New Year, New Planner

Like many papercrafters I love planners, journals, books and all things made with paper.  Each fall and early winter I begin the search for the next year's planner.  Back in September I purchased an Erin Condren planner like this one below http://www.heidiswapp.com/capture-30-and-memory-planner/and love it!

It's working well for me for both work and my life.  I'm enjoying decorating it and being "creative" in a small way.  However, because my work schedule and task lists are so heavy, there isn't any room for memory keeping, journaling or a gratitude list.  So, when Heidi Swapp and Big Picture Classes announced Capture 30 and I saw this planner that was available as an additional purchase as part of the class I knew this is what I was looking for! 

Check out Heidi's announcement on her blog here:   http://www.heidiswapp.com/capture-30-and-memory-planner/

   To sign up for Capture 30 at Big Picture Classes, click on this link:         http://www.bigpictureclasses.com/classes/details/capture-30

 As soon as I get a chance to photograph the inside of my album I'll post some    photos.  Heidi calls this album the 2015 Memory Planner and that is how I am going to use it.  I've always wanted a dedicated place that I could jot down what I did with my day and things I want to add to my scrapbook/Project Life albums.  I'm excited to find out what Heidi has in store for us during the month of January as she helps us set up our planners and get 2015 underway.  In the meantime if you want to see more of the 2015 Memory Planner check out my Pinterest board of the same name.  

Today I am thankful for my online friends....

I want to thank my "online" friend Melissa for her wonderful post yesterday.  Melissa and I have not met in in-person yet but through her blog and classes that we have shared at Big Picture classes I feel like I know her.  Here is the link to Melissa's blog  "Daily Life - Bits & Pieces" so you can follow her:

http://melissagross.blogspot.com/

Only a few of my local in-person friends share my passion for all things paper and crafty so 5 years ago or so I was looking online for classes to spread my creative wings and found Big Picture Classes (BPC).  And I'm so glad I did!  Melissa was one of the first people that I met at BPC.  She was (and is) a coach for Stacy Julian's class Finding Photo Freedom. Along with Melissa, who is from Texas, I now count women from all over the world as my "friend".  And you know what?  We aren't all that different no matter where we live.

Here are a few more of my pages that I have completed.  I usually get my journaling done each day but the photo, either taking it or getting it developed takes a few days.  I'm never entirely "caught up" to the day but I'm not feeling anxious about it either.  I'm just thankful for forward motion each day.

We had our second snowfall of the year.  Not much either time and it didn't last past that day.  It amazes me that I still get a thrill when I see the snow start this time of the year and grateful that I still have that feeling.  

What are you thankful for today?

Variation on the Thankful tree

Big Picture Classes if offering a new self-paced class with Amy Powers.  There is a link to more information at the end of the description below.  I thought there may be some interest in learning how to create the Celebration Tree as a Thankful Tree so I wanted to share this information with you.  I plan to sign up this weekend.

Disclosure:  I am not being paid to promote this class nor have any financial interest in this class.  

Happy-Go-Lucky Celebration Tree Another cheerful craft project with Amy Powers

Celebrate life every day of the year with an elegant Celebration Tree! The craft-tacular Amy Powers will help you craft a unique and beautiful potted tree using fallen branches from around your town (or found online).

Then, through detailed videos and downloadable handouts, she'll help you dress it up for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Halloween, as well as other holidays and occasions throughout the year!

Glitter acorns and gratitude spools will gladden your heart at Thanksgiving time, while pom-pom spiders and black-and-orange garlands will make you smile at Halloween. And let's not forget decorating it for Christmas, using a special ornament collection that you'd like to put on prominent display. Find out more here.

Keeping things organized

I struggle with this every week!  This is about as good as my tables get when I'm actively working on projects.  If you look at the top photo of the previous post you'll see what it looked like after I finished the Organizing FUNdamentals class at Big Picture Classes in the spring.
Since then I've completed a Pinterest project - the yellow stand that my adhesives and corner rounders are sitting on.  Not sure yet if this is how I'm going to use these piece long term - getting a feel for how to use it best.  I love the extra yellow accent color it brings to my room.
I've also added the long divided piece I found at an antique store for all my ProjectLlife cards, washi tape, date stamps, etc.  All it needed was some cleaning up as it was already black on the outside and grey on the inside.  My walls are grey, furniture is white or black and storage containers and baskets are yellow.  I feel so happy when I walk into this room!
The yellow plastic bin on the right in the photo is where I keep my photos and memorabilia ready to go into my Project Life album which is laid out.  This is working pretty well for me.  I'm not current with my album (rarely am) because I'm out enjoying summer life and doing the things on my Summer Bucket List.  This happens every year and I'll get caught up in the fall and winter.
What are your tips for staying organized andkeeping projects moving along?
Watch for my next post...I'll be sharing some exciting news!

What I've been up to in 2013

So here is a peek at what I've been up to in 2013!

After Finding Photo Freedom began in February I took Organizing FUNdamentals at Big Picture Classes (BPC).  I thought that I would just clean out a few things and get my craft room in shape for the rest of the year.  We ended up removing EVERYTHING from the room, repairing & painting the walls and woodwork, and washing the floors!  That was a crazy few weeks as all my craft stuff and furniture resided in other areas of the house.  But it was so worth it - I have a craft room that I really, really love and enjoy - although its not as neat and tidy as the top photo suggests.

Being a coach for Stacy Julian's Finding Photo Freedom (FPF) class was an amazing experience but left little time for anything else.  I'm hoping to be asked to coach again later this year for either FPF or another class that Stacy is developing.  More on that once I hear.

The third photo is my Summer Bucket List.

Fourth photo shows canvases of an art class I was able to take as part of a research project at University of Buffalo.  I'll talk more about this in a future post.

A 3 day stay in Erie, PA at the Bayfront.  In the distance is Presque Isle.  I love being on the water - ANYWHERE!

Next 2 photos are Pinterest projects I completed this summer.

Another trip to Presque Isle.

Next three photos are three different events in Bemus Point on Chautauqua Lake including one of three art shows (in various places) we've been to so far this summer.

I started this blog post with the intention of updating my small but loyal group of readers with what I have been up to but two other results have occurred:

1) I am pleasantly reminded that I've had a very busy and fun summer so far.  I almost always feel like all I do is work so this was a great reminder that I do lots of fun things to!

2)  I've got some great layout ideas as I created this blog post!

I hope you take the time to review your year to date and remember all the good things in your life!

What have they been?

Finding Photo Freedom

Sorting old film cartridges, negatives and index prints

Film cartridges and index prints in bags sorted by years

Stacks of photos waiting to go into storage binders

Library Lists

Category drawers

I haven't had much of a chance to blog over the last 4 weeks since Finding Photo Freedom started over at Big Picture Classes (BPC). I am one of five coaches assisting Stacy Julian as she teaches the 10 week-long class.  I am having fun but have found that it's a lot harder than it looks.  I appreciate Amy, April and Melissa who coached my class back in 2011 and have returned for this class as well.  Blayne is the other new addition to this year's class.  I'm slowly working on my system during the class and hope to continue through the spring/summer on my own. The photos above show some of the elements that we've been working on among others during the first 4 classes.

Finding Photo Freedom journey

As you know from a previous post, I am a Coach over at Big Picture Classes' (BPC) Finding Photo Freedom (FPF) course. Stacy Julian, the owner of BPC and the creator/instructor of FPF sent a suprise gift to celebrate the start of the class.  The photo shows her letter, some delicious Ghiradelli dark chocolate and a brand new Amy Tangerine stamp set.  I love getting suprise mail like this!
So now that we are a few days into the first week of class I've been busy working  on my own print and digital photos - purging and sorting along with answering questions on the message boards and writing blog posts.  

My Category Drawers

Piles of photos, photo packet, my Cold Storage Box,
my clipboard for my Task Lists, my timer and course notebook.

  Its such a great thing to get  photos organized so that you can easily find what you need when you are creating.  
I hope to do more with my older family photos this time around.  I recently purchased PSE 11 and am slowly learning how to use that. I've been scanning some of  my photos but I'm researching some scanning companies to see if that's a better alternative.  There's already been discussion on the message boards about scanning so I know I'll learn more there as well.
I'm having a lot of fun and am looking forward to the next 9 1/2 weeks of this course.

Weekend layout

I'm taking The Curious Scrapbooker's Field Guide with May Flaum again at Big Picture Classes.  This class is so full of techniques, products and ideas to use what you have that I had to take it again.  I didn't end up spending as much time in my craft room as I would have like but I did get this layout done.
Week 1 is all about misting and I put mine to good use!  I didn't have any Easter/spring printed paper so I created my own.
Hoping to have some exciting news to share with you later today or tomorrow.  Stay tuned!

2013 One Little Word Blog Hop

Welcome to the first One Little Word (OLW) Blog Hop for 2013!

This is my third year living with a word.  The first year was "illuminate" and guided me in aligning my values with my actions. Last year's word was "JOY" and while I kept the word close all year long I never made it past the January OLW prompt.  My word for 2013 is SEEK.

Originally, I thought my word should be "complete" but I felt it was too one-dimensional and did not allow for enough flexibility as the year went on and life brought its little surprises.  After a couple of weeks of lists of words and research I chose "seek". 

Almost one month in and I'm really happy with my word. It's helping me define  what I really want to accomplish this year - to complete all those things on my "to do" list - some that have been there since my first OLW journey.  For "Seek Friendship" I'm looking to expand my circle of friends that share my passion for scrapbooking and mixed media.  I'm hoping to get more involved in the local arts group.  I'm also looking to connect with some friends I've lost touch with.  For "Seek Health" I'm hoping to lose some weight and get walking.  I'd like to add more there but am trying to focus on one or two things in each area at a time.  For Seek Learning" I want to finish BPC classes that I haven't finished and to either finish or read books I've started or are sitting in a pile.  One of them is The Happiness Project which fits very well with my plans.  "Seek to decrease debt" speaks for itself.  I'm compiling very lengthy lists of all my unfinished projects, books, goals etc. for "Seek Completion" and I hope to track my progress using my Project Life album. I'm working my way through Project Real Life (which I didn't finish last year) and I'm finding this also fits with what I'm trying to accomplish.  I'm not expecting to finish "friendship" in January or "health" in April  but will work towards all these intentions throughout the year.
'

  I apologize for some glare on the photos above but the weather here has been gloomy when I've been home during the day and I usually get home from work after dark.  It makes it tough to find good light for photos.  I'm still looking to add some elements for the second page - it seems a little bare to me but I haven't found anything that speaks to me yet.  So I'll wait until I find the right thing. Thank you for stopping by!

First up on the OLW Blog Hop is Lee.  Follow the links below to each blog; hopping from one blog to the next.  Comments are welcome and appreciated.  It's always great to get feedback!

Lee: http://thelinarstudio.typepad.com/embracelife/

Cheri: cheriandrews.blogspot.com

Lisa: http://backtoallen.com/category/challenges/one-little-word/

Lynn: www.crafty-creativity.blogspot.com       YOU ARE HERE

Nikki: www.inkyart.com.au

Kathryn: www.katlodesigns.com

Missus Wookie: mrswookieswanderings.blogspot.com

Veronica: www.veronicanorris.typepad.com

Eydie: www.whatwecreate.net

Karen: http://womenontractors.blogspot.com

Kelly: http://www.septemberblue.net

Melanie: http://mellybirddesigns.wordpress.com

Valerie: http://naughtystamper.blogspot.com/

Marya: www.lotustreecrafts.com

Nupur: http://woodpeckertales.com

Angela: angelanoel.com

Janet: http://lifeinsideascrapbookroom.blogspot.com

Dona: http://orangegearle.blogspot.com/

Ruth: http://suburbansahm.blogspot.com/

Naomi: http://www.poeticaperture.com/

Pam: http://pammiek.blogspot.com/

Kara: http://iwannabemewhenigrowup.blogspot.com

Clare: http://claresthomas.blogspot.co.uk/

Margareta: http://www.paperpilekitten.com/

Tricia: http://onecreativemom.wordpress.com/

Jacqueline: http://goodwolve.blogs.com/jacqueline/

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?

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 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

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!

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?

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.

Creating a mini-book for Heidi Swapp's Memory Files

I am taking Heidi Swapp's Art of Observation class at Big Picture Classes right now.  We are in Week 3 however I'm still working on Week 1's project.  One of the elements for the Memory File we are creating is a Mini-Book.  Here is a look at creating a file folder for that mini-book.  I'll post more on the mini-book as I continue with it.  Email me if you need more information. If you are not taking the class and do not have the templates I think you could freehand the file folder template.

Print two copies of page template #2
Cut first template out on the inside line
Cut second template out using the outer most line
See examples above

Trace each template onto cardstock
Cut out along lines for each

Cut piece of cardstock 8 1/4 inches x 4 inches to use to
act as the spine to connect the front and
back of the file folder
You may want to check the vertical measurement -
I had to cut a little more than 8 1/4 inches to match
the file folder

Using a strong adhesive, adhere each piece of
file folder to the spine

This is what my sample piece looks like inside when open

Here is a close-up (sorry its blurry)
You can see just a little of the spine showing through.
I did not put the two file folder edges right up to each other
so that when I add to the mini-book it will still lie flat.

Here is what the outside of the file folder looks like
when open

The finished file folder