MilitaryCropTalk

Where In the World...

Posting from the airport before heading to North Carolina for SpouseBuzz Live 3.  If you're not joining us, remember that you can watch LIVE as it happens via SyncLive.

In the meantime, you can check after the jump for some scrapbooking-related material and information about holiday care packages to their deployed loved ones.

Wednesday Site Spotlight

Found this fun blog from a fellow scrapbooker and thought her photos and page ideas might encourage you to scrap some memories today!

Remember to leave a little love when you stop by Melinda's place to let her know you were there and what you liked!

So I Bought One...Now What?

I have frequented the same local scrapbooking store (LSS) since it opened nearly 10 years ago.  It's  moved into its 4th and largest location.  When I received the "come shop with us at Midnight on Turkey Day" e-mail, I decided to give it a whirl. 

I was able to purchase this mini-tote from All My Memories for $12.  Very versatile with over 20 pockets for me to put stuff in, I'm wondering if YOU had this bag, how would you use it?  Would you load it up with all your favorite tools and use it as your go-to bag plus storage? 

I'd LOVE to hear your ideas so post them in comments!  If you have a similar organizer, how have you put it to use??

Wednesday Site Spotlight

With the holiday weekend upon you, you might find some time to scrap when everyone "watching" football while sleeping off the turkey coma.  If you do, you won't want to waste time trying to devise the perfect scheme for your layout.

Visit Simple Scrapbooks' scheme gallery to see several easy but effective layout ideas.  Full-color examples accompany the templates to help you envision what your finished product could look like.

As always, we'd love to see your finished product!

Authenticity Promised

All you need to do is watch television or movies with your military loved one to know how important 'authenticity' is to them.  My husband provides a running monologue of ANY and EVERY problem with vehicles, uniforms, dialogue, etc. in any given dramatized scenario with military themes.

No matter how hard I try, I don't think I will ever be able to reach his level of knowledge on the subject.  I rationalize that he has a head start anyway, so I just need to do my best.

How, then, do I guarantee that when I'm scrapping his military memories I do it in an authentic way?

Army Prevails, but Everyone Wins!

Our friend, Matt, at Blackfive has the final tallies on the Project Valour-IT fundraising drive we told you about earlier this month.

The Army team raised over $53,000 and ALL the money raised in the drive will go toward providing voice-assisted laptops to wounded veterans.  Soldiers' Angels will likely pass the $200,000 mark this year.  That's hundreds of laptops for our wounded heroes accompanied by thousands of sighs of relief that they are motivated to communicate and reconnect with family, friends, and colleagues still in the field.

If you chose to donate to this wonderful initiative during this drive, thank you.  If not, don't worry.  Project Valour-IT is an ongoing, special project of the Soldiers' Angels' organization.  You can give any time.

Need Help With Layout Ideas?

Sometimes, you have perfect photos and all the ingredients for a super page.  Even the most seasoned scrapbookers need inspiration now and again to help them determine how best to turn their ingredients into a layout...we, after all, want to lay it out just right!

Ever wish you had a map?

Glitter Words and Phrases...

A how-to video that looks kind of fun.

If you give it a whirl, let us know how it goes.  I imagine this could help us create coordinating accents for our military-themed pages.

I'm Really Bad At This, But I Could Get Better...

I recently bought a copy of PhotoShop Elements (PSE) and have only had a few minutes since loading it onto my computer to futz with it.  Something about two kids and being a full-time law student keeps me from doing much of what I'd like to do, including scrapping.

I have, however, been playing with the templates in the program and have come up with a couple cute backgrounds for my computer's desktop and I'm wondering how I might use these "skills" for the holidays or my albums.

Project Valour-IT -- A Scrapworthy Cause

If you've heard of Soldiers' Angels, you may have heard about Project Valour-IT.

Project Valour-IT is a initiative that began when a wounded vet, a fellow blogger, had an idea.  This little idea jumped to life and is now working toward putting voice-assisted laptops in military medical centers and the laps of wounded vets. 

It's your chance to make a difference!