Club Scrap Assembly Line Boot Camp - Week 1 - Metallics

Well, after a very, very long time, I've been crafting this week.  I'm only well enough to do just a little at a time, but it at least gets my mind off the trespasser in my skull.  I introduced a fellow "brain tumor" mom to card making this week for the same purpose.  She needs a distraction, too.

Here's one of her first cards. Simple, but nice alignment and technique.

We're both playing along with Club Scrap's Assembly Line Boot Camp.  This weeks challenge is "metallic."

Here are my entries. We both used Club Scrap's Love Bites kit.  To meet the challenge requirements, I used platinum embossing powder for the hearts on the second card.  The other cards have metallic floral brads.

Well...it's been years!

So...this blog is still hanging around, but I haven't updated for years.  Why? No good reason, I've been posting my crafty projects in the Club Scrap art gallery instead of here.  More recently (as in the last three years), I have been very sick.  Disabling migraines have kept me from doing much of anything: exercising, reading, crafting, cleaning, cooking, and most of all working.  In early December, after years of pain, I was finally diagnosed with a rather large, non-cancerous, brain tumor.

The tumor has stolen so much from me. I've lost much of the hearing in my right ear and suffer with constant tinnitus. I have problems with my balance, bouts of dizziness, and some trouble with my vision. I'm constantly fatigued and in pain. More recently, I've lost my singing voice and have trouble swallowing. My blog title, lyrical geek, no longer fits. I'm no longer working as a software engineer and my voice is anything but lyrical.

So why am I bothering to update?  Well, I need a distraction. With the help of pain medication, I'm going to try to resume some of my crafting activities.  I need to somehow get my mind off this monster blob in my head and produce something. I've joined the Club Scrap Assembly Line Boot Camp that begins next week. I hope it motivates me to work through the pain and fatigue.  I'm calling in "craft therapy."

In the meantime, I'm going to post many of the projects that I produced between 2008 and 2011, when the tumor took over.  There are so many, I'm not going to provide written details. Some of the photography is less than stellar.  Please forgive me.

PRO Scrapbookers League Week 3

For this weeks competition, we had to use the February 2008 Club Scrap Kit, Bridges. Here are my contributions:

Erin and Tyler's first day of school, September 2002. Erin made it into the preschool "peer-model" program. At that time in our school district, preschool was only offered in public school to children who were judged to need extra assistance in some way: emotional, physical, mental, intellectual, etc. In each classroom, two peer models were placed to serve as examples to the other students. Erin was chosen as one of the peer models for the 2002 preschool year. She was thrilled and couldn't wait to go to school like her "bubby."

I don't like this layout quite as well, but it is done, so...
Jamie and the kids are relaxing, playing a game of Uno. Both kids are now old enough to understand and enjoy a card game now and then.

During the 2005-2006 school year, we hosted and exchange student from Germany. These pictures are from the fall choral concert. Each of the participating exchange students introduced themselves.

This is my favorite layout. This is the last time the grandchildren visited their grandfather before he passed away. About a month after my nephew was born, my brother and I and our families made a trip to Florida. We wanted Dad to see his newest grandchild before he left us.

Club Scrap PRO Scrapbookers League

Let's start with some scrapbooking. Club Scrap has been having a great competition, the PRO Scrapbooker's League. I've been drafted on to the GOLD team. Each week, until May 3rd, the teams complete a weekly challenge. Product discounts are awarded based on the standing of each team at the end of each week. So far, my team hasn't been doing so well. In fact, we finished in last place on the last challenge. Oh well, at least I'm getting more scrapping done than I usually do. Here are the results so far:

Pre-Season Week - Team Colors: Use 75% gold/yellow in the layout.

This layout uses the Club Scrap Down To Earth kit. All photography is by my husband, Jamie. Isn't he talented? I love the reflection of the trees in the water.

Week One - A Study in Red Kit: I usually use the Club Scrap "ALSB" method for most of my scrapbooking. What is ALSB? Assembly Line Scrapbooking. Club Scrap publishes cutting and layout directions for all of the paper in the kit. You assemble and then add pictures later. Since I hadn't ALSB'd the Study in Red kit yet, I used the Club Scrap Digital kit instead. I was thrilled with the results. What do you think?

The first layout is of our new kitty, Bella. We have a bazillion nicknames for her. I listed just a few on the layout. I used 100% Club Scrap A Study In Red Digital.

The next set is of Christmas morning 2007. Also, 100% Club Scrap A Study in Red Digital.

The third set is a paper layout of our first home. It was meant for the pre-season challenge but I didn't get it finished in time. It uses the Club Scrap Interior Design kit.

Week Two - President's Day Challenge: Create a layout about something in your hometown, home state, or home country.

Photos of a lake near our home. Completed using 100% Club Scrap Sparkle Digital Kit.

Cranberry Glades Park, WV. 100% Club Scrap Great Outdoors Digital Kit.


Flowers from my own backyard. 100% Club Scrap Be Still Digital Kit.

4th of July Parade. Mostly Club Scrap Chaper One Digital Kit.

Welcome to my Blog!

Well, I did it. I started my own blog. You would think as much time as I spend on the computer I would have had one years ago, but I have resisted. I don't know exactly how often I'll keep this updated, so don't expect much at first. What will I be posting? Well, here's the plan:

• Family updates for remote friends and relatives.


• General crafting, scrapbooking, stamping, and other paper crafting related info and items I produce.


• Private piano, voice, and choral music related articles.


• Information related to anxiety disorders and phobias.


• Articles related to fibromyalgia and related disorders.


• Worship media related articles and items I produce.