Yeah, Write

Unforgiveably Late Planner Giveaway

Procrastinators, rejoice! If you haven't yet settled on a planner or calendar system for 2012, then have I got the the giveaway for you?

Yes, yes I do.

I know I'm not the ONLY one who's been a bit reluctant to admit that it's really 2012 already. The little old lady in line behind me at the bank this morning was stopping in solely for a free calendar for her kitchen. Well, I promise you I have something better than a free bank calendar.

It's the customizeable photo planner for 2012! (Heck, even if you do have another system, throw it out and use this one instead. I absolutely love it.)

My 2012 Photo Planner

Here's my cover and title page. I used the For the Record product line from Echo Park Paper Co. And a little tradition I started last year was to include my "one little word" for the year in the decor of the title page, to remind me to keep it in mind all year long. My word this year: PRAY. (Not familiar with "one little word"? It's an idea started by Ali Edwards, where you choose one word as a theme to guide your life all year long. It's SO much friendlier than setting a list of resolutions.)

For my month pages, I decided to browse through my photo files and choose one favorite scenery shot taken in each month, from any year between 2004 and 2011. I love these shots! They remind me of memorable vacations, scenes from where I live, and more. On the reverse sides of these pages, I may or may not scrapbook a photo taken during the current month, as I progress throughout the year. (I already have a year-long phototography project on my plate!)

Yes, indeed, I did "put a bird on it."

So, what do you say? Do you want to win one? Leave me a comment sharing your hopes and dreams for 2012, and I'll pick two random winners! (I'll ship to winners in the U.S. for free.)

Alternate Approach: My 2011 Photo Planner
I also used a My Book Planner in 2011, and here was my approach last year:

My one little word for 2011 was: PURPOSE. It was a good word.

On the front side of each month page, I included a photo or two from the previous year (2010), and then throughout the year, I'd scrapbook a couple of pictures to represent the current year (which was 2011).

Above: photos from February 2010 followed by one cute shot from February 2011.

Above: March 2010 photos followed by one very special photo from March 2011.

Have fun with your 2012 planning system, whatever you have in mind!

Gifts I AM Giving This Year

Yes, I'm serious. I gave someone a plush uterus. My sister had hers removed earlier this month, so I sent her a new one! She loved it.

And it's giving her far fewer problems than her previous one. The company, I Heart Guts, also has plush kidneys, hearts, gall bladders, even an appendix. (Thanks to my friend Yvette for the tip!)

 

Yes, Heaven help me, Keira is getting a Sing-a-Ma-Jig. I was worse than all the kids in the Kohl's toy section last week, playing with and giggling at the Sing-a-Ma-Jig display. Keira was fascinated too, so guess what she's getting, thanks to my 30 percent off coupon?

And in the grand tradition of Grandpa Jeff (my dad), I find I AM getting Keira's Christmas gifts out early for her to play with—I have to make sure she likes them!—before putting them back away so they can be a "surprise" on Christmas morning. This will probably be the only year that trick will actually work.

In far less hilarious news (what could be funnier than a plush internal organ, after all), I've created some quick and inexpensive Christmas photo albums for my family members.

You can read all about it on the Ella blog (just follow that previous link or click on the picture)! And/or enjoy the free tutorial I created showing you exactly how to colorize a PNG file in Photoshop Elements. My gift to you:

Now to round up some white elephants for my family Christmas party. Any grand ideas for gag gifts?

3rd Annual Christmas Not-Shopping List

With only five more shopping days to go before Christmas, I decided it's time to disappoint my friends and family yet again with my list of things they will not be receiving from me this year.

1. The Smart Planet CDM-2 Pigs in a Blanket Maker
Granted, this puppy has a total of seven reviews on Amazon.com, all 5-star. But I suppose if you're going to purchase an appliance this specific, you probably have a specific need for it. And since I don't think there's anyone on my gift list this year who is a particular pig-in-a-blanket connoisseur, I'll take a pass on this one. It would probably be a big hit with the kids, though. Me? I'm not sure I've even had the option  to sample this American delicacy since I frequented the Southland Elementary cafeteria in the '80s.

 

2. Claw magnifying necklace
It makes such a statement all on its own that, well, what would you wear with it? Maybe a tall, pointy hat? So, friends and family, you won't be startled by one of these in your gift bag this year. For that matter, it's probably safe to say that I won't be giving any gifts this year that involve bird claws.

 

3. Giraffe toilet brush.
Finally! A toilet-cleaning device that you can proudly display in your bathroom! No boring, white toilet brushes skulking in the corner, where no one ever notices or appreciates them. And the fact that it looks like a toy means your kids will happily play with it for hours on end. With a giraffe-shaped toiled brush, everyone wins. But you're still not getting one from me this year.

 

4. Eggies.
Sorry, pals, you won't get the opportunity to replace the frustration of peeling the shells off of hard-boiled eggs with the frustration of assembling six tiny capsules, greasing them up with cooking oil, trying to aim the contents of a cracked egg into the tiny opening on top, cleaning up the mess once the pan boils over, and then trying pry the boiled eggs out of the capsules. Not from me, anyway.

 

I couldn't even bring myself to talk about Forever Lazy this year, but that doesn't mean it's in the running for gift giving. Maybe next year.

What are you most excited about not getting this year?

For additional ideas for what not to give, also consult my 2010 and 2009 lists.

Keira's Room

Just before Keira's first birthday, I got in gear and finally finished decorating her bedroom. Well, "finished" is not a word you can ever really apply to decorating, just like you can't apply it to organizing, working out, eating, or apologizing. :) But at least it's now much closer to how I imagined it. We like a colorful, homey, lived-in look around here. Decorating professionals we are not.

Vinyl wall decals found on etsy.com. Tissue paper puffs made with help from Wendy Smedley. Polka-dot bumper from Ikea. Lamp and dresser were gifts from Grandma Beverly. Blue standing cupboard (which is really a toy chest) found at local consignment shop, Home Again. Pink rug and crib dust ruffle from amazon.com.

One-memory-a-day calendar by SRM Press (I filled in one tiny box every day for a whole year!). Hand-painted lady-bug drawer pulls found in Sweet Petites Boutique on Etsy.com.

 

Framed pennant art by our friend Elizabeth Dillow. (Hand-painted light-switch cover also by Sweet Petites Boutique.)

 

Rocking chair borrowed from Aunt Lynsey. Cute as a Button wall sign was a gift from Grandma Beverly, because that's a phrase her mother always used. Baby quilt on the wall handmade by Kelly Jeppson.


Another view.

Yellow shelf found at Emilie Jayne consignment store in Salt Lake City. Tiny ladybug print from rabbot on etsy.com. Soft pink bunny a gift from Keira's birthdad, Jase. Framed ultrasound handmade by Keira's birthmom, Anneliese. Frog items from a phase in Angie's past when she inadvertently started collective frog-themed merchandise. Vintage Peter Rabbit book won at Beatrix Ptter festival. Quirky cup on the top shelf purchased at The Blue Pear in Ouray, Colorado.

Still left to do: blackout curtains that are still somewhat attractive and a little iron-on-the-wall fabric project that's been on my to-do list for 15 months.

 

Random photo of Keira, just because.

Watch Me on Internet TV

MyCraftChannel.com launched yesterday, and my new show with Wendy Smedley, Books & Crafts, debuts today. Exciting!

Check us out as we talk about journaling in lists and share the List It! products from Ella Publishing Co. Oh, and we'll also tell you exactly how to solve all your communication problems with your teen (wink).

To celebrate, visit the Ella blog today, too, for a 10 percent coupon code off of any of our seven List It! products.

Also, in every week's episode, we share our book pick of the week. Here are this week's picks, conveniently linked up just for you.

  

5 Inexpensive Essentials for Your Kitchen

#1 Toast Tongs

Whenever I'm visiting someone's house and making toast there (which, you know, I do a LOT), I wonder how they can stand NOT having some Toasty Toast Tongs at the ready!

Bread comes in oh so many different sizes, so no toaster can pop every piece of bread far enough out of the toaster for you to grab with your bare hands without getting burned. Enter the tongs, which are guaranteed not to cause electrocution if you stick them into your toaster. They slide right in and out with ease, grabbing bread, bagels, crumbly English muffins, and even Pop Tarts (which can somehow reach flesh-melting temperatures in mere minutes!). And there's a magnet on the back. Since my toaster is right next to my fridge, I have a safe and handy toast-removal tool within reach at all times. I'll toast to that!

 

#2 Gryptonite All-Purpose Wonder Blob

Believe it or not, I discovered this little gem at a crafting tradeshow. This little guy does EVERYTHING, and it's kind of a cute blobby shape too. Mine clings to the tile behind my stove, so it's handy if I need to peel garlic or an onion, use it as hotpad or trivet, or use it to open a jar! Apparently it also transforms into a funnel and can be used as a mat for a glue gun or soldering iron. I'm sure it does other things, too, like clean my kitchen while I'm asleep—I haven't quite tapped into its full potential yet.

 

#3 Magical Mitt

My mother-in-law, who is also responsible for the Toasty Toast Tongs, gave me some Dexas oven mitts (mine are red) and I'll never use another pot holder again. I have a 1958 kitchen with some of the original appliances, and my stove top is frustrating, to say the least. I can actually reposition a red-hot burner (which, yes, I have to do on occasion) with one of these things on my hand, and the heat doesn't reach my fingers! (Caution: do not then wipe your brow with the oven mitt, as I did once, because you know the outside DOES get hot. It just takes a while for the heat to tranfer through to the inside, if it ever does.) I'm half convinced I could pick up molten lava with one of these things. Do you dare me?

With all these tips to avoid getting burned, one might wonder if I'm catching myself on fire left and right. Really, I'm not. Because I have all this great gear!

#4 Mini Colander

I picked up a little 6-inch colander like this one at Target (mine's light green), and I'm shocked how often I use it! It's perfect for holding one can of something, like black beans that you need to rinse, or corn or hominy that you need to drain. And it's great for rinsing tiny things, like lentils, since the holes are so small. I bet it would also make a great hat.

#5 Salad Spinner

Boy oh boy is this thing handy! It helps me thoroughly wash my lettuce (even my garden lettuce, which is often full of dirt and bugs) and spin all the dingy water right out. And salad stays fresher much longer when I store it in the basket within the bowl. (There's an interchangeable lid.) I also recommend an accompanying Lettuce Knife , which won't cause your lettuce to discolor. But don't ignore the "top-rack dishwasher safe only" warning, as I did, or the end of your lettuce knife will melt like a piece of taffy.

What about you? What are your inexpensive kitchen essentials? Tell me, because I'm in the mood for some new gadgets. :)

Home from CHA: Sick and Inspired

Once again, I came home from the Craft & Hobby Association tradeshow with more than just a few paper packs and a notebook full of inspiring ideas. I've also got a nasty cold. But on the bright side, it's not Swine Flu, as was the case after CHA Summer 2009.

FRIENDS

This year, my six-day trip was half family reunion and half scrapbooker reunion. I spend half of each day walking the show floor with my fellow Ella peeps, meeting up with longtime industry friends:


A blurry photo of the Ella crew: Tami Morrison, me, Brenda Johnston, Wendy Smedley, and Jennifer Larson. (Keshet Shenkar had not yet arrived.)

Emily Pitts, Keshet Shenkar, Aly Dosdall, Stacy Julian, Wendy Smedley, Keira Jane, and me.

Linda Barber, a former Ella Friend and current CK Dream Team member, and me.

FAMILY

I spent the other half of the time hanging out with my sister and her three kids, who live in nearby Orange, as well as my sister-in-law and her four kids, who drove over from Arizona for the weekend:

A first-thing-in-the-morning shot of seven of the eight cousins who ran around my sister's house for three days straight.


All on their own, Haylee and Breanna decided to set up a schedule of Keira time, to keep things fair. They set the timer and traded off every 7 minutes.

The only lingering issue with the schedule was when Keira timed her feedings, "Well you got to feed her last time, so this time it's my turn!"

Cousin Gillian: "Can I hold baby Keira? Can I hold baby Keira? CanIholdbabyKeiraCanIholdbabyKeiraCanIholdbabyKeira?" followed by "Oh, her's so little! Her's so cute! Look at her's tiny fingers!"

Cousin Townes, just 8 months older than Keira but twice her size. It's a good thing he's a gentle giant, because he was mighty interested in this little peanut.

There's a reason Townes is sometimes known as "Townes-zilla."

INSPIRATION

Of course the other half of the fun is drooling over the latest and greatest in scrapbooking trends and supplies. We've got lots of highlight posts planned over on the Ella Blog for the next week or so, so be sure to stop by. In the meantime, here are just a few of my personal favorites:

I adore the Daily Junque paper line from Pink Paislee and House of Three. I want to bathe my entire home in this color palette. (That central paper might look black, but it's actually navy.)

This n That from Lily Bee was another favorite. Elegant, bright, retro, gorgeous!

Cosmo Cricket's Glubers (which are "uber" glue circles that come in 2-inch, 2.5-inch, and 3-inch sizes) make it possible to create gorgeous flowers in minutes--minus the glue-gun burns that usually come with this territory!

The Sophisticates by Stephanie line is a collection of universal patterns and products in eleven mouth-watering colors. It's what made this layout possible, which may be one of my favorite layouts I've ever seen in person.

For the Record by Echo Park Paper is among my favorites, too. It was also Stacy Julian's pick for the "almost live from CHA" episode of the Paperclipping Roundtable. (My baby needed me, so I couldn't make the recording session.)



And I must say that the Smash Book from EK Success definitely lives up to all the hype. It's one of those why-hasn't-anyone-thought-of-that-yet ideas, executed brilliantly. And it has a perfect name.

BABY ON BOARD

We also found time for Miss Keira Jane to make her CHA debut:


The Moby wrap was a lifesaver. I can harness her in there a dozen different ways, depending on whether she was in the mood to interact with people. She was quite the charmer, grinning her little cheeks off whenever she'd get attention from someone new.


Here she meets Stacy Julian, an adoptive mama herself, for the first time. Wendy was Keira's talent agent, using texting technology to make sure she got face time with a handful of her biggest fans.

After a while, the attention was just too much. Not to worry, Keira, there's a wrap for that. (Hee hee.)

There's more to share. There always is. And I'm bursting with ideas for layouts I want to create right this minute. But this girl needs some Nyquil and the comforts of her own bed. Keira nodded off hours ago, and it's time for her sniffly mama to follow suit.

My 2011 NOT Shopping List

Open letter to family and friends:

For the second year in a row, I am about to spoil your Christmas surprise by revealing eight items that you will not be receiving from me this year. (Also see last year's list, which is still in effect.)

1. Chew By Numbers Art Board

One word: yuck. Keep your gum where it belongs—stuck to the bottoms of the tables at McDonald's. (Wondering where to find brown gum? It's included in the $14.99 gift package.)

2. Lancome Oscillation Mascara

For just $34, this vibrating mascara brush will deliver 7,000 oscillations per minute, thus "re-creating the application technique of a makeup artist." I'd like to see the makeup artist who can oscillate like that! And I'd venture to say that all the women on my gift list are oscillating just fine on their own.

3. Precious Moments Personalized DVD

There's something a little bit creepy about seeing a frozen human head on a cartoon body. ("Frozen" meaning the expression never changes, rather than the grosser connotation.)  This might be a fun gag gift for a company party, though. Submit the boss's face to the video (just $19.99), and have everyone in stitches! There's nothing quite like getting fired for Christmas.

 

4. Bacon-Flavored Dental Floss

This product definitely outshines last year's Bacon Scarf. But honestly, who wants to go to bed with bacon flavoring between their teeth? If you do, and you're on my Christmas list, you're out of luck. You're also not getting Homemade Bacon Jam this year, so don't get your hopes up. (It's a 3+ hour endeavor!)

5. The Shake Weight

Nothing says "I think you're fat" like the gift of exercise equipment for Christmas. (Unless it was specifically requested, of course.) As lovely and lean as this fitness model may be, this product could have unintended side effects. You think your upper-arm flab is going to behave itself while you're desperately trying to hold on to a vibrating weight? Jiggle city. Usage is best confined to the comforts of your own home, unless you have teenagers, as they will laugh themselves silly.

6. Tooting Angel

While there are surely one or two people on my gift list whose holidays will not be complete until they've been tooted upon by an angel, these people will just have to purchase their own flatulent seraphim.

7. Electronic T-Shirts

Most children I know are loud enough all on their own without giving them option of wearing a set of drums (or a guitar) on their chests all day long. Sorry, nieces and nephews, you'll have to settle for drumming on pots and pans, as these can be taken away from you without requiring a simultaneous change of clothes.


8. Snuggie for Dogs

The marketing materials for the Doggie Snuggie assert that "The Snuggie won't slip and slide like a regular blanket and allows freedom of movement." You know what else doesn't slip and slide? Fur. Yeah, fur is pretty much a built-in blanket. I do get that some doggies (who aren't nearly as tough as Jovie) need sweaters or little parkas for cold winter walks. But this product is designed to be worn inside.

So, what are you hoping to NOT get this year?

Happy Elephant Appreciation Day

Yep, it appears to be an actual holiday, and I for one plan to celebrate!

Because I appreciate elephants.

I started by purchasing these baby booties from Whimbrella on etsy.com (sorry, last pair like this!)

(I promise I have purchased items other than baby shoes; I just haven't gotten around to photographing them!)

And then I rounded up some fun elephant-related goodies to give away over at Ella Publishing Co.

Spread the appreciation, will ya?

Look What I Have in My Hot Little Hands!

I can't believe I'm covering up the author's name with my fingers! This brand new book by Memory Makers Media (F&W) is by  WENDY SMEDLEY!

She's been introducing her book contributors one by one today, and here's what she said about me. Yep, I'm in there a few times. In fact, I'm on the back cover! The author never has control over these things, so it's always interesting to see what ends up on the cover, back cover, chapter openers, and more.

I posted this layout a while back, as part of my "30 Things I Love About..." series. My sister-in-law Suzanne is probably pretty thrilled that she's immortalized at age 30 on the back cover of a hardback scrapbooking book!

Want to introduce someone to scrapbooking? Get a beginner started off on the right foot? This is the book for you! From what I hear, it's available September 15 where all fine books are sold.

Yay Wendy!