PROJECT LIFE - falling behind, catching up, organizing....

*Grab a cup of coffee, this is a LONG read*

As you all know, I have been working at my children's school for the past academic year.  Their last day of school was last Thursday (28 June) and we now officially have TEN WEEKS of summer vacation!!!!  I love having my kids home :D

I had recently fallen 5 months being in my Project Life *urgh* and was feeling overwhelmed and totally LOST as to what to do.  I stumbled upon Michelle Wooderson's blog, Mish Mash.  She has an online store with lots of beautiful goodies for scrapbooking and Project life, and she has written a FABULOUS article on tips and tricks on when you fall behind on Project Life, which you can find by clicking HERE.  I read this article over and over, and finally got the guts to go and tackle my way behind PL.....I had been taking "notes" of what I had done for the month of December 2011 (my Project Life Album runs July-June), so December was a doddle, just finding the photos which corresponded to what we did in December.....The rest of the year to date.....not so easy....

I started by going through my photos by date, and printing off the photos and taking notes corresponding to the date, including jotting down any ephemera I had for that day.  I had to surrender to changing my approach from "A Photo A Day" to "Photo's from the Month of...."  It was at this point that the knot in my stomach started to ease.

I used Michelle's Sticky Note solution and planned my pages by writing the date on a small sticky note along with a description of the photo for that pocket.  I added the date and "JOURN" on another sticky note and placed that where I wanted to add the journalling for that photo/day.  Using the sticky notes made it super easy for me to "rearrange" the layout if I needed to add anything in.

My next step was to print off the photos in the sizes I had made available for them, insert them into their predetermined slots (thanks sticky notes :D).

The next step was simply to do the journaling and a little embellishing for the photos.  I worked on this for about 3 evenings and got it all up to date!!!  I was ELATED......

But alas......*sigh*

I then ran into end of school year busyness at school and was either working late or coming home TOTALLY exhausted and really not in the mood to even walk into my craft room, let alone actually do anything creative.

I did keep up with one thing though, thank goodness....I found this super cute June-July planner from Paperchase...(oh happy days!!).  I have faithfully been updating it regularly with the goings on of day to day life, as well as religiously printing out the pictures from the day.  This was another pointer I got from reading Michelle's blog.  (BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE PLEASE FOR MICHELLE!!!!)

It is A5 size, with uber-cute colorful owls on the cover - I KNOW RIGHT!!! I love owls :D  The best is inside....

The left hand page has a week to view on it...It is just the right size to take down some notes on the day.  I haven't needed more space as yet, but if I do, I will just add in a sticky note with the additional information on it....

The right side is grid note paper with seven sections, corresponding the the day on the opposite page.  Here is where I write down the photo notes for the day.  Once I have printed the photo off for the day, I highlight it off (NERDY!!)

I print off my pictures using a Canon Selphy printer.  I have recently managed to get it to print directly from my laptop....It has opened up my printing size options, so future pages will have more interesting photo shapes and sizes.  I write the date of the photo on the tear tab of the photograph, so that I don't need to go looking through the notes again to see which day it belongs to.  All the photos from the week, stay in the planner in this week until I am able to add them to my album.

I have ordered my new page protectors from Becky Higgins through Amazon, but I am yet to get a new album to put them into, so I currently have the pages held together with clips.  I am planning a trip to Creative Hands soon to get a few more crafting supplies :D

I started with the first week of June last night, and have been HUGELY inspired by Leena Loh's blog, findingnana.  I stumbled upon her blog while trawling Pinterest for Project Life layout ideas.  She started PL in January and documents her journey through it beautifully.  You can go to all her PL posts by clicking HERE. Leena also has some goodies for sale on her Etsy shop.  I have ordered some of the buttons from her and I am sure you will see them pop up on some of my layouts :D.

I have sorted out bits and pieces that I will be using for PL and put them in a wooden container.  All of these bits are used in my SMASH book, which is on the back burner for now, but I will post on the blog about it soon :D

What would I do without sticky notes??????

Newly completed left page for the start of June....

Right page for June....

Lastly, I have recently installed a couple of FAN-DABI-DOZI Apps on my iPhone, especially for using with Project Life....Here is my list of recommends of iPhone/Ipad Apps which are a must have....

Instagram (no brainer :D) - iPhone and iPad

Photo Collage (simple but fun to make collages *duh*) - iPhone and iPad

Befunky (fun photo effects and frames) - iPhone and iPad

I have recently installed Camera Awesome on my phone, I am still learning its workings.  I will keep you posted as to what I think :D

I am sure you are all read out, but thanks for sticking with it....

I always love to hear from you, so leave a comment :D

xx

Pretty Paper Studio - JUNE KIT

I was so honored to be asked to guest design for Pretty Paper Studio!!!  A fantastic online store, with amazing kits and other scrappy bits!!!

I received my pack in a gorgeous brown envelope, sealed with a sticker with the store logo on it....This alone set my heart aflutter.... it was just so pretty, before I even got to dive in to the stash inside....

When I opened it, I was treated to a burst of printed and plain card stock, stamps, embellishments galore and a special little treat...TWINE!!!  Who doesn't love twine :D:D

Included in the kit was a page sketch.  I tackled the sketch first as I had the PERFECT photos for the page....My daughter and niece as flower girls for a recently family wedding and the colors of the papers were PERFECT for the photos....

Products Used:Echo Park Playground Simons Says 12x12” Patterned Paper, Amy Tangerine Sketchbook Paige’s Cobalt Composition 12x12” Patterned Paper, Dear Lizzy Nepolitan Cheerful Notes 12x12” Patterned Paper, Amy Tangerine Sketchbook Muse Woodgrain Thickers, Authentique Dicton (Word Stickers), Dear Lizzy NepolitanThanks a Bunch Stamp Set, Dear Lizzy Nepolitan Printed Chipboard Shapes, My Mind’s Eye Miss Caroline Happy Rub On Transfers, My Mind’s Eye Follow Your Heart Twine (Set of Three)

Products Used:  American Crafts 12x12 Cardstock Grey, American Crafts 12x12 Cardstock Ladybug,  Echo Park A Boy’s Life Energetic 12x12” Patterned Paper, Amy Tangerine Sketchbook Kristi’s Craft 12x12” Patterned Paper, Dear Lizzy Nepolitan Printed Chipboard Shapes, Amy Tangerine Sketchbook Bits Decorative Tags, Dear Lizzy NepolitanThanks a Bunch Stamp Set.

Products Used:  American Crafts 12x12 Cardstock Kraft, Dear Lizzy Nepolitan Cheerful Notes 12x12” Patterned Paper, My Mind’s Eye Miss Caroline Living 12x12” Patterned Paper, My Mind’s Eye Miss Caroline Happy Rub On Transfers, My Mind’s Eye Follow Your Heart Twine (Set of Three), Amy Tangerine Sketchbook Muse Woodgrain Thickers, Authentique Dicton (Word Stickers), Dear Lizzy NepolitanThanks a Bunch Stamp Set, Button from one of the Amy Tangerine Sketchbook Bits Decorative Tags.

I thoroughly enjoyed this kit!!!  Thanks to Pretty Paper Studio for an amazing JUNE 2012 Kit!!!

You can find Pretty Paper Studios by clicking the following links:

Pretty Paper Studios Site, Facebook, Pretty Paper Studios Blog, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Keep crafty!!!

Jo

Words To Live By

Hello friends!!!! Many, many years ago, after a life changing experience, I realized that always playing it safe did not necessarily get the best life experiences. I started living by the life motto "rather regret the things you did, than regret the things you didn't". From that moment on, I faced challenges head on, did some not too smart things (I was young, being stupid was a right of passage), and did most things by jumping in with two feet then thinking about it afterwards. This is how my best memories have been made.

It is also what drove me to risk loosing my best friend by perusing him as something more than a buddy to hang out with....18 years later, we are happily married with 2 amazing and beautiful children. This brings me to the image below...Mark Twain had the same idea about life.....

 I am by no means saying run reckless with gay abandon, but rather than play it safe and choose the safe, well thought out option, every now and then go with the slightly more risky option and see what adventures will present themselves to you....the road less travelled often has the most unspoilt surprises to give you.... On that note, leave the housework for later, pull out your scrapping stash and GET CRAFTING!!!!

 Be Inspired

 Jo

A Page About Me on Mother's Day

Hello scraplings!!!

Something none of us do often enough is scrap ourselves....We are always behind the scenes, the "mammarazzi" if you will, ensuring we capture every moment for us to preserve for our children, grandchildren, and so on....

I cut my hair recently.  It was about halfway down my back, and I got it chopped off at the shoulders....saving on shampoo and conditioner now :D

I took this photo with my iPhone, to send a picture to my husband who had been away for a while, and was a few weeks away from returning home.....

I don't like myself in pictures, so when I do find one that is semi-decent...I scrap it :D

I loved the paper as it is a very "me" paper, the colors are just up my street, it is a travel paper, which is something I love, but I do not do enough of....and the camera...well... what can I say...I'm a scraper.....

Once again, I dug into the depths of my stash and found a J bookmark which my kids bought for me for Mother's Day, YEARS ago!!!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all of you out there....we are doing one of the most important jobs around!!!  We deserve a day of tea and toast in bed :D:D

Keep creating!!!

Jo

A True Angel

A little while ago, my daughter went to a Super Model party.  It is really cute.  The girls all get a champagne glass of fizzy grape juice when they arrive which really makes them super special. After rehearsals, hair and make-up which is all done "behind the scenes", the mums are invited into the studio, where we are treated to a fabulous fashion show, with each girl modeling two looks, dress up and swim suit.  The whole show is photographed and the party organizers take fabulous professional photographs which are available to purchase a couple of days after the party!!!!

When I saw this photo of my daughter, I was totally blown away....I couldn't get into my craft room quick enough to create a page :D

I used paper which I have had for a VERY long time for the background.  I was waiting for the perfect photo for paper I totally love....My initial thought process was to keep it really minimalist, so that the photo wouldn't be lost....When I dug into my "girly" embellishments, I got carried away and added a whole lot more than I had planned....I am happy with the result though and wouldn't change a thing :D:D:D

Happy Scrapping :D

Wedding Photos

Hello....

We all love a wedding.  In March, we attend a family wedding in Blythedale, Natal, South Africa.  It was a really beautiful beach wedding.

This is a picture of my sister-in-law, who was a bridesmaid.  She just looked so lovely in this photo....(she always looks lovely).  She is one of those girls who is not only beautiful on the outside, but is beautiful on the inside too....

I used neutral colors for this page and kept it quite minimal...adding my favorite embellishment...an owl :D

Thanks for stopping by....

Happy Scrapping

Jo

Falling in Love with Paper Inklings

Hello lovely scrapping friends....

Every now and then we all have a little romance with a specific supplier of scrapping goodies....I have just been introduced to Paper Inklings through a new scrapping friend....It is an Australia made and produced product and OMG, it is totally stunning....Now the snag is that I don't know if these amazing papers, chipboards and Rub Ons are available here in Dubai, but I am positive that if you hop onto their site here and send them a mail asking where it can be obtained in your area, they will be able to help.  I am sure their products are also available online for delivery internationally.

I have placed a massive order through a friend who has a direct line to the stash in Australia, and with some luck, I will have a large range of the products to work with and showcase.  They have some amazing paper, chipboard and rub-ons specifically for tween boys (I have a tween boy and battle with paper - too old for car paper and too young for grungy paper)  I was lucky enough to be gifted some of their paper and rub-ons, so here is a layout made with just a teeny party of their hugely amazing range of products.....

So, if you are looking for some amazing new stash and haven't seen Paper Inkling products around, please visit their site and see if you can get your hands on their stash!!!!

JoSoCrafty is neither affiliated to Paper Inklings or  been given any product in lieu of promoting their product.  This is an independent review on their product.

Happy Scrapping!!!

Jo