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?

Working on a new layout

I can't believe I haven't posted since March!  Right now I'm spending some time cleaning my blog up and will work on getting it updated again.  I'm not sure if I like this layout or not but will give it a try again.
I admire those bloggers that post regularly whether it's daily or several times a week as it really takes a great deal of commitment and planning.  I haven't been able to be consistent since I took a new job a year ago but am hoping to find a way to post more regularly as I do enjoy it.
So here is to best intentions.....

December 2012 album

Simple Stories Album - front cover

I really like the combination of cardstock pages and
page protectors in the Simple Stories albums

Our city has Snowflake lights decorating
the downtown area during the holidays.  I used some snowflakes that were meant to be ornaments on the page on the left and cut a Hambly snowflake
transparency to size and added it to the left. 

The Hambly snowflake transparency covered a blurry photo on the right that I wanted in the album.  Its a motorized Christmas tree in our annual Christmas parade.

I added the program for a holiday pops concert we went to.  Fits perfectly!

 I originally set out to do a December Daily type of album.  Date card at top of page is one of Ali Edwards' digital items that I printed and decorated. Working full-time I did not end up with enough "daily" photos and had multiple event type photos so the album evolved into a December album.

I alternated 2 different page protectors throughout the album.  On the right I cut to size another Hambly transparency (reindeers).  I love how these look in the page protector pockets.  (Idea came from Ali Edwards) 

Added a Christmas card right into the album

Cut 4 x 6 photo in half to add to the top 2 pockets.

I've been working on this album since Thanksgiving on & off.  I was able to finish it on Saturday at a Crop.  I used Simple Stories Handmade Holidays and 25 Days of Christmas pieces throughout the album along with items from my stash.  I have a Christmas basket with all sorts of Christmas embellishments that works really well for me. Things I'll do differently for my next December album include:

• I'll not set the album up ahead of time.  This seemed like a real timesaver to me but ended up making me feel like I had to fit a mold that didn't work for the photos I had and stories I wanted to tell.  It felt forced.
• I'll definitely gather a variety of supplies and will probably use the Simple Stories album again.
• I'll set up a paper journal to write things down daily.  This year I just had a sheet of paper that I wrote notes on each day and then I lost it!  
• I'll try to save more memorabilia
• I'm not using a December Daily format.  I took Shimelle's Journal Your Christmas and will use that type of approach instead.
• I'll take more photos.  I'm not a big picture taker.  Probably a throwback to so many years of film photos.  I thought I was taking a lot of photos but when it came to pick photos for the album it didn't seem like many.  

So that wraps that project up - on to the next one!

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.

I Love Misting!

I wanted to get one more layout done before The Curious Scrapbooker's Field Guide class' second week starts tomorrow.  I love misting.  Its so easy if you follow May's guidelines.  Spray lightly, let dry, spray again, dry, repeat until you reach the desired shade.  Now if I could just get layering!  

So Excited!

I am so excited!  I've just been dying to share my news but I needed to wait until it was officially announced.  

Today, Stacy Julian announced the Coaches for the upcoming Finding Photo Freedom class at Big Picture Classes and I'm one of them!!  I've known since October and it's been so hard not to say anything.  As a Coach I'll be contributing to the Coaches' Blog periodically, answering questions and sharing my process with the class participants.  I took Finding Photo Freedom in 2011 and having my photos and images organized is wonderful!  It makes finding what I need for scrapbooking and creating so much easier and less stressful. Plus as you begin to curate your photos/images you begin to see connections and stories that make your memory keeping so much more meaningful. 

If you have boxes of photos and lots of digital images on your camera and SD cards then this class is for you! Check the class out here:  
http://www.photofreedom.com/photofreedom.php You can also get 10% off any class by using the following code - 
paperclipping2013 from Paperclipping Roundtable.

If you want to join Big Picture Classes to learn about their other classes go here www.bigpictureclasses.com
Membership is FREE!
Please leave any questions in the comment box and your email address and I will get back to you.
I hope to see you at Big Picture Classes!