The Making of a Christmas Card

Just too many crazy things happened while trying to get the Chirstmas card photo this year to let it go by undocumented. The cards are made, stuffed in envelopes and addressed and now I am thinking the out takes would have made a better card. Oh well, maybe an idea for next year.   I am making this my December Daily page for today.  Will post days 1-7 tomorrow ---- decided to ditch the digital and am going traditional -- I just cannot give up working with paper.

December Daily 2012

This year I am doing a digital version but also a traditional version. I guess I am afraid I won't keep up with the traditional one, so I am doing both. I am experimenting with the traditional album -- not doing day by day but event based. Since I am horribly behind in my PL album, thinking maybe the day by day thing will not happen -- figure I can abandon the digital one and won't be to big of a deal -- experimenting -- we will see. Used Cathy Z's November album design for the basis for my digital version -- this is awfully easy -- I may be digitally swayed!

12 onthe 12th -- April Edition

Very proud that only one photo below was not taken on the 12th -- granted we do have a few photos that are a little repetitive, but generally, yesterday, our lives revolved around the iPad (we have only had it a few days now), putting much needed new mulch around the house and playing outside (did not get photos of that because I was doing the mulch!)  

10 Things

So I saw this post on Shimelle's blog today and decided to join in --- so here are my 10 things in no order -- just 10 random things....

1 - Had fish tacos from Cheesecake Factory last night.  They were so good.  I think I like fish tacos better than chicken or beef.  They were just quite tasty.

2 - Finished my new Bazinga scarf for the second time (ripped out the first time because was too long)  Still not happy with it -- this time I think it is too short.  Ugh.  I think it is the wrong time of year to work on a scarf -- time to move on to socks.

3 - We turn the clocks AHEAD tonight.  What?   How in the world did that sneak up on me.  I must be way out of touch because did not realize it until I turned on the computer about 2pm this afternoon.  So here I sit at 11:19pm, but should be treating it as 12:19AM and of course I am WIDE awake.  Have a feeling will not be so awake tomorrow afternoon.  Last year the time change got me way out of wack for several days -- hoping this year is better!

4 - March Madness -- Selection Sunday is tomorrow -- love college basketball!

5 - Tomorrow I have to catch up on my Project Life album.   I have all the photos, just need to put them in.  Only a 2 weeks (well, maybe 1.5 weeks) behind.  Don't want it to get more than that or it will get out of control.

6 - E was exceptionally ornery today.  I know she was tired.  Oh my, with the time change, tomorrow could be nasty.  It is supposed to be a beautiful day -- a sunny morning will mean an early wake up -- maybe it will be so nice tomorrow we will have some good outside play and good exercise.  I hope so.

7 - I have been on the first chapter of the same book for 2 weeks.  Ugh.  I really want to read this book (Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie), but just cannot seem to find the time to devote to it.  Maybe tomorrow.

8 - STASH Spiced Chai is a very good thing.

9 - Got one of those insulated cups with a lid and a straw yesterday at Target.  The ones on the main shelf were $12.  Ones EXACTLY LIKE THOSE were on the end cap on clearance for $6.  Not sure why -- they were exactly the same --- I bought the clearance one.  Hoping it will help me to drink more water.

10 - Just checked the online guide for TV shows this evening.  So weird that it goes from 1:30 directly to 3am.  It is a little disturbing that 2am just does not exist.  Guess the time change is really happening -- better force myself to get to sleep.

Knitting Projects

Seems like I always have a couple knitting projects going at once.  I like to have one that is portable -- that is good for waiting at swim lessons or gymnastics and usually is one that is rather mindless. 

Recently, I finished the Charlie's Cardi pictured here.   I have had the pieces completed for a while, but have not taken the time to sew it together (the part I hate and the part I have to do at home), but finally made the time last week.  When it was finished, decided to make a quick little hat to go with it.  The sweater was for Emily's teacher, who is pregnant with her first child.  Since Emily's class mascot is the penguin, we found these cute buttons at JoAnn's -- I think it is pretty cute and her teacher seemed to like it. 

My new projects included a scarf from chunky Bazinga yarn (my color is #8 -- Mango Citrus and it is beautiful!) that I am knitting lengthwise.  It is super cool, but having 68 degree weather in February has made me not so anxious to finish it anytime soon.  I am also working on a new pair of socks.   For my birthday, I got the book Socks a-la-Carte.  I am having fun with this -- it lets you choose the cuff, body, heel, foot and toe of the sock and customize your own sock pattern.  It is my new toy!

Project Life 2012

So, I am doing Project Life this year.  It seems like it has just exploded this year and everyone is doing it!   I had quite a bit of product left from last year, as did a friend of mine, and instead of buying an entire new kit, I decided to use mainly what I already had.  I did buy a pack cardstock (Turquoise collection from Becky Higgins) and some digital clips from Jessica Sprague.  Other that that, I am using what I have --- I will need more pages soon -- sooooooooooooooooo irritated that they sold out so quickly from Amazon, but may just go with a different layout --- maybe Big Pack 2 that has both vertical and horizontal 4x6 and 2x3 slots.   I chose an album by American Crafts --- love the color.  Below are some of my recent pages and also one of my favorites.  I am up to date as of now -- hopefully I will stay that way!

12 on 12

Well --- almost made 12 photos this month -- had to take a couple from web images and from a couple other days, but this does pretty much sum up our weekend of the 12th.  Like this layout better than last month -- much brighter and more cheer.

12 Moments Around the 12th

Since I only took about 6 photos on the 12th -- 12 on the 12th became 12 moments around the 12th -- close enough.  Just so happened that on the 12th of January, winter finally came to us -- snow, gusty winds and very low temperatures.  We had a surprise overnight guest and a cozy morning in front of the fire in the fire place.   Other than that, pretty ordinary, but also pretty great.

As for the layout -- went with digital so I could document right now.  Not sure how I will carry this concept through this year -- may end up just doing an digital 8x8 album --- did that a few years ago and liked it.  However, am doing project life again, and don't want to duplicate -- but if I get my act together on the 12th of each month, may be interesting to have a little more in depth documentation of a day in the life of our family on that particular day.  On to February -- hopefully I will remember better then!

Mini Photo Books

Every year I create photo books for the great-grandparents who do not get to see the grand kids that often.  Actually, I just do the cover pages and then every month I send a photo collage and little write up of the month's activities.  All this is done on a 4x6 photo and then can be slipped in their books when they arrive in the mail.  This is the cover of this year's book (and the inside page) -- the books can be purchased at Wal Mart for $1.  Great little gift that keeps giving all year long.

December Daily Catch-Up

Finished up my December daily album today.  Photos of the pages are not all that great because it was late in the day and did not want to wait until tomorrow to photo -- wanted to be finished.  It was actually so easy to put toget her this year -- learned form the past that 1 - doing the foundation pages ahead of time really helps --- don't stress over the pages -- eclectic is good.  Also learned that having and stash and just working from that helps too -- again -- don't stress over product, just pick something and go.  Used an 8x8 album this year -- did not know if I would like it -- I do.  Did have to staple pages in the album to keep the pages from popping out and put paper tabs over the staples to hide them (also helps turn the pages.)  Next year I will probably go back to the rings -- but who knows -- that is 11 months away before I will start planning the 2012 album -- we'll cross that bridge when the time comes.