To see Credits and Leave me Loveand the other side
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Template Tuesday #18
Here's this week's template: (image is linked)
I have my LO done, but I can’t show it to you yet. Be on the lookout on Saturday!
I have my LO done, but I can’t show it to you yet. Be on the lookout on Saturday!Saturday, March 28, 2009
Design Star Round 4 & Blessing #8
I am keeping busy working on my new kit for Round 4, but I managed a break for a speed scrap. The photos had to touch the edge of the page--a "YIKES" for me, but I like how it turned out. Blessing #8:
credits
creditsWednesday, March 25, 2009
Wre-vise, Wre-write, Wednesday: Lists
The number of examples you use in a sentence or a story has meaning.
The Number One: Declare It
That girl is smart.
In this simple sentence, the writer declares a single defining characteristic of the girl, her intelligence. The reader must focus on that. It is this effect of unity, single-mindedness, no-other-alternativeness, that characterizes the language of one.
Call me.
Here's Johnny.
I do.
Read my lips.
Tom Wolfe once told William F. Buckley Jr., that if a writer wants the reader to think something the absolute truth, the writer should render it in the shortest possible sentence. Trust me.
The Number Two: Compare It
We know that girl is smart, but what happens when we learn:
That girl is smart and sweet.
The writer has altered our perspective on the world. The choice for the reader is not between smart and sweet. Instead, the writer forces us to hold these two characteristics in our mind at the same time. We have to balance them, weigh them against each other, compare and contrast them.
Mom and dad.
True or false.
The Number Three: Surround It
The dividing magic of number two turns into what one scholar calls the "encompassing" magic of number three.
That girl is smart, sweet, and determined.
As this sentence grows, we are influenced to see the girl in a more well-rounded way. Rather than simplify her as smart, or divide her as smart and sweet, we now triangulate the elements of her character. In our language and culture, three seems to give us a sense of the whole:
Beginning, middle, and end.
A priest, a minister, and a rabbi.
On your mark, get set, go.
At the end of his most famous passage on the nature of love, St. Paul writes to the Corinthians: "For now, faith, hope, and love abide, these three. But the greatest of all is love." The powerful movement is from trinity to unity. From a sense of the whole to an understanding of what is most important.
The Number Four or More: Count It
That girl is smart, sweet, determined, and anorexic.
We can add descriptive elements to infinity. Four or more examples create a list, but not a complete inventory. Four or more details in a passage can offer a flowing, literary effect.
So good writing is as easy as one, two, three ... and four.
In summary:
Use one for power.
Use two for comparison, contrast.
Use three for completeness, wholeness, roundness.
Use four or more to list, inventory, compile, and expand.
Today's tip courtesy of Poynter online. To see the complete article: click here
The Number One: Declare It
That girl is smart.
In this simple sentence, the writer declares a single defining characteristic of the girl, her intelligence. The reader must focus on that. It is this effect of unity, single-mindedness, no-other-alternativeness, that characterizes the language of one.
Call me.
Here's Johnny.
I do.
Read my lips.
Tom Wolfe once told William F. Buckley Jr., that if a writer wants the reader to think something the absolute truth, the writer should render it in the shortest possible sentence. Trust me.
The Number Two: Compare It
We know that girl is smart, but what happens when we learn:
That girl is smart and sweet.
The writer has altered our perspective on the world. The choice for the reader is not between smart and sweet. Instead, the writer forces us to hold these two characteristics in our mind at the same time. We have to balance them, weigh them against each other, compare and contrast them.
Mom and dad.
True or false.
The Number Three: Surround It
The dividing magic of number two turns into what one scholar calls the "encompassing" magic of number three.
That girl is smart, sweet, and determined.
As this sentence grows, we are influenced to see the girl in a more well-rounded way. Rather than simplify her as smart, or divide her as smart and sweet, we now triangulate the elements of her character. In our language and culture, three seems to give us a sense of the whole:
Beginning, middle, and end.
A priest, a minister, and a rabbi.
On your mark, get set, go.
At the end of his most famous passage on the nature of love, St. Paul writes to the Corinthians: "For now, faith, hope, and love abide, these three. But the greatest of all is love." The powerful movement is from trinity to unity. From a sense of the whole to an understanding of what is most important.
The Number Four or More: Count It
That girl is smart, sweet, determined, and anorexic.
We can add descriptive elements to infinity. Four or more examples create a list, but not a complete inventory. Four or more details in a passage can offer a flowing, literary effect.
So good writing is as easy as one, two, three ... and four.
In summary:
Use one for power.
Use two for comparison, contrast.
Use three for completeness, wholeness, roundness.
Use four or more to list, inventory, compile, and expand.
Today's tip courtesy of Poynter online. To see the complete article: click here
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Template Tuesday #17
image is linked
Here's mine:
The white buttons are from Love Bytes and the stitched ribbon is from Leave the World Behind both by Brittish Designs. The background is from Strawberry Fields by Irene Alexeva, but it is VERY modified. The rest is my own design.
Here's mine:The white buttons are from Love Bytes and the stitched ribbon is from Leave the World Behind both by Brittish Designs. The background is from Strawberry Fields by Irene Alexeva, but it is VERY modified. The rest is my own design.Monday, March 23, 2009
Give CherishBound a try!
Want to give CherishBound’s bookmaker a try? For a limited time, you can use this trial account:
Goto: www.cherishbound.com
Login: focusonthestory@gmail.com password: cbtrial
Once you’ve logged in, go to the publishing center (under customers)
Here you can play with any books in progress, or create a new project.
To use the book maker to print your scrapbook pages, you would first need to save them at 8.5x11 size, but no more than 6MB (jpeg, tiff, or png). Once you have your new project open, go to the pages tab.
Select the page you want to load.
Go to the templates tab. Select the full bleed page template (it is the 5th one down –the 3rd one down is a full page bleed with page numbers automatically added)
Drag it onto the book page (twice, once on each side)
Now go to the images tab. Click on the little green + to add your own images. Once the images have uploaded, click and drag to drop them on the page.
Then repeat with pages 4-5, and so on.
If you have any questions, the ? near the bottom links to a great visual help system, or you can email me.
If you decide you want to print a book with CherishBound, send me an email: focusonthestory@gmail.com and I will get the payment/printing coupon information to you. Once you purchase a printing certificate, I will help you set up your OWN personal account and provide you with my personal phone number so you can get your questions answered promptly.
So what does it cost?
Base price for 8.5x11 with 50 pages is $61 (glossy pages)
Hard binding is $17 (required on landscape, but I ALWAYS recommend it)
Shipping is approximately $5
Additional pages are $1/side up to 140 page limit per book
Are there every discounts or specials? YES! About once a month there is a “Five-buck Friday”. That means hardcover binding is only $5 for all books (original submissions and re-orders) ordered on that day. I have no advance notice—I usually find out on Thursday evening. So get your book ready to go, then let me know if you are watching for a Five-Buck Friday and I’ll be sure to let you know.
DISCLAIMER!
I don’t know how well having multiple people trying this account will work, but it is the only way I know to let you try-before-you-buy. Please do not abuse the privilege, or the account will be closed.
Goto: www.cherishbound.com
Login: focusonthestory@gmail.com password: cbtrial
Once you’ve logged in, go to the publishing center (under customers)
Here you can play with any books in progress, or create a new project.
To use the book maker to print your scrapbook pages, you would first need to save them at 8.5x11 size, but no more than 6MB (jpeg, tiff, or png). Once you have your new project open, go to the pages tab.
Select the page you want to load.
Go to the templates tab. Select the full bleed page template (it is the 5th one down –the 3rd one down is a full page bleed with page numbers automatically added)Drag it onto the book page (twice, once on each side)
Now go to the images tab. Click on the little green + to add your own images. Once the images have uploaded, click and drag to drop them on the page.
Then repeat with pages 4-5, and so on.
If you have any questions, the ? near the bottom links to a great visual help system, or you can email me.
If you decide you want to print a book with CherishBound, send me an email: focusonthestory@gmail.com and I will get the payment/printing coupon information to you. Once you purchase a printing certificate, I will help you set up your OWN personal account and provide you with my personal phone number so you can get your questions answered promptly.
So what does it cost?
Base price for 8.5x11 with 50 pages is $61 (glossy pages)
Hard binding is $17 (required on landscape, but I ALWAYS recommend it)
Shipping is approximately $5
Additional pages are $1/side up to 140 page limit per book
Are there every discounts or specials? YES! About once a month there is a “Five-buck Friday”. That means hardcover binding is only $5 for all books (original submissions and re-orders) ordered on that day. I have no advance notice—I usually find out on Thursday evening. So get your book ready to go, then let me know if you are watching for a Five-Buck Friday and I’ll be sure to let you know.
DISCLAIMER!
I don’t know how well having multiple people trying this account will work, but it is the only way I know to let you try-before-you-buy. Please do not abuse the privilege, or the account will be closed.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Did you make that kit to go with that picture?
The seagulls saved us. They were fascinated by the grapes and Cheetos that the kids dropped on the floor. Then Daniel threw a grape at them. They fought over it! Soon all the kids were throwing food. At least it was entertaining. Bear Lake is COLD in the evening in mid May. You see, we’d come to Bear Lake to get the “perfect family picture.” Something that exists only in my mind, but after reading several photography books, I was convinced we could do it. However, since I’m the photographer and I don’t run fast, I asked my sisters (and their families) to come help us. Unfortunately the State Parks people told us the sun sets at 6 pm so there we were with 2 hours to kill, on a beach, with a picnic dinner—BUT YOU HAVE TO STAY LOOKING PERFECT!The seagulls really did save us. All the kids had their suits, but only James and Alyssa braved the cold water. James put a chicken bone on his head and crouched low in the water to see if they would come take it from him. Alyssa scattered Cheetos around her in the water. (scrapbook pages from 2006)
We were thrilled when the sun finally went down. Thrilled and shivering. Katie helped me pose everyone and I fiddled with the camera settings, then she worked the camera while Linda and Mom dove in and out touching up things. Then a different pose. Then different clothes and a couple more poses. Our teeth were chattering, but I hoped we’d managed a few salvageable images. (the one that hangs in my bedroom)
Actually they turned out great. Although I don’t look any skinnier a photograph than I do in real life. My favorite was the holding hands one. I blew it up 20x40 and had a special frame made. Then when we built our home, I decided to decorate my room based on that photo. Seaside, seashells, New England beach cottage.
So when the Design Star Contest rolled around, and there was a kit suggestion of “beach, but not beachball/flip-flops” , I thought my bedroom was a perfect inspiration (and source of “stuff” to extract). So I guess in a round-a-bout way the answer is yes. The photo inspired by bedroom which inspired my kit. (More of my favs--
We were thrilled when the sun finally went down. Thrilled and shivering. Katie helped me pose everyone and I fiddled with the camera settings, then she worked the camera while Linda and Mom dove in and out touching up things. Then a different pose. Then different clothes and a couple more poses. Our teeth were chattering, but I hoped we’d managed a few salvageable images. (the one that hangs in my bedroom)Actually they turned out great. Although I don’t look any skinnier a photograph than I do in real life. My favorite was the holding hands one. I blew it up 20x40 and had a special frame made. Then when we built our home, I decided to decorate my room based on that photo. Seaside, seashells, New England beach cottage.So when the Design Star Contest rolled around, and there was a kit suggestion of “beach, but not beachball/flip-flops” , I thought my bedroom was a perfect inspiration (and source of “stuff” to extract). So I guess in a round-a-bout way the answer is yes. The photo inspired by bedroom which inspired my kit. (More of my favs--
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Design Star Round 3
This week we did the element packs to go with the paper packs from last week. You can download them free @ ScrapMatters. Remember you must register first--and if you'd introduce yourself and tell them Rachelle aka markyzmom sent you, I'd appreciate it!
See the element pack here
See the element pack here
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
Memory Spark Monday: Talk about your driving habits
It might be about your first fender-bender, your first traffic ticket, or getting your license. Tell us your story.
Two weeks before high school graduation. I was late getting home for Mom to give me a perm. The light was red, so I’d taken the shortcut behind Smithfield Imp and was quickly headed west. A little too quickly. Apparently I got from zero to 55 miles per hour in the short three blocks to the railroad tracks. He didn’t even turn on his lights, just pointed to the side of the road as I raced past.
One ticket. Most of my friends had several. I paid for it myself. At nearly 18 years old, I considered myself quite independent and responsible. But the juvenile court system didn’t. Turns out that one ticket put me over the “70 point” limit and my license was to be taken away. Fortunately, the probation officer had pity on me—I was nearly 18 (technically past 18 by the time it crossed his desk) and I had only ONE ticket. I got probation for a year instead.
What's your story?
Two weeks before high school graduation. I was late getting home for Mom to give me a perm. The light was red, so I’d taken the shortcut behind Smithfield Imp and was quickly headed west. A little too quickly. Apparently I got from zero to 55 miles per hour in the short three blocks to the railroad tracks. He didn’t even turn on his lights, just pointed to the side of the road as I raced past.
One ticket. Most of my friends had several. I paid for it myself. At nearly 18 years old, I considered myself quite independent and responsible. But the juvenile court system didn’t. Turns out that one ticket put me over the “70 point” limit and my license was to be taken away. Fortunately, the probation officer had pity on me—I was nearly 18 (technically past 18 by the time it crossed his desk) and I had only ONE ticket. I got probation for a year instead.
What's your story?
Friday, March 13, 2009
Design Star Round 2
Introducing...Half Moon Bay, my round 2 paper pack:
It's free at ScrapMatters for a limited time. (click on the image)
While you are there, check out the other entries here
You need to be a registered member of ScrapMatters to view and download the free Design Star entries. When you register, tell them Rachelle aka Chelle's Creations sent you!
Next week: element packs!
It's free at ScrapMatters for a limited time. (click on the image)While you are there, check out the other entries here
You need to be a registered member of ScrapMatters to view and download the free Design Star entries. When you register, tell them Rachelle aka Chelle's Creations sent you!
Next week: element packs!
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Missing in action: the STORY
While I was working on my paper pack, I spent a few minutes at the speed scrap. My writing is not in "top form" with so little sleep, so I just did one side of the LO. Look for the other side coming soon.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Wre-vise, Wre-write, Wednesday: Tell your story in a list.
Pick a memory spark or topic and just start making a list. When editing try to make each item in your list the same format. For example the elements in my list begin with a verb ending in ING. I did add a short summary sentence on the end. Give it a try!
Describe your hometown…
Running around barefoot on the sod fields in the twilight waiting for the fireworks to start.
Cuddling under a polyester patchwork quilt, sipping slushies, watching the men’s softball game—cheering on our dads.
The sweet smell of freshly cut alfalfa, the pungent odor of freshly spread “sunshine”.
Knowing your neighbors—yes, everyone in town, and how everyone is related to everyone else.
Hiking Trenton hill the Saturday before Easter to roll your eggs down the hill. Cheering when the shell and whites fall apart, but the little yolk bounces on and on.
Riding your bike up to the park to catch the bus for summer swimming lessons.
Mosquito repellant and calamine lotion.
Waving as you pass the 12 yr old driving the tractor down the road.
Squinting through the clouds of smoke to pick out some penny candy at Merrill’s Market.
Toilet papering houses with your best friend while her Dad goes inside to “do his home-teaching”
Chasing frogs along the ditch bank.
Going to the CO-OP to get a pop.
Living in Trenton is in my blood: both of my parents were born and raised in this tiny little farming community. In 2007 I proudly added my name as a permanent resident when we built our home…in my home town.
What's your story?
Describe your hometown…
Running around barefoot on the sod fields in the twilight waiting for the fireworks to start.
Cuddling under a polyester patchwork quilt, sipping slushies, watching the men’s softball game—cheering on our dads.
The sweet smell of freshly cut alfalfa, the pungent odor of freshly spread “sunshine”.
Knowing your neighbors—yes, everyone in town, and how everyone is related to everyone else.
Hiking Trenton hill the Saturday before Easter to roll your eggs down the hill. Cheering when the shell and whites fall apart, but the little yolk bounces on and on.
Riding your bike up to the park to catch the bus for summer swimming lessons.
Mosquito repellant and calamine lotion.
Waving as you pass the 12 yr old driving the tractor down the road.
Squinting through the clouds of smoke to pick out some penny candy at Merrill’s Market.
Toilet papering houses with your best friend while her Dad goes inside to “do his home-teaching”
Chasing frogs along the ditch bank.
Going to the CO-OP to get a pop.
Living in Trenton is in my blood: both of my parents were born and raised in this tiny little farming community. In 2007 I proudly added my name as a permanent resident when we built our home…in my home town.
What's your story?
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Template Tuesday #15
Here's today's template: (image is linked to 4-shared)
Here's my take on it: I did it for a speed scrap where one of the instructions was NO TITLE. That is not my usual style, but so be it.
Here's my take on it: I did it for a speed scrap where one of the instructions was NO TITLE. That is not my usual style, but so be it.
ENJOY!
Monday, March 9, 2009
Design Star @ ScrapMatters.com
YEA! I made it through the first cut! Now I can officially announce that I am DS contestant #12. Here's my preview:
The mini kit is free--and so are 98ish other mini kits in this color scheme. Get them right away before they disappear.
The link to the design star gallery is here. But remember, you must register @ Scrapmatters to see them. Tell them markyzmom aka Rachelle sent you!
PS. I can't WAIT to recolor those beads and use them over and over and over!
The mini kit is free--and so are 98ish other mini kits in this color scheme. Get them right away before they disappear.
The link to the design star gallery is here. But remember, you must register @ Scrapmatters to see them. Tell them markyzmom aka Rachelle sent you!
PS. I can't WAIT to recolor those beads and use them over and over and over!
Describe your hometown…
I had a hard time answering this one in paragraph format, so I decided to just make a list of things I love/remember/enjoy about my home town.
Running around barefoot on the sod fields in the twilight waiting for the fireworks to start.
Cuddling under a polyester patchwork quilt, sipping slushies, watching the men’s softball game—cheering on our dads.
The sweet smell of freshly cut alfalfa, the pungent odor of freshly spread “sunshine”.
Knowing your neighbors—yes, everyone in town, and how everyone is related to everyone else.
Hiking Trenton hill the Saturday before Easter to roll your eggs down the hill. Cheering when the shell and whites fall apart, but the little yolk bounces on and on.
Riding your bike up to the park to catch the bus for summer swimming lessons.
Mosquito repellant and calamine lotion.
Waving as you pass the 12 yr old driving the tractor down the road.
Squinting through the clouds of smoke to pick out some penny candy at Merrill’s Market.
Toilet papering houses with your best friend while her Dad goes inside to “do his home-teaching”
Chasing frogs along the ditch bank.
Going to the CO-OP to get a pop.
Living in Trenton is in my blood: both of my parents were born and raised in this tiny little farming community. In 2007 I proudly added my name as a permanent resident when we built our home…in my home town.
Running around barefoot on the sod fields in the twilight waiting for the fireworks to start.
Cuddling under a polyester patchwork quilt, sipping slushies, watching the men’s softball game—cheering on our dads.
The sweet smell of freshly cut alfalfa, the pungent odor of freshly spread “sunshine”.
Knowing your neighbors—yes, everyone in town, and how everyone is related to everyone else.
Hiking Trenton hill the Saturday before Easter to roll your eggs down the hill. Cheering when the shell and whites fall apart, but the little yolk bounces on and on.
Riding your bike up to the park to catch the bus for summer swimming lessons.
Mosquito repellant and calamine lotion.
Waving as you pass the 12 yr old driving the tractor down the road.
Squinting through the clouds of smoke to pick out some penny candy at Merrill’s Market.
Toilet papering houses with your best friend while her Dad goes inside to “do his home-teaching”
Chasing frogs along the ditch bank.
Going to the CO-OP to get a pop.
Living in Trenton is in my blood: both of my parents were born and raised in this tiny little farming community. In 2007 I proudly added my name as a permanent resident when we built our home…in my home town.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Template Tuesday
I am just plain behind this week! Here's this week's template (image is linked @ 4shared!):
Monday, March 2, 2009
Memory Spark Monday: Tell about an "ah-ha" moment
Saturday night I heard Emily squealing, Dave laughing and Marky shouting. I grabbed my camera and ran downstairs. For months and months we’ve been working on getting Marky to walk. I believe he would love to be able to go where he wants, but he just doesn’t realize what he has to do to get there. At first he wasn’t interested in moving the walker at all. He LOVES loud noises, so I canned some rocks, bent forks, and beads in #10 cans. We stacked them in front of him, and slowly he learned that if he leaned forward and kept moving his feet, he could run over them and kick them. It did teach him to go, but he didn’t learn much about how to control the direction he was going. We’ve been stuck there for several months—not really making any progress—enough that his physical therapist suggested that we stop going for a while, “until he is more motivated…to learn to purposefully go a certain direction.” We decided to remove the “can’t go backwards” part of his walker and hope that exploring would motivate him. It didn’t do much, but we all try to help him spend time in the walker anyway.
Saturday night Emily put him in the walker, sat in front of him and coaxed him to “come get me!” He did, and as he rolled over her legs she started giggling and squealing—exactly the motivation he needed to do it over and over and over. By the time I got downstairs, he was chasing her all over the house. Not straight lines—not wherever he happened to lean, but purposefully chasing her!
Sometimes the challenge in helping him make progress is in finding the right motivation!
Saturday night Emily put him in the walker, sat in front of him and coaxed him to “come get me!” He did, and as he rolled over her legs she started giggling and squealing—exactly the motivation he needed to do it over and over and over. By the time I got downstairs, he was chasing her all over the house. Not straight lines—not wherever he happened to lean, but purposefully chasing her!
Sometimes the challenge in helping him make progress is in finding the right motivation!
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