2015 Album Title page

So even though I'm not totally sure what I'm doing with Project Life this year, I went ahead and made my title page. I used some supplies from Studio Calico and from Heidi Swapp.

I'm thinking about doing "monthly" this year. Although I love looking through my weekly(ish) albums from 2013 and 2014, I'm ready for a change. I'm ready to make more 12x12s and I'm considering combining them with pocket pages in this 2015 album. But I'm also intrigued with the fun 9x12 Project Life pages.

I had just enough of my most favorite Thickers to write out the year :)

I had to add this overlay as soon as i pulled it out of my Studio Calico PL kit.

What's your plan for scrapbooking this year?

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Woodland Baby Card

One of my best friends had a baby a couple of weeks ago. His name is Cedar Jackson - cute, huh? His nursery theme is "woodland" and is painted a soft gray. They used teepees, feathers, and great quotes to decorate the room. I made a card and tried to stay in that theme. Here's what I came up with!

I used paper from Studio Calico and Basic Grey. I was so glad I had the right letters to spell out his name - those Thickers are some of my faves!

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Thoughts on the Project Life App

Have you played with the Project Life app yet? I downloaded it as soon as it was available, but I haven't made any pages yet. I love paper too much to go digital! Recently, the Project 52 core kit came out and I loved the colors. I definitely don't need another physical core kit so I waited until it came out on the app. I really liked paying $1.99 for the kit!!

I'm trying to develop some healthier habits this year and decided to document my progress through the Project Life app. I don't know what I'll do with the pages when I'm done. I think I would be more likely to make a bound photo book out of them versus printing each page out. Some people are printing each page and adding embellishments though.

I can't believe how quick it is to make a page. Seriously. You can zoom out and change cards easily. It's easy to switch around your cards - after you fill up all the "pockets", you can hold your finger down on one of them and drag it over to another spot to switch those cards/pictures.

You can change your font, the size, the color, the alignment, etc. So simple! I haven't tried it yet - but you can also export your finished pages and open them in other photo apps. The Rhonna Designs app has some amazing quotes that I want to try adding to patterned filler cards.

And best of all, you don't have to worry about working with the back of an existing pocket page. I've gotten used to that over the last 2 year of doing physical Project Life, but a lot of newbies have a hard time getting past those limitations. 

Are you a digital or physical Project Lifer?

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Living Locket

So I've been wanting one of those Living Lockets from Origami Owl for quite some time. I've looked at them in person and online, but never have taken the plunge to buy it. I had mentioned it to my mom a long time ago, but hadn't brought it up in months... so I was very surprised on Christmas morning!

They chose 7 charms for me - a diamond (my birthstone), an engagement ring and 'Love' for me and Joe, an owl, a gnome, a doggie bone (for Harley), and a pink iPhone. Perfect! I plan on picking up other charms and changing them up sometimes. They couldn't find anything to represent scrapbooking, but I'll keep an eye out!

Do you have one of these lockets? What charms would you want to include?

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Yoga layout

I recently joined the Simple Scrapper community and I'm loving it! I'm amazed at the wealth of information in this membership - a monthly magazine, an active Facebook group, monthly Story Starters (ideas for pages), monthly Sketches and examples, chances to win a free month of membership, and more! I used a Story Starter and a Member Sketch from January to create this layout about signing up for yoga teacher training.

These doilies are from a recent Freckled Fawn embellishment kit. I used transparencies from the Grand Bazaar diecut pack on top of them.

More detail. I was able to use a few items from Ali Edwards "First" Story Kit. Can't wait to use more!

I put a transparency over top of a gold accented wood veneer leaf. I LOVE how it turned out!

I've also become an affiliate for Simple Scrapper. I joined in late November and actually won the December month Member Incentive Challenge! How cool is that? I'm also able to access information from past years. There's like 400 Story Starters!! Coming up with "what" to scrapbook is often my stumbling block. If you want to find out more, check out this page or send me a message!

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Project Life 2014 - Done!

I wrapped up Project Life 2014 and made my title and end pages. I ended up with 35 two page spreads and 5 inserts for 2014. I found some of the Coral kit front and back page cards. I also used some of those Coral cards I spruced up last year. Would you believe I put them in a storage container and forgot to use them? Ha!

I was very glad to finally glue down those "2014" wood veneers. I have literally been moving them around my workspace for a year. Ridiculous.

Are you doing Project Life in 2015? I haven't decided how/what I'm doing yet. I need something to spice it up a little. Give me some suggestions!

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Little Golden Deer

So I was walking through Hobby Lobby recently and saw a little paper maché deer. This was a total impulse buy... but it was half price, so I only paid $5! I've been wanting to put one of these deer heads in Joe's office, but never got around to getting one. I love how this turned out!

I forgot to take a good picture before I started painting. Oops! I used acrylic craft paint. I already had the gold so I just picked up some navy paint.

I'm going to hang it above the door in Joe's office. He likes it!

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Project Life 51 & 52

Here it is - the final 2 weeks for Project Life 2014! It's really a mix of several different kits (Midnight, Heidi Swapp Favorite Things, Studio Calico Park Avenue), a cut apart page from Simple Stories, and more of the 6x6 paper pad I used on this layout.

Left page: My decision to commit to yoga teacher training, my awesome snowflake pajama pants, and the finished tile job in the bathroom!!!

I put this thin gold washi over the sides of this yoga card I made earlier this year.

Right side: My dining room table, decorating the tree, and Christmas celebrations. How adorable are those Polaroid pics?

Front: I also did an insert for my trip up to Indiana to help my brother find a place to live. I cut a 12x12 pocket page in half to make this insert.

Back of insert: Our dinner and our walk around the campus at Purdue University. Also - can you believe we only took 1 selfie the whole trip?!? Tommy wasn't into it and I forgot, haha.

 I'll be back soon to show you my front and back pages for my 2014 album. I always wait until the album is done to complete those pages. Do you make your title page at the beginning of the year or at the end?

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It's my 2 year Blogiversary!

Two years ago today, I published my first blog post.

I'm so glad I started.

I enjoy connecting with other people. I've been exposed to so many bloggers and crafters that I wouldn't have seen if people hadn't cheered me on and commented on my posts.

I cherish the new friendships that have happened because of blogging.

I like having some accountability for my projects. I have completed 2 years of Project Life and lots of little crafts projects. I don't know if I would have done them all if I hadn't felt some responsibility to share with my readers. And I don't feel pressure in a negative way... I just like to think there are people out there sitting at their computer waiting for me to post something new. LOL! I wouldn't want to disappoint them.

If you're thinking about starting a blog, just go for it. Start simple. Pick a name and sleep on it for a couple nights. Connect with me via Facebook or email if you have questions/rants/fears and I will try to help! (not so much with technical help... my only advice there would be to use a ready-made theme. You can always learn HTML and jazz it up later).

Just start!

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Project Life Weeks 49 & 50

I combined weeks 49 & 50 and used the Park Avenue Project Life kit from Studio Calico. I added a few cards from the Jade core kit collection too.

Left side: we got a new roof, I put up my favorite Christmas wreath, we attended an ugly Christmas sweater party, and I got my first (and only, I think) red cup of the season at Starbucks.

I'm so grateful for my hubby. He moved a printer for me and it has made my life about a million times easier. It's the little things in life, people!

Right side: working on Christmas cards, milkshakes at Steak n Shake, Dollywood, Salvation Army angel tree, contemplating yoga teacher training, and lunch with a friend. 

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Mini Polaroid prints

Joe surprised me on Christmas with a Polaroid 300 Instant camera! I have always liked these little prints but had never mentioned it to him. He's so thoughtful!

I took a couple of pictures when we visited his parents on Christmas day. I stuck these on their fridge before I left :)

And I used some clear stickers to decorate these other two. I love them! Joe took the selfie of us on Christmas morning. I'm going to send my brother the one of us when he moves into his new house. He can put it on his fridge.

Do you have a Polaroid 300 or an Instax? I can't wait to use these pics in my Project Life. 

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Project Life Week 48

Week 48 is mostly about Thanksgiving. Sometimes that's the way it goes.

Full spread:

Left side: a list of things that happened this week, Thanksgiving.

These Studio Calico stickers have been hanging around my stash for too long. The colors matched perfectly this week.

I've been saving this 3x3 card for a minute. It was part of the October Afternoon cut parts I used in week 45.

Right side: Thanksgiving morning, Grey Thursday (and Black Friday) shopping with Mom, and dinner at Joe's favorite restaurant.

 

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Merry and Bright Christmas layout

I was totally inspired by this layout on the Me & My Big Ideas blog last week. So inspired that I actually made my first Christmas layout. It was long overdue.

I started with a paper from a MAMBI paper pad I got from Michael's. It already had the white sentiment and branches on it. That bow at the top is also from Michael's. 

I changed it up a bit because I wanted slightly bigger squares and a different grid layout. I used Diptic to create a collage of 4 pictures. I printed them out so I ended up with 2"x2" pictures.  

 I used Paislee Print's "Merry and Bright" collection for the larger squares. I cut squares about 1/4" larger than the pictures so I could mat some of my photos on the squares. I also used a few bits from my stash to decorate some of the squares.

I love how it turned out! I got a scrapbook frame and easel to display a current 12 x 12. It looks beautiful on my fireplace!

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Golden Year Letterpress Calendar

Happy New Year!

I love calendars so I ordered the Golden Year 2015 Letterpress Calendar cards from Studio Calico. These cards are gorgeous!! I am seriously in love with gold. I immediately decided to find a way to display the cards all year (so I can admire them often!)

I got out my Bind-it-All and bound the cards. I created a cover using this card from the Shimelle Lovely mini PL kit and the "2015" stamp from the Park Avenue Studio Calico PL kit.

I can't wait to look at these pretty cards all year.

I'm so glad they included this design. It was one of my favorites from 2013!

What kind of calendar(s) are you using this year?

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