The Challenge

To read 52 books in 2010. 2009 was a dismal year for reading books. Now 52 books does seem like a lot but I know I can do it. I just need to give up other luxuries and hobbies. I could definitely cut back on a reality show or two. Of course there are rules involved. No book will be over 300 pages (unless I really, really want to read it.) No re-reads (that means you Ms. Austen) and finally, at least 13 books have to be non-fiction. But as rules go they are meant to be broken. I've already started the first book and it's over 300 pages. However, I will take my time and finish it in 2010 so it will still count. It is "Louisa May Alcott; The woman behind 'Little Women'.

I reluctantly allowed Tom to pick a few of the titles that I'm sure I'll regret. I can handle Dawkins but Gould too…I want to be successful, I don't want to sabotage myself. We'll see. To make it official there is a layout, of course…there's always a layout.

Feel free to recommend any book within the 'rules'.

This is so tinsel...

I am always on the lookout for new Photoshop tutorials and recently came across a really cool tinsel tutorial on 'Humbug Graphics Galore'. It's really easy to follow and the results are an incredibly realistic strand of tinsel. Here is a layout I made using the tinsel I created from the tutorial.

The best part of the tutorial for me is that it showed me a different way of creating a Photoshop brush. In the past my brushes have been mostly "stamps". The brush in the tinsel tutorial utilizes the scattering technique which opens the use of a Photoshop brush to much more possibilities. I messed around with a few of my own and created a brush to make messy glitter piles. I put together a real quick example:

Enjoy!

The evolution of a scrapper.

It started with paper and quickly moved to digital. It evolved to hybrid and has always been about the photos. The question now is where do I go from here?

I have been digitally scrapping since 2007. During that time I have stayed constantly loyal to one site. I recently compiled most of my Layouts from that site into a 68 page Shutterfly book. It's quite amazing to see the difference between my first layout to my most recent layouts. My first layouts were quite simple but large and clumsy. My current layouts are more detailed but organized. I have learned so much from that site I can't help but wonder if I would learn even more by widening my horizons.

So I decided to put out the call to Facebook scrappers for some digital inspiration. Who knows what can happen…I will keep you posted.

Until then; current projects. I am working on "December Daily" pages. Huge commitment that I was totally ready for. I have a bunch of UFO's in the works as well, i.e.; "Oklahoma hybrid" and "Genealogy" just to name a few.

Plus I have all the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season to look forward to. Believe me I'm not complaining. I love it. Homemade gifts…baked goods…Christmas cards…oh man, I better get going.