tape, Cosmo Cricket black chipboard

 I took these while Lola was walking and was amazed by how she looked like she was dancing. You can also tell my printer has run out of ink. I would reprint but at 30 bucks a pop printer cartridges have just turned into a luxury and I would rather save my money for something else.

MuChoS SmOoChEs!

Michelle

Make a SPLASH!

The gals over at Paper Issues are throwing a new link party and this one is all about MAKING A SPLASH!
What does that mean? I don't know! You show us!
Here's my interpretation:

Day 3
Materials: Me and My Big Ideas paper, Studio Calico alphas and tag, Elle's Studio notes and Enjoy the day tags, corrugated elements from Maya Road, handmade paper and seas glass from Italy (smile).

I had a hard time with this page. It went through 6 phases before I got to this design and it's still lacking. I used Glossy Accents on some some sea glass pebbles, stuck them any old where and called it a day. Is it just me, or do you also find that finishing a project gets you pumped and actually makes the next project better? That's exactly what happened here- the next page is much better- swing by tomorrow and see for yourself.

Come visit with us at Paper Issues and check out what other paper lovers have created- spread the love and show us your splashy pages.

MuChos SmOoChEs!
Michelle

Getting to know.. Me

Imagine my surprized scream when I opened up my email while sitting in the hotel lobby in Italy and finding out my all time FAVORITE ARTIST (Keandra of Kreatorville Krafts) had just given me this award:

Let's just say it was LOUD. Fabio, the 20 year old cutie patootie front desk attendant in a wonderfully well fitted suit and skinny tie, immediately came over to ask if everything was ok with the signorina- OOOOPS!  He had already designated me the hotel fruit cake as I had gotten stuck in the elevator the previous morning and started screaming and crying like a maniac till a staff member came and opened the door.

No actual pages yet so more vacation pix for you all.

I'm sorry but stuck in a 4 by 5 foot space with Lola, 7 floors above God's beautiful green earth is NOT my idea of a good time. I scared the crap outta Miss Thang and though Dave was there too, he might as well have been invisible. Sorry Dave but reason and logic will NOT work on me during a perceived dire emergency- consider yourself "on notice". I pounded on the doors and made a general ass of myself as all I COULD THINK ABOUT was plunging 7 floors and dying a long horrible tin canned death.

Positano, Italy

Anyway if you have a thing for young men in figure hugging suits you should visit the Amalfi Coast. There they reign, strutting around on their Vespas and aviator glasses, eye balling everyone who passes by and smirking when you look back. They know perfectly well the figure they cut. I don't know when I became a grandma who saw babies in diapers when I looked their way but Dave took the blinders off by pointing out- "If I were a 13 year old girl I would NEVER leave the Hotel Lobby!"- he's ever the realist. I really wish American boys would STOP the baggy clothes madness and start wearing well fitted clothes- it's been over 15 years already- give it a rest!

Vesuvius climb- best glute work-out EVER!

I any case, I now have to tell you 7 things about myself so here goes:

1. I love cherries. I could eat 4 pounds of them in one sitting- no joke- but now they just make my lips and eyes puffy and my throat itch. I think it's the new insecticides. It's a HUGE loss- cherries were my most favorite fruit.

2. I collect papier-mache and wood masks. I have 10 so far from Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Ecuador, Mexico and Thailand- I would LOVE to get my hands on some Native American and Inuit masks but those are HUGE and very expensive.

3. I enjoy shopping for paper more than using it- but that should be no surprize if you saw my hot mess of a scrap corner. The anxiety caused by using my fave stuff is the main reason- I want to do the materials justice and when you start with perfection in mind you often get stymied.

4. I don't make friends easily. I like people and LOVE listening to their stories but I tend to annoy the heck outta them with my strong opinions and constant talking.

5. Fave spot in NYC? Brooklyn Bridge Park. Fave restaurant? Lanam on 14th street. Not because it's high culinary art but because it's cheap and cheerful and easy to get to.

6. I saw a bicycle rider dead on the street yesterday... I saw myself on the road- that's why the bike has been collecting dust for 2 years now- Lola needs her Momma.

7. I am easily overwhelmed and a fantastic procrastinator. Guess what I should be doing on now? A page for Punky Scraps! What am I doing now? Writing this. Off to the scrap desk to get those assignments in on time!

So there you have it! Me in 30 minutes or less. Thanks to Keandra for this fun post. :)

MuChOs SmOoChEs!
Michelle

Daily math

I have a very strange affection for long strings of sums and mathematical equations. I loved all the transparent boards with rows and rows of figures in a "A Beautiful Mind"- that was a beautifully art directed film.

I can't add fractions... or subtract, divide or add them for that matter. I DREAD the day Lola comes to me with her 4th grade math homework. I can literally feel my brain click off when the subject is broached- is it laziness or some kind of learning disorder? I don't know, but numbers and the signs that accompany them in algebra or trigonometry certainly look beautiful and they make me wish I could understand them beyond the surface.
Here's a page I did for a Studio Calico challenge right before I left for vacation:

Happy Homefront
MATERIALS: Studio Calico Homefront paper, Kaiser Craft kraft mini stickers, Sassafras Lass woodgrain alphas, Pink Paislee  Hometown Summer border, Maya Road corrugated board house, Smashbook date stamp and mini note.

This page is me talking to myself and telling that inner part of me that likes to FREAK OUT that everything will be ok- the financials will work out. Daily Math- ignore the actual numbers and work on the changing the equation.
Times may be dark but we must give ourselves gift of optimism. We can make it better- we have before and we can again. For me the true meaning of the "American Dream" is simple- it's not a bigger house or a newer car or a larger bank account but HOPE- an idea- a value- it's not exclusive to American citizens but it's priceless, unique and should be protected.
CHIN UP and strap those boots on people- the going is hard and the decisions tough but we WILL get though this.

A view off the Coast in Sorrento.

MuChoS SmOoChEs!
Michelle

Trip pix and wonderful scrappy news!!!

It's great to be back home!! Here are some "Best Of" shots from the trip. No scrappy work to post as I didn't have the attention span or alone time needed for it. 

I got word that I made the Gauche Alchemy writing team while I was away! YAAY! Please add this to your blog reading list: 

Gauche Alchemy

I promise to be very entertaining and insightful and all that. Check out their ArtFire store- there is lots of really fun non traditional scrappy stuff there. :)

PAESTUM
3 large temples on site a Museum and restaurants across the street and plenty of room to roam- this is the best bet for great photos  if you have  limited time and want to avoid crowds.

Leticia and Roberto on the balcony- ahh smell the romance!

We survived our shock at the lack of sidewalks. On the left of David a loudly honking 10am bus to Amalfi. On the right a 300 foot sheer drop into the ocean with only a rusty railing as protection.

Waiting for the bus to Ravello.

SORRENTO
Changing cabanas in the beaches of Sorrento- we ate Calamari salad and watched the cruise boats dock. Sorrento is PERFECT!! GORGEOUS, safe and has lots of budget restaurant and hotel choices- we will be staying here in out next trip.

POMPEII
Our 4 hour tour barely scratched the surface of this wonderful site. Skip the tours, be brave and use public transport. It will be a whole day trip- bring your own lunch and diner as local eats are expensive. DO NOT skip the Limoncello ice cream or the Granitas- those always rock. The cruise crowds make this place awful in the morning and in mid afternoon. Every single interior space was crowded with culturally insensitive tourists who insisted on taking flash photos of the frescos and freaking out over the "Red Light District". YUCK. But beautiful- so just do it!

MAIORI
Is the perfect town for budget tourists who don't like to eat McDonald's when they visit other countries. The food is good, the locals are wonderful, the place is safe and the pricing is fair. You pay 5 euro for a chair and a umbrella on the beach- which is VERY rocky so bring your water shoes if you are a tenderfoot like me. :)

And the reason for the whole trip- Leticia and Roberto's wedding in Minori.
One of the most romantic things I have every witnessed. Letyy arrived BY BOAT and Roberto waited for her on the dock- locals crowded around and watched them approach the church- it was amazing.

Since I was a witness for the ceremony, I don't have a lot of photos but Letty hired 3 photographers so there will be many many photos in the next couple weeks. Here they are just after tying the knot. YAAY!

I have so many stories to tell! Here's the first- apparently ALONDRA means "in London" in Italian so when locals asked me her name I would confuse the heck out of them by replying Alondra- it was a total "Who's On First" scenario. So after a few days of getting these HUH looks when ever we spoke her name we switched to Lola. I love how Italians say Lola! They stretch the O sound and make it positively mellifluous. Now Lola says "Ciao!" and "Mama!" just like italian babies! LOVE IT!

That's it for now- I took 3 hours to write this- time for breakfast!

The some ipod Hipstamatic app filters simply cannot handle high contrast light situations. Here we have a great photo but the deep darkness in the eyes is really creepy.

MuChoS SmOoChEs!
Michelle