Finding Photo Freedom Pre-class materials

I started reviewing the pre-class materials for Finding Photo Freedom (FPF) over the weekend and today I completed the following items:  the Finding Photo Freedom Pledge, my week's schedule, and my EQ (Enough Quotient).  I also watched Stacy Julian's pre-class video before I completed these items.  Looking at the sheet on the left in the bottom photo you may be able to see that a good deal of my week's time is spent at work.  I basically have weekend and weekday evenings left for everything else.  Stacy believes that we need to have a good understanding of what is enough for us to be happy with what we accomplish; and until we understand (realistically)know what that is it won't ever feel like its "enough".  In 2011, when I took FPF the first time I threw everything I wanted to accomplish on to my EQ.  Realistically though there wasn't enough time in my schedule to humanly complete it all. I think that this time I understand better what Stacy is saying and have created an EQ that is realistic and achievable.  I actually have one open space (see the sheet on the right in the bottom photo) for four of the five categories listed.  I may leave it like like this or add something later in the process.
Here's my EQ for 2013 as of today:
Weekly:
Spend 15 minutes three times a week with my digital images
Spend 15 minutes three times a week with my non-digital photos
Complete 2 page weekly spread in my Project Life album
Monthly:
Complete One Little Word 2013 assignment
Complete 3 layouts
This Year:
Re-visit Twelve
Re-take FPF
Home:
Fill photo frames with photos! (and hang on walls)
Update SD card in digital photo frame
Online:
Blog - three posts per week
Purchase PSE 11 and learn how to use it (Check out Ali Edwards' tutorials and other online tutorials/classes
Now I have to admit I have a lot more projects I would love to complete this year but I'm focusing on this list and I'll see how many challenges come up.  The first few months of the year tends to be fairly easy as the winter weather keeps me indoors.  As spring arrives it becomes more of a challenge to keep to a schedule inside.
Are you taking Finding Photo Freedom with Stacy Julian starting in February?  If yes, what's your EQ?

One Little Word 2013 and more

Over the last couple of months my One Little Word (OLW) for 2012 JOY was in the forefront of mind as we enjoyed the holidays and a new word for 2013 started making its presence known.  At first the word was complete and that was perfectly understandable as I took a record number of Big Picture Classes in 2012 and ended up not finishing several.  I also have several books to finish, picture frames that need pictures, other projects that remain unfinished and so on.  As I began researching and learning more about the word complete it didn't seem to cover enough of what I was hoping for in 2013 so as one word led to another to another I have chosen the word SEEK for 2013.  I'll be working on learning more about this word as I begin preparing for OLW 2013.
As 2013 is shaping up to be a year of completing, repeating and re-taking classes and projects I'm also planning on taking May Flaum's The Curious Scrapbooker's Field Guide.  I loved this class last year - one of the classes I actually finished except for the final project.  I want to repeat this class for a couple of reasons.  First, May is an enthusiastic teacher and is very inspiring.  By the end of the class I was really becoming more adventurous and doing more mixed media types of art then ever before so I'm hoping to continue that type of work and incorporating it into my scrapbook pages.

I would really like to integrate my OLW 2013 journey into my everyday Project Life or if that doesn't seem possible an album that really helps me focus on those things I am seeking.  I'm really looking for a process that helps move me forward.  Helps me be more accountable to what I'm looking for in 2013.  I'd love to hear your ideas and plans for 2013.                                                          

The red albums are my OLW and Move More, Eat Well albums.
The pink album is an 8 x 8 album that I haven't used yet.
My Twelve and Finding Photo Freedrom notebooks
are on the chest of drawers as well as
I try to get organized for the new year!

Finding Photo Freedom

One of the classes I'll be taking at Big Picture Classes (BPC) in 2013 is Finding Photo Freedom (FPF).  I took this class in 2011 and LOVED it!  Stacy Julian is an amazing teacher and it re-inspired my scrapbooking and memory keeping in ways I never could have imagined.  I'm really excited to be taking the class again.  I also received a surprise regarding this class and will be able to share that with you sometime after the new year!  Now that I'm enrolled in the class I'm reviewing the Pre-class materials and preparing for FPF.  One of the decisions I need to make to this weekend is whether I'm going to purchase Photoshop (PSE 11).  I've been debating this since the last FPF class.  I'm not sure why I'm procrastinating, oh I know, I hate the fustration of learning new programs!  Poor excuse, right?  There are so many free tutorials out there now and lots of classes so I just need to make this a priority.  Plus I learned today (from one of the BPC's message boards that there is a book Photoshop for Dummies that someone found very helpful and takes you step by step through the program.  I'll have to check that out and make sure its updated for PSE 11.

Yesterday I showed you my work tables - the photo above shows what my desk looks like.  I've printed out the pre-class materials for FPF and will be working on my Enough Quotient (EQ) and sign my Finding Photo Freedom Pledge.
I'll be checking the supply list and checking over what I already have to see if I need to order anything.  I think I'm pretty set but may need to order a couple more storage binders.
If you are interested in Finding Photo Freedom go here for more information:
http://www.bigpictureclasses.com/photofreedom.php
I'm also going to check out Echo Park's new Photo Freedom System.  I have the Dear Santa pack (I love all things Christmas/holidays).  I'd like to look at the other packs too plus what page protectors are available as well.  With everything I want to finish up and complete in 2013 I'll need products that are simple and easy but look amazing!  For more information on Echo Park's Photo Freedom System, go here:  http://www.echoparkpaper.com/pdfs/EP_Photo%20Freedom.pdf
This will take you to the pdf that's sitting on my desk.
More tomorrow!

Here comes 2013!

So here is what my craft room looks like as we approach the new year.  I'm slowly working on my 12/12/12 album(top photo) from Big Picture Classes (BPC) Twelve class.  I didn't complete 144 layouts (12/month) as part of the class but I learned a lot about storytelling thanks to Stacy Julian!  I'll be reviewing this class with several other class members as we continue to dig into the enormous amount of material that was part of this class. I love the Simple Stories album that we are using for this project.  I'm trying to think how I want to do Project Life and also do another Simple Stories album in 2013.  I love the idea of a Year in Review album like this.

The middle photo shows my December Daily album in progress.  Several snowstorms have prevented me from getting to CVS to print my latest photos but hope to get that done today before more snow tomorrow!  I'm enjoying this process and have several ideas for how I would like to do this next year.  I think I'm changing it to a Holiday album and include Thanksgiving through the New Year next year.  I'm also working my way through Journaling Your Christmas with Shimelle.  Shimelle provides two prompts a day - there is a lot of material and I need to catch up with those as well.  (Can you tell I have a large "to-do" list for the next five days?)

Bottom photo is a look at my three work tables.  Can you see my Project Life album buried and shoved up against the wall in the photo?  That's on my "to-do" list too.

What's on your "to-do" list for this last week of 2012?  And what are your plans for 2013?  Stop back tomorrow as I talk about my One Little Word for 2013 and what that means for my goals and plans for 2013.

December Daily/Journal Your Christmas

The top two photos are a few of my foundation pages in my December Daily/Journal Your Christmas album. I'm using templates from Ali Edwards for these journaling cards and then embellishing them.  Since I didn't not get much journaling done in last year's December Daily album I added Journal Your Christmas (JYC) to my process this year.  Two days in to the class and I'm amazed at the amount of information and material that Shimelle provides. If you're interested, check out www.shimelle.com
I apologize for the slightly dark photos above - its always an adjustment this time of year as I get the lighting figured out.  It gets dark to early and today we didn't the sun at all.
The next photo is a shot of Becky Higgins' 6" x 6" Small Envelope Pages.  I found out these fit in the Sn@p! albums very well.  I was looking through all my stuff for items to use in my Sn@p! albums for December Daily/JYC and 12/12/12 when I figured that out.  Also, in Becky Higgins Small Variety Pack Page Protectors there are 5" x 7" page protectors - the 2 vertically aligned ones work in the Sn@p! album also.
The last photo shows the chaos my room is in right now.  Those are photos I'm gathering for the 12/12/12 event at Big Picture Classes.  We're creating a mini-album showcasing photos and memories from this past year.  All around the photos are Christmas/Holiday items for embellishing the December Daily/JYC album.
Are you doing a holiday album this year?

12/12/12 at Big Picture Classes

Sn@ap! Binders
The red one is for December Daily and the green one is for
12/12/12.

The inside of the binder as you open it.

Another photo of the inside of the binder.  It comes with several pages, 3 chipboard tabbed dividers and several photo protector pages.

The essential items listed on Stacy's supply list for 12/12/12.

The binder and supplies put together according to Stacy's instructions.
Now to get the photos printed!

I added two additional items to my order.  If I don't end up adding them to the 12/12/12 project
I'm sure I can use them on Project Life or my layouts.

These are photos I took as I starting putting my 12/12/12 Sn@ap! binder together.  I'm really excited about the class on 12/12/12.  I've been taking Stacy's Twelve class all year long and have not been able to keep up with creating 12 layouts a month mostly due to a major career change.  So this project gives me the chance to create my 2012 album with all the highlights and a few everyday  photos for the year.
If you haven't been taking Twelve you can still take the 12/12/12 class.  Just head over to Big Picture Classes www.bigpictureclasses.com and sign up.  

Getting back in the groove

 [Top photo]  About 2 weeks ago I set up one of my tables in the living room hoping I could combine my need to relax at the end of a long day with making some progress on my Project Life album.  I've got photos back to May to put in my album.  In March my life became busy and somewhat chaotic.  I began a couple  rounds of interviews for a new job and got it in May.  We put our house on the market and have been dealing with all that involves.  I started my new job on July 1st and its been so much more intense than I imagined!  In a good way but it is taking quite a bit of adjustment.  Anyways, scrapbooking, mixed media playtime and crafting has all been set aside for months now.  And it shows.  And I'm feeling the need for that creative outlet!

Project Life Table today

Craft Room today

Today, I'm hoping to get some organization restored to both areas.  I've signed up for Kit-tastic with May Flaum (I'm hooked on her classes since her Field Guide class) Kit-tastic starts towards the end of our vacation so I want to get some kits together so I can jump right into that when we get home.  The pre-class materials May has provided are great.  She's provided a list to use in putting the kits together along with 2 other handouts and I've watched the 3 class videos as well.  So hopefully this will all work out.  You know what's said about the best laid plans.....

Maybe by next weekend I can show you my progress..

You may also have noticed I did some blog house-keeping...changed my template, updated my blog list and other links....its been cooler here and fall is always my major cleaning, decluttering and spruce up time.  Cooler weather also gives me more energy so I want to make full use of that.  

What's happening in your world?

Sn@p! from Simple Stories

Wanted to share this video with you from Simple Stories.  You may remember from previous posts that I love Simple Stories Collections and now they have several new collections along with albums.  If you are doing Project Life or are looking for a simpler way to preserve your memories  - check this out!

My apologies

I can not believe its been over a month since I've posted!  Six weeks ago I accepted a new position in another organization.  I had worked at the same place for over 24 years in a variety of positions.  So you can imagine how crazy busy its been wrapping things up in one place and acclimating myself in a totally new environment.  While I still have a lot to learn in my new position I feel like I'm getting my feet underneath me, so to speak, and am not quite so overwhelmed as I was 2 weeks ago.  We also have our house on the market and our realtor held an Open House yesterday so there's been a lot of cleaning and straightening up going on this past week.  Today, we're relaxing mostly.  I'm checking in here & on the Big Picture Classes message boards and looking over my projects' lists in order to see where I am.
How is everyone else's summer going?  Are you finding time for scrapbooking/crafting?
Be back soon!

Jumpstart Creativity Tour 2012

We can all use inspiration from time to time so I was very excited when I found out that the Jumpstart Creativity Tour 2012 will be in Buffalo, NY among many other cities this year.  Buffalo is about 2 hours from where I live so that's an easy drive for me. 

From the Jumpstart Creativity Tour website - "An epidemic is sweeping our nation. We are discontent. Workaholics. Stressed.
Often what we need is engagement in a process that allows us to have a voice. We need places to make things without judgement. We need supportive communities of other creative people. We need space to make art and a creative community to join. 
Painting saved me. My creative community never ceases to inspire me. Everyone deserves that.
The Jumpstart Creativity Tour is about hosting 50 physical events that invite average adults to come find the creative outlet they have been searching for. There are opportunities waiting. The event may only last 2 hours, but attendees will walk away with resources to keep them going."

For further information and to see if the Jumpstart Creativity Tour is coming to a city near check out the website  http://www.jumpstartcreativitytour.com/

On a different note I've not been in my craft room much lately and not due to a lack of inspiration either!  Right now I have less than 2 weeks left at my current workplace after working here in a variety of roles for over 24 years!  No, I'm not retiring but moving on to a new job and I'm very excited about it.  This is going to be a big change for me.  We also have our house on the market and after 2 1/2 months on the market with no one looking at it :( we've have had 4 couples look at it in the last 2 weeks so I feel like I'm cleaning constantly!  So you can see why I've not been creating.  My blog may be more informational for the next month with fewer layouts, etc to share.  I want to thank you for following my blog! 

Camp Scrap 2012

Camp Scrap 2012 begins June 11th with May Flaum and its FREE! From June 11 to July 27 May will be posting projects on her blog and she has a Community set up at Big Picture Classes where you'll be able to post your work & talk with other "campers" Go to www.mayflaum.com to check out the details.  I've taken 2 classes now over at Big Picture Classes with May and I think she's an amazing artist and teacher.  She does more than show you techniques - she shows you her process and I've learned a lot from her.  

Take the work out of summer planning free printables

Need some help with your summer plans?  The "How does she?" blog has several free printables to give you some help.  Go here http://www.howdoesshe.com/take-the-work-out-of-summer-planning-7-free-printables-to-help for a Travel Photo Checklist, a Summer Photo Checklist, Summer Memories journaling page, a Vacation planning sheet and a camping planning sheet and some games/reading lists for kids!  Once you are at her blog you'll want to check out all the other free printables she has - there are a lot!

Liberate Your Art Postcard Swap

Kat Sloma from KatEye Studios is once again hosting the Liberate Your Art Postcard Swap.   See her website here   http://kateyestudio.com/   Kat's idea for the swap is to get people's artwork out into the world whether its photography, scrapbooking, quilting, mixed media or wherever your creativity leads you. 

Last year was the first year that Kat hosted this swap and she ended up with 170 people from 37 states and 13 countries participating.  She's hoping for 200 people to participate this time.  She allows lots of time to prepare the postcards and I found it very easy to do.  I was taking a class with Claudine Hellmuth and used artwork from that class for my postcard last year.I ended up with 8 postcards last year - 5 from the original swap, one from Kat and 2 from people that I sent my postcard too!   I'm looking forward to the postcard swap again this year.  Its a lot of fun!  Hope you'll join in!

For more information on the postcard swap and to sign up go here  http://kateyestudio.com/liberate-your-art-postcard-swap

Double Take Week 1 Sketch 1

One of the best things about Double Take is the number of photos I'm getting onto layouts!  Most of the sketches are for 5-9 photos on the 2 page layouts.  For this layout I took orange cardstock and since I'm trying to use more printed paper on my layouts I pulled out the soccer stuff I had.  I had several soccer print papers but I chose this one and cut the soccer balls out and put them on the orange cardstock - I love the way the colors all stand out.  I cut a few banner out of some other soccer print paper and added some black dewdrops.  Pretty simple and I love it!

Art of Observation Week 6 Memory Files

 For this week's assignment I tried using one of Heidi Swapp's Memory Files from her Color Magic Collection.  It starts out mostly white with just a design (in this case a shell/scallop design).  For the front I used a mist from my LSS and for the back I used a Mr. Huey mist.  I used the Mr. Huey mist on the inside as well as it is only white (no design).  If you try the Color Magic Memory Files you'll definitely want to watch a video to see how Heidi does this.  My red did not turn out as vibrant as I had hoped.  Heidi told me I needed to do more layers of red.  Which is what I did with the black but boy that was messy!

It was difficult to make sure that the black didn't end up on the red and vice versa.  I'm sure it gets easier with practice.  Here is a link to Heidi's collection
http://store.scrapbook.com/products/heidi%20swapp%20memory%20files.html?gclid=CNnKnbDBl7ACFQtThwodciiT0w
And here is a link to a YouTube video of Heidi showing how to mist the Color Magic Collection
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hmAeMuo8tE&feature=BFa&list=PLE93CBE4DEA0D7B80

The theme for this week if you can't already tell was "love" so I'll be using this Memory File for all the things I love on our trip to see my oldest son and DIL in California.  I like that I'll have the two little paper bags to hold memorabilia in and the "openable" to add journaling to.  I recovered the openable with leftover paper from one of the hearts so it matched.  In the future I'll just make my own little book.

Art of Observation Week 2 Memory File

Anticipation was the second week's theme for Art of Observation.  However the file that we created will eventually hold two weeks of classwork.  In the photo below two file folders are held together with a strip of embossed cardstock acting as a binding.  This file will also hold photos of our trip to Tahoe in September.

The first section will be completed towards the end of the class so this is blank for now.

The inside of the second folder is the Anticipation part.  Heidi provided a download to print out where we can add in our itinerary, description of the trip, a checklist of things to remember and the dates involved.  I added a FotoStack that I made.  (I believe Heidi's FotoStacks are not available currently and may not become available until her next release after Summer CHA).

See yesterday's post for links to all Heidi's Memory File items and YouTube videos showing how to use them.

Art of Observation Week 1 Memory Files

I finally finished up a couple of week's projects for my Art of Observation class over at Big Picture Classes (BPC).  This one is from Week 1 with a theme of "Beautiful"

The folder is from the No Limits Memory Files collection.  The rest of the pieces are cardstock that I had on hand.  The vellum piece has a quote that Heidi supplied as a download.  There are no photos yet as I'm using this Memory File for an upcoming trip in September to visit my oldest son and DIL.  We'll be visiting Tahoe as part of that trip and I'm sure it'll be easy to take lots of "beautiful" photos.
I'll be back with this Memory File once its complete this fall.

Use this link to see all of Heidi Swapp's Memory File items http://store.scrapbook.com/products/heidi%20swapp%20memory%20files.html?gclid=COKY9fPKj7ACFegbQgodBCoaoQ
Here is a link to YouTube videos featuring the Memory Files
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Heidi+Swapp+Memory+Files

Double Take layout

Over at Big Picture Classes May Flaum & Nic Howard's class Double Take started last Thursday.  The idea of the class is to learn new ways of creating double page layouts so that they are cohesive rather than looking like two seperate layouts.  Today was the first chance that I had to complete a layout.
We were given 4 sketches and then May & Nic each showed us their interpretation of the sketch so we essentially got 8 layouts of inspiration!  And what's not to love about layouts where you can scrap 9 photos at once!  Others sketches had space for 5-7 photos.
Also had time to actual put one of my Memory Files together from my Art of Observation class.  Have been playing around with this but needed a few more supplies.I'm glad I waited - I'm really happy with how its turning out.  Hope to have it done soon to show you.
I'll be using several of the files for photos, etc for trip to California in September.  
Weather is beautiful here today - I've found some time to be outside but enjoying the leftover creative "buzz" from last weekend's Creative Crop and iNSD.  What are you working on?

Use kraft in two ways.

 Here's the last of the eight layouts that I did over the past weekend for Big Picture Classes's Creative Crop.  I've been trying to a little bit each day since Sunday so I don't loose that energy that you get from such an event.

Use this sketch.
I stayed pretty true to the original sketch.
I added a few more circles.

Feature a photo with a fanciful frame.
Stacy Julian used buttons to create
a heart around her daughter's photo.

Scrappin' photos of me

Use any cast-off items on your layout.
The green braid type pieces is something I got from
someone else who didn't want it.

 I've really avoided creating layouts with old photos and those with photos of me but the Creative Crop inspired me to pull these photos out and get them onto layouts.
And I'm really happy with them.  I'll be doing more of them in the future.






Do you create layouts with photos of you?

Grab a photo from a few years back
& a photo from today & tell a story about
how things are the same or
different.

Do you create layouts with old black & white photos?

Scrap a favorite childhood memory

National Scrapbook Day Recovery

Wow, what a great weekend!

Use a library pocket on your page,

  There's nothing like getting into a creative zone and having a blast with it.  I was a little slow out of the gate (I did take time on Saturday to watch the Kentucky Derby - with 2 veterinarians that specialize in horses in the family its kind of mandatory.) on Saturday morning.  I was trying really hard to get my Week in the Life/Project Life album current before Big Picture Classes' Creative Crop started at noon.  I got almost all the photos in but need to go back & do the journaling and add bits & pieces.  I was also getting some paper and tags misted that I hoped to use to create some pages I wanted to get done.  I was hoping that they would work for some of the challenges and they did so I was glad I got a head start on those and they had time to dry.
I completed 8 out of the 12 challenges between Saturday and Sunday which I was very happy with.  I'll be sharing those over the next few days.  I never did get over to scrapbook.com to do their NSD challenges.  I have some ideas for next year that will hopefully better prepare me to do both events.  Besides creating layouts for the challenges I did catch 2 of the live chats - one with Stacy Julian and one with Ali Edwards.  I also participated in another chat (with just typing back & forth) with Nic Howard.  I was especially happy to be in that chat as I'll be taking the Double Take class with Nic and May Flaum (can't wait to be back in a class with May!).  With the chat I felt like I had "met" Nic.  I wasn't planning on taking Double Take as I have quite a list of Big Picture Classes (BPC)  that I'm already taking & felt I should focus on those.  However, I had participated in last week's BPC week-long giveaway contests and won a spot in Double Take!  WooHoo!  Very happy.  Really added to the festive feel of the weekend.

I did the photo at the top for the challenge "Use a library pocket on your page".  I had a package of these blue library cards so I used one of those.  I added the kraft card "GROW" and wrote a little note to my grandson, Owen on it.  I decided to decorate the card as well using crushed velvet to make the snowbank and Liquid Pearls to mimic snowflakes. The rest of the page came together quite quickly.  I cut a sheet of corrugated cardboard paper (from Michael's) into strips and adhered those onto a sheet of kraft cardstock. I was trying to mimic the look of the fence behind Owen.

One of the challenges was to use photos from your iPhone and if you didn't have an iPhone to use everyday photos for you layout.  I used photos that I had taken during A Week in the Life of the department I work in.

Everyday Photos

Stop back tomorrow for more photos of the layouts I complete during the Creative Crop!

Project Life Blog Hop

Welcome back to our monthly blog hop and Happy National Scrapbook Day! 
Project Life has been a little bit of a challenge for me this year.  I've not taken a lot of photos this year at least yet.  There's been a few reasons for that.  For one, life has been pretty ordinary & I just didn't feel motivated to capture just the routine day in/day out things.  I use Week in the Life for that.  Secondly, I've become very conscious of how many albums I already have created and the space that they take up so I'm trying to find a balance between preserving the memories of my life (ordinary or not) with the amount of materials I'll leave behind to my children/grandchildren one day. So I switched to a monthly format for February through March instead of a weekly format.  In May I'll switch back to a weekly format as we have several things scheduled in May that will provide photos.
This is also the second year that I have done (or attempted) A Week in the Life (WITL) in my Project Life (PL) album.  Ali Edwards' set the last week in April for WITL.  I suprised myself and took 54 photos in one day which I think has to be a record for me.  However, there are days I only took 1-3.  I did pretty well with the journaling although I have some ideas for next time (I think Ali will be doing this again later this year) that I think will help prompt me to write down some other details.  I think I'll adapt Ali's journaling sheets for that. I want to add prompts to remind to write down what I'm reading, restaurants we go to, movies we watch, etc.
So here are my regular April pages.  I had hoped to have my Week in the Life pages done too but
I'm still working on them.

left side

right side

left side

right side

Not too much going on - you can probably see the weather was back & forth.  Spring one day, winter the next. I used the journaling cards from the Cobalt kit along with some items from Simple Stories.  I can't remember if they were from Life Documented or year.ography sets.  A little Easter basket added to the photo of my cats. I also put the postcard for the Art of Observation class I received with my scrapbook.com order along with my Heidi Swapp Memory Files stuff.  So nothing fancy or exciting - just me and my life!  Thanks so much for hopping by!
If you've been hopping along from the start the next blogger to visit is Lois & you can find her here http://loishouston.typepad.com/thoughts-along-lifes-highway/

     

Margie http://xnomads.typepad.com   To start at the beginning START HERE

Devon http://www.youhadmeatneurotic.com

Nikki www.inkyart.com.au

Laew www.crafty-creativity.blogspot.com

Lois http://loishouston.typepad.com/thoughts-along-lifes-highway/

Helen www.helen-mills.blogspot.com

Jennifer http://vogtstories.blogspot.com

Brighton www.dearbrighton.wordpress.com

Project Life Blog Hop, National Scrapbook Day and more

Its been a busy week for me so far.  After work I've been busy getting my house cleaned & picked up, running errands, getting groceries, picked up my printed photos and cleaning/organizing my craft room.  I'm trying to get everything done and off my "to do" list so that Saturday and most of Sunday is free & clear so that I can be creating all weekend (or most of it).  I'm signed up for Big Picture Classes Creative Crop (click on box at right for more details) for Saturday which is National Scrapbook Day (NSD).  I'm also participating in Scrapbook.com's National Scrapbook Day event (http://www.scrapbook.com/ > click on forums> NSD forum).  Both events start at noon eastern time and are full of challenges, prizes and plenty of inspiration.  Scrapbook.com has a schedule that you can print out once you are at the NSD forum and shares what you need for each challenge.  I'm really looking forward to Sat.  Tonight I'm making one last run to my LSS and maybe Michael's to pick up more adhesive, some mists and whatever might catch my eye.  Tonight and tomorrow I'm pulling some more photos & supplies together - I'm looking to get a lot done this weekend.
Also this Saturday is the Project Life Blog Hop beginning at 8am. As you probably know all ready Project Life (PL) is an easy way to document your memories and everyday life  Developed by Becky Higgins this is my 2nd year participating.  I've also am using Project Life to get my photos from past years into albums.  I do a mix of both Project Life and traditional scrapbooking layouts in my PL albums.  I hope you'll take time to hop around the blogs on Saturday.  You can start here or at the top of the list with
Jill http://jillconyers.com/       
What are your plans for National Scrapbook Day?

Blogs, blogs and more blogs...

I follow & read several blogs daily. I like to get them sent right to my email inbox.  I save some for reference or inspiration.  I've found if they are sent via RSS feed I never get there to read them. Some of the bloggers have had quite an impact on my creative journey.  I thought I would share a few of them with you.

I'm a big fan of Julie Fei-Fan Balzer and having been following her for a couple of years.  I started art journaling, using stencils and I am taking 21 Secrets because of her and the information she shares so generously on her blog.  Today her post title is "Tutorial:  Digital Photo Collages" and I wanted to direct those of you who are digi people to this.  Julie's tutorials are well done and easy to follow.  Check it out here   http://balzerdesigns.typepad.com/balzer_designs/
For anyone who is interested in stencils whether you use them regularly or are a beginner Julie has a lot of information regarding them including a free stencil workshop.  Julie also designs stencils for The Crafter's Workshop.  She also hosts Art Journal Every Day on her blog.

A diferent type of artist/blogger is Ali Edwards.  I've followed Ali for years.  I've been scrapbooking for about 14 years or so and used to read her articles faithfully in scrapbook magazines.  Now I read her blogs, take One Little Word, do December Daily & A Week in the Life and now I'll be taking her 31 Things class over at Big Picture Classes beginning in May.  You can find Ali here http://aliedwards.com/
She actually has two blogs on one website. 

More artist/bloggers tomorrow.

Whose blogs do you follow?

A little of this, a little of that...

The last 6 days have been pretty busy.  I've been taking lots of photos for A Week in the Life. On my best day I took 54 photos and another day I only took 2 or 3.  The rest of the days I took between 12-25 photos.  I stopped at the kiosk at CVS to get those printed & I'll pick them up tomorrow.  I'm using the downloadable sheets that Ali Edwards provides for the journaling and have kept up fairly well.  One of my biggest problems is that I work in Mammography & Ultrasound in a Women's Imaging Center.  As a Certified Breast Patient Navigator I can not photograph most of what I do at work. And frankly the rest of my week is not that interesting..however as Ali and Stacy (Julian) are fond of saying its just as important to document the everyday, small moments of life as it is the big ones so I took some photos that I normally would not. Frankly I was suprised to see that the one day had 54 photos.  I actually took more but weeded some poor shots out.  I'm hoping to work on getting my photos (& journaling in my Project Life album tomorrow. I combine the two projects as I try to limit the numbers of albums I create yearly to a minimum.
I've been playing with different parts of Heidi's Memory Files.  I'm waiting for more of her products to be delivered before I finish 3 Memory Files I have started.  It would be nice to keep up with the class but I don't want to rush these.  I am making these for a trip my husband & I are taking in September to see our oldest son & daughter-in-law.  We'll be visiting Lake Tahoe with them and I really excited about the trip!  I love that you can have so many photos in one Memory File with her system.  I hope to have some time tomorrow to work on this as well.
I'd also like to do one piece this weekend for May Flaum's class A Curious Scrapbooker's Field Guide.  We are at the end of this 12 week class -sadly :(  I know May is going to repeat this class.  I can't say enough about May & this class.  It was amazing! I may even take it again even though it will be the same material.  By the time it runs again I will be in a different place creatively and I think I would still get a lot from it.
I hope that you have checked out Big Picture Classes upcoming FREE event - their National Scrapbook Day's Creative Crop.  I really enjoyed this last year and got quite a few pages done.  I need to straighten up my craft room when I'm done in there tomorrow so that I'm ready to go next Saturday.  To check it out or register, click on the Creative Crop badge to the right of this post.
What are you working on this weekend?  What classes are you taking right now?

Martha Stewart Home Office Collection with Avery

I'm still working on several different Memory Files for Heidi Swapp's Art of Observation.  I was able to get to Staples to look for the Rubbermaid Magazine Holder so that I could put my Memory Files into my album.  While browsing I came across Martha Stewart's Home Office Collection as I was looking for some more file folders.   I found these file folders in the photos - they are vertical file folders!  I thought - "wow, that would be cool to try using those for the Memory Files!"  Each package (there were several different styles to choose from) comes with 3 file folders.

 The package of 3 file folders.

 A close-up of the label.

Unfortunately, after opening the package I found that the vertical file folder is closed on 2 sides and only open on 2!  So now I think I'm going to cut open the 3rd side.  I'm still thinking about this.

Here's a single folder closed.
They did have these in the traditional file folder style in various designs so its still worth taking a look at this collection if you are looking for file folders for creating Memory Files.

I'll let you know (& show you) what I end up doing with these.