What's Happening!!

It's been quite a while since I posted on my blog, but life has thrown us a few curves.

Boyd started running fevers again and we were in and out of our doctor's office, the Emergency room and the hospital... for weeks and weeks! He was frustrated and I was just plain scared!! He gradually became 'short-of-breath' and another trip to the doctor. This time she admitted him right into the Intensive Care Unit. They finally did a heart catherization and found that he had suffered 2 heart attacks. Being a bad diabetic, he had not felt them as he had lost sensation in and around his heart (neuropathy) and they didn't show up on a cardiac monitor.

So then we started dealing with a Cardiac Surgeon and surgery was scheduled. But one blood test kept showing an infection in his body. Now we had to start working with an Infectious Disease Doctor to find out what was going on and surgery was cancelled.

To wrap this up... there wasn't an infection and Boyd had Open-Heart Surgery this past Thursday. Surgery went well but his diabetes is causing some problems. He's in Cardiac Intensive Care right now with tubes and wires sticking out all over. They're watching him closely for renal (kidney) failure... another side effect of that nasty disease Diabetes.

I spend my days at the hospital and get home and crash!!When I get up in the morning I've been working on my layouts... that really relaxes me! If you're interested in seeing any of them... just click on Designers Digital on the top-right side of the blog.

Please keep Boyd in your thoughts and prayers.

Joni

The Day After Monday

I really wanted to post every Monday but due to life's 'have-to-get-this-done' moments, I couldn't post yesterday!

Mother's Day was such fun! Kristin came up from Chicago... stayed in Oshkosh (see why I'm moving to Oshkosh) and then we met half way in Appleton on Sunday. We had an early lunch and went shopping for furniture for our Oshkosh home. Had lots of good luck (more below) and ended the day with a stop at Starbucks for my Spring drink-of-choice... a Grande Strawberries and Cream Frappaccino! It is yummy, yummy, yummy! Tastes like fresh strawberries smell!

My Furniture shopping was very successful... because of Kristin's help. It's so helpful to have her with me to get second opinions from and bounce ideas together. Besides... she knows the house so well and has good taste. We picked out this red comfy couch for the den. Kristin has the same couch in camel... same manufacturer... and I got it for half of what she payed in Chicago. Hers has worn well so I knew it was a good purchase.

I bought a living room couch and loveseat and 2 nightstands, also! They will be delivered this Saturday. Can't wait!! Good photo op!

My computer has been busy helping me create layouts. Since I've joined these Galleries... I am much more motivated and have kept my 'credits of the designers' accurate. I'm having so much fun trying out new techniques, etc.

I'm not going to repeat the 'Credits' here when you can just click on a gallery on the sidebar and see the materials I used... if you want. I look at credits a lot because I see something in a layout that I'd like to buy and I can find the location there. Otherwise...

This is Kristin when she was about 5 years old and we had spent a day at their favorite park.

This layout reminds me of a page in an Eric Carle book (The Hungry Caterpillar, etc). The words are from a picture in my house and I wanted to use them in a layout. No author was mentioned.

I really wanted to document Kristin's battle with braces as they were on for over 8 years. She even had to have jaw & chin surgery (wired shut for 8 weeks)... a blog in itself!! Ever see a Big Mac in a food processor... yuck!

This is Leroy having a good shake at Wendy's in Arizona. I love the way the camera caught the spray in the light.

Sorry to rush but I need to go to Oshkosh and sign my new Home owner's Policy and run some errands there.

Make it a great week!!

Joni

The Day Before Tuesday

ART:

Saturday was NSD (National Scrapbook Day)!! It was a day of shopping the 'digital material'
sales, some 'freebies', and challenges at many scrapbook sites. I've added links on my sidebar (to the right) to the Galleries I'm putting my Layouts in. If you click on a Gallery, my page(s) will pop up for viewing. For me it is also a great way to meet other digi scrapers, find inspiration, get questions answered, and learn about current challenges... and so on.

I WON a $25. gift certificate from Sue Cummings of O'SCRAPS for my layouts using her kit... designed around the word 'EXTRAORDINARY'!!! Some of the layouts are in last week's post. She gave another gal and me the certificate for our Enthusiasm, Quality, and Quantity of our work. THANKS AGAIN SUE CUMMINGS!!

The layout below was a quickie I made yesterday. I wanted to try using dark colored paper as a background.

Credits:All material are from Little Dreamer Designs.
Paper:TNT 'Spring Couture
'White swirl border: Paislee Hoopla Elements
Green Border: Paislee Hoopla Elements
Acrylic Heart & branch: L Reid 'Tranquil Escape'
Green Heart: LBA 'Happy Hearts
'Font: Vivaldi

BOOKS:

I've been reading this Henry the VIII book in chunks rather than chapters... wife by wife. It's a thick book (937 pages) but despite the small print... an easy read!! I just finished Anne-of-Cleves and am about to start Catherine Howard. I read other books between wives (that sounds odd!) As a refresher to those of you interested in English history, his wives were:

1. Katherine of Aragon (Spanish) mother of Queen Mary I. (Died of an illness)

2. Anne Boleyn... mother of Queen Elizabeth I. (Was Executed)

3. Jane Seymour... mother of his only son, King Edward VI (She died from childbirth)

4. Anne of Cleves (German)... (marriage annulled)

5. Catherine Howard (Executed)

6. Katherine Parr

MOVIES/TV SERIES:

We're watching the 3rd season of THE TUDORS on Showtime TV. If you don't get Showtime, the 1st and 2nd season are available on DVD. It's a wonderful presentation of Henry the VIII's life. When we began the series we were disappointed in the look of the actor that plays Henry... much too slim for our background knowledge. However in the book it explains that Henry didn't start to get fat until after the death of Ann Seymour when he stayed in and grieved for her. Also at that time an old leg injury becomes a very painful ulcer and he became very sedentary. Thus the huge weight gain. In the series he's just at that point in his life and we're wondering how they're going to handle this on the screen... a rubber suit??

HAPPENINGS:

We are moving back to Oshkosh... an hour South of Green Bay. I'm really excited... looking forward to decorating from scratch. We'll put Boyd's house up for sale when the market looks a bit more promising. I lived in Oshkosh for 36 years and it's home to my girls. I miss having them stay with me when they're home, but all of their friends are in Oshkosh... and their Dad has a big house. Now they won't have that extra 2 hr. drive each time we get together. Boyd's parents moved to Oshkosh and we need to spend more time with them. His dad just celebrated his 89th birthday. Lots to do...

Make this a great week!

Joni

A Productive Weekend

Helen Hancock introduced me to oscraps.com a while ago. It's a digital scrapping site (Blog, Shop, Forum, Gallery... and more). I popped in there 'now and then' but never really got involved. This weekend I jumped in and entered "a challenge" and posted my work in their gallery. I was totally hooked!! It's a good thing that Boyd does the cooking at this house or we would have starved.

The CHALLENGE was to make a digital layout using Sue Cummings Week 16 materials from her '52 Inspirations' kits... the word was"EXTRAORDINARY"!! So I created a layout and then another and then... well, you get it! Busy, busy, busy as Eloise would say.
(All materials used were by Sue Cummings... for further details check my gallery at oscraps.com)

1. Boydo at a fantastic ice cream parlor in Phoenix AZ... 'Mary Coyles'. 2. Wendy at her Kentucky Derby Wedding Shower last Spring.

3. My first encounter with a dog in 1944.

4. Kristin running the Oshkosh Marathon in rain and sleet... but still a smile!

5. Wendy and Kristin with best friend Jennifer after the wedding ceremony... crashing for a moment. Love this photo!

I'm planning to post on my blog each Monday. So look for me here on that day. I'm planning on following a format of Art, Books, Movies, and Happenings each week. Today I wandered away from my plans as I wanted to share my new relationship with O'SCRAPS. I know I've found a new home there. YUMMERS!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Love to you all!

Joni

Magnificant Monday

ART:
This is my most recent layout. I'm 20 months old and on a "see-saw" which later became known as a "teeter-totter". My mom always sang the little rhyme, "See-saw, Margery Daw..." as she pushed the see saw up and down for me. The song is actually an old English Nursery Rhyme with political meaning as did so many of the rhymes we learned. This was a fun layout to create as I love the work of the designer (Sausan). Stop by catscraps.com to see her work... so fun and whimsical!

Credits: All paper and elements from 'Holy Hoot Cute' kit designed by Sausansdesigns.com (from catscraps.com).

I bought an inexpensive acrylic frame to put my most recent layout in so that I can stand it on my desk. Usually they get mounted on cardstock and placed in in album so quickly that I never really have a chance to look at the layout, critique it for strengths and weaknesses and just plain enjoy it. Problem solved! (My layouts are all 8 x 8 inches)


BOOKS:
I'm currently reading The Cellist Of Sarajevo and enjoying each page. It is a fast read and a real page turner as I embrace each character and their survival.

From Publishers Weekly: Canadian Galloway (Ascension) delivers a tense and haunting novel following four people trying to survive war-torn Sarajevo. After a mortar attack kills 22 people waiting in line to buy bread, an unnamed cellist vows to play at the point of impact for 22 days. Meanwhile, Arrow, a young woman sniper, picks off soldiers; Kenan makes a dangerous trek to get water for his family; and Dragan, who sent his wife and son out of the city at the start of the war, works at a bakery and trades bread in exchange for shelter. Arrow's assigned to protect the cellist, but when she's eventually ordered to commit a different kind of killing, she must decide who she is and why she kills. Dragan believes he can protect himself through isolation, but that changes when he runs into a friend of his wife's attempting to cross a street targeted by snipers. Kenan is repeatedly challenged by his fear and a cantankerous neighbor. All the while, the cellist continues to play. With wonderfully drawn characters and a stripped-down narrative, Galloway brings to life a distant conflict.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Last year I read Pretty Birds and had my first encounter with life in Sarajevo. I loved the book and read it twice. It gives one such an understanding of what it is like to live in a war-torn country.

Young women served as snipers for both Bosnian and Serbian forces during the siege of Sarajevo; Simon, a prize-winning correspondent and NPR Weekend Edition host, interviewed one of them and has masterfully imagined her life. The book begins with half-Muslim Irena, 17, perched on a rooftop, wearing a black ski mask, sighting down a rifle. Simon then flashes back to the spring of 1992, when Irena, her parents and her parrot, Pretty Bird, must flee their home on the mostly Serb side of the city. When they make it (barely) to her grandmother's apartment, they find her slain on the staircase. Simon's account of the family's refugee life—sans water, electricity and supplies, they eat snail-and-grass soup—is full of brilliant details ranging from the comic to the heartbreaking. When a former assistant principal spots Irena, once a high school basketball star, he offers her a job that quickly has her recruited, indoctrinated and trained in deception and weaponry. That's when the action really begins to move along. Pretty Bird is released for mercy's sake, flies to his old home and is caught by Amela—a Christian and Irena's former classmate and teammate—who concocts a devious and difficult plan to return him to her friend. A deeply felt, boldly told story and clean, forceful prose distinguish this striking first novel.

MOVIES:
We are movie nuts! We watch at least one each evening that we're home. I thought that I'd share... on a regular basis... the good, well-done movies. We are currently watching a BBC miniseries (2 discs) that we are really enjoying. We get most of our movies from Netflix and sometimes from our local video store.

Stephen Collins is an ambitious politician. Cal McAffrey is a well-respected investigative journalist and Stephen's ex-campaign manager. En route to work one morning, Stephen's research assistant mysteriously falls to her death on the London Underground. It's not long before revelations of their affair hit the headlines. Meanwhile a suspected teenage drug dealer is found shot dead. These (apparently unconnected) events expose a dangerous habit within modern government of dancing too closely with the corporate devil. Friendships are tested and lives are put on the line as an intricate web of lies unfolds.

That's it for today... Make it a good one!

Love to all,

Joni

Layouts, Books, and a Movie.

It's so relaxing creating a layout. Time flies! But, you do have a product at the end that makes the time worthwhile. I now have stacks of layouts and need to spread them out on the dining table and put them in order and get them in the albums that await them. I have them all mounted on contrasting cardstock. Credits: Paper and elements by Kitty Chen, Kitty Designs, from Oscraps.com; Birthday cake and 'Let's Party' sticker by Erica Hite, "Make A Wish" from scrapgirls.com.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Boyd bought me this huge solid chocolate Easter Rabbit. I ate the ears and the rest is just sitting there... waiting for one of us to have a craving. When you live in Green Bay WI, you just have to taste Seroogy's chocolates now and then.

Credits: Paper from ivyinspirations.blogspot.com, "Easter Paper 1"; Frame by Chelly Designs at chelsant.blogspot.com, "April Showers Bring May Flowers"; Blue gingham paper and egg from "Hoppy Easter Kit", designer unknown; White rabbit by Kitty Chen, Kitty Designs, "Jungle Animals" from Oscraps.com.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I watched this movie a few nights ago and really liked it. It's so well done. I was afraid to watch it as I was certain it would be a sad movie. I made it through the movie without a tear but afterwards... it sat in me like molten lead... for days. The ending is STARTLING!! I really was interested in watching the everyday life of a high-ranking Nazi's family... what they were and weren't aware of as far as the Jewish people.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I often read an author from beginning to end. This is my current read... couldn't put it down last night. I love reading about other cultures. I've read all of the author's books and I would suggest starting with 'Women of the Silk'.

From Library Journal: A work of historical fiction, Tsukiyama's latest novel contains several strong female characters. Set during the onset of the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong in 1940, it first introduces readers to sisters Joan and Emma Lew, ages 14 and nine. The girls, with their servant Foon and their mother's first cousin, Auntie Go, all live "privileged" lives together in Hong Kong until they decide to flee from the imposing Japanese and emigrate to Macao, leaving their father behind to watch the family home. At the war's end, the family returns to Hong Kong with the intention of rebuilding and reclaiming their lives. Culminating in the year 1965, this novel follows its characters through 15 years of growth, maturity, and self-discovery.


Other books by Tsukiyama...

I hope you'll give one a try.

Good reads with a taste of the history of the time.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Make it a great week!

I'm off to work on my Digital Scrapping class... and then organize my closets with Spring clothes.

Love to all,

Joni

This and That

BOYD IS WELL!!!
Today the surgeon took out the tube that went into his heart
that his antibiotics were hooked up to for the last 2 months.
The infection is gone and he can start swimming again. YEA!!
I have my honey back again!

Easter Sunday seemed to arrive so quickly this year. This is

a good week to watch Mel Gibson's movie, "The Passion" again.

It portrays it all so well.

And then there's the FUN part of Easter... dying eggs, our

Easter Tree, cut-out cookies and CHOCOLATE!!

Check out the Easter goodies sale at www.william-sonoma.com.

These adorable nests filled with truffle-like eggs are on sale.

How cute to have one at each person's table setting.

And you can make cookies OR you can buy these on sale also.

In my world of Digital Scrapbooking, I have just started my 4th class from

www.Jessicasprague.com. It's the advanced class and the last scrapping

class available. I learned so many new techniques in the first hour.

Below is a layout (nothing to do with my class) that I made with the

earliest photo I have of my Mom. Her mother died when she was 5

years old and the courts took her away from her father who worked

on a Norwegian fishing boat. She was raised in 13 foster homes

and never had her picture taken. This was the first. The last foster

parents and her church helped her through Nurse's Training at

Brooklyn Hospital, NY.

Have a wonderful Easter celebration!

Hugs,

Joni

More Memories

I haven't posted for ages because I'm over-my-head in projects.
I've been learning lots of new Photoshop techniques and
making lots of layouts. I haven't posted any of my recent work
because I gave up (for now) trying to record the 'credits'. I use
soooo many different designers and buy so many different kits
that it's easier to just create them and stick them in an album.

I made this layout this morning so I'd have something to post and
I kept track of the designers... gritting my teeth the whole time.



Credits: Paper, "Crazy Bean" by feistuff; Tree, leaves, and stripes by "Kicking Up the Leaves" from Weeds and
Wildflower Designs; Pumpkin, "Pick of the Patch" from Raspberry Road Designs.

I spent Saturday at my friend Chris's house showing her how to use Photoshop

Elements 7. She caught on so quickly and made some wonderful layouts of her

3 boys. So much fun to work together... we both learned a lot!

Hugs,

Joni

The dear UPS man was just here... Spring bedding has arrived.

YEA!! It took forever! Now... must hunt for the right sheets.

Also... we saw the movie "Taken" yesterday at the theater.

Really good action movie. Kept us interested all the way to the end.

Trippin' Down Memory Lane

I used the word trippin' (down memory lane) because I have a major stumbling block as I create a layout. I have a terrible time keeping track of the "Credits". I have a little spiral notebook and when I start a layout I write down the paper or element and who to credit them to. However... I change my mind so many times that I have writing all over the place with things crossed off... what a mess! I may change the background paper 5-6 times until it looks just right to me. There must be a solution to this. Any ideas??

Credits: Paper, frame, mesh, flowers, swirls leaves by Cin, "Ava Adore" (from myjuicybits.blogspot.com);

ribbon by Gina Marie Huff, "Jolly Holiday-Ribbons" (from Weedsand wildflowers.com); white overlay by

julydesigns (from digital-crea.fr)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My Mom was the 'Queen of the Birthday Parties' as I grew up. She and I would

decide on the theme and then she'd surprise me. I still have my Toni doll and the

cowboy outfit. Matter-of-fact I have her trunk with all of her clothes.

Credits: Paper and pocket by Scrapmuss Designs, "Under Construction" (from scrapmatters.com); Checked ribbon

by Simply Sweet Designs; Heart (from weedsandwildflowers.com); bear (from digitalcrea.fr).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This was a photo I didn't pay much attention to until one day I noticed my

mom's notations that it was the picture she chose for our 1943 Christmas card.

Credits: Paper by Nancy Barton; Bow and holly "Christmas Day Collection" ( from raspberryroad.com); circular

design by Kate Honarvar "Jingle Jangle Christmas" (from pccrafter.com).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My mom looks so tired as she leaves the hospital with me in my bunting.

Credits: Paper by Kitty-Nikki "Butterfly Girl"; Stars by Holly designs "Sugar and Spice" (from shabbypickle.com);

word art by Jaelop Designs, "Girly Girl Kit" (from jaelop.blogspot.com).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have the Spring itch... but still waiting for my Pottery Barn bedding to arrive
(backordered until the 26th) so sometime today I'm going to transform the guest
bathroom with my 'Spring tub' (Rubbermade- for each season) of towels, pictures,
and goodies. That will feel so refreshing!!

Soooo... off to the basement shelves to grab Spring things... I'm very seasonal!

Hugs to you all!
Joni

My Daughter is having a birthday

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KRISTIN!

I know you are traveling today and wouldn't be home to get a card,

however I know you have your PC with you all the time, so... here's

the layout I made to shrink to card size. And you can get it on the plane!

I hope you have a smooth flight and a smooth business trip. Enjoy your

gift too... it's what you requested. You'll look smokin' in those new jeans!

May all your dreams and wishes come true!

And the latest photo of you and Wendy...

You are both so beautiful inside and out. I am so proud to be your mother.
So glad you had a fantastic trip to Los Cabos!

XOXOXO,
Mom

Down Memory Lane

Do any of you remember the old metal clip-on roller skates?
And that skate key hanging around your neck?
By the time my daughters were ready for skates, they were made of plastic. Credits: Paper,"Cool Bananas" from Digital Fingers; Word Art, Elegant Word Art by Bethany: String; Tag by Miss Mint
"Kindergarten Crafts' from peppermintcreative.com.

My mom was full of silly songs that she would sing with the neighborhood kids.

I loved this song because I had such a great mental image of a purple cow,

Credits: "Doodlelicious" by AMC; Frame, Miss Mint "Kindergarten Crafts" from peppermintcreative.com; Cows,

Font/dingbat "DB Animal Occasion".

You need to click on the layout to see the horrid expression on my face. My mom said that was due to the bright floodlights that my Uncle was holding. How far we have come with cameras in

my lifetime.

Credits: Paper, alpha, & hats from "Make a Wish" by Erica Hite from Scrapgirls.com; Ribbon, pink paint, and

word art by Vicki Stegall for '52 Inspirations' from oscraps.com.



Camera shy! That was me! This photo really captures it. Look at that body language

and the frown.

Credits: Paper and all elements are from "Breath of Fresh Air" by Gina Marie Huff from Weeds & Wildflowers.


Have fun and make it a great day!

Love to all,

Joni

Happy Weekend!

I bought some daffodils that were closed up so tight... looked like asparagus stalks.

A short time in water and they were open and so beautiful. I have them next to my computer as that seems to be the spot where I spend a great deal of time. Amazing what fresh flowers can do for your mood when we still have a snowy world outside.

I continue to edit old photos, put them in layouts, and tell their story. I'm still exploring my digital materials and my style. I love the clean & crisp look of Helen Hancock's layouts, but so far I've found myself diving into color... can't seem to stay away from it. It's just me!
Credits: Paper, cloth frame, & airplane by Amy Sumrall; Cloud and tag by Chriscrap's "Cocooning 2"; Flowers by Julia Makafinsky,
"French Country" fro Little Dreamer Designs; Border "Doodle Border 2a from Weeds and Wildflowers.
~~~~~~~~
Click on photo to read story.

Credits: Chair by Mimilou Designs, "Tell Me a Little Tale" from Digitalcrea.fr; Books and Word Art by TYO "Storytime";
Crown, ia "Newspaper Crown"; Wand, Pascale A's "Magical Wishes" for Scrapwedo.
~~~~~~~~~~~

1944


Credits: All materials by Danielle Engebretson/Danielle Engebretson Designs. Grass is from a brush that was already on my adobe program.
~~~~~~~~~~~


I loved going to camp each summer but this was the only photo that I could find from all those years. I went to Brownie Camp, Girl Scout Camp, Church Camp, and YMCA Camp. Ooooo... the stories I could tell about the Y camp.
Credits: Trees, from Raspberry Roads"Tree Templates" # 010, 03, 09, 01 also from Kryshart's "The Sky is Falling"; Frame, A Heimann's "Come Out and Play" frame 3; Word Aer, by Miss Mint's "Friends" Kindergarten Crafts.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Make it a great weekend!!!

Love to all...

Joni

Ho-Hum

This is what one does when bored, restless, and bouncing off the walls.

I JUST felt like playing and this is what I created...

Queen-Joni-of-Boredom.

I've always thought that 'bored people are boring'.

Guess that's me today! I saw this pic today of last years Easter/Spring tree. It's that time of the year

to go hunting for some small branches and think Spring. I'm trying to INSPIRE YOU!

Some of these ornaments are 39 years old. I bought them in Germany for Kristin's

very first Easter tree in 1970. Boy, time goes so fast. Her birthday is next week.

I found this book at Barnes and Noble yesterday. It's great! Much improved over the original 'Dummie books;. Good quality paper and lots of colored photos... really pleased with it. I spent a lot of time dipping in and out of it this morning. And get this... 30% off plus another 10% off from my B & N card and... drum roll... a $5.00 rebate. Practically free!

That's it for today. I'm off to read and take a nap (they go together in my life).

Love to you all!
Joni

PS My girls get home from their vacation in Los Cabos in Mexico tomorrow. Always glad when they're having fun together but also glad when their feet are on their home turf again.

A Snowy Day

I have this feeling inside me that it's Spring and then

I looked out of a window and we're having a BLIZZARD...

and not the kind you get from Dairy Queen.

I went to Pottery Barn.com and splurged on new Spring bedding.

And I lucked out... the set I wanted was on sale.

We have red night tables so I think this will make us feel fresh

and perky after all the illness in this house. I saw these Easter baskets on Potterybarnkids.com and I wanted to share some

inspiration with all of you. I can think of all kinds of possibilities for decorating

some baskets with liners and trims. I bet Thimbleanna would monogram hers!

I am taking quite a journey with all my memories. It is such fun and is sparking

memories of some things I've forgotten.
~~~~~~

Summer meant screen porches and storytelling in the dark.

Click on the layout to read my story.

Credits: A heimann "Firefly Lane" QP from Scrap Orchard; some elements by a heimann and Ziggle Designs, "Firefly Lane"

from Scrap Orchard; Fonts: Bradley hand and AR Christy.

My mom kept really good notes in our photo albums. Menus, names, presents

received at birthdays and early Christmas days. These notes spark memories

to fill in the gaps.

Credits: Stitching, mimilou "Love" part 1; silver heart, TMS "Choco Cherry"by The

Maltese Scrapper;

Multi-colored heart, SC elements from Weeds & Wildflowers; red felt heart, mimilou

"Love" elements; Striped heart, "Felty Valentines" by Graphic Jam Designs;

hearts on a string, "Crazy Love" from Digital crea.com;red string, Moune-Enormada,

add on.

~~~~~~~~

I love creating these pages but I dislike keeping track of supplies used. I'm just not an organized person. I just keep trying.

Love to you all!

Joni

PS. We saw Australia tonight and I loved it!! A good old-fashioned movie where you need tissues.

The Continuing Saga...

Boyd continues to improve but this has really sapped his energy.

We are so lucky to be retired and have the time to move at a

snail's pace that his healing requires.

~~~~~

I have a COLD... an old-fashioned, nose-dripping, coughing,

sore throat, cold. Haven't had one in years.

I pray Boyd doesn't get it.

~~~~~

I continue to work on "MY STORY" in photos and words.

My Mom and I used to sit and look at the photo albums

over and over. She'd tell me the stories behind all the

pictures. I'm so glad she did as I can recall them

and now have stories to record.

~~~~~

If you want to read any of the journaling on the layouts

just click on the photo.

~~~~~
When I lived in Germany (teaching), I was so aware of

the parents taking their babies outside in all kinds of

weather from snow to rain. Their buggies were designed

with a cover to allow just the babies face to be exposed.

Credits: Paper by july designs & Hearts by july designs "Mes Coeurs" from Digital Crea;

Frame by A Heimann from "Come out and Play".

Credits: Paper (unknown); Frame by snp "Cardboard Frame;
Bears by S Wheat Creations, "Rainbow Bears".


Love to you all!
Joni

Happy March 1st!

The Good:

Boyd is slowly healing and even went to the grocery

store yesterday and made dinner. His leg is healing too!

Only 6 weeks to go on the IV antibiotics at home.

It's just become a part of our lives.

The Bad:

I've been making digital layouts for therapy & enjoying

it. However... I didn't keep track of who to credit for the

materials. I decided to just put them on my blog anyway

and get organized for everything else I create.

So... thanks to all the fantastic designers who

created wonderful papers, elements, and alphabets.

The Good:

I started an organizational system that is a binder

alphabetically tabbed for designers & info.

I also created a small flip book for recording all future

layouts I create with credits for each supply used.

Now I can stop 'whining'.

~~~~~

The following layouts are all a part of the album called

"My Story".

When this is completed in a zillion months, then I will

move on to "My Mom's Story" and "My Dad's Story"

Someday my daughters can curl up and walk through

our lives.

~~~~~~

Ellen, my first Effenbee doll was always special.

My mom made Ellen adorable outfits and quilts.

My first doll that drank and wet and sucked on a

pacifier. She made several visits to the doll hospital

during her life.

I still have my dolls and their clothes in a trunk.

My legs bowed slightly... like the curve of a pumpkin.

Fun memories of a fun day!

Yup... that's newborn ME!

Did I ever mention that I am an 'only child'?

I loved every minute of it.
We always celebrated St Nick's night and we still do.

Not the most exciting photo but it brings back a lot of

good memories.

The current Milwaukee Zoo is one of the finest in the US.

But there was nothing as wonderful as our original zoo.

They had an enormous monkey island that I could

watch for hours.

Like Eloise... I had a Nanny.
That's Nanny Lockvam with me at the zoo.

I certainly don't look ready to settle down to sleep.

Ah yes... a quick sponge bath in the sink.

I have always loved my telephones through the years.

First year of ballet. The recital!

I was always the tallest.

My first Easter and basket.

My mom didn't miss a photo opportunity.

Now I am so grateful for that.

Well... friends, that's it for this post.

Hard to believe it's March with all the snow outside.

Some of our worst snow storms have been in March in

Wisconsin.

XOXO

Joni

You Are All So Caring!

Thank you all for the sweet comments.

This is a tough time in our lives and your comments

mean more than you'll ever know.

I feel your warmth from Australia, Kuwait City,

the UK, the Netherlands, Canada, and the US.

~~~~~~

Boyd sleeps off and on all day and very little at night.

He gets an IV of antibiotics twice a day at home.

He seems to have perked up today and has

been watching some TV.

I'll know he's on the mend when I see him

do his New York Times Crossword puzzle.

7 weeks to go.

~~~~~~~

My daughter Wendy and husband Darin sent him

this great edible arrangement,

The fruit was all really tasty!!

Thanks guys!

I missed the last 2 weeks of the Photoshop class I was

taking but have caught up when Boyd is sleeping.

I have learned so, so much!

There is one more Photoshop class that I can take from

Jessica Sprague in March and I will definitely take it.

~~~~~~

I made this layout tonight as I watched the Academy

Awards. It was my first try at extracting a figure from

a photo. I noticed that I have a piece of my arm missing.

I've actually done a lot of layouts but I don't have the

supply lists for all of them and therefore shouldn't

really put them on my blog. Not a law... a courtesy.

~~~

All of the layouts I'm creating are with old photos from my

growing years for my girls, so they will know all

about their mom's life.

Supplies: Paper, Green dot by Jeanelle Page, "Kidden Around" add on; Bird House,

bzb designs, "Maddie's Garden"; Flowers, grass, yellow butterfly, sun, by Dita B,

"Spring Time Elements"; Small blue and orange flowers, large green flower, blue

butterfly by Sara Ellis collab. dje "Spring it On"; Ladybugs, bitty blue flowers by

JM's "French Country" for Little Dreamer Designs.
~~~~~

Thank you again. You are all very important to me!

~~~~~

Keep the people in Australia in your thoughts and prayers.

The fires have done such damage to so many.

~~~~~

XOXO

Joni

AN UPDATE...
First the computer crashed and I replaced it with a new HP laptop... which didn't work when we got it home. Boyd spent 2 days trying to tweak it into operation. Finally we broke down and hired 'The Geek Squad' to come out and work their magic. 4 hours later it seemed to be up and running... until they walked out the door. Meanwhile... Boyd started running a fever. We thought it was a virus that everyone seems to have. Finally I dragged him to the Emergency room and they put him in the Intensive Care Unit. 104 degree fever and scary white blood cell counts. Many 'scans' later they found the infection site... in a bone in his leg. He has had massive doses of antibiotics and came home last night... after 10 days in the hospital. They inserted a tube into his heart and taped to his chest... as he needs to have a bag of antibiotics twice daily for 2 months at home through this tube.

As I ran back and forth to the hospital I ate a lot of junk food. Today I will head to the grocery store to stock our depleted food supplies and cook some tasty & healthy meals... after the Visiting Nurse comes... and in the predicted freezing rain.

And the computer still doesn't work!

Please add Boyd to your prayers.

My computer has crashed!

It's been shutting down on me off and on for several weeks...

but has been a 'real hairy monster' this past week.

Sooooooo...

I've lost my blog list

and

other goodies.

Fortunately...

I have my photos and digital supplies

on an external hard drive.

~~~~~

I'm borrowing my husband's computer to write this

and I can build a new blog

list from recent comments.

I shall return with a new computer this week!!

~~~~~~

Special XOXO's to...

Helen Hancock, Karen, Chantelle, Nicolette & Midas,

Junie Moon, Anna, Green Girl, Nan, Isabelle, Angie, Jacquie, Lovie,

Hunnybunny, Vera, Rhona, Melanie, Anina, Amy, Babona, Barb,

Kristin, & Wendy.

I love you girls!!

And to Chris and Tina...
If you leave a comment sometime you

might make the list.

Tee-hee!

Joni

Chugging Along on Overload...

Our cat Gabby is such a character and we cater to her

whims.

Also known as "enabling".

Love her to pieces!!

Supplies: Paper, P-Pink dark (designer unknown); Word Art, "Cats' Elegant Word Art

by Bethany; Flower, "Lovely Valentine" by Scrappindoves Designs; Leaves, "Green

felt Leaf" by K Hart; Border, "Border-it" Life 365 for Weeds & Wildflowers; Brushes,

b silva floral.
~~~~~

In our Wisconsin cold and snow there is nothing like something

cooking that smells good and will warm your insides.

Boyd is such a great cook...

sometimes fancy,

sometimes plain...

but always healthy and tasty!

Supplies: Paper,"Pumpkin Pie" by Misty Mareda Designs from Little Dreamer Designs;

Tabs, "Dinner Party" by s carling; White Paper, "Kiwi" from Shabby Princess (reduced

to 55% opacity); ZigZag Stitched Frame, "Stitching rectangle, Word Art, O Scraps, Taylor

Made

~~~~~

Yup... the old Annual Physical.

I needed a reward for going so I bought myself these pink roses.

Also stopped at Bath & Body for some more CO Bigelow

lip cream... lemon cream this time.

Sassy... you got me hooked!!

Supplies: Paper, "Happy Love Kit" by Jackie Eckles; Frame, (frame4) & "Heart Branches"

(Branch 1), & Word Art (adore)"Kiss Me Sweetheart" by Ellie Lash; "i" font, "cheri".

~~~~~

Yes, I am a cinnamon sugar toast addict!

Always have been!!

Yummy with a cup of tea.

I picked up a new Cinnamon Sugar shaker recently

and thought it's time to document this love

for "my story"

Supplies: Paper: Blue & White dot, Cafe J "Love Bug Add-On"; Striped paper,"Family Ties"
for Scrapgirls; Frame, "Christmas Day" from Raspberry Road; Red Letters, Alpha lower
case "All in One"; Cherries, Sally Ann for Raspberry Road Designs;Mat with X Stitch,
Erica Hite's "Family Days" from Family Ties.

~~~~~~

I've been having lots of computer problems lately so I havent
been very active in the blog-reading department.
But... I'll catch up!!
~
When my computer works I head right over to my Photoshop
class assignments.
~
I've been tagged by Helen Hancock.
Thanks Helen!
I'll get to it this week... promise!
~~~
XOXO
Joni

"Time stands still best in moments that look

suspiciously like ordinary life."

- Brian Andreas

~~~~~

That is a great quote to describe scrapbooking...

a moment in ordinary/everyday time.

~~~~~

This is a layout from one of my class assignments.

There's a lot going on because we are learning

from each step we take (22 pages of instructions)

with video support for this layout.

Now that it's completed it tells a bit about routine time

in my life and can go into one of my

albums.

Supplies: All from Jessica Sprague's Photoshop Class "Now We're Rocking".

~~~~~

"Comic Books"

This layout was one I did outside of class.

It was so important to me that my girls know about this

memorable tradition that my Dad started when I was 4 years old.

I have such fond memories & feelings of those Saturday nights.

Supplies: Background paper, Kiwi White by Shabby Princess; Ribbon, "Twill Ribbon" by

Shabby Princess; Ribbon Scraps, "Tapes" from Weeds & Wildflowers; Brads, "Brad Bonanza 3"

by P Knox for Designer Digitals; COMIC word, "Vibe Alpha" from Art WHSE.

~~~~~

"Halloween"
I remember this photo being taken like it was yesterday.

We were both 10 years old.

Susie lived across the street from me and we played together

most of the time... dolls, paper dolls, dollhouses, etc.

And we could be found up the apple tree or on a raft in

our swamp.

Fun memories!

Supplies: Paper, "Haloween Papers" for Pixels & Ice Cream; Tree, pumpkin, spider and

orange paper mat, "Hootfest" by Heidi Larson from Little Dreamer Designs; Journaling

mat, "Halloween Papers" from Pixels & Ice Cream; Acrylic Frame, "Tom Turkey

Collection" for Raspberry Road Designs; Hanging Spider, "Halloween Brushes Vol 2"

by Michelle Coleman for Little Dreamer Designs.
~~~~~

Make it a great weekend!

XOXO

Joni

More Layouts and Stories

I'm getting hooked on digital scrapping!

It's so clean and neat and organized... although

I know I will always have to play with my glue, scissors,

and stacks of paper.

I'm basically a tactile person.

~~~~~

My ornament hunt this year was for Scandinavian

ornaments.

Wendy and I stumbled across these cute little children...

or are they tomtes?...

when we were shopping in Scottsdale AZ.

~~~~~

You can click on photos to enlarge.

Supplies: Paper, Kiwi White from Shabby Princess; Tree border & Tag, Scandinavian

Christmas Journaling Delights; Ribbon & Bow, "Christmas Day Collection" for

Raspberry Road Designs
~~~~~

Yes... I had years of ballet, toe, and modern dance...

all the way through college.

This was my first year on pointe and I had a solo

dressed like a rabbit... wouldn't you know.

The day of the first show, a huge German Shepherd dog

bit me in the thigh and I sported a lovely gauze

bandage that matched the white tulle of my costume.

~~~~~

Thanks to Helen Hancock for sharing the cute ballerinas

on my layout. Helen has been my INSPIRATION to

start digital scrapping. Stop by her site.

Supplies: Pink Paper by Barton from "Love Me Do"; Ballerinas, by Amy Sumrall from

"Little Ballerinas" pack; Frame, "Doodly Pattern Frames #1" from Weeds and

Wildflowers.
~~~~~~

Yes... I do knit!

I'm just consumed with other things at the moment.

I knit a ski sweater in College with lots of

pattern.

Supplies: Papers, frame, heart flower, yellow heart, all by Erica Hite for Scrapgirls;

green checked bow, "Holiday Magic" for Shabby Princess.
~~~~~~

I had such a happy childhood!

I tried very hard to make my girl's childhood years just as

wonderful.

Supplies: All supplies from "Make a Wish Collection" by Erica Hite for Scrap Girls.

~~~~~~~

Make this a great week!

XOXO

Joni

New Layouts That Tell Stories.

I was going to take a blogging break during my 4 week class
but decided to just keep going
and
share my new digital layouts and the stories behind them.
These layouts have already been placed in their new homes...
scrapbooks that tell the stories of my mom, my dad, and me.
Many of these stories are unfamiliar to my girls.
~~~~~
Rather than repeat what is written on the layout...
just double click on each layout and you can read it there.
My mom was very resourceful during the war and creative.
We lived well despite the economy.
Here is an example...

Supplies: Paper, a teets "Sunporch"; Overlay with grunge border,

Artist Edge Overlays No. 1 by ANNA; Ribbon, "Harvest Spice by

Shabby Princess; Leaves from "Tom Turkey Collection" by

Raspberry Road Designs; Tree from "Apple Festival" by Raspberry Road

Designs; Letters, Brown by Shabby Princess.

~~~~

This is a photo taken at a baseball game

at the U of Wyoming-Cheyenne

during Kristin's graduation week

back in the 90's.

I had just gotten a perm

and had no clue how to handle my hair.

This layout was made with class materials.

Supplies: Paper, buttons, blue letters, tag from "Carnival Mega Kit" from Robin & Team at

Sweet Shop Designs; Frame from "Candy-Frames" from Sweet Genevieve Designs.

~~~~~

My Mom's mother died when she was 5 years old. Her father

was a longshoreman in NY. He couldn't take care of her so he

went back to Norway and she was put in foster care. She was

in 13 homes during her early years. She became a nurse,

married my Dad, and gave birth to me at the age of 36.

She was the most wonderful mother and I miss her dearly.

Supplies: Paper, "Red Dots" from "Love Me Do"; Santa, holly, & star, by Gina Marie Huff for

Weeds & Wildflowers; Ribbon/Bow,candy cane from "Christmas Day Collection" for

Raspberry Road Designs.

~~~~~~
My Dad had 3 Aunts that he dearly loved. They were all

from Norway and a bit eccentric.

Supplies: Paper, 'Enchanted Paper Set1 from Raspberry Road Designs'; frame from
"Doodly Pattern Frames" by Gina Marie Huff & Heidi Lynne Williams for Weeds and
Wildflowers; flowers, stems, butterfly from "Lazy Days of Summer" by Gina Marie
Huff for Weeds and Wildflowers.
~~~~~~
I seem to be having some blog problems
so I'd better quit before it gets worse.
Sorry for spacing, etc. errors.

XOXO
Joni

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

You know how much I love Eloise

well, yesterday I felt like her...

MY TASK FOR MY NEW CLASS WAS NOT GOING WELL!

- I was frustrated!

-I stamped my feet!

-I tied my cats tail in a knot!

-I ordered "Room service, please!"

-I said everything at least 3 times!

And to top that off...

My computer said to me in a sweet little message,

"YOUR HARD DRIVE IS FULL!"

No kidding... that was the way my day went.

Sooooooo... all my digital scrap materials and my class

materials were moved to my external hard drive

and it took hours, hours, hours.

Today life looked better and I was able to finish my layout

(above).

I did get a bit carried away with my new Valentine brushes

and stamped a bit too much on the photo.

But it was such fun.

Now I'm only 2 layouts behind.

I must admit that I am really learning a lot and am

becoming so much more familiar and comfortable with

Photoshop.

~~~~

I wish I had more to share with you.

Kristin left to go skiing in Colorado

and

Wendy has been in DC at the inauguration

parties, and a ball.

~~~~

Tomorrow I need to go to school to assess some children's

reading so I'd better start using my time at home better.

XOXO

Joni

Saturday, January 17, 2009

My Second Photoshop Layout.

I am working on recording the life stories of my mom, dad,

and myself (an only child).

I wanted to make certain that I had documented my

childhood love of cookies... especially

SNICKERDOODLES!

~~~~~~

How sweet is my husband...

he baked a batch of snickerdoodles just for me to photograph.

Now that is sweet!!

Thanks Honey!!

~~~~~~

This is such fun... the process is fascinating and the product

(albums) will be nostalgic.

Paper: "Enchanted 2" by Raspberry Road Designs; Hearts:

"Heart Pieces" by G Thomas; Brown Letters: Shabby Princess.
~~~~~~

I spent yesterday writing about my mom and dad's lives.
I'm pulling from several documents and it is like
playing Nancy Drew...
lots of snooping around and looking things up on the web.
When my dad said he loved to play Mumbelty Peg...
I had to look that one up!

XOXO
Joni