Critique Group 4 is moving to this post... Please note the next post will contain the updated member's information.. We welcome new members at this time..Our purpose is to improve our creations and enjoy the creations and company of others. As Melissa and Cathy had stated previously, the suggestions given by the group are gently spoken and are only suggested opinions.


CHALLENGE - Due February 20 Scrapbook your photo with words as the frame.

example

http://www.scrapbook.com/galleries/97133/view/ 1068349/-...

Dear Friends, My name is Nancy (homesclscrapper). Welcome to our friendly, helpful... talented family....

A little bit about how this will work:

The purpose of a critique group is to learn, share and grow artistically by sharing your artisitc eye

with others. Our group is supportive, friendly and talented. When a member posts a layout, praise (for all of the good stuff) is left in the comment section of the gallery, and ideas and suggestions for alternatives.
Please use the sandwich technique when critiquing. Here is how it works:

Give a compliment,suggestion,and another compliment. A member looks at your gallery, comments on what she loves, then says why don't you try this technique, or this and this might be cool.

Critique Members post a hyperlink in the forum to the gallery. Please limit posts for critiques to 1-2 per day. So everyone can keep up.

1. To post a hyperlink: copy (Control button and the letter C) the address on the top of your computer screen in the gallery.
2.Then paste it (control button and the letter V) in the forum.
3. To make a fancy hperlink: you have to preview your post, press edit more
4.and click on the button with the picture of the world and a chain link.(URL Link)
5.Then paste (Control V) your address, Press OK and then type in what you want the group to see..

Lets make this fun!! The object of this is to help each of us grow as a scrapper.

The recipient of the critique.. can decide to change the layout or not.. remember this is a way to think outside your own artistic eye...
Suggestions are only ideas.. and the artist can decide what they would like to do.

We will also be offering periodic challenges to help us think Outside the Box .

The current members are

Miraclesmomma - Heather
JackynNDonniesMom - Laura
Homescrapper - Nancy
Mom2CamiandReese - Theresa
KatieJo
ajsevall - Amanda
JHAWKEYE - Kate
imagine.lilacs - Michelle
ScrappE
babigirl - Shatema
Jalynne
haasiendamom - Gayle


Now...if you could tell us a little about yourself so we can get to know you......

Hi, My name is Nancy. I live in San Jose, CA and am a stay at home mom to 3 wonderful children. We lead crazy busy lives. Swimming, Ballet, Scouts, Y-Guides and homeschooling consume most of our time. DH and I are also avid wine connoisseurs and enjoy taking trips up to the wine country.

I have been scrapping for 12 years with no formal training...just lots of trial and even more error! LOL My children and our adventures are the focus of most of my LOs. I would love to join a dt or be published some day...if I could just get up the guts to submit. hee hee

Howdy! I'm Michelle!

As I was preparing this little note, it struck me as kinda funny how I have changed my "identity" over the years. So now I have a new idea for a BOM lo! LOL!!

I am a blissfully married mother of 2. PTA president, wolf den leader, bookclub lover, and scrapbooker. I love to hang out with my kids, drawing pictures, playing games, and scrapbooking (they are getting really good!). I also love spending time with Kristina and seeing what kind of trouble we can get into with a huge car, a list of lss's, and a debit card...

Lately all my scrapping time has been spent preparing for a retreat that begins in 4 days, 21 hours, 35 minutes.

I am looking forward to getting input and suggestions for my work, as I often feel as though I am trapped in a box. I am eager to get to know you all!!

Hi Nancy and Michelle!
Thanks for inviting me to rejoin!
I'm a stay at home Mome to a 7 and a HALF (that's important!) year old girl, Colleen.
I teach scrapbooking at my LSS and have finally been published once! (I've actually only submitted 3 times, so that's great odds... wish I could get the nerve and discipline to do it more often!)
I am also VERY involved in my church, core team member for our women's group of over 100; newcomers committee, etc., and my daughter's school, planning field trips; in the classroom A LOT, etc. making scenery for class play, baking bread from scratch, making pumpkin pies, crafts, etc.... she goes to Montessori so lots of hands on opportunities.
I also read a lot...some current fiction, some women's some spiritual, etc... oh and I scrap!! and I have 3 different prayer/ support groups and try to work out 3-5 times a week!
Eager to share on a more regular basis. Seems the past few months got away from me again.
Thanks again for the invite back Nancy!
Missed you guys!

http://www.scrapbook.com/galleries/34060/view/ 1080291/-...

This is one of my Hall of Fame entries from last year that I use in one of my classes at my LSS, "Moments that Matter", scrapbooking about the loss of a loved one or the loss of time with a loved one due to illness, moving, etc.

I really like this layout and think I'd like to find a place to publish it....it's a little different for me and it's rare that I still like a layout I made a year later...my favs are usually my last few since it reflects what I'm currently in to!

Welcome back Maureen...spill on the publishing! Where, when?

Hi Ladies
I am Laura, a stay at home mom of 2! Donnie is 21 months and Jacklyn will be 6 weeks old tomorrow! They are of course the subjects of most of my scrapping.
I have been scrapping now for 5 yrs. I have scrapped my college yrs, my wedding and now having the most fun scrapping my kids! I know I wont be getting as much accomplished in th enext few months with the new little one but I will catch up.
Looking forward to getting some help on some new lo's, I seem to be having a bit of acreative block

Hi Maureen!! Glad to have you back, I was wondering what happened and if you were ok. I know how important that half a yr is at that age!!

Here are some new ones. Not completely done yet though. I have written in the description what I need some suggestions on. My problem seems to be that since I did pages like these for donnie's album, I am trying too hard to make them different but all my ideas seem to make it look too similar to his pages (does that even make sense?)

Sneak Peek- just need to do journaling

Laura! Jacklyn is beautiful!! Is Donnie enjoying being a big brother?

Thanks for your comments ladies!

Nancy, this layout
http://www.scrapbook.com/galleries/34060/view/ 506087/-1...
Heaven on Earth was just published about 2 weeks ago in the book, Doodling for Papercrafters by Maelyn Cheung, Leisure Arts publishing. I think you've seen this layout since I made it last year. But it was exciting to finally see it in print! AND the book, (once I stopped staring at my layout on page 12!!) is an amazing book. It's 96 pages of great layouts and doodling tips.

Congrats Laura! I left you some love on your latest.
I made most of two more layouts today, but I may use them both in the Hall of Fame contest if I decide to enter again so they can't be posted! But I do love the way they came out! I'm really into buttons now and of course all the Basic Grey obscure, recess, etc. lines..... so lots of that and lots of doodling and color...

Congrats Maureen. I do remember that LO. And I have heard fabulous things about that book. Congrats! Yes, those new BG lines are fabulous...as are the buttons. Can't wait to see more of your work.

Maureen- thats really cool, congrats

Michelle- thanks, Donnie is doing great as a big brother, he tickles her and gives her hugs and kisses

here are some more that I had trouble posting earlier
Jacklyn's birth day-not complete

Mommy's little sweetheart- not sure at all

Thanks for the comments on my new lo, I was thinking of more doodling when I get the gel pens, once I see how the journaling fills the space. The ribbon on the focal pic i also a good idea

Thanks for the invite and add Nancy For those of you who don't know me, my name is Amanda and I live in Soledad, CA. I have been married for two years to a wonderful man and we have three girls - a puppy and two trouble making kitties! I am a paralegal. I have a serious addiction to my morning coffee. I have an even worse addiction to patterned paper . Mostly collecting it. I love to travel, cook and take pictures. I look forward to getting to know everyone and getting feedback that can help me improve my work!

Hi, I am Theresa.. I work full time as an office manager for a small propane company for 12 years. Yes, I love my job…They are great to me here!

My husband Tom and I have three daughters, Reese, Cameron and Topanga our 5-year-old Boxer…my first baby girl! My second love beside scrapbooking is Shopping! SHHH! I have a secret…I love the clearance section…. I hit it first before anything. I also love talking on the phone with my friends and Watching Grey’s Anatomy and Desperate Housewives.

I usually don’t scrapbook anything but my kids. I also love to make handmade gifts for everyone! I love to alter boxes, notebooks, and paper bag albums. The paper bag albums are the ones that I do have finished! Most of my pages have at least one flower on them! I am a “walk away” kind of scrapper…I don’t usually finish a layout that I start until a few days later. I will change it at least 4 or 5 times until I get it to where I like it.


I finally finished a layout, will have to ck back in to post it, It just suddenly got busy here at work!

Me, me, me!!! I'm checking in...

Maureen,

It's fabulous to see you again. I'm so glad Nancy PM'd you. Congrats on being published!!!

Amanda,

Welcome hon!! It's very nice to meet you!

Teresa, Michelle, Laura!

A little about me, I am a wild woman. I have 3 kids. Two special needs little girls, one with cerebral palsy and one with bipolar disorder and ADHD I have a 7 mo. old baby boy who was a complete SURPRISE although a very welcomed one.

I've been scrapping since 2004 and digi scrapping since 2006. I am a digital scrapbook designer who works for two stores. You can check out my work at digitalscrapping.com or scrapcentral.ca. So I'm running my own business and running after my kids. Lots of fun.

I still paper scrap! Every once in a blue moon. I can't go without getting my hands on some paper every now and then...

Nancy (and anyone else looking for digi tuts),

Here's that AWESOME tut link I promised you...
http://www.hummiesworld.com/tutorials.html

I am not on the thread as much as I was but I do try to check in as often as I can. If you need something immeadiately PM me so it comes to my email and lets me know... LOL

Hugs,
Heather
Miracle's Momma Designs (Ain't that fancy? LOL)

Thanks Heather I really needed something else to fit into my schedule. Cause now I need to pic up digi....Thanks for the tips.

Hi Ladies

I had a perfect opportunity to scrap today but slept instead, oh well, there will be plenty of time to scrap but only a short time to cuddle and sleep with Jacklyn.

As moms dont you feel that you take all these amazing pics of others with your children and no one takes them of you?! I have so many pics of dh cuddling and getting close with Jacklyn and none of me, I even have been asking my mom to grab the pic when she sees it but she tried once but th edog got in the shot...argh

Hello everyone!
I haven't fallen off the edge of the earth, but I got really close.

I'm a mother of 3 children ages 6/4/1, wife of 10.5 years to my HS sweetheart, 2 cows, 3 cats, 1 dog. I fell in love with scrapbooking after completing a 41-page football scrapbook as a Christmas gift that got out of hand.

My books are chronoligical but I'm learning to think Outside the Box (must be the same box Michelle's trapped in...maybe we're hiding in there together.)

I attend MOPS at my church and help with the crafts, am a full-time bookkeeper for my FIL's real estate business, and love to read, garden, bake, and learn things.

I live in beautiful Washington State in on 6.5 acres in "the country". We have 2 cows and live on a llama farm but I'm seriously not a hick (ask Michelle for confirmation). I'm addicted to vanilla mochas, laughter, Michelle's friendship, shoes, bling, shopping, Grey's Anatomy, Survivor (go Jaime!), Desperate Housewives, and House.

I could go on and on because I haven't had any adults to talk to in weeks, but I'm going on a 4-day scrap retreat in 2 days, so I'll spare everyone for now!

I can't wait to be inspired by everyone!