Equal Pay Day

In today's world, it still gets boggles my mind that men on average get paid more than women for the same job and the same skills. Women are the backbone of our society yet sadly we are still viewed as "lesser" of the sexes when it comes to the workplace. America as a whole has had great advances with women in the workplace but there is so much more that must be done. Equal pay is a great starting point in this journey. We as a nation need to be outraged by the stastics below and need to vow to make it better for our sons and daughters.

Statistics:

Women earn 78 cents for every dollar earned by men; In Alabama, women earn 73 cents for every dollar earned by men.

Today- The average women's wages have finally caught up with what the average men earned in 2008.

First layout of 2009 - Kadyn

I was so happy when I finished this layout. This was the first layout that I had completed this year. Frightening, I know but I have just been so tired with this pregnancy and such. For this cutie-patatootie layout, I used Basic Grey. I just love how it turned out.

Little Brag Book Info

This little brag book was created using a chipboard accordian album. I used K and Company "Trend" Scrap Pad which offered various designs and colors of patterned paper, tags, cut outs and stickers to chose from. The album took a bit longer than I thought but I was finally able to send it to my Mom from Mother's Day and her birthday.

Little Brag Book

Little Chipboard Book - Info

Here is my latest creation...a chipboard book. This is my first attempt at creating something like this and I really enjoyed it. It was nice to create a book rather than just doing single or double layouts. I believe the "alter bug" has bit me. LOL! The patterned paper I used for this book was Colorbok - Vintage Rose. Very shabby chic..don't you think? Anyway, below is the slideshow of my book so enjoy the show!

Little Chipboard Book - Slideshow

New Look

Well I found this and just knew I had to update the "look" of my blog. It is just so "girly" and cute. Thank you so much Sharnee at Free Blogger Designs for this design! This is exactly what I was looking for!

Time is just flying by....

It has been a while since I have posted anything. I have been busy creating layouts lately. For the first time in six months, my creative mojo is back. Currently, I am working on a chipboard book. It is just soo girly and cute. It just feels good to do something different than just a layout. It is actually invigorating. With all of the stuff that has happened over the past two weeks, it is just nice to sit and work on the chipboard book with no pressures or outside demands.

It has been a while

I know... it has been a while. I have been scrapping (not as much as I hope) but I am getting things done little by little. Work and the holidays seems to be getting in the way. LOL!

This layout I created using Basic Grey Recess- I absolutely LOVE this line. Totally awesome. Perfect papers for this "urban cowboy"!! The stitching is all stamped which I think add a certain "roughness" to the layout. Don't you?

9/11 - Happy Birthday Colton!!!

This day is filled with so many emotions especially for me. Today is my oldest son's birthday- he is now 5 years old. WOW, Time really flies. As I was driving into work today, I started thinking about my sons's world. And it made me realize some things that I had never realized before:

- My son will never know a world without a reference to 9/11. And since his birthday is on 9/11, this day holds particular special meaning to all of us.

- My son knows more about computers than some adults.

- My son does not know who Bugs Bunny is or what those cartoons were like.

- My son was amazed to find out that my brother and I use to play with Transformers too. :P

- My son still thinks his dad hung the moon and that his mom is very pretty. These are the years that I treasure with all my heart because I know there will come a time when he will think his dad doesn't know anything and his mom won't be considered so pretty. LOL!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, COLTON!!! WE ALL LOVE YOU!!!

Club Scrap Kit "This is my Story" Line.....

One of our sponsors at The School of Scrap isClub Scrap. I just love getting a kit each month and creating pages that I would have never thought of on my own. It is like getting a present in the mail each month just for me! :)

For June, the Club Scrap kit is title "This is my story"...and IT RAWKS!!!! The blue and red colors are so vivid and the titles are just fabulous! Thanks Club Scrap!!!

Digital fun with Scrapstreet.com

I just love creating digital layouts. You can really experiment with colors, sizes, and even textures and not worry about "ruining" anything. If you don't like it, just hit the "undo" feature. At The School of Scrap.com, we were challenged to create a layout using the poem "Sick" by Shel Silverstein. Upon looking at some older pictures, I can across this picture of my oldest son and thought...That is PERFECT!!

Thank you to Dora Phillips at Scrap Street.com for creating this awesome digital kit "Touch of Tile".

Sick
"I cannot go to school today,"
Said little Peggy Ann McKay.
"I have the measles and the mumps,
A gash, a rash and purple bumps.
My mouth is wet, my throat is dry,
I'm going blind in my right eye.
My tonsils are as big as rocks,
I've counted sixteen chicken pox
And there's one more--that's seventeen,
And don't you think my face looks green?
My leg is cut, my eyes are blue--
It might be instamatic flu.
I cough and sneeze and gasp and choke,
I'm sure that my left leg is broke--
My hip hurts when I move my chin,
My belly button's caving in,
By back is wrenched, my ankle's sprained,
My 'pendix pains each time it rains.
My nose is cold, my toes are numb,
I have a sliver in my thumb.
My neck is stiff, my voice is weak,
I hardly whisper when I speak.
My toungue is filling up my mouth,
I think my hair is falling out.
My elbow's bent, my spine ain't straight,
My temperature is one-o-eight.
My brain is shrunk, I cannot hear,
There is a hole inside my ear.
I have a hangnail, and my heart is --what?
You say today is . . . Saturday?
G'bye, I'm going out to play!"

Basic Grey and Metal Embellishments

Don't you just love it when a layout just comes together? When the vision in your head matches what actually is viewed on the layout? It is a great feeling, isn't it? This layout was one of those layouts. I picked the photo and the Basic Grey Skate Shoppe paper and the rest just seemed to flow. The strips of paper and circles draw the attention to the photo and accented it rather than distracted from it. Staples formed in a stitching pattern accents the top circle while snaps decorate the bottom circle. The metal embellishments just seem perfect for the Basic Grey Skate Shoppe collection. It just fits!

Crayons and Scrapbooking

The other day I was sitting at my house one day watching my children use sidewalk chalk on our driveway. I watched the colors they were using and the texture of the chalk against the rough driveway. It was at that moment I had one of those "Ahhh!!" lighbulb moments. (Don't you just LOVE those creative out of the blue moments?) That night I picked up a black piece of cardstock and some watercolor crayons and started to doodle. Just to see how it would look. I just fell in love with the look but wanted something more "polished". So I decided to use my Doodle Genie with my watercolor crayons. Viola!!! It was able to draw "polished" flowers that had a childlike quality about them.

So why not try using crayons on your next layout...you will be amazed at the results!

Truckload of fun...With Daisy D's.

I just love the new Daisy D's "Beacon Hill". The whole line offers a patterned paper for every type of scrapbooker. It truly is extremely versatile and the color is so vibrant. This layout "Truckload of Fun" uses Boston Damask, Beacon Hill Stripe and Boston Stripe.

I have been tagged!!!

Lisa from The School of Scrap has tagged me to play Scattagories using the first letter in our first name...so here goes!

Your Name: Kirstie

Famous Singer: Kurt Coban

4-letter word: K-I-S-S

Street: Kesington

Color: Khakhi

Gifts/Presents: Kittens

Vehicle: Kia

Things In Souvenir Shop: Keyrings

Boy Name: Ken

Girl Name: Kristina

Movie Title: Kiss the Girls (very suspenseful movie..YIKES!)

Drink: Kaluha

Occupation: Kite Maker

Flower: Kaffer Lilly

Celebrity: Katie Curric

Magazine: Kaleidoscope

US City: Kankakee, IL

Pro Sports Team: Kansas City Chiefs

Fruit: Kiwi

Reason For Being Late For Work: Keys!

Something You Throw Away: Kegs

Things You Shout: Karoke

Cartoon Character: Kathy

Basic Grey Fun!

I just love Basic Grey- Color Me Silly. This collection really lends itself well to layouts emphasizing little boys playing and having fun. Color Me Silly is so colorful and funky. Have you played with Basic Grey today?

This layout was inspired by using the extraordinary sketches from Ingrid Lingman. All her sketches can be found at
The School of Scrap.

Bringing Texture into a Layout

I just love adding unexpected elements to my scrapbook layouts. There is something about looking at a page and thinking "Why didn't I think of that?". I obtained some screen material (yes, the same stuff used on windows and doors)and was dying to try to use on a layout. After some trial and error, I came up with a reasonable solution with outstanding results. This material not only makes this layout feel "grungy" and "funky"; but it also adds some depth and character. Why not try to use screen material on one of your layouts?

Scrapbooker of the Year

I would like to challenge all of the scrapbookers to entry CK's Scrapbooker of the Year (SOY) contest. This is a great way to develop your own personal scrapbook style as well as create some awesome layouts. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain in participating in this challenge.

For more information visit: Creating Keepsakes Scrapbooker of the Year

BONUS: Any "School of Scrap" student who reads this post and responds will get 20 extra School Bucks!! Anyone who ENTERS the SOY contest and posts it here will be 100 extra School Bucks!!!