Another day closer to unwrapping!

I have been having more fun, unfortunately not much housework is getting done! The tree is up, my collection of Santa's and snowmen are on the mantle. I found the perfect lights they are not a string but a collection of lights-they are just the touch needed to make the mantle sparkle with the snowmen. I love opening each little package and being surprised at the ornaments it holds. I love them, each one carrying memories for me. I seem to like snowmen the best, I happen to have quite a few of them. I have been busy baking and finishing up the last little details, wrapping and making tags. I still need to get a few more stocking stuffers. My goal was to make everything, but so far I have not perfected making lip balms! I love the holidays. I think though what I love the best is the excitement of finding or making the perfect gift. Sometimes it is really hard to do. More like a challenge I guess. I love the lights, the decorations, laughter and games around the table after dinner. I am so blessed to have family and friends near to make the holidays merry! I hope that you have established your own merry traditions, what ever they may be. I was talking to one friend who looks forward to take out and a movie fest! Sounds relaxing and fun to me. No matter what your situation the holidays can bring peace. The more we give and love the more we receive. I am so grateful for the blessing of home, and happiness. Grateful to create (usually a big mess) grateful for a roof over my head, food on the table, warm socks for my feet and good hot chocolate! I can't believe how cold it is out there! We may have a white Christmas this year after all.

Do you ever find yourself glued to the TV watching those sappy Christmas movies? Sometimes I catch myself and think I've got to turn this off! One of my favorite holiday movies is the Sound of Music. For some reason it always just reminds me of Christmas. It is a tradition to snuggle up and watch it. I think that is mostly what the holidays are about, traditions. Traditions we share with our families or traditions we started ourselves! That is really what the holidays are about. Traditions that make us feel merry! Well, its back to work, there is no rest for this "elf" if I am going to get my things done on time. Have a wonderful day. Stay warm!

We have shared your lives for the last eight years and have missed seeing your holiday greeting cards! We want to continue our friendship on line so please join us is posting your holiday greetings here.

My Wish for you, warm socks for cold feet, happy hearts and good food to eat. That the New Year will bring blessings of peace and happiness.

The snow is falling and it is lovely. The tree is finally up and it is starting to look like Christmas! Hot cocoa and a stack of holiday gift ideas and I am settled in for the afternoon with my "list". You know the "list" of friends and family, that we want to create something magical for-I think the reality this year for all of us is budget, using our resources wisely and yet still giving a thoughtful gift to those we love. I have my stash of paper, embellishments and various other tools of the trade along with my trusty rubber stamps and copic markers. I like to collect ideas, I just tear them out of the magazines, or print them off as I find them and store them in an idea folder. There were so many fun things to choose from. Even when you find ideas, your own creativity, style and supplies make each project original! envelopes! I also decided to make this Christmas 100% homemade. I have been making mixes of things like, mint brownies, cherry pie oatmeal, and pumpkin spice muffins. They look so cute in the jar and with the handmade tag and instructions ( I wrote them on the back of the tag) they are ready to give. I have sewed some table runners and aprons, and made some truffles.

Here is a recipe I enjoy putting in a jar-

Candy Cookie Mix
1/2 C sugar
1/2 C brown sugar, firmly packed
1t. Powdered vanilla
1t. Baking Powder
2 C Flour

Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl. Whisk the ingredients together until they are evenly distributed, making sure all brown sugar lumps are crushed. Store in an airtight container.

Recipe:
Candy Cookies
Makes 3 doz. Cookies
1C unsalted butter or margarine, softened
1 large egg
1 package Candy Cookies Mix
1 C chopped cookie chunks, Reese's peanut butter cups, Butterfinger bars, white or milk chocolate chunks

Preheat oven to 350*

In a large bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter until it is smooth. Add the egg, and continue beating until the egg is combined. Add the mix and candy bar chunks and blend on low just until the cookie mix is mixed in well. Form cookies into 1 1/2 " balls and place them 2 " apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake for 10-12 minutes, until golden on the edges. Cool on cookie sheet for 2 minutes.

We had our annual NYOBC gift exchange, and I received even more great gifts and ideas. Even on a very limited budget you can make some great teachers gifts, simple, heartfelt gifts. I am getting geared up to have a baking day with the nieces and nephew. Making sure I have all the sprinkles, and icing tools needed to make this a fun event. I think mostly, they just like to decorate their cookie, take a bite and then lick the icing off their cookie. I suppose we should make sure they have a substantial breakfast prior to this event?

I have had the opportunity to visit a few of the ladies in our neighborhood, older ladies who don't get out much. I just brought a simple little gift and a holiday wish for them. I was reminded so forcefully, to think about those around us, people, we might not even notice. It is such a little thing to take a small greeting to your elderly, or families in your neighborhood. If your family sings, pick an evening and a few people in your neighborhood and carol, the effort is well worth the smile on the face of the receiver. Christmas really is a magical season, a tender hearted season. Time to reflect on all that we have been given and are blessed with, time to share of our great bounty with those around us who may be alone, no family near. No one to take just a moment to make their season a little brighter. We can be that someone. We are all busy. I visited 2 people a day for a week. One hour tops. It has been wonderful. I learned a lot about these fun ladies. They have shared stories about Christmas's in their past and traditions that make the holiday merry for them. We are not so different. Our ages may be, but our thoughts and hearts are not. Think about someone, maybe in your office, your Dr, or Dentist, your neighborhood, someone who could use a little of your holiday cheer. You will feel the difference in your own preparations, giving always expands the heart. Especially when we make the effort to make it personal. It is even more fun to involve children in this process, they see others in a way that sometimes gets overlooked. They can come up with names of people who could use a litte "merry" in their Christmas!

Happy Thanksgiving!
What a wonderful time of year! This year we took a journey to Missouri to catch up with parts of my family. I love catching up with the kids who just keep growing! The weather was beautiful and we were able to travel without any incident. That is always something to be grateful for! It is fun to just get together with family. My sisters and I like to share recipes and spend time making fun craft things. I was sewing some table runners while I was there and enjoyed the flurry of activity in the house as we prepared dinner. Lots of coming and going, game playing, laughter. Childhood has changed quite a bit since I was a child. We were all busy with our various jobs making sure that dinner would be ready. I was peeling and chopping green apples for some wonderful dressing. Trying to stay out of the way mostly. I love the process of setting the table, getting out the dishes, the table cloth. Fancy china and silverware just add to the festivity of the holidays. When I was setting the table I reflected on the fact that our lives can be such a blur. Sometimes it feels like we go from event to event. We spend all day preparing this fabulous meal just to eat it! Looking back at past photos I tried to remember the feelings I had when taking the photograph. Why was this important to me? Why was I documenting this event? I love the fact that we keep photos. That we can be magically transported back to the day or event and feel those same feelings when we see those photos. Don't you keep some of your favorite photos out? I know I have some on my french letter board. One in particular is my first niece who was probably two at the time the picture was taken and who is 9 now. I was reflecting on how I felt about life at 9. I think it was pretty uncomplicated compared to the lives my nieces and nephews lead currently. I was wishing I lived closer and that we could all spend more time together. It sure is nice to have extra hands when trying to get things done. (like big dinners and running kids) I enjoyed playing crazy eight with my nephews, we have always as a family really enjoyed games. What are some of your favorite traditions? Everyone has some, even those who say they don't! Trying to out cook each other and out do each other in various recipes etc is what we like to do-kind of like "oh yeah, I can top that". Take some photos this holiday season of your favorite parts-make yourself your own private little album that when you look at the pictures you get that fun little sparkle in your eye as you remember why you love the traditions you do. Next we are on the tree and house decorating. Lots of work but lots of fun! I like to have homemade eggnog and decorate the tree! This year I actually get to have a baking day! I have wanted to do one for several years now. I have carefully chosen the recipes that I want to make and have started to purchase all the supplies I will need! I can't wait!

Don't you love friends. I have been really blessed in my life to have some wonderful friends. Friends come in many packages. Your brothers & sisters, parents, the kind you only see once in a while but it is like you haven't ever been out of touch, you like the same movies, books and things to do, your scrapbooking, your exercise, and of course your shopping friends. The friends you tell everything to, and the "friends" you do not.
Life is good. We have the opportunity to make new friends everyday. I always say "you never know who you are going to like."
Friends balance our chaotic lifestyles. Bring warmth on cold days, support us, defend us, cry with us, tell us to suck it up and pull up our boot straps (only the true friend) laugh with us, and occasionally at us. I have just been really blessed with great friends who help me be a better person, try harder, keep inspiring me, encouraging me. So what about your friends? This week send a little thinking of you note, make a phone call, send an email. It is approaching Thanksgiving, what better time than now to be grateful and show that gratitude for all the fantastic friends in our lives.
The online store is ready to go live-we have received lots of new holiday product to keep inspiring you to create! Check us out and please post all your own fun and totally creative ideas in the gallery!

Back to Basics

We are hearing that a lot these days, cut back, budget, regroup. All good things, sometimes it is just harder than usual. With the economy taking a bite out of practically everything these days our days of big scrapping budgets are whittled. In my case, no more big stamp shopping spree's. I have been packing and unpacking for days and it has made me really take a hard look at, well, stuff. I have been thinking about all the scrapping that gets sacrificed at "times" like these. I don't think that scrapbooking or any paper crafting for that matter is a phase. I think that keeping your family histories, documenting our lives however we do it is important. I thought about ways I economize on my scrapping habits. I used to keep all my scraps no matter the size. Now I evaluate honestly, will I ever use this again? Am I just making more work for myself in the long run? I am sure we all think we will use every little scrap-whatever. So instead of keeping every little scrap that I will lug around until I can't stand it anymore, I economize on adhesive. Most good adhesives are just that, good. We don't need to slather it on to get items to stick. We can use minimal glue and still get perfectly fine results. Of course there are always exceptions to this rule. But for the most part this can be a good way to make your $$$ go further. I don't recommend cheaper glue. You will just be disappointed with the results. After all, it is like they always say, you pay for what you get. So get good stuff, and use it sparingly. I guess I had better go, I have a big black and white cat who keeps trying to sit on the keyboard and I have enoOunfh time spelling correctly!

New Beginnings

Today starts a new beginning for me. Our physical store will become a virtual store on Oct 30th. It is definitely a new adventure and I look forward to the challenge. I will, though, miss all my customers and the friendships we have shared. The ups and downs of life complicated, happy, sad. We have watched children grow, and lives change. It has been a privilege and a marvelous opportunity to get to know you. You are remarkable, kind and giving. You have supported us through many challenges, especially the loss of Dad.
I will miss you most. I am ready to try new things. I am way behind in the "virtual" realm, avatars? We have been receiving new products and are working towards having everything ready to convert. I have spent hours finding new rubber stamp companies saying good bye to some old friends and making new ones! We will be doing lots of custom pages and embellishments, using our extensive collection of dies and some new ones( I am so NOT allowed to look at any more dies) So you will still be able to find fun and creative items to inspire! We will still be meeting as clubs and working out the details in our virtual classes. Sp please keep in touch. Read your emails and check us out on the web. www.keepsakesandmemories.com Please continue to post all your fun creations. You are so talented!

I am going to continue to create and take some time to pursue other creative options! Like actually use some of the cookbooks I like to collect!

Back to School

Where has the Summer gone? It feels like summer. I have enjoyed the rain of late, my hair not so much. It has been a busy week, my friends and I donate to the crayons to calculators every year and this year we could hardly get our hands on the items needed. I was really surprised-but at the same time it reminded me of the "freshness" of each new school year. A new school year meant of course new clothes, but also the opportunity to met new friends and reconnect with friends you haven't seen in a while.

Time to Travel

I haven't been on vacation in a long time. This summer I get to go up to Oregon for the first time and visit some family and their new baby! I am so excited to see the ocean and eat seafood, just enjoy the beauty of the great outdoors. A different great outdoors. No real plans just going to wander up the coast line and see some lighthouses and tide pools. I will need to plan ahead again for the next trip and stay in a yurt on the coast. That sounded like fun! I will be taking lots of pictures ( of course) and post some when I return. Don't forget that you can post pages, cards, projects, all things beautiful in the gallery!

I have been busy planning classes-for when I return. I have been playing quite a bit with acetate and really enjoy this medium to work with. I also love sunflowers, so you can guess why I loved this card. Check out the website for full details on the other classes. Don't miss the Fall Room Book (there's limited class space) it's going to be too much fun to make and have!

You make the difference

* Just a quick note of thanks to all the new friends we met who participated in the scrapaganza shop hop! New faces and lots of stories to be told.

Scrapbooking is just that, a story waiting to be told! Only you have the skills to make the story come to life. Bringing photos and journaling together to document the journey, to talk about the good and the not so good. To share experiences with those we love and those we haven’t met yet. We make the difference. Every minute that we spend documenting the events in our lives makes a difference in someone else’s.

I have had the opportunity lately to converse with lots of different people about why I scrapbook. Yes, there are people out there who still believe this is a fad craft? A fad craft? We are not talking macrame here. There are those who doubt that it would matter to anyone in their family whether or not they recorded what was happening. So not true. Try this little test leave a scrapbook out where everyone can look through it. They can't resist the pull of looking into someones life. Everyone does it. And more often than not they want to know more, they read the journaling. Everyone has a story. What does your say?

When you think that the days speed by and you haven't got the time to scrap. Remember what it felt like the first time you saw an album, or the first time you completed an album. That pure joy just in completion. We are all busy with the day to day activities that make our lives hectic. Retreat to your scrap place and enjoy the journey of categorizing your photos, making notes for journaling, deciding just the perfect embellishment. You are the most important part of your scrapbook. No one can do it for you. Your thoughts and feelings are reflected not only in the way you took the time to take those all important shots, but in the time you took to document the things going on at the time. You are the only one with the power to tell the story behind your photos. It doesn't matter if you took 3 rolls of film or one perfect picture. The fact of the matter is you took it. You took the first step down a path that leads to satisfaction in a job only you can do. Any time will make a difference. Don't beat up on yourself or avoid it all together, make each moment count when working. Remember that you make the difference in your scrapbook, slow, fast, extravagant or simple, it all works.

Take this challenge this summer. Do a day in the life spread on each of your loved ones, in any shape and form, record the moments with heartfelt journaling. They will be your favorite pages in the years to come-you took the time to record for posterity.

YOU MAKE THE DIFFERENCE!

Take Suzanne's Summer 2008 Challenge - feel free to post your layouts in the "challenges" section of the K&M Gallery, there's a special section just for this challenge.

In Celebration of Fathers

My Father has been gone for a few years now. As I was reflecting this past Sunday about Fathers I was thinking about all that my father has done to influence me in my life. My Dad was always kind, nonjudgmental, hard working, self sacrificing, smart, happy. He had a dry sense of humor and liked to laugh. He loved blue spruce trees and good food. He liked having a garden but not so much on the actual gardening. He was honest and forthright. He lead by example and always with sensitivity to others. He loved his family. He taught us to be good upstanding citizens, he served his country and loved it. He was raised on a dairy farm and taught us about hard work and all the benefits of a job well done. My Mom and Dad have been the most influential people in my life. They loved, supported, taught and modeled the way for us as children to follow. I miss my Dad. I am sure that he would have really enjoyed spending time with all the new grand babies and seeing the changes in the store. He built all the displays for us. They remind me of him and how much he loved me. What a blessing.

It isn't easy being green...

I remember Kermit the Frog singing that song-who knew today that being green would mean something totally different? I guess we were green long before it was the "popular" thing to do. When we first opened our store we provided our customers with sturdy tote bags to put all their treasures in-now we can buy them for a small fee to put our groceries, and other purchases in. For a long time I have wanted to leave less garbage. I would really like it if we could refill our shampoo or favorite lipstick. I realize of course there are all kinds of "germ" patrol who frown on this and all for good reason. We recently changed our bags that we send your goodies home in to a biodegradable bag. It costs more but in the end will leave less of an impact on our world.
There is a whole new grass roots, if you will, approach happening to crafting of all kinds. Clever crafters are recycling, reusing, recreating. Most scrapbookers have saved their scraps from projects and even though some may not be card makers they eventually do use their scraps. We all have become a little more thrifty and old school. I was lamenting the other day that scrapbookers who are beginning today have missed out on a lot of great "old school" items. Take for example your plastic letter stencils, I still use mine, even though I have dies of all kinds sometimes I just need to make something quick and I get them out and use them. Newbies on a budget are not going to be able to get their hands on as many-aren't they great to have! Over the past couple of years I have been tearing out articles and page ideas from my old magazines, so that I can recycle the rest of the magazine I don't need or use anymore. (also saves on space!) It is amazing how much scrapbooking has changed, yet remained the same. The focus might alter slightly but the goal is the same, preserve our memories. I love the idea of using
up our supplies, I admit though I have some paper that I just love that you can't purchase anymore that I can't bring myself to use! I have plenty of others though to pull from. As a crafting group we are generally very creative and resourceful, we know how to take projects and alter them to make them our own. Even though we can just go out and buy things finished the sense of accomplishment and pride just isn't the same. Isn't it great to be able to whip out a darling invitation and all the goodies needed for a fun party or a sleep over from the stash of incredible goodies we already own? I really enjoy taking projects and altering them. Just this week I made a mini album in a tall band aid tin. I loved it! It was quick and easy and too cute not to display. Not to mention done-did I say done? This summer can be challenging if we let it. We are smart, resourceful people, we know that we can get out scraps and make cards and mini albums and pages with our children and loved ones to give for gifts or display for ourselves! Messy, can be. Priceless? Always. Live in the moment and make them count.

I am the queen of my scrapin' space

I was called a paper snob the other day…it kind of made me proud. I guess I am. I like a broad range of papers, when it comes to card making I like crisp finishes, vellum textures and smooth colors. I usually have a big pile of supplies around me and am working in a very small space. I love my work space, it has a comfortable chair, good music, my little DVD player, display items that make me happy and of course all my crafting goodies. I really like to work on more than one project at a time. If I can’t get one the way I want it, I will start on something else. I always have something to do and I don’t get bored. Yes, I actually finish things. Sometimes I just read a good book, try a new recipe, or watch a favorite movie…
This has been an interesting season so far. I can’t say that I am too sorry that it hasn’t been hot. I am not one who likes to be too hot. I enjoy having the windows open and feeling the evening breeze, watching my flowers I planted and some garden things as well. I am not the best gardener even though I come from a long line of master gardeners. I really enjoy the beautiful outdoors, being outside helps me regroup, allows me to think clearly and I get really motivated by that down time.
I am working right now on a new album that is 11x 8.5. I really am having fun with this size. It allows me to have all the elements that I love, big titles, paper piecing, embellishments. I can use 4×6 photos or I can shrink them down( I love doing that) I really didn’t think I would enjoy it as much as I have. There are so many formats for scrapbooking these days. There are no hard and fast rules and anyone can scrapbook. You can start anywhere and the sky is the limit. Do a little. Do it everyday. Weekends, evenings, early mornings. I am a night person, I get home from work and even though I am tired I look forward to a few hours of creative time, unwinding. Totally selfish time.
We have so many new stamps and papers that I am behind in the sample department. I have worked up some cute Father’s Day pages and ideas. I miss my Dad. I think about how much of our lives he has missed now. New babies, moving. I was looking through my family photos and reflecting on our lives together. I am so glad that I enjoy keeping a family history through photos and journaling, it helps me stay focused on what really counts in this life…

I love Take 10 Magazine

I love Take 10 card magazine! They have sketch challenges in each issue and I look forward to seeing all the great, personal, interpretations of the sketch. It is always fascinating to me how different and unique the finished designs are. Like us, the colors the styles the stamps or embellishments used, reflect a little of the artist. Individuality is something that I enjoy about creativity. We see design features through different eyes. Our art is truly our own. We have different levels of ability but in wonderful ways-we can choose to learn more and play and experience a new level of skill or we can enjoy the level we are at. Creativity is so broad based.
I frequently run into people who say they are not creative. Who defined creativity for them? Not all of us will be famous designers, famous anything, for that matter-does that make us any less talented? Do we have to be acknowledged by the general public to validate our creativity? I have a friend who is wonderful with words, she describes things so well you can see what she is saying, yet she claims that she is not creative. We are no longer stuck in elementary school art class. We are not limited by another’s lack of imagination. Free yourself, try something new. Enjoy the process of learning a new skill, play. We all have abilities, sometimes we just need a spark to start our creative fire. Look around your craft room, look through a magazine, check out the scraping “porn” on the web then relax and let your imagination flow! I admit that I am a little slow in the blog department, I am getting more with it-so thanks for checking in!

I love quotes

I love quotes! The right little thought for the moment. I read one recently “he too serves a certain purpose who only stands and cheers.” Henry Adams.

I thought about that sentiment quite a bit. It applies to all of us in some ways. Some days we can step up and go the extra mile with our family or friends and other days we can cheer for them as they struggle by. Races wouldn’t be as fun without a cheering crowd. Sometimes it is that way with our scrapbooking. We get a few moments here or there to record moments with photos and journaling other times we get together with our friends and are inspired to get a whole bunch of pages done and love to look at our finished albums. So here is to you that are struggling along in their scrapbooking thinking to yourself “is this even worth the effort?” Yes! Keep up the great work! Recording your families history and so very important day to day events. Your families will love their finished albums and cherish them as well as the time and effort you put into them. An extraordinary gift, a one of a kind gift. No one has your talent or ability, no one knows just the right little touch to add to the page that will touch someones heart. ONLY YOU. Fantastic power and opportunity! So don’t give up or get discouraged you will get your albums done and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Scrapbooks are heartwarming family treasures that keep us in touch with our loved ones here and gone. Remember you make the difference!

When your zen garden is the cat box

You know how we get caught up in life and it just runs away with us? I read all these articles about “keeping it simple” and making our life’s more fulfilling and wondered to myself do we ever reach that point where life is simple? Who defines what simple is? Maybe for you, keeping it simple is living life in the moment. Concentrating on what is happening right now. I find myself thinking ahead and not always enjoying the moment. I think for me, as a business owner you have to think ahead, keep on your toes, stay current on the “happenings.” But some days I want to just play with all my fun creative things and not do laundry, make dinner, or iron. Eventually the daily grind makes us face the music and put down the colored pencils.

I set goals and evaluate where I am in life during my birthday month. Kind of unusual I guess, but that is how I do it. I was reflecting on where I am and where I would like to see myself and making the two a reality. That is when I realized that for me, my “zen” garden is the cat box. The daily grind of things that keep us grounded. It isn’t so bad. I have great friends, a family I love, I live in a beautiful state, I get to create almost everyday and meet talented and creative ladies who share the same passion about paper crafting that I do. I heard a funny saying about your glass being half filled-less to clean up when spilled. That made me just laugh. So you see, my zen garden really is the cat box. Overall not a bad place to be.

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