Notes to my girl

Just wanted to share a layout I did a few weeks ago. I think it's been a year ago since I did my last 12x12 layout. With all the Project Life, December Daily, Week in the Life, etc projects I do, I realized my traditional 12x12 albums were feeling a little neglected. I have organized these by theme, so there is never pressure to complete them chronologically; I just add to them when I feel inspired and I figure it will be a nice little collection at some point. 

Not sure why I felt inspired to do this layout. Maybe it's the fact that my daughter is now 2 and a half! Hello time, where are you going? 

I guess I just wanted to capture this moment, how she is right now, and a few inspirational words. I also added a little hidden journaling a the top left in the glassine bag. It was cool how fast this layout came together. I guess when inspiration hits--follow it! 

Here's my layout in 12x12. I call it Notes to my Girl at 2.

And a few detail shots. Love the little cluster of embellishments. Love the yellow washi tape and the cream and yellow yo yo from Amy Tangerine. Love the wood veneer. I just love it all I guess.

More details. I love a little hidden journaling. I also love numbers--here noting her age and also part of the saying "To be the best you can be..."

So there it is! My goal is to do 1 or 2 of these in 12x12 or 8.5 x 11 each month.


Supplies used: Word art froms Ali Edwards at Designer Digitals.  Yellow chevron washi tape from Bella Blvd, a Yo Yo from Amy Tangerine, a journaling spot from Bananafish Studio, heart and arrow wood veneer from Studio Calico, and a kraft M from Ormolu. The mini library card is from Bananafish Studio, a glassine baggie that they came in I think, a silver clip from Target, the Be the Best You Can Be sticker is from My Minds Eye, the word strips are from Cosmo Cricket (out of stock) and the 2 is from the black Ali Thickers set (Studio Calico has mistable ones or Aqua right now). The pink vellum paper is from Dear Lizzy and the white 12 x 12 is white woodgrain found on Studio Calico's site.

30 Lists: September 2012

Last spring I noticed several people posting pictures of lists. They called it 30 Lists. It intrigued me. Simple concept and sounds like fun for the journal/notebook/pen hoarder that I am.

Recently I discovered the girls that started it are running it again in September! It's only $8 and what a fun idea for a minibook. You sign up and get all the prompts, a message board, printables, etc. You can either choose to wait to see the email each day with the prompt starting Sept 1, or you can get a pdf with all the lists on it.

Since I had a little time this weekend I decided to get started. I think I need a little project like this right now. Not that I need another project to feel behind on, but I do think when a project sparks your creativity it can be a good idea to follow it.

So here's my notebook: a simple Moleskine grid journal I found at Barnes and Noble. You get three in a package, so if you mess up on the first there is always another! As I was checking out the class I found my Instagram friend's Esty shop and she sells the most adorable handstitched versions of these. Check out Elizabeth's shop here.

I used the THIRTY DAYS OF LISTS from one of the handouts for the class, then added SEPTEMBER 2012 in Photoshop Elements. I had to do each one individually and then work them together. A little bit tricky but I think I needed the creative challenge. I added a vellum envelope and glued the flap to the first page and added the doily inside the envelope with a handwritten title on it. Added some washi tape, labels, stamps and cute little wood veneers from Studio Calico.

My first idea was to just write in it each day. But then the crafty and visual side took over and I am going to be doing a list + a photo each day. I know! crazy! But it's really fun, I'm doing a "Polaroid" for each prompt and don't tell but I'm already starting on the photos I can now.

I'm using an app on my iMac called Instant. I have so much fun with this app, but had not used it recently. So I thought this would be the perfect project!

Plan is to have the photo on the left hand side and then the prompt on the right hand side of each 2 page spread. I even made extra "bonus" lists because there are extra pages in the notebook (you could always remove those too).

Here's the link for the class! It really does sound like fun!

Products used: note: Amazon affiliate links where possible. 

One Little Word: August Edition and a Farewell to a Friend

A simple prompt: a self portrait and a few self affirming words. 

I kept it simple. Just a snapshot while playing in Maggie's room. A few meaningful words.

I like how the album is coming together.

Happy I did this prompt. This is where I stopped last year. I know, sounds silly...such an easy prompt! Not sure why but I think it had to do with not embracing my imperfection. I wanted this super perfect portrait. Then I just gave up. Not that I didn't take quite a few so far this month that were downright not good at all; but when I found one I liked I just decided to go for it. I'm embracing the selfies right now. I have a layout I'm working on in my head and in my heart and hopefully will get on paper someday. But for now, this'll do. 

And one last thing about getting more pictures with ourselves in them: do it. A friend of mine from my college days passed away suddenly. He was a brilliant and talented man and much beloved by many. Among his many talents was a gift for photography. The last post on his blog was a self portrait in front of an area he loved. Unfortunately I had not kept in touch with him, so for me, this was a gift, as I am sure it will be for many. He will be greatly missed.

A few J.K. Rowling quotes have been running around in my head this week:

"It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live." 
— J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Harry Potter, #1))

“Dumbledore watched her fly away, and as her silvery glow faded he turned back to Snape, and his eyes were full of tears.
"After all this time?"
"Always," said Snape.” 
― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

“The ones that love us never really leave us."

-- J.K. Rowling

and because he had the most wonderful sense of humor:

“Nitwit, blubber, oddment, tweak.” 
― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

May you always continue to fly, my friend.