Life Changing Experiences

3 Mar 2020. On my computer desk you will find, of course, computer, then a composition book and a container of mechanical pencils and ballpoint pens. The pencils and pens form a small collection, some of my favorite things. When you research in a state archive and our National Archive you Must use pencil. So that is when I started my collection. The composition book is at the ready to jot down data while working on genealogical interest or any other data I do not want to forget. Recently, I came to the end of the book, thought I'd go through it before filing it away or throwing it away.
   Not only am I a genealogist but also publish my findings in Albums using both scrapbooking materials and some digital pages; and of course, lots of  photographs, facts and descriptions. I use Quotes and List to enhance my subject(s). The following is an exercise found in one of my scrapbooking magazines: The list is in my composition book.
Life Changing Events:
 1. WW II
 2. move to 2060 Dodson Dr
 3. Daddy going to rehab
 4. HS graduation 1957
 5. joining US Army college program
 6. Graduating University of Georgia, 1961
 7.1961-62 US Army Dietetic Internship
 8. Marry John A Webb, M.D. 1962; John Jr and David.
 9. Chris 1964
10. Scott 1967
11. Maggie 1967
12. The Dante Family
13. Wichita Falls 1978 and Friends: Pete & Ann & Willie Mae Estes; Boyd &             Joan Kelley; Jay and Susan Rogers.
14. September 11, 2001
15. Gainesvilles 31 Dec 2008
16. Houston 25 Sept 2017
       Over an eighty year span. These 16 points generates millions of memories. One other point could be Travel. Most of that was done with the three couples listed in 13. But our Travels (foreign and USA) surly added to our Life Changing Events.
           

New papers and embellishments

The Craft Hobby Association starts tomorrow.  It is one of my favorite times.  So much activity on the Internet leading up to the show.  Company blogs have been giving a sneak preview of the new products to be introduced.  I've already seen Teresa Collins, Bo Bunny and Graphic 45 lines that I want to add to my stash.  The perfect time to be doing Heritage Albums is now.  So many of the new lines have the Vintage flavor.  Happy Saturday.

Important to JOURNAL

I am working on a story for the writing class I attend.  Most of my scrapbooking is heritage and the journaling is critical.  Just want to impress to the newer scrapbookers to journal.  The fastest way is to use your own hand writing, next easiest is computer.  It doesn't matter the method, just journal.

Happy New Year 2012

      It seems that I prefer to read rather than write a blog.  I follow some very good artist, Tim, Ali, Becky, Debby, Tim (Holtz and Coffey), Donna, Karen and many more.  However, today is the 3rd anniversary of our moving into our new home and I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year.
     Lots to be Thankful for, especially, our Christmas visit to Seattle and safe return.
     My New Years resolution is to record John's families in albums: Kings, Webbs, Cole, Fisher, Hutcheson and more.  I am excited for history is more exciting to me than current or future events.
      Jacob and Harriet Fisher King, Mtn View, AR, 1909, 50th Wedding Anniversary.

Calming my soul.

I may have mentioned that I am no artist, cannot even draw a decent stike figure.  However, creating heritage albums and journaling are very important to me.  I also like to look through magazines and on-line at the terrifically talented ladies that create beautiful layouts and mini-albums.  So, I am always looking for a balance between pretty pages and basic pages.  The more I work at pretty pages, the more stress I have. 

When I need a bit of reality I hunt up my book Life Artist by Ali Edwards.  The first quote of hers that I embraced, "embrace imperfection."   I am a very imperfect creator, this saying helped a lot.  This week my new mantra, "do not not make it harder than it really is."   I have made a truce with myself; use the material I have on hand, forget about all the wonderfully beautiful new stuff and mover forward. 

If any one reads my blog, I want to encourage you, what ever your talent, to not forget the story, the journaling, the heart of the layout.  Tell your stories so your descendants can look at your albums and know who they are, where they came from and what makes them ticks.  You cannot do that with photos alone.  Now, I will get back to scrapping.  I am working on my school photos, dating back sixty-five years. 

New organizing drawers

I recently bought two 10 drawer organizers on wheels....at Sam's, at a great price.  So, instead of sprapbooking, I have been organizing.  Today, I went through several years of greeting cards, dividing them by person(s) that gave them to my husband and I.  I am giving them back so they they can use them again.  Of course, I am keeping the unusual ones.  None are handmade which made it easy to give back.  Just think how much money it will save.  I will buy one large size envelope for one size fits all.  We have a circle of friends that have exchanged cards for over 20 years.  So, today, I relieved lots of memories.   The oldest couple in the group are 96+ and 93+.  The youngest couple are 65 and 66.  They are a fun loving group and will have a big laugh when I come bearing all these old cards.

About making cards.  I made about 1/2 dozen non-descript cards this week.  I tired to keep them easy for no one in the group is crafty and after sitting out for a while, will go in the trash.  I just have not spend the time to make beautiful and expensive cards that end in the trash.  Remember, it is the thought that counts.  They do not care how pretty it is, they only care we remember them.  So, if you want to give me a beautiful card, I will treasure and keep it.  But for others, I will zip out a card and tell them how much we love them.

Windy day in April

I am about to start a new phase in my scrapbooking, using mica mist.  I bought several bottles at my local scrapbooking store, but now, I learned you can make your own.  Need to buy  several Distress Ink re-inkers and will be on my way.  Have some mica that has never been opened. 

While I am journaling, Will confess....I do not care for "grung" pages.  I love to define and ink about items and pages, but taking a blending tool and changing a  color of a page is not for me.  Part of the problem is choosing the color of ink to use......and having to have sooooo many ink pads.  My supplies keep growing.  I have decided not to venture into grung.   Phew....that feels good.

Now for the Windy Day in April.  Yes, the winds are howling outside.  It is no fun to be out side.  The trees are leafing out and need watering but just no fun to be blown around.  Just more time to work on my 2 mini-albums I am making.

Now very committed to blogging lately. Very involved with "ALL ABOUT JOHN" album for his 85th Birthday bash in June. Very please with way it turned out.....thanks to Graphic 45's Proper Gentleman papers. Have to scan a few pages and post them.

Fun w/ John's Birthday Album

Having so much fun working on John's "Proper Gentleman" album celebrating his 85th birthday. Today, we did a page about a close friend that attended John's 3rd Birthday.

Merry Christmas.

More on photo developers and PSE 8

My scrapbooking project for the foreseeable future is my husband's 85th Birthday album. I have been shifting through hundreds of photos and slides. Finally, after years, I am getting a handle on PhotoShop Elements, now using 8. The break through came when I took a introductory course at our local college. (I would take more but imagine they are having trouble locating a teacher.) Also, took two courses on the Internet and have a Scrapper's Guide DVD that came with the update to 8. What I finally came to realize is that learning PSE takes time, a lot of time, and effort. The program can do wonders, 8 can even move two people closer in a photo.

While learning PSE I also came to realize that not all developers are the same. Also, PSE makes it so easy to send straight from the Organizer. However, you have to choose between Kodak and Shutterfly. I chose Shutterfly but will give Kodak a look as well. I am not sure if the Shutterfly has made all the difference for now I am running the Auto Smart Fix in PSE before the final Save and sometimes custom adjusting color and contract. Anyway, do not be dissatisfied with your prints, try another local store or send them off. Shutterfly only cost $1.99 for postage. One on-line shop I checked was a flat $5.00. That may be alright when you are ordering 12X12 but certainly not for 4X6.

While on the subject, I must, again, mention that you should not be printing your own photos. The ink on the ink jet is not as achival as you need. Who wants to send all the time on a page or photo to have it fade later. I have no idea why the scrapbooking magazines have stopped writing about archival photos.

I am having LOTS of fun with this album about my husband. Several lines of Graphic45 papers fit together beautifully to give me the papers I need, mostly Gentlemen. I am having trouble cutting and putting pictures over parts of the pages for the paper is so handsome and speaks to me about my husband, his life and interest. The album is 8X8 so I am using very few embellishments, just the paper itself. Will post some of the pages when I actually finish a section. Keep finding more photos I want to add. J

Photo developing

Today, in the mail, came photos I sent via the net, to be printed. These photos are all taken from slides, some going back thirty-five years. I am very pleased with the results. First, I have learned a lot more about PhotoShop Elements 8 and worked on colors and contrast in most of the shots. Secondly, and most important, I have changed developers. You can use Shutterfly from with in PSE 8 which makes developing so much easier. But best of all the developed photos are so much better than those from the developer I have been using.

A word about sending to professional developer, over printing at home. By all means, if you want your photos to last, you will send/take to professionsl developer.

I am working on an album for my husbands up and coming 85th birthday. These photos show his LOVE of all things with wheels and steering wheel. Yesterday, he traded his Liberty Jeep for 2011 Grand Cherokee Jeep. This makes number number 38. In our forty-seven plus years of marriage, we have owned thirty-eight vehicles. Depending on the tax laws, some times he drove his personal car and other years, the business owned cars that they insured. I have no idea how many vehicles he actually drove. Gotta go put the photos in the album.

Thoughts from a scrapbooking Grandmother

I do not believe anyone will follow my blog. But it is fun to present my views and opinions, even if no one reads them. I have several very talented and interesting scrapbookers that I follow. A blog is fun....I shall have fun. 19 May "10

A blog, where does it go?

What good is a blog if no one sees/reads it. Where does my blog go?