What Do You Collect?

Our collections say a lot about who we are. One of the things I collect is alphabet books. I've always been a logophile. Even as a child, I delighted in wordplay. I can remember discovering William Steig's book CDB in the library when I was a young girl, and I sat on the library floor deciphering each page. As a teacher, I try to pass my love of words onto my students through my teaching and by giving them little gifts of words that I make with pretty papers and interesting phrases that I laminate.

Here is a page I made documenting my alphabet book collection:

What do you collect? And what does your collection reveal about you?

Obsessions

What are you obsessed with these days? Why not document that in your scrapbooks?

I've always considered myself more of a coffee drinker than a tea fancier, but when I got snowed in for a week this winter, I discovered a whole new world of tea!

My mom had given me a box of fancy tea for Christmas, and on that first snowy day, I opened up the box. And proceeded to drink up the whole box in just two days. The tea was packaged in these lovely silk pyramid shaped teabags and the flavors were so smooth and delicious.

When I ran out, I went online in search of some more Tea Forte. In my search, I stumbled upon a site called Steepster. I never knew there was a whole community people so obsessed with tea. People at Steepster chat about tea in forums, write tasting notes, and log what's in their tea cupboard.

I discovered a site called 52 Teas where they invent new and intriguing flavors every week, like Buttered Cinnamon Raisin Toast, Heath Bar Chocolate Toffee, and Pineapple Upside Down Cake. I proceeded to put seven different flavors in my cart, and they were delivered to my doorstep a few days later. I documented my new addiction on a layout I made when I was guest designing for WIP in March.

I've spent a small fortune in search of the perfect tea, and I think I've found it: White Coconut Crème by Art of Tea. Their teas are so smooth and creamy and delicious!

In case you'd like to share in my addiction, here are my favorite teas I've discovered so far:

Art of Tea - White Coconut Crème tastes just like the coconut custard pies I remember from childhood. Mandarin Silk and Caramelized pear are close runners-up.

SpecialTeas - I adore the Lemon Chiffon Rooibos, Almond Cookie, and Strawberry Cream with Pieces, and their Earl Grey de la Creme is to die for! Genmaicha Japan 655 is an unusual tea with popcorn pieces and toasted rice--I was intrigued by the tasting notes written about this tea on Steepster, so I bought a sample, and I wish I had ordered a bigger pouch!

Teavana - I recommend the Toasted Nut Brulee Oolong and Apricot Caramel Torte. If you visit their stores, they'll open these giant canisters and wave the top over the tea so you can smell the heavenly flavors to help you decide what to buy.

Teas Etc. - Yumminess can be found in Golden Monkey Organic and Coconut Custard.

Tea Forte - I swear the Coco Truffle tastes just like hot cocoa, minus the calories. And the Iced White Ginger Pear is the most perfect iced tea I've ever tasted!

Here in Maryland, we've had one of the hottest summers I can remember, but I still enjoy drinking my hot tea every day. It's an addiction I'm sure will last a long time, and now this obsession is a part of my scrapbooks. I'd love to hear about your latest obsession! I hope you'll take some time to record that bit about you in your pages.

SY Challenge 3

Good Morning Readers!

Today is the day our first challenge is posted! I am excited to share with you our very first Design Team reveal here at Scrap Yourself.

The Topic for this challenge was chosen by Cindy

{SOMETHING YOU COLLECT}

Cindy Says "When asked to come up this week's challenge I thought of THIS topic right away. I had been having coffee with a friend of mine not long ago and we got talking about things we have too many of-when I came to the realization that I had more than a few hooded sweaters (I thought I had 2 or 3. 4 at the most!!) I was VERY surprised to find I had TEN (2 of which have been purged and replaced, BTW!!) hoodies (5 of which were black!!). So my challenge for you is this: scrap about something that you feel compelled to hoard/collect. I know most of us hoard scrappy supplies at least. If you are NOT a hoarder/collector, maybe you can scrap about something you WISH you could collect.

CINDY Stevens


ZOA Barker

SUSAN Dupre

KARLA Fatula

EMMA RUTH Fronda

I hope to have you participate with us in our weekly challenges.
If you complete a layout with this theme please share it with us by leaving a us a comment!

Have a great week
Kristine