approaching holidays + crafting

Getting excited about the upcoming weeks. Its a time I have a lot on my mind and plate, figuratively and literally :),  but also a time that gets me excited to make stuff.  An excuse to have a little (ok, a lot of) excess paper crafting paraphernalia and tools scattered around the house. Not so much yard or outside work, more time indoors, etc. makes me a happy girl. So soon I'll be gathering some favorite pictures in my software to make a 4x6 holiday photo collage. Much like the one I am using (update:was using) as my Blog Header right now. I make those in google's PICASA and then print them at my local drug store or Wal-Mart. Have also begun going through my supplies to make another December Journal for this year. Over the years I have seen this or something similar to this idea blogged about many times.  I first heard about them from the ali blog and was hooked right away.

(left) (former blog banner; photo collage done with picasa software; simple & fun)

I've said this every year for the past two or three, but ...."I'm starting early" and "I'm going all digital" and I really mean it. You know for the time being. But inevitably something - something like crafter's guilt comes over me and I feel totally like I am cheating. And so out comes the pretty paper, punches, glitter.  Buttons and ribbon spill forth from their containers and visits to wonderfully creative and inspiring blogs increase.

I thought I'd found them all...but then I find more. So many talented people crafting + blogging out there.

Some new favorites from my blogsurfing adventures this week....
cards and scrapbook trends   
(from here you can view their blogs (Four of them) -- grab a cup of something, relax, and read. have a napkin handy because you will drool over the projects. you have been warned.
zakka life
(same as above -  swoon!)
the bright side project 
scissor variations  
(I have ordered from their shop before, papier valise, just never read the blog - many good ideas for small, vintage trinkets, labels and pretty paper, naturally, I was in love :)

and
because I am a font lover
fontcapture


I don't know about anyone else reading but.....doing anything else as long as it keeps me away from my household chores is a welcome break...why I have missed these gems?

The other thing that happens is this, I get off on a totally new tangent, depending on how many links you follow you may end up in a totally new direction. I feel like I'm on so much time I start to feel so guilty.  I stayed focused though.  I didn't say much about the bright side project blog above because that is what spun me off into a new thought and also brought me back to a project I have started gathering materials for: a December Journal. So I'll mention it here. The blog is great collection of handmade/artistic offerings from the web.  A lot of new inspiration and new artists shops to check out.  More too - you have to simply go over and visit.

I left a comment on their blog - something I don't do very often - but their prompt was to leave a comment about a favorite holiday ornament or decoration. It stirred a memory, about a treasured snowflake ornament I made with mom a long time ago.

And it made me want to blog again after a nearly 3 month break. Inspiration to blog again is good.   

my comment on newly discovered blog – the bright side project – blog surfing + my morning coffee the morning of the 11^th

[The post asked us to comment on our favorite Christmas ornament.  Not something I was thinking about at the time I was surfing. There is also a chance to win a 2010 calendar from a talented photographer.  Even if I don’t win, what a great journaling prompt. Once I had the memory jogged I started thinking about an old, slightly worn with age, favorite ornament and all the memories that are attached to it.  Now I’d like to get this ornament out of storage and take a photo of it. Might fit nicely with the December Journal I am once again attempting.]

here’s the journaling: "I think about all the tree decorations I have purchased over the years and then I have to say my one most treasured (I know this bec I would cry if I ever lost it or it was damaged) is a handmade blue and clear beaded snowflake ornament that my mom and I made one year when I was about 8 or 9. In the mid 70’s this came as a kit — a small styrofoam ball, pretty stick pins, sequins, and the beads. I think all my future visions of snowflakes are based on this lovely yet simple creation + the memories of me and mom are attached."

[must find ornament and snap photo!]

here's to happy seasonal crafting and handmade goodness!

   

discovered: finishing something makes me giddy

my craft table around 30 minutes ago

For the December Journal/Scrapbook (actually the official name is "December Daily") I chose to do a numbered tag for each day 1-25 but I didn't want to leave out days 26-31 since so much goes on that week with the kids off from school etc. I plan on just making a page/place to put those end of year reflections. I find the last week of the year always puts me in a kind of mood where I like to relax, enjoy the kids being home, clean up after the holidays and start fresh.

The whole idea was not to run out and have to buy a whole bunch of products....good thing I didn't have to. Plus, I like tinkering with digital to make my own journaling boxes or number tags. My two minor purchases were binder rings -- a box of 12 and 3" red vinyl number stickers in helvetica font. Office Depot has them on clearance this week. I was lacking in some christmas-y paper until I found my basic grey Figgy Pudding paper that I had purchased last year after the holidays. In fact, it was a little like Christmas as I uncovered a bunch of stuff I had stashed and forgotten about. Clear stamps I had forgotten about. Lots of number stickers I had yet to OPEN. gasp.

One thing, the best of all things I enjoyed, was finding out that I am totally in the mood for all this. Getting the supplies out for this project and the Christmas cards put me in a good creative flow that I haven't had in a while.

oooooh, look, pretty tags I forgot about (gotta love the toys, keeps little guy busy so I can glue things together)

yep, more stuff I forgot about. uncovered in an unlabeled brown box.
sheesh, why do I hoard?

Also tonight I printed off some penmanship paper to use as one of the pages for the journal. So I'll end the post with another very cool site to visit. Here. You can download and print out all types of papers or calendars for free. It gives a nice place to record thoughts, you can print them in smaller sizes for another element in your journal or use them as background paper on which to stamp an image on. When I print these I like to use heavy matte paper specially made for printing brochures and such (I use Epson)

glitter in my coffee

two of the tags that will number the album pages of days 1-25 for a December journal scrapbook

enchanted gold lightly blended with sea green glitter + caffeine = hmmm, yummy
(glitter is more obvious if you click on picture)

That's what happens when you are crafting + drinking your early morning cup of coffee at the same time.

The projects I am focusing on for this month are putting together a journal for December and getting the Christmas cards ready. Last year things got so busy around here that I ended up sending some New Year Cards instead. I just don't want to do that again. Starting earlier this year. Maybe doing a little less of some things to make sure the right ones DO get accomplished.

it is just not possible to get away to my craft table without the little ones following. yes, I know, the force is strong with this one.

The December journal/scrapbook album is inspired from the ali edwards blog....here
There is some really pretty christmas card inspiration at another favorite blog scrapscene... check the : a christmas card a day series.

have a great week.

just words + photo tells a story

Its amazing, when you remove all the other worries (what goes here, what matches this. etc) how easy it is to focus on your story. After all isn't that the reason why those of us who scrapbook do it in the first place?


To follow along or read more about this, visit one of my fav scrapbooking blogs here.



The challenge was to use just one other embellishment (or none). Since I speak about the pillows that my mom made in the story I added a small piece of the leftover fabric we used for the red pillow shown in the photo. I thought it was a nice addition. Plus every time I go look at the page I reach out to touch the fabric {its a soft. light weight, corduroy}.

The journaling was done in MS picture it! {can also be done in ms word}, letter stickers for the words "favorite spot" and The fabric is on the page using "zots" small, flat, round, adhesives.
strip of patterned paper is from Websters Pages, pink lemonade.

quickly she posted

Okay, the days are getting longer and I am so waiting for spring. Hence, the new banner with my favorite spring things....flowers, rain, and bare baby feet :)

I sidetracked a little in March -- here we are on day 6 but I haven't updated with my start of a "one week at a time" scrapbook -- it is one of my personal goals to get that started. Of course that is inspired by something Ali has done in the past. Like so many of her ideas/projects this one has inspired a whole bunch of neat ideas to capture the everyday moments in our lives. The days go by so quickly sometimes....I was reviewing old photos {from 2002} and I just had to stop at some of them and relive that moment just briefly. So good. There are some days when I just feel like I take so many pictures -- many more than I will ever use in an album -- but then I remember what it feels like to go through all the little odd ball ones and smile.

The rest of this week I have been following along with the 21 Day Challenge over at the 2peas site. Its a journal challenge for 21 days, make {or break} a habit. They are on day 6. I haven't posted anything on that site but my thoughts have gone into a new art journal. I am really enjoying the process and a side goal is to keep it from getting too complicated. Because I tend to over complicate -- that is one habit I'd love to break. But my challenge entails actually making the time in my day to do what I love to do --be creative.

Wow, Its September Already?

Back from taking a week break from blogging. I would like to have something to post about scrapbooking done lately --I missed the deadline for posting on "Balance" for the one little word challenge but it was still useful to ponder this word and use it as a starting point for a LO. I've been over at flickr to set up an account for the "daily something" and just haven't figured out a username yet {silly I know} I agonize over coming up with a unique name then just end up with my own name on it anyway. what a silly girl :) I do like the flickr site and also the slide site to add more fun stuff to the blog. Still compiling my faves list {there are just so many good ones} I've seen this on many cool, creative blogs but how do you make it fun to read, yet manageable to update and share?

Only thing to share are some pics of the how the"daily something" challenge is progressing -- some days I realized that i have the story but not a picture to go along, so I've just been using the actual object, if I can, and use the stuff that makes it safe to use in scrapbooking {like the Chinese take-out menu} the routine has grown on me, and I don't feel bad about skipping a few days here and there. Although there is a little story everyday that should be shared or written about {before we forget it} -- it doesn't have to be artsy, or even follow the rules {if there be rules these days} of what is commonly known as scrapbooking. I really just love to use photos but the idea of using found objects from the day also seemed fitting. On the front page of the mini album I'm using {a quickly growing out of} I added a little paint to match the similar shade we used in our bathroom just repainted. One of the daily something pages that followed that is of the bathroom being painted so I thought that was a nice tie-in.

Mine has definitely taken a turn to more of an art journal/place to quickly jot down thoughts/exploration of sorts. I realized when I was setting up the pages above...flowers in garden one day and Chinese takeout night....that I was making it a little too complicated trying to find a matching patterned paper to go along with a theme....that's when I realized its not going to be the patterned paper I reflect upon six months from now - its going to be the story. But of course I was liking the color combo of the red Chinese chopstick packaging and the pale blue together :) that combo is just really pretty. But after that day I made it a little less consuming.

The Next "One Little Word" challenge

from that fabulous blog of the same name, is to use the word "Stop" as a starting point. I mulled it over a bit. Tossed the word around my head awhile. Then decided it was spilling out all over my thoughts. So yesterday I just had to sit to wrote it all down on paper before I forgot it all [cause I couldn't get to my pc]. A good feeling to complete some freeflowing, brainstorming type journaling.


here, the brainstorming part:

{not sure yet what part will actually be used in a layout}

may.31.2007
next journal challenge is the word "stop" over at OLW
what do i wish would stop?
what stops me?
who stops me?
what does stop mean?
when do I need to stop?
stop and smell the roses
stop and think
stop,drop,roll
stop wasting time
stop stress
stop bad habits
stop letting the weeds overtake the flowers

what needs stopping in our world?
wars
hate
hunger
homelessness
poverty
violence
child abuse
drunk driving
junk mail
{oh my gosh this list could go on and on}

Redirecting ---------

Stop is usually a good thing if your stopping something or someone that is not producing or giving you what you want or need. {but given in this manner it has a negative vibe}

But stopping to enjoy something has a positive connotation.
Stopping to relive memories
Stopping to take in a beautiful scene or sunset
Making time to stop during the stressful times, times when you need a moment to refocus on what's important.

Stop spreading hate, negativity and gossip because by not doing so you're stopping love.

Stop time so you can enjoy the moment more

{ooooh, if I had but one superpower......to stop time, or go back in time}

Yes, like in a photograph. Let the moment live on forever.
We take photos so we can capture the moment. Forever stop time for that one moment. Suspend the moment. Re-live it over and over again.
It is our super-power to stop time - in this way - sort of.

Never stop being you
Don't stop growing - learning
Never stop exploring, discovering
Never stop being a kid [inside]
Don't ever stop expressing yourself
Never stop loving or laughing
Never stop amazing me
Never stop creating
Never stop being inspired to create
Never stop loving art and its many directions
Never stop doing what you love
Never stop growing your artistic side
Stop thinking you are not good enough
You really can stop listening to those who tell you otherwise

===there was a few hours pause here===had to catch my breath

I will transcribe the rest later.

~~~~~~~~~~
6.06.07
the rest of it...

never stop wanting to do crafts with mom
never stop asking me to draw Pokemon with you
never stop chalk drawing on the driveway with me
never stop playing
never stop doodling with me
never stop reading and loving to read

stop fretting over the box top that got away
stop using my credit card
stop saving all that stuff to make stuff with {maybe this one I can't stop all together. hmm.}
stop collecting rubber and acrylic stamps {no. no. not this one}

never stop saying please and thank you
sometimes you will have to stop and say I'm sorry

things its okay not to stop.......................
recycling
reinventing
renewal
envisioning good things for the earth
reusing, conservation
reducing waste
reducing fuel consumption
renewing energy sources
praying

never stop celebrating the little things in life
don't stop celebrating the little things in life

*******
all this from just one word. "stop."
what a wonderful site for journaling inspiration!