Ethnic Scrapbooking

Real Women Scrap

Two weeks ago, I had a real need to finish something...anything. My life can be chaotic at times and being the task master that I am, sometimes I just need to complete a task. My friend, Lisa comes over and starts scrapping, I start looking for a photograph for my Scraps of Color March article and ended up completing a whole family album in under five hours.

I'm taking Stacy Julian's Library of Memories class at Big Picture Scrapbooking and although I think she has too many steps to organizing your photos to get albums done, I do agree and already implement some of the steps she covers. Well during my photo search I came across a stack of 2004 photos for our family album that I had already sorted that were waiting to get onto the page. I decided to put them in Creative Memories PicFolio Album. I think the patterned inserts were a separate purchase, but I went ahead and laid out the whole album...I threw in some metal embellishments, prima flowers and tons of rub-ons and wa-la...a completed album quickly enjoyed by all.

For those of you who are wondering...many of my 70 completed albums are done in a similar fashion...but I REALLy like this PicFolio system and will implement it for my family albums going forward.

Although, I know that the pages may not be as exciting as other "creative" pages, but I knocked out a whole year is a few hours....160 pics and completed journaling...a years worth of memories...well almost. I stopped the album with Sept events, because Oct is full of Birthdays, so those pics go in kids albums, Nov...well didn't really have any photos and December/Christmas photos go in a Christmas album.

I also think I like the pages where the photos have the white borders...another speed tip you'll find in my upcoming book...Ethnic Scrapbooking. Oh, I think Lisa got a few pages done...but did I mention I did a whole album!!! Now, that's how REAL WOMEN SCRAP!

What do you think about Africa?

Many of you know that my globe trekking sister spent four months in Africa last Fall. Here's a preview of a DVD she has created. I hope you can find a few extra bucks in your pocket to make a donation and support this EXTREMELY necessary and worthwhile effort. As you will see by the video...we have a long way to go in educating the masses about other cultures.

Visit her website by clicking HERE and then click on the link that's half way down the page.

Don't forget to leave a comment either here or at the You Tube site after viewing the video...we need to hear from you.

This professional quality DVD is a collection of hundreds of photos, video footage, interviews, music and commentary that highlight images which the mainstream media doesn't portray about Africa in a effort to educate, inspire and evoke dialogue about some misperceptions related to Africa.

For more information on how you can order a finished copy please go to:

http://www.ubvillage.org/index.htm

Mr. President

No matter what your opinion is of our President, as an American we should be respectful and honored should we be able to be in his presence. Today I was given that honor. I attended a White House Briefing during the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. I was honored to be invited and arrived early enough to snag a great seat.

I didn't think cameras would be allowed so I packed my pocket one which isn't really great at distance shots, but it did okay. 20 years I've lived in the D.C. area this is the first time I've been in the same room with the President of the United States (except for a quick view of Nixon in 1974 while I was on a White House field trip).

When I saw him up close the first thought that ran through my head is what a hard job he has...no one is ever happy or satisfied with him. All I can say is God Bless the person who has that job or even WANTS that job. Being CEO of the Sanford Household is enough stress for ME!