live, love, laugh, create

Daily December Days 1 & 2

I worked on my album for a few hours yesterday. I finished prepping the end of it and decided that I need a few things before I can consider the prep totally complete. I am on a quest this week for baseball card holders and 8"x8" page protectors. I took a few more photos and sorted through the events of the last 6 days so that I can document them accordingly. I got 2 pages completed and put into my album.

Day 1

A list of things I need to do or will be doing during the holiday season. I tacked the vellum onto the page with 2 pop dots in the event that I decide that I may want more detailed journaling.

I decorated the cardstock behind the vellum with a stamp  and markers from Stampin Up!

 

It is a very simple random pattern and doesn't take away from the purpose of the page.

 

Day 2

 

I can already see that I am a minimalist. Like my scrapbook pages, it's all about the photos for me. 

Day 3 will be shown later. It is a canvas page with a transparancy pocket that will keep my lists that I am making for shopping & preparations. 

I am working on days 4,5 & 6 this week as well as taking notes and pictures about days 7-11.

Thanks for stopping by!
 
 
 

December Daily

I have finally had some time to work on my December Daily Album but first I have to show a couple of people what came in the box from Cocoa Daisy . You can see the inventory list on their site if you were unable to purchase a kit from them and want to create your own album from your stash. You can also look in the gallery on 2peas and on Ali Edwards' blog.

Here is a picture of the patterned papers. I had already cut some to use in the album before I realized I did not take pictures of the contents of the box.

 

Embellishments galore...

 

 

An assortment of uniquely textured ribbon

 

And the album itself that is by Prima  

 

I'll be replacing the ribbon with 2.5" binder rings like Ali did. It makes more sense since I have added more pages and those that I added do not have grommets. The inner pages that were included in the album are a combination of page protectors and canvas "pages". 

 

I think my biggest challenge will be using the canvas pages. I like how Ali made a pocket with a transparancy but I don't want to do that for each of the 4 pages that are included in the album. We'll just have to see how it goes. I'm on a quest this week for the binder rings, Maya Mist to decorate the album and most important....our Christmas tree! 

Tomorrow days 1-5 will be posted. I am looking forward to sharing what I have created. I thought for a moment last night that I would regret having to do this album and was worried that it would be a chore rather than a pleasure to create. I had fun sifting through photos and ideas today and look forward to completing the album by the end of the month. I may stop at Christmas Day and I may continue it until New Year's Eve. I'm not sure yet....

Thanks for stopping by!
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

Surviving the holiday madness

Let's face it....so many people get so caught up in the holiday rush that they lose sight of what is really some of the most important aspects of their lives-family, faith, hope, humanity. We go into a frenzied overdrive of shopping, decorating, planning, cooking, partying, and wrapping.  I have been guilty of this quite often in my life. The stress is overwhelming and when I think back, I don't like what it did to me, or rather that I allowed myself to get so caught up. It's hard to juggle a full time job, a family, friends and then all that the holiday preparations entail. 

I decided to create a December Daily album this year for 2009. So far I have taken a few pictures but I have not started the album's assembly for days 1-5. Again, those other commitments are encumbering my life with a tremendous amount of torque. At times my head spins.

I am digging in my heels this weekend. I am going to get days 1-6 completed in my album. And yes, I will post the contents of the box for those of you who are waiting so patiently to see (Livia & Karen!). I am also going to work on my Wordplay Challenge #25 that Jill posted on her blog earlier in the week. It is a really good challenge. When I read the title (One Day at a Time)  my thoughts kicked into overdrive. Hence, this blog post. Isn't she great? If I were a kid again I'd wish for Jill to be my english teacher!

Thanks for stopping by!

The Mailman came!!!!

 

Yay!! I got a package and I don't know who it is from! But I opened it even though there could have been a bomb or something in it...just kidding. 

 

I received the ornament from an ornament swap I participated in through Nathalie Kalbach .

 

Here's a close up....and he sent me some chocolate too! Maybe he knows me! LOL!!  Nathalie will have pictures of all of the ornaments posted on her blog soon. I can't wait to see them!

I have started my December Daily album. Sort of. I hope to have my first 3 days in the book tonight with photos and journaling. I have taken the pictures, really! I'm looking forward to the finished product at the end of the month. 

And, for those who feel cheated over not seeing the picture of the box containing the December Daily kit contents.....I'll post it later along with my first 3 days of my album. 

Thanks for stopping by!

ETA: if you want to see an incredible December Daily album check this out! Awesome Pam!! Thanks for sharing!
 
 
 

Indulgences, talent and websites

 

I can't help it. I'm addicted. I stopped at Starbucks today after meeting a friend for lunch at Panera. Can I tell you that this has to be the ultimate brownie!! The Starbucks peppermint brownie. It was devine. Pure chocolate goodness that was pared with a mocha latte. 

Did you ever have your heart set on something and have the realization that it was just not meant to be? I did. I am/was so totally in love with Pottery Barn's Logan Media Center. But the price....not in our budget for this year. So my wonderful, awesome, handsome and talented husband made it for me. 

 

It's not "exact", but I dare anyone to find the difference between theirs and ours(hint: you could only figure it out if you measured theirs and ours). It is beautiful and with wood, hardware and paint it only cost us about $700. He wouldn't let me into the living room until it was assembled. As soon as I walked in I said, "Oh wow, we need a bigger TV!" We're extremely happy with how it turned out. A larger TV is on our list for next year, but for now, we'll just have to cope!

Don't forget that starting on Tuesday December 1st Tim Holtz is hosting his famous 12 Tags of Christmas.

The Marks Paper Company is hosting The 12 Creative Days of Christmas from November 25th-December 30th.

Tomorrow starts my Daily December album. I created the album last weekend and will start putting in pictures, journaling and embellishments tomorrow. I am looking forward to the process. This is the first time I have ever done a project like this.

Thanks for stopping by!
 
 

Scrappy goodness.......

 

...comes to this house either in a bag or a box. Yesterday it came in a box and landed with a "THUD" on my front porch. It's my highly anticipated (since last year), and long awaited (since November 1st when I ordered it) Daily December kit from Cocoa Daisy. I'm totally stoked and can't wait to create it this weekend at my hospital's crop fundraiser. There is still plenty of room if you want to come. Just call the girls who are hosting it and they'll save a space for you. You can find the info here. I will post a peek at the box's contents tomorrow night! I know you want to see what's in it!

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Happy Birthday Luke!

 

Isn't he handsome? He's 2 years old today! 

I remember this day..... 

...like it was yesterday! If you look in the center of the pile at the puppy with the yellow yarn around his neck, that's Luke just a few hours old! Lisa mentioned today that she may be ready to breed Emma again next year. I can't wait!

Thanks for stopping by!
 
 

Stuck........

.....but it is not a creative block by any means. It's just that I have a specific design for the front of this holiday mini album and I'm having a hard time getting it to come to fruition.

 

I have my letters for my title, some ribbon, and a cute tag, but I'm missing an important element. I don't have the chipboard tree from Basic Grey's Figgy Pudding line. I was able to secure the stickers that go with the chipboard at ScrapGal but I can't find the chipboard anywhere....I put out an appeal in the 2peas swap & trade forum. Fingers crossed that someone will come through! For now I'm just going to have to work on the inner pages.

Did you know that Get it Scrapped is having a class called Souvinirs of The Season? Sharyn Tormanen will show you how to take holiday memorabilia and incorporate it into your scrapbook pages. There will be 8 classes starting November 17 until December 4.

I decided this year I'm going to do a December Daily Album. I have already started to think of what I want to include. I'm looking forward to the process.

What are you doing to document your holiday preparation & the holiday season?

Thanks for stopping by!

'Tis the season.....

....or so it seems. Starbucks has already pulled out their holiday cups and it isn't even Thanksgiving yet.

 

I'm already anticipating the holiday madness and preparation. I love it. I started to create a holiday album while I was away last weekend. You can see my supply pile here.
 And it was truly a "pile"! I had a really eclectic mix of stuff that I planned on using! Here's what I have completed so far

The covers

 

The front (not complete, not even close to how I think I want it to look)

 

The back

The inner pages, front & back

 

 

I covered 2 7gypsies cd folders with patterned paper and lined the inside also. I had to be sure to crease the edges well because the cardstock didn't stick at first. 

 

 

 

In retrospect, I should have made a template and just used the patterned paper to make the folders.It took a lot of rubbing with the bone folder and extra adhesive to get the flaps to stick.

 

Here they are completed. They will hold some journaling or some extra photos. I am still scrounging around for product for this album. I recently did a little shopping on 2peas for a friend's birthday. So I took advantage of the free shipping and ordered some of Pink Paislee's Christmas die cuts, stickers and those cool cloth patches. They remind me of the ones my mom ironed on to our pants when we wore holes in the knees!

 

As you can see, there's a nice eclectic mix going into this album. I'm looking forward to working on it some more this weekend.

Jill has Wordplay 24 up on her blog. Stop by and check it out when you get a chance.

Thanks for stopping by!
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

A weekend away

I finally got away with my friends for a scrap weekend! It was good to sit down and get some stuff done. I didn't have too much on my "to do" list this time around because I haven't had time to think about projects due to the whirlwind schedule I've had for the past couple of weeks. I took a mini album class with Danielle Flanders. She is a designer for Pink Paislee. The mini album was made with Pink Paislee's Amber Road paper line. I love the earthtones and the vintage look.

 

The album is truly a "mini" as it was made from die cuts that are about 3"x4". Now I have to be sure I go apple and pumpkin picking next fall so I can put pictures in it!

I started a Christmas album for Kelle. It is a work in progress for sure. Here's the supplies that I gathered and took along to create the album

 

The supplies are a combination of patterned papers from Basic Grey & Scenic Route, a little Bazzil red and white cardstock, some Maya Rd chipboard letters, some American Crafts ribbon, some Scenic Route rub ons and chip board, and the album is made from the 7gypsies 5x7ring book and cd envelopes.There will probably be more stuff added to the album as I create it, but that's it for now. I'll post periodic pics to show you the progress. 

Did you know that there is 1 week left to sign up for Sharyn Tormanen's stamping 101 class at Get it Scrapped? She'll be showcasing her talents as she walks you through some great techniques. Get it scrapped is also going to offer a class on creating your own books on Shutterfly. Awesome! Stop over to the Get it Scrapped! site when you get a chance!

Thanks for stopping by!