..:: project life weeks 2 & 3 ::..

Holy catch up Batman, I haven't shared Project life in weeks -- so you get two today.

This week I tried out my new kit -- a Home Shopping Network exclusive -- Just Add Color (I bought it because I love the little squares)! So, I have design A on the left and the new one on the right (I have no idea what that one is called, sorry)!

We had all kinds of happy mail this week -- new stamps from Elise Blaha Cripe, and our new iPhones arrived!  It was also our first day back at school after an extra long break due to the weather -- so I snapped a photo there as well! This week I also included some memorabilia -- one of Elise's business cards behind the photo of the stamps, a tag showing my awesome new pajamas -- and the clearance price -- and I also included a list.  Wine really stands out, doesn't it?  And beer is on there twice! Oh my! (We thought it was funny, so I included it)

Our bird lost a few tail feathers (the first since we got him in November), Charlie had oral surgery, and we played a lot of UNO! :-)  I also have a bit of hidden journaling (some funny, but personal, remarks that Bea shared with us this week).  

I used a mixture of the January Studio Calico PL kit and the Just Add Color Core kit. Fun!

Moving on…..

Week 3 has an insert -- there was a birthday in the family! Above is the two page spread with the front of the insert captured. The insert is all about Lucius turning 6!

Snack day is a big deal in the life of a four year old -- especially because you also get to be the star for the day -- so I included it. C. took Bea to the birthday party for our nephew (I couldn't go because I am allergic to their cats), so I went to a crop in Central City with my friend, Bridget. Fun!

We got to babysit Brycen one day -- and C. showed Bea how to fold her laundry. There was also a bit of weather -- imagine that -- but it didn't stop C. from grilling! Pssstt…wanna know a secret? On this two page spread many of the stamped circles and words are stamped onto a studio calico card that is not really a "card".  Wha???????? you say! It's one of those cards that come in the PL kit, and say Studio Calico in the middle (may have even said the moth of the kit or something).  It has an orange pattern. It worked for the week, so I went with it.

Above is the week 3 spread, with the back of the insert showing.

I have week four (Jan. 22-28) nearly finished, just an insert to take care of (and I need a little bit of help from my One True Love to complete it)!  My plan is to share it with you next Sunday!

For the month of February I am participating in LOAD214. (LOAD = LayOut A Day). Our prompt for today was to scrap the everyday. My project life is all about the everyday, so this was an easy one for me! 

:: hello february ::

info about LOAD214
info about February Alphabet Fun

:: i want to remember ::

I want to remember Brycen's cooing and smiling.

I want to remember "I love you higher than a giant (that's a lot of pounds)."

I want to remember watching E.T. as a family and Bea calling him "Poor Little Guy".

Every. Time.

I want to remember the look C. gets on his face when B. says something funny (which is quite often lately).

I want to remember that B. turns everything into an art project.

I want to remember the UNO addiction.

..:: project life : week 1 ::..

Holy New Beginnings, Batman! Project life is So. Much. Fun.

As mentioned before, my plan is to have my weeks go from Wednesday-Tuesday, and I will share on my blog on Sundays.  Yay! It's Sunday!

left

right

::This week's highlights:: WEATHER! Specifically the Polar Vortex! We missed 2 days of school due to the cold temperatures, which extended our already longer than normal Winter Break (I didn't complain)! The weather got it's own insert this week. I also started One Little Word this week, as well as another 365 attempt (both are reflected in this week's spread). We celebrated my MIL's birthday this week and I won a Silhouette Cameo from Studio Calico (Part of the 12 days of Christmas)!

::Supplies:: I used Design A page protectors for both sides.  For the insert, I used a Design G page protector, but I cut off the 2, 6x4 spots on the far right and stitched it up the side to hold the cards in. I mainly did it this way because I had the Design G on hand! :-) For this first week, I took a look through a few past Studio Calico Project Life (monthly) kits to complete the week (my January kit arrived just as I was finishing -- so I was able to add that lovely "start" badge!). Most of the cards are from December 2013, but there are a few others from past kits. I tried to stick with a red, grey, black & white color scheme. I used my Silhouette Cameo to create a see through element on my insert -- the cut was purchased from the Silhouette Store. I used stamps from several manufacturers including, Elise Blaha Cripe, Studio Calico and Pink Paislee.

::Techniques or Additions:: This week I decided to use a photo as my title card.  I don't know that I will do that all the time, but this time it just seemed to work out so I did.  I used some gelatos and a water brush to paint on a few of the cards. For example, the card was just black and white, and so was the circle stamp.

I also used Pinstripe Mister Huey's and a paint brush for the grey.  I used both the gelatos and Mister Huey's to splatter a bit of paint as well.

On the last card I have a photograph of a puzzle that my mom did.  I also included the actual newspaper behind the card.  It's not removable (I had thought I might do that, but then changed my mind). I used it like I might use patterned paper. The story is about how my mom saves newspapers for us (more on that in a different post) and how I often find the puzzles (specifically Sudoku) finished.  I love my mom and I love finding these reminders of her in my house (I don't see her as often as I wish I did)!

One last fun item I added this week.  I took some video of my daughter dancing to "I Love Rock 'n Roll" this week (she requested the song, of course). I took a screen shot of the movie to use as a photo, and I uploaded the video to You Tube.  Then I created a QR code and included that on the card, which will send you to the You Tube video to watch her dance!  Fun!  ((I will do that again, I think).

See the QR code on the bottom left?

My happy mail even made it in!  Hello Just Add Color!

Thanks for stopping by!  

:: new additions number 1, 2, 3, & 4 ::

In my last post I mentioned the fact that we have a few new additions to our family (that aren't human). :-)  Today I'm sharing 1, 2, 3 & 4.

1 & 2 | Canon 70D & a see through guitar | 

WOW!  I haven't had a chance to play with it much, but what little I have, I am in love. Under the Christmas tree, from Santa, was a very special gift for me -- a camera upgrade. It was a complete surprise! Santa also "surprised" my Soul Mate with a new (vintage) guitar. (It's see through.  He keeps saying he is going to play it naked, but I have yet to see that)!

The story : We promised not to get anything for each other.  My One True Love broke the promise and got me a camera and himself a guitar.  ;-)  Then wrapped them from Santa.  The fun part of the story -- he hid them, so I had no idea -- and when he pulled the guitar out from behind a few other presents, it was wrapped -- without the case -- so it looked like a guitar.  He said, "Wow!  I wonder what this is?" and B. said, "A SHOVEL!!!!"!!!  Love her.

3 & 4 | iPhone 5s | 

We were so over due (like a year) for new phones.  And then one of them was lost (we think in a parking lot), and so it forced the issue. The only thing holding us back, really, was a decision on a carrier (do we switch, do we stay the same).  We switched. It was a looooooong ordeal (that isn't quite over), and I'm hoping the switch is a good one. I could not be happier about my new iPhone 5S, though! Better camera, more memory, same apple love.

Welcome to the family 1, 2, 3 & 4.

:: project life title page 2014 ::

And we are off -- 2014, and a new beginning for Project Life has begun!

I almost didn't make it (and you could say that I didn't).  My goal is publish a Project Life update here each Sunday.  It's still Sunday.  So I made it, right?  However, this isn't exactly complete.  In fact, it looked a lot like this two weeks ago!  I know I want a family photo on the bottom right card. I think I might put our names and ages on the bottom left card, and I may mess with that 2014 card a bit more.

A little stitching with an Amy Tangerine template (US) and there is a card or two from her Cut & Paste PL collection I think.  Most of the supplies are from past Studio Calico Project Life Kits. The "Find Joy In The Journey" card is actually a business card that I got with an Origami Owl jewelry purchase -- but I thought it fit PL perfectly (even the color was great)! One of my most favorite things is putting the "stuff" from our life in our book.

The 2014 card is my favorite, but I'm not sure it's finished yet either.  It's a watercolor card that was in the last SC PL kit (Life-Love-Paper, I think).  I don't really have watercolors (other than my daughter's), so I used gelatos and a water pen.  It's super easy to paint with gelatos (have I mentioned how much I love them?)! All you need is a little chunk (really small amount) and a little water. I didn't have the right color of green/blue so I made it! I grabbed a couple of blue gelatos and a green.  I shaved a bit of each of them, added some water, and mixed.  I just kept adding a little of whatever color I think I needed until I got what I wanted. It was fun.  I will paint with gelatos again. To finish this card off, I might use some small stamps in some of the little squares.  Not sure (The 2014 numbers are from Amy Tangerine's Cut & Paste Collection, I believe).

In this post I showed a bit of what I'm thinking for organization, but I'm still working on a few other things.  I promise to post photos as I get closer to what I really want for organization! I am currently in the middle (but closer to the end) of my first week of PL 2014. My week started on Wednesday, and I will be going Wed-Tues for the rest of the year (unless something doesn't end up working for me), with sharing on Sundays!  So…….that means, I will be back next Sunday to share my first week!  So exciting. I love new!

Hope to share more about a few new additions to our family (no new humans) soon!

:: a SMASHing One Little Word ::

Don't you love opening a new can of coffee? Doesn't it smell just magnificent? That's how I feel about the new year!!! :-) I do love clean slates, fresh starts, new beginnings!

It's here! It's that time again.  I am participating in Ali Edward's One Little Word for my third year. I am excited and hopeful about this new beginning.   I love the beginning of the calendar year, almost as much as I love the beginning of a new school year (with it's freshly sharpened pencils and all)!

For those of you that have participated in OLW in the past, Ali is doing things a bit differently this year. Big Picture Classes is not hosting this class, Ali is hosting it from her website. She has also added an optional Facebook page, which is a new addition that I am welcoming with open arms! Unlike the message boards, I am on FB frequently and can get updates and stay connected to my classmates. Love that (did you know I'm a fairly social person?)!

I am thinking about making a few changes of my own in the way I document my word this year. I am also taking a class from the great Danielle Taylor (AKA Scrapper On The Street). Her class is called SMASHing 2014.  This class isn't pocket pages like PL, but it's a way to document the year -- and you can do whatever you want (so it could be pocket pages if you want!).  :-)  Dani provides prompts and videos for motivation during this year long class, as well as the opportunity to connect and share with others. I think I'm going to take this opportunity to SMASH my OLW this year! I purchased the 365 style SMASH book (it arrived today -- and it's empty, clean, new, just waiting for my word). There are about three, 2-page spreads for each month (basically). Pretty much exactly what I need --  magic. I figure there will be room to use Ali's monthly prompts to make my word visible -- with a little extra space to expand on those thoughts and use Dani's prompts for further connections to my life. I have always admired those that stray from Ali's (wonderful) examples and do things like art journal or something as they get to know their word and it's place in their life. Is it going to work for me?  I have no idea. But I'm just going to leap, fearlessly into this endeavor.



Meet my One Little Word 2014.  fearless.

Happy New Year!

(the necklace is from Origami Owl, and I took the photo with my NEW Canon EOS 70D -- thanks honey!)

:: hello january ::

hello new year.

hello clean slate.

hello one little word.

hello new projects.
hello new goals.

hello 2014.

bring. it. on.

:: project life organization for 2014 ::

I'm back with a look at how I'm organizing for Project Life  2014. Have you heard of Traci Reed? She is pretty awesome!  I found an totally rad calendar/planner that she designed to help her organize for project life (for more information, click the photo to the right and keep reading)! I downloaded her work and quickly set out to make a planner that works for me.  It took a little editing in photoshop (since my weeks are going Wed-Tues.), but it wasn't too long before I was off and running!

I decided to make three planners this year, but I started with just one -- just in case this doesn't end up working for me!  I made this very similar to how I have made some journals in the past; chip board, card stock/patterned paper, and the cinch, that magical cinch.  Best recent tool purchase. Below are a few photos of my planner (with a bit of supportive text)!

I chose to have my weeks go from Wednesday to Tuesday this year (since the first is on Wednesday). My thinking is that I will have several days to complete the week (and photograph my LOs) before my goal of posting on Sunday. Yep, I set a goal to post all my PL layouts this year. I'm hoping this will give myself some accountability to complete!  We'll see how that works (I hope it works better than New Year resolutions that involve tread mills).  

I hope this journal and goal setting thing works for me.  As I mentioned in my last post, I am totally OK with missing weeks throughout 2013. But wouldn't it be magic if I could complete 2014? I think so. I will continue to use the momento app that I talked about in this post to help me out! It is a must have!

I'll be back soon with a post that includes my title page for PL 2014 (and maybe another DD update)! Hope you all had a Magical & Merry Christmas!


UPDATE 5.12.14 -- I've now used this notebook for four months -- check out this update. 

:: project life reflection and moving forward ::

Wow!  I have so much to say about Project Life, but I'll try to be succinct:

I LOVE this PROJECT.

That pretty much says it all.  Here are a couple of recent weekly spreads (from Thanksgiving week and the first week of December).

For both of these I mostly used Studio Calico Project Life Kits (Nov. & Dec.).  Of course, I added a few things from my stash. I am loving the SC PL kits, and I will continue my subscription in 2014!

So how did I do in 2013? 

OK. I missed several weeks. I learned a lot about myself along the way, and I documented more than I have ever done before. So overall, even with the missed weeks, I am happy I tackled the project, and there is no way I can see my life without it.

Will I go back and finish 2013? 

Maybe. Like I said, I documented more in 2013 than I've ever documented, and I am totally happy with that. I want to move forward into 2014 with a clean slate (that's part of what the new year is about, right?), and not worry about 2013. However, if I find myself with extra time on my hands, or I'm motivated to go back, I will.  My focus is going to be moving forward, though.

What will I do the same in 2014? 

I am going to continue to work with the Studio Calico Project Life Kits. They are awesome. I started the year last year with a core kit -- Seafoam -- which I also love.  It is quite likely that there will be cards from that kit included in 2014. I will also continue with the 12x12, weekly, two page spread (with inserts when needed & as time allows). I used several different page protectors in 2013, but I mostly used the BH "A" style, and will likely continue using those. I will also stick with the orange WRMK 12x12 binders (they have already arrived on my doorstep)!

What will I change for 2014? 

I will likely not buy another core kit. It's not that I don't like them, it's more that I like the Studio Calico kits better, and I probably only like them better because I get bored with just one core kit. With the SC PL kits I feel like I can still have cohesion, at least over a week, maybe even over a month, but I also have a lot of variety. I do like the BH mini kits. I have a couple, and I imagine I will incorporate them into my PL next year (and I might buy more).  :-)  The only other thing that is quite tempting to me is the HSN exclusive "Just Add Color" kit!  I am loving the little 2x2 squares in that kit. I have resisted purchasing that kit (so far)!

Over the next couple of days I hope to share how I've started organizing for next year's PL, and how/when I plan to share my work on this blog next year. Here's a little sneaky sneak of my title page in progress:

Thanks for reading!

:: december documentation update one ::

Well, we are nearly to the big day, and I have felt excited, overwhelmed, discouraged, hopeful, and excited again with my December Daily 2013 project (only sometimes in that order, sometimes all within an hour)! This process is always good for me. I don't mind the roller coaster if it gets things documented!

A few weeks ago, I shared my cover and a few of my inside creations in this post. Today's post is meant to share a bit of behind the scenes stuff, as well as photos of the pages. Here we go!

Bea wrote a letter to Santa because she had a question about the elf (was it real?). I scanned the letter, and sized it down for the front of the envelope.  Also, there are more photos and story than I had space for, so I added a flip pocket (see below).

I put the original, full sized letter inside the envelope, of course.  When Snowflake (our first year with this elf, by the way) leaves Bea a note, it's always either 4x6 or 3x4 -- magic!  That elf is so smart and helpful (and a little creepy, but we are trying to overlook that). I plan to make a list of all (or most of) the places Snowflake surprised us and put it on that journal card.

This spread is a couple of "days" (really magical moments, see how I'm tackling this project below) in one. The tradition of a book a day continues this year (our third year). Under the sorting photo, there is another photo, and the story. The other side of the spread is about our wrapping paper this year.  :-)

There are a few more photos on flickr, here.

products i am using | I am mostly using the December Daily kit from Studio Calico and Ali Edwards. I did buy a few things, and I have a few other things in my stash that I am using, but mostly, it's from the kit.  The important stuff not in the kit: silver thread for my sewing machine (helps with the magic), wood veneers from target (in the Christmas wrapping paper section), and some blank transparencies, vellum, and wood veneers from my stash!

how i am tackling this project in 2013 | Instead of completely "following the rules", I am not approaching this project as documenting something every day. There really are no rules. It really is all about what you want to document; what memories you want to keep safe.  Each year I let the implied rule (December DAILY) get in the way of me completing the project. So this year I am mixing it up. This year I am documenting 25 (or so) magical moments of the season.  It is likely that I won't add much 'everyday' stuff into this DD, because I have Project Life for that.

other things keeping me busy | I am participating in several classes in December (both free and paid). Your December Inspired, Insta-Christmas, Picture Your Holidays, 30 Days of Lists, December Duos, and Holiday Storyteller. Each of these classes provide prompts and inspiration to help me deepen the level of storytelling I am putting into this project. I am so loving my daily emails!  I hope to share some of the projects (that aren't included in my DD) here soon. Until then I hope you are having a magical and peaceful holiday season!

Coming soon: reflection on Project Life 2013, and looking ahead to 2014!