Busy days

I've never liked that word "busy"...I think too many people use it as an excuse for not doing things they should - things they should make the time to do. So, I avoid it. But, then there are times when there is no other word to describe the constant flow of activity. That flow that threatens to overwhelm us...so, it's been day by day here, and, yes, busy. I didn't post, because I don't like posting without some sort of photo, and I was trying so hard to complete my 5 new classes, as well as keep up with things here at home. But, while playing with this little birdie yesterday, I was reminded that I do enjoy creating, and playing, and I wanted to share.

This little guy is part of a mini album project I'll be teaching at the Lasting Memories Retreat in Danbury, CT, on the 24th and 25th of October. I always have the BEST time with the girls there, and I don't expect any less this time around :D This little album turned out so very cute (probably because I was just playing), and I hope they enjoy it too. I loved working with this BasicGrey Offbeat collection - almost made me forget how anxious I am for their Urban Prairie collection to hit the stores! lol

I'm doing a fall/Halloween album next, and I'm excited to play with some Pink Paislee Vintage Moon. Got a big test tomorrow though (4 1/2 hours worth!) so it will have to wait a little longer.

So glad to have that behind me

The past 4 weeks have been a haze of math, math, and more math. I've been cramming for a big exam (PRAXIS II Math Content Knowledge) that I took today. THANK GOODNESS, it's over. I wish I could say I was as happy about how I did on the exam, but, alas, it was really, really tough. If I don't pass this first time, I can sit for it again in a few months.....I would rather just pass it this first time! lol

On the scrapping front, a little update from me - I'm thrilled to be teaching at the Lasting Memories Retreat in Danbury, CT, next month!! Julie and Barb and their wonderful customers are so much fun to hang out with. It's a weekend thing, and although I usually teach 4 or 5 classes, I have time leftover to eat, shop, and visit with everyone as they are cropping. Over the next 2 weeks I'll be designing all new classes, and the ideas are already bouncing around in my head! If you are in need of a weekend break, and would like to hang out and crop with us, I know you would have a good time! The website with details is www.lastingmemoriesscrapbook.com. I haven't sent my class info yet, but that will be posted on their blog (and mine) in a few days or so.

Book #2 is in progress, although I had to take a short break from creating artwork in order to study for the exam. Greta Hammond, my co-author, and I, are excited about how it's going so far, and I'll be back to work on it as soon as I finish up these new classes.

Chatterbox lovelies

Do you love pink? :D I recently worked with some of the new Chatterbox product (pink Artsylicious and Happy Day lines) in pink, pink, and more pink! Of course, I fell in love with the polka dotted pattern, and I enjoyed tucking it here and there :D

Oh me, one month?!

I didn't realize it had been so long since I'd updated the blog. I was caught up in working on the new book, editing the first book, and having some fun with the girls before school started back. Also, preparing for some changes here at home that require more of my time right now.
This past weekend, I scrapped with friends, and managed to laugh and eat a lot, AND get some scrapbook pages done :) Always a blessing to spend time with old friends.

I don't like posting without a photo, so here is a 35 lb. catfish that my brother caught this summer!

K&Co Cut & Paste (and more Valentine)

The Cut & Paste line was my favorite of the new lines! Please excuse the rather flat, dull look of these cards. I was working with mockups, and the "real thing" papers, stickers, and embellishments are much richer and textured. Those numbers on the second card will be brads - I can think of all kinds of uses for those. I can't wait to get the real stuff!

K&Company Valentine sneaks

I found a few photos online of K&Company's new releases, so I thought it would be okay to show you a few things I made for the show. This Valentine line was so fun! Once I got started, I couldn't stop. Pink, pink, and more pink!

love, love this!

KI Bloom! I've always loved KI. You just can't beat it for all-around versatility and fun. I've got a stash dating back to the very first KI release ;) But, I don't hoard it, no way - I LOVE scrapbooking with it! I love that it is double-sided, and on most of these pics, I prefer the side not shown as much. Very subtle patterns, and PERFECT colors for me.

See more of it and shop here at my favorite online store - Scrapsupply.com. www.scrapsupply.com/shopping/index.php?mainpage=advanced_search_result&search_in_description=1&keyword= KI+Bloom

Now, what could they have up their sleeves for the upcoming summer release?! Can't wait to see!

it's that time of year

When all the scrapbooking companies give us peeks of their fall releases :D Since I won't be at the show, I eagerly await these glimpses of new stuff.
Scenic Route has a birthday line called Surprise, pictured above. But, it's just a mini line, and I can't wait for the 2 big lines!

Looking back

As I was looking thru some older layouts this week, I ran up on this one. I created this in July of 2005, and it was part of my Memory Makers Masters contest entry. Time is going so fast....and can you guess my favorite part of this layout? These were some of my favorite KI papers (love their stuff), and I loved the photos of my soon-to-be school girl, but my favorite part of the layout is the journaling. I'm so glad I put all this info about her 5th summer on a page in her album. Do you do summary pages like this? If not, I can recommend it :D

Scenic Route Guest Designer

Who doesn't love Scenic Route?! I'm thrilled to be their Guest Designer this month :D
Check it out! www.scenicroutepaper.com/Site3/ExtraInfo1.aspx

A little more summer fun

So, I've been on a bit of a scrappy break since finishing up my first book, "Playing With Paper". But, who can resist this new K&Co Amy Butler product?!! And in a couple weeks, I'll be able to show you a few layouts (I know, it's been a while since I shared layouts, huh?) I can't spoil the surprise, but I will say I played with products from one of my favorite manufacturers. Can you guess who?

And, July brings the beginning of another big project for me. I'll begin working on my second book with F&W Publishing. I'll be co-authoring this time with Greta Hammond, and I'm really excited about it!! A little less work than doing it alone (thank goodness!), and we've got some really great ideas up our sleeves. More details about it later :D

Thanks to everyone that has requested to be on my advance kit info email list!! I hope to have something to share very soon.
Hope your summer is going well!

Exclusive Online Kits Info

With summer in full swing, and the bulk of my work for my first book completed, I'm ready to play with some paper! I have ideas swirling, and kids in one camp or another during the day, so I'm ready to begin work on some exclusive online kits. I also plan to move my blog to Typepad very soon. Here's how you can help - because I've not sold kits before, I want to anticipate demand. In other words, what a bummer if I said "get this great kit!" one day, and the next day had to say "it will be a month before I can restock". So, while I'm busy designing and planning and kitting, I'd like to get an idea of who might be interested. Let me say again - these kits will NOT be the same as my travel classes. So, if I'm traveling to a store or retreat near you, don't worry that you'll end up with duplicates.

To get an advance email notification of kits and sneak peeks, email me at angelia.wigginton@gmail.com to be added to my advance list. In a few short weeks, I'll have sneak peeks and more info. I'll send that info to my advance email list, in order to gauge interest before ordering product, so if you want to be first in line, get that email to me!

June is flying!!

I've barely taken a breath this month, and today is the 10th! The kids had camp all last week, and I drove them over in the mornings, and picked them up 3 of the 5 days. I also had 5 more kids in my van. With gas so high, carpooling is the only way to go, lol. It's a 30 minute drive one way, so that took up a lot of time. I also had my 7 year old niece with me all week. She was really easy to care for, but getting 3 out the door is different from 2 :) Also, my town was building a park/play area - an all-volunteer project, and I helped out there 3 days. It was hot, no shade, and hard work building a wooden playground from the dirt up. I haven't taken a photo of the completed project, but I will soon. Rich was there every minute that he wasn't at his "real" job until late at night. I don't know how he did it. I'm betting his diet is going better than mine though, as he couldn't eat much in that heat.

Have you ever deleted an email in your Junk folder, to realize that it was a "real" email. psivage, I think I deleted an email from you. Could you resend? I'm so sorry!

In other news, Paper Crafts just published a couple of projects I did early this year. My favorite is this little May basket with Fancy Pants papers, May Arts ribbon, and yummy K&Co felt embellishments.

I'll have an update on some other stuff I've been up to very soon!

my man

You might not see him in my layouts much...or maybe it's only the back or the side, lol. But, he's always near (usually avoiding my camera). This layout is 3 years old, but he hasn't changed much. This weekend we are celebrating our 20th wedding anniversay, although the actual date is next week. We are both volunteering all next week, building Kidstown Station in our local park (an all-volunteer effort to build a safe and happy place for our kids to play). He's actually going to work his regular job and then work the late evening shift at KidsTown. I'm also shuttling 7 kids to summer camp, and taking care of my 7 year old niece. I know we'll be too tired to celebrate then! :D I don't want the event to pass without some notice, as I'm so very proud of reaching this mark. So, I'm doing the same thing I did 18 years ago on our second anniversary (only he doesn't know that yet. Wishing you all a happy weekend too!

Thinking about making a change

It's that time of year...springtime, one major project ending, and the girls out of school for the summer. I love having them with me at home. This past weekend, we visited my friends, Aubrey and Janet Domenick, at their home by the lake. What a wonderful time we had! Their daughter-in-law, Toya, was there with her sons Wesley and Jared. Between Aubrey's hamburgers and Toya's chicken wings, I'm sure to have gained 5 pounds, lol. Janet and I talked photography a lot. She recently purchased a Nikon D80 (same cam as I have), and she's been wanting to delve deeper into the features that make it such a great camera. Up above you see 3 of my pics from the weekeend - Michaela on the neighbor's dock, Wesley in the ball pit, and Olivia letting me know what she thinks of me and my cam ;)

Okay, but back to the change I mentioned. I'm thinking about moving over to Typepad, with it's added functionality and features, AND I'm thinking I'll begin something I've thought about off and on for 2 years - designing and selling my layout designs as kits. I've been asked about it many times, and I think I'm finally at a place that will allow me to do that. I love traveling to stores and retreats, and I will continue to do that. The scrapbook store classes will be different from the exclusive online kits. I'll give more details later, but if you have any input, or requests just shoot me an email at angelia.wigginton@gmail.com. I've already got some ideas brewing, and with my book debuting early next year, I thought it would be fun to work off of some of those ideas. In other words, lots of patterned papers and awesome details. Still in the thinking about it stage....we'll see :D

*Enabler Alert*

Have you heard of Studio Calico? If not, you should definitely check it out! The May kit is WONDERFUL, and the peeks of June look yummy :D April and Scarlet not only pull together an awesome kit (with exclusive stamps like the one you see above) and tempting add-ons, but they have a design team like no other. Another thing that was really important for me - cardstock that matches perfectly. See for yourself at www.studiocalico.com. I also read that if you sub now, you can still get May (shown above), and be guaranteed a June kit - you won't be disappointed!! And, yes, I caved and bought my first kit club subscription at Studio Calico 3 months ago, and I've been really happy with it ;)

scrapbooking?

Are you asking yourself "is she ever going to share a scrappy project again?" lol (I hate not being able to post something.) Isn't this a scrapbooking blog? Doesn't Angelia scrapbook anymore? The answers are "yes, yes, and yes"! For the last 4 months, I've done nothing BUT scrap. Most of the work is going into my book, and the few that aren't I've labeled rejects - layouts not fit for the book OR sharing, lol. The last page I did that wasn't for the book will appear in "Ask The Masters 3" by Memory Makers. Maybe that is a fall release?

So, in the interest of posting something, I'm going to post some oldies, but still favorites. And, since I like sharing as much as the next person, I'd love it if you leave me a link to some of your oldies/favorites. Thank you, in advance!

we need some photos

to say "Spring!" So this is what my girls planted this week. Just a few annuals in pots, but they were really happy about it.

Fall Teaching Schedule

As you probably know, for the last 6 months my scrappy time has been devoted to working on my book, "Playing With Paper", for Memory Makers. I am almost to the "turn the final phase in and keep my fingers crossed" stage :D Of course, that means I'm finally able to think about teaching for late summer/fall. If you own a store and would be interested in having me teach some classes, send me an email (momtwoangels@yahoo.com). If you would like to have me visit your area, but don't happen to own a store, chat with your lss owner and have her/him send me an email. In any case, I'll be designing some new classes in the next month, and I'll be sure and let you know more info on that as it happens.

how many years?

did it take before I did it? Five. Five years I've been watching American Idol. Five years I've watched and never voted. I let the girls vote for Blake last season, but not me. Last night I caved. Last night I did it. I voted. Not once. Not twice. But numerous times! Ang has to step away from the AI. Well, not until Jason is gone ;) lol Honestly, when he's off, I won't care about watching anymore. I'll probably tune in for parts of the finale, but it won't be a big deal. I don't expect him to go to top 2, and it might be better for his career if he doesn't. I'll just look forward to his album :D Watching reality tv is one thing - actually VOTING?! Now if only we could vote for the Survivor winner :D