still here.

Today was my turn to post at WIP. Check it out...

Happy National Scrapbooking Day!

Did you get to spend the day being crafty? This was the first NSD day in three years that I didn't have to work at the store. What did I do? Nothing crafty. :( Actually, I spent another wonderful weekend enjoying my kids and their activities.
Despite being in the middle of soccer, track and baseball season, I managed to get a few of my Work In Progress pages completed. Trish put a fab kit together, full of the new Cosmo Cricket Snorkel line. Many of the titles on my pages were cut using my cricut and SCAL.

Simple Scrapbooks

Have you seen the last issue of Simple Scrapbooks? I was lucky enough to finally get published in their very last issue. I grew to really enjoy the magazine and now that it is gone, I will miss their "Simple" style. My favorite mini album is featured in the magazine. I haven't got my issue yet and I'm dying to see it. I was even more thrilled to see Angie Lucas' comments on my album and the entire last issue on her blog. Very cool.

spring break

Spring is slowly arriving in Cleveland. The boys are on break and having a blast with no school this week. Max returned home last night after 5 days in NYC with grandma and grandpa. We bought ourselves and Frank a present yesterday - Invisible Fence. Hooray!

I am loving my new position at Pulsar. I learn something new every day. It feels great to be in graphics again. I'm inspired to use my computer drawing skills as a supplement to my scrapbooking. I've been playing with my cricut again and purchased SCAL for it. Read my WIP post about it here. I haven't really been scrapping too much. I've been too busy researching and learning. I want to be able to cut vinyl for my walls and have been looking for good prices online.

Steve bought me a new computer that will be housed in my scrapbook space. I'll now have a dedicated computer for my freelance business and scrapbooking. (He was really just tired of my large format scanner and recently my cricut sitting in the family room.) We really needed it anyway with five of us continually fighting over who's turn it was on the PC.

I'll be scrapping tonight. I got my new WorkinProgress kit to play with and like a kid with candy, I can't wait to enjoy.

when one door closes, another opens.

It's a very true statement for me today. I found out last week that my position as the Event's Coordinator at Archiver's was being eliminated. Not just at my location, at all the Archiver's stores. The problems with the economy have touched every company big and small. Archiver's has not been immune to this failing economy. Please don't think Archiver's is closing, because they are not. If they were ignorant and ignored the reality of the situation it would be a possibility but the owners are being realistic and making changes that are necessary in this economic climate.

Am I saddened? Of course. Am I taking this personally? No. I loved my job and the people I worked with. Archiver's was a great place to work and I will miss it. I learned so much about scrapbooking and grew every single day I was there. The experience was invaluable and I will always remember the fun I had learning and sharing with others. I will continue to shop there and support Jen, Caroline and the great staff that makes the store what it is. What would we do without Archiver's? I would have to drive to Michigan or Columbus just to buy paper! I have already told Jen that I expect a personal invite when the new products arrive. I will really miss opening those new boxes with Tara when they come in.

The upside of all of this? No more weekend or evening shifts. (My husband really misses me.)

Leaving the store allows me to teach or sell my designs anywhere. I am bursting with ideas for classes, projects and products and now can pursue those and so many other limitless opportunities.

Saving the best for last here...I already have secured freelance position working for a scrapbook manufacturer. I am working three days a week as a graphic designer once again designing what else?!? Scrapbooking Products! I feel so incredibly thankful and lucky to fall into this when so many others are struggling to find employment. It is truly a dream job for me.

On to Chapter 2. It just seems to get better as the book goes on. :)