Flip Pal Mobile Scanner - A MUST-HAVE!!!!

I mentioned planning and attending the Skyline Retreat in March.
What I didn't mention was what I worked on while I was AT the retreat!

Usually, I have a completed "power layout" of pre-planned pages to put together.  A "power Layout" is a box of photos, paper, embellishments and journaling ideas/boxes.  Here is how it works:

1. Get photos together that you want to scrapbook.
2. Find matching paper to go with the photos.
3. Find embellishments, journal spots and ideas, titles, stickers, flowers, etc. and put them with the photos and paper.
4. Put all the items together in between the page dividers (large plastic dividers that have a file folder tab on them).
5. Complete steps 1-4 until all the photos are gone. 
6. Pack your bag for the retreat.
7. Drive to the retreat.
8. Scrapbook.
   No Power Layout for this chick! Not this time around!  

I had 4 projects that I wanted to work on while I was up there. YES, ONLY 4!  Most of the ladies that know me, know that I pack the entire scrap loft and even bring the kitchen sink, so to bring ONLY 4 PROJECTS was quite a stretch for this chick!!!  Now, the 4 projects I decided on were things that I *knew* I wouldn't be able to sit down, concentrate on and take the time needed to do them while there were 2 VERY active kidlets around.  Talk about "Mission Impossible".....

The 4 Projects:

1. Pull apart all of Nathan's Lego Instruction booklets and laminate them in 8.5x11 sheets to put in a binder.
2. Scan all my baby photos with my Flip Pal Mobile Scanner.
3. Finish up my Project Life 2012 Album.
4. Start a Power Layout for the next retreat I attend.

Well, I started with Project #1 and ran out of laminating sleeves about 1/3 of the way through.  When it is all done, though, it is going to be so great for Nathan to have them all in a binder where they can't be bent, ripped, lost or taken by Sophie.  More sleeves would be needed to finish the project.     So, I put away Project #1 and started on #2.

Project #2 was to scan in all my baby photos with my Flip Pal Mobile Scanner. 

I am now going to go off on a tangent about this amazing machine, so there's your warning!  

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Mum and Dad gave me money for Christmas to purchase everyone in our family a Christmas present. I bought this cute little mobile scanner after playing with my friend Laura G's at the last Skyline Retreat - Thanks Mum and Dad!!!!

Photo is courtesy of flip-pal.com

What I did NOT know was that this itty bitty scanner would be able to scan all photos up to a 4x6 photo with the lid on it.  THEN, you can remove the lid, flip it over and scan any size of photo you want (as long as it overlaps a little) without the lid on it.  

Photo is courtesy of flip-pal.com

The scanner came with a special SD card to store the photos on after scanning them, a USB drive to plug the SD Card into so that you can download the photos to your computer using a USB slot (for those who do not have an SD Card reader built into their computer) and 4-AA batteries. Mine also came with a pink case and a special Breast Cancer Ribbon skin to go on the lid of the scanner.  It was the "Breast Cancer Awareness" bundle.  

Now, the SD Card has special "Toolbox" software loaded on it to allow you to "STITCH" the larger photos together and it was SO easy to use!  ANYONE, and I mean ANYONE, can use it!
You choose the photos that you did a multiple scan of: (this one is an 8x10 of my husband)

     

Then click OK. It takes the photos, stitches them all together and........     VOILA!!!    

There's BEN!!!  

I was amazed at how amazing this little machine was and then the software just blew me out of the water! 

Here's some advice for those of you just getting your hot little hands on this awesome machine:

•  If you move the scanner at all while you are doing multiple scans of a photo, it doesn't always stitch very well.  
• So, press the green button and then don't touch it until it is done scanning each time.  
• An overlap is a good thing when it comes to scanning larger photos into multiple photos.
• Invest in some rechargeable batteries to use with this machine.

I was really impressed with it.  Can't you tell??

There is 1 drawback to this machine: 

• It is a MOBILE scanner.  

This means that it does not have an AC adapter to plug into the wall.
It takes 4 AA Batteries.  I can tell you from experience that it EATS batteries.  I made it through about 3/4 of my baby pictures before I ran out of battery power.  I used the 4 batteries it came with and some batteries I bought at the dollar general (down the mountain).  

When I returned home from the retreat and life settled back down, I invested in a charger and a set of 4 AA rechargeable batteries - Sanyo Eneloop. A great investment for the amount of scanning I am planning to do in the future.  The batteries and charger stay with the scanner and are not used for ANYTHING else but the scanner.  No little fingers grabbing my special batteries!!!  It is a great little machine and I would recommend it to anyone wanting to scan photos, documents, articles, kid's artwork, old paperwork, scrapbook pages in an album that isn't yours.  It is PHENOMENAL!!!

Now back to your regular scheduled blogging.....

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Once I had eaten through all of the batteries, I had to move on from Project #2 to #3. I packed away the scanner and my baby photos and pulled out My Project Life 2012 Album.  

By this time in the weekend, it was Saturday night and I knew that there wasn't a hope at all in getting to Project #4 because I had to insert photos and journal from the end of September 2012 until the end of 2012.  That includes our trip to visit family in Canada at Christmas.  So, I packed everything that I didn't need, in my car, and just worked on sliding in all the photos, leaving slots open for journaling cards and titles.

Have I ever mentioned how hard journaling is when you are surrounded by talking people at a retreat???  I even wrote what people were saying - by accident - while I was working on my journaling.  Talk about tough!!!!  Anyway, I never did get to Project #4.

In fact, it is still waiting "in the wings" to this very day.  I am STILL working on Project Life 2012 but I am now at December 5th.  Only a little ways to go and I will be able to start to put together that Power Layout of the photos I want to "get scrappy" with.

I have YET to complete a traditional scrapbook page in 2013.  When I finish the last bit of journaling in the Project Life 2012 album, I WILL count the pages that I completed.  But NOT until I am completely done with it!

Here's hoping it is SOON!!!

Until Next Time,

SCRAP ON!
~Cyn~

Sophie's First Day At Preschool

Preschool started for Sophie today.  I am REALLY excited that she is going too!  It is 3 days per weed from 9 until 12.  Not a long time, but I believe that they will pack a lot of information and playing into those 3 hours!  These pictures were taken with Sophie before we left the house this morning.

 

That backpack is almost as big as she is.  I may have to correct that!  She looked so cute! The outfit she is wearing, we got for FREE at Kohls with a $10 off of $10 coupon.  Awesome eh? 

 

Sophie and Ethan have been playing together since last year and it was Dawn (Ethan's mom) who convinced me to check out this preschool with her last year.  Aren't they cute????    

Sophie walking into the Church heading to her classroom. As we got closer to her classroom, we heard a little boy crying and Ben and I looked at each other.  We both were thinking the same thing:  I hope this kid getting upset doesn't upset Sophie! NOPE!  She wasn't fazed at all! She was a champ!  I knew she would be, Ben was the skeptical one!  

Ben was worried that because he was dropping her off too, that she would be upset to see him go. She is, afterall, a Daddy's Girl.  Boy was he WRONG!!!  She walked right into that classroom and went to the chair that we showed her was hers at Open House last Thursday night.  She looked at us and smiled when we waved goodbye.  AWESOME!!!

Of course, when we went to get her at 12, she didn't even see me....all she saw was her Daddy and grinned from ear to ear that he was there to get her.  All was right with the world for her.  It is really amazing the love that little girl has for her daddy and the love her Daddy has for her.  I am very lucky that they have that bond and that Ben is her HERO.
This little girl had a great day today too! I mean, a great mood all day long, no whining, nothing!  It was awesome!  Now, to get her to bed for her nap!  I may even have one because last night, I didn't get much sleep!

Until Next Time, 

SCRAP ON!
~Cyn~

Project Life Update....

I decided to update the Project Life album before I started with the layouts I wanted to create for the Feeling Scrappy Sketchapalooza 7 class.  I am really happy with the way this album is turning out.  The best thing is that on the days that I don't get a good picture or forget to take one at all, I can put in a few pictures for a particular day and tell the story a little better.  An example would be the re-vamp of my Scrap Loft.  I want to be able to tell that story and show off my space.  I did take pictures for that week but some didn't turn out the way I would have liked and some were blurry. So, instead I put in the pictures from when I was moving around my scrap area and organizing. 
I am one of those nerds that likes to organize things and I get a rush when it is all done and looks awesome!  I am all smiles, baby! 
So, here are the pages that I have completed since my last update - April 23 2012 until May 15 2012:

 I blurred out the pictures because they are for the upcoming Sketchapalooza 7 class in June. 

I am not sure how you work from your Core Kit, but I decided to take the journaling cards out of their storage boxes and just have them ready to go in the large box.  It works best for me when I am working.  Here is how I have my cards laid out.  Also, I bought an extra set of 3x4 Grid Journaling Cards.  They are in here as well.   

According to Becky Higgins, the core kits are now going to be made in the USA.  Very cool!  Now, the other thing, that I am not too happy about, is they will not have stickers in the core kits.  I use my ARROW stickers so much and I am bummed about the fact that they won't be in the Core Kit anymore.  But, I am looking for other options for arrows to use in the album.  I think they are looking for other options, but they will be bought as a separate item. I am not sure I will like that because it will cost more to get the entire kit.  If this is going to be a yearly thing, I have to make sure that it will fit in the budget.  Last year, the Project Life Kits were all one big package with one price.  This year, everything is separate:  Core Kit, Cardstock, Page Protectors, 3x4 Grid Journaling Cards, Memorabilia Envelopes and Dividers are all a separate item to be purchased.  Will be hard to justify in the budget.  We'll see though because once Ben sees the project put together and done, he will more than likely be cool with it.  I could always ask my inlaws and parents for the individual pieces for birthdays and Christmas!  ;)

Anyway, that is my Project Life update for this week.  Once again I am CAUGHT UP!  How weird does that ever feel to say that!!!  Something I thought I would NEVER hear myself say in a million years!
I hope you enjoy these updates because I really enjoy sharing them with you!  

Until Next Time,
SCRAP ON!
~Cyn~

As Promised.....Photo Ideas for Project Lifers....

Now, we all can take photos of our children, pets and other family members.  Heck, we can all take pictures of the places we visit and even the mundane tasks we do day-to-day.  How many times can we really take a photo of our laundry room because we are doing laundry for the umpteenth time that week?!?!  I mean, how many photos can you have of THIS in your scrapbooks?  I mean, really!?!?!?! 

What about those days that you completely forgot the camera or the photo that you took with your iPhone is blurry and unusable?  Last year, I took some photos of the signs of places that I frequent: Walmart, Aldi, Publix, Kroger, CVS, Target, Books A Million, just so that I could have a "FILLER" photo when I didn't get the right shot that I wanted to get for that day.  I mentioned in a previous post that I keep my agenda in my purse at all times and keep a little note of what we do on a daily basis.  This allows for a "mind-jog" when I don't get to printing my pictures the week I take them.  I may also reference my blog in my agenda as well so that I can look at the stuff I mention right here.  It helps with journaling too. 
Here are some ideas off the top of my head:

• gas prices
• milk prices
• favourite clothes
• favourite bath soaps
• favourite colour
• the book you are currently reading
• the music on your iPod
• the craft project you are working on
• your car (especially if you are a commuter)
• the text you got from a friend
• the calorie counter on your iPhone
• vacuum
• new shoes
• your laptop/computer on your favourite website
• your desk when you are paying bills
• coupon binder
• a tree or bush you just planted
• your garden
• your odometer
• the temperature gauge
• your favourite television show
• your friend making a face at you
• your bedroom or a favourite spot in your house

Back to the FILLER PHOTOS and other ideas for photos:
So, I went on a little scavenger hunt online to see where I could find lists of things to photograph when you need a "Filler" or forget to take a photo.  Get ready, because I have found a bunch of places that I will be linking to so that you can bookmark for when you have one of those forgetful days:
Google Images - just type in the search box for images that you need.  They *may* have it!  Click on the image you want and it will open in a window.  Right click and "Save as".  
Project Life Photography Themes - a blog called Scrapbooker's Inner Circle is what I found while on Pinterest.  That Pinterest is a fabulous resource!!!  She does a weekly Theme to photograph.  Pretty cool!
Joy's Hope - Julie is the owner of this awesome blog and she does a monthly Photo Challenge.  She posts it early in the month so that you can follow along and use the photo ideas she already has laid out for you. Here is her list for April:

I think it is a pretty awesome blog to follow AND the cool thing is that she is a Christ Follower too!  Pretty awesome!
Pinterest - a great place for ideas, photos, links.  A great "GO TO" for every crafty person.  
Fat Mum Slim - Chantelle, in Australia, posts a monthly photo-a-day challenge.
I hope that this blog post has helped you to figure out where to get photos as fillers or just day-to-day photo ideas.  I tried Project Life last year and only lasted until the middle of March.  This year, I am actually doing it!  Woot!  Woot!  Now, get out there and take some photos already!!
Until Next Time,
SCRAP ON!
~Cyn~

Project Life - More Pages (caught up!)

Here are the last of my Project Life 2012 album and then I am caught up to this week!  I have one page left to add pictures to, but the photos are sitting here on my desk as I type this.  I know, I am a slacker!  I have one half of the 2 page spread done and posted at the bottom, but I still need to do the journaling for the pictures I printed. 

The journaling on the page above is about the prep work and packing for the Skyline Retreat I plan twice a year. Between grocery shopping and packing, my week was taken up!  Sophie tried to help pack too...by adding herself to my Creative Memories rolling tote!  I took a picture of the pantry after I shopped because it is a "slice of life" kind of picture.  Slice of Life = stuff you really need to get a picture of in your daily life.  I mean, those are the things you tend to forget and sure they may be meaningless to you now, but in a decade or two when the kidlets are grown and you can't remember what their favourite cereal is...you go to the "pantry picture" and see which ones were on the pantry shelf at that time!

A friend of mine has rubbed off on me....I have recently started grabbing our large mixing bowl and making a HUGE salad for lunch.  What a great picture that salad made and OH HOW YUMMY!!!! 

Once again, the versatility of the pocket pages allows me to share a special occasion for our family - The Montreal Canadiens hockey game versus The North Carolina Hurricanes.  It really worked out well with these pages and I am really happy with the outcome. 

People say that their lives are boring.  People say that they are single and all they do is "routine stuff" or "just go to work".  There HAS to be something to photograph.  In the next little while, I plan to make a short little list of things that may be good to photograph and post it here on my blog.  Keep an eye out for it!

Until Next Time,
SCRAP ON!
~Cyn~

Project Life...The Pages....

As promised, here are the first 10 pages of my Project Life Album.  The first page was posted in one of my last blog entries, but I wanted to include it.  Enjoy!

Not all of my pages go week by week. That is the beauty of Project Life.  I can add more pictures for special occasions or special trips when I need to tell more of the story.

Products used: 
Becky Higgins Project Life Cobalt Core Kit
Becky Higgins Photo Pocket Pages Big Variety Pack 2
Becky Higgins Cobalt Cardstock
WRMK Kiwi Green 3 Ring Binder
American Crafts Precision Point Pen #3 - Black

Until Next Time,
SCRAP ON!
~Cyn~
 

Project Life 2012...PROGRESS!

I promised a post about progressing through the Project Life 2012 album, as well as the journaling part of Project Life.  So, here we go!

Most people find that journaling is the hardest part about scrapbooking. I think that part of the problem is that most people don't know what to say or what to include in the writing.
I personally believe that as long as the story is told, that is all that matters.  Generations to come will love to see our handwriting and read the stories that go along with the photos.  I also believe that our children will be able to "hear" our voices, long after we are gone, through our written words.  That, alone, makes me smile.  

Now, about the journaling in MY Project Life album:

I decided to do the majority of the journaling in my own handwriting.  Some people don't like their handwriting and do their journaling on the computer using a program like Word or Adobe Photoshop.  I like my handwriting.  Now, there is one instance in this album where I had to type out what I wanted to say.  Well, actually, I copied what I wrote HERE on my blog about our trip to watch our hockey team, the Montreal Canadiens, play up in North Carolina.  I wanted the entire story to be told and I used a 4x6 pocket to tell that story.  I used Microsoft Word and set the margins to 3.5 inches horizontally and 6 inches vertically.  

I got the idea for how to keep track of my journaling from my good friend, Beth McMeekin.  She keeps a log of what her kids do on a daily basis and then sends an update letter at Christmas time.  It has little things her kids say and do, as well as what the entire family has been up to throughout the year. 

So, I have a little calendar in my purse that I keep with me at all times.  Every day, I try to take a minute or two to write down what we did that day or anything funny the kids say.  This jogs my memory when I go to write my journaling for the week.  Also, since the beginning of 2012, I have been doing some weekly blogging in the form of "FILL-INS" to use for journaling throughout the year: Simple Woman's Day Book and Diary of 5.  This can also be used in your Project Life album to give a good little review of daily life.  Blogging is awesome for journaling.  Use it!!!

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 Now, there are things you need to think about BEFORE you start your album:

• Something that I figured out while I was putting the album together, was that I take a lot of VERTICAL pictures.  More than horizontal pictures, which surprised me. If you look through your photos before you even order the page protectors, you are set!  
• Another thing I didn't think about before I started sliding the photos into their slots:  MONTHLY CARDS.  To separate the months from one another, I used the monthly stickers that came in the Core Kit to create a 4x6 MONTHLY TITLE CARD.  Had I thought about it before I started, I wouldn't have had to pull all the pictures out of the slots and start from scratch.  I think I pulled out the pictures and journaling 3 times before I got it right! Third times a charm, eh?  It was frustrating, but it is now together and looking awesome.
• A date stamp, like they use at the library, works great for labeling the journaling cards and I also used the arrow stickers that came in the Core Kit to point to the correct photo.  I didn't have it with me at the retreat, so I had to do the dates once I got home.  Easy Peasy!
• I used a template in PSE to create 3x4 pictures to print at CVS.  You can put 2 - 3x4 photos onto one 4x6 picture and cut the cost of printing your photos. Or you can add more photos to your pages.  FUN! 
• These page protectors really are versatile!  By printing 2 pictures to a 4x6 photo, it allows you to use more photos to tell a story about a trip or special occasion without really messing up the flow of the album.  The pages above show you our trip.  It was a special trip and adding in a few extra pictures allowed me to tell more of that particular story. My Project Life Album is not done on a weekly basis, like most of the other people's albums.  It is a daily snapshot of our lives and I can stretch the weeks across 2  or 3 pages depending on what I need it to do.  I LOVE that about Project Life.  
• Setting aside one day a week to go through your photos, upload to the printer (personal printer, CVS, Walgreens, etc.) and get them in their slots is not a huge time hog. It is actually easy and fast.  I have to say that even doing the pictures from 1-1-12 to 4-8-12 really only took 1 day to get organized, trimmed and journaled.  Not bad for a day's work!  If you do it in weekly chunks, it takes a couple hours.  **Naptime works great for me!**

Now, I think I have given a lot of info here about how I am working Project Life. Keep an eye out for my next post to see what I have done so far in my albums.  It will be photo intensive, but it will give you a good idea of how I am "workin' it".  

Until next time,
SCRAP ON!
~Cyn~ 

(Note: To look at all my Project Life Posts at once, you will just need to click at the bottom of this post "Project Life" and/or Project 365 and it will bring up all the posts I have written about this topic.)  

Simple Woman's Daybook - Week 15

Monday April 9, 2012

Outside My Window....it is sunny and gorgeous!
I am thinking...the freezer is broken, the microwave is not working either, I guess it is time to use the grill and eat salads....
I am thankful...for coffee with the girls. A time to kick back and relax and let the kids play to their hearts content.
In the kitchen...I have sinks full of dishes that haven't made it to the dishwasher yet.  I hate this...it is a huge pet peeve of mine.  But, whatever.
I am wearing...khaki shorts and my brown Skyline shirt
I am creating...a power layout of photos to take with me to crops.
I am going...to have to get diapers today because I have 3 left for Lil' Miss. Sophie.
I am wondering...how long it would take to get the house cleaned from top to bottom and if I have the energy to do it today.  NAH!
I am reading...a few books on my Kindle right now.
I am hoping...Sophie takes a nice long nap this afternoon.
I am looking forward to...our long weekend in May after Nathan is done school.  Should be a nice little trip.  I hope to convince Ben to take us to the beach - Gulf Shores.  
I am learning...that sometimes I need to chill out and not take life so seriously.
Around the house...I have piles of laundry that need to be done, dishes to be put in the dishwasher, phone calls to be made and a little girl who just wants me to play with her.  I think I will play with my little girl!
I am pondering...what projects to take with me to my next retreat.  
A favourite quote for today....

Oprah Winfrey said: 
"Surround yourself only with people who are going to lift you higher"
Another great quote:
"You are more than the sum of your past mistakes" - lyrics from a song I hear on 104.7 The Fish FM.  

One of my favourite things...my DVR

A peek into my day....editing lots of photos from the past year and here is a pic from Easter yesterday at Harvest Church.

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If you are interested in joining in with the Woman's Day Book Entries, click the link below:
http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Until Next week, SCRAP ON!!!

~Cyn~

Gratitude Entry #1 for 2012

I have decided to incorporate Gratitude entries on this blog throughout 2012. It will be done sporadically, but I want to add it to the blog.  
Today, I am thankful for the schooling that I had in Canada.  The Computer Skills and Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer course in particular is what I am thankful for.
You see, yesterday, my friend Dawn told me that she had some sort of virus on her computer. Having worked on her system in the past, I knew that her hard drive just needed a good format and re-install due to errors on the hard disk and other program errors.

So, last night, she dropped off her computer to me and I did a quick backup of one of her files to a DVD and then formatted her system.  

What I am grateful for is this:  had I not taken the computer classes at Conestoga College, I wouldn't have known how to do everything that I did last night and this morning to re-install her software and get her back up and running.  She is on strict orders NOT to download anything from the internet without checking with ME first!!!  Ha ha ha!

Sure, I am a stay at home mom and I don't work outside the home, BUT I can run a computer like nobody's business!  

So, my public service announcement for today is to BACK UP YOUR HARD DRIVE.  Whether it is to an online site like carbonite or to an external hard drive, please do it TODAY!  Especially those photos!

Scrapbookers everywhere cringe when I tell the story of my laptop having an entire mug of coffee dumped all over it a few years back.  It was a nightmare!

  

So, get to backing up!!!  I know that if my hard drive crashed today, I would have all of my documents up until today because I am currently backing up my hard drive.     

So there you have it folks.....my first gratitude entry for 2012!  Thankful for education and specifically, my computer training.  It really does come in handy!

Until next time,
SCRAP ON!

~Cyn~

Simple Woman's Day Book - Week 9

Monday February 27, 2012

Outside My Window....it is overcast and mild.  Interesting winter weather for sure!  The dogs are playing in the backyard as I sit here writing.
I am thinking...this week will be interesting with Ben gone to Michigan for training.  
I am thankful...Ben's company has as much faith in him as I do for sending him on training (3 trips already planned for 2012) and investing in him.  He really IS worth it.  
In the kitchen...I have coffee brewing and a little girl playing with the farm fridge magnets. 
I am wearing...comfy clothes.  I don't plan to go anywhere this week unless I absolutely have to!  
I am creating...a power layout for the Skyline Retreat in 2 weeks and 3 days! I am pumped that it is going so well and hope that I can knock out some serious scrapbooking layouts while I am at the retreat!
I am going...crazy!!!  No, seriously, I am not going anywhere.  Just trying to stick around the house and get some things done while Ben is away.  Going through closets, getting rid of things I haven't touched in over a year and making a pile for a yard sale.    
I am wondering...how Nathan is doing at school today. After a whole week off for winter break last week, I am sure it will be hard for him to settle down and work.  
I am reading...all the magazines that are on my bedside table right now.  I have about 15 scrapbooking magazines that I need to look through and a few of the All You magazines with pages dog-eared.
I am hoping..."Single Mummy Week" goes smoothly.  
I am looking forward to...Tuesday night when Marta comes for dinner and to hang with me and the kidlets.      
I am learning...patience, patience and more patience.      
Around the house...the dogs have been put in their crate for stealing food from Sophie and Sophie is in her room reading books.  I am sitting in the scraploft looking at photos.  
I am pondering...what to do for dinner tonight....
A favourite quote for today....
"it is better to be content with what little you have. Otherwise, you will always be struggling for more, and that is like chasing the wind."
Ecclesiastes 4:6 NCV

One of my favourite things...my bathtub.  It is my "go to" when I need to relax.  The HOTTEST bath water that I can stand and a book to read while I soak away my troubles....
A peek into my day....

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If you are interested in joining in with the Woman's Day Book Entries, click the link below:
http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Until Next week, SCRAP ON!!!

~Cyn~

Single Mummy Week....

It's just me and the kidlets for the week while Ben is up in Michigan for training.  Not a lot planned for the week but to survive it. I think the big thing this week will be to get Sophie through it. She will miss her Daddy and when she misses him, she gets whiny.  So, we will see how the week goes.
  

Nathan goes back to school tomorrow and it'll just be me and Sophie-girl.  


Another plan for the week is: working through a pile of photos to get them ready for the Skyline Retreat. The plan is to put them into a power layout with the paper and any embellishments and title ideas.  That way, once I get up to Skyline, I will be able to get set up and knock out some major layouts! 


As for this week, I have some EASY meals planned this week since it is just me and the kids.  


Tuesday night, my friend Marta will be coming down for a visit. It will be great to be able to hang with her for a little while.  

Maybe Sophie will feel well enough to have the gals over for coffee sometime this week.  Who knows, right?

Other than that, it is just me and the kidlets.


Ben arrives home late Thursday night.  Friday, he is off work. I plan to take him to the Preschool that I have registered Sophie for August 2012.  I think if he is going to be "on board" with this, he needs to see for himself what the school is like and see how comfortable she is there. 


Well, I hear NOTHING coming from the front playroom, so I better get down there to check on the kidlets. You know when it is quiet, you have to go looking for them!  


If you pray, pray for me.  Don't pray for patience though, I don't want any extra trials where I will need more patience.  Ha!


Until next time,
Scrap On!
~Cyn~  

Use Your Stash Challenge - January Goals....

I completed 25 traditional layouts, made 12 monogramme cards for Christy for her birthday and an altered letter as well. I also finished the 2 page layout for PART 2 of the Use Your Stash Challenge...
Set the timer for 12 minutes and pick a favourite photo from each month. Use those 12 photos in a layout for 2010. Here is mine: Digitreats is where I downloaded this template. I LOVE her blog and her stuff! I used The Digitreats 14 Picture Template #2....Check her out, she is fabulous!
Until later,
~Cyn

Photo Order...

I placed an order at Snapfish to have my photos here in time for the Sketchapalooza 4 class at Feeling Scrappy LAST WEEK....They were mailed on Friday and should be here by now.

Are they here yet?

NOPE! Can you tell how frustrated I am? I am super-dee-dooper frustrated! The last set of photos I ordered were uploaded to CVS and I could drive around the corner to pick them up. Except when I got them, they were not the right size or they had people's heads cut off! So, I figured with my free prints (120 of them) and the other 50 I needed to order, I could just get all of them at once and start to work on them.

Well, they STILL are not here! I will be stalking the mailman today in the hopes that he has them in his truck! Cross your fingers for me!

~Cyn~