Day by Day

Noel Mignon Charm School Kit

2012-01-25T09:48:10-05:00

The new Valentine's kit from NoelMignon is now up for sale- Charm School! It is so cute!

Here's a great slide show of all the details:

Make a video of your own at Animoto

And here's my adorable friend Virginia with her monthly video review of the contents of the kit!

January Take Twelve

2012-01-18T08:46:55-05:00

I really enjoyed participating in Ella's Take Twelve Challenge. I was going to take a different route with my pictures for January but my work day ended up being really hectic (and long) so I went with random memories from the day. I actually prefer how this turned out and it will most likely be the direction I take with it going forward!

One thing I will have each month is a calendar element. This month I used one from Elle's Studio, but there are some really cool ones in the Take Twelve Inspriration kit that I can't wait to use!

I am also thinking that I'll use these Jenni Bowlin stamps each month to to highlight the day of the week. They are super cool!

And the title each month with most likely just be the month.

I'm really excited about having a whole set of these pages from each month at the end of the year! Did you play along.

If you played along this month don't forget to link up your page on the Ella Blog for a change to win the monthly giveaway.

If you didn't play along in January there's always next month, so mark your calendars!!

Happy January!

Take Twelve Winner...

2012-01-13T15:47:33-05:00

I'm late picking a winner...congrats to....SASHA FARINA!!

Sasha I emailed you!!

Thanks for entering everyone!!

TAKE TWELVE giveaway

2012-01-10T10:25:15-05:00

I am looking forward to being a part of the Take Twelve Design Team at Ella Publishing.

My goal this year is to scrapbook more of our life. I want to capture the moments of our life while they are happening and preserve them in meaningful ways. I'm doing Project Life, Stacy Julian's Twelve class at Big Picture and the Take Twelve project at Ella Publishing. Together, I think they are the perfect combination to create the focus for my year!

The goal of the 2012 Take Twelve Project is to take 12 photos on the 12th day of each month for a full 12 months—and scrapbook them! You can join in the fun any month of the year, but we hope you'll join in starting January 12. Get the scoop at ellapublishing.com/taketwelve.

Ella Publishing has a Guided Inspiration Kit with inspiring ideas, shortcuts, and printables for the 2012 Take Twelve Project to help you along with the process, and I get to give one away to you!

Leave me a comment by January 11th at 12p Eastern and I'll draw a winner!

Fresh start to 2012...

2012-01-04T13:54:01-05:00

Welcome to 2012!! Here's the start to what I've created so far this year. I am feeling really re-energized with my scrapbooking and I'm super excited about that. I was a little bit burnt out in 2011. I took a long break at the end of the year and it was exactly what I needed! I also cleaned my room and purged a ton...somehow that always helps!!

First, I should tell you all that I am now on the Noel Mignon design team! The team is made up of some of my most favorite designers!!! I was so thrilled to be asked to be a part of this team and it's part of what has helped me get re-energized!

Here's the first layout I created with the Cabin Fever kit. Which is totally the perfect winter kit! I blogged it here. There are only a few kits left if you haven't gotten yours yet. I'm new to Noel Mignon and I have to tell you that these kits are packed more than any kit I've ever seen...and beautiful!

(oh my gosh, please pay no attention to the fact that I put the four square photos in the wrong order. The last one is supposed to be first. I'm fixing this on my end! Dang it!)

Love those canvas buttons!

And Mr. Huey...still crushing!!

These next two layouts I created for Lily Bee. Blogged this one here. I made this layout as proof that I have cleaned at least once!!

This layout is blogged here. A few members of the design team were challenged to mix the old with the new. I love those flags!!

And this one I created as part of my try out for the Pink Paislee DT (actually created in December, but I never shared) which I'm sad to say I didn't make the cut...maybe next time...

Happy creating in 2012!!

Twelve Favorite Projects of 2011...

2011-12-30T08:00:00-05:00

This is always so much fun to do! I did this in 2009, but missed it in 2010. These are my favorite layouts of 2011. I love looking back at the layouts I've created over the year. For some reason I always seem to like them better looking back at them. I wonder why that is. There's also quite a bit I look back on and I can tell it's not my best work. These are my favorites from the last year. I had a few picked up for publications and lots of layouts I did for Big Picture Classes that I can't share. Good thing I had lots of others to pick from! To make it easier on me I made myself pick one favorite from each month...well sort of!

Looking back at my layouts I can tell I like this hobby in the early spring, late fall and winter the best. Late spring and summer seemed to me to feel rushed and not as meaningful. Gonna have to work on that this year! I think my whole life feels more rushed in the late spring and summer and it's not supposed to be that way...I think it's the heat and sports...or maybe the beer...nah, it's got to be the heat!

So, are you ready for my longest blog post ever!

January - blogged January 28, 2011

This layout was so much fun to put together. It's one of those layouts that I can still remember what the weather was like outside and the feeling in the air was as I put it together. (gosh, I'm such a dork!) It came together so easily and the feeling and sentiment make me so happy to look back on.

February - blogged February 25, 2011

I had so much fun putting this mini together. It was one of those projects that the only requirement I had was to use the album. Everything else I wanted to use was up to me. The possibilities were endless. So I pulled all of my fun bits and pieces together that were vintage feeling and put the whole thing together. I can't remember the last mini I put together that I loved as much as this one!

March - blogged March 17, 2011

I made way more cards this year than ever before. These St. Patty's day cards are still in my stash and they still make me happy to look at. I didn't get them done in time to send them out for St. Patty's day but in 2012 I'm looking forward to making someone happy with a random card.

April - blogged April 12, 2011

I love this layout so much! I love those tiny Lily Bee alpha stickers. I think this layout was what started my love affair. The colors and patterns and this whole layout make me swoon. When I really feel the journaling and the emotion on the layout, those are my favorites. This is one of them. I want to scrap more like this!!

April - blogged April 11, 2011 (it's my blog...I'm cheating and posting two for April and skipping May since I didn't really have anything in May!! May starts baseball/softball which is our busy time of year for our family!)

This year was definitely new for me with creating some altered projects. I love this shadow box. My assignment was to use the Glue Arts Accent It All vinyl. Is it wrong of me to like something I created so much!

June - blogged June 28, 2011

This picture was a lucky snap on my iphone and the layout makes me so happy (I have to quit saying that). I love how Lily Bee papers mix together so perfectly. This is a combination of several lines. The rainbow makes me smile! I'm noticing that my favorite projects are the ones that came together without me forcing them. That's what I love about this hobby. When it feels forced that's when I know I need to make a change.

Skipping July!! Looking back has made me realize I need to blog more!!

August - blogged August 11, 2011

This layout is our summer all rolled up. The lake, the sunshine, family, ahhh!! We stayed at my sisters house on the lake and did some early morning fishing. This bonding moment was awesome. The fun colors and dimension on this layout are perfect and I loved playing with the stitching!

September - blogged September 21, 2011

Scrapfest was a lot of first for me. Getting this layout completed right after was a major accomplishment. I love the little pleated squares and the stitching!

September - blogged September 13, 2011 (two for September since I skipped July!)

This one is my favorite because I actually scrapped my kids going back to school! I love that I used the same design for both of them and the same center picture. Made these so easy to get done!

Apparently I didn't blog at all in October...what?! So I'm gonna do two in November since apparently I was playing catch up!

November - blogged November 16, 2011

Love these kiddo's. Love this layout. Love that punch and all the patterns and stitching here. This one just makes me smile!

Ahhh, this one really makes me melt. I felt like this was way too simple and easy when I was putting it together but looking back I'm so glad I left it simple. I wanted the focus to stay on the photo but have the paper and embellishments add the right feel. I think I accomplished that!

December - blogged December 8, 2011

This album is not anywhere near being done, but I'm loving how it's coming together. I don't feel pressured to have to finish it so I'll be working on it now and then as I can. The few pages I've managed to get done are more than I've done in the past! I'm going to go through and put sticky notes on the inside pages so I don't forget anything!

I'm looking forward to growing and creating more in 2012! Thanks for letting me share!

What Matters Most...

2011-12-29T10:24:05-05:00

I am so excited about starting a new year.

2012 is going to be awesome.

2012 is going to be the year I focus on what matters most to me.

2012 is going to be the year I make real changes that get me further on my journey to happiness.

I put together a Big Picture Classes workshop that will help with this. I put this together to help myself and thought it would make a perfect class for the beginning of the new year because I'm sure I'm not the only one that wants to do big things in 2012!

I have so many things I want to accomplish is 2012, such as doing Project Life, getting in shape, being happier, spending more quality time with my family, etc. I know I'm not the only one with big goals for the new year. This class was designed to help clear the way to be able to focus on all the things that matter to you so you can deliberately make the time and space for the things that matter most in your life.

Class starts today and there's already some great conversations going on and I can't wait to get to know everyone.

Here's a little bit more about the class - Journey to Happiness: What Matters Most.

In Lisa Day’s latest workshop, you’ll spend four weeks setting up creative action plans to make sustainable changes that will help you focus on and stay true to what matters most. In class you will create two layouts and two mini albums which can be used as a guide to creating and celebrating a life – never losing sight of what matters most.

Do you want to make some changes in your life so that you can experience greater happiness and really focus on the things that truly matter to you? The journey to happiness is an on-going process, but with a clear focus, you can enjoy that journey every step of the way.

The class is priced at only $19. Seriously, it's totally worth that!!

Have you signed up yet?

Do you have any questions?

2011 Christmas Memory #3...

2011-12-15T09:29:52-05:00

I'm working on getting caught up on sharing my Christmas Memories here. I know the date on this one is still November, but I'm okay with that. I'm not in a rush to get it done. We still have plans to celebrate Christmas until January so I have time to catch up.

I thought I'd post my tentative list of what my 25 memories should be. Quite a few of these will be falling on the same day, which is why I'm liking the angle of 25 memories instead of a daily documentation. This will mean so much more to our family.

Getting our tree
Christmas Shopping
Trimming the tree
School Christmas program
Elf on the Shelf
Our christmas countdowns
What music we are listening to
Which movies we watch
Ornaments
Decor
Making cookies
A family picture, and a close up of everyone with thought from all of us.
Christmas morning at home
Christmas morning at my parents
Christmas evening at my parents
Christmas with Tom's family
Christmas with my dad
Our outdoor decorations
Christmas Eve party
Cookies & letter to santa
Christmas crafts
Wrapping presents
Visit with santa
Any art the kids do at school and secret santa shopping.
Christmas cards we get

It doesn't take much to fill up 25 memories! I might make some substitutions but for now that's how I think it's going to play out.

So, here's our 3rd memory - Trimming the Tree

This side focuses on a family picture we take every year just before we start decorating. We also always have some kind of snacks and Champagne for us adults and sparkling juice for the kids. Growing up this is a tradition my parents started with us and I love being able to continue it!

This side just focuses on the kids decorating the tree. This year Tom and I kind of just stayed back and let the kids put them where they wanted. I didn't buy enough of the lights we are using from Target this year and they don't have them anymore, so as of right now, my tree is only decorated 3/4 of the way up. I need to fix that this weekend. I can't believe they sold out of the lights before December! I will do another layout that focuses on some ornaments!

Happy Christmas!

Supplies used:

InLinkz.com

2011 Christmas Memory #2...

2011-12-14T13:23:59-05:00

Here's our Christmas Memory #2...Christmas Shopping.

The first half of the layout features our tradition of always stopping at Starbucks before we start our shopping day together. And then meeting up with my parents for lunch while we were out.

I included the starbucks cup because the red cup is totally fun. Not entirely sure it will stay thought because it does take up a bit of room! I do love the saying on the cup and the warmer though so I hope I can make it fit! It's the perfect sentiment for how I was feeling about spending the day with my husband!

I also included an envelope to hold the receipts for all the presents. The receipts aren't in there yet though because I totally know my son would peek and try to see what I bought him! I haven't forgotten what it's like to be a kid!!

The second half holds the title, the #2, cute star sequins and a little bit about me doing some of my own personal shopping and Tom helping me pick out a new purse!

Happy Christmas!!

Supplies Used:

InLinkz.com

BPC's Give Back 2011...

2011-12-13T09:57:04-05:00

Over the next two weeks, Big Picture Classes is hoping to give back in a BIG way.

If you register for the brand-new (and fabulous) Self-Paced class: Grateful, Every Day between December 10th to the 25th, BPC will be donating 100% of the proceeds to the charity of your choice. On top of that, they will be matching up to $5000! Together, we have the potential to do a lot of good in the little time left before Christmas.

To participate, simply add Grateful, Every Day to your shopping cart, designate the charity of your choice, enjoy the fun new class from Mou, and know that $20.00 is going to a charity that you love!

Thank you for helping us make a difference in the world around us!