Back from Boulder -

I'm back from my second trip to Boulder in 2 months. This time I was there to help put the apt. together. Ryan's girlfriend Gina selected some fabric she wanted from IKEA, so I bought it and brought it out with me in my suitcase filled with all kinds of goodies. Then started shopping for furniture they wanted/needed, making curtains (without the aid of a sewing machine, mind you - just iron on tape), hung drapery rods and curtain rods, and cooked up some meals (Brunswick stew, chili, and sausage stuffin') to freeze before heading home. Did spend a day in Denver at the Historic (and luxurious) Brown Palace Hotel - which I can highly recommend to anyone planning a visit to Denver. I'll post some pics shortly!

Okay, okay, I'm getting harassed for not posting on my blog for a month. What can I say? How am I supposed to keep up with my blog, my Facebook page and all my friends' at the same time? It's not like I'm retired and lounging around the Pennsylvania countryside! (Ha Ha, Jen, that's for you!) But, if you feel you need an update, here's what's going on:

1. Kim Keegan and I are doing the Weight Watchers things together. Just had our 14th weekly meeting last night. I am pleased to report I have lost 20#. Have quite a bit to go, but it's a start. Kim's losing too, but it's not like she has as much to lose as I do!

2. I've been taking an online Big Picture Scrapbooking class - from Jenni Bowlin. It's a 12 week class in incorporating vintage items into your scrapbooking and crafting and I am loving it!

3. I'm going back to Boulder Colorado next week for a visit with Ryan and Gina to help them finish getting their apartment in order. They moved out there last month so Ryan could go to graduate school to work on his PhD in Philosophy. Gina has a great job with the Oceanic Preservation Society helping to promote their movie (The Cove - go see it - it's GREAT!) and their good works. I'm really looking forward to that! A little shopping, a little cooking, a little decorating! What fun!

So, there's an update....I'll be sure to post some pictures when I get back from Boulder.....

'Til then - keep on scrappin'!!

I can't believe how fast the summer is flying by! I have been so preoccupied by helping my youngest Ryan, and his girlfriend Gina get ready for their move (THIS WEEK!) to Boulder, Colorado, where he will be attending graduate school and she will be working for the non-profit Ocean Preservation Society..... How exciting for them - but how sad for Mom ;-(. Between a trip out there to find them a place to rent, and finding the best way to move their stuff and 2 cars out there, it's been all consuming.....

Now, things are settling down (although I'm going to start planning my first trip out there to "help" them get set up....), so I thought I should update my blog....

So, here are a few pics from the Boulder trip.....

Dianne

Wow, I can't believe how long it has been since I posted! I have been spending much too much time on Facebook and neglecting my blog. And, after getting back from Savannah, it's been pretty busy here at home. I've done a few projects for the Doodle (that you can see on my Facebook page), and even more that I haven't posted, plus finishing up an album from a Stacey class all about my mom, trying to catch up on my Project 52, putting in a few shifts at the 'Doodle, and in general keeping very busy.

But, now that things have calmed down for a minute, I'm posting pics of the latest project I completed for the Doodle. It's a Clear Scraps acrylic/Chipboard album. I'll be delivering it to the store tomorrow to use as a sample. Thanks for looking.

OMG - the Doodlers are back from Savannah and I don't know if the city or us will ever be the same! We had a ball and I am happy to share some pics. More will come as the Doodlers upload their photos!

Goodbye - and y'all come back, y'hear!

TA DA!

Here's a view of the room redo as it turned out after spending the whole 4-days on it, scraping, plastering, painting, and then - happily, shopping - for a few choice pieces. I really like how it turned out - surprisingly, because growing up in the '50s, I never much cared for 50s style as an adult. But, it was fun to do, and it's given me a whole bunch of excuses now to go to flea markets and yard sales again - which I enjoy ALMOST as much as scrapbooking. And, yes, I guess my next layout will have to be all about the room redo..... Thanks for looking and tell me what YOU think about mid-century modern design.

WORKING THROUGH MY SICKNESS

I've been battling whatever crud is going around for the last week or so and finally saw my dr. on Weds. She took a throat swab and put me on antibiotics and for the first time in 2 weeks I am actually feeling better. I am off from work for a couple of days, and despite dr.'s order to rest and take it easy....I decided this was the perfect time to redo my guest bedroom/junk room - actually the remaining bedroom of my sons - the bedroom of my youngest, I turned into my pink and green scrapbook room last year. The bedroom of my oldest became the repository of castoff furniture and extra Xmas decorations, etc. But it was long overdue for a redo, so I found a neat bed comforter set at Target when they closed out the back to college stuff - kinda old Florida kitchsy - so I'm going to give that a try. Today was prep day - scraping off the peeling paint, patching holes, repairing plaster, etc. Here are a couple of pics of the work in progress. I hope to finish it all by Sunday. I can only do these types of projects when my DH is out of town, so in spite of being under the weather, I decided to bring it on and get going......

TREASURE HUNT - DAY 2

Kathy and I hit the road early for Day 2 of the Tampa Bay Scrapbook Treasure Hunt, and we managed to visit 4 of the closer shops to us. We ended up the day at Whimsodoodle, of course, where we learned the Treasure Hunt bus was running 2 hours late, so we decided to pitch in and help the crew get ready for the 30 or so women about to come aboard! The shop had such a great day they were running low on tags, so we jumped in and made some more, even my DH delivered some supplies to the store for us, and then the girls all pitched in and pre-stamped the make-n-takes so the bus-riders wouldn't feel rushed when they finally arrived. By the time the night was over it was 9:00 and everyone was exhausted!

But no time to rest, for it was back to the store for Day 3! Now, I am really feeling my age!

Some pics for your viewing pleasure. Kathy and I at the 'Doodle's great photo spot, and us again at the Scrapbook Shoppe in Tampa acting up with their great props!

AHOY, MATEYS - DAY 1 OF THE TREASURE HUNT!

I convinced my DH to have a play date with me today since he's semi-retired and been working hard writing freelance stories lately, and I had a few days off this week - so we headed out to Violette's in Lakeland for the first day of the Treasure Hunt!  I had never been to Violette's before, so it was quite a treat for me!  It's a wonderful store and everyone was super friendly.  They were demonstrating UTEE for their tag - really cute, and the "make & take" was a "take & make".  They had a great pirate on display and even took your photo with it and then gave it to you before you left!  That was great!  I ran into some 'Doodle customers there who had already hit a few stores by that point!  They must have started early, is all I can say!  We also hit Scraptopia on the way home.  I'm saving the rest of the stores for tomorrow when my pirate matey, Kathy, and I will hit the trail!  Here's a couple of pics taken by my DH.  (Notice my MS Crop for Hope T-Shirt! - it was perfect for the trip!)

COFFEE TIME!

Now that I have given the "surprise project" to my friend (for her daughter), I can post a few pictures.  I had a great time making this combination chipboard and acrylic album.  Thanks to my friends Jen, Stacey and Kristen for their help last Sunday. 

I used WSD's exclusive QK coffee die for the small cups and the coffee beans.  I used a plastic cup and brown Staz-on ink to stamp the rings onto the acrylic pages.  And I found some good coffee quotes on the 'net for filler.  

I hope she and her daughter fill in some pics of her and her favorite Starbucks drinks.  I had so much fun making this - and I don't even LIKE coffee!  

TFL 

Dianne

SPENT THE DAY AT THE DOODLE!

I spent the better part of today at the Doodle with Stacey, Jen & Kristen (they were working) while I was (playing) working on a project for a surprise gift, so I can't share it here just yet.  But, let me tell you, it was fun, and if you haven't yet tried playing with some of Clearsnaps acrylic albums, you're missing out.  Thanks to help and inspiration from the girls, I really had a ball.  One or two final touches tomorrow and I'm done.  I also decorated the cover of my Scrapbook Treasure Hunt album and I CAN post that!  I'm having so much fun lately with scrapbooking, I wish I could do it all the time!!!!

Dianne

TALK LIKE A PIRATE!  ARGH!

Today I worked at my LSS, handing out Treasure Hunt totes.  Everyone was excited to get their loot and can't wait for the Treasure Hunt to begin next Friday.  I've taken the day off work and I am going to get my DH to drive me Lakeland to check out one of the stores I have never been to.

If you don't know about the Treasure Hunt, check out my LSS's website:  www.whimsodoodle.com for all the details!  Arghhhh, matey, you don't want to miss out on this.

Last year's photo at the Doodle!

PROJECT 52

As you may already know, I'm working on a version of Project 365. Knowing full well there's no way I could keep up with a photo-a-day, I'm aiming for at least 1 photo a week (hence the P-52)... Anyway, I've been keeping up pretty well with it - here's my photo from this week - (2 actually) - a meal my DH made for me....

A WORK IN PROGRESS

Okay, I've spent a couple of hours tonight tweaking the blog, and I think I am done for awhile. It's not perfect (argh) but I am going to settle for this for awhile. Until I can consult with my genius sons..... Anyway, I've uploaded a slideshow of some of my projects, so I am ready to share the blog now, I think, with a few friends. All I ask is that you be gentle!

THIS IS HARDER THAN I THOUGHT!

I really need to work on this to get some photos up and some scrapbook things.....I guess I am just not doing as well with this as I had hoped. Oh well, I'll keep at it.....

SAVANNAH HERE I COME!



This is a photo of Savannah I took years ago - I am so looking forward to the Doodle Train Trip to Savannah in April!!!!!!

Blog UP!

This is a first for me - a blog! But, with everyone else doing it, I figured it was time. I plan to post pics of some of my scrapbook projects, and who knows what else? So, welcome to the Land of Chocolate and Scrapbooking! The page itself is going to require some tweaking, and as soon as I get it all figured out, I am hopeful it will look inviting!

Thanks for stopping by!

Dianne