Page About Me

I wanted to start a page about my day, I have been seeing so many pages about individual struggles and I just want to be able to open up like that it seems very therapeutic. In my search to find some inspiration I decided to visit some fellow scrappers blogs. Well what I found out was while I have been wallowing in my own self pity my friends have been facing many challenges and they have enough courage to share thier struggles with the rest of the world so we can learn from them or know we are not alone. My scrap buddy Lisa has been working so hard on her book and recently found out her the printing company she is using to print the book is filling for bankruptcy, this project has been so important to her and my heart goes out to her, but knowing Lisa she already has a plan B in the works she is so strong and a inspiration to me http://ethnicscrapbooking.typepad.com. Then I checked out Taniesh blog and found out she recently had a miscarriage and actually entered a contest and submitted a beautiful layout about her experience. Her words are so beautiful and honest and the layout just speaks to me www.tanisharenee.blogspot.com. Thank you Lisa and Taneisha for sharing.

So my challenge this week is a page about me, my many struggles and many blessings.

Journaling:

Today was a crazy day work was very busy but I love my new job so even busy days are great days. My mom is visiting for the week so I decided it would be nice to go for a walk. The boys wanted to ride their bikes and of course Shadow wanted to come too. What started out as a nice idea me, mom, and the kids taking a nice spring walk quickly took a turn for the worst. Marques decided to ride his bike down a hill and fell. He had a few scraps but nothing serious of course he refused to get back on the bike and cried all the way home screaming " ITS GOING TO FALL OFF", ITS BLEEDING!!!" he was talking about a little scratch on his finger. Then as if things could get any worst as I dragged the bike, Marques, and the dog home a teenager runs over to me screaming that his friend broke his finger of course I screamed when he showed me the finger WHAT A GREAT MOM I AM!! he looked at me annoyed and ran over to a mom who could actually help. It wasn't until I got home that I realized that I had on my medical scrubs so this young man must have thought I was a doctor or nurse but all I did was scream. Which brings me to the whole point of my story I know I am a mom but today I just don't feel like one. What kind of mom lets her son ride his bike down hills, what kind of mom screams at a injured child, what kind of mom lets her son watch TV when he should be studying, what kind of mom lets her teenagers run all over her, what kinda moms feeds her kids mash potatoes for dinner, what kinda of mom lets her 4 year old go to be at 6:00 pm with no dinner, what kinda of mom scrapbooks and blogs when and they have children to take care off, WHAT KINDA OF MOM AM I????

WOW THAT FELT GOOD NOW I NEED A PICTURE

Digital Scrapbooking

I was never a fan of digital scrapbooking for many reason one I work on a computer all day, two I like to feel and touch pictures, paper, etc, three I like to get my hands dirty. Scrapbooking to me is like reliving pre-school I love creating but we are living in the digital ages and I have to keep up with the times so I decided to research this digital scrapbooking. Well I found a site that some may already know about www.smilebox.com they have a bunch of free digital scrapbook templates. They are pretty cool designs so I decided to give it a try....

Click to play | Make your own Smilebox

I think that this site is a great way to share my pics with a little scrapbook twist especially with family and friends who live far away and don't get a chance to see my millions of scrapbook pages. I also like the easy blogging technique. GIVE IT A TRY.

A NEW SEASON A NEW ATTIUDE

It has been a while since I have blogged, my mind has been on over load with everyday life drama. My job was stressing me, my man was stressing me, my kids were stressing me, life was stressing me!!! I became so stressed my body began to shut down, GOD stop me in my tracks and made me make changes I had to stop and re- evaluate things. First thing to do was leave my job of course I wouldn't have done this if I wasn't so sick my doctor ordered me to stay home and rest and it was during that time that I began to realize that I had to make a change I had to put my full trust in GOD I was out sick with no pay, NO MONEY just faith that he would turn things around and he did. I have been blessed with a job right around the corner from my house that not only offers me flexible time but I am also embarking in a new career as a Dental Office Manager/ Assistant.

Next thing to straighten out was my man, with such a stressful job my personal life was also struggling so me and Jason took a much needed extended weekend vacation to New York to visit family. It was a wonderful weekend I went to visit my old neighborhood and took pictures of everyday things that I took for granted but now cherish. We went to visit my grandmother and dad in Long Island and Jason's family. It was great I think it made us both appreciate family and what we have worked so hard to build and how blessed we are to have each other and family.

When it came to making changes with the kids it came naturally because I work less hours and I am home earlier, I have more patients and more time with my kids and it shows. Things have been pretty good. Still working on the teens they continue to test me and Jason, but at the end of the day they are good kids and I am truly blessed.

So I am enjoying this new season in my life I am sure it will not be without stress but I am looking forward to my new career, a healthier relationship and watching my children grow up. I AM TRULY BLESSED!!!!
Here are some things I miss about NEW YORK..................

I JUST GOT IT

I just got it, "I Love My Life That's Why I Decorate It", I saw someone at the Memerios Expo I attended on April 12, with this bag and I GOT IT!! I got a life I love, I no longer walk around wondering what life is all about. My life is what I make it about, my life is full off wonderful children, friends, family, and lots of love. April is my birthday month which someone actually had to remind me that my birthday was coming up. This month I have experienced so much and learned so much and it all came about because of my scrapbooking hobby/business. I know that sounds crazy and I think some people may say this scrapbook thing Chela does is out of control, it's all she wants to do. They may not understand but I LOVE MY LIFE, my life is full of memories and making memories and meeting happy positive people who may not have the best life but we all appreciate the good times and celebrate them. That's what scrapbooking is all about. Here are some pics from the Memories Expo I attended, a piece of my life I LOVE.

Lisa S. was the driver for our rode trip, and our rest stop was AC MOORE!!!!

The first event of weekend was the Collossal Crop sponsered by Tarsa Dawson author of REAL WOMEN SCRAP . I volunteered to help at the Crop, although I was working I had so much fun.

Latina sisters from Jersey Scrapbooking :-)

Room of Memory Makers

Lots of door prizes!!!
Lisa Sandford author of ETHNIC SCRAPBOOKING an idea book about Ethnic scrapbooking. Lisa spreading the word about Ethnic Scrapboking, "Celebratae your heritage and preserve your history".... right Lisa!

Day 2- I worked the Real Women Scrap booth at the convention and I got to hang out with Tarsa Dawson and her dauther Imani. She is defiently a REAL WOMAN and I am so inspired by her. Thanks Tarsa :-)

Families shopping and REAL MEN SCRAPIN!!

I also attended the AcMoore Crop and I got to meet Juliana from HSN.

I had sometime to relax and scrapbook

Manon taking pictures, smile :-)

My Rode Doggs!!

Our last stop on the way home was dinner at the Olive Garden, thank you Lisa Y, Lisa S, Manon, and Aunt Pat this was a memorable weekend, I can't wait for the next rode trip.

WARM MY SPIRIT

I had a Spirit Warming weekend, I played hookie on friday so it was a 3 day weekend. I spent friday spring cleaning and preparing for my Warm Spirit Party/ Crop on Saturday. I wanted my crop area to look nice and organize so people can see how nice it is to have a crop area to scrapbook at so I reoraganized and bought some more storgage bins, lets see how long that last. Jason was nice enough to get someone to do the yard and we bought some new patio funiture.

On saturday things went pretty smoothly considering I had all 5 children home during the event I usually try to get rid of the kids but I have been away so much lately I felt guilty and decided they would be okay. Felica the Warm Spirit consultant was very nice and informative all the products her company offers are all natural and developed for African Americans they smell really nice my favorite is Mango, if you miss the party please go to www.warmspirit.com and check the site to see if there is anything you will like, you can still place an order through me I can be reached at memoriaspreciosa@yahoo.com. After the Warm Sprit presentation we spent the rest of the day scrapbooking, and eating. I have been telling my friend Cat that scrapbooking in a photo album is another technique that is good for those who want to preserve memories but may not want to do a traditional scrapbook. It turned out very nice she started a book for an up comming trip. My mom worked on her book about her, I am so proud of them. I continued my 2006 Moments Album. It was very relaxing and spirit warming.

Chela

20% - 30% Memory Works Clearance Sale

http://memorias.memory-works.com

Simplicity

I went to the Lisa Lisa crop this weekend given by Lisa Sanford and Lisa Young it was more like a day with my girlfriends. I was one of the first there by default. I rode with one of the organizers of the event ( Lisa Young) .Thank you for the ride girl :-)



I have seen pics of Lisa S. crop studio but to see it in person was amazing. She has everything a scrapbooker needs. The thing I love most about going to crops is the fellowship with other scrapbookers and sharing memories. I get the opportunity to meet other scrapbookers and see what projects they are working on, get advice, and of course borough cool tools. I was so inspired by all the creative juices around me I was able to complete 4 (2) page spreads.

I have been reading "Real Women Scrap" www.realwomenscrap.com and Tasra talks about creating simple pages and not feeling that every page has to be a masterpiece. This message really spoke to me because I can not tell you how many unfinished projects I have because I want all my pages to be not just memories but a work of art. I decided that concept is nice in theory but not in real life. I am a mom with 5 kids and unfortunately my craft does not come with a paycheck so my time is limited, not to mention I have to get out and make memories. So my challenge to myself was to create "Simplicity" with out losing my creativity.

This is how I did that...

1. I printed (4 photo) collage photos no theme, no particular event, just special moments in 2006.

2. I chose my paper and card stock. (1 pack of paper and 1 pack of card stock). I chose Basicgrey Scarlet's Letter and Prism: Prismatics Multi Pack White/Gray/Black card stock.

3. Basicgrey, Fancy Pants, and Memory Makers rub ons.

4. Creative Memories journal stencils and corner rounder.

5. My favorite pens for journaling.

6. Plan black page scrapbook album.

7. I committed to using just the things I chose for this project. No digging for that great paper, stickers, embellishments, etc... that would be great for this page. I just kept it simple.

So that was it and the results were great, and the trade off of no embellishments was okay because I was able to feel that warm feeling of pride in my heart when I saw a finished page.

Thank you Lisa Lisa for a great crop I can't wait for the next one!!! :-)
You can find all the great products I use at http://memorias.memory-works.com

Chela

FREE CROP

The Laurel Scrapbook Club meet this weekend I had such a good time. We had nice inspiration around the room complements of the Brock Bridge Elementry school art projects, they really inspired me.

This crop was special because my daughter Shaquaya came with her friends. She is not really into scrapbooking although she appreciates seeing the fnish product especially when she is in the picture. Well I must say I was very suprise these young ladies were naturals, I called my self teaching a class and I learned from them. I gave the basic speech photo safe products, archival, acid free, etc... and they went to work.


Ashley (right side) created a layout about God and how much he means to her and then a layout about Omarion the singer, well that lady has her priorties straight, God first!!

Chanta(left side) did a layout with her baby pics using old pics no cropping, no scanning, no photo repairing.

My daughter Shaquaya (middle) did a page about her and page about me she was not concerned about choosing the right color paper, the theme of the book, the title, she just pick pics that meant alot to her and scrap them and everything else just worked it self out and the result was great pages and lots of fun. ( She didn't want me to take a pic until she is done)

So it made me think what is all the fuss about, have I gotten so caught up in the huppla that I have forgotten what this craft is all about, fun, sharing pics, and preserving great memories. If that wasn't enough of a message I read an artilce in my Scrapbook Etc. a lady who just started scrabooking ask the all important question where do I start? The answer was just start, JUST DO IT, get the most recent pics that mean something to you and start your scrapbook while the memories are still fresh in your head. So I say to you all JUST DO IT, Shaquaya is leaving for college soon, they grow up so fast and as I try to recreate the memories there are many blanks and I wish I had started scrapbooking sooner.

I also meet another mother daughter team with awesome pages and my scrapbook buddies Monique and Lisa came they keep me motivated. Thank you to all those who came to the crop I had a good time and I look forward to cropping with you all again soon.

JUST DO IT!!!!

Chela

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