Documenting 2014

Last year I had alot of trouble focusing on my journalling for my project life. I had no problems printing the photos (that being said I still have empty weeks), taking photos or doing the layouts. My weakness was journalling. Why? well I think it was because the layouts the crafty fiddly bits are the fun bits. I found the journalling to be a bit of a chore.

So this year I needed to find a different approach to my project life. I found a cute little day to a page day to a page diary at aldi for $3.99. hmm we will give this a go...

So far, and yes I know its only 27 days into the year. I have written in it everyday. its not a teenage dear diary sort of journal. just points about our day, quotes from the kids, creative lists, photo prompts. im using the note section for my creative planning, and goals.

I know that some of my notes wont be applicable to my project life but at the end of the year I will have a diary to look back on and realise where we've come. Now I just need to work out how to keep little fingers out of it.

how are you planning on documenting 2014?

project life 2014

So... we are 6 (maybe 7) weeks into 2014 and I am yet to print a photo.

I have however kept a daily journal and been noting what photos im going to use. I seem to have lost my mojo a bit and I really need to find Mel time. this year I am going back to basics and using the k.i.s.s. theory (keep it simple stupid). Last year I only used core kits when I needed to do a quick catch up and pump out pages. I focused on embellishing and making my pages fun. this resulted in me falling behind with journalling as I focused on the pretty. I did however keep buying partial core kits the people were selling off leaving me with quite a stock of core kit partials. and two albums exploding at the seams for the year. which is fine. But if you look at the big picture say 10 years of project life and there is 20 albums, plus my traditi8nal albums. I have been scrapbooking (as opposed to the dabbling I did prior) for 3 years and I already have 10 full albums and two 'in the process albums' on the go so in the grand schemem of this 1 project life album a year is ideal.

SO using this mind set I have preloaded my pages with project life cards. A kit per month. and the only embellies I will be using is stamps, rub ons and other flat embellies NO BULK.

  I am going on a retreat with a group of girls from the Project life Australia facebook group in two weeks and will be using that time to complete 2013 and kick start my 2014.

What are you using to simplify this years album? what did you learn last year that you will do differently?

stamp storage

I have a confession to make.

I love clear stamps. It is safe to say I am addicted to them. I prefer photo polymer (and love love love the smell of them) but if I find nice acrylic stamps that I must have I will buy.

The problem with acrylic stamps is storage. I have seen people use clear DVD cases to store them or Avery clear pockets. But with the amount of stamps I have I feel I need to have a system to store them that condenses the room that take up.

A while ago I came across this tutorial from mercy tiara on stamp storage and I just knew this was what I needed to keep them all together.  In this tutorial she keeps them in baskets on her desk but with my limited craft space I decided to punch holes in it and store them in a lever arch folder. And you know what? They fit nicely in my expedit with my albums.

What you need

2 a4 sheets of transparency
1 a4 sheet of white card stock
A hole punch
Masking tape or washi tape
Double sided tape

Start by adhering 1 piece of transparency to the piece of card stock.  Peel your stamps off the plastic they are on and place them the way they are on the plastic onto the left side of your transparency. Place the remaining piece of transperency over the top of the stamps. Using washi tape or mask in tape tape along the bottom of the page to stop stamps from falling out the bottom. Turn over and using double sided tape the printed piece of plastic to the card stock lining it up with where you placed the stamp. I also write under the price of printed plastic what brand of stamps they are for reference.  Punch holes in the page and put it in your binder. You can fit 3-4 stamp sets on the page this way. And then just flick through the binder to see what to use.

I love this style of storage. so much so I am about to start my third folder. I also have a binder I take to crops with just the stamps I need in it.

How do you store yours?

2014. jumping into it.

So, somehow, somewhere, 2013 ran away with me. Family happened, Injuries happened and getting my blog up and running fell by the wayside. I didnt want that to happen it just sort of did. 2013 was a big emotional rollercoaster, but 2014 is time to stop making excuses and just get it done.

So I sat down and asked myself, why do I want a blog? I have seen so many people with grand plans of having a creative, family related blog for it to turn into a diary type thing where they use it to complain and whine about their friends family and life. do I want that? no.
do I want to share my passion with creating? yes.
would I like to include some little insights to my household while keeping it a little private? yes.
do I want to use the blog as a motivator to keep up to date with my project life? yes.
and find some fun messy way to traditional scrap and share them with you? yes.
would I like to apply for design team roles? sure I would, however the blog is only part the reason of my not applying for dt. I lack confidence in my skills. everyone else loves what I do heck I love what I do but displaying for 'advertising' purposes? what if they dont like it? what if im not wanted? can i handle the rejection? i'm not 100% sure how to cross that hurdle. but hey.  why dont we try!

so what is stopping all this from happening? I am whats stopping it. I am so time poor its ridiculous but this year I need to take the time to realise whether I am time poor or if I create my time poor by procrastinating?

so this year it is on my to do list to get this blog up and running. no I might not have many readers but its nice to know that I have a little corner of the world where I create.

happy crafting people. I will check back soon

Apple pie roses

HELLO!! Its been a while. but hopefully im back.

Hubby allowed me to host Easter sunday lunch on the proviso I didn't stress myself out. So of course true to form I am planning it bigger than Ben hur.

So today I've been trialling some things I've found on Pinterest for Easter lunch. Among them is. APPLE PIE ROSES.

Don't they just look delicious? Stay tuned for my Easter feaster post. With what we got up to and some links and recipes.

How to make pretty gift bows

This is so much easier than you would think.  I thought it was going to be really fiddly.  Aparently not.

Cut 6 strips if double sided patterned paper to 3/4" wide

Cut 3 to 10"
2 to 8.5"
1 to 4"

Twist the strips to creat two loops at the ends and staple with a small staple in the middle.

Layer the loops starting with the largest loops and adhere using glue dots or glue. Finishing with the smallest single loop in the centre.

It really is that simple, I did this on the couch with a 3 year old "assisting" me.

Never again do you need to worry about having no ribbons or bows in the house you can just whip this up when needed

My elf daily lapbook

While searching you tube for mini albums I came across this lap book tutorial by Kathy Orta. I instantly fell in love with it. Lots of hidey holes and places for matting and Its full of interactive goodness for the kiddies to enjoy looking through it. I decided the mint twist collection by Kaisercraft would be perfect to do an elf on the shelf December daily as it was our first year with Alf our elf as part of our family.

However I struggled a bit while going along with the tutorial firstly here in Australia our manilla folders are quite different to the ones she used (so I had to adapt a little), then there were a few oh whoops I need to go back a step which was fine but I learnt that I am better following something in written form than video. I also adapted a couple of things to suit me better.

I hope you enjoy making this album as much as I did. It was so much fun.

~What you will need~
6 manilla folders (I got a 50 pack from office works for about $6)
1\2" double sided tape (have a spare roll on hand I used a fair bit)
1\4" double sided tape (I didn't find this strong enough so only used it for matting)
6 - 10 pieces of 12x12 plain colour cardstock in coordinating colours (you may use more or less depending on what pockets you incorporate)
A collection pack (I used Kaiser-craft Mint twist)
12x12 mint twist number sticker sheet
A packet of mint twist dies
Manilla tags (I got mine from the newsagent's or you can make them)
Corner rounder (optional)
Paper trimmer
Score pal (or something similar)
Scissors
Ruler
Bone folder
Velcro

I know that looks like a lot of materials. But its so fun you won't regret it. So get your goods together and stay tuned for the next chapter.

These are just a few photos on the unfinished product. I'll be sure to upload more when can take some.