December Daily

I feel weird just typing that.  It's almost March.  I started this project right before 'the move'.  I kept an Iris tote out while I packed my room.  It held my supplies for the album and a few tools, just what I would need to finish.

Somehow, the stress of the move, the holidays and work sucked the creativity right out of me.  I put that Iris tote in a dark corner and let it be.

I took pictures of our Elf's adventures because he was the one constant this year.  I have slowly started uploading photos of his antics off my phone and sending them off to Persnickety Prints for printing.

Here is what I've finished so far.

 I used a Simple Stories Sn@p album.  You can see the supply pictures in this post.

 Studio Calico star transparency tucked in a pocket with Studio Calico veneer stars, sequins and Chic Tags veneer.

 Chic Tags tags.

 I believe the map paper is October Afternoon.  Geo tag veneer is Studio Calico and I added the gold enamel dot.  The gold stars on the map paper are from Chic Tags rub on sheet.  Bottom half is Chic Tags Good Tidings paper, OA tag and Websters Pages bow clip.

 Mixture of Chic Tags and October Afternoon.

 Maya Road craft envelope.  I swapped out the red twine for the natural jute.  I punched holes so I could add it as a page in the album to store extra photos of the holiday house we visit every year.  Heidi Swapp glitter text sticker, OA sticker letters and Chic Tags veneer.

 I adhered a photo of us to the back.

 More gold rubons from Chic Tags, OA tags and a flair button.

More Chic Tags, October Afternoon (elf sticker) and the American Crafts gold Thickers.  The gold alphas are Chic Tags.  All Chic Tags products are from their Good Tidings collection.

I am busy finishing up the next group of pages for the book and I'll share them as soon as I'm done.

This is Awesome

I'm sure you're thinking.... more trains?

Yeah, me too.  My son is obsessed.  I've tried to minimize the trains in his life because they're all he thinks about.  At this point, there is no denying his love of them.

If you can't beat them, join 'em?

All supplies for this one were in a Cocoa Daisy kit from a few months ago.  I used a Tim Holtz distress ink with the rolling camera stamp from Glitz Designs.  Some of my favorite items are used on this layout:

FLAIR (Evalicious)
TWINE
ENAMEL DOTS

** Photo idea is from Pinterest.  I used trains where the original one used toy cars. **

Let's go on a train ride

I've been digging through a lot of my older stash and trying to use it up.  I say that before every CHA show but this time I'm actually following through.  Kind of nice to dig out some older stuff and use it.

Older being a relative term here.  This is some Simple Stories from last year?  Maybe the year before.  Can't remember.

Pictures are from N's first real train ride.  It was a reward for his potty training efforts.

Hidden journaling on an old Autumn Leaves office mini file folder.  I found these while moving.  Awesome 'vintage' craft find.

 Some fun star pins......

Those cute arrow clips from 2 Peas.

 And then some train flair.  Grab yours from the shop.

{Love}

After the two train layouts, I finally felt like I was 'back in the game'. The scrapping game that is.  I really thought I was going to sell all of my supplies off and never craft again.  It certainly felt that way.

I threw this one together with some scraps from another layout I created last year using some Elle's Studio items from her retail lines.  I mixed in some Chic Tags, A {Flair for Buttons}, Freckled Fawn embellishments and some hand stitching.

 Some dog flair.

 In case you're curious about hand stitching, I'm working on a tutorial that I will post soon.

Freckled Fawn veneer.

I'm happy to report....

*** ETA: I was just informed that my blog design has disappeared.  I guess the designer is no longer hosting my images.  I've contacted a new designer and will have everything fixed soon.***

that there has been some crafting going on.  After 4 long months of, well, nothing....  I was finally successful.

Between the promotion at work, the start of school, buying a new home and moving, its been along 4 months.

My new scrap space has been set up for a month now and I wish I could say there's been a ton of crafting going on in there, there hasn't.

I tried.  I got out pictures and paper and spent a week moving stuff around.  Almost 3 weeks later, I finally put that layout together.  It felt good.  Its not the best layout, but it works.

So I signed up for a weekend retreat hoping that I could get into a groove and make at least one more.

Because, I'll be honest.  I was ready to call time of death on my mojo.  I really was.  My friends were scared because they knew if I waited long enough it would come back.

I'm adding in a few sneaks of the layouts I created.  I need some sunlight to take better pictures and then I'll post full images.  I'm really happy with most of these.  I've got a million ideas in my head and a stack of photos to scrap.  The retreat was just what I needed to get back into it.

 I find hand-stitching to be very relaxing.  And enamel dots are like candy for me.  I coined a new phrase this weekend.  'If you like it, then you shoulda put a dot on it!'  (a la Beyonce)

 My car all packed for the retreat.  The spot in the middle was for my overnight bag.  I chose the minimalist approach this time.  Normally I pack my entire room.

 Sonic.  Oh, those cranberry slushies are the best.  Good thing there is a Sonic within walking distance of the hotel.

 And the crop room.  48 women this time.  Don't worry, its the big ball room at the hotel and there is PLENTY of space.  There was enough room between rows for two chairs with people in them and you could still fit a rolling tote between.  And a 6 foot table with power strips.

 A view from the rooftop pool.

I'll post full images later this week.