So Much To Do!

I have so many open projects that I'm feeling a little overwhelmed. I think that if I can just get a few things accomplished, I'll be much better.

Picture the Holidays
I took a class in December at Big Picture Classes (check it out: www.bigpictureclasses.com) called Picture the Holidays. I think I told you about this before. I finally have all my pictures edited and printed and am ready to start working on the album. I chose to do an 8x8 for this project and am using red, silver, and cream. I have the title page done. Not much since it's February. But, I am using my new Gypsy for the titles and, man oh man, do I love that thing. The projects I have in mind for it. I will post some pictures when I actually have something to look at!

Boys Books
My always present and open project is the books that I am making for my children. Because they are twins, all of the pages for the first 6 years were the same -- some changes in color and slight layout differences but, basically the same. Now that they are getting bigger, I am getting some differences in activities and personalities. This I am struggling with. They have been so symmetrical so far that my brain is having a hard time wrapping around the fact that they don't, and shouldn't remain the same. I have about 20 pages to do in each book to "catch up". These books are chronological so it seems that just when it's all done, there is more to do. My original intent with these books was to send them off with each of them when they are responsible and living on their own. I do have to say that now the thought of not being able to have them around me is a little unnerving. I suppose I do have a while to worry about this since they are only 7! :)

Here is one of my favorite layouts from early on.


Reading
I have begun reading a book by Stacy Julian called Photo Freedom. It is absolutely fantastic! It is about her system of sorting, storing, and scrapping all those pictures. I was steered to this book when I asked some of my fellow consultants what they do with all the extra pictures. You know, the ones we print with the intention of scrapping that then don't make it on the page. Her system is fabulous and I'm still working on getting my head around all the pieces. The one thing that is very apparent to me is that, while I love scrapping my boys, I am missing so much of all the other things that are important to me. So I am now embarking on a new album of random pages that literally will just be because a picture, or groups of pictures, speak to me. I have this picture of my husband that I love and want to do something with besides just letting it sit in my scrap room. I never thought of what I could do with a random Honey page. Now, it's going in MY album that I'm making just for me.

2011 Album
Finally, my last new project is a 2011 album. I mentioned doing this before after I finished the Picture the Holidays class. I have decided that I will do this for 2011 and see how it goes. Hopefully, I can continue each year so that again, I have albums full of everything for me to hold onto. My theme for January is "New Year, New Start". I am scrapping some things I have done around the house to meet my resolution of getting organized in both my personal and business life. February's theme: "All About Love". I have the pages and pictures in my mind. I just need to collect them and the time to get them on the page.

You can see that I have lots of creative things going on and I seriously need more days in the week to balance them and my wonderful, regular life. This is the reason we MUST schedule time to create. If you don't make it happen, it never will!

Happy scrapping!!

It's Here -- Well Almost!!

MemoryWorks has released the new Simple Stories kit called Destinations! It is absolutely amazing. As you can probably guess, it is dedicated to travel and, like Life Documented and ele.ment.ary, geared to capturing all your vacation/travel memories in easy, pain-free style. Check out the pictures which are featured on the Simple Stories blog (www.mysimplestories.com) and all the cool inspiration that some of the MemoryWorks consultants have already come up with.

Destinations Collection Kit



12x12 Destination Elements (6)














Double Sided Designer Cardstock














12x12 Fundamental Stickers




12x12 Expressions Sticker Sheet



There is also a set of 4x6 Photo Transparency Overlays but those pictures are coming up right now??? BUT -- how fabulous is that kit?? I am so excited to add this collection to the already amazing Simple Stories line of products. AND .... we have added some additional stickers and cardstock to both the Life Documented and ele.ment.ary kits!! As if it couldn't get any better. Head on over the Simple Stories blog for full details.

The kits will be available to order the first of March. If you'd like to put your name on the list of firsts to order, let me know.

Happy scrappin'!!

Happy New Year!!

I try not to make New Year's resolutions because I can never manage to keep them. But, this year I am trying to get seriously organized in all aspects of my life and part of that is more frequent postings on this blog. We'll see what happens!!

Our holidays were FAB-U-LOUS!! Lonnie and I both had 12 days off and we spent almost all of it together with the boys. It was truly nice and I was not ready to go back to work. I hope that all of you had a great holiday and New Year as well!!




In the month of December, I took a class through Big Picture Classes called Picture the Holidays. It was a great class. Each day, we were given a topic of inspiration and were then assigned to find something that spoke to us about said topic. It forced me each day to take few minuted to reflect on what we were looking for. Some days, I didn't take those moments to actually snap any pictures but, I was at least taking the time to think about the topic and what parts of my life fit into the day's theme. I did take a picture for each day by the end of the month. I am now going to take those pictures and create a December album which focuses on the topics and pictures I captured. I'll post pictures as I get the pages done.

After completing the class, it got me thinking about how I could do this same thing each month of the year. Not necessarily to take a picture everyday (though one could totally do that) but, perhaps a theme per month. We could chose a topic and take any number of pictures during the month that represents that subject to us. At the end of the year, we'd have a full album of a year of our life. This could then all be captured in an album and easily put together with the Simple Stories Life Documents kit.



Speaking of Simple Stories, be sure to check out the Simple Stories web site each day from 1/4 - 1/24 for 20 days of inspiration. Each day, a new layout or project is being featured. They will also be doing give aways and sneak peeks for additions to the Life Documented kit and a NEW Simple Stories soon to be released. Check it out at: www.mysimplestories.com

Winter CHA is just around the corner (doesn't it seem like summer CHA was last week?) and that means that all the manufacturers will be releasing NEW products and lines soon. With this comes catalog transition and products being discontinued. Be sure to check out my website soon and order any Halloween or Christmas products you may need to work on pages and albums for all those wonderful pictures you took during the holidays.

Happy New Year and Happy Scrappin'!