Storage for Clear Stamps

My sister and husband both gave me a bunch of empty CD cases, and I finally got around to going through, organizing and pitching all our old CD's today while Scott worked on taxes (not often that we are both upstairs in the bonus room at the same time).

I know that the cases make a cute frame and I may use some to do activities for kids in the future, but I also wanted to use some to help organize my clear stamps (most of which were still in the plastic wrap they came in).

I organized them according to theme (like the journaling blocks below)

and then put them all in a little bin (from Bed, Bath, and Beyond).

I have many more cases if anyone is interested in trying this...just let me know!

Baby Girl's Album

I finally have gotten started on an album for Baby Girl. I am following the same formula I did for Ryan...calendar pages detailing the nine months before her birth. I'll then do calendar pages for her first year. When I did this for Ryan, it took me two volumes. Everyone says the second one gets fewer pictures, so we will see. :)

Here's a sample:

I am also keeping it very basic...I bought some cheap paper on sale at Archiver's to do the background, punched the month with my quickutz from cream watercolor paper, and on the second page, I am doing a write up on some paper ripped from a notebook (for the edge effect), and including a few family pictures highlighting the month. Makes for rather quick work, and hopefully I will be caught up to March by the time she arrives!

Valentine's Treats

All the kids seem to give out Valentine's Day cards with treats attached these days, so the Scooby Doo cards I bought at the end of the season last year, just don't seem to make the cut. Ryan and I made these instead:



I printed out the bag toppers that I designed from Microsoft Word, Ryan filled in his and his classmates' names, and together we made the pretzel-kiss/hug-m&m treats!

Very happy with how they turned out!

Valentine's Day Wreath

Finally took the Christmas wreath down and replaced it with this:


Made from a grapevine heart-shaped wreath covered in red feather boas. Fun!

Project 365

You can read about the whole Project 365 saga here, but today's post is about me finally doing it!

I have decided that this will be my family album for 2009. This way, instead of being a year behind, I can easily work on it a bit at a time and be done by the end of 2009 (or soon thereafter). Plus, my album will contain lots of little things that define and illustrate us as a family, rather than just the big events. Big events may get their own pages within the album, or a mini album all their own. As for the biggest event of the year (coming in just a few weeks!), she gets her own album anyway. :)

So, everyday I take a picture, and everyweek or so, I print them out, journal about them and put them in the album. I am not doing much extra...an ocassional stamp or sticker, but pretty much using what came with the kit and getting it done. May be the first time in my scrapbooking tenure (12 years worth) that I am "caught up."

Here's my workspace:

And a few completed pages:

Charming

I did this layout digitally through Creative Memories Storybook Creator Plus software.

I bought the program awhile ago and have been using it for little things here and there. Have been making due with the free downloads, and the papers and embellishments that came with it, but may buy some other downloads as I finally begin my 2008 album (still thinking it might be digital!).

Here's another project I did. I have been making my Mom and MIL calendars every year, and this year, I did them digitally, so I only had to create one set and print it multiple times.

I actually printed 4 copies, giving my sister and myself one, too! SO EASY!

Christmas goodies

Wow! From Halloween to Christmas. Can you tell I haven't had a lot of time (or energy) to be creative lately?

Here's some things I'm working on for Christmas:

First, the fleece tie quilts that Kellie introduced me to. Many kids in my life are getting one of these. They are simple to make, although, kneeling on the floor to cut them with my big belly right now is tricky. I need to find some Terps fleece to make one for Ryan and I.

Next up is the containers for Ryan's teachers' gifts. I've had these Chinese take out containers for awhile, but can't stamp or paint on them. Then I got the idea from Paula to do rub-ons. Now they are almost gone! We are going ot fill them with chocolates.

Then, there's Ryan's ornament for this year. I knew I wanted to make him something related to pirates, pandas, soccer, or fishing (all big this year). I saw this ornament in a Bass Pro advertisement...they had the kids make them one weekend at the store. Thought it was perfect!

And finally, some cards. I do not make my own Christmas cards anymore. Too many, and I like doing the St. Jude ones at Target because they are cute and money goes to St. Jude. I do, however, like to make a few to send gift cards in or as thank you notes. The paper is from Archivers, the flowers are Making Memories, the stamps are Stampin' Up (Warm greeting) and Hero Arts (THANKS).

Hope you are getting the chance to be creative too!