The Little Album that Almost Wasn't

Before I get to my little album story ... I want to share some exciting news that I'm sure many of you have heard already ...  Jenni Bowlin Studio has gone digital with a shop at JessicaSprague.com ! Oh be-still-my-heart!  Can't wait to share some projects with you, but you really need to see what the creative team has been doing over at JS with Jenni's lovely designs ...  take a look at the shop and choose a product ... look at "other images" and you'll see some gorgeous works of art!

Now, the little album that almost wasn't story ...

When I first learned how to scrap digitally, I took a beginning lesson from Renee Pearson.  It was a great class!  As we learned, we created a mini album.  I altered the theme and colors a bit in order to create a book for Matt about playing All-Star baseball when he was 12.  I never finished the album.  To me it was more of a learning experience and the finished product didn't matter.  When the class was over, I had a 1/3 of a completed album tucked away.

Now and then, I go on major purging sprees.   This usually happens after watching an episode of "Hoarding".  If you're in my way, watch out because you might get thrown out also.  During one of those "purging attacks", I happened upon the little baseball book.  It was only 1/3 done, I didn't think it was very special,  and I didn't even think twice when I threw it in the trash.

Now Matt happened to see this book in the trash.  What he was doing looking in the trash I don't know to this day.  But he saw it and brought it to me with an incredulous look on his face.

him: "You were going to THROW THIS OUT?!"

me: "But it's not even done, Matt ..."

him: "What if I didn't look in the garbage and find this!"

me: "Oh .... ok Matt .... hmmm ..... sorry!   It's not even very good!"

he left muttering and all I could hear were words like "crazy", "nuts", and "jeeeeeeze".

So I took the book and worked one weekend to finish it.  It was pretty easy to finish really.  Very basic, nothing fancy.  Lots of journaling about that summer.  I sent the pages off to Shutterfly for printing.  When the pages came back, I simply inserted them in the photo album I had bought and decorated  years ago and gave him the book.  The crazy boy loved it.

Fast forward a year.  I didn't give the little book much thought until the other day.  I was picking up in Matt's room when I saw this little book on his dresser that he displayed front and center, before heading off the college again.  I flipped through and thought how silly I was for throwing this book out without even a thought.  Here he has this little book, simple as it may be, but rich in journaling about his 12th summer of life.  How he played his little heart out.  How we "bonded" one night in a rented room with no electricity.  How he would pick me out in the crowd and give an incredible smile.  How his team performed under incredible pressure in front of thousands.  How beautiful he thought Cooperstown, New York was.

Silly, silly me.  Why did I toss this?  Because there weren't enough embellishments?  Because an album of memories 1/3 done isn't worth holding on to?  I'm not really sure.

I read this little album again and I'm not ashamed to say that I bawled like a baby.  Was I crying because of the sweet memories?  Because this boy was gone away again? Because his college team calls him Ducky too?  Because this little album almost wasn't?  I'm not sure. But how wonderful to have this little album now.

Check! Project One is Done!

But first!  Before I post about organizing my layouts into albums ...  I want to share all the Jenni Bowlin Studio excitement going on this week.  What an exciting week, with CHA-W happening in California ... but that doesn't mean we can't have our own fun, too.  LOTS of great stuff happening with lots of great prizes ...  thanks Jenni Bowlin Studio!

1.  New Gallery contest with an awesome prize:

2.  A Chat Tuesday with another awesome prize:

Come to the forum for the chat!

3.  A secret (or not-so secret) announcement coming tomorrow - here's a hint:

Isn't this hobby GREAT!

and now ... I present ... with a great sense of relief ...

Ahhhhh! It feels sooo good to get a project done, doesn't it!  I've now got all my layouts into organized albums.  The albums are not labeled yet because I'm waiting for one "special supply" to come in. But they look nice, organized, and that makes me happy!

I want to share how I did this and a few things that I learned along the way:

What I did:

1.  Not only did I gather my "homeless" layouts, but I also pulled every single layout out of ever single album since they were not particularly in any particular album for any particular reason.  And my new "system" requires my layouts to be organized.

The only albums that I did not take layouts out of were my Creative Memories albums.  I couldn't ... the layouts were stuck to the page.  But that's OK - those albums look so very nice, and still in perfect condition, and well, are chronological.  So they already have a happy organized home.  Those are some great quality albums.  And you know, I still like those layouts.

2.  I then started separating all the layouts into piles by category.  The categories that worked for me, were "Family", "Heritage",  Domenic Army, John Baseball, Matthew Baseball, and then a separate general album for every child I scrap.  I scrap not only my own boys, but my sweet nieces and nephew too.

3.  I also had a "re-scrap" and "fix" pile.  I did see some layouts that, quite frankly, I sort of hated.  They were mostly layouts where I don't think I did the story or the photo justice.  I put them in "re-scrap" pile.  To have a small pile of layouts I want to re-scrap doesn't bother me at all.  I love scrapping, and having more "material" to scrap is actually a good thing!  I also had a "fix" pile.  You know, those layouts where the chipboard letters lost their stick, and little fixes like that.  These will be great for a rainy day.

4.  I threw out one layout.  Yep.  But it was a layout from an assignment I had years and years ago to scrap St. Patrick's Day.  We're Catholic, we love and pray to our saints, but this is not a big holiday in our house. I actually had Matthew stage photos for me.  I thought of Matthew years from now, opening his book and thinking,  "oh ya' - this is the day Mom forced me to eat green eggs and ham."

5.  The digi layouts were great because I had multiples of them.  I was able to split them between multiple books.  I even had layouts that were 100% digi and then reproduced in hybrid form.  Loved being able to keep one and give the other away.

6.  I then laid out my layouts in their categories and matched albums with the piles.

7.  I took each pile and tried to organize it chronologically to a degree.  I didn't get hung up on this part.

8.  Putting all the layouts into their respective albums was such a nice feeling.  It was so nice to see the album come together.  And since I had basically looked at every single layout I've ever done, I was able to really see what I did that I liked, and what I did that I didn't like.  I was able to get a good picture of my "scrapbooking style"  if I have one at all.

At this step, I was able to see what albums and page protectors held up over time.  Boy do I LOVE We R Memory Keepers albums and protectors.  So you can imagine my disappointment when I went to place my WRMK albums on a favorite piece of furniture that houses my albums to see this:

Yes - that's 1/4 inch of an album that's too big, or 1/4 inch of a shelf that's too small ... so the WRMK albums needed to be moved to an old book shelf I was planning to throw away...  but it's staying now until a better plan comes up ...

Some American Crafts page protectors sagged and the holes started to rip.  I'm not sure why this was happening and have seen others talk about the same problem.

I tried to remedy this with placing paper hole reinforcers on the page protector holes:

All I had were ones in distracting colors:

but it worked!  The protectors seemed stronger and more stable.  I then found the clear Avery Reinforcements, but they didn't stick to the plastic very well.  Bummer!

I have a fun idea for labeling my albums, but will have to wait until a certain special supply comes in.  That's a project for another rainy day!

And that's it!   I think if my layouts could talk they'd say "What took you so long!  We love our new homes!"

Have a FUN and creative week.  If you're at CHA - I'm totally jealous.  If you're not, well then we'll be having our own fun here!

Studio Envy

In the past couple of days, I've seen two creative studios that have blown me away.  They've so inspired me that I truly truly feel like ripping up my little space and creating something pretty.

In the following video, you catch glimpses of Jenni Bowlin's studio.  OK ... it is a little more than glimpses, but I want to see EVERYTHING!  Jenni!  Show us everything!

What I love?  Old interesting containers,  acck! that white scroll molding and I have something similar sitting in my garage!, stamps organized on a shelf so you can SEE them, OLD.WOODEN.TABLES, old doors with crystal knobs, old paint, interesting drawers for storage, and of ummmm gorgeous handmade projects hanging around ... and it seems big, doesn't it?  Room to breath!

The other studio i ran across belongs to Teresa McFayden.  You've got to watch for a bit before the studio tour starts.  

                                         
                                Studio and Behind the Scenes from Teresa McFayden on Vimeo.

What I love?  Besides the fact that she plays one of my all-time favorite songs at the start?  Glass, apothecary! jars, the chandelier, her little photo displays, the inspiration chicken wire, the old stamp shelving, old card catalog,  bits and baubles everywhere ...

and I didn't see an Iris Cart in either of these!

Inspiring to say the least!

While they're away at CHA ...

why can't we have a little fun, too?

Jenni Bowlin Studio has a new gallery, but it needs YOUR projects!

You can find all the specifics on the JBS Inspiration Blog!

And speaking of Jenni Bowlin Studio and CHA - have you seen their new releases?

Here's Magpie:

I'm always amazed at Jenni's designs. Her products have timeless patterns and colors and don't overwhelm.  They help YOU create amazing works of art.

Imagine what you can do with these new papers: Perforated and Die-Cut papers in vintage images just waiting for your ideas and creativity:

I wish I could be a fly on the wall when Jenni creates.  She gives a little peak of her inspiration for Magpie on her blog.

You can see the entire release on their Scrapbook.com blog post here: New Jenni Bowlin Studio

Have a creative day!

Let it Snow ...

snow is in the forecast ...

i'm excited ... really looking forward to scrap ... get lost in it for a while ...

just need to print those photos before the power (most likely) goes out ...

my sweet scrappy spot is somewhat clean ...

and this little girl is watching me from outside as I get ready...

my Project: Getting it Done (putting all my layouts in albums) is coming along nicely!

This is my organized mess now:

Have a creative weekend. And if it snows where you are i hope it's a *pretty* snow.

Project: Getting it Done

So here it is ... a bit of a declaration that I will be trying to focus on accomplishing things one project at a time, and get it done this year.

... and there are about 120 "its" on my list.  But I'm going to start with one that will make me soooo very happy when it's done.  You know the feeling. 

I have piles and piles of layouts without homes.  And the ones with homes and in albums are not in a particular album for a particular reason.  They've just been put inside for safe keeping.

I'm SURE I'm in good company!  

I really want to get all my layouts in albums and my albums organized in some fashion!

To think about:

1.  I need to figure out how I want to organize my albums.  Chronological?  By subject?  Divide them up for the kids?

2.  Will I find layouts that I really don't like while I'm doing this?  What do I do? I've never thrown out a layout before ....  

3.  Do I have enough albums and protectors?  I've been buying them here and there, especially when they're on sale ... 

4.  What about my mix of different size layouts - i love changing it up a bit, but I have both 3-ring and post bound albums here ...

The inspirations:

1.  Shimelle has two wonderful posts about organizing her albums.  She got hers done on one rainy afternoon.   Oh good! It's going to rain tomorrow ... but only until 10am.  I have a feeling this is going to take me a lot longer ...

here are links to her posts:

http://www.shimelle.com/paper/1268/scrapbookers-let-s-talk-albums/

http://www.shimelle.com/paper/1071/afternoon-craft-project-sorting-scrapbook-pages-into-albums/

2. Stacy Julian has her Library of Memories system for organizing her albums.  I have her book!  I've read (most of) it!  Just not sure if the system will work for me.

3.  Ali Edwards has an oldie-but-goodie post about organizing her albums here:

http://aliedwards.com/2009/09/organizing-scrapbook-albums-an-update.html#more-1086

She even has a category on her blog of album organization.

---------------------------------------

OK ... I'm going to get it done!  It won't be done today, it might not be done tomorrow.  But that's ok, because I will get it done!

Not Really a Resolution ...

I've been thinking about the new year.  I've been admiring the resolutions my scrappy friends have posted on their blog.  I've been thinking about being a better blogger.  Thinking about grabbing the bull by the horns and accomplishing a ton.  Then I get sweaty and know I've been thinking too much.

I was up 'til the weeeee hours of the morn' the other day, making headers for all my goals and their categories.  I was using Jen Martakis' Designs and having a blast.  I had categories coming out my ears: home dec projects, organizing projects, scrapping projects, outside projects, computer projects, just to name a few.  And yes ... I was planning to put this all on my blog ... as a sort of documentation and incentive to keep it all up.  Did I say I designed headers for all my goals?  Yes I did. Into the wee.hours.of.the.morning.

This was all just too confusing, and although it sounded organized to me at first (and I LOVE being organized) ... it wasn't.

And then a lightbulb went off.  Projects.  Just projects.  These are all just simply PROJECTS.

We can call anything a project, can't we?  Organizing the basement laundry room is a project.  Donating your clothes to Goodwill is a project.  Finding the paint color for your bedroom is a project. Making that special layout you've had running through your head forever is a project.  Finishing that mini book is a project.  Learning how to make a brush from a scan on your computer is a project.

You get the idea.

What if I tried to focus on one project a week?  And tried to finish it by Friday.  Am I asking too much of myself, living with a lovely life challenge and all?  OK - then focus on a project and don't move on to the next one until it's done. It can be a project of any kind.  All my categories will wrap up into one.   I think I may actually get something done.  I may accomplish something!  The pillow forms I bought 10 years ago may become pillows!  Yea!

Now this sounds fun to me.  It's not really a resolution ... it's just a different way of approaching your week.  It's about looking around you and finding joy in accomplishing little projects, writing them down to keep you on track, and finishing one before moving on to the next.

I think I need a name for this ... a title to start off my project idea each time ... so I know that this is THE project I'm working on at that moment.  So I don't move on until it's done.  I thought of "Project Life" ... but that sounded a little familiar ...  HA!

Oh gosh - that was long!  But I do have 2 projects I can't wait to start ... both of which I've been waiting to find the right supplies for ... and wouldn't you know ... in the new Mercantile Mid-month Release ... BOTH items were there ...

Vintage Quilt Scraps!


and

Vintage Metal Draw Pulls!


Can't.wait.to.start but for now I'll find something to finish that's been driving me crazy for quite a long time ....

Tiny Little Treasures

It was a wonderful, dry, 30 degrees morning. The skies were blue and the ground crunched under our feet.  A perfect morning for a walk with the pup.  We both love this weather.

When I walk,  I'm always looking at the little details along the way.  I may trip on a giant log in my path, but I'll be admiring the seed pod on the ground as I fall.

And the pup does the same thing as she stops to smell every.little.thing.  I don't pull here because I know just.how.she.feels.

This morning I found two sweet little treasures ... signs that Valentine's Day is right around the corner ...

... the pink one being man-made ... the other made by nature.

And if you're looking for papercrafting inspiration for Valentine's Day, hop over the the Jenni Bowlin Studio Inspiration blog.  There will be awesomely wonderful projects there all month!  And! The new JBS releases are being revealed piece by piece!  You.will.swoon.

Oh! and the little graphic at the top of my post ... the elements are from Jen Martakis - A Little Cuckoo and Snowy Day.  She's the reason I was up way too last night.  But that's a story for another day!

Nothing can make me happier ...

... than building something from scratch from a lovely mix of bits and pieces like this:

Having fun! I hope you are too!

Laughter Fills the House ...

because these two have been together again for Christmas break ...

... these two ... less than a year apart ... have their own language ... finish each other's sentences ...

... each have a different way of imitating Robert DeNiro ...

... just can't give me a normal photo anymore ....

... and like  trick photography where one looks much bigger than the other ...

Motherhood is hard.  And it doesn't stop when they go to college.  And we question ourselves and hope that we raised them good and raised them to love and take care of each other.  And although I know I've made a lot of mistakes and I wasn't perfect, when I see these two together, I can imagine that perhaps I could have done something right ...

have a wonderfully creative day!