random reflections

Ten on the Tenth: Favorite Apps

I'm joining in again with Shimelle's Ten on the Tenth.

I'm making much better use of both my iPhone and my iPad these days, and thought I'd share some of my favorite apps with you. Some work with both devices.

1. My very favorite iPad app is Flipboard. It reads like a magazine and organizes your Flickr, Facebook, and Google Reader blogs as well as news. I'd actually rather read blogs with Flipboard than on the computer. I also have it on my iPhone which is a bit small, but comes in handy when you've got WiFi and a few minutes to kill waiting for an appointment.

2. I now shoot all my iPhone photos with Camera+. Some day I'll upgrade my phone to the 4S, but for now, this app really improves the quality of my photos before I do any editing. (Adam and I were both taking the same photo with our phones in Oregon, and I was really shocked at how much better the camera is on the newer phone. White balance in particular is so much better.)

 

3. Both Tracy and I keep track of all our walks (distance and pace) on RunKeeper. I need to get in the habit of recording my workouts with weights now that I'm back at the gym regularly. It tracks walking, running, hiking, ellipticals, just about anything, and then gives you a summary. The end of month summary is very satisfying when the weather is good enough to be out regularly.

 

4. I looked for a long time for a recipe app that I thought would work for me. I've found it: Paprika. The cost was reasonable for the iPad, but I did splurge and buy the Mac version as well. It has been well worth the money. Thanks to iCloud, anything I add on the Mac (with a browser button that automatically adds the recipe) shows up on my iPad. Matt bought me a little iPad stand for Christmas, and I now cook with it frequently. Sarah and I chose some new slow cooker recipes to try while we were in Oregon.

 

5. Yelp. Yelp is one reason I bought an iPhone to start with. Several years ago, we were traveling up the coast of California with Sarah. I said I thought we'd be in Morro Bay for dinner. She whipped out her iPhone and started reading restaurant reviews. "Awesome," I thought. Yelp has helped us find many a good restaurant in unfamiliar places. There are also recommendations for what to order, and we've had some great meals because of them.

6. I edit lots of my iPhone photos on the iPhone. Right now my favorite editing app is Photogene 2. I have several others  I've yet to spend enough time with to know how they work. Most of them I found by following the iPhonography blog which I love because the Glyn frequently lets the readers know when an app is on special, or better yet, free.. Most I've picked up on days when they were free.

 

7. Photo 365. Some days the only photo I manage is on my iPhone, but even on days when I use my SLR for Capture Your 365, I always take an iPhone photo and add it to this app.

 

8. Notica. I just found this app through Kayla on the DigiScrap 101 blog. I've only used it a few times, but I think I'd like to print out a few of them to use on a layout. Kayla's using them in her Project Life. You can take the photo through the app or add a photo from your library and then caption it or tell a brief story on the bottom.

9. Tripit. Tracy found this one, but it's so wonderful when you travel. I have it on both my iPad and my iPhone. You add your itinerary and all your plane and hotel reservations to it, and it keeps it organized and available by the trip. We already have reservations for some of our trip to Oregon in May and I know right where all the information is.

10. Dropbox. Technically I'm not sure it's an app, but I became a huge fan of it on our last trip. Since I'm now working on a desktop at home for the first time, I was wondering how to get all the files I wanted to take with me on my laptop. Dropbox is the answer. I put them in Dropbox on the Mac, and whenever I want them they are also on my phone, my iPad, and my laptop. It's free until you exceed a certain space limit, but I don't think that will be a problem for me.

My newest discovery is Blogsy. One of my biggest frustrations in traveling with the iPad is being unable to post to my TypePad blog. There hasn't been any good app for that, but recently I got an email from TypePad saying that Blogsie would support the Typepad platform. I haven't had time to try it, but I'm hopeful. If it works, that will be the end of traveling with the laptop.

Papertrey Anniversary Challenge: Part 4

One of the big announcements at Papertrey Ink today as part of their 5th anniversary celebration was the creation of Pinterest boards with cards by the design team, organized by theme. I was delighted to see this so I don't have to hunt through the gallery looking for card ideas for specific stamp sets or occasions. The challenge today was to take a piece of inspiration from Pinterest or use the inspiration piece chosen by one of the designers. My schedule was packed today, so I knew not to head over to Pinterest where you can literally spend hours without thinking about it. And once again, I was looking for some inspiration that would lead to another valentine. I found it on Lisa Johnson's blog. Here's her inspiration piece:

It took three tries before I ended up with a card I liked, but this might be my favorite valentine yet. I do love a black, red, and white combination.

Everything is by Papertrey Ink except the heart cut from a Nestability.

Papertrey Anniversary Challenge: Part 3

Today was a color challenge at Papertrey Ink. I was determined to get another valentine made, but the color combinations were truly a challenge. I ended up using Lisa's colors.

I punched three borders with the heart border punch (PTI) from  Pure Poppy and Aqua Mist. Then I die cut a spiral notebook page (PTI) with Classic Kraft and stamped a sentiment from Tiny Treats: Valentines. The patterned paper (Making Memories) had three of the colors in it so I decided it was a go, and cut it with a Nestability Hearts. I added a Kaiser Kraft rhinestone that matches the aqua mist to the center of one of the flowers. The best thing about this challenge is that I kept going and got two more valentines made which I'll post once the recipients get them.

My friend, Nancy, and I are off to see The Artist in a few minutes. Another friend recommended it highly.

L.O.A.D. Days 6 & 7

For the sixth layout, I wanted to get a photo of Caleb scrapped with basically the same layout I did for Skylar here. It's a sketch by Jen Gallager for Shimelle's Pretty Paper Party.

I used my Silhouette to cut the envelope for the small photo and tag as well as the title. Most of the papers came from Studio Calico kits. The heart border is a Papertrey Ink die and the gems are Hero Arts.

Yesterday I went back to an earlier prompt with a different subject: how things change. I reflected on how I've lost two roles that defined my life for so many years, but have acquired a new and wonderful role of grandma.

This layout is based on the current Studio Calico Challenge Sketch. The journaling is hidden in the bag. Almost all of the supplies for this layout came from the current Studio Calico kit; some are from January's kit. The hearts are OLD Heidi Swap chipboard. I think there are only two left now, and I had several packs of them. I created the journaling card with a Fiskar's border punch and a strip of tape from my stash.

Last night, Tracy's cousin and I went to our first Swing Dance lesson. It was SO MUCH FUN, but the best part is I didn't embarass myself! It's a four week series of lessons, and I can see myself signing up for the next set if my schedule is clear.

Papertrey Anniversary Challenge: Part 2

Today the designers at Papertrey created a set of printables to be used on cards. I loved the little toaster and the sentiment suggestions by Lexi Daly. Since I haven't started making valentines yet, this was a perfect opportunity.

Cardstock:  Select White PTI, Memory Box (red) & silver metallic Paper Source; patterned paper: Simple Valentine PTI; heart punch: EK Success; heart gem: A Muse; Prisma colored pencils; font:  CK Rugged.

I'm off to a Camera Rochester meeting, and still need to finish my layout for today's L.O.A.D. It's all arranged; just needs to be glued down.

Project 64: Yellow & Simple As That

Yellow was the color for Project 64 last week, and there's not a bit of yellow to be found outside right now. These pretty tulips are the photo I'm posting this week.

I'm also going to be posting this year at Simple As That for the Month of Photos. Rebecca generously provided this template which I love, and I picked seven of my favorite photos from January. It might even get a scrapbook page before L.O.A.D.  is over.

Papertrey Ink's 5th Anniversary: Challenge 1

It's not often I post twice in a day but I'll actually be posting three times before it's over since my yellow post for Project 64 needs to be up in just a few hours. This second post is for the first of the anniversary challenges at Papertrey Ink. The challenge was to choose one of the design team's favorite cards and use it as inspiration. As soon as I saw Ashley Cannon Newell's card I knew it would be a perfect design for a baby card I needed to get in the mail. You can see her card here.

I stayed with her banner and basic card design, but used patterned paper instead of stamping the background myself. I love Papertrey's Tiny Tags and Banner Builder dies and they were perfect for this card. I also used patterned papers from PTI: Tiny Stars and Bitty Box Basics, and the stamps from Round and Round and Tiny Tags. The ribbon is from Paper Source, and the pins and button are from my stash.

 

Studio Calico Challenge and L.O.A.D. Day 5

Today's layout is for two challenges: L.O.A.D. and last Sunday's Layout Challenge at Studio Calico which I finally read this morning. After we saw Wicked a year or so ago, I typed up some of the lyrics that spoke to me, knowing someday I'd do a layout with them. So when I saw the challenge was to use a quote or lyrics I knew it was time. This might be one of the simplest pages I've ever made, but it came out exactly the way I envisioned it, and says it all.

Patterned paper: "Boxer" Basic Grey; Wood Veneer Alphabet: Studio Calico; die: Tiny Tags Papertrey Ink; twine: Papertrey Ink 

L.O.A.D. Days 3 & 4

Yesterday's layout wasn't based on the prompt as I wanted to be sure to get my January 365+1 photos scrapped. When I was in Oregon, I purchased Ali Edwards' 2012 calendar templates and popped in two or three photos at a time as the month went on. I ended up deleting her title, and cropped the calendar before I printed it.

Patterned paper (and banner): American Craft; photo template:  Designer Digitals; stamps: Amy Tan for American Craft & Maya Road; brads: Basic Grey; number strip: stamp by Studio Calico, scanned and printed on an inkjet transparency.

Here's a close-up of the journaling which I printed on a tag I cut from a piece of World Win paper.

Today's layout was based on the prompt which was to focus on how things have changed. The real impetus for the page came from a comment about using a blog entry for the journaling. I still remember the second post I ever wrote about having a quiet house, and knew I wanted to use that for this layout. The "boyfriend" in the post is now Sarah's husband. It was his first visit with us, and he can be credited with the fact that I have a blog. I also incorporated some type tricks from Cathy Z's current class, Ten Tips for Type. I've done these in the past, but had pretty much forgotten about them: two column journaling, and two type faces for the title.

Cardstock: American Craft, die: small rickrack Papertrey Ink; buttons: Papertrey Ink

Journaling: 

We have a quiet house. In the last year, since both my kids moved out, I've become accustomed to a quiet house. But last week my daughter and her new boyfriend were here for five days. And my son, who lives nearby, came for dinner two nights. There's been lots of laughter, conversation, music, and even a blaring TV. But they're gone, and I have a quiet house. I miss the noise, I miss the laughter, I miss my kids. In a few days, I'll get used to the quiet house and the comfortable rhythm my husband and I have developed over the past year. I like that too. But I'd rather have a noisy house.

This blog entry was written June 5, 2005. It was just my second blog entry, but I’ve never forgotten it. In the last seven years, our house has been quiet far more often than not, although we were lucky enough to have Matt with us for two years between his graduation and move to Denver. But the truth is, I would still much rather have a busy, noisy house. 

Photo of Sarah, Adam, & Matt:  12.07

I bought a new scanner today, and got a shadow around the buttons. There wasn't any quick fix in PSE, but if anyone has experience with getting rid of it, I'd appreciate knowing about it.

L.O.A.D.

Well, I never imagined I would sign up for L.O.A.D. but once again, an internet community enabled me to the point where I just gave in. There was a message thread on Capture Your 365 about how excited a group were about this class. Since increasing my scrapbooking is definitely on my 2012 agenda, I decided there would be nothing better than a layout a day. Can I do it? We shall see, but here are the first two, both based on prompts from the class. The first prompt had to do with food, and we had just had a conversation with Betsay about how we all hope Skylar won't develop Matt's picky eating habits.

Cardstock:  Bazzil; patterned paper: Paper Loft; journaling card: MME; date sticker: Jillibean; border sticker and alpha: Pink Paislee; Fabric Rip: Studio Calico; circle sticker: Scenic Route; Stamp: Hero Arts; Buttons: PTI; "Seeing Stars" die: PTI; banner sticker: Jenni Bowlin

Journaling reads:  We hope that eating habits are not inherited. Skylar isn't far away from being introduced to solid foods, and we hope she'll enjoy a wide range of tastes. Matt, however, was a picky eater from Day One. I remember him spitting pureed carrots right out of his mout all over me the first time we tried them. Not much has changed in 28 years. He has a very limited diet, mostly carbs and tomato sauce. His typical breakfast hastn't varied since childhood either--Rice Krispies.

The second prompt was to choose a favorite photo---past or present--- and I've been thinking about scrapping this photo ever since I took it. 

Cardstock: Rustic White PTI; Bazzil Dotted; World Win gray; alpha and word sticker:  SEI; expoxy embellishements: KI Memories.

The journaling reads:  One of my favorite things about the new technology is Face Time. With both of my kids so far away, it's a life saver. this has to be my very favorite photo from Matt's visit home. I love how intently Skylar is looking at her Aunt Sarah, so far away in Oregon. I love the look in Matt's eyes, too. It's so clear how much he loves this little girl.

One thing I'm loving about getting back into scrapbooking is using up some of my really old supplies. I had my Valentine folder laying out and found the embellishments for the second layout in there. Some of those products are many years old!