May June and July Book Report

I've fallen a little behind on my goal of 60 books this year... but anything can happen, right?

First up was Modern Lovers by Emma Straub. It was a quick and easy beach sort of read.

Ya'll know I'm obsessed with WWII books and I totally loved We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter. When I read these books, I constantly ask myself if I would be able to endure this and if I would be strong enough.... I really don't know.

I needed to read a lighter book after such a heavy one, so I read This Is Your Life, Harriet Chance! by Jonathan Evison - it was so cute! And my jaw dropped a couple of times when a bombshell dropped. I think this was a free Amazon First read.

I listened (on Audible) to Finish: Give Yourself the Gift of Done by Jon Acuff. Good stuff. My biggest takeaways were reframing your goals - what if you extended the timeline? Or cut your goal in half?

I borrowed The Blinds by Adam Sternberg and it was really cool. It's about a community made up of criminals who have been given a second chance.

Next up was The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin. SO GOOD!! It's about 4 siblings whose lives were impacted by a fortune teller's prophecy. I couldn't put it down.

I listened (on Audible) to The Obesity Code by Jason Fung. I'll admit, this one took a while. It's very scientific and a bit boring at times - but packed with good info.

Then I read An American Marriage by Tayari Jones. Wow! I can't imagine this happening to me when I first got married.

What's the best book you read this summer?

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Some People are Worth Melting for

I love this selfie Joe took with Olaf and knew I wanted to title it "Some people are worth melting for"! I made this layout for another Paper Issues challenge (actually a Scraplift Sunday). I substituted the hearts on the original layout for these colorful snowflakes made from this paper by Shimelle.

I used 2 kinds of alphas for the title.

I didn't add anything else to the layout since these snowflakes bring so much color to the page. I just layered a couple of papers under the photo.

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Cheers!

I spent some time working on some Paper Issues challenges recently and made this layout about violet lemonade at Epcot's Flower & Garden festival. SO GOOD!! I missed it last year but am glad I tried it this year.

I submitted this layout for the monochromatic (plus black and white) challenge. I love how it turned out! I chose yellow because of the yellow flower in the background of the photo, and then realized it made the color of the lemonade pop even more!

It was fun to look through my stash and find yellow papers and embellishments.

And I finally used some black Thickers I've been hoarding!

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October, November, and December Book Report

I had a goal to read 48 books in 2017 and ended up finishing 42 books. I think 48 was a great goal because it pushed me and encouraged me throughout the year. I had 3 books I was still reading and 1 audiobook but am going to count them towards my 2018 goal of 60 books! 48 would have been doable if I hadn't taken a couple months off from reading. I need a stretch goal and 60 is it.

The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson was a funny little book. I loved all the little coincidences that happened throughout.

This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel was so good... It's about a family's journey to figure out a transgender child... they figure out how to let their child be herself while addressing the whole family's well being.

Bear Town by Fredrick Backman was a bit slow to start but I'm glad I stuck with it because it's SO GOOD. It's about hockey - and yet it isn't. Read it.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas is a YA novel about a teenage girl that is trapped between two worlds and witnesses a fatal shooting. I don't normally read YA novels but this one kept popping up and getting such good reviews. It was great.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeymoon is going to be made into a movie and I can totally see why - it's charming and fun! Eleanor doesn't know that life can and should be more than just "fine" and this story documents how she figures that out. Loved it!

The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict is a book I put on my list quite a while ago and it came up in Overdrive for me to borrow. It was so interesting - I had no idea that Albert Einstein's wife played such a big role in his theories (I'm not sure I even know he was married really).

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan was hard to follow at the beginning - so many names! - but I stuck with it and I'm glad I did. I have more of his books in the queue on Overdrive.

Instructions for a Heatwave by Maggie O'Farrell popped up on my radar and I was able to borrow it quickly. I read it very quickly and although I didn't like the ending (!) it was great.

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng was so, so good!

The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey was SO CREEPY! Like I didn't want to read it before bed, but I HAD to know what was happening. So weird and so good and I want to read more from this author.

The Alice Network by Kate Quinn is about female spies and it was good and interesting. A bit unbelievable but cool.

China Rich Girlfriend by Kevin Kwan is #2 in the Crazy Rich Asians series. It was very fast paced and a quick read.

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100 Days Project Days 11-20

I'm back with 10 more days of the 100 Days Project.

Day 11: I was camping and had pretty limited supplies. I just threw a few things in a box and didn't think about what I was going to do with them. I used the Blah Blah Blah stamp from HoneyBee stamps and created this pattern. I will either put this on a card and send it to someone that's going through a rough time or is sick... or I will cut it down and put it into Project Life.

Day 12: I used this stamp I got from the Scrapbook Expo to create this bright and fun floral background. This will probably end up as a card.

Day 13: I made a card for a friend and used the technique from Day 11.

Day 14: I tried some of the wooden block stamps I bought at Michael's earlier this year. I was super disappointed in how unclear the stamped images were... the leaf one is from Studio Calico and it does work well though.

Day 15: I used a technique we learned at the Scrapbook Expo to make these two backgrounds for cards.

Day 16: I used a turnabout stamp from Concord and 9th and LOVE how it turned out!

Day 17: I went through my (12!!) roller stamps and stamped them onto cards and numbered the card and the stamp. I don't use these stamps as often as I used to, but I think by organizing them this way, I'll remember to grab them!

Day 18: I didn't use the exact same colors, but I used distress inks on the left photo, and distress oxides on the right. The oxides are so creamy and they mix really well. I spritzed water on them and let them dry. These may end up as card backgrounds.

Days 19 & 20: I tried to use a triangle turnabout stamp. I need a lot of practice, as this one's really tough to line up. Although i was frustrated with how it went, I kind of like these now...

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Disney Magic

The Paper Issues Facebook group had a "Scrap n Chat" event a couple weeks ago. We chatted, played Bingo, and had a scavenger hunt challenge. We had to use floral paper, 3 stickers, wood veneer, stars, a frame, polka dot paper, a sun, and a camera. I'm finding that I love to do these kinds of challenges... it makes me think outside the box and use products I wouldn't normally think of to use.

This was one of those magical moments at Disney - we got in early because of a backstage tour we were doing and a cast member offered us a ride on a vintage car. He took us up to Cinderella Castle and we took pictures and walked back down Main Street. We have never seen the park so empty so it was a great time for pictures!

I love stickers and used more than 3... and this camera flair fit the criteria for the challenge.

I reached into the vault and found some floral SoHo Garden paper that blended nicely with my Disney paper.

The sun was the only thing about this challenge that REALLY threw me off. I couldn't think of a single sun embellishment or anything that I had... but then I found this 3x4 cut apart card in my Disney stash and it was perfect!

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100 Days Project: Days 1-10

I mentioned that I was participating in the Scrap Gals 100 Days Project and I have days 1-10 to show you now. I love how flexible this project is, and that I can spend a lot of time when I'm able to, and do quick things when I'm short on time. I'm posting most (maybe all) things on my Instagram and tagging them #EmilyConquersStampsAndInks

Day 1: I used these cute cactus stamps with Memento Dew Drops ink pads.

Day 2: I used some Ali Edwards stamps to make these simple embellishments for Project Life and other layouts. I used Stazon black ink and then cut them out. I didn't have enough ink on the top 2 stamps the first time, so I reinked and did them a second time. 

Day 3: This was Day 1 of Refresh, part of my Simple Scrapper membership. We were challenged to make a card for a loved one in 20 minutes with just the stuff on our desk. I had this colorful background leftover from a class Mom and I took at the Scrapbook Expo... so I grabbed some twin, a tag I've been saving for a long time, a polka dot embellishment a stamp, and 3 enamel dots. Quick and easy and under 20 minutes! 

Day 4: I stamped on a layout (I'll show it to you soon)

Day 5: I followed a Jennifer McGuire video to create a two color stamped background.

Day 6: I used distress oxide inks to create these two cards. They're actually watercolor cards from Michael's Recollection brand, but I figured distress inks would work too. They did!

This one got a little muddy - I'll keep practicing the rainbow color blending.

Day 7: I put distress inks on a craft mat, sprayed them with water, heat set it with my embossing gun, and then put a light coat of a distress ink on top. I spritzed that with water and blotted it with a paper towel.

 Day 8: I worked on creating a background from a stamp set.

Day 9: I got this "three way roses" stamp at the Scrapbook Expo as part of a class. I tried out a few combinations and hope to use these soon (probably with distress inks?)

Day 10: I don't use rubber stamps very often, so I guess I pressed too hard... someone suggested fussy cutting them out and using them as embellishments though. So smart!

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Purse Shopping

I've been sharing a lot of layouts and cards here lately because Paper Issues had their Spring Crop in March. I made 6 layouts/cards and entered them into the challenges! This layout was for the "White space" challenge and we were aiming to leave 2/3 of the page open as white space. I went over that a little bit but still love how it turned out.

Purse are my jam. Always have been, always will. I spent some of my side gig money (I sell Rodan+Fields skincare) and bought myself the perfect souvenir from Paris - a Louis Vuitton Neverfull tote! I adore it but couldn't bring myself to spend my own money on it.

I dug into my stash and found lots of cute little banner and die cut pieces for embellishments.

Have you created layouts with lots of "white space"?

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February and March Book report

I'm late getting February's books up on the blog, so I'll just combine February and March together. I'm making pretty good strides towards reading 48 books this year. I've read 9 and have started book 10. I'm tracking on Goodreads.

Commonwealth by Anne Patchett - This is my favorite kind of book... it's just about people's ordinary every day lives. This story follows 2 families and how a chance meeting at the beginning changes everything.

The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert is filled with travel, science, reflection, and love. I read it in a few days because I couldn't put it down.

Someone recommended The Story Sisters by Alice Hoffman in a Facebook group. It was available thru my Overdrive app so I downloaded it. It's about the relationship of 3 sisters and the people around them. Loved it!

I read The One-in-a-Million Boy by Monica Wood while flying back from Paris earlier this month. I LOVED IT!! I kept seeing it pop up on reading lists and finally sent for it when it was on sale. It's about a friendship between a young boy and a 104-year-old lady. He's obsessed with world records and pushes her to achieve her own. I may have even shed a tear on the last page of this one. So good!

The Forgetting Time by Sharon Guskin is about reincarnation. A little boy named Tommy dies and is possibly reincarnated as a little boy named Noah. This story is about their journey to find peace for him. It's really interesting and there are examples from real life stories about this phenomenon.

What's the best book you've read lately?

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Beach Vibes

I wish I was at the beach right now... it's currently cold and rainy here at home! Part of my crafty goals for 2017 is to complete 1 or 2 challenges from the Paper Issues blog. I'm part of their Facebook group and they're always posting lots of inspiration!

I used this challenge to create a page for our beach trip to Isle of Palms last June. I used Project Life pages to document the rest of the trip and I'll show them to you on Monday.

Here's the original sketch:

I've been hoarding this little candy embellishment for a while!

This 3x4 card is from a cut apart 12x12 page. Love it!

And you know I love a pretty gold pack of Thickers ;)

Do you participate in scrapbook challenges? If so, where?

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How to Get More Reading Done

So I actually surpassed my reading goal of 30 in 2016! For 2017 I've set a goal of 48 (4 per month). I think it's doable, but it will stretch me a little bit and force me to be more consistent. I read all the time when I was younger but quit reading for pleasure sometime in pharmacy school. I had enough to read during school! It's taken me years to get back into a reading routine and I'm so glad I finally got back into it.

I thought it might be helpful if I shared how I've made reading a part of my life and where I get all these books!

How to get more reading done:

1. read on your lunch break *this one is huge for me - and it stops the endless Facebook/Instagram scroll that I would normally do*

2. read before bed *I don't always do this, but I'm always glad when I do*

3. read while drinking coffee/tea in the morning

4. read when you're in the carpool line/Starbucks line/whatever line

5. keep a list of books you want to read so you aren't scrambling to find your next book *I use Goodreads for this*

6. give yourself permission to quit reading a book if you don't like it

7. keep your Kindle/current paperback in your purse so you always have it with you

8. be part of a reading community (Goodreads, a Facebook group, neighborhood Book Club)

9. audiobooks on your commute or while crafting, cleaning, exercising

10. ask friends for book recommendations

Where do I find all of these books?

I'm a big fan of Anne Bogel, aka Modern Mrs. Darcy. This year she put together 2 fun reading challenge lists, she has a podcast called What Should I Read Next? where she interviews people and performed literary matchmaking, and she has a daily Kindle deals email. I'll be honest y'all - this daily email is dangerous. Best selling books for $2 and $3?! If it's a great deal, I sometimes buy the book. Other times, I search for it as a library eBook (see below!)

My favorite way to get books is for free! I downloaded the Overdrive app and signed in with my local library card. I can borrow Kindle books for 2-3 weeks (it's set by the publisher/library). You can put a hold on a book and it will email you when it's ready for you to check out. I've found 2 downsides to this method - (1) you can't always get the book you want when you want it (2) the book won't be readable anymore after the expiration date... so if you won't be done in time, you have to put your kindle on airplane mode. I didn't realize the date was coming up (even though I got an email reminding me!!) and only got through 80% of a book. I immediately put another hold on it, but had to wait 2 months to read the other 20%!!

I pin things to my board called The Library on Pinterest too! I have book lists and more pinned there.

This year, I tried audiobooks for the first time. You can get an Audible subscription (and there are several membership plans from which to choose) or borrow them from Overdrive. I've found that I prefer non-fiction books on audio, but many people like fiction as well. I get annoyed by the reader's voice when they try to speak as different characters. I know, I'm weird.

I did a reading challenge in 2015 where I chose my own books from a list of prompts. It was fun and got me to read books I might not have chosen otherwise. It definitely helped me get back into reading on a regular basis. If reading isn't a big part of your life currently, you might want to start with a challenge. I found this "master list" of reading challenges that might be helpful!

If you want to track your books, consider Goodreads. You can connect with friends, rate/review your books, keep a running "to be read" list so you don't forget good titles, and join groups. Friend me if you're on Goodreads!

Any tips you'd like to share?

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Summer Book Report

Since I'm a little behind on posting, I thought I'd combine the July and August books into one post. I tried Audible for the first time this summer and it got me back on track to reading my goal of 30 books this year!

First up was Water from My Heart by Charles Martin. It's the first time I've read anything by him, and I'm interested in reading more. This book is a love story, but isn't sappy. So good!

I heard about The Book of Strange New Things by Michael Faber on a podcast and it sounded cool. It's a science fiction/fantasty sort of book where a husband leaves Earth and travels to another planet. He's a preacher and thinks he is going to spread Christianity to a different species. I wasn't a huge fan of the main character, but couldn't quit the book. It was strange but good.

I listened to The Law of Divine Compensation: On Work, Money, and Miracles by Marianne Williamson on Audible. A friend recommended it and it was fantastic!! It talks about a scarcity mindset vs an abundance mindset.

I borrowed As Close to Us as Breathing by Elizabeth Poliner on Overdrive. I love free library books!! This story is about some Jewish sisters and their families. They vacation together but are all affected by a tragedy later. I learned a valuable lesson when reading this book... pay attention to when your library loan is over OR put your Kindle in airplane mode! My loan expired when I was 80% through the book and I had to reborn it (2 months later!!) to finish the last 20%.

I wanted to love Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling. I mean, it's Harry Potter and I love Harry Potter. However, I just couldn't get into this book.

I listened to Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson from Overdrive (free books for the win!). IT WAS AWESOME!! Each chapter is told from the point of view of this little girl and each chapter is just a scene or a short story. Amazing.

I think Yellow Crocus by Laila Ibrahim was a free Kindle book or something. It's about a slave and the white child to whom she is a wet nurse. It might have been better if I was actually reading it, but I listened to it on Audible while doing a massive craft room purge and reorganization. I realized that I don't particularly care for listening to fiction on Audible. The reader used different voices for each character and I found her voices annoying.

I went back to nonfiction and listened to Daring Greatly by Brene Brown on Audible. It's all about being vulnerable and more courageous.





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