Participated in Big Picture Classes Creative Crop during inter{national} scrapbook day. I tried really hard to keep up with and complete as many of the challenges as possible. I was able to complete 8/10 challenges.  This was a first for me. In doing so, I also found out I won a package of 5 products by Ali Edwards over at DesignerDigitals.com! So very exciting! I've already chosen 5 of my products and have downloaded them. Thank you to Big Picture Classes, Katie Pertiet and Ali Edwards for that opportunity!

These are the 5 products I chose (and it was not easy to narrow this down). :)

1. For the Love of Chevron Paper Collection

2. Hello You Circles Brushes & Stamps

3. Messy Life Lines Brushes & Stamps

4. This Photo Circles Brushes & Stamps

5. What We've Learned From You Layered Templates

I'm excited to start making layouts using her products!

I've also been busy taking a class with Cathy Zielske called Clean & Simple. I adore this class. Really, can not say enough about it. Cathy's method is so simple, stream lined, and really focuses on design principles that help a layout really come together. A huge shout out to Cathy Zielske! If you have never taken a class with Cathy Zielske... it is a must. 

Well, that is what I have been up to... along with the usual every day stuff of life. Have a fabulous day!

Wow. It has been a LONG time since I've blogged. Hmmm. Not sure why that is. Well, actually, I do.

The kids are getting tucked into bed too late. Really, 9:15 is just too late. If they were at least in bed and reading by 8:30 I'd be okay with that. But when my time comes only at 9:45, I am not a happy camper.

By the time I plop myself into bed and pull my laptop out my husband is ready to go to sleep and my clicking away at the keyboard is not what he wants to hear as he's trying to fall asleep.

Well, we have a nice little loft area that has been in need of some reorganizing. It's one of those spaces that just seems to collect odds and ends, the laundry basket, books, toys, etc. Do you have one of those spots in your house?

It really hasn't been put to good use. Until now. I've taken out two bookcases that weren't housing any books, an old broken dresser that we had grown so accustomed to looking at that we didn't even realize it looked horrible sitting there against the wall.

I wish I had taken a before picture so you could see how cluttered it was. But here it is now. I have an old rocking chair that I used when the boys were babies. It is not a beauty, but is so unbelievably comfortable. It's a rocker/recliner. It's the perfect chair for me to sit in with my laptop, it's almost like being in bed - that comfortable. A usable space for me at night when Michael wants to sleep and I want to continue clicking away. It is just right outside the bedrooms. Perfect.

Keeping me "company" while I click away on my laptop at night are my three little cutie-patooties (who are not so little anymore). *sigh*

On another note:
I'm going to start making lists, again. AND I am going to start using my organizer, again, and actually carry it around with me. I am most organized and efficient when I have a list going on so I can cross stuff off as I go along.  Love to cross things off. It makes me happy and I feel I've accomplished something during the day. :)

Printers and {Project Real Life}

I've been keeping up with Project Real Life and needed this class to "follow along" to get me back in gear with photo taking, but more importantly documenting. It really is so incredibly simple.

Here are pictures of my first two weeks of Project Real Life:

I've been using journaling cards that I've had from previous Project Life kits that I had leftover.
I've also been using this corner chomper by WeRMemoryKeepers. I use the 3/8th inch side which cuts the same rounded corners as Becky's pre-rounded journaling cards. This way my corners all match and that makes me happy in a silly little way. Then I sometimes use a date stamp and ink to date the journaling cards. I also had some arrow stickers from a previous Becky Higgins Project Life Kit to point to the photos I was journaling about.

I have multiple types of printers for printing out my photos. I've been in search of what would make it easier for me to print photos for project life... and I've realized... for me, hooking up my camera at the end of the week or each day and printing directly from my camera is the easiest and more assured way that I will print my photos out for that week. Now, I'm not always thrilled with the coloring, brightness, etc of the photos that I take... but I feel like at least I have decent photos that are making it into an album and that I am documenting the little stories.

Here is a list of the different printers I have:

Epson R2400: I love this one for any and all printing. I usually print 4x6, 8.5x11, 12x12, and even 13x19 prints.  This produces amazing black and white photos. The only thing I don't like about it is the need to change out matte vs glossy black ink. 

Canon Selphy CP780: Great for when I want to hook up my camera and print directly. It prints 4x6 or 2x3 credit card size photos. I'm not as happy with the quality of the print as with the Epson... but it's handy and quick.

Instax, by Fuji: This is handy and convenient as well. You take a photo with the camera itself and print it out instantly. It's like a polaroid camera from the "old days". It's great if you're say traveling and want to take photos and document along the way.

I also have the Fuji Pivi MP-300 Instant Print Camera. I do love this one for the same reason as the Instax. Only with this one I can hook up my digital camera to it and print from the photos off of my camera. I love this one even more. I can travel and print with it very easily. It prints similar sized photos as above. Here is a link to Amy Tangerine where she gave a good review of it.

I'd say I use my Epson and Fuji Pivi printers the most out of the above... but I still love them all.

FIRST SNOW FALL

I saw our forecast yesterday and knew that it was suppose to start getting cold... and snowy.

 Yesterday, not only did it get cold, it certainly got rainy and hail-y. Typical northern Maine weather.  It did snow last night and we woke up to just a dusting of snow. I really can't complain because we did have an unusually amazing summer and Fall this year. I suppose it is time to pay for all of that nice weather with a cold, snowy winter. I saw this off and on this morning. Yes, it was snowing! Brrrrr.

As I sit in my cold room, because the heat in the house has not quite caught up to warming the air, I wonder why I am living in a cold climate. I guess there is a sacrifice to be paid for enjoying four seasons. 

My agenda for today: 

With Thanksgiving on the horizon, I pulled out a journal I made earlier in the year. I was going to try to write in it at least once a month of things I am grateful for. Well, I made it through two months and then life got in the way. So, today, I plan to journal in my Gratitude Journal (made with a kit I bought off MyCraftChannel.com). It came with chipboard covers and paper from the Jenni Bowlin line. It originally came with three rings but I used my zutter binder instead to bind it all. I love the way it came out. Super cute.

What are you grateful for and do you keep a gratitude journal?