Magic

For the Magic/Merry Fairy theme on Digi Scrap Challenges

Credits:

"Merry Fairy" by Tempus Fugit

Winning Layout!

The Haunting of Hill House

First published in 1959, Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House has been hailed as a perfect work of unnerving terror. It is the story of four seekers who arrive at a notoriously unfriendly pile called Hill House: Dr. Montague, an occult scholar looking for solid evidence of a “haunting”; Theodora, his lighthearted assistant; Eleanor, a friendless, fragile young woman well acquainted with poltergeists; and Luke, the future heir of Hill House. At first, their stay seems destined to be merely a spooky encounter with inexplicable phenomena. But Hill House is gathering its powers—and soon it will choose one of them to make its own.

Umm, okay, first of all The version I read was slightly different than the synopsis above, in that Theo was not the doc's assistant, but one of the slightly psychic guests. Anyhow, I doubt the versions changed too much.

Well as I mentioned, I chose to read this book because I had recently seen The Haunting (movie) on TV and saw that it was based on this book. Well the movie is my favorite haunted house movie and I thought the book would be even better because they usually are...

Not the case! I knew it was psycological terror, that's why I like it, not so much blood and gore, but the book was entirely psychological! There was maybe a bump in the night here, an unexplained cold spot there, but the book wasn't really about the house at all!

It was about Eleanor. A shut-in taking care of her mom for far too long and turned a touch crazy I think. The house took ahold of her mind until she was apart of the house itself. We follow her thoughts on the house and the others which are always bouncing between almost a worshiping love and beastly hate. Odd. Just odd.

There was a backstory behind the house, but nothing near as cool as what they depicted in the movie.

It seemed like this was more the kind of book you would read in school and discuss and no one really liked. I know it's a classic and all, just not what I expected. Read it if you want, hey even in the middle of the night! It's okay nothing scary really happens!

What makes me a Mom

Scrap-lift challenge from Digi Scrap Challenges & Blue Jeans Challenge from Let's Edit Some Pictures on CafeMom

Credits:

"Blue Jeans" by AWP

Winning Layout for Scraplift Challenge!

Wonder

from last nights speed scrap atScrap Matters Wonder Credits:

"Brin de Muguet" by Tinette

Stuck

For Digi Scrap Challenges Speedscrap last night

Credits:

"Fresh and Fun" by ElisasBits

"Life in colour" by TBD

Won the fav of the speedscrap! Beat Sara by 1 vote...Sara, did you vote for me? You could've won!

Breaking Dawn

When you loved the one who was killing you, it left you no options. How could you run, how could you fight, when doing so would hurt that beloved one? If your life was all you had to give, how could you not give it? If it was someone you truly loved?

To be irrevocably in love with a vampire is both fantasy and nightmare woven into a dangerously heightened reality for Bella Swan. Pulled in one direction by her intense passion for Edward Cullen, and in another by her profound connection to werewolf Jacob Black, a tumultuous year of temptation, loss, and strife have led her to the ultimate turning point. Her imminent choice to either join the dark but seductive world of immortals or to pursue a fully human life has become the thread from which the fates of two tribes hangs.

Now that Bella has made her decision, a startling chain of unprecedented events is about to unfold with potentially devastating, and unfathomable, consequences. Just when the frayed strands of Bella's life-first discovered in Twilight, then scattered and torn in New Moon and Eclipse-seem ready to heal and knit together, could they be destroyed... forever?

The astonishing, breathlessly anticipated conclusion to the Twilight Saga, Breaking Dawn illuminates the secrets and mysteries of this spellbinding romantic epic that has entranced millions.

So, What did I think of Breaking Dawn? Well I have lot's of things to say but let me start out by saying that there are spoilers here. Do NOT read this if you are planning on reading Breaking Dawn and haven't finished yet!

Okay, now let me also mention that I love Stephanie Meyer! I love how she makes you really care about the characters. I love how her romance makes me feel warm and fuzzy and not uncomfortable. I will likely read everything she writes! I also enjoyed Breaking Dawn! Here's the breakdown of thing I liked and didn't like and how I felt in general.

Well gets right to it doesn't she? Wham Blam wedding honeymoon! I was surpised that she moved through those so quickly, but I'm glad since there's little drama left there.

*insert comment. So sex scenes....Hmm not too bad. Fine for me, but not sure I'd want my teenage daughter reading that. (No I don't really have a teenage daughter, jeez folks I'm only 24!) They were a tiny bit too graphic at times. It didn't really bother me though. So swearing....Um I was actually okay with that. Oddly it seemed to fit Jacob's personality. Maybe becuase he reminds me of people I know.... Anyway I was okay with it, but here's the thing, the LDS community, not so pleased with the added sex and swearing; The General public didn't think the sex scenes were explicit enough. Poor Steph, what to do what to do. It's one of those things you just have to choose which side and go for it. In the middle is not the best place on those things. Just my general opinion, though once again I am fine with how it was.

Pregnant? Oh yes I suspected this was coming so I wasn't surprised. I know some people have some issues with the biolgy of how this happened and how her pregnancy worked....umm have you studied the biology of vampires? I sure haven't...oh wait that's right, they don't really exist so how do you know what to expect and what would or wouldn't work with being impregnated by one? I think our suspended realty can stretch that far don't you?

Poor Jacob. I must say I've always really liked Jacob! Oddly I think New Moon is my fav cause we get to know him better. I hurt for him at the end of Eclipse and was kinda glad to see him agian but also sad for him. I really really enjoyed reading from his perspective. Loved those chapter titles. He cracks me up! Maybe because he's so real . Anyway I felt it rather sadistic for Bella to always be happy for him to be around. Why can't she just let him go? She's married! It's so inappropriate! Then....

Predictable. In those first Jacob Chapters I had it pegged. That baby would be a girl and he would imprint on her. Why did this surprise so many people? Stephanie totally got you ready for this when Quil imprinted on an infant. I know I know she tried to throw you with Bella's certainty that it would be a boy, but I didn't believe her for a second! So that's how they were going to keep him in their lives....weird...too convienient...eh I suppose I'm okay with it, didn't give me warm fuzzys though.

Lets skim for a minute....baby girl....turned immortal... poof! love triangle disolves so conviently... Bella very controlled (let down a bit there, not sure why but I was so ready for that bloodlust) ...yadda yadda yadda... yeah the book dragged for a bit there. Well written, but not enough excitement, no real conflict for several chapters.

Also predicted upcoming battle with Volturi. Didn't you? Though I assume we were suppose to. That whole story about taboo immortal children wasn't just for the fun of it!

Gathering vamps! Okay that's cool. More vamps, some with cool gifts. Kept up with most, but somethings seemed to go a bit too fast perhaps. It's okay we're gearing up for the big battle....

What? Where? What the heck happened to the big battle? I think this is my only real disappointment with the book. I was ready. I was even reading out loud for Ryan to hear the cool battle scene! It was going to be better than Lord of the Rings! Thhhpppppt! Yay for Bella discovering her gift! That was great and cool for her but where's the charge? What about Benjamin's super cool power! I so wanted to see more of that! If he could control fire he could throw fireballs at that guard! How awesome would that be?!? No... nothin' How anti-climatic. My only consulation was that the Romanians were bummed too. (I kinda liked them).

Dead end...oh yeah there was one other thing that really bugged me. We spent so much time following Alice's master plan without actually knowing what it was. Getting papers for Jacob and Nessie, keeping it all a secret for Edward so Aro wouldn't find out....ummm yeah dead end, completely unnecessary. I was ready for a really cool interwined plan with this...and her...and that...and they...and then...nothing. Good job with the "Just in case" *sigh* what a let down. It was like someone asked Stephanie "So how do the Cullens get all their ids and stuff so they can pretend to be normal?" And she's like "I'll fit into my next book, even though it doesn't really apply."

Happy wrap up...Awww they all lived happily ever after in a perfect little world with no conflicts. Wait what is the target audience again? We aren't children. We could have handled a few deaths in the big battle (had there been one). Shoot I thought that's why we had so many vamp friends coming so we could kill off some! Like in a disaster movie where you look at the group at the beginning and think, oh yeah, the fat guy, funny black guy, and mean blond chick are so getting dead. Like Leah, she could have gotten killed in a good battle. That would have been okay. She was misurable anyway! And some of the others too...Not Seth though I LOVE Seth! We could have handled a bittersweet ending. Like the final episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer! Now there was an ending! Big battle! Some people died! The ones we really cared about got out alive...barely. We feel resolved. So anyway a bit of a letdown there at the end too. All the characters we loved are now completely unrelatable in their perfect little world. *sigh*

Umm okay so there's my opinion. You are more than welcome to disagree with anything I said. Quite frankly I'd love the discussion. I really did like the book, just didn't love the book like I did the other three. That's all. And now I've practically written a book on the book. =o)

Quote - Breaking Dawn

"You're awfully small to be so hugely irritating."

~Edward from Stephanie Meyer's Breaking Dawn

Bonus quote from Breaking Dawn cause it made me laugh alot, won't get it unless you know the characters:

Alice: "I'll play you for it. Rock, paper, scissors."
Edward: "Why don't you just tell me who wins?"
Alice: "I do. Excellent."

Sit Still?

Sit Still credits:

paper: Skip add on from digi treats

frame: Simply Irresistible Designz

flower: "Blue Bloom" by Misschifis Scraps

strip cluster: Danielle Young designs

"All Good things" by SPinkD

Winner of August Freebit Challenge!
(The Featured freebie was the cluster frame)

Love 2 Play

Speed Scrap from last night at SrapMatters

credits:

Template by Sassy Pixie

"Dad & Mum" by Cécile

"New Arrival pretty in pink" by snowmoons design

Alpha "Harvest Spice" by Shabby Princess

First Swim

For Digi Scrap Challenge's Speed Scrap

Swim Credits:

Template- by Suzanne Blair

"Sand N' Surf" by Kim's Scrappin'

"Bathtime Bubbles by dnaddryad

"Beachy Keen" by Scripity Scrap

"Summer Sizzle" by Voodoo Scraps

'Lil Clover

This was made for the Scrap Matters template challenge also for the digi scrap challenge groups pet challenge

Lil Clover credits:

Template by britt-ish designs

"Cheap and Pop" created by akizo

flower - "FRESH START" by SCRAPKUT

Alpha - "Cherry Chocolate" by Nicole

ribbon - "Comme un oiseau sur une branche" by Loloden designs

Won the pet challenge!

Quote - The Host

"It's not the face, but the expressions on it. It's not the voice, but what you say. It's not how you look in that body, but the things you do with it. You are beautiful."

~Ian from Stephanie Meyer's The Host

The Host

Amazon Best of the Month, May 2008: Stephenie Meyer, creator of the phenomenal teen-vamp Twilight series, takes paranormal romance into alien territory in her first adult novel. Those wary of sci-fi or teen angst will be pleasantly surprised by this mature and imaginative thriller, propelled by equal parts action and emotion. A species of altruistic parasites has peacefully assumed control of the minds and bodies of most humans, but feisty Melanie Stryder won't surrender her mind to the alien soul called Wanderer. Overwhelmed by Melanie's memories of fellow resistor Jared, Wanderer yields to her body's longing and sets off into the desert to find him. Likely the first love triangle involving just two bodies, it's unabashedly romantic, and the characters (human and alien) genuinely endearing. Readers intrigued by this familiar-yet-alien world will gleefully note that the story's end leaves the door open for a sequel--or another series. --Mari Malcolm

I loved it! Stephanie Meyer has a true gift for writing in ways to make you really care about the characters involved. I'm jelous of her amazing skill, yet will shamelessly read anything she writes! A great romance without being smutty, a great plot. She even has an amazing way of making what I would normally call "drag moments" in the book exciting. I laughed, I cried....it moved me Bob! It had a great ending that satisfied the reader, yet left enough opening if she does decide to carry on. The beginning seemed weird, but I was quickly sucked in and had a hard time putting it down. Did I mention I loved it?

Nature's touch

Digi-Challenge speed scrap

Natures touch Credits:

"Summers End" by Pixelfairy-Design

"Shabby Mommy" by Shabby Princess

Won the scrap challenge at Lets Edit some Pictures group on cafemom

Won "the best of" for the speedscrap at Digi Scrap Challenges on cafemom

Sleepy Boy

Speed Scrap 8/13 at digit scrap challenges. I hosted!

Sleepy Credits:

"Rock a by Baby" by GGDigitalDesigns

"Alexine" by goth_kittie

"Shabby Sherbet" by Julie

"Metal Charms 2" by LLL Creations

Love you to Pieces

I hosted another speed scrap. This was my layout I made then based the speed scrap off of.

credits:

"Baby Boy" by Vikki @ AWP

"B comme..." by abc delf

Big Boy - 6 Months

8/11 speed scrap at Scrap Matters

Speedscrap 8/11 credits:

Alpha:"Playdoh Alpha" by Amy Sumrall

"Backyard Playground" ADS Collab

"Spring Breeze" by shabby Princess

Quote - read

"Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read."

~Groucho Marx

Put a Sock in it

Speed Scrap at Scrapmatters

Put a Sock in it Credits:

"Matthew" by Farrah Smith

"Blue Bloom" by Misschifis Scraps

"Fan" Digital Creations collab

"Oh Boy" by Nicole

Reading with Uncle!

This was made during the speed scrap on Scrap Matters last night!

Speed Scrap 8/8/08Read Credits:

"All Good Things" by SPinkD

"A Day Off " by Irene Alexeeva

"Backyard Playground" ADS Collab

Quote: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/g/grouchomar137218.html

Pictures taken by Jessica Potter

Thumper

This was for a template challenge at scrapmatters. Not only did you have to use their template, but you also had to do a nickname so I did Jaden's before he even had a name: Thumper!

Thumper credits:

http://disney-clipart.com/bambi/jpg/Thumper.php

"Backyard Playground" ADS collab

"Summer Sundress" by Jenart

The Goose Girl

In this delightful book by Shannon Hale (Bloomsbury, 2003), 16-year-old Princess Anidori–Kiladra Talianna Isillee, Crown Princess of Kildenree, is betrayed by Selia, her jealous and evil lady-in-waiting, and takes refuge as a goose girl while plotting how to reclaim her rightful place as the bride-to-be of the Prince of Bayern. Gifted with the ability to speak to animals and talk to the wind, Princess Anidori–now called Isi–falls in love, makes new friends, and collects allies in her quest to claim her title. This tale of courage and perseverance is a listening delight.–Cindy Lombardo, Tuscarawas County Public Library, New Philadelphia, OH

This is a book based on the Brothers Grimm story The Goose Girl. Shannon Hale stays true to the fairy tale while giving the reader a much more description, enchanting story. I really enjoyed it. I read the author's bio... she's from Salt Lake and served an 18 month mission. Do you think she could be LDS??

I read this for my LDS Bookclub on cafeMOM. Anyway, I love love loved it. Maybe it's my childhood love of extaordinary princesses, but it was well written with lots of action to move it along. The writing was done so well I could absolutely "see" every piece of scenery every detail of the people. I will admit I am rather biased to this genra.

Play!

I did these for a scrap-lift challenge. I loved the layout so much so I made it my own.

Speed Scrap Host

Today I hosted my fist speed scrap! I think I did an okay job at it. I based my instructions off of this layout I call Big Boy:

Then, following my own instructions during the speed scrap I made this one! Cousin Love:

Scrap Swap

In my scrapbooking challenges forum on cafemom we do a scrap swap where we e-mail our pictures to someone and they make a scrap page for us. And someone else e-mails their some pictures to me an I make some pages for them. You only have to do one page (and usually that's all I'll do), but this time RebekahRain made me 4 beautiful pages. So I thought I'd post them so you could see them too! I sent her 8 pictures cause I couldn't decide which ones to send and told her she could choose. Well, she liked them all so much she used ALL of them! Lucky me!