creative@heart

where did the time go?

I can't believe it.  I checked my blog today and it was like...that can't be right?  A whole year has gone by?  A lot has changed.  Funny...I remember starting Ali's One Little Word project earlier this year.  My word this year : change.  I guess you can draw your own conclusion from that one. 

Over time I may elaborate more on what has changed, but for now I think I'll add a little love to my blog with a new photo! 

A peek at my new studio space.  Still a work in progress.  Still boxes on the floor.  Still finding homes for items I love.  Still purging things I need to let go of.  Still changing.

Note to self:  start thinking about a different word.  Joy.  Happiness.  Life.  Blog.  All come to mind right now.

 

 

...finding fall

And a little bit of creative time to play with an idea I've had for some time now.   I truly long for the change in seasons.  Living in a warm climate doesn't always bring about "fall" in a traditional way...so I have to really look for it in non-traditional ways.  The air may not have a chill in it...but a candle with a familiar scent can make me "feel" like it does. 

I've created this mini album to document my journey to "finding fall" this year.  It's a hand made canvas album (about 5x7 in size) and stitched with fabric ruffles for fun.  Inside there are traditional "paper" pages that I will fill as the weeks go by.   It's all about rustic creativity in this one.   Where will you find fall? 

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Looking for some creative inspiration?  Lisa has started her Fall Creativity Project here.  I invite you to check it out...it was a starting point for me.

...wait for me...

...oh lonely blog.   I fear it's just you and me on this blog journey now.  So hang in there....and I'll be posting again soon.

Crate Paper Restoration

Have you seen it, yet? It's stunning. This is one of those collections that makes you fall in love with the hobby all over again. It's so beautiful, it's hard to cut into. It's vintage, it's muted and bright, it's feminine and masculine. It's perfect. Head on over to the Crate Paper blog to see the full range and the gorgeous design team examples. 

via lorigentile.typepad.com

The most exciting new CHA Summer Release I have seen yet. Just had to share this post.

memories to treasure

Months of creative planning.  A team of dedicated volunteers.  Countless hours.  Sleepless nights.  Pretty much sums up my "day job" for the last few months and I can't think of a better place to work!  Working for a church has to be a calling.  But I am reminded & always amazed at how truly rewarding it can be.   I put together this little "treasure" as a reminder of just that.  

Mini Album: Basic Grey.  Mix of Papers: MME, Basic Grey.  Metal Accents: Tim Holtz.  Transparencies & Accents: MME.

I *heart* my team that helped register over 1200 kids this year! 

 


 

The kids filled this huge crate with food donations each night! 

Logo printed on transparency sheet and cut to fit shape.

my favorite things...

I truly adore making mini albums.  They take more time and attention to detail but the end result is always something special.  This mini is a special project for Top Shelf Memories and is soon to be the home for some of my special memories + photos.  Enjoy and may you be inspired to create!

 

balance = creativity

Even when my life is crazy busy...there's nothing like a little creative moment to restore a bit of balance. 

I found this kitschy gift bag made from recycled bottles that I just adored and knew it would be the perfect beginnings of a baby shower gift I needed to put together.  Naturally I wanted a card that would be equally as cute.  Really love how this came together.

And a special little girl had a birthday today!  And since I made one of these for her sister a few months back...it now was her turn to receive one.  

 

Planning to finish up a special project this weekend, and take some time to enjoy the small things!

A Week in the Life

I've always wanted to do this...   the normal.  the everyday.  real life.  When I look through my pages I've scrapbooked over the years it's the everyday pages that stand out the most for me.  Ali has been an inspiration to me [and many] for some time.   Last fall I enrolled in her online class Yesterday & Today.  Although I have yet to completely finish the class I know that while working on each lesson something was changing in me. 

My goal is to keep up.  to keep it simple.  to complete it.  to capture everyday.  In order to keep from getting overwhelmed I have searched for a system that will work and after some much needed quiet & creative time this morning have the "bones" of the project pretty much worked out and put together.

So excited for Monday!

A sneak peek into my "week in the life"

I knew the moment I saw this organizing binder & accessories @ Target that I had to have them for this project!  It had all criteria I was looking for.  The album size was small, 3 rings, it had accessories like paper & clear pocket pages. I always have loved the idea of using ordinary stuff in new ways.  It's perfect!

 
I started by altering the cover to keep the album closed.  The plastic is a bit stiff so I wanted to add some type of closure.  Keyhole by Tim Holtz  My basket of simple supplies is organized and ready to go.

I love the journal card idea so I created word prompts and blanks to fit my clear pockets.  (they are a bit of an odd size...larger than a business card)

 

Daily envelopes [embellished: because they are just more fun that way]  For my daily photo pages I used the journal paper and mounted them to white cardstock for extra strength.  Story stamp by Ali Edwards.

 

I just adore these little tabs that Ali created for her own project this year.  So simple.  So I just had to!

I'm ready for a Week in the Life!

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Don't scrapbook?  Check this post for a digital way you can do this project with today's technology. 

Take a Chance

It was almost the "final" hour and I was still on the fence about submitting a project.  An encouraging e-mail from a friend and "click" I did it.  The waiting began.  I said a prayer and if it was meant to be...it would be.

And it was!  I was chosen as the second place WINNER and receive $100 in Little Yellow Bicycle Products.  So glad I took a chance!  Read more on the LYB blog

No foolin' around

Top Shelf Memories debuts their new site today and their very first kits.  Beautiful papers and accessories to get creative with all for just $25.  Choose between a girl...or boy theme and go have some fun!  Featured below are some of the pages created from the "boy" kit.

 

I love how versatile this is...who would have thought I could have pulled off this page from a "boy" themed kit...but I did!  [disclaimer...the pink dot paper and pink letters were from my own supply]