Category Archives: getting started

May6

Quick Monday Note: Getting Started Documenting

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Quick Monday Note: Getting Started Documenting

A quick note to show you how I am using the printables I gave you last week.

I printed out a copy of each of the journaling card prompts and two sets of the stop, drop, and write list.

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I’ve got a copy of the list on my refrigerator, and started the stop, drop, and write exercise as soon as I got going this morning. I’ve also got a sheet for keeping tally marks of how many sodas we drink, and loads of dishes and laundry we do as well. I find it to be useful to keep track of just how much routine stuff I do.

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I’ll use the prompt cards as my family does something interesting. I think I may use the “She did what?” card right now, and document this morning’s fiasco. You’ll have to wait to see what I write till next week. 😀

Have you started documenting your week? You will love being able to look back at this later!

Mar25

There’s No Such Thing as Perfect

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There’s No Such Thing as Perfect

Everyday we attempt to live productive lives. Lives filled with families and friends, jobs and commitments. Occasionally, we squeeze in time for ourselves. We are in constant search for that perfect mix, that equation that equals balance between home and work, self and other.

There’s no such thing. Sometimes, you will need to concentrate on work, and your home will suffer. (Anyone want to wash my dishes?) Sometimes you need to make time for yourself, and your family and friends are temporarily of secondary importance. It all changes, it’s all in flux.

The details of your life are not the same for every day of your life, even if you think they are. Don’t believe me? I can prove it, because I scrapbook.

In April of 2010, I participated in Ali Edwards’ Week in the Life project that she does every year. That year, during that week, I was working on prepping my MIL’s house for sale, my husband was driving the kids to school, and I taught two classes at the local JoAnn etc. This year? We’re in a different house, down to one car, so the kids and my husband ride buses to school and work, and I am working from home.

So much time has passed since, and so much has changed, I am going to do another Week in the Life project. Ali’s not doing her week until the fall, but I don’t want to wait that long. I’m thinking I will  document a week in May: the 6th through the 12th. That will give me some time to decide on structure and contents, which I will share with you as I create them.

Join me?

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Your life changes. Every single day is different, and interesting for its own sake. It’s not perfect, but it is just right. Don’t make excuses, just document it. You won’t regret it.

 

Jan18

10 Words: No More, No Less.

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10 Words: No More, No Less.

How did you do with my challenge to you? Did you make a page with only ten words on it?

This is what I created:IMG_4320Do you see the small little tooth at the end of toothless? It’s actually a little piece of plastic that was stuck on my son’s new watch to keep the battery from engaging. He finally started to wear it yesterday, and of course left the little piece of plastic behind.

I found it while wiping down the bathroom counter today, and when I saw it, I immediately thought “tooth!” Since this same son had recently lost his two front teeth, it seemed appropriate to make a page about his gap-toothed grin.

I narrowed my choices to a single kit that my local scrapbook store had put together with Studio Calico products, and tried out a new punch I got for my birthday (thanks Mom!) and searched for a photo or two of him with his gap. These were as good as I could find. I was sure I’d gotten a good gap-photo, but no such luck. And both teeth are well on their way in now, so no re-creating photo possibilities.

A few distressed edges, a little pleated paper ribbon, some salvaged scraps (note the tiny hexagons, from the border punch!) and ten words later, and a page is born.

My ten words? “Toothless. Hopefully you won’t need braces like your Dad did.”

Quick, simple, and communicates more than just look at these crazy kid photos. You can journal. You really, really can.

 

 

Dec11

Everyone Has to Start Somewhere

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Everyone Has to Start Somewhere

You say you want to scrapbook. You’ve read magazines and how-to books. You’ve even taken a class at a local store. But you still haven’t done a single page.

What’s stopping you from starting?

Are you afraid? Sure you’re going to do it wrong? I’ve got news for you: there is no “right way” to scrapbook. I’m even going to go so far as to say, you may already be scrapbooking, and don’t realize it.

When it comes right down to it, scrapbooking consists of your words and your pictures, put together in a way that makes sense to you. What it looks like can vary greatly.

Sometimes it looks like something your grandmother might have put together, with black pages, photo corners, and clippings pasted on the page.

Sometimes it looks like a photo album, with photos slipped in sleeves, and just a few words written in the margins.

Sometimes it’s clean and graphic, and reminds you of a page from a magazine.

Sometimes it’s got fifteen layers of paper, paint, and fabric, and just a single beloved photo.

Sometimes it’s a photo book, where you add your photos and words to a pre-planned set of pages.

Sometimes it’s words and photos together on your screen, published on a blog for all the world to share.

Sometimes it’s a slide show of your favorite photos and video set to an especially meaningful song.

That’s all scrapbooking. All of it. Really.

Scrapbooking is your story, told in whatever way works for you.

What story do you want to tell? What photos are begging to be used?

That’s where you start.