December Daily 2011: the cover

It's official. Christmas preparations have begun. Last weekend I got really crazy and made my December Daily album cover. I also cut the paper for the daily pages, but haven't added the numbers or embellishments yet. Not sure what I will do for those yet. Am thinking I will wait because I saw on a sneak peek that the November Studio AE was going to be a December Daily set. I am also going to start collecting numbers here and there. But I may just stamp on some office tags, shipping tags, etc. Here is my album so far:

I cut the chipboard to 5.5 x 8 I think, then the interior pages are 5x7. I wanted something smaller than the 6x8, but bigger than 4x6. I can still do enlargements of 5x7's and get them printed local. I am hoping that will be easier and actually help me keep up. Also planning on using Instagrams from my iPhone. Don't think I'm going to do any templates. Just go with the flow and see what I can get in the book this year. I was inspired by Jess Forster's Week in the Life, where she used just Instagrams.

Anyways, so I painted the chipboard white (several coats), then stamped the circles with the cardboard roll from you guessed it--toilet paper! I used a Jenni Bowlin paint dauber in malted milk. You can't see it here but it does have a shimmer. I used a pearl Glimmer Mist over the whole book. I haven't sealed it yet because I'm not sure if I want to add more sparkle yet. Maybe some glass glitter? who knows.

The inside is my favorite green cardstock ever. Kiwi Kiss from Stampin Up. Really wish they would bring that color back. But I did find a similar shade I am just as crazy about at the Paper Source. So the color wasn't so stark green I misted it with Mister Huey's in white. Very cool stuff. First time using it and really liked it.

Found the word tags at Paper Source and punched them with that cute little corner punch, then layered it on a Paper source chocolate cardstock. This chocolate has a shimmer to it as well. Found some numbers in my stash from Tim Holtz, added some bakers twine and a little pearl and key from I am guessing Tim Holtz or 7 Gypsies. And there it is! Here is a close up:

If you haven't heard about December Daily, check out Ali Edwards. Here is the main page for December Daily. She collaborated with Studio Calico for an awesome kit this year, which sorely tempted me, but decided to go with my own little version. You can order the kit here.

So there it is. I'm excited because I really love this project. I was so last minute last year, and I didn't do something every day, but I am super happy I captured some of my girl's first Christmas in this way. And what I like is that even though December can be stressful for me, especially with my work schedule, I like that it helps me focus on a little something to celebrate each day. Whether it was a trip to Shipley's donuts or just the lights on the tree. But for now, it's time to celebrate fall! I rented a 24-70 2.8 lens and am hoping to do some family pictures tomorrow. Wish me luck!

10 on the 10th: October Edition: Projects a Brewing

Decided to join in the party with the 10 on the 10th. Wanted to take pictures of all my projects brewing. Initially thought I would skip it, since a long work day didn't allow for that, but I think just getting it down can help. So I made a quick list and realized I had 15 or so projects actually brewing! No wonder I never finish things! So here are my top ten (what I'm working on right now)

1. Summer mini album--became more of a scrapbook on the road travel album which is cool. And I am so close to being done it is crazy awesome.
2. Autumn mini album--have cut the papers and have been taking pics with my iPhone. Planning on lots of instagrams of pumpkins and the like. The potential on this one makes me happy.
3. Project Life--want to finish my vacation section. Am doing it in chunks on whatever I want to sorta loosely by month. Mostly I have stored memorabilia in it.
4. Words to Live By- mini album from BPC Big Idea Festival. So want to finish it just because looking at what I have done really makes me happy.
5. Smashbook Me: A to Z project. This weekend I added some items to P: like planners, playlists, places. I only got the design of the project done in the class by Cathy Z at BPC, and for some reason doing it "Smash Style" has lightened me up and I'm really having fun with it.
6. Maggie's Journal--using the Ditto line by Hampton Arts. Fun way to capture little things she does each day. And yes, I really need to get some photos added to it! I love journaling in books like this but never get around to adding the photos!
7. Gratitude Journal--just bought a little gratitude journal from Compendium and absolutely love it. I just write down little things I am grateful for each day on the left side of the page and am leaving the right side blank--hoping to add a photo or patterned paper or art journaling, something like that. Problem is one again--printing and adding the photos when they are odd sized! That takes time to upload and crop. Maybe I should look into Prinstagram? Is that what it's called?
8. Week in the Life 2011--this project has so much potential to be totally cool. Just need to put it all together.
9. A project I hope to do is alter the You and Me book by Compendium. Saw that there was a class on this at BPC so I ordered the book. Now I just need to take the class and get it done. Hoping this will be a Christmas present for my husband.
10. I have a few 7 Gypsies artist trays. Finished one- using the kit from Archivers. Then I made one for the first year for my daughter. Just lacking two photos or it would be so lovely. Again, there is the trend with the lack of the photos. And yes, I am a third year alumni of Library of Memories! lol It's just finding the time to do it. Anyways, I just got another tray with my 30% off coupon and am planning a vacation one for our trip this year. The bonus: photos are printed and waiting for me in their happy little photo box. Here is my almost finished project:

So there it is, my projects just brewing away, taking their time. Just percolating along. And that's totally okay with me. It's the doing it in bits and pieces that makes me happy. The key for me is to remember: No stress--just happy memories and creative "me" time. The almost done summer mini:

To see the rest of the 10 on the 10 posts: check them out at Shimelle

Adorable You

Word art from Cathy Zielske Girlie Type Sets 2, Designer Digitals

Signs of Fall

Fall wouldn't be fall without some football, right? To capture my season this fall, I am making a minibook using Elise Blaha's Autumn 2011 cover, and my own assorted papers from the Nettie stash. I used her Summer album for our vacation to Galveston this summer and loved it. She does an amazing job with the papers in her books. Check her out. Etsy shop and her website: Elise Joy

The cool thing about these little books is how it is making me so much more aware of how amazing the season is, and how fleeting it is. The other day I was driving out in the hill country and found those amazing purple mums. Totally inspired me to break out the fall decor and pumpkin spice candles. Now I just need to make some pumpkin muffins!

Ella Boot Camp: Urban Look

Here is my first attempt at the urban look. I got bold and had my husband snap a few shots of me while I was taking some photos of my daughter. I'm not sure about this one. Maybe just self conscious, but I feel like I am too yellow. Or maybe I'm just "glowing"! I do think it toned down the redness from the first photo. Oh, and can you tell I did the eye brightening! Go me! Anyways, It would be interesting to run her action on it and compare. (love Maggie's actions and they work in PSE6). So I am sure I will be playing with this more.

And here it is by itself- the urban look Nettie! I do think I like it better when I see it by itself.

Alright! I did all three of the photo challenges, and I learned some awesome techniques. Maybe I won't rely so much on actions! And I am hoping to finish up the other challenges when I have time. For now, I will leave you with a challenge of my own: be bold and hand off the camera. Get in front of the lens for a change. You just might like it! (And even if you don't I know your loved ones will!)

Ella Boot Camp: Photo Enhancement

So here is my before photo: My daughter Maggie around 10 months of age. This is her "Look, Ma- No Hands!" photo. Funny girl. This is SOOC. 

And this is following the tips from Maggie Holmes. I will definitely be using these tips again.

And here is the before / after: 



Ella Boot Camp: Extracting Inspiration

I really enjoyed the design instruction by Lisa Dickinson. Maybe it's my own affinity for the grid design, but I love learning about design. For this challenge, we were to find an ad or something in a magazine and extract inspiration from it. I liked how she went more than just the obvious, with the layout and talked about colors, fonts, etc as ways to get inspiration.

My inspiration piece is from the most recent Pottery Barn for Kids catalog. Lots of ideas in the catalog. For me, I was inspired by the layout as well as the title and journaling block. Reminded me of Cathy Zielske's designs. And lo and behold, I just happened to have some of her titles! I also liked trying the idea of all photos on the layout. Normally I would probably subsitute patterned paper or something in one of those blocks. I noticed the photos were all consistent, so I looked at my most recent stack of photos and found these awesome photos depicting the wonderful daddy-daughter relationship between my husband and my daughter. On their own, these really aren't spectacular or anything--I took them all with my iphone! But I thought that the grouping made for a nice depiction of their relationship. So off I went to make a page! I know...amazing for me! Here it is!

Journaling: Maggie and your dad. What a wonderful sight. No matter where you go or what you do, your dad will be right there for you. Waves crashing, holding you up. Imagining, playing, dreaming. Building castles out of sand. Holding your hand. You will always be daddy’s little girl. July 2011


Supplies used: Fancy Pants patterned paper: Sand Dollar in the Beach Babe collection, shipping tag, Lime Twist bakers twine in grey and pink from My Minds Eye, Canvas Corporation Burlap Sheet, butterfly accent stickers from Jenni Bowlin, grey paint from Jenni Bowlin, staples from Tim Holtz tiny attacher, label stamp from Jenni Bowlin, remember this stamp from Ali Edwards Technique Tuesday, daddy's little girl word art from Cathy Zielske, Designer Digitals. And the heart overlay from Ali Edwards Awakenings pack Designer Digitals.