make mine modern swap finished.

Finally finished up the wall hanging for my swap partner over at the MMM Swap.

I really, really, really love the way it came out.  Not the colors I would have necessarily chosen for myself, but I think it all came together very well.

I also made her a pincushion organizer using this tutorial in matching fabric.

And some pretty notecards.

Here's the whole package:

I hope she likes everything!  It was challenging, but I tried very hard to match her style based on her photostream.  In the mail it goes!

project 12 - february layout.

Davinie Fiero teams up with Becky Fleck each month to bring Project 21 to the blogging community.  Basically, you sum up the events of the past month on a double-page layout.  You can choose to use the sketch created by Becky, or not - it's up to you.

Here is my February layout (click on the layout to see it bigger):

A bit more exciting than January, but we're all pretty gloomy around here.  I decided to brighten up the colors a bit and I love the way this one came out. :)

I've decided to keep these pages all together in their own album instead on including them with my other layouts.  I'm not very good about journaling on my general layouts, so I feel like this is a nice way to document our lives without being overwhelming.  I will do separate layouts about many of these events, but if I don't get to them right away, it doesn't matter.

It's all good.

getting caught up.

I started off the year enrolled in Ali Edwards' One Little Word class.  I eagerly set up my album and completed the January prompt. 

Then I left it alone.

Until yesterday, I had absolutely no desire to continue on with the album.  February was a hard month for me, and I've backtracked on my road to healthfulness significantly.  I made lists and lists of to-dos and wishes, and didn't follow through with anything.  I was in complete denial.

Then we had a stretch of a few pretty days.  The weather got nicer, and I found a new source of motivation within me.

So yesterday I picked up that album and put together February's prompt.  The fact that February is over didn't matter.

 

The February prompt required that I search for evidence of my word - renew - around me each day and photograph images that represent the word, both literally and figuratively.  I was not very aware during February, and decided that considering my mental state I should look elsewhere.  I searched online for images that represent renewal to me and decided to use them in the prompt instead.  This is probably not exactly what Ali had in mind, but I think it was just as meaningful of an exercise for me right now.

 

On the left is my grid of found photographs.  On the right is a page from Whole Living Magazine that I cut out, listing 10 thoughts that focus on healing and being present.  I felt it was very appropriate here.

On the back of that page I put the formal definition of renew.  The bottom is embellished a bit with strips of paper, a Jenni Bowlin pearl accent and the new Crumb Cake Seam Binding Ribbon from Stampin' Up! that I am just in love with.

I felt much better after finishing up this prompt.  I'm now ready to move forward.

project 12 - january layout.

Davinie Fiero teams up with Becky Fleck each month to bring Project 21 to the blogging community.  Basically, you sum up the events of the past month on a double-page layout.  You can choose to use the sketch created by Becky, or not - it's up to you.

Here's my sketch for January (click on the picture to view it larger):

I am really happy with the way this came out.  There were only two major events that I was highlighting this month - the Polar Bear Plunge and the large snowstorm we received - but the pictures worked nicely together!

You can check out everyone's submissions for Project 21 here.

I can't wait to see the February sketch!

a new way to scrap.

I picked up some We R Memory Keepers divided page protectors from Scrapbook.com a few weeks ago.  I've been intrigued by Becky Higgins' Project Life, but I know I'm not diligent enough to do a picture a day project.  These page protectors are similar to the ones in her kit, and I can incorporate them into my regular albums.

My first attempt at using them was with some pictures from the back-to-back blizzards we received last year.

 

I'm happy with them overall...the only challenge I foresee is making sure the next layout in the album utilizes the divided page protector as well.  

I'm looking forward to playing around with these some more!

january prompt.

I finally finished my One Little Word prompt for January.  We were to put together research we have done on our word of the year.  Definition, synonyms, quotes, etc., and write about what it meant to us.  The final product went into these uber-cute 9-pocket page protectors from Pink Paislee.  I am seriously in love.



I put a lot of work into this layout, and played around with Photoshop Elements for the text.  I'm really starting to learn my way around that program, and really like the hybrid look here.  This may very well change the way I scrapbook in the future.