Project Life: Organization and Week One

I'm taking the plunge into Project Life this year!  Although documenting our life day by day, and week by week seems like a huge commitment, I think it might be easier in the long run.  And can you imagine how cool it will be to look back on?  All the funny things that O says?  All the crazy surprises J has in store for me?  Really, a treasure.  We don't even need to mention all the sexy scrapping supplies I'll get to love up on.
So, this is my approach.  I'm not a work-on-it-every-week kind of girl, so I knew I needed a place to house things as I go, so I could put a page together when the mojo was flowing.  I decided a milk crate + file folders + big 3M file tabs would do the trick.  I used what I had and came up with this:

I was resigned to just using whatever, until the American Crafts Dear Lizzy Neapolitan line hit my eye.  Ain't she purty?  I added in some MME Sweet Caroline, Studio Calico stamps and stickers, and Teresa Collins Everyday Moments.  I'm sure plenty of other odds and ends will make their way in too. 

Here's the cover page.  I used Studio Calico stamps for the words, and gave it a couple shots of mist, and then clear embossed some butterfly stamps on top.  Then added the Thickers for "2012".

I wrote "a snapshot of our year" fancy style.  I have a feeling fancy schmancy writing is going to be all over my work this year.

And here is Week 1.  I worked some Smash album papers in there too.  I keep them with me at work to jot down things I remember.  Then right into the file they go, along with the pics I print each week and I'm ready to go.

Thanks for checking it out!

2011 December Love Album

First, let me say how tickled I am that I finished this album before December 2012.  Very uncharacteristic of me. :)  But here it is, our December 2011.  It was a busy one, starting out with a wedding right away on the 3rd.  I knew we had a lot on our calendar so I chose a big album, an 8x8 Doodlebug album, in "Swimming Pool".  Blue and green was my thing this Christmas.  For the rest, I used product from all over the place.  Lots of Crate and Echo Park, and then whatever I've had leftover from past December Studio Calico kits.  It's so very satisfying to see this done. (pat pat pat on my back) 
Here's some of the completed project:

Thanks for stopping by!

December Album - A look back, part 2

Here is part 2 of the look back on my past December/Christmas albums.  For 2008 I used a clear, tabbed album, and all kinds of odds and ends from my stash, and some Stampin' Up paper and stickers.  I approached it a bit more like Ali's December Daily this time, but it was more like December Weekly, or December When I Remembered the Camera.  My favorite parts are O-dizzle's chubby cheeks and the fact that his first steps are captured in here.  Here it is:

2011 December Love album coming up next!  Thanks for looking!

December Albums - A look back, part 1

I've decided to do a December Album again this year, and I'm actually doing pretty well with it, progress-wise.  More details on that one later...for now, I thought it would be neato to look back on the December/Christmas albums I've made in the past.  I don't usually do a daily entry because I'm not programmed to be that disciplined, or maybe life just gets in the way of my fun-time too much. 
Here's the first one - from 2007, our first year with Owen.  It was made using my first every Studio Calico Kit, Happy Ending, and a clear mini album for the base.  Then I just wrote a letter to each of us about my wishes for the coming year.  I can't believe how far we've come, and how many of those wishes have come true.
Here's a peek at it.  Enjoy!

Fridge Pickles

These are the pickles that have launched a thousand ships, or at least a couple of impetuous car trips to find dill. Luckily, our garden is busting with the stuff so J decided we needed to participate in the pickle craze. Not that I mind, I heart pickles. So here it is – the coveted pickle recipe. They are good too. Dilly, garlicky, and nice and crisp.

Dill Refrigerator Pickles

In the bottom of a large jar layer:
2 heads of dill
1 onion, cut up
1/4 clove of garlic, cut up
Cucumbers, sliced however you like, layered half way up the jar

Next layer:
2 heads of dill
1 onion, cut up
More cucumbers until jar is almost full

On top of cucumbers, layer 2 heads of dill and another cut up onion.

Next, make the brine.
Brine
1 quart of water
1 pint of vinegar
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup salt
Bring to boil and boil for 3 minutes. Pour over cucumbers until covered.

Leave on counter for 24 hours and then put into refrigerator. After 3 days in the fridge, they are ready to eat.
Enjoy!

Chalkboard Scraproom Organizer

I was so very inspired by another Studio Calico Member who found and prettied-up this great spinning organizer, I needed to try my hand at it too. My hubby was at Fleet Farm getting his oil changed and spotted some stack-able spinning shelves in the tool organization. Jackpot! They are sold individually and you can just keep on stacking them. Since it was already black and everything in my house is in danger of being covered with a chalkboard surface I figured this one would be no exception. I love the way it turned out, and it's not even full yet - lots more room for goodies! Check it out!



Thanks for looking!

It's a Robot Party

I'm pretty sure the robot party was more for me, than for Odizzle.  He probably really wanted a Wow Wow Wubzy party, but that was just a little too...specialized for me I guess.  But, there was cake (2 actually), and there were presents so he was as happy as can be.  The party did creep up on me a bit so I didn't get to do all the little things I wanted to get done.  Here's what I did do:

Funny little robot cake pops, 100% inspired by Bakerella.

I drilled some holes in 1x4 boards, covered them in foil and poked the cake pops in.

I had a different backdrop planned, but ended up just propping up some robot scrapbooking paper behind the cake pops.

O helped me make these fun 3D paper robots using the Cricut Robotz cartridge.

A centerpiece made of a box covered in aluminum foil.  Ha ha ha.

The lanterns that have been a part of birthday decor ever. single. year.

Ice cream cake, plus some robot pics also from that Robotz cart.

Finally, the cake, courtesy of Grandma J.  How cute is he?

Thanks for stopping by!