enJOY it

I am voting today for the man with the plan. The man who had the foresight to "measure the drapes in the oval office."

Both men have a vision and my vision aligns with Barack Obama.

I would like a time line to get out of Iraq. I would like a thoughtful president who sees war as a last resort and is willing to talk with other world powers – even if they do not agree with America.

I would like money to be poured into education. I would like every student to be granted money for college in exchange for public service. I would like teachers to make more money and programs like Teach for America to be given more support.

I would like a country of equality. Where qualified women make the same salary as qualified men. I would like marriage to be something so EQUAL it never is discussed again.

I would like to worry less about taxes and more about all the steps we need to get this country running strong and the economy booming again.

I am not ashamed to say I want a president who inspires. Who has his thumb on the pulse of America.

I want a president who is smarter than me. Who went to a better school than me and finished higher in his class than me. I want a president who is never surprised by success.

I am voting today for a man who thinks college football should have a playoff and who knows we will find alternate sources for energy. A man who believes that he can change this country – and that we, the people, can too. I am voting today for a man I believe in.

::: My opinion may not be the same as yours but the good news is – we each get one vote. Make yours heard. :::

I have been in a scrapping rut these past few months and if playing cards are what pulls me out – rock on. The new TAIF should be up tomorrow and we wil have a new president…

So nice to hear from readers and thank you for the sweet words about my craft space.

random.org picked number 158 which was:

Brooke, send me your address and I will get the box to you this week.

I realize a lot of you are from out of the country but if you are in the US…VOTE VOTE VOTE tomorrow! Such an exciting day!

My craft space is in the loft of our apartment. The lighting is usually great in the mornings and early afternoons from a big window. The two walls you don't see are Paul's desk/books and the laundry area. I am very lucky to have so much room and a boy who does not mind a giant mess on the floor.

Yesterday, at Ikea, I bought this bookshelf. The plan was for it to hold much more than books, but turns out I have too many books. I was thrilled to have the space on top to put my albums/mini albums.

Recently, I have become pretty terrible at storing layouts in albums and making the correct size layouts – (or making layouts for that matter…) but here you can see what I have… The white ones are from college (my high school layouts are all still in Sacramento with the parents). The chocolate brown American Crafts albums hold my layouts from summer 2007 (absolutely my favorite craft "era"), the daily cards and recent layouts from 2008. On each side are baskets of mini books – stuffed full.

Across the room is my scrap table – another purchase from Ikea last year. It is actually a kitchen island and the drawers pull completely out. A big part of the recent clean/purge was about CLEARING THE TABLE. I need space to make stuff. I finally (this morning) got my JOY letters hung and the wall above the table has lots of room for inspiration.

Down below is built in storage for tools, etsy goods and shipping supplies. It is not super tidy, but everything does have a place.
I have a variety of little "boxes" on the desktop for odds and ends. Binder rings are probably my most frequently used supply along with labels – mostly from Paper Source. The wire boxes hold business cards and other paper collectibles.

Aaand of course my paper rolls which are quickly outgrowing their metal box. I never really have a plan for these sheets – I just buy for the colors and patterns. Paper is my supply splurge. I do not spend a lot of money on traditional scrapbooking supplies or embellishments and really do not have too much "stuff." I try to keep basics on hand and spending low.

That is the space! Please let me know if you have any questions about it or just in general … I am going to try to blog every day until 2009 and have a feeling I will need some good blogging material.

Hello November!

Paul and I went to Ikea for some new organizational pieces this morning and I am now embarking on an intense cleaning and organizing frenzy. I have oodles of perfectly fantastic scrapbook paper and embellishments to give away. To sweeten the deal, I will toss in some letterpress prints and misprints for the lucky winner.

Leave a comment on this post with your name and favorite candy by Monday evening if you are interested in a box of paper fun.

So far I have eaten no candy – though I did enjoy a fantastic baguette and half a wedge of brie…

Be safe and keep clothed.

Album cover : check.
M & D holiday party invites : check.
E & P holiday cards : check.

Numbers for album : next time.

Time for a change. The old wall was fabulous but getting a little claustrophobic and schizophrenic. Fresh start for winter.

Further proof that I am feeling more inspired came last night when I could not – NO MATTER HOW MANY SHEEP – fall asleep. So instead of tossing and turning and developing carpal tunnel from trying to type while laying down, I got up and started making a December Daily Album. The original idea is of course Ali's and I am very excited to start my own this season.

So far, I only have 18 days. Each patterned page will represent a day in December 1-25. I need to gather some more good papers but for now I am very excited. Simple construction: I cut chipboard pieces down to 5×7 and chose papers to cut to the same size. Slapped them together with a gluestick, punched two holes in each and bound with extra large book rings.

I plan on letterpressing a cover as well as the numbers 1-25 tomorrow at letterpress land. I am thinking of creating an art journal kit with similar pieces. Anyone interested in something like that?

Patterns from left to right and top to bottom: Anthropologie tissue paper, Paper Source (PS), unknown, vintage Christmas cookbook, PS holiday shopping bag, PS Lokta, PS flocked, PS Italian print, Snow and Graham, unknown, sisTV, Snow and Graham, vintage Christmas cookbook, unknown, PS, PS lokta, unknown (my favorite paper and I can never remember the brand…comes in a 12×12), PS Indian print.

from top to bottom: rainbow colored bowls @ Anthro; changing + falling leaves; vero making important life plans; the El, which we never rode but talked about at length – stands for "Elevated"; walking, walking + walking; the future family @ j.crew; at the USC alumni bar – before Michelle knocked a bucket off the table and we blew out the candle; us.

Am running around like a happy chicken getting everything prepped to leave for Chicago. I am going to be gone for less than 48 hours but STILL. Packing makes me crazy.

The penguin stamp from yesterday's post can be found here. And totally unrelated…isn't this fantastic?

Another great site that I stumbled on via Design for Mankind, 37 business cards. Be sure to look through the related posts. Oh MAN. Makes me want to make new cards.

And this makes me want to categorize all of my collections…

Good inspiration out and about today Blogland.

Have a good weekend. I will be back with photos on Sunday.