Book of Me Topic Ideas

I had the opportunity to teach a group of very special kids last night. We worked on Book of Mes....if you don't know, this is one of my favourite projects. I love getting others to work on Book of Mes....I think it is such a great way to share yourself with your family.

If you haven't started a Book of Me yet, I challenge you to start today and here is a list of topics I have compiled from various sources to get you started:

1. Love...do a page about your DH/BF/SO. How did you meet? Why is he/she special? What are your dreams for your future together?

2. Motherhood.... are you a mom? How do you feel about it? Did you always know you wanted to be a mother? How do you feel about your own mother?

3. Vacations.... What is your dream vacation? What has been a special vacation memory?

4. Your name.... why were you named what you were? What does your name mean?

5. What is your favourite movie?

6. What is your favourite book? Author?

7. What I love about me.... this can be a challenge; I know it was for me. I made mine into a top 10 list to really challenge myself (and because I needed a top 10 list for a journaling challenge on one of my groups)

8. If you go back and visit any era in time, when would you pick?

9. You get to have dinner with ANY 5 people (dead or alive) who would you pick? Why?

10. Animals...are you a dog person? Cat person? If you could be any animal what would you be? Have you had a special pet over the years that you loved above all others?

11. When were you born? What was special about that day? Era (there are some great "you know you were a child of the 60s, 70s, 80s" lists on the web)

12. Music.... do you play an instrument? Have a favourite song you love? What is "your song" What is your ultimate mix?

13. Food.... what is your favourite? Do you have a special family recipe? Family traditions pertaining to food?

14. Seasons.... what is your favourite memory of a particular season? Do you have a favourite season?

15. Colours.... what is your favourite? Has it stayed the same over the years? What does that colour signify, is it appropriate for you? (I did my favourite colours page of all the colours that have been my favourite over the years and what they are generally thought to signify.... sort of a retrospective)

16. Clothes.... are you a clotheshorse? Love purses? Shoes? Have a piece of clothing that you have had forever? What's your style?

17. Do you have a favourite magazine?

18. TV...is you a Grey's junkie? Live for Food Network? What's your favourite?

19. Education...did you have a favourite teacher that really touched you growing up? Did you love/hate school? How do you feel about how education has changed? Do you home school?

20. Fictionally speaking.... is there a particular character in a book, movie, on TV that you really relate too? Why?

21. What is something about you that would surprise people?

22. Technology.... love it? Hate it? Is there one thing you couldn't live without?

23. Dreams...what are your dreams for the future? How have your dreams maybe changed over the years? Have you accomplished something you set out to?

24. What is the one thing about yourself you wish you could change?

25. Friends.... do you have a great group of pals? Just one best friend? Tell about them.

26. Tell about your ‘perfect' day

27. What is the best gift you have ever rec'd?

28. You have $20 to spend on YOU.... what do you buy?

29. Cars.... what is your dream car? Your first car?

30. How are you different than you were 10 years ago? 20 years ago?

31. What do you wish you could go back and tell your teenage self?

32. Home...what is home? How many times have you moved over the years? Where would you live if you could live anywhere?

33. Shopping.... do you have a favourite store? Do you love to shop? Hate it with a passion?

34. How do you cure boredom?

35. What do you do when you are feeling blue?

36. Housework...what is your daily chose list? Do you hate to clean? Are you a bit obsessive?

37. What is the last thing that made you smile?

38. Sports.... are you an athlete? A sports fan? Did you participate in sports as a child?

39. Who is someone who has been very influential in your life? Why?

40. Do you have any tattoos? Piercings? Do you want one? Hate them?

41. What's in your purse right now? Do you carry a purse?

42. What is your can't live without scrapbook supply?

43. Why do you scrapbook?

44. Reality TV...if you could be on any show (including makeover ones) which one would you pick?

45. Not so current events.... what have been the defining events that you have experienced in your lifetime (the Challenger exploding, 911, an assassination)

46. What is the coolest thing you have ever done?

47. What is something that your parents taught you that has stuck with you?

48. What are some things you find yourself saying as a parent you never thought you would say? Swore you would never say but do?

49. What is in your refrigerator right now?

50. Married life...is it what you thought? What was the one thing that surprised you most?

51. Weddings...did you have a big wedding, small one? What was something special about the day?

52. Family cure alls...do you have something your family swears by?

53. Your family...why are they special? What do you love to do together? Do you have a special tradition?

54. Your career.... what do you do and is it something you love? What is your dream job?

55. Where did you grow up? What was special about your town? Was it rural, the big city? How does it compare to your lifestyle now?

56. What is your greatest accomplishment?

57. What has been your greatest sorrow or regret?

58. Health...what has been your most serious accident or illness?

59. What were chores you had to do as a child? How does it compare to what your own children have to do?

60. What would you like to be remembered for?

61. What was your childhood like? What did your father do? Your mother? How did you get along with your siblings?

62. What is your favourite childhood memory?

63. How has your life changed since you had children? Since they left home?

64. What is something that you learned as a child that you hope to pass on to future generations?

65. What do you know about your ancestors? Are there any that are unique or famous?

66. Boyfriends.... who was your first? Who did you go to prom with?

67. What is each of your parent's best traits? Do you share it with them? What is something you inherited you wished you hadn't?

68. Success.... how would you define it?

69. What is your philosophy for raising children?

70. Do you have a phobia?

71. Siblings...are you part of a big family or an only child? Do you like things that way or do you wish you had more/less?

72. What was your most embarrassing moment?

73. What was it like at your grandparents' house? Were you close?

74. Are you the oldest, youngest, middle child? What did you like/dislike about it?

75. Tell about your most humourous memory.

76. Describe a typical day in elementary school.

77. What did you do that got you in the most trouble as a child? How did your parents handle it?

78. Tell about your first crush.

79. What was your favourite birthday? Did you have parties every year?

80. What is something you have always wanted to learn how to do but never have?

81. Did you go to college or have vocational training? When and where?

82. What was your favourite TV or radio show as a child?

83. Are you superstitious? What is something you always do?

84. What is your guilty pleasure?

85. If you were stuck on a deserted island and had to have one person with you...who would it be?

86. Do you have a crush on a celebrity?

87. If you could ‘live' in a TV show, which one would you pick?

88. What is your favourite beverage...do you need a caffeine IV?

89. Nature.... are you a fan of the great outdoors? Do you like to camp? Fish? What about nature do you love? Hate?

90. What is the farthest you have traveled from home?

91. Art...what do you consider to be art? Who is your favourite painter, sculptor, etc?

92. You are deserted on an island.... what 3 things do you have to have?

93. If you had to pick one food to eat every day, what would it be?

94. Handwriting.... do you like yours? Has it gotten better, worse over time? How often do you actually have to write anything?

95. Do you have a collection? Why does it exist? What is your favourite piece?

96. Is there a certain smell that brings back vivid memories?

97. Faking it.... have you done anything to radically change your appearance? Surgery, coloured contacts, dyed your hair? Why?

98. Jewelry.... do you have a piece that is special to you?

99. What is something you have tried to teach your children that you hope sticks with them throughout their lives?

100. Make a top 10 list of anything.

101. What are some words that are specific to your family? (Like in our house, loose teeth are wigglers and the Wiggler Fairy visits)

102. Do you have a favourite quote?

103. When is the last time you ROTFLMAO? What was it about?

104. Go on the web, take a silly quiz, is it right?

105. Are you a morning person? Night Owl?

Beauty Captured

Yesterday, for Mother's Day, it was girls day out. The girls and I hopped in the car first thing and headed off to Wellington Reservation in the Lorain county parks for breakfast and paddleboating. Afterwards, they played on the playground a bit and we then went for a hike. I was talking to my mother while we hiked so the girls had the camera.

I found this photo when I went through it later. Livy (my just turned 8 year old) took it. What an awesome, unexpected gift! I LOVE this photo!


After we were done hiking, we went home and grabbed some lunch, then headed off to a magic show at the Columbia Reservation and then grabbed ice cream at Sundaes in the Park. We were sooo tired when we got home, but it was a perfect day.

And DH brought home gifts for me too....chocolate and some dvds I had been wanting!

Give me the Presents and No one gets hurt!

Ah yes. my children, that includes my oldest 'child' my DH. It is because of him that my dds are superhero and comic book freaks. Fair enough I suppose since I have my share of things that aren't his thing that I expose them to.

So, it isn't unusual to see Livy playing superhero or transformers or whatever. I had to get this shot on her birthday though as it just made me laugh. Here is this pretty innocent faced little girl in a party dress running around playing GIJoe or whatever (she has a broken air soft).

The colours challenge over at If the Shoe Fits this week was grey, black and yellow. PERFECT! Livy's favourite transformer is bumblebee.

The challenge this week at SNM is a song challenge, along with faux stitching and using a page out of an old book. I grabbed one of Livy's beat up graphic novels.

Family Sewing Box

My oldest chickeepoo was old enough to do projects in 4H this year. It has been MANY a year since I have done any sewing so this is going to be a relearning experience for mom and who knows where all my supplies are?

So, since this is hopefully the start of a lifelong passion (and an excuse for me to tack on yet another hobby!) when Trinity said we needed a sewing box I decided I would make a family one that we could treasure.

I had some Basic Grey Stella Ruby paper that I had been hoarding for something special and here it was! The pattern designs on it made it perfect! I added some inspirational words, a cute little title (done with thickers that were inked over with a copic marker) and asst embellies and a great grunge latch that I inked and then scratched the heck out of and then painted. And for the base, it was just a box that I had sitting around, it was a nice size so I set it aside and saved it a few weeks back.

This is what I got:





I'm thinking I might add a couple of photo hangers on either side and make a cute ribbon handle for it too.

Congrats to Kamryn!

She was the winner of the April challenge! She made the cutest doodle card!

Get me your address lady, I have a prize for you!

Thanks for playing!

Altered Canvas for May 30th Class

Yep, so instead of trekking to CK Buffalo, a few of us have decided to teach our own classes here in Akron Ohio. Full information to come, but in the meantime, here is the canvas that I will be teaching how to do on May 30th at Cafe 41:11.

You'll get to play with stamps, inks, paints, copics, glimmer mist and learn some fun techniques.

I had so much fun creating this and I hope you will join me for the fun!



And how awesome is that Marblehead Lighthouse stamp? I just picked it up from Grey Wolf Graphics at Adventures in Stamping! They have the coolest stamps! The rest are from my beloved CTMH hoard! Here's a close up of that area of the canvas:


And the 'sun' is another glimmer misted coffee filter flower....I LOVE making these!


As I said, full class listings and updates to come! Be sure to check back and wait til you see what I have planned for upcoming months!

And another opportunity to make life sweeter!

My friend Emily has an awesome blog and she is offering up an opportunity to score this blog candy right now:


You can find the details HERE!

More blog candy!

How awesome is this?



You can find out how to be the lucky recipient of this awewome collection of products from Simply Scrapping here

Blog Candy

This is a RAK that I found on a couple blogs I follow. The first 5 people to respond to this post will get something made by me! Could be a card, an altered object or something else altogether!

Now for the RULES:
1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make but I hope you will!

2. What I create will be made with you in mind, I will look to your blog to find out more about you! I'll take hints if you want to leave them. ; )

3. I will create your item as my schedule allows...in a timely manner but not tomorrow..lol..So only sign up if you are willing to wait a bit. : o)

4. There is a catch - you must offer this same blog candy on your blog! Let me know you're in, email me your address to L_gerwig@yahoo.com, then re-post this on your blog (you can change the wording) and offer something you make - your choice - to the first 5 people who respond to your post. Add my name to the #1 slot on your list - I am your first participant. When you create your giveaway, you will become the first participant on the lists for the people who participate with you. Got it? :-)

1. Amy

New CTMH Catalogue and Tickled Pink! our May promotion is too cute!

It's May, that means the new Close to My Heart summer catalogue is live and full of exciting new products! You can see it by clicking the link on the right!

Also, May is national scrapping month and CTMH has an awesome promotion! You can get this set for 34.95 OR you can get it free with a $60 stamp purchase or hostessing a qualifying party. New consultants will also get one this month!


A new month also means a new stamp of the month and I am COMPLETELY in love with the May set!


I hope you are excited by all the new CTMH goodness this month as I am!

Spring Scrap Sale

It is that time of the year! The biannaual Scrap Queen overstock and crop group scrap sale! We did this in Sarah's home last fall with just her items and the space was so packed, that this year we got a storefront space. We had people drive down from Toledo and Youngstown last year and they said it was well worth the trip!

Please feel free to pass this on to any groups you participate in or any scrapping friends you have.

On Saturday there will also be a plant sale with all kinds of plants from sun to shade loving. Proceeds will benefit the work of Cafe 41:11.

Also, for those not crafty but looking for cards or mini albums to give as gifts, we will have a ready made section featuring these items and more.


If you are a Scrapbooker or Stamper (or homeschooler.....this is a great way to stock up on craft supplies cheap!), this is one sale you don't want to miss! Stickers, stamps, albums, tins, chipboard, mini books, kits, paper packs, tools, dies, handmade paper, digital camera and much more. Our local scrapbooking group consisting of individuals and online store owners is clearing out LOTS of stuff!! There will be both new and gently used item. Prices will be marked down 50-90% off retail. Tons of bargains!

Sale dates are Friday May 8 (10am-2pm) and Saturday May 9 (8am-2pm)
Location: 4111 Cleveland Massillon Rd., Norton OH 44203
The sale is in the upstairs of Cafe 41:11. Please use the door on the south side of the building. There is plenty of parking behind and next to the building.

This is a cash only sale and all sales are final. Come early for the best selection!