life and pretty paper

Explore

A new online class has started over at Shimelle.com called Explore.

I've been a fan of Shimelle's classes for a long time.  They always have great content and there is never any pressure to finish the class on time.  You can join in anytime you want and finish when ever you want. Which is perfect for me since I never seem to be able to finish a class on time.

Here's a little bit from Shimelle's site to tell you about the class:

Throughout this four week course, we’ll be exploring the world, even if you’re not going anywhere. Each prompt covers a different aspect, from days when we’ll focus on photography to videos that cover crafting techniques to do something new with your existing supplies. We’ll be taking pictures, making journaling easy and stretching ideas so you’ll keep creating long after the final prompt appears in your inbox. If you’re worried about being too busy for the next four weeks, then the workbook is your answer! You can print it from day one and follow along in a quick format then come back to the full prompts when you have a bit more time to explore those ideas.

Are you going to sign up? Hope to see you there?

Projects 2011

The other day I took some time to write down projects I would like to work on this year; it quickly became a long list. Hopefully by putting the list up on the blog I'll be able to hold myself accountable for finishing them and I'll be able to share the progress here.  Here's hoping.

Project Life

Last year I got the album kit but only got a few days into the New Year before I stopped taking pictures.  I thought a lot about not even doing it again this year and just selling my kit but after giving it some thought I'm trying it again.  So far this month I've been able to keep up with it and I think having my camera on me all the time has helped.  I'm using last year’s album but instead of using the inserts and journaling cards that came with it I'm using supplies that I have on hand to make it more my own.  I'm also using shuttercal to keep track of my pictures. There is a 2011 Project Life group on Flickr and Big Picture Classes has set up a free Project Life Community.

Document 2011

This is a project that Shimelle came up with last year.  I tired doing it but really only got one month done before moving on to something else. I thought I'd try it again this year, since I'll have plenty of pictures for each month it should be pretty easy to do a monthly wrap up. I've go my supplies and envelopes ready to go.

12 on 12

Another project I've done before off and on but didn't really work on last year (are you seeing a pattern yet?) On the 12th day of each month you take 12 pictures to document your day, and since I'm taking a picture that day I might as well take eleven more

One Little Word

I’ve chosen my word and signed up for Ali Edwards over at Big Picture Classes.  I need to finish up Januarys class assignment and come up with a way to have my word be more of my every day.  I’m hoping that by signing up for this class I’ll be able to keep the focus on my word throughout the year and have a nice album to show for it.

Photography Projects

52 Weeks of Blythe: One of the things I liked about the Blythe dolls was the community over at Flickr.  There are some great photographers there who take amazing pictures of their dolls.  I thought by signing up I can get some practice with my camera and also do something with my dolls other than having them up on a shelf.

 

52 Photos My Desk: I saw this idea over at  Lisa Truesdell's blog and thought I’d give it a try.  I like the idea of taking a picture of something that’s always changing. Maybe it will give me the motivation I need to get the desk cleaned off and projects worked on.  I took my first picture today before I started the clean up.

 

Well, that's a lot of projects and picture taking for one year but I think I can do it. If I put a little time into it each day/week it should be managable.  What are your big projects this year?

P.S. Finally got a new banner up so come out of that reader and check it out.

P.S.S Digital washi tape is from Creature Comforts. Stole the idea of using it on my pictures from Lisa Truesdell.

Learn Something New Everyday

A new class by Shimelle is about to start up!  She's offered this class in the past but I've never taken it and I decided the time was now so I signed up.  The nice thing about this class is once you sign up you are in for life.  You can take the class every year if you want, much like her Journal Your Christmas class.  You can find the class details over at Shimelle's blog.  I've been gathering my supplies and hoping that I can actually finish the album in the month of September.  
 

31

31 layouts done!

It's over! For the last few days I had to push myself to complete the layouts but there was no way I was going to fall out of the race with only a few days left.

Now I'm in the middle of a major clean up trying to get everything back in order and organized. Getting back into the swing of things and not having to make a layout everyday. It's a great feeling to have so many layouts done and put into the albums and I'm sure I'll be taking a little break from scrapbooking for a few days.  But there are still lots of pictures to be taken and lots of stories to be told.  Be back later to post last weeks layouts.

May LOAD Days 16-22

Here are last weeks layouts, please excuse the crappy pictures I get the layouts done way after dark.

Day 16:

Day 17:

Day 18:

Day 19:

Day 20:

Day 21:

Day 22:

These last two layouts still need journaling and embellishments added, it was all I could do just to get the layouts done.

I'm doing a lot more 2 page layouts this time around and a bit surprised that I'm able to get them done in the short amount of time I have after work. Like I said before it's fun to take part in this challenge but I'll be so happy when it's over.  My life is all about LOAD right now and I'd like to move on to some other projects.

  
 

May LOAD Days 2-8

Trucking along doing pretty good with load so far.  I really need to get my layouts done sooner in the day instead of procrastinating for most of the day and then being in a rush to get a layout done.

Day 2:

Day 3:

Day 4:

Day 5:

 

Day 6: A section page for a class called Challenge of Me I took over at Big Picture Scrapbooking.

Day 7:

 

Day 8:

Thanks for looking!
  
 
 
  
 
 
 

Happy May Day!

Lots going on today it's May Day, National Scrapbooking Day, and the first day of LOAD.

My layout for LOAD today is all about the spring flowers.

LOAD Day 18-24

Here are my pages for the 3rd week of October

Day 18:

Day 19:

 Day 20

Day 21:

 Day 22:

Day 23:

Day 24: Another layout for Ali Edwards Class

Be back later with the last week.  Thanks for looking!
  
 
 
  

Done!

October LOAD is over!  I had a lot of fun doing it but I'm so glad it's over.

1 6x12

5 9x9

5 12x12

5 8x8

15 8.5x11

31 layouts in 31 days completed!

Be back later to post the layouts from the last two weeks.
 

LOAD Days 11-17

ETA: Forgot to add Day 12.

More LOAD pages.

Day 11: I signed up for Ali Edwards class over at Big Picture Scrapbooking and this is my first layout for the class.

Day 12:

Day 13:
 

 
 
  Day 14:

Day 15:

Day 16:

 

Day 17: