OLW Blog Hop - 2012 Beginnings

Welcome OLW blog hoppers! It's time again to 'ooh' and 'aah' over the amazing work done this month  by the participant's of Ali Edwards' One Little Word class at Big Picture Classes.

I really like the introductory prompt. As much as I do not typically relish the idea of having my picture taken, I have been trying to experiment a bit more with self-portraits over the past year. Utilizing the timer on my Cannon DLSR and the camera on my iPhone has made the process of self-portraiture so much easier. And I like being able to look back at these photos, seeing the changes and remembering each moment. So I enjoy knowing that each year my OLW adventures will begin with photo of moi.

Welcome 2012.

I like that thought.

In addition to a self-portrait, this month's prompt also included making a series of cards to document, define, explore and create with our word. My word for this year is do. I explain my thoughts on choosing the word do here.  Here are my cards.

I am loving how this turned out. The mix of type and handwriting. The neutral embellishments. The color scheme.

love it all.

Up next in this blog hop is Carmen. Check out her post here.

In case anyone needs the complete list of all 46 (yes, that is 46!) participants, I have included the complete list below. This is the largest OLW blog hop to date. I'd like to welcome any and all newcomers. I can't wait to see everyone's take on this month's project. And a huge thanks to Margie for once again supervising and organizing this blog hop.

See you next month - or sooner. Come on back anytime.  :-)

Margie              http://xnomads.typepad.com

Sharyn  www.lavieenchic.com       

Jill                    http://jillconyers.com

Lynn                 www.crafty-creativity.blogspot.com

Jenn                 www.studiojenn.blogspot.com

Carmen http://www.carmenpaulsorthner.com

Marilee  http://rose-brier.blogspot.com      

Kristina http://hrinspirationfromthe403.blogspot.com/

Cindy    C          http://www.cynthiacrysdale.com

Kelly                 http://mindingmynest.com

Cheri                 http://cheriandrews.blogspot.com

Amanda            http://scrappnbee.blogspot.com

Cindy                http://seriousplay.typepad.com

Brooke www.everysnapshot.com

Naomi               www.poeticaperture.com

Melissa http://www.smudgetime.com

Karen                http://breathenowsmile.blogspot.com

Melissa S          http://blog.mshanhun.com

Devon              http://www.youhadmeatneurotic.com

Donna              http://holimess.blogspot.com/

Dawn                sunshineandcreativity.com

Katrina www.katrinasimeck.com

Sam                 http://learncreatedo.wordpress.com

Monica             http://scrapinspired.com

Kimberlee         http://scrapsandsass.blogspot.com

Missus W          http://mrswookieswanderings.blogspot.com/

Kaylea              http://www.myscrappylife.com

Nikki                 Www.inkyart.com.au

Erin                  http://erinsparkes.typepad.com/optimstic-fascination/

Jo                    www.curlyscrapbooker.blogspot.com

Coley                http://coleybelle.blogspot.com

Beth                 www.thesingularlyordinary.blogspot.com

Veronica           www.veronicanorris.typepad.com

Jamie               http://jmpgirl.blogspot.com/

Monica B          http://questtoperfectimperfection.blogspot.com/

Lisa             http://backtoallen.com/writers_blog

Rebekah      http://istampscrapcraft.blogspot.com/

Jan              http://mysimplelittlelife.typepad.com

Veronica           http://www.veronicanorris.typepad.com

Cate                 www.lifebehindthepurpledoor.com

Stephanie         www.scrapworthylives.com

Orange Gearle   http://orangegearle.blogspot.com

Tere                      http://terecontodomicorazon.blogspot.com/

Junelle                  http://yesandamenblog.blogspot.com/ 

Ruth            http://suburbansahm.blogspot.com

Becky                   www.becky-handforth.blogspot.com

OLW Blog Hop - Reflections On Dreaming

Here we are again, fellow OLW-ers. Welcome back for this month's One LittleWord Blog Hop. I am so excited to share my thoughts and my project this month. I can hardly believe that a only single month remains in 2011.

For any new readers, One Little Word centers around the concept that a single word can be powerful and enriching, impacting on our lives in ways both large and small. Each year, I for the past several years I have chosen a single word to inspire and guide my journey. For 2011 my word has been Dream. You can see al previous posts pertaining to OLW here.

I was first introduced to the OLW concept by Ali Edwards, who I consider my personal hero. I loved following Ali's journey with her OLW on her blog  so you can imagine how stoked I was when Ali announced that she had teamed up with Big Picture Classes to teach a year long class specifically focused her OLW philosophy. Each month Ali sends out an email of encouragement and reveals a prompt relating to our word. Several of the other ladies in class and I have been posting a report about each month's prompt on our blogs. The clever and amazing Margie organizes our merry band into a cohesive unit for a blog hop where we share our work and support one another through comments.

I cannot thank these women enough.
They always inspire me.
They always support and encourage me.
They keep me accountable in documenting my OLW journey.
They sometimes make me laugh.
They sometimes make me cry.
They never cease to amaze me with their warmth, creativity and insight.
No, I cannot thank these women nearly enough.

This month's prompt brought us back to writing. Oh, the writing. How I love the writing. Ali developed a series of  "I statements" that were starting points for reflecting on varying aspects of our word. I loved this approach as it right away lent focus and direction to my journaling. The different completed journaling will back the nine photos taken for last month's prompt in a divided page protector. Six of the cards were pre-printed with "I statements" but the other three were left blank to allow for individual creative expression. I adore anything that offers a bit of structure but still allows for a massive influx of creativity and arsty exploration.

Here's my completed project for November:

click on image to appear larger

I was pretty simple in my documentation this month. I used my own handwriting for most of the journaling cards, but I had to break out my trusty vintage typewriter for one card (snatches of a favorite poem). I laid out Studio Calico's butterfly masks and then misted the entire page with Mr. Huey's Custard and a couple of pops of Heirloom Blue. Then I sprayed over the entire page with Mr. Huey's Calico Shine (such awesome stuff!!). I layered varying washi tapes over the center card and added the small canvas letters for my title.
I left two cards wordless, relying the butterfly to convey my sentiment. I have used butterflies throughout my album as symbols of my dreaming.

I am excited to see what Ali has in store for us with the final lesson for 2011. Also, if you've been following my blog and wishing that you would have joined us for this year's OLW journey, I have good news for you. Ali is doing it again! She will be offering another year long OLW class for 2012 through Big Picture Classes. I strongly encourage you to register. It has been an amazing experience.

Next up in the blog hop is Cindy. Check her out her fabulous blog here.