{digital} Project Life Supplies

I have decided to tackle Project Life for 2013. Huge commitment on my part. I have never finished a project like this before. In all honesty, I didn’t even finish December Daily. With that said, my Project Life might look different than your Project Life. That’s the point.

I have almost zero intention of doing my spreads weekly. Monthly might work better for me. We’ll see.

I’ve already started my January 1 – January 6 pages. Will show them off upon completion.

I thought for today, inspired by a conversation on Facebook, I would share the {digital} materials I plan to use and link them up for your shopping pleasure.

TEMPLATES

First and possibly most importantly – templates. I do not scrap without the use of templates. Why should I? Someone else has already done all the hard work for me!

Yes, there is some overlap in the designs of the templates. Especially between Becky Higgins’ and Amy Martin’s sets. Becky’s have rounded corners while Amy’s do not. Amy’s messy stitches are awesome!

The templates from Traci Reed shake things up a bit and provide some alternatives – especially since we have a large number of big events coming up this year. I felt these templates would allow me to document those large events as their own spread.

The freedom of {digital} Project Life means I can do whatever I want. I’m not locked into a page layout for the following week because of the template/s I used the week before the way I would if I were doing this with physical products.

I plan to add my 12x12 layouts into my album. I will likely use a combination of 12x12 pages and the template with 4 squares (each square is roughly 6x6).

To Cover or Not to Cover

What do I mean? I mean using {digital} products to achieve the look of the actual physical Project Life products. The page protectors/dividers, etc.

I have a few options available to me in my stash should I chose that look. I think I will be skipping it though.

Why?

Because I do not have a wide range of {digital} page protectors available to me. I do not want to limit myself early in the project by deciding to use page protectors. I might add them periodically if I feel they really bring something to look of that week’s spread.

Journaling Cards

Journaling cards almost feel mandatory for this project. I have picked up a number of kits that contain them and some random freebies I’ve found.

Yes, I will be using them.

I also have in my stash some which I specifically purchased.

These are in my Wish List!

Why? Because it will give me the ability to use any kit I want to make my own Journaling Cards!

Variety is the spice of life… right?

Title & Filler Cards

I have been collecting these items from various sources. I have the ones in the Clementine Full Kit by Becky Higgins (linked above). I will probably make some of my own also.

Kits

Not sure how much kit usage I will get during this project. I am not going to limit myself here. I will use whatever kit I feel fits the mood for the week I’m working on.

I have a few favorite kits and I am also a subscriber to the Digi Game from The Daily Digi – so my stash is always growing. I’m also very likely to use new releases from Michelle Godin Designs since I am a member of her Creative Team.

I think this covers it. If I think of anything else or add anything to my regular {digital} Project Life materials stash I’ll post about it.

Now…

Get out there and Make Memories!!

Document December 2012 Filler Pages

While I’ve been busy documenting how my family has spent this December – I’ve also been creating some “filler pages” for my album. They serve no real purpose, other than more pretties to look at.

Credits:
Papers from
-Years Patterns & Solids by Rachel Young
-Peace, Kraft, & Joy by Micheline Martin & Studio Basic
-Very Merry Papers by Gina Miller
-angel & glitter "Believe" by Michelle Godin from Angelica
-doily from Pocket Stuffers No.2 by Valorie Wibbens
-staple & "Believe" flag from Kitschy Christmas by Jennifer Barrette & Sahlin Studio
-stitching from Sew Artsy the Stitches by Michelle Godin

All I can say for credits for the above page is everything (or at least almost everything) is from various designers, kits, and element packs available at TLP. I was bummed because the weather man predicted snow and we got nothin’. We were supposed to get more snow on 12/18-12/19 but again, just dusted and it melted as soon as the sun came up. This is MICHIGAN for Pete’s Sake!! We’re supposed to have snow for Christmas!!

So, for now…

I’m Dreaming

of a

White

Christmas!

Happy Birthday, Mary Ann!

Happy 10th Birthday, Mary Ann Elizabeth!

So, how about that apocalypse? The world may not have ended today, but my sweet daughter’s world ended… or so she would have you think! LOL Not really. I think I feel worse about postponing her birthday party than she does.

I had to postpone her birthday party scheduled for this evening. Her sister and her youngest brother are sick. Fevers, aches, the whole she-bang. I did not want to risk her friends getting sick.

Pizza.

Cupcakes.

Manicures.

Next Week.

I have a sore throat. Hoping my symptoms stop there.

I realize some might think my silence about the events in Newtown, CT last week might indicate that I don’t care… WRONG! However, I have been and will remain silent, because it has effected me deeply and I just do not know how to express it. Words just don’t work. My art skills are too limited right now. I am still processing this and the events in our area. For now, I’ll just keep praying.

Fever Twins

My two youngest children, affectionately referred to as “The Wonder Twins”, are at the moment “The Fever Twins”. She is 102.2°F and he is 102.8°F. Children’s ibuprofen and Children’s Tylenol have been our good friends for the past 48 hours or so. I hope their fevers break soon. Sissy is having a birthday party tomorrow.

2013 Project Life

I’ve decided to really make an effort to document our life during the year 2013. Pretty optimistic of me since according to some the world is coming to an end tomorrow. *snicker*

I also decided to go ahead and design a cover for our album.

I used the 2011 Project Scrap Cover template by Shabby Princess and the Everyday Life kit from The Digi Files (it’s the first free kit you get after being a subscriber for 4 months). I’ve had it for quite a long time and I’ve used it on numerous occasions.

For the time being I’ve decided to keep the cover simple. I will likely add small embellishments as the year progresses.

I plan to primarily use the Project Life templates by Becky Higgins (available at JessicaSprague.Com) for my pages. Any pages I do about 2013 will be in this album.

My goal at the end of 2013 is to get this printed into a photo book.

Document December 2012

Here are a few pages of my Holiday 2012 documentation so far…

The Cover.

Credits:
Template Hip to Be Square No. 1 by Biograffiti
craft paper and red paper from Peace, Craft & Joy by Studio Basic & Micheline Martin
black paper from Dear Santa papers by Pink Reptile Designs
Under the Tree & December Doodads by Kate Hadfield
Font is 2Peas Menagerie

Silver Bells In The City

Credits:
- Template Design A - Project Life Digital - Becky Higgins
- Background paper by Amy Jaz from Twinkle Paper Pack
BlueBird card from December Bits II by Sabrina Dupre
- Journal cards made using:
Paper (Khaki) from A Little Jingle: the Papers by Amber Clegg (DYD 2011)
and tape from Kitschy Christmas by Jennifer Barrette and Sahlin Studio

Thanksgiving

Credits:
Project Life Digital Template B by Becky Higgins
TLP Collab Grateful from ScrapStacks#1 November 2012
Fonts: DJB Live Your Story and Freebooter Script

 

Before this post gets so photo heavy that it takes days to load, I’ll stop here and post more layouts tomorrow.

Whatever bug my children had last week into this week is now launching a full attack on my system. As long as I don’t get the gastrointestinal symptoms a couple of the children had I’ll be ok. I can live with sinus and chest congestion.

We are looking forward to Friday! Friday is Mary Ann’s 10th Birthday. She has invited a half dozen of her little friends from school over for pizza, cupcakes, and manicures. I’m so excited my new friend, Emily, has offered to help with manicures! I’m certain there will be a lot of pictures taken. We are mostly ready for the party. I just need to arrange pizza, buy cupcakes, and get the house picked up. Supplies are ready. Goodie Bags are ready! Bring on the Tweens!

Instagram Opt-Out

Instagram made a HUGE policy change announcement. See the article on CNET.

The only way to “opt-out” of Instagram being able to sell your photos without your permission and without giving you any compensation is to DELETE your account. Do so before the January 16, 2013 deadline or they will retain the intellectual property rights to your photos FOREVER.

Given the outcry from Instagram users, I’m willing to bet the policy will be changed… but I’m not waiting around.

I will ONLY be sharing my photos, scrapbook pages, videos, etc. here on my blog. Google (the owner of Blogger/Blogspot) allows me to retain my rights to the material I post. When/If that changes, my blog will be deleted.

While I have you here… Let me share some of my photos I formerly shared on Instagram…

Just a few of my favorites. Top: Christopher Pi Day T-Shirt from 3.14.2012; Next: Spring Is Coming!; Next: Summer Flip-Flops!; Last: Queen of the Zoo! The Lioness at Potter Park Zoo in Lansing, Michigan

I’ll be back with a few scrapbook pages from my December Daily 2012 project I am working on.

December, really??!!

Busy, busy, busy around here… but it shouldn’t be a surprise. I have five children. I babysit another several evening a week when his parents’ schedules overlap.

Today – two sick boys home from school with fevers and headaches.

Tomorrow – two sick boys home from school because they are not yet fever-free for 24 hours.

Right now, I’m crossing my fingers my youngest daughter doesn’t join the ranks of the sick on the couch. She’s really moody and whining about every.little.thing.

I was attempting to do December Daily. It’s a memory keeping, life documenting project – not so daily around here. I’ve decided to attempt Project Life in 2013. I’m not going to limit myself to only the Project Life products – that would strangle my creative spirit. I’m not sure my pages will even look like they should go together.

I’m hoping to start using this blog again. We’ll see how that goes in the new year.

Throwing in the Proverbial Towel?

Should I? or Shouldn’t I? Should I just keep plugging away at this ill-maintained, not often updated, blathering little blog of mine?

*sigh*

Maybe when school starts things will calm down?

Who am I kidding?

Myself.

My oldest son, Christopher is 17. He is a high school senior this year. BUSY! This means time devoted to his senior project (more on that in another post). Cross country practice has already started. His first meet is in two weeks!

My oldest daughter, Mary Ann is 9. She will be in 4th grade. If I remember anything about 4th Grade, it was all the “drama” of who has a training bra and who does not. Who got their period already – and all that other girl-on-the-verge-of-womanhood drama. Oh the hormones and the eye-rolling!!??!!

Nicholas is 6 and will be in 1st Grade. This would ordinarily be a huge deal because for my first two children, this was the year they went to school all day. Not so for my middle child. He started his days of full-day school last year in kindergarten.

Katharine (4) and Benjamin (3) will be in preschool again this year. I insisted on a 1/2 day schedule for them. I am a stay-at-home mother, so there is no reason for them to be in school all day at this point. They certainly aren’t going to gain anything academically, in my opinion.

Patrick, my husband, and I have gotten seriously into bicycling as a sport, as a way to keep fit, and as a means to lose weight. I personally have not lost any yet – but he has lost a staggering 40 pounds!

In July, we went on a 300 mile bicycle tour to raise money for Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan… the WAM300. Seriously an amazing experience!! So amazing in fact, we are doing it again next year! I’ll post more about this in another post at a later date.

13 Days

Baby Blues for 5/21/2012 - Baby Blues « ArcaMax Publishing <-- Click there to see the comic strip.

I am so identifying with Wanda right now! 13 school days left of our school year. Send help... cookies, chocolate, and Diet Rite greatly appreciated!

We are going to be busy, Busy, BUSY this summer!

Big Blank

I’m drawing a big blank for a title for this post. Maybe one will just magically make itself apparent as I write.

We’re dealing with some issues of bullying right now. I had certainly hoped at some point that my son would stop having these problems. It’s getting bad enough he doesn’t want to go to school. Christopher is so close to graduation (Class of 2013) that I do not want to risk him losing credits to finish his education at home. Since the bullying is happening at the bus stop, there is not much the school district can do. The problem is, no one has jurisdiction at the bus stop – with the exception of the county sheriffs’ deputies. I attempted approaching the parents of the bullies yesterday. Never again. I’ll just call the police.

Mary Ann has an eye doctor appointment today. Her prescription was past due when she broke her glasses a few weeks ago. Now that the tax return is back – it’s time to get everyone’s peepers checked out. So proud of my girl! She started the school year almost a full grade level behind in reading. Something finally clicked for her! She’s almost 2 full grade levels ahead now! Look out world, we have a voracious reader on our hands. I see a lot of bicycle trips to the library with her this summer.

Nicholas has graduated from speech therapy! He went from being almost completely non-verbal two years ago to speaking very clearly. His sound production is actually developmentally advanced now! So exciting!

Katharine will be having her third cleft palate reconstruction procedure next week. I’m nervous, but I know her surgeon is skilled and takes wonderful care of her. Her speech is progressing nicely. We’re hoping this procedure will help take her to the next level by reducing the nasal sounds.

Benjamin is 3 1/2 and still mostly non-verbal. He has a large vocabulary – just trying to get him to use it! He’s quiet by nature and just goes with the flow – so he seldom really has anything to say. He’s very active though!

I went through a major burst of scrapping for a couple of weeks. Things are settling down now as a settle into a routine for scrapping with and blogging about Michelle Godin’s new releases.

Speaking of new releases…

 

I have not had a chance to play with these just yet! Hoping to get in some scrapping time on Thursday or Friday. There’s a fantastic new release on Friday from Michelle – she’s teamed up with two other designers!

On A Roll

Michelle Godin is on a roll! She’s back and she’s rockin’ it!

First… It’s the Quarterly Sale at TLP! 30% off EVERYTHING – even new releases April 13-16

Next…

Michelle has 3 new releases for your scrapping pleasure today. Yes, they are 30% off this weekend!

Here’s a closer look at just the papers included with the kit…

Now, let me show you what I’ve created with these delicious goodies!

Oh, I’m not done yet. Michelle has even whipped up a couple of freebies for you!

The first coordinates with today’s new releases and can be found at her blog. The second is a gorgeous set of mixed media papers you can find on her Facebook Fan page. Click “Like” and you can download them from the Exclusive Freebie spot! Trust me, you want to check these papers out!

PHEW!

It’s been a rocky week. The kids went back to school Monday after their Spring Break. It’s been a battle all week to get them back into the routine. I know it’s Friday… the WonderTwins were having one meltdown after another this morning. Little Mister did not even want to get out of bed. He’s usually full of sunshine and ready to face the day. Not today.

We’re planning a medium distance bike ride on Saturday morning, about 20 miles round trip. At the half-way spot, PANCAKES! The county fairgrounds are hosting a community welcome appreciation breakfast to celebrate their 25th Anniversary at the current location. There will also be some auctions and things after the breakfast, but we’re likely not going to stick around for those.

Sunday will hopefully be a day of rest and relaxation. Provided I can get all my housework done today… but with that sale at TLP, I’m not making any promises!

Distracted

I’ve been rather quiet on the blog front for months now. Just have not had much I wanted to share. I’ve been writing and scrapping, just not sharing.

I cannot hide in the shadows any longer.

The last two weeks have been a flurry of hard-drive filling craziness… My favorite digital scrapbook designer is back. After a year and a half off, she’s come out of retirement. She’s got a new style – and it’s pushing all the right buttons for me!!

Check out her guest shop at The Lily-Pad… Works of he{ART} by Michelle Godin.

She made her debut on Friday, April 6 with the release of three new products for the April BYOC at The Lily-Pad.

I even made a few things…

I also made my new siggy for forum use from the Sloppy Stencils. I’ll show that off soon.

Yesterday, Michelle released FOUR new products for the SOSN (Something Old Something New) Sale at the Lily-Pad. Since she doesn’t have anything old – you get all brand new stuffs!

I have not had a chance to play with these yet. I’ve had a nasty Easter cold/sore throat/headache thing going on. I’ve spent most of my time since Good Friday sleeping. The aches have finally eased up. I don’t feel like there is a fever threatening to take me out constantly. However, the sinus congestion, headache, and sore throat persist. In fact, today the sore throat is worse and my right ear is throbbing. For now, I have stepped up my water, vitamin C, and other vitamins. Ibuprofen is managing the pain.

Michelle has yummy new releases coming to The Lily-Pad tomorrow!! I’ve already created a layout and an ATC with it. I’ll show those of tonight/tomorrow when the products go live in the store!

For now I suppose I should attempt to get back to my real life job as a wife and mother. The dishes, laundry, and other housework aren’t going to take care of themselves. Sometimes I wish I was Samantha from BeWitched! *wiggle wiggle*

Friendship… The Yucky Stuff

Following a prompt from Tell Your Story Every Day… Journaling Challenge 9.

I honestly do not have many friends, close or otherwise. Sure, I have 500+ “Friends” on Facebook, but does that really count? Most of them are people that I went to school with some time between Kindergarten to Graduation – in fact, in a few cases we went to school together the whole time.

My first best friend, C. A guy on my street a couple of years older than me. During our childhood we were inseparable. Then the awkward teenage years, followed by my crush on him – not sure if he ever truly knew about it. He graduated, we lost touch. Enter Facebook years later – turns out maybe I never really truly knew him.

My other childhood best friend, T. and I had a falling out during middle school. She was popular. I wasn’t. ‘nuff said.

My high school best friend, T2. and I fell out of touch soon after I married my husband. We both met him on the same day at the same time at a youth group thing. Before I even knew his name I told her I was going to marry him. She claimed she would date him first. She did – one, maybe two dates. Then I started seeing him. No big deal, she started dating one of my former boyfriends around the same time. She even stood up in my wedding. Not exactly sure what happened other than I got married, moved out of town (just a couple of towns over), and proceeded to start my family. The last time we saw each other, she was involved but still single.

My current BFF, K. lives 3 hours away. We met on the internet in 2004. The distance prevents us from seeing each other frequently – but we talk on the telephone almost every single day – for hours at a time. Our husbands are baffled how we can possibly have that much to talk about. It’s funny, but some days we don’t really talk – we’re just there on the other end of the phone keeping each other company while we go through our day.

I’m here at home most days – alone, unless you count my five children. My husband, truly my best friend, travels with his job frequently. Even with the kids – I’m lonely. A lot.

I don’t enjoy big crowded parties/social situations. Anxiety.

My “filter” isn’t the greatest. A lot of times, if it pops into my head – out of my mouth it comes. This makes keeping friends difficult. I am honest. Brutally and bluntly.

I am also super sensitive. My feelings get hurt very easily. I can also hold a grudge. I’m still mad at one of my former friends for something she said & did at my wedding – this was 18 years ago. I know I should let it go, but in my head she nearly ruined my wedding.

Ok – enough about all of that. See? My life isn’t all sunshine and roses. I think I’m going to go outside and pull “winter weeds” for the next hour while I wait for the preschool bus to drop off my Katharine and my Benjamin!

HHS Mandate is UNCONSTITUTIONAL!

Ihaveasay, originally uploaded by sapphires2000.

The HHS Mandate violates my Constitutional Rights as a Catholic.

Why is discrimination against Catholic people and the Catholic Church still allowed, even encouraged??

Please visit http://www.catholicsistas.com/2012/03/06/video-cecile-richards-does-not-speak-for-me/ to see the "Cecile Richards Does Not Speak For Me video put together with the cooperation of several blogs. Please also read the materials they have about why the HHS Mandate is BAD for everyone - not just Catholics.

Project Life?! & BIG NEWS!

Ok, so I do a lot of reading of other people’s blogs and very little writing of my own. The majority of the memory keepers/scrap bookers and even the digital scrap book kit designers seem to be very into Project Life right now. I’ve been looking at the amazing documentation of the every day life that my “digital friends” are creating.

I’m intrigued.

I’m curious.

After serious deliberation… I jumped on the band wagon. Digitally, of course.

I purchased…

and

to get me started. I’ve got a ton of other stuff on my “wish lists” across the web.

Well – that’s today. I bought the stuff. We’ll see what happens from here. I really need to work on the habit of a picture a day. But with PL – I can just write something for the day if I don’t want a picture. I could even make miniature layouts (like brag book pages) if I want! So much flexibility here.

Now on to the big news.

We are officially a family of 7 now! The adoption of our little girl was final on Thursday, March 1!

Now, I’d like to introduce you to my beautiful little girl…

Layla Katharine! She’s 4 years old. She has the most beautiful smile and infectious laugh. She was placed with us when she was only 3 days old! We are her forever family… finally! So excited.

My apologies for the weird picture – she was just waking up from her nap with her favorite dog, Tyra. She and Tyra are nearly inseparable.