Busy getting ready for a graduation party here!!! My son graduated in December with his Bachelors Degree and my daughter-in-law also graduated in December with her Masters Degree. We are so proud and happy around here! We decided to wait until the holidays were over to have a party. It started with a small family party and has grown to a large family party! But that's great...the more the merrier!! Hoping to get lots of fun pics to post! So ....see you Monday, after the party!!

Wow!

Surprising myself, I actually finished our vacation album that I have been working on for ....well let's just say...a long time. I love the way it turned out & love all the goodies that I packed into it. Feels good to have it completed.

And below is my first attempt at Project Life. Still not sure exactly where I am going with it and it may change as I go...but that's OK. Just the fact that I got the first week finished is HUGE!

 
I have not done a title page yet but I will. And I am currently working on my second week. Wow! It is really fun to create & I am sure as I go it will get easier and easier to pull it all together. Some weeks will be a bit more exciting than others but that is life, right! The point is to get it all down on paper. There is a lot of inspiration out there! I love seeing all the pages that everyone is creating. Good luck to all of you that are tackling this project too! We can do it!!

Just a Few Days Left

Just a few days left to sign up and join me in my next book binding class at Craftfusion!! I am excited to offer this Japanese Stab Binding technique. It is going to be a fun class!! As always it will be left up to you for the colors you choose to use! Come & join me!!

Issues

I have serious issues! Why oh why can't I just walk by scrapbook items that are on sale. I don't need them....I seriously don't need them. Yet once again I fell prey to the 50% off sale. I did get some more divided page protectors also.
I think my Project Life may have far more goodies on the page than photos and actual life moments. LOL

What is your current obsession?

Here We Go!

I did it!!   I got some supplies to start Project Life! Cause we all know that shopping for craft supplies is part of the fun! ;) I decided to try to keep the cost down & use a lot of what I already have. It may take me a bit longer but I think it will work. I did get some paper on sale that I plan to cut up to the correct size. I have a few done ahead, corners clipped & ready to go. I also grabbed some small note tags.

The things that I picked up were either on sale at 50% off or I used my 50% coupon at Michaels. I even grabbed a "Smash" date stamp. That was definitely a splurge. But hey...I used my coupon so it was only $2.50

I went ahead and put a few of the items in a cigar box that I had on hand. (yes...it was from another project that I never completed) But I'm using it now...does that count? 

And last but not least I printed out things that went on this week. I do not have any photos yet but did write down a couple notes of a few pics I want to print. Unlike the week of Christmas I just don't have that many photos this week but I think it will work out just fine with the few I have and even a menu & some ephemera that I plan to include. All in all I am very happy with the result & just hope that I can keep it up!!

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Here are a few shots of old scrapbooks where I have used a similar technique. I think it is the same idea as Project Life in that you use the multi-photo page protectors & some slots are left open for journaling, etc. I love how they add to the overall look of your scrapbooks. I always mix and match them with regular 12x12 pages. Taking it a stop further to Project Life seems like the great way to go.  So.....here we go!!

Deciding Which Way To Go

I don't know about you but my mind just races with creative ideas to try. Problem is taking the time to actually sit down and complete them...well sometimes to even start them. haha :)  So... too many times I do nothing.
As you can imagine that gets me nowhere!!
So with the new year I am thinking of the things that I want to accomplish (creatively speaking) and which direction I want to take. There are so many fun ideas out there. Project Life, Art Journaling, Photo A Day, Jewelry Making, Teaching Ideas, the list goes on and on. How do you approach them without getting overwhelmed and ending up getting nothing done!
This is what I came up with...a couple key questions to focus in on what I really want to do.
Ask yourself:
1. What do I love to do the most?
2. What would I really like to finish this year that I may have been putting off?
3. How can I make it simpler to follow through on all the projects?


 I don't think I will ever (as much as I want to) be one of those girls that scrapbooks her entire family photos for the whole year. It just gets too chaotic for me. Although I tell you if I could do this, like Michelle has done, boy oh boy would I be one happy camper!!! How cool is that!! Now that is organized!!
I have always scrapbooked in that style, along with the regular 12x12 and partitioned pages & pockets. When I look back at my books that is the style I like the most. So here is the big question...could I actually complete this? WOW wouldn't that be awesome.
So I thought if I put it out there I may actually hold myself accountable. SO...here goes!!! Wish me luck & lots of channeling of Michelle's stamina to follow through !!!!

What new plans do you have for a creative new year?!

Welcome 2012

 Happy Happy New Year!!! Wow 2012! Where exactly did 2011 go? So much to be thankful for & so much to look forward to. May the New Year bring you happiness, health, more time with family & friends, and a brand new sense of peace & joy in all that you do. God Bless!

    Just a couple shots of my New Year's table. So much fun to pull together. :)   Happy New Year to you all.