Project Life: Week 1

I feel like I'm playing a little catch up with weeks 1 and 2 of my project life adventure. Both weeks are finished and today I'm sharing week 1 (week 2 will be posted in the next few days).

All the comments and advice from fellow Project Lifers say to be organized and have a plan. Well, I'm still figuring out the organization part but I do have a plan! To keep things simple I'm planning on using one paper pack a month. I figure it's a great way to use up any leftovers (including embellishments) from previous projects.

Week 1

Week 1 - Left Page

Week 1 - Right Page

For January, my paper packet of choice is Avonlea. My embellishments of choice are the Avonlea Compliments, opaque gems, and rub-ons . Of course I will continue to use my stamps to embellish journal cards!

Using Stamps to accent journal cards

Some people think Project Life restricts your creativity. I thought the same thing myself. In actuality though I'm finding I feel more creative. It's actually kind of liberating only thinking about decorating a 3" x 4" or 4" x 6" area. Yes, I'm trying to coordinate the entire page but I'm not worrying about placement nearly as much as I would on a 12 x 12 layout.

Using Rub-Ons and Avonlea Complements for Embellishments

I'm also continuing to use my How-To and Make It From Your Heart books. I decided my week cards are going to be based on card sketches. Why not use them?? They have measurements, placement and examples to jump start my creativity. It's perfect and I love it!

Week Card

With it being the New Year I figured I should include our resolutions into my Project Life album. I decided to do so as an insert page to week 1.

Week 1 Insert: Resolutions

I kept the design pretty simple and created resolution cards for each family member to complete. I love how the kids wrote it themselves!

I'll be sharing my journal template on my facebook page soon so keep checking back!

Sympathy Card & FMS#70

I kept it simple and used Freshly Made Sketch #70 to create this sympathy card. It's hard to tell in the photo but the butterfly was painted with Create-A-Shade Pearl paint. In real life there is a beautiful shimmery contrast in colors. It's really quite lovely.

Thank you Rita for a fabulous sketch!

Supplies used (all CTMH unless otherwise noted): 

Paper: La Belle Vie, Kraft Cardstock, Colonial White Cardstock

Stamps: Treasure Life (D1306), Card Chatter Sympathy (D1476)

Ink: Black, Pansy Purple, Petal

Other: Opaque Pearls, Paper Shapes - Flutter, Create-A-Shade Pearl Paint, Scallop Border Punch (SU), 3D Foam Tape, Butterfly Punch (Martha Stewart)

A New Scrapbook Adventure...

2013 Album Cover

Last year as I was flipping through my scrapbooks I realized I was missing details of our everyday family life. I'm really good at documenting the big events like holidays and birthdays but when it came to recording the little things our family did throughout the year I was definitively lacking.  So, this year I decided to give Project Life a chance.

The basic concept of Project Life is to record everyday moments through photos and journaling. It gets back to basics using photo sleeves instead of elaborate layout constructions. It was created by Becky Higgins (visit her post here for more info). Don't get me wrong, I will always continue to create "traditional" scrapbook layouts. But this year I'm experimenting and giving this concept a chance. Of course I will continue to use Close To My Products...they really are my favorite and there is no sense buying a kit when I have all the supplies to make my own!

Here are some detail shots of my cover page.:

I used my monogram stamp to set the stage for my cover. The shape was cut with the Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge and stamped with one of the many coordinating stamp sets.

 I trimmed  Opaque Flourishes to cross multiple panels and a butterfly which I colored with my inks and sponge daubers. The family sentiment was heat embossed with white powder.

I created my own tags with stamps. This one is a sneak peek of February's Stamp of the Month!

 

I colored Irresistibles Houdstooth numbers with ink to make the year pop

 

I hope you'll join me on my journey this year. I'd love to show you how you can incorporate your products into a family scrapbook without the hassle of agonizing over embellishments and layout design. If you are already a Project Life enthusiast please leave me a comment with your blog or site info and I'd love to check it out!

Supplies used (all CTMH unless otherwise noted): 

Paper: Pemberley, Outdoor Denim Cardstock

Stamps: Home Sweet Home (Feb SOTM), Family Love, Perfect Fit Frames

Ink: Outdoor Denim, Bamboo, Versamark

Other: Irresistibles Houndstooth Alphabet, Burlap Ribbon, Paper Shapes Flutter Butterlies, White Embossing Powder, Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge

Superhero Birthday & Mojo Monday Sketch #276

This weekend we have the pleasure of celebrating our son's 3rd birthday with our friends who also have a son with the same birthday! Our little friend, Eric, is turning 5 and is totally into superheros so of course I needed to make him a super special birthday card!

I used Mojo Monday Sketch #276 and retired CTMH paper's for this card. The speech bubble is from Noted Canvas Shapes and I used alphabet stamps for the greeting. The superhero was colored with my new favorite markers...CTMH alcohol markers!

The card measurements are as follows:

• Cardstock: 1 3/4" x 4"
• B&T Paper: 2 x 3 1/2" (cut 2)
• Black Cardstock: 1" x 4 1/4"
• 2 1/2" Circle
• 2 3/4" Scallop Circle

Supplies used (all CTMH unless otherwise noted):

Paper: Colonial White Cardstock, Black Cardstock, Superhero (retired)

Stamps: Superhero WOTG, Super Powers (C1485), Look Who's... (D1502)

Ink: Black, Crystal Blue, Ruby Marker, Indian Corn Blue Marker, Honey Marker

Other: Cricut Art Philosophy, Noted Canvas Shapes (Z1773), Scallop Border Punch (SU)

Engagement Congratulations Card



Click photo to see larger

I used Freshly Made Sketch #68 and the January Stamp of the Month to create this engagement card for my cousin and his new fiance!

I kept this card very simple and only added a few Opaque Pearls to the center of the flower. I think it adds a perfect touch of elegance to this fantastic sketch.

Supplies used (all CTMH unless otherwise noted):

Paper: La Belle Vie, Kraft Cardstock, Colonial White Cardstock

Stamps: Happy Valentine's (January SOTM)

Ink: Plum Alcohol Markers, Olive Alcohol Markers

Other: Opaque Pearls

Here is the stamp set I used:

 It is only available through the end of January and is regular $17.95 or $5 with a purchase of $50.00

Mojo Monday #275 Card

I found a lot of inspiration in this weeks Mojo Monday #275 sketch.

To make this card I scissor distressed the edges of the pattern paper. The multi-color butterfly was created by using my inked sponge daubers directly on the stamp and then stamping directly on paper. 

It's hard to tell in the photo but I also stamped part of the image directly on Colonial White Cardstock. In person it gives the butterfly a shadow and makes it look like it's floating.

I love the way this card turned out and hope you do too! Thanks for checking it out!

Supplies used (all CTMH unless otherwise noted):

Paper: Flirty, Colonial White Cardstock, Flirty Yellow Cardstock

Stamps: Find Your Style (retired SOTM)

Ink: Hollyhock, Sunset, New England Ivy, Grey Wool

Other: Sponge Daubers, Opaque Flourishes, Adhesive Pearls, Scissors, 3D Foam Tape, Flirty Complements

FMS#67 & Color Challenge

I had so much fun making this card! I used one of the brand new, not yet released, Stamp Of the Month's from CTMH to stamp the hot air balloons.

The hot air balloons were cut with the coordintng shape on the Cricut Artiste Cartridge. The Olive scallop border was cut using the Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge set at 1". To add some extra depth I used my Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder on Crystal Blue Cardstock and finished it off with some Silver Shimmer Trim. I also added Licorice Gems to the front balloon for some extra bling!

The card design is based on Freshly Made Sketch #67 and the color combo is courtesy of Create: Cards Blog Challenge.

Supplies used (all CTMH unless otherwise noted):
Paper: Colonial White Cardstock, Olive Cardstock, Grey Flannel Cardstock, Olive Cardstock
 Stamps: Party Pennants, My Sunshine (April 2013 SOTM)
 Ink: Olive, Crystal Blue, Grey Wool, Black
Other: Shimmer Trim, Licorice Opaques Gems, Cricut Art Philosophy, Cricut Artiste, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Folder, Sizzix Big Shot, 3D Foam Tape