Embrace Life

Take Twelve WINNER

Sorry, got caught up watching the crazy Denver vs Pittsburgh NFL game. WOW!

I just did the draw for the winner of the brilliant Take Twelve project e-Book by Elizabeth Dillow:

Funny that it's the 8th, the draw was done at 8:08PM and the winner is #8! It really is a year of numbers and sequences.

Congratulations to ...

I'm glad to know you want to do a "12" project this year, Annemiek. I'm sure you'll find something suitable in the many pages of inspiration!

Send me a note to linarstudio.lc at gmail dot com and I can get the link out to you right away!

Thanks to EVERYONE for playing along. Head on over to Ella Publishing and get your copy. The sale on this book ends on January 12th when it will revert to regular price of $20.12.

Take Twelve GIVEAWAY

Did you read this article over at Ella Publishing by Elizabeth Dillow? I did and went right out and got myself a copy of the Take Twelve E-Book. It is loaded with brilliant ideas and examples. I'm fortunate to have a copy to GIVE AWAY to one of you!

The idea behind the 2012 Take Twelve Project is to take 12 photos on the 12th day of each month for a full 12 months—and scrapbook them! The book is overflowing with creative and fun ideas. I was so honoured to be included (my layout is on page 38!). You can join in the fun any month of the year, but the hope is that you'll join in starting January 12.

I've participated in the 12 of 12 challenge since February 2008 and have loved every minute of it. So fun looking back through the years - the kids just love it. Though, I think I'll change things up this year and make a mini ...

What about you?

I will be drawing for a winner of the Take Twelve 2012 Challenge e-book from the comments tomorrow SUNDAY, January 8th at 8PM. Leave a comment and tell me: what is the one thing you want to accomplish in 2012?

Ella Publishing Co. | WIN a FREE e-book!

Many of us struggle with the writing aspect of this wonderful memory keeping craft and Ella Publishing Co. has - again - come to the rescue! A new series of eBooks - the List It! Journaling Guides which includes the Childhood Edition, a Holiday Edition and soon, an Everyday Edition.

Journaling is one of my favourite parts of album making, but I know that sentiment is not shared by many! Putting your thoughts into a list format is so much less daunting. That's why these are so great - they are overflowing with journaling prompts for lists (the childhood edition has 91 prompts and the holiday edition includes 94!) So simple, so easy. For those of us more verbose, they are great idea prompts for pages of any kind!

(Click on the e-books above to purchase the volume you want!)

In honor of the release of these new journaling e-books, I'm giving away a copy of the Childhood Edition of List It! (pdf ($7.99) or digi ($9.99) version) courtesy of the ladies at Ella. Just leave me a comment and tell me what you like - or don't like - about journaling on this post and I will draw a random winner on Friday, July 1st (Canada Day!) sometime in the evening.

EEK!! The opportunity to win this book ends earlier - on JUNE 30th! I want the super secret code to work for you :) I'll draw a random winner by NOON on Thursday, June 30th.

Become a Craft-lete with me!

DO YOU HAVE PLANS THIS WEEK? I hope you've already registered, but just in case you need another nudge, or a simple reminder: from April 25th (tomorrow) through May 7th, Ella Publishing Co. is running a Spring Training week, keeping our craft health in mind. I'm all about discovering new ways to be creative and inspired! I'll be there, will you?

Here are a few highlights of what Ella has planned to help us stretch our scrapbooking muscles:

• 4 experts will share 12 exclusive videos and daily exercises from April 25 - May 7
• Challenges, giveaways, prizes, and lots of fun
• Plus, knowing those ladies at Ella, as I do, there will be a few surprises, I expect! 

Not sure who of your crafty friends have joined? Want to find out? Sign up then head over and leave a little comment on this blog post to say hi and introduce yourself!

Remember, all along the way, you are invited and encouraged to share your thoughts and feedback about the videos in our blog comments section, or send us an email at comments@ellapublishing.com. (Having technical trouble? Email us at support@ellapublishing.com.)

See you over there!

Spring Training 2011 With Ella!

Ella's super duper Spring Training exravaganza is coming to a computer near you!

• Four expert coaches (Angie Lucas on journaling, Wendy Smedley on inspiration, Tammy Tutterow on techniques, and Kelly Willette on photography)
• 12 exclusive videos (one per day) featuring coached training exercises (watch for 10 minutes, "exercise" for 10 minutes)
• A daily layout challenge based on the daily exercise
• Daily giveaways from our event sponsors (including Big Picture Classes, Jenni Bowlin, Little Yellow Bicycle, and more)
• Exclusive downloads and offers
• Access to the videos for a full 60 days after the event ends

Sign up this week (April 11-15) to enjoy all of the above for 20% off the list price! Head over to Ella for more details and register here and see a fun video from Angie and Wendy

Then join the Facebook event here!

Note: Participation is FREE in the daily layout challenge and giveaway (without access to the videos, hands-on exercises, and exclusive downloads)

So happy for Spring in the air!

The magic of an Ordinary Day

I am an ordinary day kind of scrapbooker. The everyday moments, especially looking back from the perspective and distance of time, hold extra meaning. That and the fact all of the "special events" in my life and that of my family are usually organized by me and since I'm the keeper of the camera not many of them are recorded in photo form.

Recently I was given an opportunity, by Elizabeth Dillow and the ladies at Ella, to make a layout of one day in my life, hour by hour and it was recently featured over at the Ella Publishing, Co. Ezine.

The Challenge: Set aside a single day and take one photo on the hour, every hour from the moment you wake until the moment you fall asleep. Set a kitchen timer, an alarm on your phone or watch, or another reminder to help keep you on schedule. Keep your camera (or camera phone) with you all day, and when you hear the alarm, stop what you're doing and snap an authentic, in-the-moment photograph. At the end of the day, gather up all of your images and make a layout!

MATERIALS: Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned Paper: Basic Grey; Lasercut Paper: KI Memories; Stickers: American Crafts; Adhesive: Stampin' Up Dimensionals; Punches: Creative Memories Circle Punch (3/4" and 1"); Font: VTPortableRemington

I thought my biggest challenge would be to remember to take a photo each hour, but I managed that without a hitch (perhaps my many 12 of 12 challenges prepared me!). When I set out, I didn't realize what a long day it was going to be and the resulting 18 photos. I really wasn't sure how I'd manage to fit them all on a 12x12 page - with journaling! My solution included having my photos printed 2"x3" and then trimmed and mounted them from that size. I think the mats help to separate each event. Then I added dimension in order to give the illusion of space and movement. The circle buttons for the time helps with the flow and the hour distinctions. Even though it was a busy day, I didn't want the layout to look too cluttered. I think I accomplished what I was trying to do.

Biggest reward: No two days are the same in my world, with four kids our lives are fluid, changing day to day. I'm so glad I recorded one of those days! I'm sure when I look back - next month, next year, when I'm old and gray(er) - I'll be amazed at how much a day held.

Head on over to the article and see the gorgeous examples shown by Elizabeth as well as  Kim Byrns and Danielle Hunter. Elizabeth had such lovely things to say about all of the layouts featured.

While you're there, be sure to consider downloading a copy of the new Ella E-Book:

I don't know about you, but I love the Ella EBooks - they are all so well done. This one is my favourite ... until the next one comes out!

Join me in Donna Jannuzzi's Sketch CHALLENGE!

Have you heard about the new sketch challenge over at Ella?

Donna Jannuzzi, one of my most favourite sketch designers, is hosting it ... so it's going to be good! Of that I am sure.

From now through September, visit The Daily Trumpet every 1st and 3rd Monday of the month, to see a brand new sketch and layouts created by Donna from the sketch. Along the way she will share with all of us some of her favourite tips for getting the most from her sketches - and all the others we've all collected along the way.

Bonus? Each week you will get double the inspiration as one of the talented Ella Friends will help s-t-r-e-t-c-h the sketch and create another layout! I'm honoured and excited to be participating and you can see my contribution to the challenge sometime in June. I am planning to play along each week, so I'm sure to share more - and hopefully inspire more - as I participate in the bi-weekly challenges right along with each of you! The best part? YOU are eligible for some great prizes to be offered along the way.

The first sketch is up and ready for us! If you haven't already, be sure to head on over to the Ella blog: The Daily Trumpet and join in. I love how Donna has up the challenge and examples with a 12x12 sketch, an 8.5x11 version and then the stretch idea. Her layouts are lovely and so do-able. Anything to get it done, right? There's a ton of time to get the layout finished and submitted as all entries must be posted by April 30, 2011, 11:59pm PST.

Are you in? Will you join me and Donna and all of our Ella Friends? I hope to see your name in the comments and the links to your finished layouts!

Ella | Scrapbook the Every Day Blog Hop

 

Hello and welcome to my stop on the Ella Friends Scrapbook the Every Day Blog Hop. If you're following along, you've arrived from Valerie's blog. Isn't she wonderful? If you get a chance, after the hop head on back and check out her gorgeous cards if you didn't have a chance to earlier - and if you haven't arrived via the hop, be sure to check out the list of participants (found at the bottom of this post). Such talent, I'm thrilled to be counted among them.

I am always excited when a new e-book is introduced at Ella Publishing Co. They are consistently well developed, gorgeous and inspiring. My mind often spins with oodles of dynamic and fun ideas! This book was no different. Such bright ideas! Even better? One of you will qualify for an opportunity to win one!

Why is this volume so wonderful? Well, that's simple. It combines the thoughtful and generous talents of Elizabeth Dillow and a welcome return of Tina Cockburn. How can an e-book not be fabulous with that combination of creativity?

I'm also the type of scrapbooker who has no need to "reinvent the wheel". When I see a good idea combined with a good layout, I'm on it! The story and photos may be all my own, but I'm learning not to simply collect ideas but to act on those ideas. I got on quite a roll with this book and created three layouts based on the first three challenges:

CHALLENGE 01:

Absolutely something I do every day, even multiple times a day, never the focus of a scrapbook page. How do you spend hundreds of hours doing something and not acknowledge it? Now it is thanks to Tina and her idea. Next up ... dishes! Er, maybe :)

Cardstock: BAZZILL, BAZZILL DOTS; Letters: JILLIBEAN SOUP; Fonts: MAKITA SCRIPT HMK, 28 DAYS LATER

CHALLENGE 02:

I saw Elizabeth's layout and I couldn't do anything but copy it! Not 100% mind you, but what a great layout to lift! I spend so much of my time going from rink to rink to rink and it has never been documented. It is now!

Cardstock: BAZZILL; Printed Paper: KI MEMORIES; Stickers: AMERICAN CRAFTS; Paint: MAKING MEMORIES; Font: VTPORTABLEREMINGTON

CHALLENGE 03:

I read the challenge and immediately thought of a recent photo I took of my daughter and her boyfriend Oskar. They have such a steady and solid friendship. As much as I'd like to lock her in her room until she's 30, I'm glad to celebrate their budding relationship in photos and in at least one layout.

Cardstock: BAZZILL, BAZZILL DOTTED SWISS; Printed Paper: DAISY D'S; Chipboard Letters: AMERICAN CRAFTS; Stickers: KAISERCRAFT, MAKING MEMORIES; Bling: PRIMA; Font: CLARISSA

I could go on and on with the challenges, and I probably will! Alas, I had to stop and get my kids ready for activities which is often the way it goes for all of us, right? One more reason I enjoy that these creative ladies do much of the thinking for me. Thank you Elizabeth and Tina!

Didn't the layouts turn out great? The only thing I had to do to prepare was head around town - while I was running errands anyway - and hit each rink and take a photo. It was great to do during the day as there were few cars in parking lots and no (welcome) distractions from the people I often see at the rinks!

I consider myself to be an "everyday" scrapbooker as opposed to an "event" chronicler, and I'm always thrilled to find a new perspective. I really enjoyed this e-book and hope you do, too! To get your own copy of this new Scrapbooking the Everyday e-book, please leave a comment and tell me what everyday person or event you have not included in your scrapbooks to date. ETA: Your chance to win Scrapbooking the Everyday will be open until this Wednesday, March 23rd at 6PM Eastern. Winner will be posted soon thereafter!

Then come right back to this page and click here to be transported to France and enjoy a visit with my friend Francine Clouden.

Ella Friends Participants are:

Brenda Johnston
Donna Jannuzzi
Jenni Hufford
Monika Wright
Jennifer Larson
Valerie Mangan
Lee Currie <<< You are HERE
Francine Clouden
Diana Chen
May Flaum
Keshet Starr
Mary Jo Johnston

Happy Monday!

** NOTE: If you are looking for my next installment in The Interviews series, come on back tomorrow and see what my friend Jane Garnett has to say! I didn't want to overload Monday with too much goodness :)

Hybrid Projects over at Ella today!

The ever talented Francine Clouden has an article over at Ella Publishing Co. today. If you are interested in branching out to hybrid projects - combining some traditional paper/glue and digital elements to your layouts - this is a great place to start.

I was asked to contributea hybrid project and I chose to do a step-by-step of my favourite 12 of 12 as it is perfect for this kind of treatment:

Head on over to the article for a step-by-step on how this page comes together. In addition, my friend and inspiration extraordinaire, Monika Wright shares how to add text to a photograph and Francine has posted about something I've always wanted to do with digital paper. GREAT ideas from both of these ladies, I so enjoy working with them!

Also, while you're over there, go check out the new Ella e-book! Wendy Smedley has combined her talents with Aly Garvey to bring about:

Personally the idea of a heritage album is overwhelming. I like that this book should give me some guidance as to where best to start and what should be included. I don't have a lot of heritage photos or ephemera, but it may be a good way to start for my kids - after all, my life now will be considered heritage for my grandchildren, should I be so blessed, many, many years from now!

Leave a comment over at the Ella blog, or come on back and let me know what you think!

Ella: Creative Process

Today you will find me over at Ella Publishing Co., where I've written an article on Creative Process with contributions from Francine Clouden and May Flaum. Pour a tea and head on over!

Ella: Rocking the Double Pages!

Have you seen the last couple of posts up over at Ella Publishing? The ladies are rocking the Double Page Spreads! I was thrilled to participate and submitted this layout:

CARDSTOCK: Bazzill
STICKERS: American Crafts, Making Memories
BRADS: Bo Bunny
FONT: American Typewriter

Recently Caden participated in a tournament up in Nottawasaga and it is one of the few events for which I had nine photos! Between that what I consider to be a lack of boy representation in layouts lately - on the www, not in my collection - I thought this worked well! It has been a very long time since I created a 2-page spread and to think I used to make them exclusively only two years ago.

I never would have been able to make it without a sketch from the new Ella e-book:

This e-book is FANTASTIC. Filled with ideas, and I have plans to make many more double page layouts in the future - and maybe delete less when I'm filing my events in iPhoto!

What about you? What is your favourite way to scrapbook. Do you have a go-to formula or are you experimenting?

[Don't forget to enter to win some pewter magnets - click here and tell me what you save for "special" use.]

Ella E-Books on Sale!

The lovely ladies over at Ella are having a sale. For those who are indulging in Thanksgiving today, this will be a great reward for all that effort; for the rest of us, we can indulge in this e-book goodness rather than turkey. Less calories!

Head on over and buy your "bundle":

Design Bundle: $13
Enjoy Ella's NEWEST eBook, Double-Page Design, along with Design Workshop and Stretch Your Sketches for just $13.  (Regularly $17.97)

Photo Bundle: $12
Enjoy 40 Top Tips for Better Photos, Picture Perfect, and Special Effects for Digital Photos for just $12. (Regularly $17.97)

Word Bundle: $11
Buy Journaling That Matters, Quick & Creative Quizzes, and Text Tricks for Scrapbookers for just $11. (Regularly $16.97)

Holiday Bonus
Buy any single eBook and get Vintage Hip Christmas Crafts for just $3 more (reguarly $5.99)!

While you're there, make sure you leave a comment to WIN a bundle! Or buy all of the bundles and increase your chances. Oh, and join the parade and sign up for the Daily Trumpet so you never miss any Ella-excitement ever again :)

Be sure to consider purchasing the new:

Inspiration on the Double!

Are you a double-page diva or a single-layout scrapbooker, or perhaps both? No matter your preference, Double-Page Design is here to help you scrapbook lots and lots of photos with ease. It’s got the ideas, insights, and inspiration you need to double up your pages in style.  And it’s only $5.99!

Get inspired by 37 versatile two-page designs, all created by the talented crew at Write.Click.Scrapbook., as you scrapbook anywhere from 5 to 13 photos per project. In all, you could get 187 photos scrapbooked simply by following these designers’ leads.

The e-book Includes plenty of ideas for 12 x 12 and 8½ x 11 scrapbookers alike--and traditional or digital scrapbookers, too. A great solution for end-of-the year catch-up scrapbooking!

So go forth and TAKE PHOTOS because you now have the chance to purchase the perfect solution to what to do about them!

Celebrate Friendship with Ella Friends

At the end of September I received the most delightful and unexpected news that I was chosen, with eleven others, to be an Ella Friend. I am still quite giddy over it. What an incredible honour! Since then I've had the privilege to get to know these ladies and I greatly enjoy visiting them via their blogs whenever they have an opportunity to take some time from their full and busy lives to share what's going on with them.

The Ella Friends group is super with an appealing collection of diverse talent and personalities. I have learned so much from each one of my new friends. In addition to being visually inspired they each have life lessons to teach, my heart is full. 

Who doesn't want to be included in a group like that? The best part? YOU can be inspired them, too! Not only will each of us be contributing our ideas and projects on the Ella Publishing Co. blog, the monthly eZine and in the incredible eBooks; but, if you haven't had a chance to click on my sidebar to visit each of them, be sure to click on the links below:

Brenda Johnston

Diana Chen

Donna Jannuzzi

Francine Clouden

Jenni Hufford

Jennifer Larson

Keshet Starr

Mary Jo Johnston

May Flaum

Monika Wright

Valerie Mangan

Today, as a group, we are celebrating friendship. Not only am I grateful for the opportunity to get to know and be a part of the Ella Friends group, I have a wonderful group of women in my life who I am honoured to call friend:

The journaling reads:

You know the phrase "birds of a feather"? Well, I would flock with these chicks anywhere.

For a self-professed loner, I am so very fortunate to have close girlfriends who are so totally different from each other; but similar in all the ways that count:

They tell me like it is with strong, kind opinions; they laugh a lot and make me laugh with the m; they face life head-on, the good and the bad, and there's been plenty of both; they provide perspective and the occasional shoulder to cry on.

On top of all that great stuff, each is super smart, open-minded, kind-hearted, loyal, generous of spirit, fierce, strong-willed, funny, happy, self-aware, decent, respectful, independent, resilient, creative, optimistic, adventuresome, patient and upbeat.

I am very lucky to have them in my life and thank them as often as I can!

What about you? Have you honoured your friends in a layout, photo frame, mini book? The layout above was created last year and when I was re-typing the words, I am happy to admit, I wouldn't have changed one word if I were writing it today. Though life has gotten in the way of my keeping in touch with a couple of the ladies, I know that if we had a chance to have lunch or go out for a glass of wine, we'd do so on a heartbeat and pick up right where we left off - with a couple of more stories and lots of laughter!

Hey! That's exactly what I'm going to do. Call them all and do just that. Time for lunch :)

Ellariffic offer

If you are on the Ella Publishing Co. mailing list, you already know all about this generous offer. If you're not on the mailing list, why not? Click here to join the parade, and never miss an offer like this again. Or anything else Ellariffic! And there is plenty you don't want to miss.

* * * * *

copied from the e-mail:

Happy Ellaween!

To celebrate, save 31 percent on select eBooks.

Today through Halloween only, you can save 31 percent on ten select Ella eBooks! (You know, because Halloween is on the 31st, and October is the tenth month of the year? Yeah, we're clever like that.)

Just in case you're not dressing up as an accountant or a math teacher this year, we'll break it down for you: you could save as much as $18.56 on eBooks you've been dying to read! (That is, of course, if you buy all ten eBooks before midnight on Halloween. We can't reveal what happens if you buy after midnight, but let's just say it's not recommended.)

• Vintage Hip Christmas Crafts
• Design Workshop
• Picture Perfect
• Stretch Your Sketches
• A Year in the Life
• 20 Simple Secrets of Happy Scrapbookers
• Special Effects for Digital Photos
• 40 Top Tips for Better Photos
• Quick & Creative Quizzes
• Text Tricks for Scrapbookers

Are you missing any of those select titles listed above? Use code ELLAWEEN at checkout to save 31 percent on these e-books. Click here to go shopping :)

Happy boo to you!

Virtual Baby Shower

Angie Lucas is a mum!

Angie's journey to this point has not been an easy one; the posts regarding her infertility and her blessing made me cry, her experiences through both entries brought both tears of anguish and joy. Angie has gone through so much and I am overjoyed her adventures in parenting an infant are about to begin!

In celebration, today we are all invited to a virtual baby shower to celebrate the arrival of little Keira Jane Lucas!

The idea is to share something: 

baby advice
childrens book suggestion
card
gift (do not feel obligated to purchase a gift to participate)
baby layout
games
favorite lullaby

Join me!

Post your entry and then head over to Ella and add your entry to the linky collection.

Oh, so where's MY entry?

Right here ...

FOLLOW YOUR HEART
(and be consistent!)

All lessons are good lessons. Learn from your past, the good and the bad, and apply it to the adventure you are about to begin. Everyone has an opinion, everyone has an experience, everyone is competitive, even with parenting. Breathe. Get to know Keira and she will get to know you. Follow the rhythm of your relationship, be true to each other and from there you will raise a wonderful woman. After all, you are raising your child to be an adult, not your child to be a child. Every happy child I've ever met has thrived in love, in structure and respect.

Where's the fun stuff? Well, it is uniquely Canadian - and in the mail - chosen by my now not so little girl for Angie's little girl!

Enjoy every minute of it :)

I am over the moon ...

with excitement!

I am thrilled, honoured and amazed to have been chosen to join the newly announced Ella Friends with 11 other talented, crafty and creative women. Many of these ladies inspire me regularly, and I look forward to getting to know all of them better over the coming months. I know they will inspire you too :)

I'll be doing a bit of re-arranging around here so that you will be able to visit them at their own homes here on the www as well as on the Ella site. Links will be added by the end of the day today. [ETA: done, check them out!]

I can't wait to begin!

Be sure to check out the announcement and read all of the introductions! If you haven't been to the site, spend some time and look around. There is so much wonderful stuff and lots to see and learn. Time well spent!

Ella Sketch #3 & LOAD, so far

I am enjoying my time back in the studio. I got it cleaned up enough, and just in time, to mess it all up again! There's nothing better than a studio in mid-mess to put me in a good mood.

Here is the latest Ella Sketch:

and my take:

Cardstock: Bazzill, Creative Memories; Printed Paper: Basic Grey; Stickers: Memory Makers, American Crafts; Pen: Micron; Bling: Me and My Big Ideas

I'm also keeping up with LOAD (what a great place for inspiration, encouragement and conversation!):

Day 1: THE EXPERIMENT

Cardstock: Bazzill; Printed Paper: Basic Grey; Stickers: Making Memories, American Crafts; Bling: Prima; Font: American Typewriter

Day 2: THE PAPA HAT

Cardstock: Bazzill; Letter Stickers: Making Memories; Brads: American Crafts; Font: Arial, 2Peas RF RhonnaDESIGNSRegular

DAY 3: I'M NO SUPERMAN

Cardstock: Bazzill; Printed Paper: Basic Grey; Stickers: American Crafts; Font: Garamond

So far, so good. I hope to keep it up through the end of the month. Fingers crossed!

Are you participating in the Ella sketch challenge? In LOAD?

Blown Deadline!

This week I didn't almost forget ... I forgot. Not to do the layout, but to post the layout.

Here is the Ella Sketch:

Which was originally posted on January 22nd with a deadline of the 28th. Me? I thought the deadline was the 29th. But no matter, I did my layout within minutes of receiving the sketch. The problem? It's a bit of a departure from the layouts you normally see me post. It's definitely in the "Keeping It Real" category:

And there you have it.

I know, "tell us how you really feel, Lee" which is a refrain often heard uttered by my friends.

Now there is a FIVE photo sketch posted on Ella for the next challenge. Let's hope I'm quicker to post on the Flickr site this time around! Are you participating? Let me know :)

Upcoming Scrapbooking Projects

I am looking forward to joining Lain Ehmann and Tami Morrison and the inspiring group of women who participate in LOAD. That means: LayOut A Day for the uninitiated - that means you Janet, Laurie, and Aliki :)!

I have been participating in this challenge since it was first offered by Lain on Big Picture Scrapbooking in January 2008. It is an incredible way to get a lot done. The venue has moved over to Flickr and for the month of February - all 28 days - you have to create and upload a completed layout daily.

I was so inspired during our last LOAD challenge, I created a 365 Layout Flickr group. I'm thinking that might have been a bit ambitious. Though, I have managed to do a number of them - I have not uploaded those layouts. Kind of defeating the purpose of the group. My perfection-driven tendencies are holding me back. I don't want to put up crap on the internet. I suppose that makes me ... a flake? a failure? Argh.

I have to say though, those ladies who are still creating are amazing, and inspiring. I'm humbled and awed by their dedication.

Anyway ...

That is my tremendously long-winded invitation for you to

JOIN IN THE FUN!

Why?

Well there are plenty gratuitous photos and mentions of the incredible Hugh Jackman.

And, if that's not enough ...

Even if you create nothing (which is almost impossible), the ladies are amazing. The support and kindness. The comments, inspiration and enthusiasm. I have been counting down the days to February 1st to be WOWED. And the ladies will WOW because they have since 2008. Best event on the web ... ever.

Another event I find appealing (it's in it's second week) and only because it is almost all done for you, and it appeals to my lazy side:

SIX WEEKS OF SKETCHES

over at Ella Publishing Co. One of my most favourite places on the web! Now, don't take that the wrong way. Lazy as in the concept is already done for you, the subjectivity is limited. There's still plenty to think about! And for me, the first sketch has a big challenge: vertical photos. Eek!

And, just found this morning from the inspiring and talented Aud Neal has a new FREE offering that I find really appealing: R3WIND. Not only do I have a long relationship with music, performing and listening, but I am married to an audiophile, so this might be a nice way to engage him in my love of scrapbooking. Hmm. Here's the "poster", what do you think?

What projects are out there that appeal to you? Are you going to join me at Ella or LOAD or R3WIND? Have you found something else with more appeal? If so, SPILL!

Ella Sketch Challenge

Eek!

I almost forgot. This sketch:

challenge was posted over on Ella Publishing Co. last week and the deadline is TODAY!

Note to self: start taking VERTICAL photos. This was a very difficult challenge only because locating photos was tough. But, lucky me, I managed to find the perfect photos for a traditional moment that had not been added to the book:

This was fun. I love challenges. I love sketches. I especially love Ella. 

(PS. for some reason I am layout-photographing challenged lately. I submitted five layouts for a DT call yesterday and they're all wonky. The photo was taken on the pew in my stairwell and not one side is straight! I assure you the layout is. Must work out that issue, quick!)

Did you participate in the challenge? Show me your layout! Remember to sign on to Ella tomorrow to see the next sketch and maybe participate with me next week.