Not Scrappy Happy

Two weeks ago I busted my right tibia (shin) while in Atlanta.  This thing blew up so badly, the goose egg wrapped around the entire calf.  After about 4 days, there was a bruise that developed from the immediate injury site extending down to the ankles.  

When things failed to improve - actually getting worse - I had some x-rays taken.  Never, not once, did I claim the bone was broken in two; rather I believed the tibia was cracked. The radiologist report stated, "No acute fractures or bone displacement."  That written in a large and bold font.  That's as far as any doctor will review.  There was some other notes taken from the x-ray, but at a normal font... who cares?

I contend the tibia is still cracked.  Walking with a normal gait is impossible.  The injury site, which can be marked with a definitive X, when touched sets another series of fresh bruises down my leg.  I found the bottom of my foot black and blue among with goose eggs (large hematomas) all over the back of the calf.  Not broken, my butt!  (Okay, not my butt.)

The good new is this doesn't need casting, because "the tibia didn't break cleanly in two."  The bad news is that there's nothing to stabilize the small fracture, and based upon close observations, this is stressing the fracture, maybe making it worse with each passing day.  I simply don't get how a bruise on the shin bone keeps getting worse instead of showing some hint of improvement.  Last I knew bruises don't cause tingling, numbness and full out spasms. Call me silly.

So the standing joke (ha ha!) around the house is that I'm faking it.  Well, if some idiot doctor won't bother actually examining the film, then faking become the more obvious conclusion.  I hope the medical staff feel really, really bad when the time comes to admit me for several DVTs.  So help me, I'll sue if they originate in the right lower leg.

I'm fairly bound to sitting/lounging all day,  That would be extra nice because I could do a whole lot of scrappin'.  Not when my leg has to remain fully extended, putting me way out of reaching league.  So 0% scrapping until the "bruise" heals. 

Bummers & Boogers

An Eye for Wrong

(Don't know what date this will appear as, but this was written way back in 2012.)

Before beginning the mini proper I fussy cut so many items there wasn't a real expectation in using as many.  Wrong!  I'm back to cutting and I'm only on page three.  It's a nice respite from doing the "real" work.

Creating pages are most often like assembling a puzzle.  Like most everyone else I have an eye for something not quite right.  I don't  often know what's not right, only that it isn't.  I came up with a perfect means to display four photos using the space for only one.  For example: when this display laid upon the page, that something ping hit.  It took coming back to it several times before understanding this particular element dominated the focal point, that of the framed  photo.  This time is was all about scale.  There are countless other lessons awaiting certain pending mistakes.

There aren't many YouTube videos featuring Little Darlings mini-albums.  Even the masters seem to have difficulty working with this line.  It finally dawned that unlike most other Graphic 45 collections, Little Darlings lacks a wide variety of images to work from.  Lots of butterflies, a number of roses, words, and only a few baby/small child images.  This is one that will need a few imported elements to keep from repetitively working the same.  This is something to consider when looking at future collections.

I bought full packages of cherry blossoms and twisted roses from I Am Roses.  Hopefully they'll arrive as quickly as last time. 

The Old, The New and Other Cool Stuff

It's embarrassing to admit last year's December Daily album remains unfinished.  Journaling is not my strong suit and this is the only element remaining to complete.  I've firmly committed to completing one page each day until finished.  Four remain.  Baby steps.

Another project completed (tonight, yee-haw) is indexing all the stamps.  Most would still consider me a rookie, but stamping over 200 stamps by category is not child's play.  Now when out shopping, I'll think twice about buying 15 sets at a time.  I will not get behind again.  Once they come into the house they won't be put away until they've been stamped into their corresponding page.

I bought the 4x6 Fiskars Easy Stamp Press before beginning the task. 

 I can no longer imagine stamping without this tool.  From the beginning stamping has always been hit-or-miss, mostly miss, and as such created dread when a project included stamping  This allowed me to become a pro overnight.  Stamps have no choice but to comply with equally applied pressure.  For the first time I can stamp a clean, crisp image every time.  This rates as high as review scales go.  A definite must for both beginning scrappers and pros alike.

This vacation's mini remains in the conception phase.  I've selected all the photos, which go out to print tomorrow and I've committed to the size (8x8) and using the Fair Skies collection.  Now to get motivated.

The Return

Incomplete & Cropped

Lately I've focused incorporating flowers and metals into new projects.  I've struggled with flower placement as either sprays or decorative elements from the beginning.  Inexperience with metals came down to inventory resources.  In this latest layout I've had opportunity to work with both.  The flower spray in the lower left corner still seems imbalanced somehow.  Secondly, this flower arrangement is dead flat.  Since the layout is not intended for a book where depth is an issue, it feels instinctively wrong not creating opportunity for shadowing.  Perhaps not. Overall, not a bad attempt for my first attempt.

This year's vacation is a thoroughly documented historical event, still unscrapped. Time to get serious about pulling it all together and for all that I still haven't decided which paper collection to use.  I originally bought Farm House Fair Skies collection for this purpose, but fell in love with - and purchased - Prima's Craftsman; either will work fabulously for the project. Choosing between the two collections might be the most difficult decision of the entire project. 

There's been two substantial hauls in under a week. I'm too ashamed to admit how much money changed hands; but using a spender's rationale, it can be said I saved more than paid.  The new inventory overflows with all types of goodies, covering everything from alphas to zippers.  The multiple quests involved purchasing items I've wanted to experiment with and incorporate into creations, but haven't, being unwilling to spend full price for something that may, or may not benefit future creations.

That's all for now!

Slow Down Go Around

Which comes first, the hobby or life?  Obviously, life wins every time.  Slow down yet again.

I'm still struggling through the self-designed mini-album.  One agonizing page at a time.  It's not as bad as that, I'm having fun in the creating, but find it amazing how much still remains a challenge.  Especially the mechanical aspects.  If I could ever commit to a dedicated Crop group, there would be an explosion of creativity and skills from which to draw.

I'm hoping for the luxury of creating a few designed albums before the end of the year... particularly those on YouTube I still drool over.  Over the past several weeks the complete Tropical Travelogue and Le Cirque collection pieces have filtered into the house.  I was surprised today when finding the Le Cirque 8x8 pad; something never expected!  Several weeks ago I posted a link to a YouTube video featuring a flip-flap album created from the Le Cirque collection.  With the 12x12 pad in hand I thought to pull together the measurement to get the album started.  Of course, in the manner all too familiar now, the album was built using the 8x8 pad.  Naturally.  The 12x12 could have been used, but when completely unfolded, would measure 36 inches long and over 24 high.  The problem with these proportions become abundantly clear.  A mega mini???  Purpose defeated.

It's taken awhile to decide where and to whom the albums will ultimately go.  I plan to make a childhood scrapbook for each of the boys, and one each for my sister and one brother.  Insofar as these gifts go, each will be copied versions of other albums.  The total lack of self-generated creativity will always work against my favour; yet, it's possible that, in time, it may all click together some day. 

G45 came out with a line of pigment inks that takes the guess work out of  colour coordination decisions.  That's very exciting news for partially colour-blind individuals!  In the latest haul I bought two of the five available colours, and will buy the other three over the next month.

The Mister celebrated his birthday this week and I created a stunning tag instead of the usual card.  As soon as the weather clears, and the pain isn't as crippling, I hope to photograph and post it here.  Again, there were several unanticipated mechanical problems, but was able to overcome them without great interruption.  This was the first full size tag I've created and was very pleased with the results.  See?  Some of this may eventually rub off into real creativity.

I hope to get a real jump on the Tropical Travelogue project this week.  The plan is to create one page from a tutorial and one from my own creativity.  That's the plan... now to make it a reality.

Productivity

Little Darlings Page Element

 I've decided the best approach to each page design is to treat each element going onto a page as a mini-mini page layout.  For example: one page cut out is backed with a coordinating paper, both the bottom paper and the cut out inked, lace applied to the back of the cutout image, and apply an even smaller element inked and Stickled.  A simple 2.5x3.5 image comes out as a 5.5x4.25 micro page consisting of six layers.  This doesn't count the four to seven layers the embellishment will be mounted upon. However, it turned out  looking rather professional, or at least pretty good.
__________________________

There was a special father-daughter soccer game this evening.  We brought along the camera to capture a few unique elements since this year's soccer album needed a few more photos  Everything went well until the very last moments of game play.  The star of the show was running full out chasing the ball before it went out of play.  Very close to this area was a mom also taking pictures of the game.  Predictably, it turned into a disaster.  Before anyone could take corrective action, Miss J ran into the lady on the ground.  Almost.  The lady had a small dog, leased, sitting directly in front of her, and it being fully conscious of the mayhem about to take place jumped up and attacked.  The Miss ended up with multiple and deep bite marks on her thigh and lower leg.  These quickly turned into a very ugly blue mixed with red blood.  I've never seen her cry over an injury before, but this incident caused large wet tears to well. 

Fortunately for all, the dog is fully vaccinated and current with all other required shots as well registered with the, but will still be sequestered in the pound for ten days due to asinine city policy .  What is wrong with that picture?  I was spitting mad that despite following all the rules the family has to be separated from the family pet, and to add insult to injury (so to speak), must pay impounding fees.  The lady was generous enough to allow a picture of the dog and its victim.  That will be a great page to scrap... when animals attack.

Tomorrow we run down to the doctor's office for a tetanus shot.  At any rate, the team won the game at 2-0.

Word

Word of the day:

im·pro·vise

verb (used with object)

1. 

to compose and perform or deliver without previous preparations; extemporize: to improvise an acceptance speech 

2.

to compose, play, recite, or sing (verse, music, etc.) on the spur of the moment. 

3.

 to make, provide, or arrange from whatever materials are readily available:  We improvised a dinner from yeterday's leftovers. make, provide, or arrange from whatever materials are readily available: