What is it about January that drives us to want to clean, organize, redecorate, and redo? I guess it is the "clean slate" or "new beginning" feeling that we get when start the calendar over again, I don't know. I know for me I really want to get my house clean and organized because well, it needs it. But seriously, I am thinking along the lines of my 2008 goals, and I want to start working on some ideas I have had for artwork for my house. Also, my cool new Christmas toys required me to reorg my craftroom/office. (They didn't fit!) So here I sit, in my craftroom sans office, (the office part got itself reorg'ed to the kitchen) feeling prety excited about my new digs. Life is good.

The photos posted today are of some tags I made for the Halloween submissions call. I have been having fun with some of the techniques Tim Holtz uses on his 12 tags of Christmas. Check out his website and be inspired! I certainly am! I love Halloween it is one of my favorite holidays. I also have a photo of some angel tags I made for someone special. I love playing with different stamps and colors and combining them all to make my own images. It makes me happy.

Have an awesome day!

Susan

Hello and Happy New Year! Christmas came and went with a blur! It was a low key and memorable holiday though. I did not get all my projects done, but since my whole family has a birthday sometime in the next 2 months, they will be birthday gifts! Enjoy these photos of our Christmas!

Sorry that it has been so long! I promise to blog more in the new year! Right now I am playing around with some of the techniques Tim used for his 12 Tags of Christmas, creating some cute Hallowen designs to submit, and trying to learn all I can about my new cricut! Santa was good to me this year and I have lots of new toys to play with in my craft room. It brings me so much joy to create!

This year I have some definite goals that I would like to acheive in the world of paper arts. I encourage you to set at least one goal for yourself, no matter how small it seems and stick to it this year. Even if it is something as simple as take 5 photos a week, or journal about something once a week, or complete one project you started by the end of the month. Try to pick something achievable and not overwhelming, but still a challenge for yourself.

Here are a few of my goals for this year:

create art for my home

beef up my card stash

submit to more publications

work on my scrapbooks

take more photos

take a photo class

take more art classes

learn more techniques

trust my crazy ideas!

Those ought to keep me busy this year! I'll keep you posted on how I am doing with my progress.

Susan

Hello & Welcome!

Hello Everyone, and welcome to my first post! This is such a fun way to keep in touch with friends and family and show you what I have been working on. I look forward to hearing from you all, so let me know what you think, okay!

In the Porter household we are trying to get the boys through finals week and finish up our Christmas preparations. We got our tree a little late this year, so we are behind in the decorations department. No worries! Christmas happens whether the house is decorated or not, right! That's what I keep telling myself so that I can sleep at night anyway!

I have been working hard on Christmas gifts and some classes at Green Tangerines for January. You'll have to wait for pictures of the gifts until after the 25th! Don't want to give away the surprise! I'll post the pictures of the class samples ASAP though. I made some darling cards for Valentine's Day using the new K&Co "Smitten" line. I know, I know, Christmas isn't even over yet. Shame on me for even bringing Valentine's Day up, but... You know we crafters have to be one step ahead if we want to get the cute stuff!

I have been so inspired by classes I have taken this last year and it really has helped me to let go and create what I like. I love when we can get together and build on one another's ideas!

Oh! Another scrapbooker has been born! My girlfriends and I were making an album for a friend who is going through a tough time, and we converted his wife! She sat down to help and she was awesome right from the get go! I love it! She has been out foraging for supplies at the LSS (Green Tangerines!) every other day!

Okay, one more piece of juicy news and I will have to go. Check out the Stamper's Sampler Take Ten Winter 2008 issue, because.... I got published! Pages 26 & 42. I was so surprised! I thought time was up long ago and I didn't make it in. Yay!

Have a fabulous day and I'll chat with you soon!

Susan