out with the old...in with the new

How excited I am about this theme right now...
the out with the old and in with the new.
it is really bringing a certain energy to my core right now.

As I was thinking through my last assignment for the year for Pink Paislee that posted today on their blog, I kept find words pop up in my head about the year I just travelled through.

This has been the most interesting year. In many respects it has been a very very hard year spiritually and emotionally. I have probably been the healthiest this year of the past decade. So I was all in for everything. I failed miserably on some issues. BUT...and this is a big but...I learned from those failings. I did.

The learning is not always fun, because we think we should know better by now...especially at my age...eh hem. But that is just it, the learning NEVER ends. Never. Not for a day. Not for a week. and most definitely not for a year.

So these words were coming through my heart pretty clear.

I adore how the Bella Rouge collection from Pink Paislee supported what I was doing here with this album. This cover page I cut apart one of the Ephemera tags that had those phrases. I wanted them to stand out on their own. Be kind...not only to others, but to myself. Ah...probably the hardest thing of all to do at times, do I hear an amen? Be strong...I have a faith that allows me to not be strong in myself, but in God who is always strong. And be you...this is about continuing to find my me. Who I am to be in all the challenges that come my way.

write. I was turned on to Julia Cameron's The Artist Way again this year. So this inventory is about the exercise to write daily. First thing in the morning. Three pages of whatever comes up. AH!mazing.

This has been so vital to my heart. They say that writing is the mirror of the mind. If you are like me you carry way too much in your mind. It not's perfection that this writing creates, but it's a certain perfecting of those thoughts that get a chance to get out of my head and rest somewhere else.

hospitality. Speaking of perfection...this word is by no means perfected in my life yet. But it found a place to be planted and begin to grow.

The 'be kind' word strip was perfect to sum this up for me. Hospitality is not always about having someone over in my home. Although that is indeed part of it. It's a state of heart. One that I am cultivating at a new level in so many ways. I love this process I am in right now.

open. Now that's a word with lots of context to it. This word was also inspired by my OLW for the year, 'seek'. It came right out of my adventure with that word.

This discovery has found me much more open with my heart and sharing it with others. Seeking wisdom and direction from friends and family. Laying it all out there...mostly the ugly...with the intent of allowing their words to help, heal and give me hope in my situation. I have prided myself in the past to be a private person. But it has found me still longing for certain connections with people around me.

There are several more words that have found their way in this mini album of inventory. I may share that with you another day.

But here's my challenge...find a WORD for your new year.
Resolutions are great.
Important.
Needful.
But if you are like me, they can fall through the cracks of everyday life. But a WORD for the year will do a certain magic in your heart IF you pursue it and allow it to take you where you wherever it will.
And then allow that word to do just that...take you where it will.
I pray with the LORD's help it will bring you to a deeper awareness of you and the life that surrounds you.

Many many blessings to you, my friend, this new year.
May you find a way to be done with the old,
and bring on the new.

See you next year.

2014 december pages ~ day 9 10 and 11

Day 9 was posted earlier in the month over at PinkPaislee's Countdown2Christmas found right here.

Combining Days 10 & 11 here and you will see why in a minute.

For this page I jumped off the prompt for the #PPC2C which was 'Create a Holiday Playlist'. Well, I did not create a playlist because, well frankly...I'm just too lazy. I would rather just try out all the playlists found on Spotify. BUT...that said, we do indeed have our fav music here at the house.

This guy here asks at least once daily, if not 10 times. to listen to the TobyMac Christmas in Diverse City. We have owned this disc for a few years, but he has really responded to it this Christmas. (Much to his oldest brother's chagrin.) It's a fun fun danceable album that indeed gets played at least once a day here. I love that. I love how he responds to the music and it already speaks to his heart. There is hidden journaling under the larger photo on the right sharing this story.

Now Day11 is the antithesis of Day10. It is not celebratory. And so you say why would I add that to our album? Because it is real. It is authentic. This particular Thursday was a really tough day in our home. A lot of junk came crashing down in emotional ways. What was most important to me is that this day is what for me, and many people I journey with,  Christmas is all about. It's about the coming of a Savior and the Redemption of all things dark so that He could shine. And so this is my story of Day11. No photos. Just simple honest words tucked under the Number Card.

'Hardships often prepare ordinary people for extraordinary destiny." C.S. Lewis.

Thank you for letting me share.
Blessings on your "Christmas Adam".

2014 december pages ~ day 8

Welcome to the week of Christmas...
ah...it's here again...I have enjoyed this month.
Little trials here and there have come up...
as well as little glimpses of happy and joy too...
I have been fairly honest with this years' December pages...
but it is still for me to capture the #onelittlethingeveryday that makes us who we are that is important to me with this album.

Here is a look at the back of Day7 and then the beginning of Day8.

Day8 is super super simple.
A vellum is used as an overlay to hold the Metallic Foam Number '8'.

Sometimes when a story really captures my heart I opt to keep the decoration very simple. And that is just what I did here.

Because you see this girl here is now in school full time after being schooled at home for 5 years.  And I have missed her being here this month very much. But today she is home sick. (This would be the beginning of almost 3 weeks of sick for her to date...yeah...a little worried about my littlest of my girls). But this was a sweet sweet moment when her littlest brother was snuggled up with her and they were reading together. I love love that he has many readers in his life and is always being snuggled by someone and read too. I made a card and placed the photo on the stop, so the story is inside of the card.

Sigh...this might just be a favorite...do I say that every time?

Hope to share a whole bunch of our album with you this week. Thank you so much for stopping by and taking a moment to breathe. Many blessings to you this wintry morning.

2014 december pages ~ day 7

So last post I shared Day6 which shares in part with Day7...

Here again is that layout.

And here is Day7...

Sundays are already my favorite days of the week. They are days of rest for this family. We attend church service on Saturday nights which starts Sunday off for us beautifully. And then we get to just be together on Sunday with no place to go and it invites all kinds of possibilities into our home.

Day7 uses the 'red cross' clear tab page from the Pink Paislee Merry&Bright 8x8 album. I love that subtle touch of read and played against it with a 5x7 photo that for me totally represents our Sunday morning...an umpteenth cup of coffee.

On the other side I have created a photo collage using the Ali Edwards' December Daily 6x8 Layered Templates that I purchased a few years back. When there are lots of random photos, but yet they still tell a story, I love to use those templates and have made use of them over and over again.

A little element collage was created around the '7' Metallic Foam Number. I also added a Cardstock Sticker and my favorite Foil Word Strips. I love the simplicity of this page. I love the moments captured with these guys. I love how my book is taking shape...sigh...breathing in and out and enjoy the simple moments.

O.K...I will be back soon with Day8. Thank you so much for visiting. Would love to hear from you and how your documenting is going.

2014 december pages ~ day 6

Talk about quick-fast-in-a-hurry...
Day 6 is just that...

Viewed here is Day6 and part of Day7...

But let's just talk about Day6 for a second...shall we?
The Merry&Bright 8x8 Album includes several inserts. There are several pocket pages that hold 4- 4x4-inch photos, or what not. I used 2 of those pockets to be home to photos of some of the trees that can be found around here this year. The kid's tree. And then some reclaimed wood trees Mr. Pate made for an outdoor display. We are all in love with those trees. I printed photos that were sized about 3 3/4-inch square. When I trimmed them I left a bit of white and then it filled the 4x4 pocket.

A top pocket holds one of the Kraft tags. This one is a favorite. It holds hidden journaling on the back side. A glitter circle from the Ephemera pack is stapled with some notched pattern paper that makes it very easy to pull in and out of the pocket. The Silver Foil Foam '6' is adhered to the top of the pocket. And that is how simply Day6 came together for this part of the album.

Day7 will make it's appearance soon. Probably one of my favorite spreads. Do I say that about all my pages?

till then...

2014 december pages ~ day 5

Hello again.

Playing a bit of catch up sharing our December pages.
Day 5 was up on the Pink Paislee blog the first week of the month. You can read details here. As well as pick up the free printable that also is part of this day.
And just as a reminder if you have just recently found me, this year's December Pages is mostly created using Pink Paislee's Merry&Bright Collection.

day 5 giveaway

For this post I am just going to share the photos for the most part. I have more written at Pink Paislee on December5th.

Day 5 followed the prompt for the Pink Paislee Countdown2Christmas which was Go See the Lights.
I created an 8x8 page here with the striped paper serving as a flap for some of the other photos hidden underneath.

It's a real simple page adorned only with a JOY glitter word, some stars from that same package of words, as well as a popped up red glitter star from the Ephemera package. This is a photo of some of our lights as we had a new display in our yard this year and I just wanted this close shot . I love the Metallic Foil Letters. They are beautiful bold embellishments that stand up well to many of the more traditional patterns found in Pink Paislee's Merry&Bright.  O.K...so I said I was just going to show photos...but now I have gotten all chatty.

The second page of the spread focuses on the tradition that surrounds our going and seeing lights. I think it can be easy to forget our family traditions and what makes them special and unique to us,  until I see them start to collect as they are here in our album... and then their importance really shines for me. So thankful for this process. It is truly a labor of love.

I said in the beginning, I was going to put a tad more emphasis on the journaling aspect of this album this year. I have stayed true to that goal. Lots of words finding their way in my book. Lots of stories told. Lots of traditions documented for me and my kids to have and to hold for many many years to come.

My hope is that you are not overwhelmed by this season at this point. That you are able to find moments to reflect and be still and enjoy the process. This is my hope.

see you again soon...

2014 december pages ~ day 3&4

Real quick post here.
Sharing days 3 & 4 with you today...

These pages are very very simple.
Some of my pages are just that.
Not a whole lot going on...except that I know what is hidden on these pages.

Day 3 is home to letters to Santa. I had the girls write letters. Now this is sort of a new little thing for us to do. But it was fun. My intent was to have their lists, of course, their thoughts, and then their handwriting in a place that I could have for many years to come.

The page is on the back of the canvas piece. You can see what the front looks like here. I folded the canvas over and sewed it down with red thread. The Merry&Bright music pattern paper is tucked into the hem of the canvas. I just liked having that extra texture. The polka bag is from my stash. Instant pocket. The letters are simply slipped inside the bag. Done!

Day 4 holds our Christmas card for this year. The Number Tag for day 4 is sewed down on the corners so that the card slips right into there. I also tucked a Kraft Tag into the same space and journaled a bit about this year's card and the photography and design of said card. The Seasons Greetings tag from the Merry&Bright Ephemera pack hangs loose on the Kraft tag, and it is actually covering up the '4'.

O.K...thanks for stopping in. Will be back soon with more pages.

Enjoy your day!

2014 december pages ~ day 2

 Even in the busy-ness that can be this time of year, I am finding/making time to take photos, journal, and document this time of year. It means so much to me.

Sharing here Day2 with you in my Countdown2Christmas December Pages album.

Have a few layers here with a 4-inch wide scrap card that I attached the 'Jingle' Pink Paislee Merry&Bright Ephemera too.

While I am using a lot of the Merry&Bright, I am adding other patterns and embellishments here and there.

On the back side I trimmed out one of the Pink Paislee Kraft tags a bit smaller and washi taped it to the journal card. Wood veneer stars from my stash go on to emellish it simply.

On one of the fabric canvas pages found in the Merry&Bright 8x8 Album I attached the day's photo. It is of one of our vignette's found around the house and all of our Advent boxes we use for our countdown. You can see that under the black with white polka is where I added my journaling. Again, trying to document our traditions and the why of them. Just something that will be meaningful to us as years go by.

That's it for today. Will be back soon and share day3 with you.

Enjoy.

hello new week...

and can you believe it is already the 16th?
part of me is sort of panicking...
part of me realizes she actually has it fairly under control.
whew...i guess we will know for sure in about a week.

yesterday i was posting on the heidiswapp.com blog.
while there is soooo much going on with her and her brand right now...we all still got Christmas to do.
and doin' it we are.
so this week the Media Team is sharing some homemade gift ideas.

this is what i posted:
i took a box i had laying around here...
and upcycled it by wrapping it with September Skies pattern paper.

inside is a gift package for one of my many recipients this year. some of the gifts are embellished with September Skies stamps and die cuts and stickers.

like the die cut here colored with Color Shine...

and the tissue wrapped package with a 3x3 cut away tag...

and a mini journal altered with some Favorite Things paper and Sept Skies stamps.

more photos and ALL the details can be found at heidiswapp.com.

sure hope it inspires you to use what you have and embellish those gifts with a little love.

enjoy.
be back very soon.

2014 december pages ~ day 1

today a look inside my December pages...

it's traditional that i start with our family photo from the year. not sure how long ago this began, but it's just always the cover page. it tickles me to open these albums up every year to come upon previous year's photos and see the changes in these guys. sheesh!

the title page starts on clear paper by Bazzill. one of my favorite mediums to work with inside a mini album.

as i started to think about this year's album, i came up with a bit of a game plan.
here is my approach to this year book:

• i use a basic sketch of page layouts and then repeat those over and over. this year goes something like
• a clear page
• a clear tab page ~ the Merry&Bright album comes with 4 clear tab pages.
• a fabric page ~ also already part of the M&B album
• a half page ~ i usually create a 4-inch wide page and make it a pocket
• then 2 full pages...this is not set in stone, but it gives me a base from which to start. i really need that.
• going to highlight family traditions as opposed to highlighting each and every single days doing. as my kids get older, i am seeing such strong trends in our traditions and what is important to them. i really want to write and record these like right now.
• a more defined emphasis on journaling. i stated that in my nov24 post.

something else i keep doing in my December album is have layers of pages showing. it gives great interest to the book and allows the story to peek through to the front. face it, i'm just a layer honk.

Merry&Bright has some beautiful prints. there is so much to love in this collection. i cut this from the  Tis the Season pattern. sort of made it a 3x4 kind of card. lots of phrases on that paper perfect for cutting out.

and again as always, our church's handout finds home in my album. my notes are on the back. the first week of Advent service was so amazing! i will come right back to that memory when i look through here next year. truly a favorite of mine.

i printed out the Day1 freebie from Pink Paislee's #PPC2C...but the red would not print correctly for me from my printer. so I covered it up and still used it as a divider for our actual day 1 activity.

the real Day1 spread.
with lots and lots of journaling.
real life journaling that is. because while this was a very very fun night with ALL of my family heading to the tree farm, as the night waned on, it went south. so. what did i do? i wrote about it! not in a mean way. but in an honest candor. i think sometimes bloggers can make it all look like sunshine and roses. but that is just not the truth of everyday life. the story ended well. it was an example of honesty and forgiveness. now if only they all could end that way.

 forever in my heart.

thank you for reading.