scrapbooker for hire

these times, they are a changing.

I've moved again

http://alyciasanders.wordpress.com/

So none of you are left wondering, I'll just say it:

I resigned from the Rusty Pickle design team and not on necessarily good terms. Frankly, they owe me money and won't pay me (and I've been waiting for more than a year). This was my last project created with their products.

The journaling was taken directly from my blog post about that day which made this a super easy layout. Choosing black and white embellishments and a background that coordinates lets the pictures be the focus of the page (as they clearly should be).

I don't think I've mentioned this at all but a guy that also grew up in the tiny communities of Vale/Willowcreek is on this season of HGTV's Design Star. He's actually one of the finalists (like one of the final two) and this Sunday is when the winner will be announced. I hope it's him, Dan! If you've been watching I hope you've also been voting for him.

Anywho, that's that and you'll be hearing (and seeing) more from me soon.  

August. Where did you go?

Here I am on September 3rd very confused as to what just happened to the entire month of August. I scrapbooked ONCE last month (which I'll share later). I have precisely 25 days of summer break left. Like, what the fuck happened to the rest of it? Plenty, yes.  But I have not spent nearly enough time doing crafty things this summer. So, that's what I intend on doing for the rest of it (now cross your fingers for me that life doesn't interfere).

As for those of you interested in the giveaway, don't fret. I haven't forgotten. In fact, I even have a winner! It's Liz (JavaGirl). She'll be receiving a package full of Rusty Pickle's Rockin' America line to do something wonderful with. =)

This picture's from a few weeks ago when we were in the backyard. She's showing me a rolly-polly. See it in her fingers? She's pretty funny when it comes to bugs. She's calls them buggees and goes, "eeeewwwww, grooooooossss" in a really deep man voice and then she laughs hysterically for a minute before she does it all over again. Some bugs she's totally fine with others she refuses to touch for reasons unbenounced to me. She's weird.

I love this picture because for some reason it reminds me of Summer when I was a kid. 

Her favorite color is yellow. She loves to color with colored pencils of which she calls, "pi-nays" and I have no idea why. She's pooped on the potty a few times (the first half of the first poop in the potty scared her right back into her diaper where she finished with the last half of said poop). She says her name is "Terwance" and frequently asks, "Mom, wus your mame? wus puppies mame? wus daddy's mame?" 

She really, really loves to feed her puppy snacks and scratch his belly. I'm really excited to see these two grow up together.

Oh, and we went to the beach a few weekends ago. I'm ashamed to say that it was T's first real beach trip where she actually got to play in the sand and see the ocean. She surprisingly wasn't that impressed by it (the ocean) but loved all the sand and sticks and rocks and other beach debris that was laying around. She spent her time collecting rocks (which wasn't a surprise) and picking up trash (because she's the resident litter patrol).

I have some news to share in my next post so, stay tuned for that.

And, I'll leave you with a few more of my favorite beach pictures.

Hi there, my name is Alycia.

I'm addicted to Farm Town on Facebook.

Really?" people say. 

"Uhhhhhhhhm, yes." I respond.

What it is? Exactly what I said, Farm Town. I have a farm; all of my friends have farms and after we all send and accept requests to be cyber neighbors we become a town so, Farm Town. Ha! Anywho, it's kind of fun and lets me kill 10 minutes a day. And I can't deny that harvesting my cyber fields of corn and amber waves of grain make my life a feel a little more complete. Only because I can't really grow things like that. If I could, I totally wouldn't do it (as much). I'd just do it for practice. Sometimes. 

Anywho, I feel kind of lame because no one is interested in winning free Rusty Pickle product. So, to hopefully entice some of you to want it (so that you can create something wonderful with it). I gathered it up and took a picture. 

Last month, on the 4th actually (while T was napping that day), I started this sweet little mini. You can view the entire album here. Everything in it is Rusty Pickle and it features one of their newest lines, Rockin' America (which is what I'm giving away). So, if you leave a comment on this post and link me to one of your gorgeous summer layouts (or just tell me about it) you'll have a chance to win 8 sheets (maybe more) of double sided patterned paper, 4 sheets of die cut foiled patterned paper, cardstock stickers, tags, alphabet stickers, coordinating buttons and a cool star shaped chipboard mini.

Happy Wendesday. =) 

An ode to Summer (and a Rusty Pickle give away).

Oh, sweet summer in our new, old house. Having the luxury of our own backyard has made this the best one yet. T and I spend our lazy afternoons out there every day collecting lots of rocks, digging in the dirt and as of lately (because it's been sooo ridiculously hot) swimming in the baby pool w/ the sprinkler on. =)

Haha, yes I'm that girl. 

Products: Rusty Pickle Candy Land paper and alphabet stickers. 

Anywho, this captures the essence of our lazy summer and I just love this picture of the babe.

Speaking of summer, summer CHA is in full-swing...actually, I think this is the last day. The point is that although RP didn't attend this one, they've got some absolutely GORGEOUS new lines debuting. You can see them here. 

And just for fun (and because I have A TON of product) and to get the ball rolling, leave a comment w/ a link to your favorite summer layout that you've done so far or if you haven't done it but, have a great idea for it tell me about it. =) Can you tell I'm in need of some inspiration for all the pictures I've taken so far? I'll randomnly pick a winner on Monday and you'll get a great prize pack of RP goodies. =)

Oh, and if you didn't know Rusty Pickle has added new members to our already outstanding design team and trust me, these new girls put out some STELLAR creations! If you haven't already, check out the Rusty Pickle Blog for links to the girls' bio's, blogs and more! 

Have a great day...I know I will...it'll be 96 here today instead of 108. =)

if I had to describe her with a single word it'd be, amazing.

Mostly because she can pull off this ---------> hair do.  =)

Also, because she now asks herself what a cow says and then answers appropriately.

Because she absorbs every last bit of information she's given.

Because she can count to three... "one... twoooo...  freeee."

Because she randomly sings, "I'm the map, I'm the map, I'm the map" from Dora.

Because she grabs my hand and says, "Come on mommy."

Because when she goes to bed she says, "see ya in the morning."

*sigh* I love this little girl.

p.s. Mad men starts in less than a month and I am ecstatic.

p.s.s. New projects to follow shortly. =)

this one's worth reading. =)

After being super busy, stessed out and totally NOT inspired by anything for way too long, I finally sat down and created something. Well, two things actually. That album I talked about earlier (that I haven't photographed yet) and a layout. This layout: 

Products: Rusty Pickle patterned paper, chipboard shapes, tag, and lace.

On the 4th of July Joe was watering our lawn and as he walked around with the hose T thought it was hilarious to follow him around pulling on it while saying (in her super sweet little voice), "it'sa myyy hose, joe. it'sa myy house. *giggling the entire time*

So, these pictures are of that. =)

P.S. I still can't believe that she's two. Might I also add that she's a sassy two year old who has learned to tune me out and ignore me completely, which is a whole other post in itself. *NOTE TO SELF: Post about T's sassiness.*

And, on Sunday our family expanded. We adopted a dog from Hope's Haven. More specifically an American Bulldog that was totally used and abused. He's three and his name is Boscoe. He has no confidence and the saddest eyes I've ever seen. But, he's the SWEETEST boy and LOVES to love. =)

The day we brought him home we stopped and got him a bed which we won't sleep on, treats that he won't eat and toys that he doesn't even know what to do with. It makes my heart hurt. So, we're going to be his forever home and love him for the rest of his life. =) Which also makes my heart hurt but, in a good way.

Alright, it's bed time.

Today has been a great day.

For the second year in a row we got up, got dressed and went to Independence for the day. We like it because the crowds are significantly smaller than at the events in Salem and we're able to let T out of her stroller to run.

The festivities were set up in a park that runs parallel to the river thus, T got to throw rocks, of which she loves to do. I used to think that she loved it so much and would do it all day if we'd let her. Well, today was that day. Joe and I were sitting on the shore, basking in the sun, totally enjoying the moment and she could have thrown rocks for as long as she wanted. Much to my surprise however, not so long after our arrival T tossed in a final rock, turned and said, "okay mommy, I wanna pway" and proceeded to walk to the play ground. Okay then, little miss two year old making her own decisions...??  This is new.

While I'm on the topic and because I've been meaning to write it down anyways, here is what T's doing right now:

Loving Elmo...who she adoringly calls,  "melmo."

Loving her baby dolls her, "beebees." =)

She calls milk, milks; shoes, shoesies; Joe, Joe and all day today it was, Joe mommy--which is kinda like Joe momma, which makes it hilarious.

She melts my heart with her manners: "pwease" and "tant tu."

She's beginning to test her boundries more and more which I'm assuming comes with the territory of toddlerism.

Every day she points out her observations..the plane that she can hear but can't see and and asks, "where's dat pwane mommy?", the lawn mower on TV which she then tells me is like Joe's, the "ummmmy" pizza at the grocery store.

She's pretty much the most amazing person I've ever known.

That's it for now but, I have more for tomorrow. I've already decided that I'm going to be a better blogger so, yeah, more things coming soon.

okay, now you hang up.

p.s. yes, we're totally lame and are going to bed instead of going to watch the fireworks.

Bad blogger.

Uhm....so, did you know that it's the first of July today? I just realized it and wow, where did the first half of the year go? 

Last Tuesday was T's birthday--she's two. We got her this sweet little Radio Flyer bike that she absolutely LOVES. The girl has been asking for a bike for months now. And every time she would see a bike on the street, at the store or on TV or anywhere, she'd turn to either me or Joe and say, "I wanna bike." So, the girl got a bike. She also got an art easle, building blocks, a pool, a new baby doll and a new summer wardrobe, among other things.

And this is hilarious, she's become accustomed to calling people whatever I call people so,  she calls her dad Joe. And, when he comes home after work she says (in a high pitched excited squeal), "Mom, is Joe! Hi, Joe!" And when I'm asking him (more like yelling across the house) to come here, Terrance follows suit calling him, "Honey" and it cracks me up.

And, I'm finally getting my new studio (or scrapbooking room) put together. I decided that I wasn't going to paint because that would delay my unpacking and being to scrapbook even more and to be quite honest, I'm dying to play. So, I left it the horrible minty green color that it is and moved in.

So, check in often for new projects to be posted.

Also, the Amazing Race is in full swing and the finalists are finishing up the 4th of a 7 leg race. Check out the Rusty Pickle blog to follow along with each leg of the race and also for a chance to win some great prizes! 

a few things.

I've been known to be growing-things-and-keeping-them-alive challenged. Which is weird because my mom can landscape and keep things beautiful and luscious green like it's going out of style and, my sister can at least keep a house plant alive.  Me, not so much.  My mom was up here last week and for my early birthday present she cleaned out the flower beds in front of our house and planted some beautiful flowers. She then gave me instructions on how to keep them alive. Well, she also said that Western Oregon is the best place to learn how to keep and maintain a yard because everything grows here and it's very hard to kill anything. So, I've decided that I am up for this--I'm going to keep those suckers alive...and then some! I've been inspired (by my new, old house) to have things green and beautiful on the inside so I even went out and bought myself a house plant. The kind that my mom says are pretty much impossible to kill so, I'm thinking that it'll be good practice before I get something more exotic. Thanks mom for everything you did and for all of your help! I obviously could not have done it without you!

While T napped yesterday I finished painting my dining room. And, I covered the entire floor with plastic so as not to have a repeat of my paint-on-the-floor catastrophe. T woke up early and I didn't want to put my things away so I stripped her down to a diaper and put her on the floor with her washable paint, a paint brush and some paper. It would be an under statement to say that she loved it...because she really, really, really LOVED it! The girl LOVES to paint. I'm thinking of printing off a few of this pictures fairly big (8x10, maybe larger) and hanging them in the dining room. Wouldn't that be a great? Pictures of T painting in the dining room hanging in the dining room....yep, I like it!

Joe went fishing today and later we're having some friends over for a BBQ. I'm totally excited because it's the first one since we've moved in. So, I've gotta go and get a jump on all that needs to be done for today.

Oh, and Happy Father's Day!