From last night's class..

From A:


To B:


Tonight's class was designed to help inspire you to think creatively outside your norm. I usually tend to do the same things, but I feel like I'm more inspired if I'm limited to certain things. Not sure if I'm really speaking English, but it was fun.
We were to look at a layout [from a magazine-this one happened to be an ad for hardware and shelving units] and use the layout to create our own. I'm still not 100% complete, as you may have noticed NO picture in my layout.

I'm looking to get the perfect picture to put there.

I'm thinking I'm probably going to do the HMITM challenge this week. Kinda nervous about what I'm going to do, since I have to kinda stage a photo shoot with this one....but at least I have an idea, which is more that I can say for some of my creative outbursts. I don't think anyone will be shocked.....

I need to get motivated. =/
<3*

OH MUH GAAAHH!!!

*SQUEE!!!*

Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou ROXI!!!!

[This means soooooooo much to me.]

It is framed.

Wow, so Roxi brought me back a "little" happy from CHA in Chicago yesterday. I think I made a scene at the store when she bestowed her gift upon me. Oh well, what can I say?

Today, I have a spa day at Serenity Spa in Cordova. I'll be going with my brother's girlfriend, Tiffany, for a one hour, full-body massage and a one hour facial. Holy smokes!!! I'm gonna feel like a noodle.

Tonight, I'll be attending a TAC party at Liz's casa. Jennifer, Sally, and I are all going to arrive together....meeting up at the store before we set off. I need to plan a day to just go and scrap, again. My album is due on the 5th and I only have 2 pages ACTUALLY completed with pictures [not sure if I'll be journaling on them, but I need to at least get the pages relatively decent before August, so that all I'll have left to do is the journaling and adding pictures].

<3*

ZOO DAY!!!!

Hooray!!! I haven't been to the zoo in ages, so of course when Brad asked me if I would like to go, I jumped on the chance to see all the cute and fuzzy animals. :)

Also, I have a class tonight by the lovely and talented Marci Lambert. We're creating a tag book for the winter holidays [yes, I know....it's July]. My mo is going to be in the class with me and it'll be the FIRST class that we've taken together since Card Club before I started working at Eclectica [a year ago]. Wow, thinking about it, it doesn't seem like I've been there that long, but I'm glad that I can say......it's been well worth it!
It has it's ups and downs, but all places do. Wait, where were we?

THE ZOO!
Yes, my favorite place to go in Tennessee. Seriously, Brad and I used to go almost every month, possibly twice a month when we first got togetherand it's been a little while since we last went. Apparently it's the perfect day to go, since Chelsea's taking her ADORABLE baby girl, Danielle today and also, my brother and Tiffany [his girlfriend] are also going. I need to start getting ready to head over to Brad's and get my camera charged [he has my charger over there]! w00t!

I need to start posting pics from my classes on here again....sorry, I'm slacking.

Many hearts!
<3*

Lately

I really wish I knew how to sew.

Two things on my *wish*list*:
1. Cute, easy-to-use, sewing machine.

&

2. Canon Digi Rebel....I know it's a long-shot, but a girl CAN dream!

Some exciting news: May, or may not have, mentioned that there were baby birds outside my house in a looming flowerpot. Well, not only did all *4* eggs hatch, but all four of the babies survived, and have since left the nest. Hooray! I have enough pictures to document the occasion as well.
Other stuff....I'll be leaving to go to Illinois for a family reunion [first one I've ever been to] from August 9th until August 13th. I'll also be raiding my Grandmother's stash of awesomely unique and vintage items, possibly some of her felt collection as well.

Sometime this Fall, I want to get back up there and go to Chicago again. I absolutely love going up there and seeing all the neat things....especially the water's edge and Navy Pier.

These girls amaze me. I'm such a bright junkie...and lately, a button fiend, though I barely have ANY! :(

I've been to the site ETSY, and I must say, I'm not that impressed. I love that people can sell their stuff, but it seems overpriced and I just can't find anything I HAVE to have.

I need to get my Spanish homework/journal completed. It's due on Wednesday [miercoles] and I haven't even started, though it won't be hard. Also, I'm REALLY needing to get my room clean. I can't stand it anymore AND I have *new* furniture that my Mom and Dad bought me to go up there, meaning that my old sutff needs to be stored in the attic. My Mom got me a t.v. stand and my Dad bought a designer chair in Virginia that he gave to me. The chair is pictured in a book at work....or it may have just been in one that Cynthia bought that we ordered. Whichever...

I need to figure out something. PLUS I need to get all my scrapbooking stuff together and relatively organized, which could take....God only knows how long!

Oh boy. Better get started!
<3*

I've noticed..

I seem to use the same colors over and over again in any layout that I'm working solo on. Greens, bright pinks, and blacks or greys....sometimes blues are thrown in for good measure. I NEVER use reds, oranges, or yellows....and I seem to avoid purple altogether [minus the mini book I made for Brandy ;)].

I just wish that I could walk through the store and find something that inspires me to create that DIDN'T have a slight touch of these colors.

Even this layout has them....[NOT MINE, of course], however it at least shows signs of the colors I mentioned, so I'm doing better than before.

I have a *few* things I need to shop for today [I'm horrible when I go shopping :(] before I go in to work. Which means, I ACTUALLY have to go upstairs and get dressed. No more playing around on the internet. BOO!

My "OH MY GOD!" moment of today:

First ever!!!

Sunday, I had my very first cropping experience. I was so excited, I don't really know HOW I managed to concentrate through the morning. I packed up all my belongings [that I planned to use] and headed over to the store close to 1. I ended up cropping for a total of 6 hours, and I must admit, I was pretty darn proud of my accomplishments. Too bad I wasn't thinking straight and had someone snap my picture! :(

I don't think I'll be joining in on any of the crops that we offer at the store, simply because I'm not very experienced and I find it VERY hard to work under pressure. Plus, my "stuff" isn't like the majority of what most people prefer to use. My techniques are rather.....*gasp* NON-matchy matchy and I use some pretty interesting colors.

Who knows though. Maybe when I build up some more confidence, I'll be attending some crops in the future. I just hope that I don't take anyone's spot! =X

I still have to get this album complete BEFORE the 5th of August. I hope I can squeeze in another hardcore session.....possibly involve Brad with it, since it was originally supposed to be a couple's artistic expression. I seem to have taken over. Speaking of, I think I might have to see if I can find refill pages for the album online and ask Ellen to special order....IN A HURRY!!! I'm under a strict deadline.

I hope that everyone had a safe, fun Fourth of July. I didn't do much, just sat here at home. Wouldn't you know, I didn't see ONE firework on the Fouth?!?! I stayed in my house and watched t.v.
My sparklers came on the 5th, where Brad, my brother Justin, and I all set off a few smoke bombs and one or medium sized bottle rockets. I simply held only my sparklers. .....and my Pop Pop's [those little snappers].

Take care!
<3*