Documenting December {Days 17 - 24}

My album cover finally got completed, which I wasn't sure would happen, and I'm mostly up to date. I am taking this through the end of the month, so there is one more post to come. On the 17th, a girlfriend and I squeezed in our monthly little sister date and I got to give some snuggles to her little one. Day 18 provided me more photo practice.

Day 19 I showed off my sister's one of a kind squirrel ornament I made, and some stocking stuffers the hubs and I picked up. The 20th was the prep work for cookie making, which actually took place in the morning of the 21st. 13 dozen made in 3 hours!

The 21st was an almost unheard of 70º F and so the hubs and I had to go out and enjoy that! Day 22 was family day with football, food, and thankfully my sister.

The 23rd brought the 4 of us together for our monthly sister date, and on the 24th the stockings had been hung with care...

If you've missed any of my previous Documenting December posts, you can see them HERE. Have you be working on any holiday layouts or has December still been too busy?

November Review

November was a photo heavy month and since I took on an additional project, some photos were printed more than once. I'm fine with that since it won't happen often, and the duplicates are not in the same albums.

For my Project Life pages, I kept them very simple, allowing the colorful cards from the Coral core kit to stand virtually untouched. I only used a couple bits from the OHDEERME! kit and a strip of washi tape and called it done.

I continued with a similar format for my Capture Your 365 daily photo pages, but am thinking I'll change it with the new year. We'll see, I might change my mind again! If you are looking to improve your photography skills or just want to try out a new challenge, I highly recommend a daily photo challenge. There are several around, but the prompts provided by CY365 are most inspiring to me.

Do you have projects you plan to take up or drop in the coming year? Any crafty goals?

Welcoming 2014 with a Pause

There was some talk on a couple of scrapbook forums about taking Ali Edward's workshop for One Little Word. I had been waiting for registration to open so that I could sign up, but then began to second guess my decision.

While the price is reasonable and there were people that really enjoyed it in the past, I couldn't bring myself to hit the "buy" button. In the end I decided that while I had a word, I would not participate in her class, rather develop my own way to incorporate focusing on my word in 2014.

I don't have all the details ironed out about how I will take on this journey, I just know there will be something done each month to put to paper my photos and stories. I think this is a good alternative to making resolutions, and I know that taking time to pause will have an immense benefit to my life, actions, and decisions.

I'm working on a layout for the beginning of this project that outlines what my word means to me and once it's complete, I'll share it.

Do you participate in carrying a word through the year?

Documenting December {Days 11 - 16}

Well December keeps chugging along, but that's okay because that means my sister will be here soon! We're a mess when we get around each other, giggling like a couple of school girls, saying random words that no one else understands, and of course watching The Family Stone and Love Actually together.

Sorry, got a little sidetracked! :) I decided to make some polar bear ornaments and actually use my sewing machine on something other than paper. Day 12 brought us blue skies which was a nice change from the grey ones that brought snow, then ice.

They were calling for more bad weather over the weekend, so the hubs and I went out on the 13th to drive around and look at the lights. It's a tradition we do every year that begins with coffee and a doughnut. On the 14th, my CY365 prompt was wishlist and also self-portrait.

Day 15 fell on a Sunday, which at this time of year means football with my parents. We almost always bring the food, sitting down to eat just as the game starts. Chili mac was on the menu! On the 16th I found myself gathering all my thoughts, recipes, and grocery list for the special meals and baking I'll be doing between now and the new year.



Hope your December has been going well and I look forward to seeing any holiday projects you've been working on!

A Sketch and a Theme

While I'm looking forward to 2014, I enjoyed how these challenges allowed me to reflect on some great moments in 2013, and show off a quirk of our sweet Pound Cake.

The current theme over at Paper Issues is My Happy Place, and immediately I thought of my hubs by my side and the adventures we go on. I've been wanting to incorporate a grid design onto a layout, and this was perfect since I had several pictures to include, but didn't need them at a large size. I used paper from my last Studio Calico kit, Antiquary, and a sheet from We R Memory Keepers {Chalkboard} collection. The alphas are a couple of different Amy Tangerine designs and all the embellishments are from OHDEERME! kits.

Life.Paper.Scrapbook. has their December Sketch Challenge up, and while I love what others do with tags, I actually just bought my first pack for my DD. Instead, I used acrylic arrows in their place on the sketch and combined papers from Webster's Pages {Recorded} with vellum from the Crate Paper {Flea Market} collection. Two different types of Thickers, Prima Sugardots, and stitching completed this layout.

If you're ever stuck and need a push, both places continuously have challenges and wonderful inspiration!

Scrapbooking with Faves Pt. 2

Last week I shared some layouts HERE using a couple of my favorite manufacturers, and now it's time to share the second part of my other love to use brands.

Basic Grey, like My Mind's Eye, is the other company that I've been buying supplies from since my early years of scrapbooking. I've bought goodies from several collections this year alone, but my favorite has been {Persimmon}. I only bought a couple of 12"x12" papers with all of the other items, but mixed in an orange wood grain pattern from their Best of Basic Grey paper pad and was good to go.

Oh, it looks like I'm upset in the photo, but I was just caught unaware. Need to have the hubs let me know when he's going to snap a picture!

I fell in love with October Afternoon earlier this year and bought much of {Woodland Park}, plenty of embellishments from various collections, most recently {Silent Night} and Daily Flash {Eggnog}. I also couldn't resist buying some of {Apple Cider}, which papers were used below. The page design I used is an older one by Shimelle Laine.

What was the first brand you became hooked on?

Galettes for Any Season

After having made my first galette earlier this year, I was hooked immediately. While I like pies, the ones I enjoy most have only a bottom crust, like pecan, coconut cream, and a luscious lemon pie from a local bakery that is out of this world.

I think that is why I am really taken by galettes. They are less heavy then a traditional fruit pie, easy to make, and just as versatile. If you think you can't make one, think again, and feel free to use your favorite fruit.

For Thanksgiving I made a strawberry galette (adapted from Martha Stewart) that went over really well. I was worried that there would be juice from the strawberries and it would leak through the crust, but there were no issues.

The hubs and I went to a neighborhood holiday party and I decided a spiced pear galette would be a nice treat. I pre-sliced the dessert so that it would be easy to serve and it allowed me a small taste test. I had to make sure it was up to par before serving it to a crowd! I think I liked it more than the plum, but strawberries are a favorite of mine.

There will certainly be more galettes in our future, though I'm not sure what fruit I'll try next. Hope you try your hand at one of these, your tummy will thank you!

Documenting December {Days 4 - 10}

I had fallen a bit behind on my December Daily album, but am all caught up, and thankfully it didn't take as long as I thought. I was right though, trying to keep up with 2 photo a day challenges doesn't work for me, especially when the prompts repeat one another every few days. I'll be continuing with Capture Your 365 and hope to for many months to come.

There hasn't been much holiday festiveness happening, but I'm enjoying recording our days and will be happy to have this little album to look back on.

For day 4, I did a 2-page layout so that I could better show our little decorations.

Day 5 has hidden journaling, but only because I had a lot to say and there was no other place to put it, and day 6 is about waiting for my sister to get here.

On day 7 there was a neighborhood holiday party that we went to, and day 8 was the first snow of the season. A bit early for around our area and it's already snowed a second time.

For day 9 I talked a little about how I'm not quite in the holiday spirit. I'll get there and will be humming along to Christmas music in no time! :) Day 10 I went wordless with a sweet picture of our Pound Cake.

If you've missed any, you can see my previous DD posts HERE. Are you in a festive mood or still stunned that it's already December 11th?

Scrapbooking with Faves Pt.1

There are four companies that, when they release new lines, I'm always quick to add several items to my shopping cart. I'll buy the occasional papers here and there, but most everything comes from Basic Grey, My Mind's Eye, October Afternoon, and Glitz Designs. Since each of those companies have distinct styles from one another, my layouts lately have been featuring one collection at a time. I'll definitely have to mix it up so that I can use up some of the other pretty papers I've picked up!

I made this layout recently and it's part of a few others that were from a big day of fun the hubs and I had at the end of the summer. I used a page design I've used before, and it's lifted from Glitter Girl's Scrapbook Survival Guide Workshop. I used {Cut & Paste} for this layout and the others from the day.

This layout uses the very nontraditional colors and designs from the Glitz {Finnley} collection. I had accidentally sent my picture to the wrong printer, but liked the result and decided to scrap it! I tried distressing and curling edges of many of the papers, but I don't care for it on my layout as much as the others I've seen that inspired me to try.

Do you have go to companies that are always in your stash?

Documenting December {Days 1-3}

I am enjoying putting together my first December Daily style album, and am loving all of the inspiration from those that are actually keeping up with posting daily (or close to it)!

I may have made a mistake with not using divided page protectors, as they are definitely a time saver, and I had a blast using them for my Thankful album. Using the full 6"x8" sheets takes a little more time for me to create the layout for each day.

I also have gotten carried away and am participating in two photo a day challenges on Instagram. I'm still going with the one I began in October, but for December I'm also playing along with Heidi Swapp's Moto Photo Scavenger Hunt. You can read more about it on her blog, HERE. Depending on how the story unfolds for each day, I'm using one or the other, though I wouldn't rule out using a different one as well. No rules, right? ;)

You can see the supplies I've gathered and some more foundation pages HERE, and if you're doing anything holiday related, I'd love to see it! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Sending Holiday Cheer

December has only just begun and already I feel like I am behind on my projects. I won't allow it to get to me, I've learned that it all works out in the end. I did manage to get my holiday cards made yesterday and I'm pleased with how they turned out. I used a mix of Basic Grey, We R Memory Keepers, My Mind's Eye, and Fancy Pants papers and kept my designs simple. Here's a sample of some of the cards I made.

Do you make your own cards, and have you done so already?

Thankful {The Conclusion}

Well November is over, but I think a project like this could go on, day after day. I really enjoyed taking a few minutes each day to focus on various aspects of my life and seeing how much I have to be grateful for. Without question, I am thankful for my family and friends, the good health everyone is in, and the house we call home, but it was important to me to look beyond the obvious.

I'm looking forward to continuing this new tradition of a Thankful album each November and am considering even using my prompt list again. I think it would be interesting to see what has changed and how I choose to interpret them as the years go on.

I truly appreciate the kind words from all the lovely ladies that followed along on my journey! If you missed any previous posts, you can see them HERE.

Documenting December {The Supplies}

I had to seriously contemplate whether I would do a daily December album or not. Like many, I do Project Life, so was there really a need to document December in it's own way?

Being true to my personality, I made a list, a list of various things that happen in my December that I would want to capture. And you know what? There is plenty that I want to capture and record as we count down the remainder of 2013. So I did what anyone else would do in my position, I went shopping!

I bought quite a bit of the October Afternoon {Silent Night} collection and some bits from Fancy Pants {Merry Little Christmas}. I also bought a few sheets from Heidi Swapp {Believe}, Echo Park  {'tis the Season}, and Simple Stories {December Documented} to incorporate some chalkboard elements. Lastly, October Afternoon just released {Daily Flash} and I had to get a few sheets from the Eggnog line.

I already had a green 6"x8" Sn@p! binder on hand, and while I would love to have these pages outside of protectors, I worry about them holding up over the years, so I'm going to use the full page ones. I made all of my foundation pages and this time I'll be numbering each day, so I made those as well.

The cover of my album isn't done yet and of course there will be washi tapes and sequins added to this kit. At the last minute I bought a few more October Afternoon {Silent Night} bits, because how can you pass up 50% off your order?!

How do you document your December? Share with me throughout the month because I'd love to see!

Found Some Time

I found myself with a little bit of time to get another layout done this month. I think this has been the least I've created in a month, but that's ok since my focus has been on enjoying the fall with my hubs and keeping on top of my Thankful album.

I saw the current sketch challenge on the My Mind's Eye blog and instantly knew how I wanted to make it work for me. Even though the only MME paper I used was a scrap to punch 2 butterflies, all the decorative tape, buttons, brads, enamel dots, and stickers are from various collections of theirs.

I began with using a foam brush to apply watercolor to the background and then added some drops of mist. I then cut out vellum pieces roughly in the shapes shown in the sketch. I inked the edges of some, and put decorative tape on others. I added stitching, all my little bits, and put my title on. Lastly I adhered my photo and all was done.

I think it's quite different from what I normally create, but I've been wanting to do a monochrome layout and this picture I took right before we headed down from the summit of Pike's Peak was perfect for it!

Thankful {Day 19 - Day 24}

Just one more post after this and my Thankful album will be complete. Even though I wasn't as diligent with getting my page done each day, I didn't find it too hard to keep up. I've still been using my prompts, but switching them around as needed, and changing the way they might be interpreted at first glance.

I also want to give a warm thank you to blog friend, Mary Jo Rhoda, who included my album with some lovely projects on the Craft Your Nest blog last week, including an awesome layout by Mary Jo. If you're not familiar with either, please take the time to check out their blogs, you'll find plenty of inspiration!

If this is your first time seeing my Thankful album, you can see all the previous posts HERE. Let me know in the comments if you're working on projects of gratitude, I'd love to take a look!