A Little Bit of 2011 in Review

I belong to the Jenni Bowlin monthly scrapping and paper crafting club. Each month I receive a box of paper crafting goodies in the mail. Each kit in 2011 contained a calendar Bingo card that matched the month of the kit. They were exclusive to the kit until this year.
About the time July rolled around I was wondering what I would do with them. I thought a mini album would be fun. But I had to wait until December to get all 12 months. Now you can buy the whole calendar set from Jenni Bowlin.

This last week I put the album together.




I started by adhering pattern paper to the back of each Bingo card with decoupage medium. The back side of January became the front cover. The back of February became the opposite page of the January pages and so on. The final page was a piece of thin chipboard covered on both sides with pattern paper. Between each double page spread I inserted a smaller journaling card, postcard or tag. An extra spot for journaling, photos or embellishments.

I printed four photos for each month, except for August,
as I guess I had nothing to take photos of??
I only had two to choose from!
I was busy with work that month, and I guess we didn't do anything
or go anywhere.

I sized and printed each photo for the mini to 2x3 inches. 

I placed the photos on the bingo card, patterned paper pages or on the center tags.
I went through all my word phrase stickers and small journaling spots and used them as accents on the pages. I usually don't use these much on my regular scrapbook pages.

Most of the journaling was written on center inserts.

 

To hold the album together I used my new Bind-It-All. I used just a short 6 post long binding coil, as I did not want to limit my photo or embellishment space. 

I had fun creating this mini, and since I will not get around to scrapping 2011 anytime soon, this will be a quick way to look back on the year.

I have another two mini's I made recently, one using my Bind-It-All again. I never really thought I would use a Bind-It-All, but I found a deal at Tuesday Morning and am loving using it! 

Happy Anniversary to Me

Today, February 16th is my 32nd wedding anniversary. 

Happy Anniversary to my hubby William. 

We have been through thick and thin, the good and bad, but we both still love and care for each other. We know we will always be there for each other. 

For the last 32 years and the next 32 years, hopefully! 

Here we are in 1980. 

And here we are in 2010. 

This is the card I made for Bill for our anniversary.
The stamp is an old set from Stampin' Up, Antique Autos.
I printed the sentiment on the computer.

Front, "I Love Everything Vintage"
Inside, "Including You... Happy Anniversary"

My hubby knows I really like "old" stuff, so he knows I do love him lots!

He always tells me that he only has a "store bought" card for me, but they always have sweet and loving sentiments, and I like them just the same. Someday he says he will go in my scrap room and make me a card. Oh, what a special card that would be. 

We did not go out to celebrate on our special day. Bill had ankle surgery just last Thursday, and even though Bill said he would be willing to go out, I knew he would not feel up to it. 

So tonight I cooked some rib eye steaks and pasta at home, and we will go out one day next week. 

The card is really much warmer looking? Sorry for the bad photo!

12 of 12 in 2012 February

On Sunday it was the second 12th of the month this year and I am participating in
the 12-of-12 in Twenty12 project. 

On the twelfth of each month, I take 12 photos of what ever is going on that day. This is something more manageable for me than Project 365. 144 photos instead of 365. 

And this is a leap year so it would have been 366!

After I take the photos I am making a two page layout with journaling describing each photo. 

There are photos depicting the simple everyday things like what we had for breakfast, 

what we worked on that day. 

I start taking photos in the morning and continue until evening and then scrapping 

the twelve photos on a layout, Or you can post on a blog, what ever works for you. 

If it is a day with a big event, your photos can all be about that event, 

or like this past Sunday, just around our ranch. 

My two page layout is above, and each individual side of the layout below.

All of my layouts are going in a separate album. The layout below is my title page, 

that I just completed this month. 

I will be making all the layouts for the album from my big stash of basicgrey paper. I am also using the same Quickutz alpha dies for each layout and numbering each photo in Picasa. But the arrangement of the photos and basic grey paper line will be different each month. 

You can see my January 12 of 12 layout here. 

Look for March coming up about mid March!

Twelve of twelve

Project 365 is big with the start of the new year. I have seen lots of posts on blogs, Facebook and twopeasinabucket. It seems like everyone is doing it! I did Project 365 in 2009 and really enjoyed the project. But toward the end of the year, finding new ideas for photos sometimes was difficult. 

I don't have small children so there was not a lot of playtime, school 

and sports photos to fill up my pages. 

But I loved photographing the every day. The simple things in life 

we can easily overlook and forget. 

While on Two Peas the other day I came across the 12-of-12 project. Take 12 photos on the 

twelfth of each month, for all of Twenty Twelve. 

12-of-12

in

2012

I figured I could easily do that! 

So on Thursday the twelfth I got out my camera in the morning and started photographing. I took three  photos in the morning, three at noon, three in the afternoon and three in the evening. Easy peasy!

I was so excited to get this project underway, I uploaded the photos the next day to pick up while running errands on Friday the 13th. 

Since I wanted smaller photos to be able to put all 12 on a two page layout, I made a collage in Picasa, two per 4x6 print, so I could scrap 12 3x4 or 4x3 photos and save on processing. I also added the numbers 1-12 to each photo in Picasa, so I could match my journaling to each photo. 

Last night I scrapped my first 12-of-12 layout for January. 

I used some old Basic Gray papers for the January layout. I have a big stash of Basic Grey, so I may use Basic Grey for all 12 layouts.

Here is my first layout. I hope to remember to post each layout as I complete them each month, ending the photo project on 12-12-12. 

I already will have a change in my house, as I discovered a crack in the mug I took my first photo of for the project. 

Baby Frenzy

OK, I posted this last night and somehow I deleted it. So here goes again! 

On November 20th my friend Heather and I hosted a baby shower for our friend Jenny. She is expecting a baby girl sometime around January 1st or 2nd. All of the guests were scrappy or crafty friends of Jenny. Her Mom Janet and mom in law Pat, also came. 

Since Jenny is having a girl we could use lots of pink! Since I am the mom of three boys, I have not had much chance to use pink in my mommy years. It was a fun change of pace! 

I made this banner for a shower decoration and a gift for Jenny for baby Isabel's room. 

The garland is made from about 5" size paper hearts sewn together and stuffed with tissue to make them puffy. I added a crepe paper rosette, a scalloped circle and a glass glittered chipboard letter to spell Isabel. The small hearts at the ends are the same except I added a little resin rose.

The hearts were all tied together with silk seam binding bows. I love how it turned out. 

The bouquet below is made up of similar hearts. Each heart had a guests initial on it and we used them as favors for the shower. We attached them to skewers for the bouquet, but the guests could take them off and hang the heart or use it for an ornament. 

Heather made the cute pink cupcakes and added pretty pearls and toppers to welcome baby Isabel. 

The party table all ready for guests. 

 We served appetizers to start and a dinner after. We used no paper goods for the shower except for a few napkins. I enjoyed getting out some of my pretty dishes, serve ware and linens. 

I found this little wooden ironing board while on vacation in Oregon in September. I thought it would be fun to use as decor for the shower. I had one like this when I was small. The card below the ironing board was the invitation I sent out for the shower. The little boot vase holding the pink roses was a vase my mother in law received when my hubby was born, in 1950. And a little glittered crown is what every little girl needs. 

Our guest of honor Jenny with me and Heather. 

My shower gift to Jenny was this little doll bed and dolly. 

The little bed started out as a simple doll bed set from Ikea. Cute but very gender neutral. Since the baby will be a girl, I could not resist painting it pink and sewing new pretty pink linens. 

And sewing a baby girl doll with curly blond hair, like Jenny!

I hope Isabel enjoys her dolly & bed. 

It was so much fun to plan and co-host the shower for Jenny. I enjoyed every minute of it! 

Jenny has wanted a baby for a long time and I know she and her hubby Jim will be great parents! 

And I can't wait to meet Isabel! 

Let me know if you would like more details on the paper crafts or sewing projects!

November Daily Thankfulness

November 22 and 23rd

I was busy yesterday the 22nd getting ready to travel north to visit my sis in Oregon. I did not get a chance to post for yesterday,so I guess I am thankful I was busy getting ready to travel.

Today we traveled up hwy 101and hwy 199 to my sister's in Oregon. We started out with cloudy weather from home to Eureka and after Eureka we hit lots of rain. All the way north.

But despite the rain, the trip was uneventful. Just lots and lots of beautiful scenery to admire. The Avenue of the Giants is always a beautiful side route to follow and hwy 199 along the Smith river is another beautiful roadway. The fall color was beautiful in the vineyards and the trees. One of my favorite times of the year.

I am very thankful we had no car trouble and the roadways were clear, even with all the rain.

And now turkey day tomorrow! Turkey, stuffing, potatoes, gravy, cranberries and pumpkin pie.

Yummm!!!

November Daily Thankfulness

November 20th

Today I am thankful for my hubby, Bill. 

Today I hosted the baby shower for Jenny. We had a great group of gals come to celebrate with Jenny and are looking forward to welcoming baby Isabel. 

The shower went well and after all the ladies left, I had pile of dishes to clean. I put the leftovers away, and was going to relax for a bit before "clean up". But my hubby went in the kitchen and started cleaning up the kitchen, loaded the dishwasher and washed all the big bowls, etc.
While I relaxed and posted my photos from the shower on Facebook. 

I didn't ask or expect Bill to clean up after my party, but I appreciate that he did. 

We have been married almost 32 years now (come February).

There have been ups and downs as in all marriages, but over time Bill has been very thoughtful and I am thankful to have shared my life with him. 

November Daily Thankfulness

November 19th

Tomorrow I am hosting a baby shower for my friend Jenny. Her daughter Isabel is only about 6 weeks from making her debut to the world. 

Our friend Heather is co-hosting the shower with me. I have been having so much fun planning the shower as I have three boys and seldom get to live in a world of pink and girly stuff! 

Today I bought a few last minute items for the shower. I went to our local candy emporium Powell's Sweet shop to buy pink M&M's and Jelly Belly's for the shower. 

I looked on line for candy in pink and there were so many to choose from. But since I needed them for just the shower, I did not want to buy the big minimum quantities, so I bought mine locally. 

But there were so many choices! Pages and pages of candy in pink! 

And just as many for other colors also! 

jelly bellies   Pink M&M's

So today I am thankful my friend Jenny is going to become the mom she has wanted to be for a long time, in just six or so weeks. And thankful I have been able to plan this shower for her to celebrate Isabel's arrival.
And thankful to play in a world of pink! 

November Daily Thankfulness

November 18th

I am thankful today for my sister-in-law Joanne. She is my not only my sister-in-law but my friend.
I can always count on her for help, for fun, for anything!

She has been very good to her nephews and taken them on many trips and adventures.



She is funny and giving. She is the family historian and always keeps in touch of all of the family,
both near and far. We love her and are thankful she lives right next door!

November Daily Thankfulness x3

November 15th, 16th & 17th. 

Three days of thankfulness I missed posting, but the three things I am most thankful for. 

My three boys. 

No longer this small and sweet, but still my most precious treasures. 

I am even more thankful for the three fine young men they have grown to be. 

November Daily Thankfulness

November 6th.

Today I am thankful for sweet little babies. I got to meet the newest member
of my extended family today.

Sweet little Chase.

He is just a month old and this was the first time I could get together with his mom to meet him. I wanted to see him last week, but I had a nasty cold and did not want to expose the little guy to that! 

A new baby is like the beginning of all things - wonder, hope, a dream of possibilities.
Eda J. Le Shan

Sweet little babies, so new, so perfect, so loved! 

Welcome little Chase! We are so thankful you are here and glad to have you join our family!

November Daily Thankfulness

November 4th.

Today I am grateful for the fresh eggs we receive from our chickens. We started raising chickens this spring when my son Daniel built a chicken coop and bought 10 little chicks. Five Red Sex Links and five Ameraucanas. In September he added four mallard ducks to our brood.

We ended up with two roosters in the bunch. One we returned to the farm supply, the other we kept. He greets us with his crowing at all times of the day and night, not just dawn. I don't know how much longer my son will keep him around. I sleep right through his crowing!

Each day we check the nests and there are often two or three eggs. Or more. When we hear a lot of cackling from the hen house, sure bet there is another egg.
The girls are quite proud of themselves when they deliver!
And it is a double delight when these fresh eggs contain a double yolk! Something you seldom find in eggs from the grocery store!

We have had cattle and sheep here on the ranch for years. Raising animals is part of our routine.

But to enjoy the fresh eggs our new hens produce
is truly something to be thankful for!

November Daily Thankfulness

I have seen several posting on FB and blogs about finding something to be thankful for everyday of November. 30 days in November, 30 things to be thankful for in my life. 

I am sure I have many more than 30, as do others, but we often get so caught up in the "busyness" of life it is so easy to take so much for granted. 

So this month I will try and post something I am thankful for everyday. And since this is the 2nd of November, I am already behind!

November 1st. 

Sally and me in 1960? Sally is the one with hair :)

I am thankful for my sister Sally. Especially since the 1st is also her birthday! I gave her her gift last week and wished her a happy birthday then. I could wish her one here, but she does not use the computer and internet at all! I wish we could visit and chat more, especially as she is only 60 miles away in San Francisco. Time and work always seem to get in the way. Time to work harder to stay connected!

November 2nd.

The weather has been so good, the roses are still in bloom!

I am thankful today for the lovely weather we are having! I was able to tackle a painting project outside and it was so warm and sunny, the paint almost dried too fast! No signs of the cold and miserable weather they had in the east this week. Something truly to be thankful for. 

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween! 

May your Halloween be spooky, scary, fun and full of Halloween delights! 

This photo of "Jacks" is from last year. We have pumpkins to carve this year, but with no water yesterday and today, due to pump issues, we did not yet carve our pumpkins. 

Below is the carving crew!

This is the Pumpkin diorama I made last year. My friend Jenny and I saw one on display here and could not take the class so we made our own versions. 

 

I cut a "fake" pumpkin in half and decorated the inside and out with a spooky Halloween display.
I printed a black and white clip art of a tree silhouette and glued it to the back of the pumpkin. I mounted a flying glittery witch in front of the tree. My photo is one I found in an antique store. It appears to be a photo of an adult Halloween party and all are in costume. The back of the photo dates it as 1929. I cut out the group of Halloween revelers and added some color with pens.

In front I added moss and some pumpkins and a skull. I gathered a orange and black crepe paper ruffle and glued it to the opening. I added some sequined trim and a Halloween greeting.

Some of my yearly Halloween decor is shown below. My hutch decked out for the season. The two ceramic Jack-o-lanterns came from Pier One, way back in 1978. (I never throw anything away!). After Halloween I turn them around and they stay out as pumpkins until Thanksgiving.

My plate rack gets a little decoration and the cabinet below hosts my paper mache figures and my urn decked out in white pumpkins, purple flowers and a lonely black bird.

I just made the urn decoration this year. Super simple! A black plastic flower urn from OSH, two white   fake pumpkins from Michael's, a black bird and fall flowers. Just add foam to the urn base, top with straw or filler. Pop off the stem of the bigger pumpkin (but don't toss it, you can save it for another craft project?). Place the big pumpkin on the straw, top with the second smaller pumpkin. Place a black bird on top. (His wires will stick right into the fake foam pumpkin). Add a few fall flowers and you are done! I did not use glue as this will sit in a safe place and leaves me the opportunity to change it out next year?

My paper mache collection is made of two I bought, the cat and small pumpkin headed ghost. The large squash man and ghost topped jack-o-lantern box I made. I wanted to make another paper mache figure this year, but didn't get around to it!

And finally, my Halloween tree! This is the second year of my holiday trees and I added several new ornaments and the witch hat topper this year you can see Here.

Just a couple of detail shots below.

I hope everyone has a fun and safe Halloween. I sure miss having trick-or-treaters come by our house! Way out here in the country, no one stops by! But I always have candy, just in case :) 

Where does the time go??

When I lost my job in mid September, I thought "wow, I will be able to get so many things done, have so much time to craft" Ha! I seem busier than ever and not much time to craft!

Between traveling for fun and for work I have been home all of 4 days in the past three weeks. 

My house is a mess, I have not been able to craft much, except for the weekend getaway in my last post! 

I had gone to visit my sister Lou in Oregon, for a week.

I came home Sunday for 3 days and then left for my scrapping retreat on Thursday until Sunday. 

Came home from that on Sunday morning.

Emptied my suit case and filled it back up to leave early Monday to fly to Boulder.

I flew home the following Saturday and finally crashed on Sunday.

On Monday I cleaned a bit, painted my old green bookcase that I moved out to make way for my new red cabinet I bought at Ikea to house my scrapbook albums.

I painted it black to go in my scrap room to replace my old wire cubes.
And since my scrap room is a mess, this is all you will see of it for now.

Tuesday was spent cleaning as I had not been home much lately and prepared for some overnight company. My nephew in Bakersfield had come to San Francisco on Amtrak and would be riding his bike from SF to my house that afternoon. A 60 mile ride on back country roads and some scary city riding. He is braver than me! Since he was visiting I invited my next door cousins over for dinner.
A great evening with family!

On Wed I got up at 5:00 am to leave for the city (SF) for a job search program. The third trip to the city for this program. The first trip I only made it halfway as traffic on 101 was a mess! The second trip, I made it with two minutes to spare! This time there was no traffic so I had an hour wait at Starbucks. It was only 4 hours long so that left me time to walk to Union Square and have lunch with my sister Sally. She works at Britex Fabrics so I also had a chance to shop. Mostly window shop as fabric at $50 a yard and up is not fabric you buy just because it is pretty!

Thursday I had more company, as my 3 Stampin' Up friends and I got together to craft and share ideas. Since it was my turn to host, I made up two sample projects for all of us to craft.

A fun way to spend the afternoon! After it was time to go to my son's football game.

Today was a day to relax. I finished up my ATC swap that I am participating in and will mail them off to my fellow ATC swappers. Artist Trading Cards have been around awhile, but this is my first time to join a swap. I have been in other swaps (circle journals, cards and charm swaps). I am looking forward to seeing all the great artwork I will receive!
And now more football tonight. Tomorrow I hope to do nothing! Or at least just what I want to do :)

Sunday I will be heading to Tomales for their annual Flea Market. I hope to find a treasure or two!