Remember my inspiration post? I finished all five albums last month and have been wanting to share the project with all of you! Again this was all inspired by Ali Edward's mini album design and Christine Middlecamp's amazing embellished doilys...
This album project used a lot of my stash - which is always a good thing! The only items that I purchased were the Maya Road 5x5 albums.
I am working on five albums as gifts to my girlfriends - the album documents our trip to Maui for my 40th birthday. I am inspired by Ali's mini album project here and this gal - Christine Middlecamp. HOly COW! Have you been following her Embellished Paper Doily tutorials?!!! At first when I looked at them I was just in awe - amazed by 'heavily embellished style'. I knew I had to try her technique out on these gift albums...
They are embellished thick and let's talk about using up some of your stash! The only thing that I bought new were the Martha Stewart Doilys.
Lots of foam dots - I am sure you have plenty of these! This was really fun to do and I was inspired by #12 on Christine's blog. Not sure if I am going to put these on the front of the albums or on the inside. I don't think they would hold up to well on the outside.
I am in the process of prepping the albums - painting them brown so it mimics wood.
to be continued...
Journal your Christmas day three prompt - Christmas cards...
Every year I try to hand make our cards - this year I am getting a late start but I am hopeful that they will go out by next week! This year I am trying to use up a lot of the product that I haven't used in ages - you know all that patterned paper and card stock...
This years design is going to vary as far as the patterned paper and the cardstock. The photo and ribbon will be the same for each card.
First I determine what stamping elements I am going use. Yes, I know I could have done this with the computer and saved some time but I really like the 'shabbiness' of the opaque ink on the photo. Both stamps are from Stampin Up!
Then I went through all my Christmas patterned paper and found that I have a lot of the Basic Grey Figgy Puddy. I cut strips 2.5" x 4.5" (because my finished card is 4.5" x 6.25")
I attached these strips to the card fronts...here I am showing brown cardstock that was used. I am also going to use red, blue and gray.
Adhered the photo and wrapped the ribbon around the card front (make a slit on the fold side so you can 'thread' your ribbon through) and tie a knot.
I have printed some photos in B&W and some with a funky 60s action. These were taken by my photography friend Larry Chen here in Vancouver, WA. I used a corner rounder, then I stamped 'Season's Greetings' with opaque white Staz On. Then I took my white gel pen and drew a border around the edges of the photo - all free hand to give it that shabby look. Now 249 more to make!
Enjoy life!
December Daily | Journal your Christmas day two...winter weather
While I am still behind on this project - I will be starting the December Journal project with Ali and Shimelle combined. We have a jammed packed December that should be filled with all sorts of experiences to document!
Here is my journal all ready to go - you may have seen this earlier in the year (March) when I finished putting it together. My head start for this year proved to be valuable!
If you have never taken Shimelle's Journal your Christmas class I recommend signing up for this! Click on the image below to learn more.
I am really behind posting for this class but enjoying all the crafty goodness that is happening in the house! Prompt Four was about the mundane - I feel like I have a lot of mundane things in my life, at least mundane to me. One of them happens to be Airport Pickup. Because Kirk and I travel extensively we have the airport pickup down to a science.
First - as soon as you land and you can turn on your phone, you make the call home. "hey, I'm here. Just making our way to the gate." The person at home then gets in the car...
It takes about 15 minutes from our house to baggage claim
This particular day we were having a storm - my poor Mini was barely making it through all the standing water! By the time the pick up person arrives down at baggage claim the traveling person has collected their luggage is waiting under cover
Our system is our system and it works for us!
Patterned paper and letter stickers by American Crafts, Journaling sticker by Luxe, Travel sticker by 7 Gypsies
Who doesn't LOVE Target?!!
Stickers & patterned paper Luxe, foam letters & felt heart American Crafts
I really love that Target it partnering with top name designers. I miss Issac Mizarahi's Target line - I feel pretty lucky that I have two of his blue and white seer sucker suits. I wear these in the summer and get compliments all the time - when I tell them it's a Target suit they are amazed!
Merona has come out with some great basics and dress pieces for the fall. I may need to go back and get that lace skirt that will be great for some holiday dinners this year. And who wouldn't love a elastic waist band during the holidays?? Hello! I have the perfect gold silk top that will go with this along with some kick ass gold heels...
These pictures were taken with my iPhone using the Polarize app - it's addicting!
Trendy and chic fashion is hard - at least that is my opinion. You can either pull it off or you can't - there is really no in between. Plus you run the risk of dressing to young. Yes, I think there is a time where you need to give up the belly button shirts, big hair and/or striped hair - don't live back in the days, remember those 'days' as fond memories.
I try to do urban chic in statement pieces. My rule is one statement piece in each outfit - pick out the basics and look for the wow piece or the other way around. For my taste and body type I can only handle one statement piece. I know some other friends and my husband that can work it from head to toe and look great. Most of the time its all in the attitude. If you love it and feel confident in it then you will be able to carry it off.
Some of my favorite urban chic brands are:
I had fun with this layout! I love using all of the marketing materials that I have collected over the years - in fact I just received the Nordstrom catalog and they have the cutest gift tags with birdhouse art work on them. And if you love the birdhouses you can go here to print out 2d or 3d paper birdhouse! They have a download of the gift tags too.
Enjoy life!
I am on a roll with prompt #3 still! All from this online class with Shimelle. My comfort clothes - ones that I wear 90% of the time when I am working out, at home or running errands around town.
Nothing is easier than throwing on a pair of yoga pants, top and jacket (in black, of course) it's not confining or cutting into my 'muffin top'!
Patterned paper and felt letter stickers American Crafts. White gel pen uniball Signo. Clothing tags.
My favorite comfort clothing lines:
Here is my classic list - my go to pieces in my closet every single time. They are like your trusted friends!
The purple/blue patterned paper is a marketing piece from Nordstrom that I cut apart. Patterned paper in middle is Basic Grey Marrakech. White rub ons American Crafts, Black rub ons Luxe. White gel pen Uni-ball Signo (love this pen) and clothing tags.
Classic pieces in my closet:
My favorite designers/lines for these classics:
