February Take 12 - The Layout

I am having such fun with this project.

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I made a 2-pager, y'all! this is big news. I was inspired by a sketch that came in the Ella Publishing Co. Take 12 kit. The original sketch was very linear and featured a grid, which are elements that I liked & kept. But the photos in the sketch were placed in two horizontal rows, along the bottom and middle of both pages with the journaling fit in between. As you can see, I used the photos in three vertical columns and moved the journaling to the right side. The title was placed in the right upper corner in the sketch. I kept it that way but mirrored the elements in the lower left corner to balance out the page. I used simple embellishments - two kinds of washi tape, a word strip, painted chicken wire pattern for some texture & interest and an Elle's Studio calendar circle. I plan on using these calendar spots and kraft cardstock every month as a way to unify my pages.

Well, kids, I am off to catch up on a couple of the many shows I have backed up on my DVR. I need to photograph this year's Valentine mini so that I can share that project this weekend. Have a lovely night!

Take 12 - February Photos

It's time again for Take 12, a monthly photography challenge hosted by Ella Publishing Co., where participants take 12 photos of the 12th of each month to scrap and share. For 2012, I am two for two on this project and feeling pretty darn good about it.

As February 12th fell on a Sunday this year, my day was a mix of puttering around the house and helping out with a fundraiser to benefit a family friend. It was a lovely mix of everyday and special occasion, home and friends, introverted and extroverted, me and others.

Like I said, it was a lovely day.

As I did last month, I will be sharing the words + photos today. Once completed, I will also share a finished layout featuring my Take 12 photos. I am working from a sketch that was included in EPC's Take 12 Kit. My mind is percolating with ideas on how to best document these memories.

I woke up at a leisurely hour on Sunday 2/12. What a lovely feeling. Threw on a sweatshirt and headed into my craft room.

Worked for 2.5 glorious hours on a Valentine's Day mini as a gift for my husband. I am loving how it is turning out. It's almost complete. The photos are printed, the embellishments are collected - I just need to adhere everything into the book. Stay tuned for a dedicated post (with photos!) on this mini later in the week.

Loved seeing this guy as I was leaving the house. I enjoy seeing the little signs of winter around the neighborhood.

I spent most of the afternoon and early evening working a fundraiser to benefit our friend, Casey, who is battling pancreatic cancer. I am in charge of a multi-week raffle so I sold raffle tickets and t-shirts for a few hours. One of the neighborhood's favorite hangouts, The Dundee Dell, hosted the event. Casey has worked there for over a decade. The owners of the Dell donated 25% of the day's total to benefit Casey and his family so Jim & I had dinner there with friends. We had an amazing turnout. I was even interviewed by a local news crew to promote the events.

Jim & Bowers in "Go Big For Casey" t-shirts

Deana & I

Princess Izzy sporting Mardi Gras beads/mask

Kozy & I at dinner

I am the raffle queen

Mr. Sam "borrowed" my iPhone and took a series of self-portraits. Too cool.

Home again, after a long day, I notice a spectacular view from my bedroom window.

I threw on my warmest jammies (with matching slippers!).

And settled in to watch the Grammys.

Good day. And good night...

Progress

Victory is mine.

I'm not sure exactly why, but I have been quite unmotivated for the past couple of weeks. I've been having a difficult time getting started on projects. Oh, I have tons of ideas...but I've been stalled out in taking action. I love possibilities. I love ideas. I love dreaming and thinking. And once I get going, I love creating.

It's the getting going that is the issue.

And I know that is why I needed 'DO' as my one little word this year. I know I need to push myself out of my head and into my craft room (and other places - gym, anyone?). I know that I just need to let go of fear, of insecurity and start doing something. I know that stagnation does nothing positive. I know the longer I delay the harder it actually is to move forward. I know all of these things.

But it is still hard. And I'm still afraid. I'm still insecure and stagnant.

So I am particularly proud that yesterday I did something. I entered my craft room, moved around some piles and made a layout. Of course, I haven't cleaned and organized since early December which made it somewhat tricky to create this layout...but I persevered. I also made some progress on Project Life.

It was a good start. A good day.

All of this is a rather long-winded way of saying thank you. The blog helps me in many ways, both small and large. Most importantly, it helps keep me accountable. It helps to know that just maybe there is someone out there interested in seeing what I've created.

So, thank you.

P.S. Here's the layout I made with my January Take 12 photos. I used the sketch from Ella Publishing's Take 12 kit as a guide. I love the way in turned out.

Have a wonderful next week!

Take 12 - The Photos

I had such a fun time taking photos for January's Take 12 project. And I couldn't wait to share the photos. I also plan on making a layout but for now the photos will have to suffice.

1. The view from my front porch in the morning. Gorgeous.
2. I just finished reading Out of Oz, the final volume in Gregory Maguire's Wicked Years saga. I really enjoyed seeing how these books came together. Ever since first reading Wicked several years ago, I have been fascinated by Maguire's concept, writing a completely new story based upon a well established tale - in this case The Wizard of Oz but told from another character's perspective. I am obsessed with the amount imagination and creativity that it would take to accomplish such a feat...and more than a bit envious.
3. The view from above. Dark indigo Levi's. Fleece vest. Uggs. I am both warm and fashionable.
4. Today's lunch consisted of a single cheeseburger from Don and Millie's. Mmmm. Not the healthiest of lunches, but I skipped the fries and avoided the temptation of a double burger. In the end, I feel like I was able to enjoy something I was craving in a responsible way. This is progress.
5. The West Wing. The freaking complete series. Thank you, Santa!
6. Today's weather. Cold. Cold and windy. Hello, winter.
7. My very messy craft table, filled with lovely scrappy goodness. I am especially happy for new Amy Tangerine goodness.
8. My husband's recent baseball card acquisitions. I love that he is a collector.
9. Have you ever owned something that just made you smile when you caught sight of it? That is what happens every. single. time. I see my manual type writer. That it was a gift from my best friend makes it even more special.
10. Poor Jim. He had to undergo an emergency root canal...and was still in good humor and allowed a photo of his slightly swollen, very numb jaw.
11. Emergency root canal = need for antibiotics.
12. Need for antibiotics = trip to the local pharmacy. I love this pharmacy, not just the service but the complete look of the building.

I hope you all had a wonderful January 12th! I'll post a layout featuring these photos soon.

Just Do It

Image courtesy of Elizabeth Dillow's blog

I am super excited for my venture into Take 12 - a monthly project of taking 12 photos on the 12th day of each month. Started by the good folks at Ella Publishing, Take 12 is a good way for me to commit to a year-long project. It is discrete. It is do-able. It is not overwhelming or exhausting.

It is something I can do.

I will be posting a layout featuring each month's photos here on my blog. Look for this month's layout this weekend.

Now, get out there and start something!