My Mind's Eye: Birthday Daybook

Happy Monday!!

I'm over on the My Mind's Eye blog today sharing my monthly mini album tutorial!  This month I'm giving you a step-by-step tutorial for creating a daybook!  I'm not sure why I haven't made a zillion of these, because they sure are awesome!  Here's a few little peeks at my book!  Stop by the My Mind's Eye for the full tutorial and to see more!!

Jot Magazine: Jot Pockets Workshop

In just a few short weeks, a new Project Life workshop will begin over at Jot Magazine and it's going to be amazing!  Kim Archer has really put her heart and soul into the Jot Pockets workshop and I know you will love it too!  The course runs for six weeks and covers the basics of organizing and developing a Project Life page, including weekly lessons, bonus projects, prizes and more!

Here's what Kim has to say about Project Life and the Jot Pockets workshop:

"I love the pocket style of scrapbooking. It’s totally changed the way I record our family’s comings and goings and I am thankful to Becky Higgins and her Project Life system for allowing me to create our family’s time capsule using such a great system. I create without putting any pressure on myself. I don’t have expectations of committing to it every single week. I make what I want and when I want without feeling guilty that I am not up to date. But it wasn’t always that way.

A couple of years ago I was drowning in too many choices, too many decisions, absolute overwhelm and confusion about HOW to tackle pocket scrapbooking. I was pinning like a lunatic on Pinterest and reading far too many blogs,  visiting online galleries, websites and stalking  #projectlife on Instagram. I was confused over about what products to use and how to print my photos. Home printing versus printing at Big W took up a LOT of my headspace.  I even stressed over whether to corner round my journaling cards or not as I was worried that whatever decisions I made from the outset had to be decisions I stuck with for my WHOLE PROJECT LIFE album.

I gave up before I began. It was quite a disaster. However, fast forward to January 2013 and I tried again.  I share more of my story in our JOT POCKETS  class.. but this time I took the pressure off myself  and I haven’t looked back.” ~Kim Archer

I hope you will join Kim and the Jot Girls in the workshop!  It's going to be fabulous!  The workshop begins July 6th and registration closes when the class begins!  Click here to sign up now!

On my nightstand...

Books are my fave and I'm falling in love with reading all over again!  I used to be an avid reader...book after book after book.  But once I had children, finding the time to sit down and read (other than bedtime, you know when I fell asleep after the first page...) became such a challenge.  I've really missed reading so I made a challenge for myself to read one book per month.  Easy enough!  Now that I've started, I just can't stop.  I made it through quite a few books this year (or at least a lot for me!!).  My nightstand is overflowing with books and I just love it!

In case you are a reader too, I thought I would share a few of my most recent reads...

Calling Me Home by Julie Kibler

Awesome read!!  I found the character development of the story to be a little slow in the beginning, but it really picked up mid-way and I could not put it down.  Love the relationship between the two sweet ladies.  Highly recommend.

What I Had Before I Had You by Sarah Cornwell

I read this book as part of the Noble Paiges book club.  It was a quick, fun read.  I wanted more of concluding story at the end of the book, but you get what you get, huh?

The Paris Wife by Paula McLain

Great book!  I loved the insight (although fictional) about Ernest Hemingway, but I really loved the story of his first wife, Hadley.  This book also took me a while to get into, but once the "meat" of the story began, I was hooked.  Definitely recommend this one too!

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Oh man did I love this book.  I cried and cried.  So bittersweet and touches my heart in so many ways. 

 Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn 

I flew through this book.  It kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time.  The ending??  Well...I feel like I deserved a little more than it gave me.  I'm very much a girl who loves the clips at the end of "based on true story movies" where they give you the current updates about the people.  I really wanted to know more, but the book was so riveting that I can't complain (that much)!

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

A sweet and beautiful story of first love.  I feel in love with both Eleanor and Park in the first chapters and flew right through this one too.  I couldn't recommend it more.  Super sweet!!

 Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

Oh man did I love this book.  I loved how the author played on stories from two different generations, but had enough similarities between the two to make the book almost read like one story.  A wonderful book!  Highly recommend!

Next up is the The Rosie Project.  I've heard wonderful things about this book and can't wait to jump right in!!

What's on your nightstand??

Here's to finding the time to read!!  

Farewell Two Peas...

It's such a sad day in the scrapbook industry today.  I am so heartbroken that Two Peas has closed their doors.  It has been such an honor to be a part of a team where the inspiration runs so deep and the talent is amazing.  I still remember where I was the day I read Kristina's email about becoming a Garden Girl.  I remember having a "not so good" day that turned around just like that after reading her message.  Two Peas was one of the very first places I landed after discovering Ali Edward's December Daily.  I didn't really frequent the message boards, but it felt like home anyway.  I loved perusing the gallery and shop and just drooling over all the latest and greatest supplies.  The Garden Girls were like gods to me and I loved their videos and daily inspiration.  Being a part of a team of women who you admire greatly is one of the greatest pleasures I've had in this industry.  I love this community.  I love the friendship, encouragement and love.  It seems that "paper" is slowly taking a backseat to everything digital and that in and of itself makes me utterly sad.  I love paper.  I love books and supplies and pretty embellishments.  That will never change.  And I know that many of you feel the exact same way.  We might be a small group and we may not be able to carry one business to success, but I know this hobby will never end.  I need to record my memories.  I need to write all these things done.  I need to print my photos and make pretty things.  I will definitely miss Two Peas with all my heart, but I know that things change and life goes on.  Hugs to everyone.

My Take on Art Journaling...Part 3

My art journal is still one of my very favorite projects.  It's usually what I turn to if I have a few extra minutes to create something.  There are no rules and no expectations.  I can add a few photos, some journaling to myself, write a note to my children or just paint.  

My journal definitely still has more of a "scrapbook" feel to it, but that's pretty much my comfort zone so I'm totally fine with that!  Sometimes I will use the prompts from the 52 weeks of Art Journaling class over at A Beautiful Mess, and sometimes I will begin a quick page with a photo or idea in mind.

Sadly, my book is almost completely full (insert super sad face here).  I just love this size and the Dear Lizzy canvas album is my favorite.  I'm debating ordering another one or maybe starting a new journal in a Studio Calico Handbook.  This new one from the Brighton Pier collection is calling my name for sure!!

Here's a look at my latest art journaling pages.  I really have no order to these pages.  I tend to just adhere the back of one page to the back of the next and go from there.  The smaller pages tend to get shuffled around a little while I'm working on the book (i.e. I keep pushing them further back until I can figure out how I want to complete the back of the page).

Click the links below for Part 1 and 2 of my art journal.  :)

My Take on Art Journaling Part 1

My Take on Art Journaling Part 2

Maggie Holmes' Design Team: Sweet Smile

I'm over on Maggie's blog today sharing my latest Design Team project.  I share how I added watercolors to my background, as well as a little step-by-step of how my layout came together!!  Hope you will stop by and check it out!!

Project Life: Keeping it Simple

Ever since I wrote this post and "realized" my Project Life catch-up process, I have been on a roll.  Looking back through my book, it's apparent that I use this process when putting my spreads together.  I'm not really sure why it took me so long to recognize it, but it's been a game-changer.

(Here's a look at the typical placement of my photos/cards.)

These two pages are just random pages in my album.  One is an insert from my daughter's graduation and one is the first part of my June PL.  I put these two spreads together in about 15 minutes.  Seriously.  15 minutes.  (Not including the time it took to print my photos since I tend to print a whole bunch at one time.)

This spread covers some random photos from June....camping, the park and the pool.  Hello Summertime!

I kept my "process" in mind, but changed up the "memorabilia" card for the June calendar and added in an extra journaling card instead of a photo.  I begin this page by sliding in my four photos and then adding the "high five" card and the June calendar card.  I try to be flexible and work with what I have instead of making myself stick to a certain "process".  Flexible is the key to getting these Project Life spreads finished!

The filler and journaling cards pictured here are from the Studio Calico Hello Hello Project Life kit.  The colors this month were beautiful and they worked so well with my photos. 

I kept my embellishments simple and tried not to overthink what should go where.  I tried to use space in my photos where it was available (the grass from our camping photo and the blue water from the pool photo).  Adding journaling directly onto my photos is still one of my favorite ways to add words and thoughts. 

For special occasions and events, I usually try to add an additional insert or page in my album.  Sometimes I will have enough photos to fill up an entire spread and sometimes I will trim down a page protector to accommodate the photos I have.

This spread is from my daughter's preschool graduation.  I didn't end up with as many photos as I would have liked (it was super hot outside and my husband had to leave shortly after the graduation for work), but I try to remind myself that these photos are priceless even if they aren't perfect!

Like the spread above, I kept this insert very simple by using a doily with a title/date, photos and a tag.  The tag was part of some pretty packaging from the lovely Amanda Rydell and I couldn't pass up including it in my album!  I'm a sucker for peach and gold!  I typed my journaling onto vellum and then stapled it to the back side of the tag.  As you can see, this spread really only required some added journaling and it was done!  Easy spreads are my favorite.

I know that I frequently "overthink" spreads and the placement of embellishments/journaling cards/photos.  I'm trying to think less and enjoy more.  Admitting it is the first step, right?  

xoxo

A San Diego Getaway

If you follow me on Instagram, you probably know that I spent this past week in sunny San Diego.  It is seriously one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to.  It's breathtakingly beautiful and the weather is oh so nice.  My husband was there on business and I was there on leisure.  The trip also happened to fall over my birthday, so it was a win-win for me.  I visited so many of the different areas of San Diego and I don't think I could pick a favorite.  I, of course, ended up with a zillion photos so grab a cup of coffee and join me for a little trip down memory lane....

There are so many words I could write here, but I will let the pictures speak for themselves.  If you ever have the chance to visit, San Diego, I couldn't recommend it enough.  It's just divine.

Here ya go...