Nathalie Come! Aka bird training dog

Happy early New Year's. There isnt much on plan for this year, but I do plan on taking at least one shot to document the day. The girls go back to school the day after New Year's, which irritates them since so many others don't go back until the Monday after. I remember when we waited until then also. They changed it while I was in school, due to state requirements on amount of days for the year. Of course, their school is one of the first to end the year, which they DON'T complain about.
Well, two more pictures fell out of the book, so they were the next layout. Once again Nathalie shows up. But, we all swore the bird had a sadistic side by making her come to him and do obedience work. If we could have had him do it in a show, I'm sure people would have been shocked to see how well behaved she could be for him. One of the permanently missing photos is of him peeking out of my hair, which he had a regular thing of doing. He was technically my father's, but he decided he was mine.

In this layout, I actually trimmed both of the photos to fit the blue cardstock. Of course, that stuff was more just blankish space of walls and top of cage. I wrote the date and some journalibg, this time remembering to add lines so that my handwriting would be straighter. I only used one piece of patterned paper. I just could not find the right one. The final decision seems right to me. I also took two tags and cut them to make the three. Three, you say? Yes, I turned the one tag into two tags. I used three different colors of sequins on this one and really liked how they are on the page. The butterfly I fussy cut, but the flower was fussy cut by my youngest. She was bored and decided to do some for me, then declared the page we were cutting from hers to work on only! The Hello Lovely came from another paper pad. He would always tell her hello, so that seemed appropriate. Most of the stickers were from the Dollar Tree, but the Nathalie was from Dollar General.

 Sketches in Thyme Dec 15 sketch

This is the sketch I used for this layout. I didn't expect to do a challenge for these pictures, but I saw it and said it could work. I ended up flipping the layout to a vertical, which added to the story on how I could show those two. After looking at the sketch again, I realise that I flipped where the other two clusters were supposed to be. It makes my title fit better. I'm learning still. But, I'm finding confidence in doing them.

Last note, I am so sorry about the one comment being deleted. I type this on my phone due to better connection than the landline/crappy keyboard. My phone claimed I touched the delete when I was trying to enlarge the screen. It absolutely was NOT on purpose. 

High school me and Nathalie

Tonight's post is brought to you by rum ans orange crush. I will not buy that rum again. This is an alcoholic soda mix that apparently can not just be any rum. Either that or I just do not like coconut. Or both; let's go with that. Those of us who have made it refer to it as a dreamsicle in liquid form. This one does have the creaminess, but it just doesn't go right. The best has been to find a vanilla rum, but that has been a pain in this area. We normally stick to Malibu coconut for closest, but not this time. I'm still getting over the gagging. Otherwise, it was normal Saturday homemade pizza night. The kids prefer them to delivery or store bought. I easily conply since everyone gets what they want and don't have to share or fight for pieces. My boyfriend agreed that we will continue this when I am living with him.
Hope everyone's Christmas was good. Mine was a laugh. I have a couple layouts about it planned, but here's the tl;dr. My dad went into the hospital, my grandfather did too and is now with my aunt and uncle, and I lost what little I had bought for the girls. I even talked to more family than ever and will leave it at that.
This layout has a reason beyond challenges for being made. My grandmother made me a photo book of my senior year that she gave to me as I was about to go to college. The book is falling apart and I have already lost a couple pictures. So, instead of buying a new book, I will be doing layouts. The fun part will be remembering the dates on a few. And this one is two different times; the start and end of my senior year showing Nathalie.

I used papers from two different paper pads. I did some tearing to give some texture as it was looking too pointy, even for me. I also put some foam behind the dog cutout. On it, I added a snowflake because she could act just like a snowflake at times. We swore this dog had both anxiety and ADHD. I wrote some journaling in green permanent marker and the date in purple. The title of Doggie was done with dollar tree letters that I am almost finished with! I also put on three sequins from my Christmas present to finish it off. 

Studio challenges

I used this sketch to build my layout. I moved some around because I wanted to hide part of the one pixture. Then I lost a couple pieces before gluing everything down. So, I adapted. Everything is a learning experience.

Challenge YOUrself

This challenge I am adding to because I am in it even though they are old pictures. The theme was snowflakes. I found it appropriate because it described Nathalie so well. Not only is there the snowflake on the dog cutout, but one of the papers was snowflakes. 

Some days I miss that airhead. Smart as all get out, but she had her snowflake moments. Chuckles. Well, back to the rum. Yes, I'm giving it the side eye.

Thoughts of a crazy lady

Part of me thinks I'm going batty. Yes, you may laugh or roll your eyes now. I was talking to a friend about thinking of making digital sheets for my scrapbook pages. My mind actually went to back when I was making background images for my computer screen. In a way, I realise that I see these layouts I am making as a form of screen. So, I can easily see myself doing it. Of course, those papers would end up being regular paper size because of the printer. This makes me want to buy a new printer of my own once I get the money. That way I am using my own ink and such to do this. I think I will have fun then with it too.
Another thing is I am going to try to do a weekly page to force me to take more pictures. It also may make me consider more about what I am doing and be more comfortable around cameras and such. I plan on snapping a few christmas eve photos and christmas day at my parents. But, start of the year is going to be more actually doing this as a regular and confirming thing. I can tell I will be getting backlash from some family members, but that will be another thing to work on.
After Christmas, I get to find out about the last of my cardio tests. I do want answers, but I also am hoping they say everything is fine. It was funny to say I am a former smoker and put down that my last smoking was as long ago as it was. So, that also has the issues of not knowing what is wrong, if anything. I figure that it is best to do it now while I have the free time instead of when I don't with work.
We have a couple Baby yoda cookies the girls are decorating. The rest of the cookies are being made later but before Christmas. The youngest is the one who is our baker. She is working on perfecting her pies. That is her current favorite.
More later.

The Joined the Conspiracy!

I present to you another layout. This is finished minus the journaling. I plan on writing out the story behind it below the title. It will require a bit of space, so I'm getting this up without it. But, here's the jist of the story. We went to Columbus for both computer parts for the boy and to look at a possibility on loft bed for the older girl. Luckily, we didn't buy the bed because our place has ceilings too low for one. But, we got food there and they loved it. They said it was a conspiracy by Ikea to have good tasting food to get people to buy from them and turn them Swedish. There are more details that the journaling will have.

So, the page was made on plain white cardstock. I printed up the pictures of the girls. I made some gold lines and blue stars on Draw, along with the title. I added some dollar store stickers. I backed the photos with gold embossed paper from Michaels.

Single Page Layout Stick It Down

This is the layout sketch I used. I did mention on a previous that I would be submitting another to this site. The best part was that I wasn't sure how to do the pictures until I aaw this sketch. At that point, the two just snapped together in my mind. I enjoyed that it looked calm and I really wanted to keep it that way. I contemplated doing different stamps or ephemera, but once I started putting it together, it seemed to be best with that. Plus, now I have more room for the journaling.

Below is me being me. I am ok still, though it may not sound like it. This is what I need off my chest.

Some discussion as per usual. I find myself slipping more into depression again. I am feeling worse about job situation and being either ignored or turned down. I'm getting to the point of procrastinating over things. It doesn't help that the holidays are around the corner and everyone will be discussing their jobs and such. I know I will hear questions of why I'm not at work again and should I just go for a low pay job just to bring money in. These things I already am considering. Just another way to make my self esteem worse. My thoughts say I don't deserve a job paying a livable wage because I am not good enough for one.
I have another appointment in a couple weeks to see the counselor. I have already mentioned a bit of this to them already. But, I also have this urge to just start cancelling the appointments. I know not to, but it this is how it works. My boyfriend says I am strong, but I don't feel like it. I guess faking it is the best I can do.

Carlisle Reservation Holiday Lights

I got home from the trip and slept most of the day away. Total round trip for me riding was twelve hours. He had three more AND did all the driving. I informed him that I had no problem with him being so worn out from the drive down. So, I ended up taking almost no pictures. It didn't help that we had to leave in the morning earlier than planned because of the snow and we weren't sure how the roads would be. I discoved that as I got older, my ears pop worse from the altitude changes while driving. But, I also thought the drive itself was very pretty, especially with distant fog. He agreed about the view by trying to point it out. It's made us start a list of vacations we want to do in the future. So far, we have the Mohican, one of the state parks in Kentucky, and the Civil War fort in Kentucky. Three places for travel. We also are planning on future trips to the local zoo to see the holiday lights, possibly a yearly tradition.
There is now snow on the ground out here. The boy and I were discussing about going to the holiday lights again this year. We went with the girls once already, see layout below, and didn't take the pictures I wanted due to the cold and the people bunches on the photo stops. Yes, we all have varying degrees of issues with public groups and space. He said if the snow was still down, he didn't want to drive there. But, we may go to another set of holiday lights nearby and I will push a little harder for family pictures. The other place I have never been to either. So, this may end up something nice to start.

So, here is the layout I made of the event. Yes, I took a bad picture of it. It actually ended up being the best one I could do. I had a few challenges with this layout and it helped me make some decisions for future ideas. The entire page is laid out on that gold paper. It was a pain to stick the other papers on it. Another big challenge was the sewing. I did that by hand and found making the holes an issue and more time consuming than I wanted it to be. I played with more on Draw and printing on different paper with this layout. I ripped the ornament topper sections enough times I decided to cut my losses on that image. I also pulled some free clipart that I used with this layout. I need to grab some free fonts to do what I want for titles since I find that I like being able to print them up and stick them on. I just need my preferred ones to use. 

#FF0049

So, this challenge actually helped me very much with getting the layout down. I knew the images I had and the triangles I wanted to use, but was stumped elsewhere. So, with this I decided on the metallic background paper. It goes with both the gold and blue stripes on the smaller triangles, which I was originally having the issue with. Then, I couldn't figure what journaling I wanted to do. So, this helped by making each triangle interactive. The purple piece that is seen sticking out holds where and when the pictures were taken. The other three hold a hexagon cut out with favorite moment of the evening per girl and me. I backed the photo with a snowflake clipart background. I also added the snowflakes to hold the title. Along with my three pink snowflake ornaments, there is a sticker of a donut ornament. They had cookies instead of donuts at this event. Oh well.

Let's Get Sketchy

This is the other challenge I am submitting this to. I originally thought it looked simple to do. No. It was not. This now reminds me a lot of quilting. My youngest does that and gets frustrated over the imperfections. But, it is teaching me even more. I am really learning a lot with the sketch layouts as much as I am the inspiration ones. I'd even say that using them both together is teaching me a lot.
The pictures were from the one spot where it had an empty stop. It was setup as a Sant's workshop. The girls were laughing over the Ouija board being there. They were willing to camp it up for the shots. As soon as I got a couple, everyone started crowding in so we all went out as fast as we could. I couldn't get the boy to join in the picture to begin with. But, at least I got in one stop. It was a good start.

Different crafts

Ok, little squeal. I did not expect my getting a Fave for my layout with Molly and my older girl. This definitely gave me a lot of encouragement. It also is getting me to think more creatively with each challenge. I easily see the family pictures getting done more than I did in the past month.
The girls finally found my cross stitch. They took the bag it was in with them to their grandparents' when I went to the ER for the chest pains. I had been asking for it back since and they kept saying they couldn't find it. One of these days, I will post the image of what it is supposed to look like. For now, this is what I have done.

In the end, it will be a vase with red poppies in it. So far, I have done the red of the vase, some of the black and the off white by the one poppy. I am taking my time doing it. It is something for me to relax doing. I just adapt to the mistake I made and am going with the flow on it. I doubt anyone would notice and it doesn't bother me that it is there. So, all is well.

I am doing an overnight trip with my sweetie. I may put some pictures up later from it, but also will most likely have a discussion about it. I like the area we are going to. We are referring to this as our pre honeymoon. Best way to discover how we like long trips together. Especially since we plan on taking them in the future. It is surprisingly nice to know these things will be done.

Hope things are good with you too. Any works or plans ahead that you are enjoying?

Band caroling and some rambling

I'm working on this post in a waiting room. Mom is getting regular blood work appointment right now. She made the comment before she went in of me being one of the youngest people in here who weren't in the pediatric area. Yes, I quietly rolled my eyes. But, the majority were around her age. Of course, yesterday I saw a cardiologist for the first time who was surprised at my age and that I was young to be there, especially with what I was experiencing. So far, everything looks good, so we are waiting on tests. I have to be honest and don't like going to doctors if I can avoid it, which is why I ignored it this long. Finally, it scared my kids enough that I am doing something about it.
On a fun note, my boyfriend and I get to have an overnight getaway coming up. I am looking forward to it. Mostly we will be driving, but it is time just the two of us and hopefully not much stress. Other weekend plans look like they are being cancelled because the older girl is busy with being a junior in band. The banquet is ran by them for the seniors. I want to figure another time to get a family picture at the holiday lights. I have until New Year's to get it done. Was wanting a picture of them with Santa also, but suspecting that won't happen. I have a Santa and Me picture frame with a picture of my oldest as a baby. That is the last time anyone got Santa pictures. Easter bunny, more because I had a family friend who dressed as one professionally, there are more of. But, this also is the first year I have tried to push for more family holiday events. We will see how it goes.
Last week, the band had their annual caroling in town. Both girls are in band, but only the youngest went. My older girl is known, even by the band, as the freeze baby. She decided it would be too cold to play. Hot chocolate and pizza would not change her mind. This is the same child who got out of marching the last few games because of how cold she got. Of course, people after were surprised just how cold she physically was even with hand warmers. Luckily, this performance was volunteer only. The social butterfly jumped at the chance, of course.
She tried to get both her brother and me to join in, but we declined. Towards the end, he was ready to. They quit at that point. It's been too many years for me, so I had no intention of playing. Instead, I took a few pics of them playing and hanging out. The boy took some videos on his fancy, special ipad. It was fun, cold, and not snowy.

This is another layout I am submitting for a challenge site. For me, these are teaching me new ways to build pages. It also is getting me to make reasons to take pictures and make it possible for me to document the stories behind the stories. I've discovered that as the family pictures get older, the kids don't recognise people or know why the picture was taken. This is a double page layout. I'm not certain which layout I like making most yet. I could see the benefits to both, though I also can see myself possibly doing more single because I feel nervous taking pictures at events. To explain, I feel like I am paying less attention when I am taking pictures than just observing. 

 This is the right side of the layout. This has the photos of the entire band, my youngest getting one of her THREE slices of pizza, a picture of some of the town lights, and one of the other band members dressing up as Santa. The paper in the background came from my paper pads. I also used more dollar store stickers. The black stars and the outer phrases were from my Tim Holtz rub ons. My outlines on some of the pictures are Elmer's glitter glue. The last set are commentary, statements made and a couple songs they played as outline on the pictures.

This is the left side. I used more of all of the same on this side. With this side, I put the title of Hot Cocoa in Dollar Tree lettering. For the purple cardstock, I rubbed the edges with my silver stamp pad, which made a smoky look. I drew silver on the one tree and added an attempt at a mercury glass tree topper. On the other purple tree, I put lines of red glitter dots. My middle tree had a hand drawn star topper. The top picture was from when she was trying to get her brother to play by sticking the first reed in his mouth that wasn't chipped. He had multiple that were chipped and was pointing out that those were from the last purge we made him do: in high school. The bottom picture is her with both the hot chocolate and her last piece of pizza. After that, everybody who was performing went back out for a last round of songs.

Stick It Down

This is the sketch layout that I went from. Once again, all constructive criticism is greatly appreciated. This site has multiple sketches running, and I plan on making another layout for this month for them. I so greatly appreciate all these people who run them because I am learning so much.

Molly and her girl

So, right now I'm getting a late night meal together for the boy and me. Spaghetti and meatballs with garlic bread. Though I suspect I thinned out the spaghetti sauce too much for the kid. But, that's what happens when you go on fly of your pants. I may try to rethicken it with the ground up cheese. If anyone else can think of ways to rethicken jarred spaghetti sauce, put it in comments.
But, I came on today to show this layout I made up that is of a picture I love of Molly and my older girl when she was little. They are close and best friends. Now that they are both older, Molly no longer sleeps with her and that makes her a bit sad. At almost 15, we all have noticed that she jumps on beds much less than she used to. This picture was taken with them doing their infamous nose rubs.

For this layout, I'm even submitting it for a challenge. I don't expect much since I have seen how well everyone else who submits theirs have looked. But, my biggest thought is that the best way to get better is to do these and hope for good criticism. Again, I had printer issues. But I have learned if the printer won't work in one program, the other one will print it. 

With this layout, I tried a few different techniques. I should start by mentioning I do my photo editing in LibreOffice Draw while the photos are taken on my phone. I changed the photo, which I should mention is just as pretty in color, to black and white. I also added the pink border and the light pink font. The font is a standard font in the program, since I haven't made time to pick up some free ones I want. Lastly, I hand drew pink circles and dots around part of the page in marker. 

I used stickers from the Dollar Tree from Jot. My stamps for Molly (yes it smeared after I stamped it) came from Michaels as did the black ink. I used the papers from both Mischief Manor (black polka dot) and Uptown Chic paper pads. There was one Tim Holtz rub-on.

#FF0048

For the challenge, I did black and white. That would be both the image and border paper for picture. Also, I did pink and circles. Lastly, I did friendship theme since this to document the history of the friendship between Molly and her girl.
I can see myself doing more because it was fun to find a good inspiration for certain pictures I want to keep.

Not the flu

I'm currently fighting a bug. It is whatever one of my kids picked up. Or else we got it at the same time. Seeing as she was worn out a day before me, I will consider it that she gave it to me. So, this does not help my mental strength. I have to figure when people have travelling availability for everything. This way I can reschedule my nurse appointment. An important item for me.
I am getting a little farther in my winter scarf. Not very far because I have not done much with it the past week. I also need to get my cross stitch back. I keep asking for it and it does not appear. Not finishing things makes me feel useless, but so long as I can tell myself that I am still working on it, the mental taunts go down. I don't know if anyone else gets like that, but anything that helps I cling to until it doesn't anymore.

Halloween Walk Then and Now

So, the only this week was groceries. I did do some drooling, but nothing out of necessities were added to the cart. So, now we are at the point of looking for the Christmas items and if we want to decorate now or wait longer. Personally, I am really liking having just winter general decorations up and waiting until almost Christmas Eve. It's been a while since I have enjoyed this time of year. The only reason I ever did as an adult was when I had sole creative control over decorations. So, most of my life has been having to defer to everyone else's happiness. Someday I will put my glass ornaments out as I would like again and get to enjoy them for their look. Also, then I can have the glowing tree of tons of white lights.
Today, I finally got my first scrapbook page finished. Yes, it is a Halloween one and we are getting into Christmas. But, it took until now to get my pictures printed. I have been having a fight with the computer on getting it to send to the printer. That was after the fight and issues getting the pictures off my phone. So, it has been problematic. Yes, my phone camera is my only one. Maybe when I get money, I will either buy a new phone or an actual camera. But that will be a while.

So, this layout used 8×8 sheets from the Michael's Recollections series of Mischief Manor. I also stamped my Title "Halloween Walk Then & Now" with my alphabet stamps from Michael's. I got them in the bargain bin and don't regret it. The Boo and Eek stamps were from Dollar Tree. And it is all on a basic white piece of cardstock. I wrote 2008 and 2019 in with a white gel pen. Both pictures were taken at the first stop of the Halloween Walk for the respective years and both during the day during the family friendly time. I found it humorous how much they have changed since I took that first picture. Last thing was that I used a scrap of black cardstock to write the dates on.
Hope your day went well and I will pass more on as I feel.