I know, it's unheard of. Two posts in one day. And trust me it will not be a trend. But while my mind and fingers are both working, I might as well take advantage as that's not the case on most days.
So on with the words. I just wanted to take this opportunity to introduce my blog list (shown at right). While I think you should look at all of them, most people like to pick and choose... I do. So here's a little glimpse at why I actually take time to check these people's lives out on a regular basis.
Pretty Paper. True Stories. {And Scrapbook Classes with Cupcakes}... Shimelle Laine. Shimelle is young, fairly newly married w/no children (yet). But she is a PROFESSIONAL SCRAPBOOKER. She has (by reputation) the best scrapbook classes available. Her style is amazing and she brings you her layouts with a fine-tooth comb. Her perspective is refreshing. I recommend that once you've perused her initial post, you go over to the left and check out "Why I Scrapbook" - a class she gave a couple of years ago (I will be going over my own version of this SOON); it was the video she made for this free class that made me a serious fan.
My Mind's Eye... Paper company. I've raved on them in my previous post, so enough said.
Just Me My Soldier and Our 4 Little Chicks... Stephanie Howell. Stephanie is married to an Army Ranger who spends most of his time in Afghanistan (unfortunately) and she is the Stay at Home Mom (SAHM) to 4 little girls under the age of 5!!!!!! Wow. Two Heroes in One Household! I actually gravitated to Stephanie when I saw a layout of her and her 4 girls in a magazine. It wasn't the layout so much as her amazing smile - really. So I checked out her blog. Smack blogs say she's whiny, but gosh, she has every right to be and I don't think so... I think she's got way more on her plate than most people and she's just keeping it real. She's mostly upbeat and she's very talented. She has just recently been employed by MME and previously was on Design Teams for other brands. She's just fun to read and fun to be inspired by.
Creative Explosion... Aeryn Kelly-Reitmeyer. I actually ran across Aeryn on a Scrap Smack Blog. I checked out her blog and WOW was I impressed. Aeryn is a good scrapbooker, but she is an amazing colorer. Yep you read that right! Just like when we took our crayons out as kids. But she uses Copic markers and off the shelf stamps and bamm! creates the most amazing art I have seen. I must admit that I didn't know there was such a big clan of these coloring people. But Aeryn is amazing. Aeryn also has some health issues and scraps out of her rehab'd closet. So she's close to my heart in that way too. She's inspirational all the way around.
The Examined Life... Jess Mutty. I was so inspired by a project that Jess made (in Scrapbooks, etc. mag) that my layout (LO) version was actually framed in my living room before finishing the mag. (And when GiGi came in and saw it hanging up, she said it was her favorite ever!). Thus, I had to seek her out on the net and now am hooked. Jess not only scrapbooks, but she makes projects for every occassion using every kind and color of product. She has a small child and one on the way, so her taste ranges through all the spectrum. It's just fun to see what she made today. Everything from cards to boxes. If you have a love of paper, you'll love Jess.
Effer Dares... The Dares. This gang of 20-30-40 somethings has been around for more than a few years, even publishing a book. The gist of it is that there are scrapbook "dares"/challenges to get your creative juices flowing. (I have actually listed all the dares I can find (I had to go back to the beginning and now they're on 188) and will provide them when I broach this subject again.) And while you can use the dares in any of your traditional scrapbook subjects and should if you Dare, I have several I have done just to do the Dare and keep these in their own little 6x11 book. So if you get stumped and tired of the 'same old same old' , check them out - and be sure to go back through the previous until you come across something you want to try.
Okay. That's my list of Necessary Reading. If you have any that you just LOVE, drop me a comment so we can check them out too.
Cheerio.
"Creative work is play. It is free speculation using materials of one's chosen form. - Stephen Nachmanovitch
This blog is about my Life. It's about Scrapbooking because I think about it all the time. It's about movies because they are my second passion. It's about disabilities, living with four generations under one roof and all that other crap that just happens to us everyday.
Thank you so much for your kind words about me, my blog, and my creations. It's very much appreciated. I'm doing the best I can, and it's nice to know there are people out there that enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteYou're so welcome Aeryn. I know what you mean about doing the best you can, I am as well. It's hard somedays but we make it through. I kind of feel like I know you, as people often do in blogworld, from reading your post and those at the Smack blogs. You are awesome and I am in total envy of your talent.
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