Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Project Life 2013 - Week 27



Short and sweet with this post...  I'm wanting to get out and enjoy that beautiful sunshine that Melbourne has been blessed with today.  Isn't it funny how your mood always lifts when there's a little Vitamin D to be taken in?  Well, mine does anyway and I'm planning on taking full advantage of it today :)


My week 26 was so much fun to work on, I think it was because I allowed myself to just go with the flow and not limit myself with particular kits or colours.  As you can see, I used bits and pieces from lots of different kits and amazingly enough, they all work together SO well.  I'm not going to list them all as I'll be here all day, but if you would like to know about something specific, please don't hesitate to leave me a comment and I would happy to give you details.


I love the simplicity of typing text onto my photos before printing, especially when it's a week where I have lots of journaling.  I'm finding myself leaving lots of 'white space' for this when I take my photos now and I can always crop them down if I decide not to journal.


I have absolutely and utterly fallen in love with the Flip-Flaps from Close To My Heart.  The beautiful and always inspiring Petra Corcoran introduced me to them (in the past I have just made my own) but these are so convenient and come in a range of different sizes.  Sure beats getting the sewing machine out LOL!  They are especially good if you have a photo heavy week or even want to hide some personal journaling.  If you would like to order some, I'm sure that lovely Petra would be happy to help you out...  You can contact her here.


I also have to add that I finally got to spend some time on my December Daily Foundation pages last night and am planning on doing some more again tonight.  I can't wait to share some photos with you over the next day or two.

Until then, happy creating! :)
xo


Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Project Life 2013 - Week 44



This week I am pushing myself and feeling under the pump to smash out some more Project Life layouts and get my December Daily album in order before Sunday.  Can you believe it has come around this quickly?  Does anyone have one of those remotes handy from the Adam Sandler movie Click?  I would love a 'pause' button right now LOL ;)  Not to mention all the organising of my Elf On The Shelf ideas and getting our little friend Jack out from hiding (so very excited to have some fun with him again).  I just keep telling myself to 'breathe' and that 'I can do this'... Let's see how far these affirmations get me!  If not, I'm going on the hunt for a Click remote, so sing out if anyone knows where I can purchase one!  Hehehehe ;)


So here it is, my Week 44 of Project Life using the gorgeous Cut & Paste kit from Amy Tangerine. I am still working backwards and forwards from where I lost track so that I can meet in the middle somewhere soon.  Working in this 'no order' kind of manner is suiting me quite well at this stage and continuing to keep me motivated.


I had fun with some of my stash for this week's title card, using some old Kaisercraft self-adhesive Fozz Felt.  Man was that stuff sticky!!!  It took me quite a bit of time to get all of the backing off but once I did it wasn't all that difficult to place on the insert and stick down.


I used a little more of it on the garden photo in the top right corner here, just to add some cohesion across the layout.  I also went back to printing my journaling for this week; time was the main reason for this as I always find it quicker to type and print than handwrite.


I am having so much fun playing with my wooden veneers and this little Halloween skeleton was perfect for this week.  He was a little delicate to stick down but nothing my good old friend Glossy Accents couldn't help out with.

So there you have it, another week complete and another quick post finished.  Now I am going to have some fun with December Daily stash and get this album in some sort of order before Sunday...  Wish me luck peeps and I'll be back soon to give you an update on how I'm going with it all.

Keep smilin' :)
xo

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Project Life 2013 - Week 43



Wow, what a week it's been! Crazy busy and lots of things crossed off my 'to do' list, which has given me a great sense of satisfaction. Getting on top of things before Christmas is a major priority for me at the moment and my Project Life is a big part of that.


I have decided to work backwards with my weeks to keep me motivated. I am now on week 43 and then have set myself the goal of completing at least 2 other weeks so that by the year's end I will be finished and up-to-date. It has actually given me my mojo back and I have been thoroughly enjoying playing with my kits each night when the boys go to bed. Sometimes I get so lost in it all that I don't realise how late it's getting... Watching my favourite shows and Project Life-ing is the best therapy for this busy Mumma; my wind down time.


For week 43 I used my Becky Higgins Midnight kit and used the highly talented Leena Loh from FindingNana as inspiration. I love how clean and fresh her layouts always look and decided to try something a little different than my usual colourful spreads. I also challenged myself to use my own handwriting for my journaling. I only do it on rare occasions, not because I don't like my handwriting, I just find typing onto my journaling cards much quicker. I really need to step out of my comfort zone more often as every time I do I'm always really happy with the result.



The thing I loved the most about this kit was that it's basic colours of black and white really made my photos stand out and my handwritten journaling mesh well into the inserts. I had fun with my gold embossing powders and heat gun too for this layout. I never really emboss much these days, especially in my Project Life, but the Studio Calico stamps looked great stamped and embossed onto my title card. I also did the little gold heart Ono the top right insert titled Everyday Life.

So, wish me luck in my mission to be finished my Project Life by the end of December, all ready to start a fresh in 2014. WOW! Can you believe that? Already we're talking about 2014 Project Life.... That's just insane but my begeesus is that exciting!!!!! Lol A new year of fun and wonderful memory documenting... Bring it on!!!!!

Happy scrappin' :)


Friday, November 1, 2013

December Daily - Preparation for 2013


Happy first of November peeps!  Yep, that's right... November is upon us ALREADY!!!  Can you hear the sound of Christmas calling?  Have you noticed that all the shops have all their decorations in store and have had for the past few weeks?  The kids are organising their Santa letters and us parents are starting to prep for the silly season.

I truly love this time of year, all the excitement, all the frantic shopping (thank goodness for online buying nowadays) and one of my biggest thrills...  My December Daily album.  If you have never heard of it before, be sure to check where it all began with the lovely and highly talented Ali Edwards here.  She is so inspiring and her tutorial videos and ideas are simply amazing!

I have been doing this Christmas-themed-way-of-documenting-the-month-of-December for the past 3 years now and each year I thoroughly enjoy the whole concept, getting more creative each time I take part.  This year will be no exception however I plan to be totally organised before the month of December hits, as we all know how crazy it can be.

My first steps are to:
  • keep a notepad and jot down my ideas
  • search pinterest for inspiration, you can find my board link here.
  • go through and sort my over flowing stash of Christmas themed goodies
  • start cropping and making inserts

I have just downloaded the Ali Edwards December Daily 2013 Overlays & Cards to use in this year's album.  I am so pleased with the colour of them as they are uncannily the exact ones I was hoping to use, green, teal and red.


They will also match perfectly with the album I have chosen to use which is the Stampin' Up! Seasonal Stripes 8"x8" album.  It came complete with 10 page protectors that are in a variety of designs.  I have also been looking at the journaling tags and sticker set that match the album and think I will use them too.  I have my eye on the Sesaon Of Style This & That Journal which I think will be a fun and helpful way to organise all my Christmas lists.

 

So I hope you follow along and keep me motivated on my December Daily preparation journey and enjoy seeing how my album unfolds.  Now I'm off to do some serious stash sorting and get into the 'spirit of Christmas'...  I might even put on some Michael Buble to help me be merry; he's a sure way to make me 'whistle while I work' lol ;-)

Happy Friday peeps
xo






Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Project Life 2013 - Week 26


As I type this post I am doing a little dance of joy in my seat...  Yes, I have completed the first album of my 2013 Project Life!  WHOO HOO :)  So very exciting!  I will endeavour to blog about my end page in the very near future but for now, here is my week 26.


I used a combination of papers from the Authentique Free Bird Series, their Endless & Fair-weather 6"x6" paper pad, and Becky Higgins Honey Edition.


The gorgeous 'rad' 3x4 card was RAK from a mystery person in one of the wonderful Project Life Facebook groups that I am a part of.  If you have never heard of a RAK before, it is the acronym used for a 'Random Act of Kindness' which is "a selfless act performed by a person or people wishing to either assist or cheer up an individual person or people."


It's such a lovely concept and to be totally honest, I have been overwhelmed by how many I have received in the past few months and majority of them have been anonymous.  I am truly grateful to be a part of two amazing, inspiring and very generous groups and they never cease to amaze me with the kindness and creativity they both offer to each and every member.


So there you have it, my week 26 blogged and my first Project life album for 2013 finished. A big thank you to all of you that have followed me here, on Facebook and on Instagram.  You have kept me motivated throughout the first half of the year and really pumped to bring you the second album...  You all make my heart happy! :-)

Big hugs and much love peeps,
Kye
xo



Monday, October 28, 2013

Project Life 2013 - Week 25


Geez Louise!  Where has the time gone?  Where has the year gone?  Someone please pinch me and tell me that I'm not dreaming and it really is almost November already!

I better get my backside in gear and get some serious Project Life-ing done so that I am prepared for my December Daily.  I really look forward to my Christmas album every year and this year I want to be enjoying it just as much as I have in the past.  I don't want to become overwhelmed by the 'silly season' and having too many tasks at hand, so organisation is going to be the key for me this year I think.  Say it with me, "Let's get organised!" ;-)

Righteo then, this week let's get busy with some blog posts of where I am currently at...


Week 25 was an easy week to put together using some bits and pieces from my MARKS & CO Studio Calico Project Life kit.  I love how the stamping turned out on my week title card along with the lettering that I cut with my Silhouette.  It goes to show that you don't always have to use a 'title card' for your weekly insert.  As you can see here, the photo I used of my feet was perfect for stamping on and adding some embellishing, so thinking outside of the box can have some really effective results.


I also used some journaling cards from the Digital Project Life Rad Dad Edition (which is currently on sale I might add).   With the far bottom right one, I lightened and changed the tint a little using iScrapbook so that it coordinated with the colours in my layout.


I scanned and printed the cartoon of my son for this insert.  One of the lovely office staff at his school drew it for him when he lost his tooth.  How sweet of her to pop the tiny 'fang' into an envelope and then draw his picture on it for him to bring home safely.  As soon as he showed me I knew exactly what I was going to do with it and that it just HAD to be included in this week's layout.


So there you have it, week 25 blogged...  Now back it a bit with week 26 (told you I'm on a mission to get some blogging done) LOL ;)

Ciao for now,
Kye :)

Sunday, October 6, 2013

Week In The Life - The first attempt...



Mmm, now where to begin with this story...  Well, I shall start at the beginning perhaps?  Might be a good place and we'll just take it from there shall we?

I had everything organised, my daily sheets printed, my camera batteries charged, my head wrapped around the task at hand and even a good idea on how I was going to design my pages for my digital book.  I started off with flying colours; 86 photos taken on the first day!  Boo-yah!!!!  LOL

But then...  Guess what?

A fast hard curve ball was thrown directly at me!  Did I duck?  Heck yeah!  Initially anyway...  I was determined not to let a little side step get in the way of a project that I thoroughly enjoy!

The week went on and I got to Wednesday, hardly any documenting, a scarce amount of photos taken and I was seriously thinking of throwing in the towel.  I was feeling deflated, disappointed but mostly frustrated.  I had sick kidlets, friends that were needing my focus and ear and a mindset that was no longer on the task at hand...

What to do, what to do...

I pondered and came to this conclusion.

Start again when it was more appropriate.  Begin again when I could focus and enjoy the documenting.  Kick off on a week where it will be a 'true reflection' of our lives.

I decided that there was no point continuing with the process if I was going to be left with an album filled with photos of my children lying on the couch, sleeping and sneezing.  Journaling that was all about medicine, sleepless nights and Mummy cuddles.  This wasn't even close to a normal week for us and that is what I want my documenting to entail, a true reflection of our routine, schedule, daily doings, etc.

So this is where I am at...  Currently school holidays are finishing up, yet again it would not really have been a true reflection of our week, so I will be gearing up again to start my Week In The Life when school is back and our weeks are normal again.

But yet again, do I really want to even ponder on that thought...  What IS a normal week for us???  LOL  I'll just settle for the closest thing.

Till next time (when life is a little more normal),
Keep scrapping :)
Kye

Ps.  I would love to hear if anyone else did this wonderful project, how did you go, have you ever had to postpone it for another week, if you did, how did you go about it...



Thursday, September 19, 2013

Project Life 2013 - Week 24


Firstly, my apologies for the lack of posts lately...  Life has been busy, busy, busy and I'm finding that I am getting no time for 'me' and it's honestly driving me a little bonkers.  I actually have to schedule it in my diary to spend some time with myself LOL! ;)  But here it is, finally!  My week 24 post...


For this week I used the Becky Higgins Rad Dad Edition.  It was actually a digital release for Father's Day in the States however, you can honestly use it for whatever you like...  It definitely doesn't need to be limited to Father/Dad projects and here's proof. 


Another QR code this week (gee I love them nifty little things), a screen shot of a game we play on the iPhone, a fair amount of journalling and not many exciting photos but all in all, a pretty cool layout!


Now as for my Week In The Life...  Well, that's another blog post all together!  Stay tuned for THAT story; it's not exactly how I planned the plot to go...  But hey, that's life isn't it?!?  Rolling with the punches LOL ;)

Catch you soon peeps,
Kye
xo

Saturday, September 7, 2013

A Week In The Life

Yesterday I was having one of 'those' days...  You know the ones where you really can't be bothered doing anything but you have so much to do.  Well, I decided to just go with the flow and do exactly what my body was telling me to do... Lay on the couch and play on my iPad!  Yep, I was lazy and I loved every single second.

I was trying to tell myself not to feel guilty with the 'couch chilling' and admittedly I did feel a little better with the fact that I was being productive while I was 'lounging'.  I started organising my Week In The Life Project that begins on Monday the 9th September through to the 15th with Ali Edwards.

This will be my third year doing this project and it always gets me excited beforehand.  I have grabbed out my previous albums and taken some photos to show you what I approach I took for both; very different for each.

This year I have decided to go again with a digital album that I will have printed with Blurb.  I want this project to be easy and fun.  I have decided not to overcomplicate it by doing a hybrid album, like my Project Life, but to go with the same approach as last year.  I decided to do what works for me and this method was perfectly fine, but most importantly I was really happy with the result.

I got my inspiration from Nettio Designs who does fantastic templates for this project and you can find them here in her Sweet Shoppe Store.  I chose the option of making my own templates with the Blurb software last year and I still might do the same for 2013... I'm still undecided on that one.

So here are a few snaps of last year's album and the bottom two pics are of the year before (that was my hybrid approach).
A few things, if you wish to participate in Week In The Life, that helped me immensely with this project were...

  • Ali Edwards' printable Daily sheets to document what happens each day.
  • A thorough read through Ali's approach with hints, tips and previous albums along with links to products, templates, organisation, etc.
  • If you choose to go digital, an online software package to help you create your album...  I use Blurb but there is Photobook, Snapfish, Momento, etc.
  • Pinterest is a 'goto' tool for me for inspiration.
  • Big Picture Classes online community for Week In The Life is a wonderful FREE workshop that helps you connect with other participants, share your album photos  and interact with others via a private classroom message board and gallery.

As for now, I am currently printing off my daily sheets, charging my camera batteries and contemplating what colours/theme I would like my album to have this year and getting all inspired and excited!!!

Would love to hear if you will be going on the WITL journey too, how you approach this project and any hints or tips you might like to share.

Thanks for reading peeps and happy Saturday,
Kye :)

PS. Oh and don't forget to vote if you're in Oz...

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Project Life 2013 - Week 23

Another quickly put together week using Amy Tangerine 'Yes, Please' Collection Pack and more Me & My BIG Ideas Pocket Pages Specialty Cards.  I didn't have many photos for this week so I used two from the previous week (the Clifford pics). I don't think in years to come when the boys look through this album that they will mind.  I do like to keep it consistent and my photos chronological but sometimes you just have to go against your habits and do what works.
I've fallen way behind with my layouts lately and I have found a fab new iPhone application to help me catch up.  It has made it so much easier in the way of journaling and what the events were for a particular week.  It's called Everyday.me and it brings all of your social networking posts including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram together into a timeline, you can even journal in it!  I have been able to quickly gather photos, journaling and Facebook posts for the week and incorporate them into my Project Life without having to spend lengthy periods searching for that week's info.  If you haven't already heard of it I highly suggest you check it out, you will LOVE it!!!

I kept the embellishing to a minimum for this week so that I can catch up.  It still has elements that 'pop' but not my usual bits and pieces added to jazz up each photo.  Still looks bright and cheery so overall I'm happy.  Just gettin' it done...  Just gettin' it done!  LOL ;)

Now I'm off to 'get MORE done',
Kye :)

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Project Life 2013 - Week 22

Again, for this week I just couldn't go past my new Me & My BIG Ideas pocket pages specialty cards.  The green grass went perfectly with my little footy app insert.  This particular pack that I used is the Sport pack and you can find it here along with all the MAMBI specialty card packs and other products at Scrapbooking From Scratch.
I also wanted to share, as I have been asked numerous times now, how the large photo is done.  It actually is really simple for me as I print from home so for those of you that print in stores, you might just have to play around with the sizing.  Myself, I resize to the width and length of the pockets I want to utilise and then simply crop down to fit.  So in this instance, I printed the photo at 6"x8" size and then cropped straight across the middle at 4 inches so the I was left with two 4"x6" photos.  I then crop the bottom half into two 3"x4" separate photos.  Hope that sounds simple enough...
Here you can see how I have cropped the large photo in more detail.  See?  Pretty simple really and very effective.  I find this technique (if that's what you'd call it) great for when you don't really have many photos for a layout and you want to fill pockets.
Last but not least, my Thickers...  I really can't rave about how much I love them enough.  I honestly have gone through the washi phase, the cork phase (kinda still happening) and now my MAMBI phase but a girl needs to be honest with herself sometimes...  I really REALLY love my Thickers!  I thought they were a phase, even lust perhaps...  But no; this is true, hopelessly devoted to you, love! lol ;)