Announcement....

I will have a new contest starting March 1st. :) That means that 2 contests will be running simultaneously. :) Remember that the "Get the Word" out contest ends the 15th.


The new contest will be that for each challenge entry and comment you leave on the blog, you will get your name in a drawing to win one of several prizes at the end of the month.

The main prize is a Cropperware Page in Progress Cherry Blossom Box. Here is a pic:

For more information on this prize go to: http://www.pagesinprogress.com/

Next there is an adorable stamp set from My Favorite Things, here is a pic:

Here is a link: http://www.mftstamps.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=7&products_id=70

Next is Cosmo Cricket Buck Naked Chipboard Alpha buttons, here is a link:

http://www.qbaroo.com/cosmocricket/largeimage.cfm?product=33

Colette's Take

Here is Colette's take using the C&T Shadow Box:

Unanswered Questions - Shadow Box by Colette Bate

The mini book of journaling on the front cover reads:
I remember how surprised I was when I learned that she had a name. Etta. I called her Ma. Everyone did. She was my mother's mother and possibly the most influential person in my life. Where she lived was my home. Home because the family of a Marine moves a lot. And, mother and daddy would always say we were going home whenever we would travel back to Utah to visit.
I loved her. I loved her bathroom that was filled with pretty decorative bottles of Avon creams and perfumes. I loved the wooden cases of empty glass coke bottles that was always outside her back door. I loved the huge front porch where I would roller skate. And the front steps where I would sing and dance for my pretend audience. I loved her because she took me to Provo for dance lessons.

I loved her yummy raspberry jam. And, I loved going down to the basement, past the floor drain filled with suds from the emptying washing machine, to the fruit room and the dusty wooden shelves laden with jars of jams, jellies, and bottled fruit. I loved playing in the icy cold water that rushed downhill in the irrigation ditch in front of her house. I loved that she made me get up early every Sunday morning so she could wash and pin curl my hair. I'd sit under the hot metal bonnet hairdryer in the basement until it was time to comb my hair, put on a fancy dress, and ride with Pa to Sunday School. Ma didn't go to Sunday School. But, I loved coming home after church to smell the roast beef and vegetables and see the dinner table covered with a white linen tablecloth and fancy dishes. I loved plinking the keys on her piano. I loved that she made me take piano lessons. I loved coming home from school to find her sitting at the huge quilt set up on wooden posts in the far end of her living room. I loved that she sternly told me not to stomp my feet. I loved the occasional trips to Salt Lake ... day long excursions to Auerbach's, shopping, lunch, and the stories she would tell. I loved that her house was always clean, yet I never saw her cleaning.I loved the dirty old straw hat that she wore outside to protect her from the hot sun as she pulled weeds, planted flowers, and moved the garden hose around the lawn like a slippery green snake. I loved that she took me when she would visit her sister in Orem where I would play in the peach orchard until it was time to go back home. I loved that she took me to town and introduced me to all the people we would see. She knew them all. And, I loved how we would stop at the drug store soda fountain and sit on the shiny chrome stools and share a cherry coke before walking back home. Now I'm the mother of a mother. I realize how much I want my granddaughter's to have the same fond memories of their childhood and their grandmother that I have of mine. Her influence in my life is still palpable. But, now I find myself wondering what she was like as a woman. I realize she was much more than just Ma. She was a wife, of a quiet, hardworking man who loved to fish and secretly smoked cigarettes in the back yard. She was a mother to a deaf son who was sent away to school.She was a friend whose neighbors were always dropping by to visit.She was a person who loved to decorate, garden, gossip, and needlepoint. I wonder what her childhood like? Did she fall in love at first sight of Pa or did she learn to love him? Where did she find the strength when her son lost his hearing and her daughter lost her vision after a bout with meningitis? What made her laugh? Did she think she was pretty? Why didn't she go to church with us? Did she love to dance? What were her politics? Did she cry when Kennedy was shot? How did she cope when Pa died? Did she mind living alone? Did she know how much I loved her? How much we all loved her? I know that my fond memories of her are entangled with the fondest memories of my childhood. She was the best grandmother a young girl could have and I was proud to call her Ma. But, she was also Etta ... a woman I wish I had known.

The journaling square on the inside front cover reads:
What did you like to do in your spare time?
Who was your McDreamy?
Where did you like to hang out?
What rocked your world? What was your dream job?
What was your favorite junk food?
Flats or heels? Favorite sport?
What was the craziest thing you ever did?
How did you spend your paycheck?
What were your quirks? Did you sing in the shower?
Did you have a nickname?
Who inspired you? What did you like to read?
What were your pet peeves?
Summer or Winter? What made you happy?
What personality trait would best describe you?

Jamie's Take

Here is Jamie's Take:



Here's my take for the tribute challenge...it's actually kind of wierd by itself, but it goes into a whole tribute album I'm doing about my stepdad.

"The Written Word"

Ernie loved knowledge...He read books about everything from "Self Help" to "How To" to the Bible and more. He had quite the library built up in his office. He was such a smart man...sooo smart! And I know much of it came from reading every day.

Tracy's take

Here is Tracy's take:

Journaling Reads:
Today at 5:45 the phone started ringing. Odd that I heard it actually...I'm quite the sleeper, but today it rang and then rang again. A cold heavy feeling began growing in my belly as I trotted downstairs to get the phone.
Checked the Caller ID. My brother Dave. My mom. My brother Dave again.
Oh my God. This was the call. THE call. Nervously I called and my youngest brother Timmy (who is 10) calmly answered the phone."Timmy, what's going on.""Dad is dying"*noise in the background*"Dad is already gone."*silence* I replayed those words a few thousand times in the next few seconds."Is someone there with you?""Marsha and Dave are on their way.""Okay. I'm coming too.""Ok."Calmly he hung the phone up. Suddenly my world had changed.
We drove down to my hometown (about 40 minutes away). Mom refused to call the coroner until I got there. The closer we got the more nervous I was. Why? WHY would she wait? Why did I need to see him like that? What purpose would that serve? Was this some morbid thing that I was being forced to partake in? I just didn't get it.
When we got there she was sitting by his bed. There were several people there, faces red, eyes tired, murmuring to themselves. I walked into the living room where his bed was and his hand was on Mom's shoulder. My eyes burned and my face was already wet.

My dad wasn't moving. He didn't look bad or scary or anything. He was just still. Very still. He was still yellow from this damn disease and laying still. I stood by his bed and looked down. His brow was relaxed. His mouth slightly open. So still. In his face I saw echoes of my own. But it was different. It looked different without the animation life brings. I felt my heart hammering in my chest and my throat ached...I realized I had been holding my breath. I don't know why.My hands look so much like his.
It was forever before they came to take him away. Forever watching my mom hold him and cry. Stroke him and tell him how much she loved him. Touch him and say "I'll never feel his warm body again. I'll never be able to touch him like this again."
If hearts really could break, mine did at that moment. I was holding my breath again. I tried to exhale so that no one would be able to tell.
Then the worst part came. Worse than holding dad's hand and thanking God for taking his pain away. Worse than kissing his still warm forehead and knowing that it wouldn't be like that any more. Worse than having to explain what it was going to be like when Joey saw Grandpa for the first time after he had died. Worse...at least it seemed.... We had to go to the funeral home. It was fine at first. They are nice people. Pretty place. Business. Business. Business. Then he said "Let's go choose a casket." and pointed to a door beside his desk."Hmmm." I thought. "Is his catalog in there?"
Uhm....no catalog. It was a small room crammed with coffins. FOR REAL coffins. I mean..I'm not a total sheltered nerd or anything but again I was just taken back at being in this room. Really? Really you can't say something or hang a sign or something? I walked in and immediately felt claustrophobic. OH MY GOD.But I did OK. I didn't scream or run out of anything. I just held my breath. A lot. It took too long to pick one out. Wood was an obvious choice for him, but the prices ranged from $1400 to $5000. Holy crap. Grief AND debt. Eventually this process was over.. Lots of things to do to get ready, but this part was done. I cried most of the way back to Mom and Dad's house.Before we left tonight we went to the cemetery. It’s a family cemetery (of sorts) in the woods, on a hill with a pretty rustic view of green fields and trees. My uncle (a former funeral home guy) met us there to mark the place where the grave would go. A row down front to enjoy the view.I just kept choking back the burning in my eyes and practiced breathing in and out. Slowly in and out. About 10 feet or so away from the markers is the spot where I will be buried. This is the cemetery that we mowed every couple of weeks when I was a teenager. Mom and Dad took good care of it and today it looks just as nice.

They say that eventually I’ll be numb. I doubt it. Today the first man I ever loved died. I took one last picture of him today. My hand on his. The hands that held me and rocked me, taught me drive, walked me down the aisle. My daddy’s hands.

Challenge #13

Challenge #13 is brought to you by Deanne Burton. The challenge is to create a tribute page to someone who passed away.



Journaling reads: Pop always loved doing things with his boys. He would take you for rides in his van, go buy candy with you. When the fair came to town, he would take you.

Here is the 2 peas thread for this challenge: http://twopeasinabucket.kaboose.com/mb.asp?cmd=display&thread_id=2499556

Here is the scrapinstyle tv thread for this challenge: http://www.scrapinstyletv.com/forums/21_15347_0.html

And the winner is.....

The winner of the class is (as pulled from a hat by my DD) is........................................






Tracy

Contest Standings

*****edited I forgot a couple of entries!!!****

Here are the top ten that will go in the drawing for tomorrow:


1.Stefanie Semple 575 pts
2.Jamie Danford 560 pts
3.Gina Johnson 495 pts
4.Tracy King 380 pts
5.Beverly Todd 290 pts
6.Colette Bate 55 pts
7.Nicole drewniak 40 pts
8. Sam ellis 30 pts
9.Ali 25 pts
10 Deanne Burton 25 pts


I will post the winner tomorrow afternoon! :)

Winner for Challenge #11 and Entries from Challenge #12

The winner of Challenge #11 is:



My other Half!!! by Sam Ellis (that is the e-mail name that it came to me from)!! You have gotten 20 points! If your name is different than Sam Ellis, please send me an e-mail at
stcrupko@yahoo.com.


Here are the entries for Challenge #12, DT please send me your votes.

Journaling reads:

The journaling is a bit small and difficult to see in this scan. Sorry! In the upper right corner the handwritten journaling reads: The best part of eating Chinese food must be the fortune cookie...okay, maybe not! They are fun though! In college I learned that adding "in bed" to the fortune is fun too!

Along the left hand side there are fortunes from cookies I have saved over that year or so. Under them I've added my own comments about them.

Fortune: You are a leader. Others soon will need your inspiration.
Is "insanity" another word for that?

Fortune: Your innovative nature will help you come up with a solution.
...in bed? LOL. Okay....:-)

Fortune: We must always have old memories and young hopes.
I wish I had old money and a young body.

Fortune: Visit a park. Enjoy what nature has to offer.
Yeah...I don't like nature.

Fortune: You will find your horizons suddenly broadened.
...and so I have! :-D

Fortune: Focus in on the color yellow tomorrow for good luck!
...I hate yellow.

Fortune: The current year will bring you much happiness.
Well...that is vertainly true. I an one lucky girl, FORTUNate even. :-D

Fortune (under the picture) An unexpected event will soon make your life more exciting.

Journaling reads:

For as long as we've been cropping we've eaten Wang's II Chinese food. It all started with the first store owner, Beth...she's the one who got us hooked. Then we carried the tradition on to our Cropadiles Club at church, and then we kept ordering when I bought the store. Our tradition involves one quirk...we say the words "in bed" after we read our fortune...It's brought LOTS of laughs!

Journaling reads:

Love is the triumph of imagination over intelligence. -H.L. Mencken We cannot do great things; only small things with great love. - Mother Teresa Only love lets us see normal things in an extraordinary way.Title reads: She loves to (eat play pretend sing wave dance slide run read giggle) Help.

Journaling reads:

"Do Not let others take advantage of you."

Alexander, you are 16 now and becoming a young many. Please heed my advice. Love, Mom

Stella's Take

Here is my take:

Journaling reads:

Others admire you
for your inner beauty.

How true this statement is,! When I saw that Victoria had gotten this as her fortune in her fortune cookie, it just grabbed me as being so appropriate for her. She is so beautiful on the outside, but what is most beautiful about her is her caring personality. At only 5 years old, she is so empathetic and caring towards the people around her. She is a true friend to all she encounters. She thinks of other people’s feelings before her own at least 75% of the time. At her age, I was all about me. I just wonder how it is that she became this way, was she just born being one of those people that are naturally caring and more in tuned with the people around them? Did I do something to encourage her sensitivity? Is there something in her DNA that makes her not like the average child in this area? I used to think that maybe I was just thinking that she is above average in this area because she is my child, but then I had a conference with her Kindergarten teacher and she told me that Victoria is so much more advanced emotionally than the other children. She even gave Victoria an award for being caring and having self control. So once again, I wonder how she got this way, but in the end that doesn’t really matter. What matters is that she is this way and it is something that I love so much about her. When she pats me on the arm and says, “Mommy it’s ok. I love you.”, when she can tell that I am upset. It just shows me what a truly remarkable child she has become.

Tonya's take

Here is Tonya's take:

Journaling reads: We have a tradition of always playing the little game of saying "in bed" after reading a fortune cookie fortune. Even the kids do it, though I imagine it doesn't make sense to them yet. :)

Contest Standings and more chances to win....

Oh MY!!! You gals have been keeping me busy!!!!!


1. Stefanie 385 pts
2. Jamie 340 pts
3. Tracy 335 pts.
4. Beverly 285 pts
5. Gina 180 pts


Ok, so I am adding a new prize for 4th place. 4th place will receive a C&T Publishing Shadowbox that the DT has been using this month!!!

Oh and another prize!!! Debbie Hodge with NYCScraps.com is offering a place in her Scrap Yourself Class as a prize to the blog. The top 10 points earners for the contest by this weekend will be put in a drawing to win this place in the class!!!!!!!!!!!! Here is a link to the class description:

http://debbiehodge.typepad.com/scrap_yourself/scrap-yourself.html

Nicole's Take

Here is Nicole's Take:




Journaling reads:

Brothers and sisters are as close as hands and feet.Lucky Numbers 2 3 4 7

Confucius says: A big sister’s love is priceless.
Lucky Numbers 5 9 11 16

Like branches on a tree, we grow in different directions yet our roots remain as one.
Lucky Numbers 3 7 9 21

Tutorial for Beverly's Shadowbox

Hey gals, Beverly was nice enough to write up a tutorial on how to do the
C&T Shadowbox project that she did below. Here it is:

‘Life Is Random’ Shadow Box

You will need:

C&T Publishing 5” x 7” Shadow Box
Assorted chipboard letters/words/accents (ours were Creative Imaginations, TLC, Rusty Pickle & Heidi Swapp)
Vintage dictionary page, buttons, length of twine.
Ink Pads (we used Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink in Real Red, Dark Brown & Chestnut Roan)
Acrylic Paints (DecoArt Santa Red, Cranberry Wine & Lamp Black)
Creative Imaginations Coffee House Papers by Marah Johnson: Coffee Carnivale, Blue Scroll, Harlequin Scroll
Brown & Green Chalks; Red & Brown Markers/Fineliners
Sanding pad, iron & Basic Tool Kit
Small photographs & Fortune Cookie mottos (we generated ours on the internet – look for the links in the instructions!)

Let’s Make It:

1.Paint the inside frames, the outside hinge and the edges of the top of the box and set aside to dry. Remove the two inside base pieces and paint the tops and front edges.

2. Meanwhile cut two pieces of Coffee Carnivale paper to fit the front and back of the box and two pieces of blue scroll paper to fit the insides. Screw each piece up into a ball and then flatten out. Lightly sand them to reveal the white core along the creases and then gently rub over with a light brown ink pad. Iron each of the pieces before sticking into position.

3.Cut a 1” strip of Coffee Carnivale paper to fit over the spine edge of the box front and tear along one long edge. Ink the edges red before sticking in position so that the torn edge overlaps onto the front cover.

4.Cut strips of Harlequin Scroll paper to fit the sides of the box, ink the edges red and stick into place. Where strips overlap, tear the edge that will show and ink that red too. When the outside of the box is covered, use the red ink pad to colour all the exposed edges.

5.Decorate the front of the box with a title and a photograph. We altered a chipboard word by inking in three shades. Start with the darkest first and leave to dry in between layers to avoid transfer between the ink pads. A button, threaded with a short piece of knotted twine, replaces the dot over the ‘i’. The last word of our title comes from a dictionary definition. This has been highlighted with green and brown chalks and then a doodled frame was added. We have drawn attention to it with a hand drawn arrow.

6. The fortune cookie quotes were generated online at the following websites: http://www.redkid.net/generator/fortune/
http://www.yourspacecorner.com/Generators/Fortune-Cookies/

To go with the ‘random’ theme of our layout, ours read:

Nothing can stop him – not even common sense
As a computer I find your faith in technology amusing
Experience is that wonderful thing that allows you to recognise a mistake when you make it again
One is never alone with a rubber duck
Nobody expects the Spanish inquisition! (Monty Python)
With the exception of the last quote, the authors are unknown.

7.Mat the larger quotes onto Coffee Carnivale paper and ink the edges red. For the smaller ones, cut close to the edge of the design.

8. For the inside left panel of the box: Replace the base piece, arrange cookies and add the word ‘random’ either die or hand cut from remaining Coffee Carnivale scraps. Highlight each letter with doodled red lines. Cover chipboard brackets with Blue Scrolls paper, sand the edges and ink with Chestnut Roan. Attach to the box with foam pads.

9.For the inside right panel: Attach a torn piece of Harlequin scroll to the top of the base piece and then replace in the box. Attach cookies, a photograph and a chipboard clock face, which is first inked in dark brown and red. Decorate the centre right edge of the box with two torn and inked strips of Coffee Carnivale, wrapping them right around on to the back of the box.

10. Finally, computer journal on to a piece of Harlequin Scroll paper, roll up and tie with a length of twine.

Beverly's Take

Here is Beverly's Take and is BTW a Shadowbox by our fabulous sponsor C&T Publishing:

Journaling reads:

When I’m feeling a bit down you’re just the one to cheer me up. The random things you say always make us laugh – you are ever the clown. Your sense of humour is infectious and although what you say might make no sense whatsoever, you are always guaranteed to raise a smile. Life with you is certainly never dull – and all the better for it!
You can be serious when you choose, which isn’t often, but Martin – NEVER lose your sense of fun; it will help you through the tough times.

Repost of Contest standings...

Ok since Gina Johnson and Reformed Mama are one and the same and since I have had some MAJOR activity on the contest. So here we go again.

1. Stefanie -- BTW ladies, she has done a LOT of referrals!!!!! Those earn you the most points!
2. Beverly with only a 10 point lead over the #3 people!
3. Tied Jamie and Tracy
4. Gina Johnson


Come on, send me some pages with Unique journaling! I will take as many as you can send. There is a real opportunity for points here! If I use your page, you can get as many points as a referral! Remember unique can be anything...absolutely anything in the way that you journal or the subject of journaling. Bring em on!

Stefanie's Take

Here is Stefanie's take for this challenge:

Title: Catfucius say:

Journaling reads:

1.There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music & cats.
2.One can measure the heat of the day by the length of the cat.
3.A cat could be a man’s best friend but never stoops to it.
4.For the best seat in the house you’ll have to move the cat!
5.A dog has a master but a cat has staff.
6.A cat will find the one spot of sun on the floor and soak it up.

Contest Standings...

Ok, here are the standings for now:

1. Stefanie
2. Tracy
3. Colette and Reformed Mama
4. Gina Johnson

Don't forget to see all the ways you can earn points! So far, I have only gotten page entries, referrals, comments and stuff posted other places. Remember you can:

1. For every person you refer to this blog and who responds to this thread with your name as the person who referred them, you will get 20 points.
2. For every comment you make to a post, you will get 5 points. **Note: any comments that make no sense or are one word etc. will not get points**
3. For every challenge you parcipate in and submit a layout, you will receive 10 points.
4. For every challenge you win, you will receive an additional 10 points.
5. For every link you e-mail to me at stcrupko@yahoo.com where you have posted your layout entry for the challenges in an online gallery with the title as being Journaling Junkie Challenge Entry and in the comments you mention journalingjunkie.blogspot.com as the location, you will receive 5 points.
6. For every link you e-mail to me at the above e-mail address where you have mentioned Journaling Junkie and the location on your blog or any scrapbooking forum, you will receive 5 points.
7. For every link you e-mail to me at the above e-mail address where you have put Journaling Junkie as a favorite places link etc. on your blog or website, you will receive 10 points.
8. For every response to the Journaling Junkie Challenge posts which will be posted at 2 peas in a Bucket and scrapinstyletv, you will receive 5 points. I will post links to those posts here on the blog when I make them.
9. For any e-mails you send to me with ideas to "get the word out", you will receive 10 points.
10. For any pages you send to me that have unique ideas in content for journaling or technique for journaling, you will receive 5 points. If I decide to use that page as an inspiration page for a blog challenge, you will receive 20 points.

Earn more points:

Help me keep the thread active on 2 peas for the new challenge of the week:

http://twopeasinabucket.kaboose.com/mb.asp?cmd=display&thread_id=2493006

Challenge #12

This challenge is brought to you by the fabulous Debbi Tehrani, the challenge is to use fortune cookies as inspiration for your journaling.

Used the fortune cookie fortunes idea to document a series of misfortunes that have happened to me recently. I added the dates as the "(un)lucky" numbers on the fortunes. The title is obviously a play on Lemony Snicket's books.

Entries for Challenge 11

We had some fabulous entries this week....Check them out!!






Journaling reads:

In all honesty, I never expected us to be friends. We grew up on opposite ends of the social scale. She's from a small family, I'm from a big one. She's a social butterfly, I'm more of a homebody. Yet she makes me laugh like no one else. She understands my obession with food, laughs at my quirks, and brings the fun wherever she goes. I hope she'll alwaysbe in my life and be my BFF!



Journaling reads:

Love is the thread that sews two hearts into one. I know this man knows how much it meant to meon the day he said "I do". On that day my heart was sewn perfectly into his, and will foreverLOVE him for giving me his heart as well on that day. No, I don't think, I KNOW he knows.


Journaling reads:

For better or worse they say...mmmm. Well tell me where does snoring, burping, drinking, eating chocolate in bed, Coke is food attitude, speaking on the phone all day, leaving your clothes on the floor, and flicking through channels with the remote every 2 seconds, fall?
Its on the other side to you cooking up a storm, believing in me and my abilities, always happy if I buy stuff for me, encourageing me to do ANYTHING I want, always wanting/needing allthe latest gizmos, believeing that your friends and family count, I suppose.

Journaling reads:

It's hard to put into words just what you mean to me Ash. Ultimately you are my best friend. You are the only person I can talk to. You understand me better than anyone, even better than I understand myself sometimes. No matter what happens, what I do, you are always there. So loving, so patient. I don't know what I ever did to deserve you, but I am truly GRATEFUL.

Design Team, send me your vote for your fave! :) Thank you so much for joining in ladies!

Stella's Take

Ok, here is my take. I used a Shadow Box provided by this month's sponsor C&T Publishing!

Journaling reads:

Lyrics to Saved by Love by Amy Grant

Stella loves her little family,And she's the kind of woman wholoves them with her life.But sometimes in the evening,When the world rests on her shouldersWith four walls closing in,She'll close her eyes.Oh....It's not like she misses being younger.Though she never was inVogue magazine or on TV;Her husband loves her dearly,And the morning shows her clearly,Kisses her little baby girl. Stella she's the queen of the world.Can't imagine ever leaving now,Now that she's been saved by love,Saved by love, saved by love.Listen to her quiet heart singing loud. Stella, she's been saved by love,Saved by love, saved by love.I know that she's been saved by love,Saved by love, saved by love.

Stefanie's Take

Here is Stefanie's Take:

Journaling reads:

This is not a traditional Valentines day page but this four-legged blue-eyed devotee deserves an honourable mention. He will be 10 years old this month and I struggle to imagine my life without him. He gives me such unconditional love, just wanting to be with me, lying next to me reminding me to “be” and not just “do”. We each have our own set of quirks and foibles, his are: spraying on stuff that smells different, his love of fish, chicken and the ability to hear a tin opener from a mile away, his “hunting” ie taking away what his sisters have caught and claiming it for his own, his strident MIAAW, his thievery, even licking the margarine that is left open accidentally, his soppy behaviour after imbibing the cat nip, his insane jealousy and inability to share me with his feline sisters. He is a welcoming presence to come home to and his purring an absolute overflow of the happiness he can’t contain just being with me. I love him that much too.

Jamie's Take

Here is Jamie's take:

Journaling reads:

"No Words"

You are a reflection of me...my best and worst.
When I see you happy, my heart soars, and
when you hurt, I break a little.
You mean the world to me...
You mean that I am a Mom,
a Provider, a cheerleader, a protector.
Because of you, I know a love so big
there are no words big enough to
describe it.
I love you baby girl
love Mom

Early Bird Special.....

Ok, I hope you are reading this post! If you are, you can start the contest immediately. The early bird catches the worm!!! :)

Tracy's Take

Here is Tracy's take:

I knew that I had to use the following poem for this challenge. It speaks volumes of the way I fell about my son. It is by MaryAnn Cusimano.

Layout Title: You Are My I Love You

Journaling Reads:

I am your parent, you are my child.I am your quiet place, you are my wild.I am your calm face, you are my giggle.I am your wait, you are my wiggle.I am your audience, you are my clown.I am your London Bridge, you are my falling down.I am your swimming floaties, you are my deep.I am your open arms, you are my running leap.I am your way home, you are my new path.I am your dry towel, you are my soggy bath.I am your dinner, you are my chocolate cake.I am your bedtime, you are my wide awake.I am your finish line, you are my race.I am your praying hands, you are my saving grace.I am your favorite book, you are my new lines.I am your night light, you are my star shine.I am your lullaby, you are my peek-a-boo.I am your goodnight kiss, you are my I love you.

Colette's Take

Here is Colette's fabulous take! This gave me goose bumps, I love this fantastic page that she did on her DH!

Today I Remembered by Colette Bate

They left me
with your shadow,
saying things like
Life is not fair
& I believed them
for a long time.

But, today
I remembered
the way you laughed
& the heat
of your hand in mine.

& I knew that
life is more fair
than we can
ever imagine
if
we are there to live it.
Brian Andreas

Journaling reads:
Valentine's Day. Roses. Chocolate. Big ticket gifts in pretty little boxes. Cards filled with I Love You's and glittery hearts.

I don't know why I feel more alone on holidays than on other days. Early on in our marriage I learned he wasn't a romantic. He was pragmatic. It seemed silly to him to buy flowers or gifts just because of the date on the calendar. He believed that if you needed something you went and bought it. If you wanted something you went and bought it. He said he didn't need the excuse of a holiday or birthday or anniversary to give a gift. And, I learned to accept it.

I miss him every day of the year, but I do miss him more on the holidays and those special days. I don't miss the gifts. I miss the little things. I miss the way he could make me laugh, like no others can. I miss those moments when he would stand behind me, his arms around my waist, and nuzzle my neck. I miss the security that came with his success, his integrity, his brilliance. I miss how he smelled. But, I'm learning to accept it.

Congrats to Nicole!!

Go check it out, our own Nicole has done a page for Valeria Salmons's Sketch blog:

http://www.gotsketch.blogspot.com/

Challenge #11

DON'T MISS THE CONTEST ANNOUCEMENT BELOW THIS POST!!!!


Here is the challenge for this week from our own Janine:

Sometimes the person we are is reflected in the people we like and what they mean to us..i would like to challenge you to do a page on a person/people in your life and what they mean to YOU. You do not necessarily have to to pick your husband or children..maybe choose a friend, a work mate, your neighbour, your doctor, your mailman..etc.. i did mine on my husand and focussed on his qualities that I admire and cherish.

journaling says:
He maks me giggle..knows exactly how and when to lighten the mood. He is strong and protective..allowing me to find my wings while giving me a safe place to land. He holds my hand when need it most but gives me space to sort myself out. he is my best friend, my partner in crime, my husband..my everything. He melts my heart in so many ways. He is mine. i am lucky.

Announcement....

Contest announcement!!!!! WOOHOOO!!!!!!


"Get the word out" contest annoucement.

This contest is focused toward getting the word out to the scrapbooking on-line community. Design Team members ARE eligible for this contest. The contest will run starting February 15th through March 15th. Here is how it will work.

Everyone will collect points through various different activities and the one with the most points at the end of the contest will win a 3 Bugs in a Rug NEW! Spring Collection Page Kit. Here is a link to the contents: http://www.3bugsinarug.com/products/products.asp?scid=57

There will be 2 runners up. Each runner up will receive a NEW! paper punch from McGill. Here are the links to the punches up for grabs:
http://www.mcgillinc.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3_8&products_id=148

http://www.mcgillinc.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3_8&products_id=155


Here is how you can get points:

1. For every person you refer to this blog and who responds to this thread with your name as the person who referred them, you will get 20 points.

2. For every comment you make to a post, you will get 5 points. **Note: any comments that make no sense or are one word etc. will not get points**

3. For every challenge you parcipate in and submit a layout, you will receive 10 points.

4. For every challenge you win, you will receive an additional 10 points.

5. For every link you e-mail to me at stcrupko@yahoo.com where you have posted your layout entry for the challenges in an online gallery with the title as being Journaling Junkie Challenge Entry and in the comments you mention journalingjunkie.blogspot.com as the location, you will receive 5 points.

6. For every link you e-mail to me at the above e-mail address where you have mentioned Journaling Junkie and the location on your blog or any scrapbooking forum, you will receive 5 points.

7. For every link you e-mail to me at the above e-mail address where you have put Journaling Junkie as a favorite places link etc. on your blog or website, you will receive 10 points.

8. For every response to the Journaling Junkie Challenge posts which will be posted at 2 peas in a Bucket and scrapinstyletv, you will receive 5 points. I will post links to those posts here on the blog when I make them.

9. For any e-mails you send to me with ideas to "get the word out", you will receive 10 points.

10. For any pages you send to me that have unique ideas in content for journaling or technique for journaling, you will receive 5 points. If I decide to use that page as an inspiration page for a blog challenge, you will receive 20 points.

Note: Keep an eye on the blog for posts with additional ways to earn points!

Ok, let the games begin well, on the 15th anyway. LOL!!!

A special thanks to our prize sponsors for this contest, 3 Bugs in a Rug http://www.3bugsinarug.com/ and McGill http://www.mcgillinc.com/shop/!

Here is a link to the Contest announcement at 2 Peas:

http://twopeasinabucket.kaboose.com/mb.asp?cmd=display&thread_id=2486660

Here is a link to the Contest announcement at scrapinstyletv:

http://www.scrapinstyletv.com/forums/21_14652_0.html

Stefanie's entry from the last challenge!

Here is Stefanie's fabulous entry from this challenge!!

Journaling reads:

The lesson you taught me, my Girl was just how different boys and girls are. I truly, naively believed that if I brought you up the same way as your older brothers you’d be fine. My first inkling that things weren’t the same was when you were four months old. You were lying on the floor in the kitchen and you sneezed. You got such a fright you immediately burst into tears. (The boys never did that!) When you were just three years old you could flirt unbelievable well, you would make eye contact with ANY adult male, chatter away and flick your hair over your shoulder, just so. (The boys never did that!) You loved playing “Mommy” dressed in clippy-cloppy shoes, with lipstick and perfume on you were ready to go shopping: anywhere, anytime. (The boys never did that!) You learn all the words to your favourite Hannah Montana songs by listening to them over and over and over (The boys never did that!) You add such a delightfully feminine giggly girlishness to our home and our family. (We all needed that!)
I love you, Mommy.
Journaled 5th Feb 2008.
Photographs from Nov 1999 and 2005.

Beverly's Take

Here is Beverly's Take:

Journaling reads:

I waited for you for a long time and when you finally came I couldn’t believe how lucky I am. The best thing about being an older mum is being more relaxed about who I am – having faith in my ability. I’m a better mum now than I was twenty years ago. But the worst is knowing how scary the world can be and that bad things sometimes happen no matter how careful you are. I’d watch you breathing – just to make sure – scared that something would spoil my happiness.

When you were a few days old I fell asleep while I was feeding you. When I awoke you were laying in my arms, lifeless. I couldn’t feel you breathe and you wouldn’t stir. I screamed & daddy woke up. He snatched you from my arms and you started to cry. Some babies, it seems, sleep so deeply that they do not move. This, I’m told is normal. It was weeks before I could sleep properly at night, with out having to check on you every half an hour. Now you are nearly four and most of the time I just look in on you before I go to bed. But some days I can’t fight it and I still have to stay with you until you stir – just to make sure.

Tonya's Take

Here is Tonya's Take:

Journaling:
You are not easy to scare. You almost seem to flaunt your courage, daring the monsters and mayhem in movies to try and get to you. You’ve always loved scary movies, movies that even I can’t watch. It has become the thing you and DJ share - going to scary movies, leaving mom at home. Only “The Ring” ever had an effect on you. After seeing it, you slept on the couch outside our bed for almost 2 weeks. I wish I could say you got your bravery from me, but we’d both know that was a lie. Its one of the things I am proud of, silly as it is, your lack of fear and enjoyment of a good scary movie. I think it means you’re secure in the safety of your home and family - enjoying the fantasy, but grounded in reality.

Nicole's Take

Here is Nicole's take:

Journaling reads:

When I was 7 or so years old, I shared a room with my two older sisters. It was cramped quarters for three poeple. My sisters shared a double bed while I had a single beside them. To get into my bed, I had 2 options: either shimmy sideways inbetween the beds or climb on to theirs and hop across to mine.

That particular night began like any other. I got into my pj's, went to the bathroom and prepared to get into bed. As I turned out the light, I decided I would hop across the beds.

I NEVER expected what would happen next. As I made my way over, a hand grabbed my ankle and began to pull me down! I let out a blood curdling scream. Suddenly The Hand let go and I fell onto my bed. I could hear my parents racing down the hall as I cried, completely terrified.

Turns out, The Hand belonged to my brother, Leon. His little prank didn't strike him as being quite so funny after our parents were done with him.

And even though I knew The Hand was his, I checked under the bed for months to make sure no one was lurking under there.

Stella's Take

Here is my take on this week's challenge:

Journaling reads:

While I certainly don't regret getting pregnant unexpectedly, the circumstances that surrounded it were very scary. You see, the reason I got pregnant is because I was on a medication that negates birth control pills. I was aware of this, but one night Christian and I were, to put it nicely, not as careful as we normally are in this area.

I had a very strange feeling that something was going on with my body even just 3 weeks afterwards. I took a pregnancy test and it was negative. No wonder, I was a week BEFORE my period. I was speaking with some gals at work and telling them how my body just felt...different. Anyway, they convinced me that even though it wasn't time for my period, I should just take another test. Well, I took another test 2 days BEFORE the time I would normally have my period and lo and behold, I was pregnant.

Problems? Uh, yeah! 1. unmarried 2. boyfriend will NOT be thrilled 3. and most important...I have been on not one but 2 medications that are dangerous for babies. Needless to say, I was freaking out. So, I called my doctor and asked should I immediately stop those medications? My doctor was not available, but the doctor on call called me back and said..."Well, you can stop taking those medications, but my advice to you is to not to have the baby. Those medications are extremely dangerous at this stage in a baby's development." Honestly, I can't begin to tell you my horror at his suggestion! I told him that was in NO way an option. Well, needless to say, I stopped those medications.

So, I called my gynecologists office and made an appointment. When I went for my appointment they asked when my last period was and I told them. They said that since I had already had a positive urine test, they would just do a sonogram. While the sonographer was doing the sonogram, I had no idea what she was seeing. So finally I said, "So I guess I'm not pregnant?" She said, "Oh you are pregnant, see that little silvery round ball there?" "Yeah." "That silvery ball is the pregnancy." "That is my baby! Are you kidding?" "Yep, that's the pregnancy."

I noticed that she kept saying the pregnancy and not the baby. While I was waiting for the doctor, I kept thinking, why would she say it in that way? Is there something wrong?

The doctor told me that yes, I was pregnant, but he was concerned. According to when my last period was, the pregnancy should be at 7 weeks, but the sonogram showed 5 weeks in development, so he was concerned that the baby was behind in development and he wanted me to come back in 2 weeks to see how things were progessing.

Those were probably the longest 2 weeks of my entire life. I worried the entire time that I was having a miscarriage. I worried that something was wrong with my baby. I worried that the medications that I had taken had severly damaged my unborn child.

2 weeks later, I went to the appointment. I had another sonogram with the same sonographer. This time, the picture on the screen looked much more like what I expected to see from watching tv shows where they show child development. A little tadpole looking baby. Of course, that still did not answer if they baby was still behind in development. When I spoke with the doctor, he said that the baby was fine, that I just must have been 5 weeks along and was now 7 weeks along, so I had caught the pregnancy really early.

Relief! Oh boy, relief. I can't tell you my relief! I made my next appointment for 4 weeks later and went home.

4 weeks later, I went back and the doctor examined me and tried to find the baby's heartbeat. He couldn't find the heartbeat. He tried and tried and could not find it! "Just to be on the safe side, let's get a sonogram."he said.

Oh my God!! I had to wait 30 minutes for the sonographer. When I finally had my sonogram, the sonographer said, "Well, he just didn't look very hard...Right there, see that heartbeat! That baby has a strong heartbeat!" I burst into tears! Thank God!

My entire pregnancy, I prayed every day sometimes 20 times a day to God to please please make my baby healthy. I am sure God got tired of listening to me. All I wanted was a healthy child. I pleaded and negotiated and said I would never do anything wrong again, if my baby was healthy.

Now 5 years later, I have a healthy, gorgeous, smart and sweet little girl! God blessed me so much with her. Despite the medicines that I took, she has no health problems and is thriving and sassy and ornery. Sometimes I just want to get a picture of my gorgeous girl and send it to that doctor that told me that I should not have her and send it to him and show him the life he almost ended. In the grand scheme of things, I am just grateful that God gave me the faith to trust in his plan and that He blessed me with my beautiful daughter.

Note: This was a very emotional page for me. This is one that I have been planning for a while, but just never did. I am so glad that I did it! My daughter is such a miracle and it is a miracle that she is here today!

Challenge #10

This week's challenge is brough to you by Jamie! Here it is:


The 'mood' of my scrapbooks can fluctuate from the happiest of moments to ones that make me want to stand back and take a good look around. Sure, we want to enjoy them and smile as we look through them, but I like to use my scrapbooks as a more than just photo albums. I use my layouts to document who I am...the good, the bad, and the sometimes kind of ugly! :) So this week, why don't we focus on a lesson learned or a moment that makes us appreciate what we have.

Here we go...

Have you ever done something so silly or stupid that it almost takes your breath away? You know, that moment when you freak out? Or when something teaches you a lesson? Okay, so let's journal something that scared us, freaked us out, or taught us a lesson...it doesn't have to be personal...it could be about someone else, like your kid, hubby, or pet. Try journaling about the actual event and how it made you feel.

My journaling:

My Scariest Day...My dumbest moment...

If you ask, I'll have to say that up until now, hands down, the most terrifying moment of my adult life was the day I left the house after putting a pot of eggs on to boil. Elizabeth and I ran up to the Target, oblivious of the danger. It wasn't until we were in the Taco Bell drive thru, an hour later, that I realized I'd left the eggs boiling. We raced home, praying all the way, hoping not to see smoke. We were lucky, so lucky, all was okay.
(This part of my journaling is tucked in the envelope)
When we pulled in the driveway, we could smell the burning, and I could only think about my cat who was locked inside. I raced to the window to take a look, and there was a thick haze of smoke...no flames...phew! Trixie was fine and dandy...hanging out in the back bedroom, away from the smoke, thank goodness. All was okay, except for the splattered eggs all over my kitchen (they blew up!) and the rancid smell that lingered for two days.
When I look back at these photos, I can still feel the panic that welled up in me, and I thank God that more damage was not done...we could have lost so much! My kitty, our scrapbooks, David's heirloom gun, the video of our wedding, Elizabeth's first 'Roll Tide' onesie...I am so thankful...so thankful.

One more...

Last one for the conversation challenge. Here is mine. (Stella) Sorry for the wonky scan. :(

Journaling reads:

Victoria: "What did you get for Christmas?"

Shannon: "I got a new car."

Victoria: "I did too!"

Shannon: "Yeah, but mine is faster."

Why is this conversation so hillarious to me? Victoria got a barbie jeep for Christmas and Shannon got a new Mercedes. I just love the innocence of Victoria's response. To her a barbie jeep is just as awesome as a Mercedes. It warms my heart to see the naturally pure response from her. I treasure these little memories of her while she remains innocent and pure of heart.

Submission for the conversation challenge

Here is the fabulous submission from Stefanie Semple!

Jouraling reads:

She said
You need to cut your toenails.
Don’t bite into that remember your braces.
Pick your clothes up off the floor. Clean stuff hung up in the cupboards and dirty stuff in the washing basket.
NO playstation/computer or any little screen today!
I shouldn’t have to tell you – you should be able to see the stuff all over the floor!
I hope your exams go well, Maths 1 and MDD. I will pick you up at 12:45 and remember I love you.

He said
I just cut them last week.
No-one else’s Mother worries about that.
I’m in pain, how could I forget?
I hung up my jacket, I thought you’d be proud.
I did everything you asked me to. You really didn’t give me enough time after saying “your room is untidy” to clean it before we had to go.
I love you too, Mom.

Audrey's take

Here is Audrey's take:

Journaling reads:

A:Mom, come here.

M: What Sweetie?

A: Daddy won't let me have this!

M: Daddy has to use that still.

A: But he said I can't use it because I colored all over it.

M: Well, thats why you should have taken care of it when he let you use it.

A:UUG, (big sigh... arms extended, shoulders shrugged in frustration) Mom, he gets on my nerves but he's family!

M: (silent) trying to keep from bursting into laughter.