Christmastime in the big city

That's what my kids call New York: the big city. Today I took Marilyn to see the Nutcracker at Lincoln Center for the first time. Since I was about 6 when I saw it for the first time, I thought the time was right. I got what I thought was an excellent bargain on our tickets but could hear my old college professor's words as we arrived at our seats "you get what you pay for."
Fifth ring, row K - too high! Higher than the top of the frame around the stage. Vertigo inducing high. So high we could see the orchestra down in the pit. So high we could see the hole in the stage where the giant tree grows from. So far, we could not even see the small Nutcracker. What a bummer. I wanted her first NYC Nutcracker experience to be perfection and I think we lost a lot of the impact due to our location.
Despite not having my expectations met, I could tell she had a great time. Hopefully she will have good memories of her first Nutcracker and the fountain at Lincoln Center. She'll remember Macy's and seeing the Santa village on 8. She will remember how good her first NYC bagel was and how she rode in a cab for the first time, twice. And maybe that she liked spending time with me. That's what really matters.

After the holiday

So much prep and then it's over like that! We had a great time and are now enjoying our leftovers. The turkey cookies were a hit and I was somewhat pleased with the way they turned out.

Now, the kids are anxious to get the tree up and decorated so that is our mission this weekend. Yesterday, Marilyn and I worked on her official list for Santa. Tomorrow she and I are off to see the Nutcracker at Lincoln Center. It will be her first time. I was about 6 when I went for the first time and I never forgot it. Hoping she has one of those unforgettable days, too. I really want to bring the 'big' Nikon. Trying to decide if that is a smart idea or not. (probably not, I know)
Just finished up my sketch layout for Ella and I'm really pleased with it. Here's a detail shot:

Now I'm going to work on a layout for the 'inspired by' challenge, due on the same day. Thinking I will take photos in NY tomorrow for this layout. Nothing like waiting until the last minute.
I entered the American Crafts weekly challenge (bling, this week) with this layout:

I'm not a big bling user, but this AC foil paper was really cool and I'm newly addicted to Stickles -so it was fun. Just waiting for them to fix their bug to find out who won. Speaking of American Crafts, I received my prize package on Wednesday for the Halloween challenge and wow! is all I can say. They sent the entire Halloween line - I had no idea how much there was until now. I won't need to buy another Halloween scrapbooking product for 3 years (but I probably will anyway!) Thank you American Crafts!!

LYB Goods Delivered

It took me longer than I thought it would but it's done. I had such a hard time with those papers and didn't really feel like my mojo kicked in until I was almost done. I didn't like the Queen & Co. stuff, which I thought was too bright for this paper collection. I also realized while working with these papers that 1) I don't like shiny cardstock, and 2) I especially don't like white shiny cardstock. Here are 2 of my faves - I turned in 2 layouts, 3 cards, 2 gift bags and one gift tag.

Submitted a couple of cards with bows to the Cards Blog- not sure I got it done though, we'll see.
Another Ella sketch challenge is up - going to give that a whirl but I need to find a good group of photos to work with. This one is a 2 page spread.

I have a small cookie job to work on - some Thanksgiving turkeys for a friend. Have never made a turkey cookie so this will be a challenge. Also want to work on some holiday samples and maybe start a cookie blog. Typepad has a new (and free) Micro Blog. It just might fit the bill.

Thanks again Paige at the Cards Blog...

...for this mention. My first ever placecard. I can already see the eyes rolling when I tell my family where to sit at the Thanksgiving table! Usually it's like the wild west at our table. But, I'll give it a try this year, none the less.
Regarding this Cards blog...Wow! the work getting posted on this blog weekly is amazing. It's an honor to get the mention once again, and be included with these talented people. The inspiration I get from this blog is priceless!

Working hard...

Here I am at the end of the 'week of challenges' and I haven't even touched my Scrapper's Cove stuff due on Sunday. I had good intentions of incorporating all of that new paper into my projects for Ella but that just didn't work out.
So, this week, I submitted 3 layouts and one card to Ella. One layout to American Crafts for their weekly challenge, and one placecard to the Cards Blog for their weekly challenge. Also, on Tuesday night I sent my submissions for the Cards Magazine April 2010 call. At least I'm getting some photos scrapped, right?

Busy Day on the www!

Wow, my little flower card, which for some reason has been getting many, many views on my Flickr stream, was featured in the challenge gallery on the Cards Magazine Blog. Have to admit, I love this card. It was a major pain to make. The old book pages I used to punch the flowers were so brittle they would break apart when I tried to stitch them. Speaking of punches, that Martha Stewart punch I used is my new favorite. It comes in a larger version that now I must have. (The punch collection is getting out of hand.)

And the winner is...

Me! Woohoo! I can not believe this layout won the American Crafts weekly challenge (and I can't wait to get those Halloween goodies in the mail!)

Being new to this whole publishing thing, I'm noticing a trend, both in print and on the web. Layouts and items I've made that have made it to the 'show' are items I've second guessed.
Exhibit A - the card made from the leftover wallpaper that made it onto the Cards blog. I made that card as a thank you for my boss and nearly threw it in the garbage because I thought it was sloppy. I changed my mind, gave it to her and she loved it. It suited the requirement for the blog challenge so I thought - why not...Suzan is a designer and she liked it. It is probably ok. Apparently, it was.
Exhibit B: the card that got published in the Holiday Cards issue of Scrapbook Trends. I thought the design of this card was pretty ordinary. I made it out of leftover scraps from a design team kit. In comparison to other cards I made that I thought this on was on the blah side.
and now this...Exhibit C. I thought this thing was a disaster, especially compared to the competition. It was my first attempt at this style and using a mask and ink mist. All it had going for it was that it looked different. Suppose that was enough. I'm certainly not complaining - just noticing the trend...
Ok, now I need to get to work on the Ella cover challenge and my design team stuff - hopefully I can combine these 2 efforts!

Side Tracked...

...from my design team duties. The festive holiday papers will have to wait. I noticed that the calls for the April Scrapbook Trends were due Thursday and was wanting to submit a layout for the "Top Ten" challenge. Maybe this one will make the cut. I love the way it turned out. It could have easily been a mini book, I tried to get it all on 1 page for photography purposes, it wound up being 2 12 x 12s. I kept it simple and summer-y, since most of the trips happened in the summertime. What took the longest was finding the photos: 80's photos from Italy, old Newport shots and the infamous vacation/5th birthday party circa 1971. The photo I had in mind was m.i.a. so I subbed a photo from the party that includes my cousin Lorraine. Miss ya' Lorraine!

Oh, the possibilites...

..of a fresh design team kit from the store. Since this is my favorite time of year to scrapbook and make stuff - this pile of goodies could not have come at a more perfect time. The paper is the new Little Yellow Bicycle holiday line. The ribbons, felt and embellishments are a new Queen & Co. line. These varnished cardstocks and really literal holiday embellishments are not my favorite things to work with but that is ok - I will try to 'cool' them up a bit. I do love the use of that aqua with red for Christmas, in place of the standard green and red. Aqua is turning up all over the place these days. There is also some metallic silver and gold on the papers - which I plan to use as a design element. I supplemented my kit with some other metallic stuff to help me on that track. (Metallic embellished cardstock from the Paper Co. & some glimmer mists). Definitely going to be breaking out my Rock Candy Stickles, too. Finished stuff to come...

Which one?

My determination to win one of these weekly blog challenges led me once again to work all of Sunday on the American Crafts challenge Halloween challenge. The 2 results couldn't be more different if they tried.  While the 12 x 12 layout better reflects my current style, I think the 8 1/2 x 11 is heading in a more current/trendy direction. (I've definitely been feeling stuck in a design rut lately.) (I submitted the 8 1/2 x 11.)
Don't think I have any winners here but I definitely enjoyed the process - and that is what it is all about, no?