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A Return to Crafting & Real Life

This album feels perfect in every way. It radiates from a sincere place in my heart and each time I look at it, there's an intensity I can't quite overcome. I recently told a friend that often, my best work stems from "real life" - if I'm put to the challenge of both processing and dealing with something outwardly, what ends up coming about is a direct reflection of what's inside. This album speaks volumes as to my current standing, and if it had an actual voice, it'd tell you that I'm ready to move on, make peace, and continue with the search. And allow me to say, it feels tremendously good to craft, again. :) It's been far too long since my last run-in with an album of this size. 

A couple of you emailed me concerning the brand of the album used in this project - it's Bo Bunny! I purchased it from a local archivers, but I imagine it's probably available elsewhere (online?). The album includes canvas binding, and a petite binder ring set. It's of a convenient size as well - neither too big or small! It's easily paintable, but I prefer the look of "Kraft" instead. If you've questions about the album or have difficulty finding a resource in which to purchase one, I'd recommend getting in contact with Bo Bunny directly. I'm sure they'd be of great help in locating an appropriate retailer for you. 

I've been doing a lot of experimenting with page sizes and page combinations inside the album. I've also taken to evaluating the relationship between each of the given pages - my goal is to have them blend seamlessly and as an individual, cohesive unit. Whatever page you happen to be on, a slight sneak of the page beneath it is within view. This encourages "movement" and curiosity. It also serves as a great opportunity to build varying embellishment set-ups between multiple pages! 

* Note that I went digi, too! I've a sizable digi collection on my computer, but rarely find time to take advantage of it. Because of the eclectic nature of this album, I thought it an optimal moment to make use of a couple of digital frames and phrases. Super simple...

Here, I took an individual digital frame, duplicated it, and then partnered the two frames together on a canvas colored digital pattern paper background. As a final detail, a quick digital phrase was added about myself on top the bottom photo.

And the shabby chic paper clip serves a specific purpose...

Between the photos and it's corresponding transparency (situated via staples), is an open space for private journaling. I trimmed to size a journaling spot from Vanilla cardstock and tucked it inside the homemade pocket. To assist in keeping the journaling spot from escaping, I positioned a clip. When you pull the clip, the journaling spot follows. It's a nifty little trick, don't you think?! 

 

I've plans to add a photo to this area, but it's without for now. I guess you could say it's a page-in-progress. :)

It's the tiniest of details that make all the difference sometimes - and there are always ample embellishments available to cater to these kinds of set-ups. Consider some of the smaller stickers you might have on hand - how often do you look past them because of their size? When used alone, tiny items tend to get lost - but when used in partnership, they take on a whole new perspective! The key is organizing them and having them ready at any given moment - cups come in extra handy for storing tiny odd and ends - so do drawers!

 If you've any questions about the album or the supplies used, please leave me a comment. I'll try my hardest to provide an answer/response in a day or two. Have a lovely Wednesday!

 

Thanksgiving at the Farm...

I can hardly believe it's already over, but let me not sugar coat it for you. Laugh. Holiday's are always a major toughie for me, even after four years of repeated holiday gatherings - something about them never really changes. Maybe it's the getting in the car, running the marathon, listening to Ethan ask "when are we going to get there", and then realizing that I'm doing it all over again, solo...well, technically, there's our great big family and we LOVE them tremendously!! Outside that wonderful fact, it's still just the two of us and the reminder that I love and miss Eric nearly ten times more this time of year. I'm sure he got word of Ethan's readiness to dispatch himself from our vehicle - thankfully, there's always the "car nap"! :) 

We did enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving out on the farm! I've a sister that lives amongst the rolling cornfields in the middle of Wisconsin, in a beautiful home with her husband and two daughters. They own a substantial size dairy farm that houses nearly 2000 cows! This year, I attempted to talk Ethan into visiting the baby calves barn, but he politely declined. I think he would of loved it! Beyond the farm, though, is complete sereneness, which always captures my attention during our visits there. Suppliment that with good food, loving family and lots of presents (Ethan's birthday, too!), and there's truly no place better to be on Thanksgiving! My sister always does an amazing job as a hostess, too - love her to pieces! 

This was our final destination on Thanksgiving - note the shabby chic decor on the porch...

My sister always takes to decorating the outside of her home all year 'round! Her displays are a site to be seen with most of it crafted from scratch! She's routinely painting furniture to fit whatever theme is ongoing...and in the Summer? Well, lets just say the place is covered in flowers and a plethora of vintage decor items! 

 

These are my two lovely sisters - I've been told that we look alike! Laugh. It's the smile, by far! And there was a picture with me included, but I'm without it. I've posted a picture of myself and Ethan below..but first, check out my sister's cute hair style...I couldn't resist.

And then there's me and Ethan...

Here are a few more photos from the day's event..

And, of course, just in time for the photo - I'm not sure how many times I've told him to reserve this sort of cleaning habit for when he's alone, but I guess opening gifts might qualify as one of those perfect moments. 

 

I'd been informed that the family dog, Milton, is nearing his final days. He's been a wonderful addition and will be missed wholeheartedly.  

 I hope all of you had an opportunity to spend time with family this Thanksgiving holiday - I appreciate you reading about mine, even it's not-so-perfect parts. I shall rejoin you in a day or two with new images of the mini album "in-progress"...it's turning out beautifully! 

Break & Mend :: A New Mini Album

I'd heard rumors from a friend that dating was a complicated, tiresome process that involved a prerequisite amount of time and lots of babysitters. Not surprisingly, she was right. Two weeks ago, I said good-bye to a four month dating relationship. I had really liked the guy, too. The break was painful, more so than expected. Upon hearing of the disconnect, I fell apart, almost entirely. Eventually though, I gathered my senses and today, I feel tremendously improved, and what I've learned from the experience is that my heart is still very fragile. It's broken state from the original loss still presents scars that are susceptable to reopening - not surprisingly, a few of them came to fruition during the recent event. I took great care to mend them..and already, I'm back out there, braving the dating world. I still wholeheartedly believe there's someone that'll aspire to join our small family - and he'll embrace me with the recognizable love and compassion of a genuine, meaningful relationship, which I deeply desire to have again.  

Sometimes, to get over life's hurdles, artistic endeavors are an absolute must! One of the reason's I originally started scrapbooking was because of the journey we took on with Eric during his battle against brain cancer. Scrapbooking became a means of externalizing the story and the feelings it brought about from inside me. Because the healing process is always continuous, I find that sitting down in my studio is one of the most therapudic activities I can do for myself. So, a few days ago, I pulled together ideas to promt a new mini album about the tumultuous dating voyage I'd been warned about. Inside are my pursuits and dreams for finding love again...take a look.

I'd like to shift the emphasis to the album itself and some of the techniques that went into it. First, this lovely fabric flower. It's so easy to make - all that's required is a sharp scissors and some fabric. I trimmed five or six "imperfect" circles, scrunched them up with my hands and sewed them together with a large button. To tack it down, use either a hot glue gun or a strong wet adhesive.

Beneath the pretty flower are two pink hand-trimmed ribbon tails. Clear glitter was added to the edges of each one. 

 

Do you remember these adorable epoxy alpha stickers from old school "KI Memories"? Yes, I've a sizable collection of vintage scrapbook supplies that I absolutely refuse to get rid of!! As someone who works on the manufacturing side of the industry, I appreciate "retired" designs, these cute alphas included! The large "W" is also a number of years gone - some of you might recognize it as belonging to Making Memories. I *heart* their old stuff!! 

 

Tone on tone designs are some of my favorites - One of my good friends, Tara Anderson, frequently creates with it's subtle effects via her beautiful layouts. It's also with great frequency that she uses Martha Stewart's "Starbust" punch - I took to both with this album. Strewn about the cover are tone-on-tone hand punched flowers that are topped with buttons, epoxy stickers and pearls. 

You might have to squint your eyes to notice the transparency beneath this page. I took an old Fancy Pants transpareny mini-album page, cut it in half and added a patterned paper extension to it's left side. I stapled the two different materials together as wet/dry adhesive just didn't cut it!  To the pattern paper side, I positioned Studio Calico's kraft butterfly stickers, Paper Trey Ink's stamped label, Pebbles pretty pink flower and a framed bird from Chatterbox. And if curious, the leapord oval belong to Basic Grey. Isn't it fabulous?! And one last item - the "I Remember" label is Elle's Studio - a great place to by labels, by the way!

Don't have a sewing machine or wanting to save time? Impliment a white gel pen instead of a sewn line to create direction between various elements on your project. In doing this, I seek the assistance of a ruler :)

 

I hear it time and time again that "less is more", though for some reason, I can't get away with this popular motto on my own projects! There are occasions where it "just happens", as in this instance. The quick addition of a Jillibean journaling card, a few AC stickers and a subtle Fancy Pants "love" transparency appears to work really well! I sprayed the transparency phrase with OA's pink mist and embellished it with an OA die-cut heart.

 

And just beneath the introduction page, is my very first briefing on the subject. I added a small tab created from a label punch to the upper right side of the page - I then overlapped it with a second SEI page tab sticker - yes, you can double up your page tabs! :)

 

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving my friends! We're to be on the farm for the day! It's always great when we have an opportunity to catch up with family - I hope to return soon with another installment! 

 

Blog Revamp Ahead + New Headshot

I would like to kindly thank Jing Jing Nickel for stopping over at my place and catching a couple of new headshots of me today. It seems like forever since someone last pointed an SLR my way. It's a tremendous relief to finally have a fresh image or two of myself without a camera in the frame. And all because I've a great friend in the neighborhood - thank you once again, Jing Jing.

The next change I hope to make here in the next couple of weeks is a brand new blog header. That doesn't go without a possible blog overhaul, too. We'll see if I can manage to pull it off in a timely fashion - wish me luck!

Resembles "Dad" + Farmhouse Harvest

Crate Paper is putting on a special presentation of "Farmhouse" projects this week and just as luck would have it, I found a few moments to sit down and create a couple of contributions. They're on the "Small" side, but are still akin to the normal, everyday layouts I'm accustomed to making. The details are intact, the colors vibrant, and the creative use of bits and pieces is varied and fun. The real highlight though, it took me only one hour  to finish both mini layouts - talk about a major time saver!! Now the challenge is finding an album to fit them in - who sells 4" x 4" albums?

To check out Crate Paper's week of Farmhouse Harvest Projects & Giveaways, visit the CP Blog! 
 

Photoshop Actions: Kubota Actions {MultiVitamin, Punch Lite, Deep Shadow}

Minnesota is experiencing an extended Autumn season this year thanks to the cooperative weather - though, the cold finally came around and now, the trees are getting around to shedding the last of their leaves. As they pile up, my front porch blends in with the neighboring surroundings. The red against the gray, surprisingly, is a beautiful display. Enough so, I snapped a few images of the contrasting medley.

Then there's a neighboring tree nearby that sheds more than enough leaves to fill the front yard it just so happens to inhabit. The tree is old - it's bark looks like leather that's slowly crumbling apart at it seams. I posted a snippet of the aging tree, above, with it's forgone leaf collection strewn about the ground.  It's exquisite, in it's own unique way.

 

Photoshop Actions: Kubota {MultiVitamin, Midbright, Punch Light, Simple Soft CS2}

We caught the sun at just the right moment last evening. It was perfect timing. Ethan was in a fully cooperative mood, too.  Our photo session, or should I say "photo chasing", lasted nearly an entire hour. Once finished, the photo count was an astonishing 500 +. Yikes! While sorting through them this morning, I noticed a remarkable resemblence between Ethan and his father. The two are nearly twins. The bigger Ethan gets, the more I think he personifies "dad" via appearance and personality.

In another month, Ethan will be five. His birthday only a few weeks away - I'm so excited for him - though deep down, I wish Eric could be here to celebrate the moment. Been missing him lots lately. The love he provided us as a "family", the wholeness of being a family, is a way of life I can't help but crave this time of year. The holidays always bring out these sorts of feelings for me. The desire of "togetherness" is abundantly strong - I'd give anything to share a day, as a united loving family, with Eric.

Here are a couple more images of Ethan, in action...

Have a great weekend my friends! Thanks for continuing to accompany me here, and supporting me on this journey.