Be Fearless

I am in the midst of a craft room re-boot so really shouldn't be crafting ... right? Ha!

Yesterday I watched one of the new video classes from Two Peas (this one) and was so inspired that I added a row of brads to the layout that I was making using this Elle's Studio sketch. It all came together to look something like this.

The sketch is designed to be used by those doing Project Life but as you know, I don't do that. But I liked the segmented nature of this and knew that I could use one of the uglier pieces of card stock I have just finished counting and organizing! The only papers showing are a couple pieces from a new (purchased before January 1st, with a 40% coupon and with Christmas money!) 6x6 MME pad, and an Elle's Studio journaling tag from my stash.

I like the recap feel to this layout. A couple smaller shots of our decor and then the highlights from the day - new stuffies, all the Day/Nielsen cousins together and the adults Christmas Dinner table. The kids are getting old enough that things are starting to feel almost civilized!

Here's a close up of the row of brads I added to the title block (above) and then (below) I added brads to the centre of some of the garland images on the journaling tag. Only one of those brads was from a Christmas collection. Man  it feels good to use a pile of stash items on a layout!! I think I am really going to like the new Scrap Your Stash series at Two Peas! 

A couple more detail shots for you.

And then my other crafty endeavour today ... a page in my 365 to 40 SMASH book!

I started following Krystal Norton's blog at the end of last year and today she had a new post all about being fearless. It really spoke to me and I just pulled out my SMASH book and got busy. 

I started with a base layer of gesso, then green acrylic paint slapped on fairly messily on purpose. I also pressed some of this packaging material we got from Disneyland into the wet paint to add texture but I think I may have covered it up with the flowers. Oh well. I know it's there!! I wanted images of wings but couldn't find them. These pictures of peonies I found in old magazines worked (I think peonies are such gorgeous, showy flowers - it's as if they don't care that they are overshadowing all other flowers in the garden!) 

I grabbed some letter stickers from my stash and spelled out my title. I still have a few supplies from The Upstart Crow at home, one of which is this gorgeous wing stamp that I am totally in love with. I stamped it then added the SOAR tag on top, smudging the stamp in the process so I stamped it again! I scribbled a bit of gold Gelato around the edges of both pages then once things were mostly dry, I did a bit of journaling.

The peony image was bigger on this page so a couple of tags, some Gelato and a phrase finished it.

It's nothing super awesome but it makes me happy to look at it!

While we are on the subject of my 365 to 40 SMASH book, here are a couple pages I forgot to share with you last month. In the chaos of attempting to do a December Daily, work close to 30 hours some weeks, keep track of my kids and all their Holiday activities .... it got lost in the shuffle! Better late than never, right?

Purely playing and experimenting!

Thanks for popping in today. Have a great weekend!

Practical Scrappers Holiday Sketch #2

Wow! Two posts in two days! What's going on? LOL!

Over on the Practical Scrappers blog today you can see what some of our designers did with this sketch.

Here's mine.

Since my computer is in the shop with more recent photos trapped inside it, I went with what I had in my "printed to be scrapped" drawer. These are photos from Marley's first Christmas - I look so young!! We were having a Christmas celebration with my brother and his family and took Marley and my nephew Matthew to see the lights at Van Dusen's Gardens. I had fun mixing Christmas papers and tags with non Christmas papers on this layout. Digging deep into your stash can be so rewarding sometimes!! In fact, it has prompted me to come up with a totally crazy idea that I'll share with you soon!

Here are some close up shots of the details.

Layers and layers of tags by Teresa Collins and Echo Park.

Like my lights? I used my Holiday Ornaments Framelits by Stampin' Up! to create them. 

I liked how these Basic Grey letter stickers matched the old Basic Grey papers I found in my stash. The addition of  a simple pen outline makes them pop off the page.

Well, thanks for coming by today. In case you are wondering what is happening with my December Daily ... the short answer is nothing. I found it completely impossible to keep up with this year and have packed it away to try and finish in the new year. Between my work schedule I either wasn't around to record what was going on or I was too tired to attempt to make pages even when I DID have both the story and the photos. So, the lessons I have learned here is that next year I will prep WAY more, make it simpler and probably go to a December Recap book instead of feeling the need to record every day. As much as I'd like to say we have something worth recording every day of the month, the truth is we don't. I think one spread of our normal routine is more than enough!

I am rambling so will sign off now. Have a great weekend everyone!

Practical Scrapper Holiday Sketch #1

Over at Practical Scrappers we are showing what we did with this sketch.

Here's mine.

And some close ups.

Got crazy with my red Dazzling Details (Stampin' Up!).

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you click on the link at the beginning of this post to see all the other amazing layouts by my fellow designers.

Let the Fun Begin!

In November 2009 I got the idea to make an advent calendar for my girls. I wanted something with little drawers that I could put 3 small sweets or gifts into. You can read all about it here. Last year I revamped it using the Dear Lizzy Christmas line. Why, you ask? I needed to make the drawers easier to open and my original "drawer pulls" were ripping off.

So, why am I telling you all this now? Two reasons. One, I don't think I took pictures of the Advent Calendar last year and thought you might be interested. I've been seeing some pretty cool versions out there this year so figured I'd throw my little calendar into the ring! And two, I had to fill it up today as tomorrow is December 1st. Marley has been gently reminding me (read - most annoyingly pestering me!) to get it ready but I've been so busy I have been putting it off. Really couldn't put it off any longer though could I?

Here it is.

I've since moved it into it's December home above the fireplace in the family room. I really hope Christine can't reach it! She'd empty the drawers before you could say "Naughty List"! 

Just one close up for you today. These are the first two drawers. I can tell you that they only contain candies (extras from Halloween). I normally fill the drawers with little candies and a note with a fun Christmassy activity to do. This year, with my two jobs I'm not sure how much time and energy I'm going to have to do all those extra things so candies will have to suffice. For the most part!

Anyway, tomorrow (almost today!) also means the official start of my December Daily. I'm working all weekend so I'm not sure what's going to get in there but ... hope you'll check back to see!

Have a great weekend everyone.