10 things ...

10 good things in no particular order ...

10.  I stuck my name down on the reservation list at my local library as soon as this little beauty showed on their online catalogue as “awaiting administration” which is library speak for “it’s on order and when it’s released we’ll get it OK?” I’m at Number 1 …. Yes!!!

9.  The wattle is out everywhere. It’s so beautiful, such a rich golden colour but I feel for all those people with allergies. This time of year can be hard on the sinuses.

8.  The squares I am knitting for a throw rug are coming along nicely. Winter is a great time to knit and I enjoy spending an hour or so each night making some progress on this while watching a bit of  TV.

7.  Winter sales are on everywhere – seems every store I walk past has 40 … 50 even 60% off right now. There’s even been opportunity to grab some summer bargains from sale stock of leftover from earlier this year. After all a plain tee is a plain tee and who doesn’t want to pay $5 instead of $29.95.

6.  Really good time of year to catch up with friends for a coffee or two. Even taking the daughter out to lunch has its appeal.

5.  It is getting lighter every day. I was trying to read in the semi dark while waiting for ds at swimming squad training now it is still light when we finish up at 5.30pm. Been thinking it won’t be long and maybe I’ll start going for a walk rather than read.

4.  The dh finally bought himself new bike shoes and a new road bike – after 35 years!!! I’ve been talking myself blue for years about upgrading and now he has finally done it.

3.  Those driving hours dd needs (120 of them) are slowly adding up – need to update her driving log but I estimate she is close to 100 now and with luck she should have her provisional license by year end. Then I go grey that little bit faster.

2.  These cooler nights make sleeping a pleasant experience. There is nothing quite like snuggling down under the covers for a good sleep.   I need to remember to turn off the electric blanket as soon as I jump out of bed in the morning though - otherwise certain feline family members like to take advantage.

1.  Driving past here every weekday morning (twice) and every weekday afternoon (twice) is a privilege I don't recognise nor acknowledge enough.

80’s August - Day 8

The nominees are:- 

Song A – Terence Trent D’Arby – Wishing Well

Sananda Francesco Maitreya (born Terence Trent Howard, March 15, 1962), better known by his former stage name Terence Trent D'Arby, is an American singer songwriter who came to fame with his album Introducing the Hardline according to Terence Trent D’Arby, released in July 1987, which included the singles "Wishing Well" and "Sign Your Name". The album has sold over 12 million copies.

  

Song B –  Bobby McFerrin – Don’t worry be happy

Robert "Bobby" McFerrin, Jr. (born March 11, 1950) is an American vocalist and conductor. He is best known for his 1988 hit song “Don’t worry be happy” which was a No. 1 U.S. pop hit in 1988 and won song of the year and record of the year honours. He is a ten-time Grammy Award winner.

 And the winner is ….

Bobby McFerrin – Don’t worry be happy

EXPLORE - Day 17

Shimelle's prompt for today included three different ways to write about our progress with our week-long goal - three very different options depending on what type of journey each of us is taking with our chosen goal.


#  Use a personal mission statement, manifesto or motto.  State what you are going to do and why.


#  Write about the past (in past tense) but allow yourself to look forward as well.  Say why you have not been able to complete your goal in the past but also propose why you intend to do so now.


#  Use the calendar to track your progress.  Write down on your calendar, diary or daily planner what you have achieved each day towards your ultimate goal.


I prefer the calendar method.  I don't always work to this but when I do have a lot on my plate I write it down on a monthly printout sheet my end goal with expectations of where I will be at certain points - it helps me stay focused.

80’s August - Day 7

The nominees are:- 

Song A –  NKOTB – The Right Stuff

New Kids on the Block (also initialised as NKOTB) are an American boy band assembled in 1984 by producer Maurice Starr. NKOTB enjoyed success in the late 1980s and early 1990s and have sold 80 million records worldwide.

Song B –  Jackson Browne -  Somebody’s Baby

Jackson Browne (born Clyde Jackson Browne) is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician who has sold over 17 million albums in the US alone.  Browne’s political interests and personal angst have been central to his music.

And the winner is ...

Song B –  Jackson Browne -  Somebody’s Baby

EXPLORE - Day 16

This is the final week of Explore with Shimelle and she has us focusing our exploration of a goal (one we need to choose for ourselves).

So what is it I want to accomplish this week?

The obvious is that I’d really like to finish this class – catching up with blog entries and my little workbook as I am a bit behind with both – I can see a lot of class participants will have that as one of their goals.

I also know that Shimelle will have an entire weekend of crafty goodness and fun for us with her upcoming crop starting on the 12th.  These crops are always so motivational so I can’t wait to jump in with whatever she has in store for us.

Big Picture Classes starts their free summer class Big Idea Festival on the 15^th and runs for 12 days with a wealth of very talented ladies leading the way.  These free classes are well thought out and again provide such great inspiration.  This year I believe we will be putting together a mini album – a page per day.

Add that to my existing Design Team commitments at From Screen 2 Scrap (where we are also celebrating our 2nd birthday this month with extra wonderful challenges I would also like to participate in myself) plus Soul Scrappers and I can tell I will literally be inundated with challenges for the next several weeks.  I may well need some staminade to get through it all this month!  It never rains but it pours so they say.

So I guess my goal for this week and the next couple is to stay focused, remain positive and try to keep on top of these crops, classes and challenges to take full advantage of the inspiration and education they provide.

On a non-scrappy focus note … I’d like to finish cleaning my vertical blinds.  I’m in the process of taking down the vertical slats and wiping over each one individually – it is amazing how many little stains and spills seem to land on these blinds and how time consuming the job of properly cleaning them is.  I have three large windows to do and am only half way through the first but this goal is achievable!  Focus!!

80’s August - Day 6

The nominees are:- 

Song A –  Pointer Sisters - Neutron Dance

The Pointer Sisters  (June, Bonnie, Anita and Ruth) - an American pop/R&B recording act from California who achieved mainstream success during the 1970s and 1980s. The group achieved its greatest commercial success as a trioo during the 1980s consisting of the line-up of June, Ruth and Anita. Sister Bonnie had left the group in 1978 to commence a solo career with only modest success.  Best known for songs,  He’s so Shy, Fire, Slow hand to name but a few.

 Song B –  Deniece Williams – Let’s hear it for the boys

June Deniece Chandler an American Grammy Award winning singer, songwriter and record producer in the 1970s and 1980s. Her music was influenced by soul and funk.  In 1984, Williams released the album Let’s hear if for the boy’s in which the title track reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was featured on the soundtrack for the movie Footloose.

 And the winner is ….

Pointer Sisters - Neutron Dance

80’s August – Day 5 ...

Two classics today.

The nominees are:-

Song A –  Black Lace - Agadoo

Black Lace is a British Euro pop band best known for novelty party records, including their biggest hit, “Agadoo”. The band first came to the public eye after being selected to represent the UK in the 1970 Eurovision Song Contest, in which they finished seventh with the song “Mary Ann”. With numerous line-up changes, Black Lace went on to have success with a number of lightweight party anthems such as "Superman", "Agadoo" and "Do The Conga".

Song B – Men without hats – Safety Dance

Men Without Hats is a Canadian New Wave group. Their music was characterized by the distinctive baritone voice of their lead singer as well as their elaborate use of synthesizers and electronic processing. They achieved their greatest popularity in the early to mid 1980s with their most successful single, “The Safety Dance”  which was a Top 10 hit in both the US and the UK.

And the winner is:-  (check out those skin tight black pants!!!!)

80’s August – Day 4

The nominees are:-

Song A –  Hall and Oates – You make my dreams

Hall & Oates are an American musical duo composed of Daryle Hall and John Oates.  They achieved their greatest  in the late 1970s and early to mid-1980s. Both sing and play instruments. They specialized in a fusion of rock and roll and R&B  styles, which they dubbed "rock and soul." Hall & Oates' songs were filled with strong hooks and melodies that adhered to soul traditions without being a slave to them by incorporating elements of new wave and hard rock.

Song B –  Chaka Khan – I feel for you

Chaka Khan (born Yvette Marie Stevens; March 23, 1953) is an American singer and composer who gained fame in the 1970s as the front and focal point of the funk band Rufus. While still a member of the group in 1978, Khan embarked on a successful solo career. Her signature hits,  both with Rufus and as a solo performer, include Tell me something good, Sweet thing, Aint Nobody, I’m every woman, I feel for you and Through the fire.

And the winner is

EXPLORE - Day 13

Today, in our week of colour exploration, is about putting our scraps of patterned paper to good use by creating colour combinations with them.


I already do this.  I'm one of those people who like to use as much of my patterned paper as I possible can.  I tend to choose my scraps by either the colour method where I pull out a main piece of paper(usually one with a multicoloured pattern) and then gather co-ordinating pieces to go with it.  I then set these aside in a page protector ready to add a photo at some point.


My other method is to choose papers to match a particular picture I intend to use.  Here I look for papers with colours already present in the picture I am using, paying particular attention to the mood I wish to create within the layout.  For example these pictures from Pinterest show how you can pull out colours from a picture to best effect.

These would create a layout of tranquility and calm.

This picture says happy and bright so the colours pulled from it reflect that positive feeling.

There is no denying this colour palette says cold and remote.

80's August - Day 3 ...

Day 3

The nominees are:- 

Song A –  Tommy Tutone - 8675309/Jenny

Tommy Tutone is a New Wave band best known for its 1982 hit 8675309/Jenny which peaked at #4 on the UD Hot 100. The song became so popular that people in the US to this day dial this telephone number and ask for Jenny as a prank. Although the band is frequently remembered as a one hit wonder it had another top 40 hit on the Hot 100 with "Angel Say No" in 1980, predating "Jenny" by a couple of years.

Song B – Jefferson Starship – We built this city

Jefferson Starship is an American rock band that was formed in the early 1970s. Its recording career and popularity peaked in the early '80s,with a series of hits in the mid-'80s, including the chart-toppers "We Built This City," "Sara," and "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" in a polished, mainstream pop/rock style before splitting up in the early '90s.

 And the winner is ….

80's August - Day 2 ...

Day 2

Song A  Toni Basil – Mickey

Toni Basil (born Antonia Christina Basilotta on September 22, 1943 is an American singer songwriter, actress, film maker, director and choreographer, best-known for her multi-million-selling worldwide #1 hit "Mickey" from 1982.

Song B  Cliff Richard and the Young Ones – Living Doll

Sir Cliff Richard, OBE (born Harry Rodger Webb; 14 October 1940) is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, entrepreneur and philanthropist, who has sold over 260 million records worldwide.

The Young Ones is a British sitcom, first broadcast in 1982, which ran for two series on BBC2. Its anarchic, offbeat humour helped bring alternative comdey to television in the 1980s and made household names of its writers and performers. 

In 1986, the cast sang “Living Doll” with Cliff Richard for the charity Comic Relief.  The song, a reworking of his 1959 hit, reached the top of the UK Charts.

And the winner is …..

Birthday celebration ...

August is birthday month over on From Screen to Scrap and we are celebrating like crazy with four new wonderful challenges - above and beyond our normal monthly poster challenge and with heaps and heaps of prizes. Don't forget to stop by and see what is on offer.