Thursday, November 11, 2010

Introducing.... The Fall Girls!

We are a group of women who all post on Splitcoaststampers and this post is the start of our first blog hop! You're in for a treat; we've got a very talented, diverse group of women in our blog roll.

The Fall Girls is something I started as a result of seeing numerous blog groups on the blogging groups subforum. I intended to join an already active group, but there were none open that seemed to describe 'me.' The name was chosen because our group was put together in the fall.

I love the idea of having a group of people who commit to reading my blog and commenting on my posts. As much as I make cards, scrapbook, and take photographs for myself, it is rewarding to get feedback from others, too. I admit it - I enjoy seeing an increase in the number of followers I my blog has. I love the potential for immediate feedback that blogging provides. I also love having a set place to write down stories that go with pictures.... I've noticed lately that my journalling on older scrapbook pages can be rather, well... dull. I just don't always remember all the funny things my family members say six months later.

I began scrapbooking in 2004. I started because I wanted to make a gift for my brother, who was graduating from university at the time. I had thought the project would be my only foray into scrapbooking, but I fell in love with the craft. I particularly love the sense of being part of a community. I've made incredible, hopefully lifetime friends through scrapbooking. In so many ways cropping groups remind me of the quilting bees of days gone by. If you have seen the movie How To Make An American Quilt, you'll know what I mean. If you haven't seen it, rent it.

It was through such friendships that I discovered cardmaking. Someone in my group introduced me to a Stampin' Up demo and I also fell in love with cardmaking. While I do have some acrylic stamps for journalling and titles, , I've generally stayed loyal to SU! for images and such.

I can't say which craft I prefer.... they each have unique aspects that I enjoy. I like the fact that making a card can be relatively quick, and it's a very finite process. With scrapbooking, there is the sense of not ever being 'done' or 'caught up'. Despite that, I so value the memory keeping aspects of scrapbooking that I could never give it up.

And, ok, in both cases the fact that I love the products and I may have a slight shopping addiction doesn't hurt!

A little about me... I just hit the Big '4-0' two weeks ago. Not married, no kids. I am making my albums for my cousin J, who is 12, and for any children my brother and his wife may have at some point. I want future generations to have a sense of their history. lI want them to remember fun times, history and traditions.

In keeping with that idea, here's a 3 page layout of my cousin J. at the Pumpkin Festival in 2005. The first two pages were made at the Scrapbookin Adventures as part of their All Day Layout Workshop on their fouth anniversary. I love this workshop, and I am so happy that Jennifer offers it more than once a year. This year we did 20 layouts! -In my next blog post I will tell you more about the workshop and the planning process.

You can see the original designs here in the idea gallery. The pages I am posting today are based on layout numbers 18 and 19, originally designed by Naomi and Deanyne, respectively.

The blank spot on this page will eventually contain journalling. I want to type it on the computer and I didn't have time right now to have the inevitable battle with my printer.

The products:
Cardstock: Bazzill
PP: Basic Grey, Crate, Bo Bunny
Felt Border: Queen & Co.
Stickers: Bo Bunny, 7 Gypsies
Rub ons: Karen Foster, possibly some DCWV
Buttons: Jesse James

Please follow along and check out all the blogs in this blog hop. Your next stop is Jess's blog,

Here's the list of participants, in order, in case you get lost.

Tania (You are here!)
Jess
Tee
Cammi
Becky
Tina
Siobhan
Pam
Heather

13 comments:

Jessie Lubyk said...

Love your projects. tfs :)

KER said...

wonderful pages...looks like some fun was had!!...thanks for your back story too...always interested in how people got into stamping..crafting...etc..

Heather B said...

Looks great Tania! Thank you for starting the blog group. :)

Tina Connolly said...

Great layouts, the first one is my fav!

Cammi said...

Love your layouts! Great job!

Pam said...

Great layouts! Thanks for starting the Blog Group!

Becky said...

Great pages and wonderful pictures.

Cheryl said...

Your pages are beautiful. It looks like it was a very fun day.

scrappinmommom said...

Great layouts, I really like the pumpkin border. Did you make it?

Jessika said...

I love fall layouts! TFS

Cindy said...

Love your scrapbook pages!! Very fun looking!! Wonderful story that you shared.

Anne Marie Hile said...

Fantastic pages! Love that pumpkin border! I hear you about the journaling...although I always wait WAY too long to do it and then forget all about it. :) I also enjoyed reading your story, thanks for sharing! :)

The Mama Monkey said...

Beautiful pages! I did laugh...I like to print my journaling from the printer as well. LOL Sometimes I will write it in my own writing, but it kind of drives me crazy to not have it look "finished"! LOL