Project Life Week 3

Hello Week 3. I'm moving right along. Loving it !!

Here is a look at both pages together. You will notice that the right side there is only had a half page. Well, I didn't take many photos this week. I was fighting a cold, helping a friend paint and decorate some rooms in her home. I took 2 photos with my big camera and the rest were with my iphone. So instead of pulling my hair out trying to fill all the pockets, I used a Design H page protector from Becky Higgins. Worked out great.

I really love how the colors came together this week.

The first page.  Alphabet flash cards, a bathroom, bikes and the letter S.

I have been working hard with Noah to get him to learn his letters and sounds. We have been doing his alphabet flash cards in the car. It's perfect, he is sitting down and it keeps him entertained while we are driving.

I used a journaling card from the Jade Core Kit. The aqua letter n is from Heidi Swapp, way back I believe. The yellow star is from the new Heidi Swapp chipboard sheet.

This journaling card talks about shopping and then finally finishing off decorating my guest bathroom.

Another photo of my bathroom.

I am in love with these cute freebie biking brushes from Persnickety Prints. You can find them here. I also am in love with these adorable wood veneer bikes from Studio Calico.   Aren't they just the cutest !

Brush on the photo can be found here.

Noah has taken his bike to preschool a few times now. His teacher is awesome. She takes chalk and draws letters and numbers on the road for them to find and run over. The boys love it !!

Here is a look at the last page. Again, this one is design H. Half of a Design A.

We had quite an adventure/scare over the weekend. I needed to have lots of room for journaling the story, so I picked out a bi-fold card from the Jade collection.

I have to say that the rub ons from the Studio Calico this month were awesome and perfect for me this month/week. The brown circles are from the rub on sheet.

Journaling cards. Talking about a visit from grandma, grandpa, and my nephew. I loved playing with the cute little heart stamp from the Studio Calico kit a while ago. I stamped it 3 times on the bottom of the first journaling card.

We played a family favorite game on Friday night with grandma and grandpa. Of course, the kids wanted to help out.

I have been slowly going through all my supplies, purging, and organizing my supplies and found this cute & paper clip. I made a quick banner for this picture.

I have found that when people are looking through my album and they come to an insert, they skip right over it and move on to the next full page. Not realizing that there is another small page there. I then have to rudely interrupt them and say, but you missed a page !! LOL. So to avoid the rude behavior I have been adding a tab to my inserts/shorter pages. It makes the reader aware of the insert.
These tabs are simply clear tabs I picked up from Office Depot. 

There you have it. Week 3 done and documented. I will now start week 4. Did I really say week 4 ? Wait, what ? When did that happen ?

Until next time.

Project Life Week 2

Welcome to Week 2. I have to admit that this week was a little bit to busy for me. There was just to much stuff that I wanted to include. It's not that I don't like it, because I am the type that if I don't love it or even like the look of something I will change it.

It's done and I am happy with it. Moving on. *This week has been so cloudy and dark. So sorry about the bad photos. Ugggh. *

Here is a closer look at the first page.

Title card this week. I added the week line from Ali Edwards. Find them here. I was shopping at Michael's and came across these cute colored doilies.  I also found the new cute little Heidi Swapp stamps and added one to my doilie.  Was going to buy more of them. But now my store took them down and I can't find them anywhere in the store !! I hope they bring them back.

This photo was a combination of a Becky Higgins (I think) prompt to take a photo of your favorite aisle at a store, and a design idea from someone. I'm trying really hard to remember who right now. Nicole Reaves possibly ?

Anywho, Monday night I found myself in Target for a late night milk run. I don't know about anyone else but it is not in my nature to go into Target without going down my favorite aisles !!

One of the things that I want to do this year is to take more meaningful photos. Ones that have a story, may it be a little story or a big story. With this photo I wanted to capture and remember that Tuesday is always laundry day at our house. At least for the time being. It gets done, it takes me all day and sometimes even carries over to the next day.

Journaling cards this week. The first one is one from the Jade Core Kit. It includes a story and a funny courtesy of Katelyn.

Bunco Night. Journaling card is from the Teen mini kit. Took a piece of one of Cathy Zielske's journaling cards. Find them here.  I made it bigger and resized it to fit into the spot onto my journaling card. I printed it out and cut it out. Spreading it out over the 2 journaling card spaces.

Here is the second page.

Since we were out of town over the first part of January Christmas was still up. Said goodbye this week.

Noah with his headphones. He is obsessed !! I added a white board to several of my photos this week.

Noah insisted on having a picnic. Packed his lunch pail all by himself. Yes, we are still in our PJ's !! That's we roll some days. Brush from here.

This week my husband and I celebrated our 12th Wedding Anniversary. These are my wonderful flowers he surprised me with that morning !!

Journaling cards. The first one is all courtesty of the Studio Calico kit.

On our anniversary we took some time to go look at furniture. So I had one of the kids take a photo of us on a couch. I loved this card from the SC kit. But I ran out of room to add it to its own separate pocket. So I cut it down and added it to the top of the photo !! Love it. * sorry again, about the bad photos.*

More journaling cards. Have you guys seen the new Heidi Swapp stuff ? Love it ! I bought a pack of chipboard pieces. The blue arrow and the star are from that sheet.

The other journaling card talks about what we did on our anniversary. This year we played it casual. Since we just got back from our trip to Utah less than a week ago.

The numbers on the bottom are one of my top ten brushes, see previous post. Loved them.

That's a wrap on week 2 folks. How is everyone's album coming along ? Are you having as much fun as I am ? I sure hope so.

Until next time.

My plan for the new Becky Higgins Core Kit PDF's

 Howdy everyone.

A quick post today about how I have used the recent Project Life PDF's. You all have probably seen the link to Becky's Project Life Core Kits Design Reference.

If not, or if you haven't checked it out, here is the link to the page. Check it out, so cool. 

Have you ever wanted to see all the card, title cards, filler cards, ect. of a certain kit ? Well now you can see every card. Every card, people !

I was so excited.

Now that we can see all the cards on our screen, what to do next. I kept thinking about what to do with the pages of all the pretty cards.

So I decided to print them all so I can see them in all of their glory. Then I was trying to figure out what to do with the pages.

I decided, at least for now, I taped them up right above my desk. They are all together on the wall, so I can quickly see them. This has made it so much easier to look through all the cards, and then decide which card that I want to use. Instead of looking through the whole box and forgetting the cards from the beginning of the box by the time I get to the end !! Ha Ha.

And who doesn't have a big white wall in their scrapbook room available ?!!! Doesn't everybody ? Just Kidding.

But no, for real. Since I have not done anything in the scrapbook/office room yet there are lots of white bare walls.

Here is another look at another idea that I had to use these pdf's.

I experiment with putting some pdf's in some 8.5x11 page protectors in the front of my album. 

You could put them in a few page protectors and include them to your album. That way, if you are not like me and tons of wall space, you can have them handy.

The pdf's have been really helpful so far in my Project Life planning.

P.S. I am finishing up Week 2 today and then I will share hopefully tomorrow ! Yeah !!

Until next time.

Project Life Week 1 + a glimpse into my thoughts for 2014

Hello 2014. How happy I am to see you.

Welcome to week 1.

Along with sharing my week 1, I am also going to go briefly into my process this year. What I am doing,using, ect.

From seeing what others have done, and also in my own album I have come up with a plan. A plan of what my style is, what my favorite look is. And for now I am very happy with that. It has worked well for week 1. ** Nothing crazy, or much different from what I have been doing. **

Before I start with the fun photos I wanted to say what supplies I picked out for this year.
#1. My main Core Kit is going to be the Jade Kit. I had a hard time deciding, but when I saw all the cool graphic designs I knew that this was the one for me. I love it.
#2. I also picked up the Teen Themed Pack for now. Will probably pick up a few more.
#3. Also really want to order the Childhood Mini Kit this year, I think the more girly one is called Mayfield. Kept meaning to do it last year. I would love to add some of those fun cards in from the kids.
#3. The Studio Calico Kit is a must. I love it. I don't need anything other than that, it is jam packed with lots of great goodies.
#4. I will use some of the midnight kit that I purchased last year. 
#5. Last but not least, I will be obviously adding some Simple Stories products in the mix. Can't wait to play with some of those. Tons of fun things to come from them.

Also want to add a note about my font choice this year. In past years I have picked a certain font and used it all throughout my album. I like the look of having all of my text the same. I took some time looking around for a typewriter text. Came up with a favorite, it is called My Underwood. So far I am loving it !!

Here we go.

Here is a look at week 1. Both pages.

The first page close up.

The title page.

In love with enamel dots right now. Can't get enough. I added the week 1 brush and will continue to add them to most if not all of my title cards. 

The first thing I want to talk about is my square photos.  I have decided to keep them square and really loving the look. Right now I like them square, and that way no more cropping corners.

I wanted to add a photo about some of my 2014 I will's . . .  Just like I did last year. You can see it in this post. 

Under the 2014 I added one of the fun lined brushes that I mentioned in my last post about my top 10 brushes.

We started 2014 in Utah, visiting family.

This first journaling card talks about that and I added in some of Ali Edwards 2014 brushes, another one I mentioned in my Top 10 post.

Another square picture. Seriously loving it.

Also want to add some white bordered photos.  Really loving the look this year and want to continue this with my small and 4x6 photos.

Oh I picked up these Chic tags | Happy Place at Hobby Lobby. The colors are a perfect match to the Jade edition. Wanting to see what else they have.

More journaling cards.

The first one is all about Build A Bear. The second one is a photo of all the little cousins building gingerbread houses together.

One night at the grandparents we busted out some games. I used one of the circle brushes that I mentioned in the Top 10 brushes post. I used a digital circle tag, simply changing the color, and printed it out.

A trip to Build a Bear. The kids got gift certificates for Christmas.

First off I made a collage and added a white circle on the photo before printing. Adding letters and embellishments.

The second page. This one is all about the skiers. I loved this iphone photo of the 3 of them that Patrick took. So I made it 4 x8 (cropped it so that it was 2 separate 4x6's) and cut it out to fit into the pockets.

My 2 tiny happy skiers. Patrick took them both out on Thursday while we were in Utah. AKA - the land of the snow. Cause we don't have any fluffy white stuff here. The heart is from the midnight core kit.

More square, white bordered photos. Love ! And a journaling card talking about all their skiing adventures.  The photo of Patrick was taken when he went skiing with his brother on New Years day.

This photo was one that Patrick took while he was out with his brother. They skied down through the trees. Crazy, I am not a skier !!

Added a screen shot of the Simple Stories Design Team announcement on their blog.

There are a few more things that I want to try to incorporate into my 2014 album this year. The first one is different page protectors. Try to mix it up a little. We will see how that goes, I might not like it and go straight back to my Design A favorite. We shall see.

Also want to take more meaningful photos. You know what I mean, the ones that have a story to them or help tell the story. I am going to try to be more aware of our everyday lives. So that I can try to capture a glimpse of our schedules, our quirks, our loves, our dislikes, ect.

I have started writing down ideas of things that I want to photograph, include in my album so that way they can make it in my pages.

In the past years I have always added some blank journaling cards ( the plain grid cards from Becky Higgins) into the empty sleeves of upcoming weeks. You don't need to fill them all in but just a few on the right side, that way you can easily slide them in and out. I would use those cards to make notes, write down quotes, jot down photo ideas, ect. Well last year being all crazy and such I didn't do much of that. This year I want to go back and get in the habit of doing that again.  So far so good !! LOL.

Okay I think I need to stop now. Ha Ha !! Thanks for tuning in everybody. And as always, if you have a question or comment please don't hesitate to ask.

My Top 10 Brushes for 2014

It is no big secret that I am a HUGE fan of digital brushes. They are everywhere in my Project Life album. I just love them !! They add so much and they are so easy to use.

For a few weeks now, and mostly year round, I have been on the lookout for some new brushes to play with and use.

**Granted, I have not taken a ton of time searching the far ends of the internet universe to make up this list.**

But these are the ones that I will be purchasing and using for sure throughout 2014. 

Without further ado.

My Top 10 Must-Have Digital Brushes :

#1. Ali Edwards 2014 Brushes And Stamps
Link : Ali Edwards 2014 Brushes And Stamps

I want to include more dates/and the current year in my 2014 album. I have plans to add some of these great brushes to my title page. Also, I have already used it in my week 1 for 2014.

#2.  Pictures + Words no. 5
Link : Pictures + Words no. 5

*In LOVE* All I have to say !

#3. Doodled Line  + Circle Brushes
Link :Doodled Line + Circle Brushes

These just looked like a lot of fun ! And they don't disappoint. I have already played with them in my week 1. 

I snapped some iphone photos to show you. 

#4. This Year 2014 Brushes
Link : This Year 2014 Brushes

This one is packed full of fun stuff. Lots of add to my journaling cards. *Looks like right now it is only $1.00 !*

#5. Stamped Numbers
Link : Stamped Numbers

I have been looking for some fun numbers.

#6. Key Notes
Link : Key Notes

These can be used on your mobile phone or as a photoshop brush. I liked these cute words.

#7. Sullen Seamstresss
Sullen Seamstresss

These looked like fun. I can see lots of possibilities. From framing photos, journalings cards or using stitching on my journaling cards. 

#8. Gallery Frames no. 5
Gallery Frames no.5

I had to include these adorable frames. To cute !!

#9.Messly Weekly Lines Brushes and Stamps
Link : Messy Lines Brushes and Stamps 

These were a must for 2014. I am going to use these all the time for my title cards. *Sorry for the bad photo. Link wouldn't work.*

Here is a snapshot of how I used it for my week 1

#10. Everyday Life Sentiments
Link : Everyday Life Sentiments

This one has a great mix of words, outlined words and then these wonderful definitions. 

Thanks for sticking around. I hope that you have enjoyed my Top 10 Brushes post. It was a lot of fun and I can't wait to play with all of my new brushes in this coming year.

Now go scrapbook. Pick up a new brush, or if you don't use digital elements, go out and buy a new fun product. There is nothing like something new to spark creativity. It works every time !!

P.S. Stay tuned for my first Project Life post of 2014. I have finished week 1 and I couldn't be happier. It was sooooo fun to play and create. I'm waiting for my January Studio Calico kit to come, hopefully today. It has something that I need to put the finishing touches on my week 1. Then I can photograph and share !

I am also going to share some things that I am going to do differently this year, and some things that will stay the same, and share my products that I picked out for 2014, ect. 


One last thing if you are still with me. If any of you have a brush that you just can't live without, or maybe one of your favorites. I would love to hear about it. Please leave a comment and share if you feel so inclined. Thanks and happy scrapping !!