Keeping on it

So, I told you about my goals this December. Am I keeping them? Well, two days in and YES! I have taken a photo the last two days to record in my December Album that I have made. When I have it all done, I will show pictures!

class

I signed up for a Jessica Sprague class. Holdidays in Hand. It is free. Yesterday was the first day. I know, what was I thinking, another class, right at the time my college courses are going into finals! But, the great thing about Jessica Sprague is that the class is yours FOREVER. I can go back and look at assignments, there are no due dates. Except this one is focusing on the Holidays and I would like to have it worked on so I can really have the stories of the season.

Day 1:

::My goals for this season::Assignment 1

more family togetherness

friends

food

reason for the season

joy

memories

sweets

magic

::Commit::Assignment 2

Every day in the month of December I will set aside 20 minutes to record our memories. It can be a blog post, a scrapbook page, taking photos. I need to remember.

::Organize:: Assignment 3

I need to do this!

no excuses

I really have no excuses... I am a slacker. I really am. Over the summer I took a couple of classes online, played with my kids, was with a few friends who delivered babies while their husbands are not on the same continent... You get the idea. But I did get some scrapbooking in. I think I am caught up at least through most of 2005. I think I have 1 or 2 months left. I really want to get over the hump I am in so that I can start scrapbooking the most recent events in our lives. Sometimes I do take a break and do something more recent... Anyway, I don't have photos of scrapbooking today.

In a few weeks I am on my way to a convention. I am going to be running around and super busy there. I want my camera with me so I can take millions of photos... DH wants photos of some of the things he may never get to use in his career... My camera is a point and shoot, but not on the little side. It is the almost DSLR. It has a lot of the functions, takes really great photos, but no extra lenses to change out. I wanted a little envelope type thing to protect it while it is in my big bag. I am trying to not have to carry 3 different bags. On my feet all day, remember? I decided to make one. Remember the bag I made last year. I used some of the same ideas and shape behind it, but a little different... Here you go. The whole evening in photos.

The fabric... Super cute!

I ironed on interfacing to give it structure and to pad the bag as well

Next I sewed up the sides like an envelope... This will make sense in a few photos...

I then cut a 2x2 inch square on each of the corners that folded up.

Then matched the edges of the cut out part and sewed them together to make the bag have a flat bottom.

Once that was done, I turned one of the sides right side out and matched it to the other side. Right sides faced each other.

And sewed the sides together making sure there was a hole to turn it right side out.

After flipping it, I ironed it to get the seems looking their best.

I top-stitched the edges.

Added a button and ribbon to close it off.

I know it looks like a mushroom here, but I am going to find a way to pull those sides back on top.... I am just too tired of trying to figure it out today!

Photos

So, it has been a long time since I have posted! I am taking a class online that is taking up a lot of my time! Plus it is summer and I am enjoying my kids! Aside from the college course I am taking, Jessica Sprague had a free class called Photo Editing: Frame-ups & Special Effects. I signed up for it. I haven't had a lot of time to devote to it.... But, I have learned some cool photo editing things.

This is my absolute F A V O R I T E photo of my little girl! With the textures put on it, it has such a great worn feel.

This photo has the first time I have ever used a brush. That little art and word are brushes. I guess you can say that a brush is like a stamp in the real world.

This photo just has a frame and word art on it. It is a cute one of my little man!

so excited

I am installing my new photoshop right now! I am super excited about it. I got Adobe Creative Suit 4 Design Premium! I can't wait to play on it....

way too long

It has been so long since I have posted here! I have our new family blog, a new volunteer position and a household to run. Not to mention super nice weather! My Crafty Friend had a birthday recently. For her birthday I made her an 8x8 scrapbook with pages of our times together, crafts we have made and I can't wait to have more pictures to scrap and add to the album! I think there were well over 200 photos to choose from. I ended up only doing 11 pages. They turned out so cute, if I do say so myself!

Amazing Woman

I went to college with a great woman, she went on to marry my home teacher. Great Man! Now they have 5 kids. Great family. Actually, they had triplets in January of 2005, one girl and two boys. Val could not have anymore children due to complications at the birth of the triplets. In October of 2007 they brought home Joshua from Uzbekistan. In December of 2007 they brought home Evan from Ukraine. You can read about that amazing journey. It is so wonderful. It always brings tears to my eyes!


But, the big announcement is....They are in the process of trying to adopt two little GIRLS from Bulgaria. This will hopefully even out the estrogen in their home! They are trying to raise some money to help them do this. Here is the link to the blog. Go check it out.

for fun

Yesterday at The Daily Digi Janet had a great post! I downladed the free template that she had made. Filled in the appropriate word (as best as I could... It is a Mad Lib!) scrapped it, and voila!

{I used Reach for the Stars by Stephanie2 and giggles font by Fontologie}

And I have also learned how to resize my photos for uploading to the web! Wow, it is so much faster! If you want to know how, go here. I have a few more things to come, I am just a little on the short side of time this morning.

for anna

I had my BFF here for the week. We scrapbooked. We played and enjoyed our time together. Here is one of my pages that I did. It is from when we visited my sister-in-law in UT. She isn't there anymore... But, we fed the ducks. Enjoy!

super secret project

So, I told you I had been working on a secret project. She got it last night. It was for Caren, one of the greatest wives I know. She is amazing. Her husband is leaving the battalion tomorrow... Sad day, Caren will no longer be a part of the coffee group. In the military wives of the officers and first sergents get together once a month or so for a social type thing. It also helps us be more united for the other spouses. Caren was in charge of the coffee group, although in charge is not what I would call it. But, anyway. Traditionally there is a farewell, which was last night. We also gave her a gift. I made the gift. It is a scrapbook of her time with our unit. I scrapbooked it on my computer, then uploaded it to shutterfly and had it printed in a hard bound book. I must say it turned out great. We had everyone sign it just like a yearbook.

The Cover, it has an opening to see the first page of the book!

These are just a few of the pages I did, I think the book was 45 pages total. I think it turned out great!

super exciting!

I was checking my email that all my scrapbooking site email me at. I saw this incredible deal! It is a close out bundle! $124 worth of kits, papers, mini albums for $10! Can you believe it?! I am super happy about it! Go look!

something a little old

I am super proud of my husband... I need to scrapbook this. I really do. I was thinking about it, and how I was going to do it digitally. I have a lot of hard copies, but nothing digital. So then I thought. Magazines are online. I wonder if this article is online. Lo and behold it is. The really hot guy in my life is on page 2 online. There is some foul language, but keep reading. It is good. The title of the article is not how it is in the story. I am so proud of him. I think I need to do my page right now while I am thinking about it. Also, let me tell you, he worked so hard over there. He went through so much. Lived in scary conditions. I am so glad that this article got to me (thank you editor at esquire!) right as he came home for 2 weeks. I read it and had I not had his hand to hold, I would have lost it. I did not even know everything that he was going through, he didn't want me to worry more, but, I did send him back for 2 more months a little more aware of what he was living with and I was able to be a better wife and support to him. Thank you for being my husband.

I will be back with my page soon. I promise. I have ideas flowing already!

long time

Wow, it has been a long time since I have posted. Sorry about that! I have been super busy on a secret project that I will post about after a certain someone gets it. I don't know if this person checks my blog or not, so I need to be on the safe side. I am hoping to post a new page here by the end of the weekend. Janet over at TDD has a free template up. Go check it out. I am doing it. I just need more time to do what I want!!! There are a few things going on at work for DH that I (being the army wife) get to do for him. Ü I don't mind it at all, I am just super busy! At least 3 times a week for the next 3 weeks I am up on post (about a 40 minute drive there). Meetings and meetings.

new one

So, Valentine's day is over. Time for a new header.... I really like doing them, not super hard and I know that I will change it again soon. They are not scrapbooks, I won't have to look at them for years to come and wish I had done something different!

january, november & december

only 3 more pages left to go in my year in review album... I am stuck though. I have a lot of kits, but not one that I am inspired to do with those 3 months. why? Why? WHy? WHY?! I want to get it done so I can work on the million of other scrapbook projects I have to do. I have a project for someone that needs to be done in like 2 weeks.... Maybe I need to give up my year in review project for a few days and come back to it.... That sounds good. Enjoy!

paper {don't tell my computer}

Sometimes I think I miss paper scrapbooking. Then I do a project that involves glue, paper and ribbon. I then remember why I love digi scrapping. It is not a whole process of getting 5 million things out for one project and taking over the dining room table. But, sometimes I need to be away from the computer screen.... I guess I will have to just get the stuff out and take over. But, I really enjoyed having my best friend from high school over last night. We got out my cricut and cut our little hearts out. I knew I had a few things I had wanted to do (some since October!) so I left it all out. Good thing dh stayed at work last night (and the night before, but that is a different story!).

This was supposed to be done before V-Day, but I just didn't do it... Oh well. The supplies
Finished product!

Half way through the frames Rachel called me. Then she and Olivia came over half way through my next project.
I got this great idea. And made some of my own changes... What do you think?

Rachel made one for Olivia.... Here is all three... Enjoy!


Sorry it is sideways, I can't get my computer figured out just this moment.... Once I get it fixed I will post a new photo.

valentines

So, I have done the kids valentines.... But I had help from the shabby shoppe.... It was like a quick page and I just added the wording.... Enjoy, and Happy Valentine's Day!

stuck

I have been working on our 2008 year in review album and I am just stuck. I really want to get it finished and I just can't. What is my problem? I have 3 months done, I just finished July. it isn't my favorite, and I will probably change it.... I have also done dd's valentines for her party on Friday, so that counts for something!

what is in a name?

So, over at the dailydigi Janet had another template.... Love it! She wanted us to write about how someone got the name they have. I wrote about our dog, Jack. It is such a sweet story. I am so glad to have him in our family. Everytime I see him I am reminded about a wonderful day in our family life. It brings tears to my eyes to think about.... Enjoy!

Journaling:

one day {dd} came to me and said,"my daddy is going to bring me a little black dog named jack from iraq." what?! the whole thing rhymed, but i don't think she noticed. when talking to {dh}, he said we should do it. i got to work quickly and found a really cute miniature schnauzer. the plan was to have the kids spend the night at the christensen's house the night {dh} came home from iraq. we needed time to be {us} after not seeing each other for 9 months. the next morning, we met the breeder and got jack. when we got back to the christensen's, i went inside to get the kids while {dh} waited outside with jack. {dd} was so excited to see the dog. but the best part was when she saw her daddy. she threw herself into his arms and wouldn't let go! this was so special to all of us. what is even better is the little black dog named JACK from iraq. we couldn't have asked for a better dog!

CREDITS: template: janet papers & staples & frame: parker by Digital Design Essentials jack name plate and small arrow: firstcar by baersgarten

2008

So, I got this great album template from scrapbookgraphics. It is for the whole year of 2008. A page for each month with 12 pictures per page. YAY! I have gone through and put all the photos in. Now I am going back and adding the paper and embelishments.... I need more time in my day so I can get it done! I have only done June and October. I know, random months, but I was inspired by some paper. I am still going through and deciding what I want for other months. Enjoy!

This was done using trendy pop by Cori Gammon at scrapartist

This was done using boo to you kit from digital design essentials

i <3 photoshop

Can I just say that I love photoshop? Seriously, I have been super jealous of people who have beautiful photos with color so rich.... I always wondered how their camera took such amazing photos. Since becoming addicted to digi scrapping I love taking photos. It is even more rewarding when I can get a picture from this:
Which is a great photo, we were super lucky to get to be in a film for goarmy.com. This is my little guy and the advertiser for the Army.... but to take this photo and make it so rich in color is amazing!This is after playing with the brightness and contrast and color.... I love It!

the write way

Ok, so in my last post I talked about this site. It is fantastic. Everyday you can go read the latest entry, see what is new. They even have a spot for freebies! Check it out. Janet posted on Friday about writing. The journaling is super important in scrapbooking. For some people, like me, it is thier journal. Janet makes templates. It is amazing! She gave us a template here with the hopes that we would make a page with the things we love right now. I downloaded the template and got to work immidiatly! There was a problem. I love a lot of things! hy husband, my kids, alone time, girls nights out, good food, baking, sleeping to name a few.... But, here is what I came up with. Enjoy!

The journaling says:

what i am loving right now...

their laughter

her smile

his little voice

teaching them

holding them close

kissing their cheeks

wiping the tears away

watching them grow

dancing our hearts out

her drawings

his big heart

eating dinner on the living room floor

her story telling

his off the wall comments

looking into their faces and seeing heaven

kissing them goodnight

the squeels of delight when daddy comes home

the love between siblings

living each moment with the most amazing children

credits: {font for "right now" fontologie, papers and embelishments by cori gammon, template by janet}

I can't even belive it

It is already the 7th of January and I have not taken ONE picture this year! I need to get the camera out. The month of December I had over 300 photos... Oh yeah, if you look on my side bar, there is blinky for this website. So worth visiting. I also feel kinda special because my very own digi scrapbook teacher is one of the two impressive women running it. I will be back with some scrap pages soon. I just bought this album from Janet Phillips for my 2008 year in review. I just can't wait to do it!

not sure i like it

So, I HAD to change my header.... It was for Christmas, and that was over a week ago. I knew I needed to change it, I just didn't have any inspiration, I still don't. I am not too thrilled with it. So, it will probably change more over the coming weeks, just know that I am really excited for Valentines day and doing a header for that!!!