Project Life Year II and how I made it easier on myself this year

I jumped on the Project Life bandwagon last year. I did not do a weekly spread but a monthly spread. I have a husband and a cat and a pretty boring life...how could I fill up 52 weeks worth of interesting?

I liked the 8 1/2 x 11 approach and I used the We R Memory Keeper 9 pocket page protecters. The cards/pictures I created using my Silhouette. I made a rounded rectangle at 2.625 x 3.5 and made a bunch of copies. I would then import my pictures, size them to the rectangle, crop and cut a sheet at a time...BUT...my Silhouette is giving me a hard time lately. It keeps jamming up when cutting and the software keeps freezing up especially when doing something with this many pictures and multiples of shapes. I carried on though, cursing every time I made a layout. I finished 2013 and have to say I really loved doing this and decided I was going to take another go at it but something had to change!

I am a basic Photoshop user and know how to make a digital template or two so I decided I would make a template in Photoshop instead of Silhouette and cut the cards/pictures by hand. This only meant I could not have rounded rectangles (as I would not be using my Silhouette to cut the shapes). Once I got over the horror of it all I went to work on the template. I could only fit 6 shapes on my 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper but again, I will get over it. Now I just open my pictures, size them up a bit then do a clipping mask and WALA! (wala is too a word).

Here is an image of the template though so you can see what I shoot for. If anyone by chance would be interested in the template I would be happy to email it to you.

Here is part of my January page in Photoshop before I printed it.

See the top middle image? My husband bought me the pasta making attachment for my KitchenAid Mixer! Holy Pasta Making!


Back to project life.....so after I have the page printed I can simply cut it on my paper cutter or use a blade as each rectangle lines up perfectly. In the pockets they go...no rounded corners but I am trying to get over that ;)  I do the same thing with my journal-ling and other filler cards to fill all the pockets. Sometimes I do a 2 page spread and other times just 1 page it just depends what I have to say that particular month.

I will try to create a You Tube video of my process this weekend if I can get the darn software to cooperate. We have issues we two....

Sunday Funday

This morning was a play day. My husband had a meeting so I had the house to myself, except for Handsome the cat. I got up, went into my studio and took out my Gelato's. I haven't had much of a chance to play with these since I bought them this year. I watched a couple of You Tube video's and went to work. I used the swatch kit that came with the Gelato's and chose the embossed card stock. I played around until I got what I liked then kept adding things, like that strip of washy tape that I have yet to use on anything and some Mister Huey's Calico White to splatter some white on the background. Ran around the edges with my Distressed Inks and called that done. I have a hard time stopping when I do these things so I was happy when I knew enough was enough...before I ruined it!

I cut out 2 branch images on my Silhouette and glued them together for strength. I colored them with the Gelato's, this time using a bit of the white to create a light tip to the leaves. You can't tell from the picture but it is there. I wanted to include one of my favorite sayings on this piece so I typed it up then printed it out on Claudine Hellmuth adhesive canvas. I then mounted it on a piece of chipboard for stability and used the Distressed Inks around the edges. I adhered the branch with glue dots and put adhesive dimensionals on the back of the saying, added a Ranger paper clip and placed everything down.

This was a fun project for me and so out of the norm. I am not usually "artsy". I have been wanted to try my hand at an Art Journal so now this might be the start.

Happy Sunday everyone.

Time flies when you're having fun....NOT

I haven't done a blog post since what last April? Really? I was out of work until June so I had to have had the time right? But then I went back to work...and this job sucked the life and time out of me like nothing I have ever felt. Oh, and I quit in December! Holy cow I quit my job without having another one in tow. *sigh*

As I navigate the job market yet again I have had time to be creative and is that not what this blog is about?

I actually finished my Project Life 2013 album. I had a great time making this album and plan on continuing this year. I don't have any new pictures to post but trust me when I say it is great and I am happy...only had to change it up 1 time and for me that is a big deal. I tend to redo and redo then redo again.

I spent a snow day today doing some Copic coloring. It has been a while since I did that as well. Actually felt like a beginner all over again. Someone is getting this little image for a birthday card. *ssshhhh*

I am not happy with the color combination. The slip was supposed to be more pink than red. Cute image though and it will make a nice birthday card. I will try and remember what markers I used and will add them to this post.

I have been spending quality time with my Silhouette now that I am unemployed. Found this little number from a friends Pinterest post. I made one for me and now have a request for 2 more! You can find the file in the Silhouette store. It is called 3d Winterberry Shadow Box w/Birds. I resized the design to fit my 8.5x11 mat...easy enough to do. And yes Sally yours is on the way!

There are many more creative things done this past year even though work did not allow much time, but I am grateful for this time to step back and play.

I drank the Kool-Aid

I finally did it. I jumped on the Project Life bandwagon. What is Project Life you ask? To quote Becky Higgins web site "The Project Life "way" of memory-keeping is so crazy-simple, it has become known as "revolutionary" in the scrapbooking industry. All you need is one of our Core Kits, a Binder, and a Big Pack of 60 Photo Pocket Pages. By pairing your pictures and words with these basic products, you will be able to tell your story, in your own way, resulting in a complete album".

I had coveted this project for a few years now but thought I couldn't do it. First, I have a cat and a husband no kids what kind of stories could I tell. Second, doing it weekly was way to much of a commitment for me. Then one day I was at Michael's checking out the new Heidi Swapp products and saw this small chipboard album. Inside were tabbed dividers and little pocket page protectors. I had to have this album--for what I did not know--but by the time I got home it hit me: I was going to do a mini Project Life album! *angels singing*

Oh it doesn't stop there. I was going to do a page for each month how easy is that. Each page protector only had 3 or 4 pockets for pictures or journaling cards anyone could handle that right? Well after I did my second month I said "this won't do, I must have more space". Holy cow I had been abducted there was no use turning back. I still did not want to do it weekly but I wanted bigger pages so I could put more pictures or journaling cards etc. But, as my buying craft supplies has been curbed due to my unemployment status, I had to think creatively. I actually went shopping in my craft room. I had these 8 1/2 x 11 9 pocket page protectors from and my One Little Word project (which I never finished...sorry Ali) which I thought would be perfect! Nine little bits of stuff for the month. I have to confess I did take my 40% off coupon and run to Michael's to get a new album: plain brown chipboard my favorite, nothing fancy.

I don't have an iPhone (my husband won't let me get one!), and I don't carry my Canon around with me, but I do have the cutest little Sony Bloggie video/still camera. I love that little sucker. So I can look cool like all the iPhone users and take a picture on the fly for my album. Not the same as my Canon but when in Rome....

I also went to work on my Silhouette machine creating journaling cards. I created a rounded rectangle that is 3.5 x 2.625. This is the size of each picture and any cards I put in there. I am thinking I will follow this up with a short YouTube video on how I make these journaling cards. Easier to see than to explain.

So now it is April and I am hooked. I just take pictures throughout the month, print them out as I want, tuck them in the pockets then when I am ready I do some journaling or add bits and pieces (movie tickets etc.)
I even did 2 pages for March as it was a busy month. So you see, there are no hard and fast rules for me on this project.

Here is a sample of some of the pages so far. I love the calendar card for each month..the March spread doesn't show one as it is a second page.

 

I made up the "currently:" journal card from one I saw online (I am known for my thievery). This is also a first as I actually used my own handwriting on the card! GET OUT!

I will try to get a video done soon on how I make the journaling cards but, as I don't have a good video editing software, it takes me forever--so don't hold your breath! If you really want to know just let me know; I would be happy to explain.

(this post was edited for grammar by my niece Meg who has 2 masters--it's like having a plumber in the family!)

Clam Chowder Extravaganza

Well....I spent the day making clam chowder...and posting it step by step on Facebook. I believe I annoyed enough people so I can end my day happy. However, one of my nieces said I needed to start a blog and post this extravaganza. After I told her "I do have a blog" I then smacked myself in the head and decided to write a post. Novel idea I know. So without further adieu....

New England Clam Chowder....step by annoying step.

Place 30 little neck clams in pot and add 3 cups of water, simmer until they open. Throw away the sucker that doesn't open.

Remove clams from liquid, line a small fine mesh strainer with a coffee filter and strain the broth into a bowl. Remove the clams from shells. Place in a bowl covered in plastic wrap so they don't dry out and set aside.

Dice up 4 slices of salt pork (you can also use thick sliced bacon if you want), 1 medium onion and 3 ribs of celery. Take a break.....have a glass of wine if necessary.

  

Saute the salt pork until crispy golden brown about 10 minutes on a low heat. Remove from pan with slotted spoon and set aside. Leave all the greasy good stuff in the pan.

If you remembered to bring in your thyme for the winter, cut some and chop up 2 tsp.

  
Add onion, celery and thyme to bacon fat and saute low for approx 10 min. Then add in 2 tbs of flour and cook for approx 1 min.

Add reserved clam broth and 1.5 cups of water to pot. Add the diced potatoes. Cook about 15 min. until potatoes are tender. Lower heat and add 2 cups of half and half. Warm through but do not boil.

The next step is to chop the clams but once I started I had to stop and make a call...to my big brother the Executive Chef. Why you ask? Because as I was chopping the clams I noticed some icky green stuff in the bellies. Conversation went something like this "Hi Billy".."Hi Jane"..."So I am making clam chowder"..."That's nice"..."Question, when I started chopping the cooked clams I noticed so icky green stuff in the bellies. Am I supposed to keep that stuff or get rid of it"..."Well some people would keep it, but knowing you I would get rid of it". Thank you and goodnight.

Chop the clams (choose to keep the icky green stuff or discard) and add to the broth, salt and pepper to taste. Heat back up to temp and serve!

So in looking for a crouton recipe to top my soup I came upon this blog http://www.howsweeteats.com/2012/07/fresh-new-england-clam-chowder-with-brown-butter-garlic-croutons/ DO NOT LOOK I BEG YOU DO NOT LOOK. You looked didn't you? I so want to be able to take those kind of shots....sigh

ps: so after eating this soup here are a couple of thoughts. It was not thick enough for me. DON'T START YELLING ALL YOU PEOPLE FROM NEW ENGLAND! I don't mean THICK...I mean thick enough. So next time I may make a bit more roux on the side just in case. I would also add more clams. I would add the potato a bit later in the recipe.....just so they don't get too soft. Oh and add a bay leaf!!! But other than that I liked this recipe.

December Daily 2012

Well I finally did it. I have wanted to do a December Daily album for the last couple of years but never made it happen. As a friend of mine said "I struggle with the daily part of December Daily". So true. So each time I failed miserably but oh not this year! I will conquer this beast.

My best friend and I spent the day together in my workroom putting together our albums. Having them all ready is a big plus. All I need to do it take a picture, jot down a story and move on. I don't have a photo printer at home (hello Santa!) so I am going to print them out at CVS once a week...no biggy.

My album doesn't have a lot of room for journalling so what I did was created a This Week page where I can sum up the week. Each picture will have some kind of words to describe what was going on at the time.

This is my cover page

Here is day one. (Yes mom I know Advent did not technically start on December 1st this year!)

The advent calendar is a Kerri Bradford design Christmas Countdown.  This is what it looks like all together.

The frame I purchased at The Christmas Tree Shop for about $5.00 I think. Took the glass etc out and my DH took some dowels, painted them black and drilled holes into the sides of the frame and tadah!
I have each little box hanging using Ikea Deka hooks. My husband has a sweet tooth so each one if filled with a tiny piece of chocolate.

Day two is still in the camera but I will try and catch up later today. Who knows...I may actually post here every day! Don't get your hopes up :)

I did tell you I steal ideas right?

I know I have told you this before but just in case you don't remember...I hardly ever come up with my own ideas! There I said it. I feel so much better now. You see I have a lot of blogs I read where I get ideas and don't get me started on Pinterest! Holy cow that site can suck up all your free time. So I see things I like and I copy them. Isn't that why people post them? I wish I had an ounce of the ability to come up with my own ideas but I struggle with conception.

So to continue with my affliction I saw this little number the other day on the Silhouette blog from A Little Hut and I had to make it! When someone already invented the wheel who am I to say I could do better right?

Putting together the actual cage takes some patience if you don't have teeny tiny fingers so just take it slow. I used 1/8" Scor-Tape on the scored edges then pieced it together....again with a bit of frustration but in the end it was just fine.

The ghosts I cut with my Silhouette. I took the ghost shape in the Silhouette software and removed the eyes and mouth so I had just an outline. Cut this out of my favorite American Craft black cardstock...stuff cuts like buttah! Then I cut the original ghost shapes that included the eyes and mouths out of white cardstock. Glittered the white piece then glued it to the black cardstock. Easy peasy.

The Boo banner was cut using Claudine Hellmuth sticky-back canvas. I printed out the letters B O O and ran the sheet through my printer then cut them out. The banner is just run through my sewing machine to create the string. If you have never used this sticky-back canvas you must! The things you can do with this is endless.

Other than that just some other little pieces cut and attached. The spider is from a recent Kerri Bradford All Hallows Eve kit I
                                                               purchased. He is glittered also.

Once it was all together I put a battery operated tea light in the cage. It is so cute lit up at night.

Halloween decor is in full swing in our house. Why I don't know, we don't get any trick or treaters and lord knows my husband is not into holiday decor so I do it for me!

Do you decorate for Halloween?