Solutions & Snapshots.

Today has been "mega"productive. I have gotten so much done, everywhere. I'm in the middle of a billion projects (one of which is packing up the entire house!) , and have finally gotten some things organized in my studio so that they are easy to pack up but still out where I can work more efficiently. I am really stoked on how it all turned out for such a quick fix!





These are all made from some jars that I've collected over the past year and the $1 KI Alpha's at JoAnns. I love these little alphas so I stock up when I head there and I thought they were an easy way to decorate my jars a bit.

When I wrap them and pack them I'm storing the jars & the supplies as one. Some of the pens have special spots in my crop bag; the inks, paints and stickles all fit in that brown box which is actually a Kentucky whiskey box that Joey collected. I love how it looks. I'm hoping by packing some of this stuff today I'll be saving space and be able to still use the stuff!



This is my quick fix for my rubon's and new stuff - like a clip-it idea I guess. While packing up some of our office supplies I found the cork board squares that were supposed to have been used to create a pegboard wall for Joey. He never used them because they were to thin - we got them as a temporary solution, not a big framing project. lol.

I took two and split them in half. Then I adhered the two halves to together to make two thick halves. I used a heavy double stick tape to adhere mine, but if I was doing it for a more permanent board I would have used something else. Then I used the removable adhesive that came with the cork boards to line up the strips under my calendar. Done.

I can now take it down easy and re-make it later.

So I was happy to have somethings cleaned up AND I had space to work! I did some office stuff and then started playing. These are just some SnapShots of what's currently "in-process"...


I wanted to get a layout going with some of the presents my Mom sent me for my birthday! I am in love with the Mellow line from BG. It's so gorgeous. Rich colors, warm layers, thick patterns. It's like your favorite sweater.

Then later this afternoon I got busy again with my current product spotlight for AMM. It's Inque Boutique and I love their stamps. I'm in the middle of doing a journal with them right now - coincidentally that's what I'm callin' it....


Now I'm off to finish my holiday cards and some other goodies that are being shipped out tomorrow. Thanksgiving moments away and I haven't planned how the little Taylor clan in going to celebrate it. I'm putting together an idea in my head so we'll see what happens!

What are you doing? I hope that everyone is happy and safe this Thanksgiving. I am so sad that I can't been home with my family & friends but I love them so much and am counting down the days until we can spend a TON time together for Christmas. Love you!

{hugs}

25.

On Friday I turned 25. I didn't really know what to blog about it so I didn't. Birthday's for the past few years have been a little weird. It seems since my 21st I've celebrated every birthday away from home and away from good friends. I really don't want to sound all "woe is me"... and I know that birthdays get less and less exciting as you grow up... but lately my birthday is a reminder of how far away I really am from a lot of the people I love. I know that's all going to change soon and all of my friends and family always call, send gifts, and just spend time to catch up on my birthday, but this year I just felt more comfortable letting my 25th birthday pass on by.

The past year has been really hard and full of so many lessons. It's been my first year married, my first year designing with responsibilities and goals, and the first year I have really sat down and tried to figure out who I am and what I want. My journey answering those questions is still continuing, but I really feel that 25 is going to be my "manifestation" year. So many things are going to happen in the first few months of this year for me and life is going to be turned upside down! Now that's what I'm talking about!

So that's all I'm saying about my birthday. I'm more excited about today, and tomorrow than sad about yesterday, so I think I'm in good shape!

But, we all deserve a little birthday portrait, so here I am with my little Roxy who turned 14 weeks on Friday when I celebrated my 25th!


I can't even tell you how HUGE she's getting and how much harder it is to take a picture of her now! I have about 30 failed attempts to take pictures with her this morning. I had Joey come in too to hold my place while I set up the exposure and looking through all of the mishaps is hilarious. He suggested I do a post about the "trials of the Taylor portrait" which I will when I have more time to weed through the mess that was this morning!

I also made a little "gummy bear" art this morning for my "Right Now." journal. I put together my 25 before 26 to do list and will be printing this baby out to add in there.


I hope that everyone has a wonderful and productive Monday!

{hugs}

late night scrapping...

So today in the middle of working on my "right now." album (coming soon!) I realized it was the last day to do the new challenge on ScrapMojo. So after some late night shopping (I was totally out of 8.5x11 photo paper) I did this little quickie....


The challenge was "If you could take over a holiday..." and there are some MAJOR things I would change about Halloween. I think it's so sad that the innocence of Halloween has been "lost" a little and if I was in charge I would make a few adjustments! LOL!

{hugs}

{Music}

My ITunes has been going through a bit of a rut lately - well why not, just about everything else in my life has been lately! LOL. I can joke now that I'm on a roll again.

So my playlist has been stuck on her...


and him...


with some of the later works of his.


Plus my usual Amy Winehouse, Poe, Etta James, and other randomness.

The "her" is Lily Allen, and the "him" is Pete Doherty. I've been on a little British kick lately, I think I'm secretly wishing we could move to London for a bit. Or at least have an extended holiday there.

But I'm wanting something NEW! Not new as in just released necessarily, just new to me would be good. Good music always inspires me and I can go for hours just playing while listening to a good randomized playlist.

Here are a few more of my favorites and PLEASE leave me some of yours!

*The Presets*


*Peter Bjorn and John*


In "other" news. I HAVE MY MOJO BACK! I am working on a mini book/art journal called {right now.} that totally has me flowing again. Thank goodness! And in starting it I've always started designing some new little goodies that I hope to finish today. I'm totally nervous to see if people love or hate them. Check back this weekend because I am finally going to post my FIRST GIVEAWAY EVAH!

{luv & hugs}

Graphic Inspiration.

So I've been ranting and raving about this book for the past month to my friends and to Joey who I think is just sick of me showing him the same pages over and over again, so I thought it was time to sit down and blog about it.


This fabulous book is Hand Job by Michael Perry. Michael's work is amazing and as a designer for Urban Outfitters he has my dream job! Here are a few of my fav's from his website:



That second one is one of the projects he did for the 2008 Olympics, there are a couple more on his site so check them out. His website is packed and so worth surfing.

His book is actually a catalog of his favorite typographers and graphic artists. I haven't even made a dent in checking them all but so far I have a few favorites that I thought I would share.

First up is Kate Bingaman whose co. is Obsessive Consumption. She draws practically everything that she buys (which I think is rad), including her bank and credit card statements. She also has an etsy shop where she sells these....


her "What Did You Buy Today?" Zines.

Then there is Paul Clark. I can't even explain to you how much I {heart} Paul's work, I just have to show you...

I hope some of them inspire you as much as they do me!

Do you have any amazing graphic artists, typographers, or doodlers that inspire you? Please share them because I am always in the mood for more eye-candy!

{Hugs}

A very good weekend!

Happy Monday!

How is everyone today?

Joey and I had a really good weekend. Saturday we took a little trip down to Olde Naples to see what was happening in Cambier Park. There was a Art & Craft show going on but it was mostly Florida stuff. It wasn't the big crafts show where exhibitors come from all over. I really need to find out when that is because last time we went there were some really cool finds - like The 3 Sisters Design Co. who make domino and bottle cap jewelry. Very cool.

So after checking out the art show we headed over to Tin City. I'd never been there and wanted to see what it was like. It was very Florida Kitsch-y but fun to look at. You know, a lot of purple hat stuff, alligator heads made into beer koozies, indian stuff, fishing stuff, and more imported shells than I've ever seen. We went to lunch at a fish place on the dock and just had fun being together and laughing.

I did get a chance to take some fun portraits of my hubby. He's so hot! My favorite part of Tin City was all of the colors! Windows with bright green and yellow framing and bright blue walls. Too fun...



And then he wanted to take a few of me too. Which I rarely let him do since he's single frame impaired! But he actually got a few nice ones...



So that was our Saturday. I took Saturday night to clean up my studio and start putting away the mess that's taken over my dining room table. Sunday we shot our second-to-last wedding at the Ritz. It was really nice but I'm so glad we are almost out of weddings for good. Our last one is in March when we come back for Joe's Mom's birthday so we don't have to think about them anymore for a long time!

Saturday I got my latest order from AMM. I got the new CI be. dimensions. They are so cool! I got some new KI stuff and Maya Road Chipboard Birds. I have so many fun things to play with and as soon as I'm done cleaning this afternoon I'm diving in. I've been in a bit of a rut lately so I'm hoping that I'll be able to just relax and create!

I'll be back around later to post some new graphic designers and typographers I've been oogling over lately! And be sure to check out my Book Review of Journal Revolution on the AMM message board, these books rock and if you don't have them yet you have to get them!

{hugs}

A Fresh Start.

Happy Friday!

So much has been going on the past week. Last time I blogged was before Halloween and Joe and I had just come down with pretty nasty colds. I ended up needing to go to the docs (ugh, never my favorite thing) but after getting some medicine I am now all back to my healthy self.

One thing being sick made me realize was just how badly we have been eating and taking care of our home. With the new puppy, gearing up for the move, and being sick I had really neglected my housekeeping! So, back to FlyLady to get things all ironed out again (even though I don't actually own an iron!)

It's finally cold here in SW Florida. Or at least cool. Mornings have been in the 40s/50s and we get up to about 77 during the day. I am longing for cold weather and run around in the morning happily yelling "sweater weather" to Joey.

So what's up with the fresh start? Well, we have decided finally that this month we are definitely moving. Out by December 1st! Joe had originally decided we would wait so that he could finish some projects but he now will have everything done in the next two weeks and then he wants to hit the road. Waiting until after the holidays just wasn't gonna happen!

I have also gotten really inspired - in the kitchen! Who would have thought it would take this long for a girl to learn how to really go grocery shopping? Well, I've been watching Rachel Ray and I'm not afraid to get in there and try new things now. I'm such a picky eater but I'm hoping that if I ease into new ingredients and make some new dishes myself I'll expand my palette a bit and be totally ready to shop in the fabulous fresh markets in NYC! Today Joey and I went shopping and I got a ton of fresh ingredients. Tonight I'm making RR's Can-Of-Beer Chicken that she made this week.

I'm still trying t clean up my studio and get my head together artisitcally. I've been really overwhelmed lately and lost some momentum. I've bought a ton of fun new stuff just for me so I'm hoping that once I clean up I'll be motivated to play a bit. I was sponsored by Dreamstreet this month and made this little decoration to send to my cousin for her new baby Ella...


I also did a Holiday Planner but for that check out A Million Memories.com in the Product Spotlight Forum. All the girls on the DT have been doing amazing work so check them all out!

So that's my quick catch-up. I'm missing all my favorite blogs after being MIA online for the past week so I'll be making the rounds and sharing some fun inspiration again!

{hugs!}

change in the weather = head colds for all!

Just when I promised to blog more consistently again I come down with a major head cold and then, of course, so does Joe! So our weekend wasn't as great as I hoped it would be. We were both grumpy, sleepy, and achy - but we are getting over it!

Saturday we napped and saved up our energy for our second to last (yay almost done!) wedding to video. It went really smooth and we got to work with our favorite photographer/friend and it was great to catch up with them. Check her out... Tonya Malay Photography. She is a great photographer, I had her come all the way up to NW Indiana to do our wedding! Check it out we are in her engagement gallery too...



Sunday we decided we had to get out of the house for a bit. We headed to Coconut Point to see Across the Universe. I loved the graphics in it but all in all I was a little disappointed in it. Frankly I think part of the problem was that Joe and I weren't feeling too great and were sniffling through the whole thing. I really want to see it again before making any hard reviews of it. Graphically it was way cool though. And it had Eddie Izzard, my favorite, so it was all in all a satisfying afternoon!

Today we are both feeling a bit better but I have to get to work on some things so it's time to be over the cold even if it's not over me!

{hugs}

new ebay addict.

{raising my hand}

So I finally made a couple of ebay sales last week. I don't remember if I blogged about them or not, but I sold a couple of printers that worked great but were just taking up space after I bought my new Kodak printer which I'm so crazy about. So I've broken out into ebay selling and I can't wait to get verification that my items shipped okay so that I can confidently put some more up to sell.

Well, as of today I am officially addicted to BUYING from ebay.

First off, did you know that Amazon doesn't take PayPal as a form of payment. BIG loss there. I am usually an Amazon buyer but when I started my paypal account and selling things I decided that my only online purchases were going to be through paypal so that I can start being more self-sufficient when it comes to buying scrapping stuff and goodies online (yes that's Joe celebrating you hear in the background!)

Well I heard about this book from Anahata Katkin's Blog and had to have it. I thought I'd try to look it up on ebay and low and behold ... there it was! It was as cheap as I could get it on Amazon but it was still better than full price so I grabbed it.

Then I had been checking out this seller's really fab dresses for a few weeks and today saw the coolest dress ever. I took a chance and bid on it even though it already had two bidders and I won! Check this cutie out...



I love it! I can't wait to get it. It screams NYC Spring to me and with leggings and some cute flats... oh I get giddy just thinking about it. I think I'm going to be grabbing up more of her dresses in the future!

Okay, time to settle down. I seriously laughed at the "Shop Victoriously" Ebay ads on TV. You know the ones where the people are all hunting after the retro lunch box, or racing to get the vintage radio. Yeah well I laughed at how silly the whole concept was, until I found myself jumping up and down in my studio after winning my new dress! LOL!

Any other ebay shoppers or seller out there? I'd love to check out some of your auctions or your favorite sellers! Leave me a link.

{hugs}

today's post is brought to you by...

Sassafras Lass and the color PURPLE!

So I hear the buzz in the scrapping world that purple is a no-no color for a lot of people. Why? Who knows. That's just what I hear! Me? I've never met a color that I didn't like (except for brown when it's all by itself, if it brings fun friends like pink or orange we are cool!)

Well the fabulous Sassafras Lass isn't afraid of purple and they have created the most fantastic new line that I was so lucky to have the opportunity to design with this month for A Million Memories.

These are the layouts I completed this week with the new Life Is Beautiful "Felicity" Line...

The first one is of my new baby 2nd cousin Elanor. I haven't met her yet but she is the cutest and I can't wait to see her and new parents Courtney & Mike (Courtney is my cousin on my mom's side!) I'm also pretty addicted to Rebecca Sower inspired posies right now!



This is my little Roxy who isn't so little anymore (although still a baby at 11wks)! She's a monster! We weighed her last night and she's pushing 17lbs!


An 8.5x11 of me. I can't believe I'm going to be 25 in a few weeks.

And my gorgeous momma!


Thank you so much to Sassafras Lass and Alison & Michelle of AMM for sponsoring me this month with this gorgeous product.



Had enough of purple yet?

I challenge everyone to try purple. It's great for B&W photos, for fall, for babies and so much more! Jump into color people!

{Hugs!}

catching up.

I've been a HORRIBLE blogger this past week. After my get-a-way to Daytona Beach with my mom and her Cracker Crash friends I needed an "extended" rest from things to re-connect with my hubby and figure out some life things (a.k.a. veg on the couch and over talk life!)

Last weekend was so much fun. I spent Saturday the 13th through Tuesday the 16th with my mom and her friends. They went to CKU Orlando and I met up with them for a fun Cracker Crash Crop at Jan's condo at Ponce Inlet (right down the beach from Daytona.) The beach was so beautiful and I took some portraits of all the ladies that turned out pretty great! (I'm biased but I think the ones of my momma and Jan are the cutest! LOL!)


One of the most exciting things for me during this trip was being able to see my mom and re-connect with her a bit AND scrap with her! I took some pics of her at the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse and she looked amazing!


I DID get some scrapping done during the crop. I finished working with Scrapworks "Spellbound" Halloween line. The product spotlight is up in the AMM Forum and all of my projects are in the gallery. There are way too many photos to put up here! This is the door hanger I did but I also did a Fright Night Garland, a Treat Box & Card Set, and a few other cards.


There is a ton going on right now with us pushing back our move AGAIN, new projects and manufacturers, new things with AMM... new new new new. For now though I'm still playing catch up!

Have a great Sunday!

{hugs}

LSS Vol. 2 Round 2

I finally finished and got my entry photographed for the 2nd Round of Last Scrapper Standing. I like it.


I always have good self-portrait days when I'm wearing my favorite shirt and my CHEAP aviators. I took a TON this afternoon because I knew I wanted to do a "photo booth" strip and this is my favorite I think of all of them....



Okay maybe this one actually (because I look like a badass)...


Okay maybe I'm being a little self-absorbed today! I rarely like the self-portraits I take of myself OR even ones that Joe takes of me. So when I played this morning and took these I was quite proud of myself! Also, I've had some major skin issues lately (mostly due to stress) and today was the first day I looked in the mirror and wasn't embarrassed (now if my skin will just chill out and be balanced for awhile!)

Okay enough about me.

JOEY COMES HOME TOMORROW!

He'll be back in the states (New Jersey actually) by 3:00pm so I'll get to hear his voice for the first time in 3 weeks. I'm so excited to have him back at home. I really need a vacation from these dogs. (Yes Roxy is a DOG now with the bad habits of a puppy!)

It will be so nice to have him here to split dog duty with me again so I have more uninterrupted time to work and so that I can have my sounding board back. It's so hard for me to create without him here. He is so visual and creative and is a huge help to me when I'm designing. Having my best friend back will be so great!

That's it for right now. I'm back to the kitchen to clean up and start my next project!

Marshall McLuhan COTD: Today I pulled the Queen of Clubs which reads: Hell hath no music like a woman playing second fiddle. (huh? anyone that can explain this one to me gets a cookie...)

{hugs!}

just a couple more Oct kit designs...

Last night and this morning I finished two more projects with the October Kit from A Million Memories. The first is a layout I did of my puppies...


And this is a little mini-accordion I did this morning and it really took no time at all. The hardest part was figuring out which pictures would look cute that tiny!


The mini-accordion is 1.5" x 4" and started out as a piece of cardstock cut to 10.5" x 4. This was such a cute and simple project and I think it would make a really cute favor or thank you.


This week is going to be amazing and super super busy! I have a manufacturer kit from Sassafras Lass that I'm going to be working on and a few more on their way. I also am working on some great class projects for A Million Memories, and my DT Challenge is still going on too until the 15th.

Joey comes home on Thursday night (really late too) and then Saturday I'm leaving for Orlando to see my mom and all of her friends for a weekend of cropping and fun. Joe and I are making time for sushi when he gets home (of course) and I can't wait to see my mom. Plus I've never been to a crop before so it's going to be fun scrapping with friends and my momma! (We'll be making some time for shopping and other stuff too!)

This past Friday my copies of Visual Chronicles and Journal Revolution came in and I have been devouring them. Well, not literally of course but they do put me in the mood to bake cookies! My review of these fabulous books will be featured in the November AMM Newsletter and on the website. I'm also doing a little technique section in the AMM Nov. Newsletter!

As if all that wasn't enough... I have a ton of errands to run to get the house and some things ready for Joe to come home AND I ran out of my favorite adhesive yesterday. So I guess that means it's back to the craft store as well.

I also wanted to find out if anyone could help me out with something: I'm looking for Mounted Rubber Alphabet Stamps. I have a really small set (Target $1) that's a typewriter font but I would also like a medium and even larger size too. I'm open to any font but I would really like a typewriter style or really basic font. Can anyone help me out?

Marshall McLuhan COTD: Today I pulled the Four of Clubs which reads simply: "AFFLUENCE CREATES POVERTY" (true, but I'd much rather be on the affluent end or in the middle!)

McLuhan Update.

So when I talked to Joe about the Marshall McLuhan cards he reminded me that I DID know who he was. We have one of his books (or compiled articles) called The Mechanical Bride which is so cool. All about media advertising and propaganda, and the myths advertisers pushed in the 50s, 60s, and 70s.

What I love about this book (besides the articles) are the ads throughout it. For instance... The TIME Magazine ad with the subtitle "A nose for news- and a stomach for whiskey." An ad which explains the real-life grittiness of the TIME reporter and why TIME is the nations no. 1 news magazine. Or the Clark Grave Vault Ad which shows a beautiful woman holding her hand out of her window as it rains which reads: "There's deep consolation ... serene through shower or heavy rain ... for those who know the casket of a dear one is protected against water in the ground by a Clark Metal Grave Vault."

Or what about this one:

Yes who knew that Lysol was originally used as a Feminine Hygiene product OR that lack of feminine hygiene was the "one intimate neglect that can engulf you in marital grief". Hmmm... Beware Ladies! Okay this is too weird NOT to quote (tell me that a man didn't write this ad) -

"Too Late, when love has gone, for a wife to plead that no one warned her of danger. Because a wise, considerate wife makes it her business to find out how to safeguard her daintiness in order to protect precious married love and happiness.

One of the soundest ways for a wife to keep married love in bloom is to achieve dainty allure by practicing effective feminine hygiene such as regular vaginal douches with reliable "Lysol"."

OMG. If more women only knew that the way to a happy marriage was regular douches with their KITCHEN CLEANER! Oh My! And if you mail in the little form you can get a FREE! Booklet of new information about feminine hygiene courtesy of Lysol. Amazing!

Marshall McLuhan COTD: Today I pulled the Jack of Diamonds which reads: "To the blind all things are sudden."