A New Year Approaches

As a new year approaches I reflect on the past 12 months. I have set goals and I did NOT achieve but a small dust of them. I am not sure of why other then self doubt and lack of will power. Why do I bother setting goals if I don't achieve them? Why do I bother looking forward to great and marvelous things when I fall flat on my face..my life doesn't show much success at all. Some days I feel defeated. I feel empty sometimes.
This year 2011, will it be any different? Will I ever succeed? Will I fall flat on my face again? Its any one's guess. I will continue to set goals and see what comes of them.

1st Goal for 2011- I want to loose 100 lbs by December 11, 2011.  That's a nice big number. Why did I choose 100 lbs? I have to do something. I wont stop until I loose 100 lbs. Its time to do something and that time is NOW.  The biggest looser will be me.

2nd Goal for 2011- I want to complete "game board" crafts that I have in my office by March 13, 2011.

3rd Goal for 2011- I want to complete all the "Journal Projects" in my office by May 27, 2011

4th Goal for 2011- I want to be the #1 Agent and Area Developer of BoostContact By February 11, 2011.

WISH ME LUCK BECAUSE I WILL NEED IT!!!

Gone With the Wind Page Swap (Ashley Page)

Gone With the Wind Page Swap I hosted.

This is Just the Ashley Page I created

oh my its been a while I need to catch up

Life has been full of ups and downs. I am working on a swap that should be closing up here soon. I am hosting this swap and it is my first one ever. Its been okay so far. No big pot holes in the road. Pretty smooth sailing. I did a Gone with the Wind and Wizard of Oz together. It was fun actually and I am in the process of completing mine. I know I know I should have had mine done already but there was deadline change because of the ladies wanted an extension due to other swaps she was doing. It really helped with my time line as well. I will be posting results of that as soon as they all arrive and I can get things organized. Thanks to my wonderful husband I have a little more time to work on my projects because he has been so supportive.
I need to finish this all up and get crackin on the other hundreds of projects in the making. I need to get Menguba Monday ready to go as well.
Well until next time.

Something awesome coming up

Okay so my baby steps of posting my charms is still in the works. Life has gotten a little crazy to say the least but I continue to work on those steps. I have some great things coming up that are really exciting for me. I don't think everyone will goo goo ga ga over them but I am pretty proud of the projects. Its great to create something like this and hope that everyone enjoys them as much as I do. I sure hope that folks start seeing me as a creative person and finding my work enjoyable to see. I am working really hard on earning a living at this one day. I love this creative process and I truly enjoy what I do.
I am turning 40 today. Its been a long journey this past year. I am excited that my life is so full of family and friends to share this journey with me. I am excited to meet new friends along the path of this wonder process.
Well I am going back to the grind and I will be posting some stuff hopefully really soon.

Just another baby step in my Journey

I have completed my next baby step. I have completed my second youtube video. This video has my kits that I have available on my Etsy store and my cute new charms that I made. I don't have pictures taken of my charms yet. That's the next phase of this baby step. My goal this week is to finish photographing my charms load them on my Etsy store. Get the charms ready in there packages and finish up a few other 1/2 started projects. Uggggg baby steps are lots of work. Well as I upload the youtube video I am trying to get a bazillion other things done. I hope one day soon my baby steps will turn into bigger steps and more of them.

To continue this wonderful Journey

Well I just posted on my Etsy store my very first paper bag kit. Its really pretty paper. I love the collection. So one of my goals is completed but a little later then I had hoped. But that's the beauty of this adventure to learn and grow. It is such a rewarding experience to set goals and obtain them one by one. It helps with self esteem and to find some courage you didn't think you had. Will they sell? I don't know. Maybe so but then again honestly Maybe not. Its okay. It is a dream and I am starting to obtain my dreams and making the dream a reality. Baby steps.... With everything that I have been through and lived though I feel like even the smallest of a baby step is a mile stone for me. Way to go me....
My Etsy Store is kayearl6.etsy.com

Uggg Part of my Journey...

Isn't life crazy...I have been sick off and on and now I am feeling a little better. I will need to create new goals for myself as I can see I have really fallen short of my other goals. Well isn't that part of the journey process? Finding out what you want to do and actually can do are often 2 very different things. I will return sometime today and then again it may be tomorrow and start a new set of goals. I will be really striving for more excellence and see what happens. Its a process and its a journey.
Karen

I have 3 Followers now

Wow that is pretty neat. I didn't think anyone would be interested. So 3 is amazing. Thank you guys for that. I appreciate you.
Karen

Still a little Behind schedule...

Well wouldn't ya know it. Life is life and not a whole lot you can do about it. I am still a little behind schedule and I do need to pick up the pace now that I am feeling a little better. I am still working on a few project that are in the works. I want to get things done and posted but I tell ya its not easy in the summer time when all the kids are around. I don't get as much done. I am determined that my children will always come first. Nothing is more important to me, so there are days that I just won't get everything done that I want to. That's life.
I am still working on Mengubah Monday's and trying to get a schedule put together for that. I am still working on the Gone with the Wind/ Wizard of Oz page swap. I thought that I had some interest but nothing in my email box as of yet. We will see. I am finding that summer isn't just slow for me but for a lot of mom's out there. It's nice to know that I am not the only one because it makes me feel normal instead of a failure.
Alright so that's it for today...
Karen

I completed my 6x6 Page (Gone with the Wind)

I completed my 6x6 page (Gone with the Wind), its my sample page to show. I will do a youtube video on it hopefully tomorrow. I am really excited to put this swap together so I hope people like the idea. If not like I said I will just do one myself no big deal. I posted it on Life's a scrap beach today to try and spark some interest so we will see. I don't know maybe I am the only one that likes the idea.
Well as for completing anything this week the Gone with the Wind page is it. I have had a rough week being sick and my family was sick. Yucky's running amuck in my house. Not fun. Next week should be much better.
I cant believe its Friday already, and almost the end of the month. I am still getting ready for Mengubah Monday...I really am kinda excited about it.

Just a random thought but a useful thought I think

I was just thinking about this yesterday which triggered my post today...Scrapbooking has truly evolved into a true art form. If you look at a lot of these very talented women's work its truly an Art. They are so talented and creating the most spectacular creations and all of which if you watch them the piece evolves as they create. Isn't that technically the definition of Art? Its amazing. There are a lot of women who still do the traditional scrapbooking yes. A lot of women do both, but to me watching before my very eyes the talent just oozing this beautiful art I am so glad to be a part of it.
Well that all for now. Until next time.

Wow what a week

I have been working on trying to complete a 6x6 Gone with the Wind Page so I can video to announce my Gone with the Wind and Wizard of Oz page swap. I have been struggling with health issues and I am a little more on the mend so I should  be able to get it done by the end of the week.
I am trying to spark an interest because I really think it will be alot of fun, but as I stated before if I don't get any interest that's okay I will still do it myself.
Pressing forward with my goals. I should probably review my goal...and figure out what I need to do to accomplish my goals. Most of them are truly achievable. Until next time.

Sorry I have been sick..

I hate having Behcets Disease. Some days it just kicks my butt. So needless to say I am slowing trying to get back to the daily grind.
I am still looking for people to do the Gone with the Wind and Wizard of Oz page swap. It may not be something that anyone is interested in..That's okay I will just do it myself.  No big deal.
I have noticed that on youtube that its a great community. People are so nice. Its really interesting to watch all the video's the hull's the what they call RAK's which I still don't know what the stands for. I really enjoy seeing the success that folks have had. I am what I would consider addicted.
I am going to try to post a video of my page swap by the end of the week. I hope I will be feeling better by then. Cross your fingers....Funny I am talking like a have a huge following or something...LOL...
Maybe one day...Until then. Signing off.

My First Video on Youtube

My first video is up on youtube...LOL...Its really funny I think. I dont feel good right now. The behcets is kicking my butt and so you can really tell in my voice that I dont feel good. So anyway the next video will be much better. This time I will wait till I feel a little better.
Still working on promoting the page swap...I am so excited about it. I cant wait. Its kinda hard to do much when I dont feel very good.
I already have 2 comments on the video. Tina and Sherri you rock. Thanks so much. I am excited to do more videos. I am inspired once again. Way to go me...I feel so excited.
Well off to get stuff done today.
Karen

The process of this Journey is Slow

I am finding that the goals I have set may take a little longer then I desired. With the Insurance stuff from the fire, with take priority over everything else I am finding that I will be a little behind schedule. That's okay...Not a problem and nothing for me to get upset about. Its life, just cant wait till its over with and truly in the past.
I am still working on all my goals its a never ending process. My current status is that I am done with 2 of the Napkin Journals and will continue working on the rest. I have a ton of little projects waiting to be completed. I just need to focus on one at a time. I need to stop doing "my Normal" start a project and not complete it....This causes a lot of project stack up problems and this cause clutter. See I am already learning something from this Journey process. Ya ME.....
Well I am off to get some more organization done of the "scrapbook room from Heck" Wish me luck.
Karen

My Very First Swap

I am putting together my very first swap. I love how alot of groups do swaps. I love the work that comes back and the creativity invested in the projects. So I am putting together this swap for the month of September. If you are interested please email me at kayearlkay@msn.com and let me know which swap theme and character you want and its a first come first serve basis so I will do the best I can to accommodate you.
Swap Theme:
1. Gone with the Wind
a. Scarlett O'Hara
b. Rhett Butler
c. Melanie
d. Ashley
e. Bonnie Blue Butler
f. Mammy

2. Wizard of Oz
a. Dorothy
b. Straw man
c. Tin Man
d. Cowardly Lion
e. Wicked Witch of the West
f. Glenda the Good Witch

The Instructions are as follows.
Each Swap theme will be a full 6x6 chipboard page. You have Front and Back to complete.
1. Must be 6x6 and must be on chipboard
2. Must have at least 1 tag.
3. You may alter it however you want, as long as the size is 6x6 at completion.
4. Please be mindful of the right side of page for binding. (I will be binding them with the bind-it-all)
5. No profanity or any such nature.
6. There will be 6 groups of 5 people per theme swap. Each person must make 6 duplicate pages. By doing the math you will see that there is one additional extra page. I will be binding the extra pages to donate to the Lupus Foundation of America PNW chapter/Behcets Assoc. fundraiser being held in May. If you would like you are welcome to send me additional business cards (for people to see your Etsy store or youtube) that can be on display for people to take.
Please email me with any additional questions. Thank you so much. I am really excited about this project.

Jonas Brother Napkin/Notebook Project

Love it....I got the next project done. Its a Jonas Brother Napkin/Notebook. It was actually very fun to make. It took me a little bit to get the hang of creating the project. Once I did it turned out perfect. I did it. I have a few more to finish up and post but I wanted to at least finish this and get it on my Etsy shop. I hope everyone likes them. I am going to try to put together a video for youtube. We will see if it works. Hoping that by the end of this week I will be able to figure it out. Cross your fingers...LOL.. remember check out my Etsy Store. I have it posted here on my blog. Thanks for your support.
Karen

A little behind schedule

Well today I realized that I am a little behind. I am to journal my journey through this experience everyday but I am a little slow at it. I will do better this coming week. Well nothing new to report. I have not completed anything since the Twilight Mini Album/Journal. I have been struggling health wise with the Behcets disease. Lots of pain and inflammation. I will start fresh Monday morning and I hope to have more projects done by the end of next week. Learning that the process of creating takes a lot of time and energy and sometimes the energy isn't there. But I will persevere and get more done.
Until next week. Goodbye for now.
Karen

I am enjoying figuring out what I can create

I really enjoyed doing the Twilight Saga Album/Journal, So much that I have decided to try my hand in other film inspired album/journals. I am currently working on a "Gone with the Wind, Wizard of OZ, and Harry Potter" Projects. I am also working on a project I am calling "Napkin Albums..." They are turning out better then I had hoped. I am excited to soon share them. My Scrapbook room is a complete mess and hope to get it fixed up and try again to video and post to youtube...I am so computer stupid I know.
I am also working on putting together my Mengubah Monday project...I know its driving a few people nuts....But I will give out more clues and you all will love it. :-)
My Etsy Store is at http://www.kayearl6.etsy.com/   and my facebook is www.facebook.com/kkearl1
Well I am off to create something today...catch ya crafting later....
Karen

Get Ready for Mengubah Monday's

Starting on August 2nd I will be starting Mengubah Monday's. What is Mengubah Monday, Well check back soon for more details.

The Twilight Saga Mini Album/Journal

Okay so this project was really fun but frustrating to get just the way I want it. I am okay with the out come but not a 100%. I like the different textures and stuff in it but its not really exactly what I wanted from this project. I like it but I wish it was better. Everyone that I have show it to really like it but then again I hope they are truthful and not just saying they like it. I sure hope that folks really like it. Well I know I can do better and I will. Its posted now on my Etsy Store so we will see if it sells. If not well then oh well.
I am going to work on my next project and see if I like the out come any better. Here is hoping for better results. I know this is a process and that I will get better with time. Its like a good block of cheese, or a good wine...its just gets better with age....Cheese I know for sure but the wine thing is based on what I hear...LOL. I enjoy working on these projects and it makes me feel creative and like I am accomplishing something good. Its creativity in the making.
I hope that someone enjoys my work. If not that's okay to, its not for everyone. Please if you read this and you have some suggestions on what projects I can try, please leave a comment and I will see what I can do.
Karen

I am so Inspired By:

I am so inspired by the movie, Julie and Julia. It was a really good movie. I really got inspired by the way Julie worked diligently in creating her blog about what she had learned and continued to learn from Julia.
I am inspired by many people on Youtube. Some of these talented women can scrapbook and create projects that are just awesome. They get the wow factor from me. Little old me. What do I have to offer? Well I am about to find out. I am going to start my blog, Well I know I have started this one a long time ago but I mean really start my blog. I am inspired. I am going to create projects each week. I can not always create a project a day. Its not cooking for heaven sake. Its a process. Its a creation that takes time. I will post my results on my blog and then post the project on my Etsy Store. I will post my blog post on my facebook and twitter and myspace. I will blog my feelings about the project and how I got the inspiration or from who I got my inspiration from. I have started a project that I hope to have done by the end of the week, and I have a few other projects that I have started. This will give me reason to really finish them.
My goals:
1. Post a completed Project on my Etsy Store Each week....
2. Write daily of my journey through this process on this blog.
3. Have 100 projects for sale by January.
4. In 1 full year from today have 100 items sold on my Etsy Store.
5. By the End of July 2010 I want to have a kit of the week on my Etsy Store.

I know that it will take a very long time before people read my blog but if someone does I want them to be inspired. I want them to know that the sky is the limit. You can do anything you set your mind to. Look at what others have done. It is inspiring and knowing others have been successful well then so can I and so can you.
Well I am off the create some projects. Its going to be a fabulous day I can feel it.

Want A Challenge?

Okay so I got to thinking. What would I do differently now that I have experienced the loss of my home to fire. Now let me back up a little bit. I was Dx with Lupus in 05 and then later said I had Incomplete Lupus and then DX with Behcets Disease. I was told that if the Chemo injections did not work that I had 2-3 years to live. This would shock anyone I think..I started planning for the worst case and I took years after that documenting everything for my children. If this disease was going to kill me then I was going to leave something behind so that my children would Never forget me. I stopped sweating the little stuff. I started living life to its fullest and having fun doing it. I yelled less, loved more. I didn't care if the dishes were in the sink at the end of the day because I got to snuggle with my kids and watch a movie instead of yelling at everybody to clean the house. Life was better in prospective for me. What mattered most was right before me. I took thousands of pictures and spent time making a DVD for all my kids, my husband and my family back home.
I lost everything in my house fire. The years of documenting our life during this time. What happened? What and where did I go wrong. I lost it all. Some people said "Its just stuff, everyone made it out alive,..." They were right but its still "our stuff" the years of sacrifice, the years of happy memories, genealogy, letters, DVDs, of life, family and other memories up in smoke. That was tragic. What would I do different? Well after this I would have done alot different.
1. Scrapbooking is done every single day and rightfully so. Its fun, creative and awesome to see the years of memories that you can flip to. But I missed something.. If I would have put a blog together like this one and added photo's to it and documented not only on paper in a scrapbook that we all love to do; I would still have the blog at least. With all the photos and journaling of memories that went with those photos. It seems like a lot of extra work but it would be worth it. It would have been less devastating at the time of my loss.
2. Recorded DVDs and such would have been great to have been given to my folks, or other family because not everyone's house will burn at the same time and then I could have had copies made of everything. There is also ways to download video's now days with facebook and myspace. You can keep them private for you to only view but at least after a tragedy such as mine after the clouds had lifted I could have made another copy.
So anyway these are just a few of the great possibilities. Remember if you, and I pray no one ever has to but if you would ever have such a tragedy that you don't have time to think of "oh in case of a fire I will grab this or that." it doesn't work that way. In real life you don't have the time.
Do it right once and you'll never be sorry and have to learn the hard way like I have.

I have got to say!

I thinking today...who has inspired me in scrapbooking. Well that is a loaded question. Too many people to mention but honestly, before the fire I was inspired by my friends and life experiences. Since the fire I had not had much desire to do much of anything. My heart was broken over the lose of all my stuff. My hard work of creating fun stuff, working on scrapbooks to leave behind for generations to come and all the years I spent teaching people to journal their journey. Then one day I was on Youtube...you know that place that teens just love. Well I came across "follow the paper trail" and oh my gosh Laura's work really lite a fire under my butt. She really inspired me to get to work again. My fears and frustration wall started to come down. I started with one project that I wanted to recreate of Laura's and dang I am hooked. Thank You so much Laura. Your awesome....I appreciate your talent.
I am not going to post a challenge today I will start more challenges on Monday and possible a project to post.

Food for thought

Does this sound like you? You're "missing-in-Action" in your scrapbooks, blogs, Journals because you are the one behind the camera? Future generations might not know what you look like after you're gone. Friends and Family wont know the "Real Story" behind who you are. You hate scrapbook journaling and avoid it at all cost, and your children have no idea what your favorite color is or why you chose your major in college. You have unanswered question about your grandmother's life, or your mother's, or sisters or your best friend's. Stop being a silent partner in your family history Don't keep your stories to yourself.
The next couple of blog challenges will face this problem straight on. I will have fun and heart warming challenges coming up. Keep checking back and remember its never too late to have your story told.

Journal your Journey

Scrapbooking our lessons learned
Most of my life I have faced a lot of difficult challenges in my personal life. During the struggles it was very difficult but I faced them head on, sometimes felling frustrated, hurt and painful but I always came through it just a little stronger and sometimes I thought of giving up because it was easier but I pressed forward and found new strength. With much faith and prayer, I valiantly pushed forward and now I look back with much appreciation for my "stepping stones" that prepared me for today's trials. Today I face trials of heath and a loss of a home to fire, but everyday my faith is stronger. My prospective of life is is different, my priorities have changed and thou my "stepping stones" are larger I push forward in faith. I try to stay upbeat and strong. I grieve for my strength I once had in my arms and legs. I grieve for my hair that I loss a little at a time, I grieve for the friendships I have lost, I grieve for the things I used to love to do and I can no longer do. I grieve for the things I lost in my home when it caught fire, BUT I treasure my beautiful family, my treasured friends, I treasure the gifts that God gave me so that I can replace what I used to do for something I can now do instead. I treasure the good days and I treasure all the Blessings that I have received in spite of the loss that I have endured. bust most importantly I treasure the wisdom and talents of those around me, that strengthen me and give me the courage to endure. So can we journal our journey of life? Yes we can. Hard times hit us all, weather directly or through someone we love. What better stories to tell then those of rising above adversity and acting with great strength and love. It can be health issues, a divorce, a loss of a friendship that was dear to you. What ever it is Journal your journey.... Here are some helpful hints... What are your feelings? Who helped you and how have you changed from the experience and what have you learned. Most important end with a message of hope.

Vintage Photo Challenge

I love vintage Photo's but sometimes they can be challenging to scrapbook. Maybe they are photo's of family members. Maybe they are photo's of a couple in love during WWI or WWII. Perhaps they are photo's of loved ones now no longer alive. What do you do if you cant ask them questions? where do you go for help?
Photos always leave clues behind you just have to find them.
1. what is the Mood?
2. What are the popular colors?
3. What are the major events from that time period.
4. Have you discovered any personal effects of the people in the photos? Use them if possible. Use distressing techniques. How about journal entry's, hand written letters? Old postage stamps, post cards. Is there any body left you can personally interview? See what they remember. Believe me one day your be glad you did.
There are some great products available to use. Vintage patterned papers, there are also many great techniques to choose from. Have fun and remember you don't want to be one of these photos 30 years from now.

"A day in a life of Mom" Challenge

Sometimes I have wandered, what my grandmother or my great grandmother did on a typical day. I don't believe that they did much scrapbooking in their day. So how can you provide future generations with a timeline of your daily routine. My thoughts were also for those who have all there children in school, do 2 different pages, one of summer timeline, and one of typical school days timeline. Here is how I did mine.
1. Take a notebook and a camera where ever you go. Record your real life adventures as a, work at home, or stay at home or home schooling your children Mom or what ever the case may be. Your trip to the local walmart, your cart full of kids and food. Your laundry piles, your dirty dishes piling up. Your trip to the park with your kids. Keep it honest, Keep it "your real-life challenges of the day.
2. Take photo's of your before and after of the laundry, the dishes, the kids before you went to walmart and when you get back. Take notes of your feelings.

Here is a timeline of my life: (Sample)
6am- Drag kid #1 out of bed. This is an on going process. It takes her 30 min to finally climb out of bed.
6:30- Kiss husband goodbye as he is off to work.
7:30- Kid #1 off to school
8:00 - Kid #2&3 out of bed and getting ready for high school online classes.
8:30- Kid #4 out of bed getting ready for school. His senior year is very important.
9am - I can start my day cleaning, laundry etc.

Taking pictures along the way it may be some work but I know you can do it. It is really a lot of fun to do a layout with this You will see. Also I must warn you ...You just might realize you are super women but don't let it go to your head....
Its a great scrappin day: Post your comments when you can.

On your Mark, Get Set, GO!

Who am I as a scrapbooker? What can I contribute to this Scrapbooking world? Not sure but I am going to find out.
In this sometimes crazy world we have so many things going on, we have "life" the hussle and bussle of life, then we have "Myspace and Facebook world and blogging...and on and on. Who can Keep up? A lot of folks can and do very well but others not so much.
I have come up with a fun way for me to enjoy this just a little bit more. Anyone is welcome to join in the fun. This is for everyone. Scrapbookers and Non-Scrapbookers, and everyone and everything in between.. 1. Scrapbookers- you have your own style, go with it. Need help need inspiration well keep watching. 2. Non-Scrapbookers, use a blog, add your photos and journal. Have a journal, use it. Your time your choice. I am here to help if you need help.
I will have challenges, projects and kits that you can purchase on my Etsy store. So keep watching. Please comment when you can I would love to hear what you think.

Getting Life Back to Normal

I started this blog in "09" but then lost my home to a fire on July 4, 2009 by foolish people playing around with fireworks in the neighborhood and we paid the price. I am devistated to have lost everything we ever owned. All the years of scrapbooking and creating up in smoke. I have started to collect my supplies again and will be creating again soon. I am starting a challenge coming soon and its to inspire myself and others. Stay tuned and find out all the details.