..:: december daily day 23 ::..

Hello friends! I am back today with another day in my December Daily Album. I am also up on the {a flair for buttons} blog with this one. Here is my day 23 spread:

This two page spread looks like this when you flip the tag:

Here is a look at the flair I used on this layout:

It's a cardinal, and meant to represent those missing from our celebration. This flair is available in the Watercolor Winter Flair 3 set. Here is a look at my journaling:

I noticed a typo after I had already finished -- but I'm going to live with it.  Here are a couple more  close ups:

I'm so close to finishing this project! I made a video of my process, if that's something that suits your fancy!

Thanks for stopping by, and I will see you again soon!  XO o.g.

:: december documentation ::

I am going to attempt another "December Daily" this year. I ordered this kit from Studio Calico and I've been working on it, bit by bit, over the last couple of weeks. I cannot bring myself to make "foundation pages" like so many do!!  I did, however, work on the cover, title page and a few cards for inside. Some things I completely copied from Ali Edwards, but other stuff I created from scratch.  I've even made a few brushes, cuts, and cards to add to the kit! I'm loving the "see through" trend, so I imagine you will see a bunch of vellum and transparencies whenever possible.  And lets not forget glitter and sequins (both of which are all over my house right now)!!!

Let's start with the cover...

First I painted the cover, back cover, and the inside with silver paint.  Then I went back over the front and back covers with just a little bit of silver glitter paint.  I glittered the wood veneer letters from the kit, and I think the smaller snowflakes are also from that set.  I found some awesome wood veneer shapes at Target and used three of the snowflakes for my cover (after covering with glitter, of course).  The silver ribbon is also from the kit!

Here are a few inside things I've made:

Made "bring on the twinkle" in photoshop, printed on vellum, sequins mostly from the kit.

This is a total Ali Edwards rip off!

Flair from the kit and I made the "card" in photoshop, printed on vellum.

Used stamps from the kit, StazOn ink, and a transparency that I cut to size for this one.

More sequins, more stamping, more StazOn, more vellum!

This is one of my faves! Letters from dollar spot at Target, sequins from my stash and the kit, sewed the lines with silver thread.  I will post closeups when I post about this day.

Used the digital file from the kit to make "magic" then used letters from the kit for "lives here". Stapled with the tiny attacher to a Hambly transparency that I had left over from previous years!

~ december daily one of two ~

Saying goodbye to 2012 is AWESOME!  I am ready to say hello to a new year and new projects.

I loved December Daily so much, that I'm going to attempt Project Life.  Wish me luck.  I've decided not to share all my DD pages here because I don't think anyone wants to see all of them!  So, I will post a few here, and all of them can eventually be found here on flickr for those that are interested (days 1-15 are there now, I still have a couple of journaling spaces to finish and then I will share the rest on flickr)!

I was thinking it might be easier to share my book and process in a video.  I have things that I want to share, but I just think it would be easier in a video!  I've been going back and forth for a week or two about if it's worth it to create a video that maybe no one will watch.  :-)

Moving on...

I am excited for OLW again!  I'll share more about my word, why I chose it, and my first layout in the next couple weeks.  I'm excited that my oldest daughter will also be participating this year!  It is going to be so much fun to do this with her!


We have been super busy around here -- PLAYING (mostly building things).  It has been wonderful to be able to experience Christmas with my three year old.  It was truly magical for her, and for that I am thankful.

I wish you all a wonderful 2013!

Coming soon ::  December Daily post #2 and Project Life post #1!  (I'm not sure if I will share every week, but I would love to share my process as I begin this project for the first time).

~ december daily :: a foundation ~

Hello!  I have been so busy (probably you too, right?)!  GOOD busy, not icky busy.  Creating has not suffered a bit, in fact, it is part of the “busy” -- just the sharing on my blog has been lacking!  I’ve started an art journal, I have completed a couple of layouts and started to prepare for Christmas – all of which I hope to share here soon.  Today I would like to share the start of a project that I think many people have been working on lately – December Daily.  If you’d like more info about December Daily, check out Ali Edward’s site here!

I attempted December Daily last year.  Attempted.  Didn’t finish.  I thought it would be easiest to purchase a book from the amazing Elise Blaha Cripe, so I did.  But I didn’t even decide to do December Daily until rather late, so I ordered the book late, so it didn’t arrive until we were several days (more than a week) into December.  Plus, I had no idea what I was doing and I had never done a mini before.  I'd say I had a few strikes against me from the start!  Now that I have a few minis under my belt I think I just might be successful with my goals this year! 

One of the things that I have learned about myself as a documenter of memories – I can’t really do 4x6 mini albums!  I’ve tried several times.  I like 6x6 WAY better!  So, no Elise book this year (boo!), but that doesn't mean you can't get one (here).  I love her stuff, but I’m pretty sure I cannot do that size (no worries, her stamps will totally make it in the book).  So, I decided I would purchase an American Crafts Modern Album (6x6 in cardinal red) and some 6x6 paper pads -- Sleigh Ride (Crate Paper) and Merry and Bright (Carta Bella), along with a few other items (such as Hambly Transparencies), and of course I will shop my stash. 

When I got the album in the mail I was excited and disappointed!  When I ordered it I did not read carefully enough to realize that “chipboard cover” wasn’t Kraft (the only place it was Kraft was in my head).  I was thinking I would be able to leave it fairly plain (Kraft + red is very “Target” but also just awesome), but when I got it, I knew I was going to have to paint it or cover it with something.  So…I went with it.  I covered it with this awesome jillibean soup paper -- And I love it!

Another “issue” that I’ve had while attempting to prepare this album for December is the album’s binding.  I attempted to stamp/emboss on the binding with a stamp from this awesome Ali Edwards set.  But, it didn’t quite look like I wanted it to!  Ugh!  I hate it when that happens.  I did fix it a bit – it’s a little better and will work, but I’m not quite done.  I know am going to do something fun at the top, but I’m not sure what yet.  

1st try

second attempt

I used the "December" stamp from that same Ali Edwards set, to emboss some funness onto a green circle (the same green paper is on the inside covers).  I hooked my Cricut up to my computer and created the "twenty 12" cutout, then embossed it with silver glitter.  Added a few more fun things, and the cover was done and I'm happy with it.

One of the things that I’ve learned over the last year about minibooks (for me) is that it helps to have a theme or pattern to what I’m doing.  For example, the format of the engagement book that I did for my friend Amber was simple – two page spreads, one side had a 4x6 photo and the other side had a quote with some embellishments.  I also threw a little love and magic in the mix (every engagement book should have a little love and magic, no?).  I stuck with circles (mostly), and a few arrows mixed in for good measure.  So for my December Daly mini I decided that I needed to have a few similar guidelines for myself.  I’m going to stick with circles, snowflakes, and stars.  That might seem like a lot, but I think that snowflakes and stars are like circles, if that makes sense.  I know it doesn’t probably, except in my strange mind.  But it works for me.  So I’m going with it.  That, and you will see the word “magic” frequently!  Why?  Because I just know that Christmas is going to be so magical for B this year!  The age of three is So. Much. Fun.

SO… enter problem number 327…I really wanted to use this new stamp that I got recently, but it’s squares (and my plan is circles, remember?).  I thought it would make a great title page!  Well, I fixed that easy enough with my sewing machine!  I stitched a circle around it.  And I had a bunch more fun with this page!

I used some discarded packaging, sewed around it and stuck some confetti inside -- FUN!

Yay!  I love it!  I love the pink, too!  This title page is chipboard, painted with gesso and pink paint.

I’ve tried really hard to do “foundation” pages, like many of my fellow December Daily blogging friends are doing.  I can’t do it!!!!  Maybe someday, but I’m not there this year.  I can’t seem to put it all together with numbers and stuff, if I don’t have the pictures.  However, in addition to the cover and title page, I have done some things that I’m going to call my “foundation”:

1.     Organized my embellishments and other extras so that I don’t have to dig through things when I’m doing my page each day

2.     Cut Hambly transparencies to the right sizes and maybe added a little tape or other things (minus the number) so that I can just pick what works for the day and go with it

3.     I have a plan for several things that I would like to include: the obvious (tree decorating, traditions, etc.) and the not as obvious (journaling prompts that I’d like to include if there is a dull day)

4.     Ordered a bunch of stuff in advance and it will all be here before Saturday (most of it is already here).  For example, you are going to see fun flair from a flair for buttons and Ormolu (they both have awesome December collections), but I also just had to add some items to my stash that will help me bling-i-fy my minibook.

5.     I have a basic “plan”.  For example, I know that I want to have either a Hambly transparency or a stitched insert between each two page spread, and I want my focus to be the “Magic” of Christmas, with things like circles, stars and snowflakes

6.     I have a basic idea of color – mostly red and green, but also pink, blue and silver (and I have, and will continue to, get my glitter on)!

This is WAY further ahead than I was last year.  I feel better and more calm about it.  I’ve also given myself permission to not get all wrapped up about which day things happened and documenting it exactly like that.  I will probably stick to the day fairly close, but if I have several things that I want to document about a day, I might make it two days, or I might use four pages instead of two, or whatever.  And that is OK.  My purpose is to document what happens, the everyday and the extra special, the magical and the mundane.  It’s all worth remembering and that is why I do this. B. loves to look at my scrapbooks and other photos that haven’t made it to print yet.  When she talks about the photos and "remembers" the stories from the pages, it is so rewarding!

Are you doing a December Daily?  I would love it if you would link it in the comments.  One of the things that I love about the online community is being able to share, see (and sometimes steal) what others are doing all over the world! I will be sharing here as we go through the month, but I am also sharing via instagram and twitter using #decdaily and/or #decemberdaily.  I will also be sharing photos of this project in this flickr group!

This weekend I hope to attend Craft & Fancy and see my friend Kirsten (who is also blogging her December Daily)!

Peace out!

~ explored ~

Busy, busy, busy around here!  I've done a few of my December Daily pages, but I'm still not done!  I will finish!!  :-)  The good weather that we were having when I last posted has left us, and we are experiencing full on winter!  The girls have enjoyed playing outside on occasion.  More snow predicted for later this week!

12/365

M & B on sled

M saying "cheese"

 The last two days I've had photos "explored" on flickr.  This is all new to me, and kinda silly, but also kinda fun!  I find it interesting that I would consider both shots "over done" or a bit cliche.  But, oh well, I'll take it! Here are the two photos.

~ minimal liquid ~  16/365 and 2/52 weeks (theme "liquid") and "minimal" for We're Here! group

 ~ bright & colourful ~  17/365 and "bright and colourful for We're Here! and 112 pictures in 2012

I cannot leave you without a B. story.  She loves pistachios!  I have photos of her eating them.  She can even say the word, and it's quite cute!  Last night, we were watching Pinocchio and B. looked up at us and said, "Can I have some Pitocchios?"

~ days 4 & 5 ~

December 4th I had two "stories" so I used another cool  Hambly Transparent Sheet that Ali Edwards is using!  Attached to the Hambly Transparent Sheet, I used stickers from Memory Works- 25 Days of Christmas Cardstock "Count Down" Stickers for the number.  Actually, I didn't like the original square number 4 from the sheet, so I used a different number sticker (can't remember which one), glued a 1 inch kraft circle on top, and then used a different (plain) number 4 from the same sheet!

day four spread

day 4 close up (right)

I decided to hide my journaling behind the photo on this page.  I did this for a couple of reason.  The biggest reason was because I wanted a bit of white (green) space.  A bonus was that it helped to hide the number five on the next page (since it sticks out).  I wouldn't have liked seeing the back of the number 5 and would've felt like I had to cover it up!  Here's the hidden journal...

day four hidden journal

I was really happy when I saw that the book that I'm using from Elise Blaha's etsy shop, had a pink page!  This was the perfect match to tell the story about B. loving (being obsessed with) pink!  And the picture of her trimming her pink tree.  I used a 4 x 6 piece of Hambly transparent sheet between the two pages to help protect the journal from the glitter (I usually use a 2 or 3 x 6 piece)!

day five spread

all about pink

The story is about trimming B's pink tree, and her love for the book Pinkalicous!  So...I hand wrote "Pinkalicous" on the photo with glue (using my best copy of the font used on the book) and glittered it!  It didn't turn out quite as good as in my head, so I haven't decided if I'm going to keep this, or reprint the photo and keep it plain.  Overall, I do like day five's layout, though.  It's probably one of my favorites so far because it's a fun story, fun colors and so very "B"!

pinkalicious

I hope to complete more this weekend, but with the holidays I may not get a chance.  We are also having a few household changes, which may also impair my ability to "get things done."  However, my goal is to complete the rest before the end of the year!

pink.  check.
tassels. check.
bell. check.
assembly #1 complete
Now wine and pizza!

~ dec. daily - 1, 2, 3 ~

I was finally able to complete a few pages of my December Daily album, at least enough to post.  I think it is possible that some pages may continue to get tweaked here and there, but for now...let's go!

the cover page

I would like to do something fun with the left side, have a few ideas, but nothing is quite working at this point!

I'm finding myself using a lot of kraft (the book that I'm using from Elise Blaha's etsy shop has some, and I've added some with embellies, letters, etc.).  But there is also some traditional red and green.  I like it!   The cover page lists some of the things I would like to do in December.  Cricut for numbers, Martha Stewart letter punch for alphas.

day one spread

Day one -- Highlighting a new tradition in our house (the 25 wrapped books), and a trip with Daddy to Menards.

Thickers "one", EK punch on photo mat and more help from my Cricut for the tag!

One of the things I was waiting for in the mail was the cool Hambly Transparent Sheets that Ali Edwards is using.  Although they came in a timely fashion, I was late to decide I wanted them, so I had to wait.  They were worth it!  Here is one dividing my two stories for day two (Bea taking pictures, and packages beginning to arrive on our doorstep)...

day two spread - left

day 2 spread - right

I added the paper on the right.  The paper, along with the letter stickers on this spread are from Memory Works- 25 Days of Christmas 6x6 paper pad that I purchased at my local scrapbooking store.

Day three we decorated the Christmas Tree!  For this one I had a bunch of photos (none of which were THE PERFECT PHOTO), so I created a collage in Picasa and printed it as a 5x7.  Then, cut and adhered it across the two pages.

day three spread

t{h}ree -- get it??? 

Day four and five are half done, and day 7 only needs a spot of journaling and a number.  I have photos printed out for all pages through day 13, and most of the rest are picked out, just not printed.  This past weekend we had one family Christmas celebration, so I have many to choose from for that day -- and not so many on others.  I am going to try to allow myself to not get hung up on exactly what day something occurred (at the encouragement of Ali Edwards).

On another note, I signed up to do One Little Word 2012 with Ali Edwards, through Big Picture Classes.  Let's see, One Little Word, a 365 +1 group and a 52 weeks group on flickr, plus my family, job and other crafty fun...what am I thinking??? Oh, and this blog that no one reads!  :-)

Geez, do I worship Ali Edwards?  I've mentioned her a lot today!

One more thing...cool app...needed by all.