Like a lot of scrappers out there I’m doing a version of December Daily … where you scrap/chronicle your month and how it relates to the season. I won a seat in Shimelle’s “Journal your Christmas” class, so I’m using that for my prompts. I like this class ’cause it’s more about the writing and if you have pictures to add … then great.
I’m using Tiffany Tilman’s 25 Days of Templates course to do all my layouts, which are 100% digital. I decided a few weeks back to sign up of Tiffany’s template class because I figured I could actually document all of December if I did it digitally. If I tried to do it traditionally, I don’t think I’d make it past day three!
Above is the layout for Day 1 (December 1, 2010). I am doing my album 8 1/2 x 11, which is a different for me. I’m very much a 12 x 12 scrapper. But I thought this particular topic lends itself better to the smaller size.
Journaling reads:
Christmas is my most favorite time of the year is Christmas. I love the smells. I love the sounds. I love the feeling that no matter how bad things might be in my life, for a few weeks, everything is alright. Growing up, we didn’t have a lot of money, but I have the best memories of Christmas … goes to show you that Christmas doesn’t require a lot of money. It requires heart, soul and dedication to family.
Now that I’m a mama, I’m making my own memories with my own little family. I love to watch the joy my children have for Christmas — every decoration, every present, every story, every cookie — brings them an immeasurable amount of joy.
This year I want Christmas to be more meaningful for my family. I want it to focus on the true meaning of the season. I want to teach my children to share with others; to find ways to give; and to open their hearts to those around them. I want Christmas 2010 to be less about things and more about people and feelings. We don’t need lots of stuff. We need lots of love.
Christmas 2010 I will recapture the season. I will harness the joy my children have for the holiday and share that joy with others and remind myself each day what Christmas is all about.
I’m taking another class. This one is called “Love Your Pictures, Love Your Pages.” It’s from Shimelle and you can find the class here. The class is a hybrid of photography and scrapbooking. It focuses on taking better pictures that you’ll love … which means you’ll love your scrapbooking pages more as a result.
Before the class started, we were given a challenge to take a spontaneous photo. We were told to take a photo in the next five minutes. And at that moment, Shelby walked into my room and had a meltdown. So, I took a picture of her meltdown! I’m sure she hated me at the moment, but I am so glad I have this photo. I take all sorts of happy photos, but we aren’t always happy, right?
The class prompt for the second day had us taking pictures of flowers. Here’s my favorite from that prompt. Finding flowers in Arizona can be tough. If I would have had more time and was feeling better (I have an ear infection right now), I would have found a flowering cactus to shoot, which is my absolute favorite desert image.
These photos, like most of them, were taken on my point and shoot or my iPhone (I take a lot of iPhone pictures). I’m getting a fancy camera this month!!! Woo hoo! I can’t wait. I hope when I get the new camera my pictures will be even better.
I was surfing the Web a little bit ago and saw this challenge from Shimelle.
The challenge was to create a layout with the theme “Happiness is … “ She posted a free digital template that could be used, but it was required. I used the template, along with a bunch of Spring Junque goodies from House of 3(my current favorite place to shop for digi and hybrid items).
Here is my interpretation of the challenge:
I used some fun techniques on this page that I learned in a brush class from Jessica Sprague. I highly recommend taking a class from her if you are interested in trying out digital scrapbooking.
I think after my kiddos go to bed tonight, I’ll create an all paper layout using the same template as a guide. Wouldn’t it be fun to have a small book the was all about the things that make you/me happy?
Last week I signed up for an online scrapbooking class from Shimelle. I was intrigued by the idea behind the class, “Something for Almost Nothing.” Over the course of three weeks, Shimelle will be helping her students use up their stash. You know what stash she’s referring to …all of the scrapbooking supplies you have amassed over the years, but never use. We all hang onto certain products we love. Some of us horde paper. Some horde ribbon. Some horde kits. Some horde everything! That would be me … a hoarder of all things crafty. I have more paper than anyone one woman can ever craft with. Ditto for buttons, ribbons, chipboard, paint, fabric … and the list goes on.
In this class, Shimelle has us combing through our stash and pulling out all the things we’ve been “saving” for later. We’re creating a mini book, which is celebrating our lives, and I’m using a mini kit from last year as a foundation for this book. Also in the class, three times a week we’re given ideas for layouts and ways to use up the supplies we have. I’m loving this class. I have been taking out old Crazy Daisy kits that I never used or are half used … and am putting these awesome supplies to work. I’ve already created three 12×12 layouts, a canvas, and have a mini book started (the class started on the 10th, so I feel like I’m doing pretty well!).
The cool thing is I’m on a serious crafting and creative roll. I’ve been thinking about all things crafty nonstop and have been crafting with every spare moment I have. I love how inspired I feel. Here’s a layout I have in progress. I punched out circles in various sizes from coordinating papers. Then I ran some adhesive across the bottom of my cardstock. I started putting the circles down in no particular order. When I was finished, I sewed over the circles, just to make sure everything was secure and to added a little extra detail. I found a round chipboard journaling spot that will work perfectly for the page and I’m planning on adding some journaling (in bullet form) of all the things my little guy is doing now that he’s 11 months old! I would have never thought to do something like this, but thanks to Shimelle, I have a page that is very different than my standard pages and I used up lots of goodies in my stash.
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On an unrelated (but very cool) note … if you haven’t already heard, Heidi Swapp is our amazing guest designer for April. On her blog, she has some peeks of the projects she’s been working on using our April 2010 Main Kit. Go here to see what she’s been doing with the kit and get a little peek at what will be coming your way in April.
We’ll be posting a sneak peek of the April Kit later this week. If you don’t already subscribe, send me an email if you’d like to make sure you get an April Kit.
Hope you have a wonderful week!
Note: Please excuse my fuzzy photos. It’s late. I’m tired. We’ve all been quite sick at my house. And being lazy, I took these photos with my iPhone! I promise to do better … as soon as the RSV loosens its grip on my baby boy and we all sleep through the night again!
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