Retrospect

“The Book of Junk Mail”

jenniferlala — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 06:14:02 +0000

Since my mom retired last year, she’s had more time on her hands to do fun things. Like scrapbook. I cannot tell you how thrilling it is for me to get to share my passion with one of the single most important people in my life. It means so much to me when she emails photos of whatever project she’s working on (for constructive criticism or a little pat on the back); texts me about new web sites she’s just discovered and really excited about, as well as special sales and deals; or phoned me to tell me she is at such-n-such store finding so many cute things “to die for”, and I really need to go look when I can. It’s quite endearing and sweet, and I love how much closer we’ve gotten because of this new-found bond. We have agreed to get together at least once a month (she lives in my hometown, just about an hour south from where I am) to have our ‘scrapbook dates’. These have become very important to us: we take turns going to each other’s home, show and tell what we’ve been doing, talk scrap, and brainstorm ideas, then go shopping to our local craft stores to shop our little hearts out. Oh, and then we have to stop and have lunch so we can oooh and aaaah over what we’ve purchased, trade ideas and inspiration, talk about Project Life, and of course Pinterest (got Mom hooked on both of those recently, too!). By the time we get back to one of our homes, it’s getting late in the day, and we may manage to do a little bit of scrapping….opening the packages, planning what we’ll make, and trying out one stamp. We love it. It’s just her and I, no husbands, no children (excluding yours truly). It’s invigorating, and by the time we get to our respective homes, we’re bursting at the seams to scrap our little hearts out. She’s got more time than I have now, so I don’t have as much to show yet (although my Project Life album has not been ignored yet), but recently she was telling me about a fun idea she came up with, and couldn’t wait to show me. She took the box that her Project Life kit came in, and cut it up to make pages. She then took all the junk mail she received on that given day, and collaged pieces of the mail here and there with words of wisdom……for me. She presented it to me last weekend (our most recent ‘date’), and I was floored. I had no idea this project was intended for me….I know I have been needing a bit of cheering up lately, but I didn’t realize that she took it to heart. So, here is a very special book made from my mother’s heart to add to, to make mine, and to treasure always. Mom, you know I will.

click on photo to enlarge.

I love you, Mom. Thanks a million.

Life Improvements.

jenniferlala — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 20:20:17 +0000

Final assignment for Journey to Happiness: What Matters Most (Big Picture Classes)…complete. I’m ready to continue on my journey to happiness, and to focus on what matters most! The final assignment is to prepare a journal to write down thoughts/actions/progress notes, etc. for the improvements and changes I intend to make in order to make my life happier and more fulfilling. Since the beginning of January, I have noticed that I really enjoy journaling more; writing down notes, words of wisdom I’ve heard, funny jokes, stories, thoughts and what-not. It has been making me feel better about issues, problems or quandaries I may have; while bearing more weight with the positive thoughts and feelings in my head. This journal will be a valuable tool to keep me on my path to all things good and happy.

[Journal, orange patterned fabric ('FabRips'), and spray mist from Studio Calico.]

Lots of graphed pages for writing, doodling, and pasting photos and ephemera into. Studio Calico also makes these great vintage-looking book plates, too.

I’m still working on Project Life every day. I am so thankful that I finally decided to do this project; I really enjoy it, it’s not terribly time-consuming, and I notice how full and rich my life is…I would not be paying attention to the details as I do now, nor seeing the value of little moments otherwise overlooked. My life is good, and PL keeps me remembering that every day. Some random pages of this week and the last:

I’m not color-coordinated on every page; I don’t have fabulous and perfect-looking journal cards (ala Cathy Zielske); some days have just one photo and other days may have a whole page…but that’s perfectly okay with me. I have been good about taking at least one photo every day, and holding on to bits and pieces to stuff into a pocket for that given day. My pages are pretty random and eclectic, but sometimes that’s how my days are, too. Documenting my moments, experiences, days and weeks is what matters. Date the photos, talk about them a little, relate a story or two, get it on paper, get it into the album, remember.

Thanks for letting my share with you!

My journey to happiness.

jenniferlala — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 01:12:58 +0000

This Big Picture class has been fun. Then again, all Big Picture Classes are fun! I have caught up with two more assignments, and I just feel like sharing them here.

I haven’t completely finished embellishing this mini album; but my husband liked it so much the way it is, he’s confiscated it to display in our living room (I’m too flattered to be mad . This was a great class to start the new year with, because I don’t know about you, but I’m all about starting fresh and new and making changes for the better. I want to make this a great year…and if I start doing this every year, then each future year will only get better and better, right? I’m optimistic. Thanks for coming by to visit! I’ll try to get some more Project Life photos posted in the near future.

The Good and the Bad.

jenniferlala — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 22:33:22 +0000

I am finally working on my first class assignment for “Journey to Happiness: What Matters Most”….never mind that the rest of the class is on week three! Better late than never!

I’ve also been working diligently on my Project Life album. Only today have I gotten photos taken to show here. I don’t know that I want to show everything, but this is a general idea of how eclectic it is because I generally include most everything from my life in the photo pockets. I also love that I have a chance to do more journaling than normal.

My life. I enjoy this project; keeping the album on my desk (readily accessible) makes it easy to stay caught up. I’ve also noticed that I pay way more attention to the little things in my life because of this project. Even my mom has decided to do her own Project Life album! Thanks for stopping by!

Serenity.

jenniferlala — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 01:55:20 +0000

This is a good word for me this year, and that’s why I chose this to be my One Little Word in Ali Edwards’ Big Picture Class. Serenity is the perfect word for me because it is exactly what I need. I have decided that now is the time to do something in order to achieve a better balance in my life. More happiness and peace, less stress and anxiety. More exercising, less eating. More saving, less spending. Throw out what I don’t need, hold on to what’s important. I believe I can make things work better in my life if I have more inner calm and quietude: the serenity to just do and be the best me I can.

January's assignment for One Little Word.

GOD, grant me the serenity

to accept the things
I cannot change,
Courage to change the

things I can, and the
wisdom to know the difference.
Living ONE DAY AT A TIME;

Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardship as the
pathway to peace.
Taking, as He did, this

sinful world as it is,
not as I would have it.
Trusting that He will make

all things right if I
surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy

in this life, and supremely
happy with Him forever in
the next. Amen
Reinhold Neibuhr-1926

Thanks for stopping by!

It takes a village….of seven gypsies.

jenniferlala — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 06:20:03 +0000

Happy New Year!! To start off my year, I have several projects in mind. I have my 2012 One Little Word and Journey to Happiness: What Matters Most (both at Big Picture Classes); A Photo-A-Day (from Studio Calico) and Project Life. I also want to learn some more book-binding techniques (stitching), and I have been wanting to make a village like the one I saw on 7Gypsies’ blog. I am rather behind on most everything already, but I did manage to create my village this weekend. I love it. It is faaaaaar from perfect, or even good, but I still like it’s quaint charm, and it does wonders for one of our bookshelves.

I kindly thank my dear husband for his help in cutting the davey board to make the houses; that was not an easy task. I used left-over book boards (aka “davey board”) from when I made books earlier in the year, and I purchased most of the products from Blue Moon Scrapbooking, and this is what I used:

All papers from the Off The Wall collection by 7 Gypsies
7 Gypsies Artist Printer’s Tray Display trim loops and hooks in antique silver
7 Gypsies antique silver ring book knob
A 7 Gypsies antique silver key
7 Gypsies scrapbook hardware, Gypsy
7 Gypsies scrapbook hardware gears, Gems
7 Gypsies scrapbook hardware gears, Industrial
7 Gypsies display trim school rulers, Wood
7 Gypsies metal page edges in antique silver, straight
7 Gypsies metal page edges in antique brass, scallop (I had these already)
Maya Road chipboard windows
Tim Holtz distress ink, Walnut Stain
davey board (book board, but thick chipboard will also work)

I used Tacky Glue, and matte medium gel as adhesives, cardstock scraps and a really good industrial strength utility knife. I chose my own sizes and shapes, and the instructions are here.

See you later for more updates on more projects!

Just my type.

jenniferlala — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 23:39:00 +0000

Earlier this month, I found a lovely little vintage typewriter that I fell in love with. I had been wanting one for some time, but I never wanted to spend that kind of money…$100? $200, or more? Well, I found one that was a lot more affordable with a new ribbon, and it works! CJ is a really nice guy, and his shop is Timelessmuse, where he has all kinds of really cool stuff, including more typewriters. Just for fun, I put together a layout to commemorate my new treasure.

Thanks, CJ! Happy Boxing Day, everyone!

December Daily: days 18-25

jenniferlala — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 21:15:51 +0000

Finally!! I finished my December Daily album. It was so much fun for the most part, but while working full-time, taking care of the family, and daily yada-yada chores, it got tough to manage. Not every day had fabulous activities happening, but that didn’t mean that not every day had meaning. That was my focus: the little things. Catching up on the December issue of Martha Stewart Living yesterday, I read an interesting article about a father who wrote letters to his son- from the time he was a baby- in order to ensure they would remember their life together; “to leave behind an indelible remnant for him.” This is what memory keeping is for me, and as I put together my December Daily album, I tried to keep in mind that this does not have to be a spectacular feat in scrapbooking history, nor is this going to end up in the pages of Creating Keepsakes magazine. I want to be able to look back in the years to come and simply remember. That being said, here is my album, from day 18 to yesterday (warning: lots of photos here!)

The ribbon really helps keep it closed!

I hand-painted the star using a stencil, then covered it all over with Mod Podge.

The Mod Podge smeared the cool December Daily tag I had from Bananafish Studios, so I covered it with this one.

This photo I used because this is a special tradition from my mom; it best symbolized Christmas to me.

Please forgive my spelling errors. I did enjoy doing this, but a small part of me is happy to have it finished! Starting on January 1, I will be starting Project Life for the first time. After tossing the idea around in my head for the last 3 years, I finally decided to do it. I chose the Clementine style, and my album should be arriving any day now. I am looking forward to that! I am thinking that the key to keeping up with it will be to keep the album out on my work table, ready and organized so I can slip photos and notes in easily without much ado. I also begin a new year of One Little Word (I need to discover my word still), and this coming Thursday, I will be starting a new adventure with Big Picture Classes, Journey to Happiness: What Matters Most. I am really excited about this class; I need it! Thanks for stopping by!

December Daily: days 11-17

jenniferlala — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 00:51:21 +0000

I’ve been doing an okay job of keeping up with my daily pages, but photographing them and posting here have not been easy! This certainly is a busy time of year, isn’t it? My problem is that I do like to get to bed before midnight, and so not everything gets done. No 36-hour days have been invented yet, so I do the best that I can! Here is a composite of my December Daily album, days 11 through 17:

And did you notice anything? I got my binder from Studio Calico! Hot diggity! It hasn’t been decorated yet, but I have been putting my pages into it so I have a secure place to store them. Maybe tonight, or maybe tomorrow, I’ll put a coating of Mod Podge or matte medium on it with some decorations. I really don’t know how I want to decorate the covers, but I know it will be something simple. I’ll be back again soon to let you see what I came up with. Thanks for stopping by!

December Daily, day 10.

jenniferlala — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 04:27:15 +0000

Merry Christmas to me!! Today I came home to my much-anticipated package from Banana Fish Studios…a December Daily ephemera pack, and a Fall/Thanksgiving mini album kit. Talk about excited!! I love to experience what other talented artists are doing…and my December Daily album will benefit greatly!

The Fall/Thanksgiving kit

Day 10, side 1

Day 10, side 2

I’m still using items from the Studio Calico December Daily kit (no longer available), as well as Banana Fish Studios, and my own hand-made embellishments. I like the idea of putting bits and pieces of everyday life onto my pages. Magazine photos, catalogue pages, packaging, etc., bear weight to the story of my life right now; this is what I’m looking at, buying, seeing, talking about, using, etc. This is life, right now. I love that. I want to remember years from now when and where I got this or that decoration; who sent Christmas cards; how I celebrated; what I baked, and who said and did what. Thanks, Ali, for giving me the inspiration to make certain that this season is remembered and appreciated as never before.