HELLO!!!

Today I am here to show you the beginnings of my 2014 Project Life album. I am hoping this will become a weekly segment as I keep up with documenting our life each week.

I am very pleased to say that I had my cover page and week 1 spread completed a week ago but I have had some trouble photographing it - something I hope to work on and improve over the course of the year! 

However, for now, please excuse the quality of these images - at least it is captured ;-)

My aim this year with my album is to keep with a double page spread per week. I think, or rather I KNOW, that my problem last year was that I tried to fit in too many photos therefore I got behind with journalling - and in the end, it still sits there with half the year undone and the first half partly completed! I have every intention of completing last years album but it will be done in dribs and drabs when I have some spare time.

Anyway...

Onto THIS years album!

Here is my coverpage...

Okay, so what I have done here is that on Jan 1, I went around each member of the family and took a photo of them, deliberately positioning them to one side of the shot so I could add text to the image. I took these on my iPhone, edited in the app Camera+ (which is what I use for taking ALL my phone photos - love this app!) - and then I uploaded each image into another app called Phonto to add the text! For the Mr and me, I used the phrase 'I want 2014 to be a year of...' and we added our word. I'm quite certain that no matter what year it is, my man will always say something about being awesome or awesomeness!! Hahaha!

The girls I started with 'In 2014, I WILL...' - Miss J came up with her own goals, and I wrote Miss K's. The biggest goal being to potty train!! Aaaarrrgggh - that is a WHOLE other story!!! ;-) 

I have used the pocket page type A for this, and added the photos into the 6x4" pockets.

For the 3x4" pockets, I have used a scripted word card from a past Project Life kit by Studio Calico. I subscribed to this kit at the beginning of 2013. I was going to cancel my subscription for this year BUT at this stage I am going to continue - for a little while anyhow. I do love them.

The other cards are from the Sunshine Core Kit which I am using throughout this album. I never really stick to just one kit. I always mix and match abit but I will keep coming back to this kit. It was designed by Elsie and Emma of A Beautiful Mess and it's ultra funky. Love it.

As you can see, I used some chipboard letters to create the year title on one card. The next card, I used an overlay with 'ADVENTURE' written on it (again from a previous SC PL kit) and stuck some mini black letters over it spelling our surname and popped it over the card. The third card, I cut down a gold paint swatch from Bunnings (yep, again. Love these.) and printed off our names from the computer, trimmed them up and stapled on to the gold swatch. I used a title tag from the Maggie Holmes 'Flea Market' ephemera pack (purchased from Polka Dot Creative) and wrote 'This is OUR story...' on it.

Pretty simple really but says all I wanna say to take us into the year.

Okay! Onto Week 1!

Here it is in as the double spread (again I ask, please excuse the quality of this image!)...

I always like to start the first pocket off with the week title. And this year, I would also like to be able to add a fave quote or phrase one of us has said throughout the week to feature on this intro card to the week. Week 1 was from Miss J - 'Mum means LOVE'. Awwww :-)

So just a little close-up and explanation about the first page.

I used some photo overlays (purchased from Craft House) on the beach and figs photos. I used stickers to create the text for the images ON the actual overlay. On the beach photo, I used a Precision pen from American Crafts to write the word 'wonder' and popped the overlay with the stickers writing 'Wide Open' on it and put them all together  - love the effect. Will be using these again. I have just learnt that there is a film that can be removed from the back of the overlay which aids in higher clarity - haven't done this as yet in these photos but will be doing that in future :-)

I included all photos I wanted but didn't have much space for journalling a few thoughts from the week so I stuck on a journal card with washi tape to the page protector over a photo that didn't really suit the colouring of all the rest of the page images. You lift up the card and can see the image of a lentil dish I made up one night for dinner. 

The second page included another two little flappy pockets as well. This just helps to include more photos and add more of the story. And it enables me to be able to use more of what I want to include without exceeding the double page spread ;-)

In one pocket, I used two shipping tags and tied together with twine and then added photos and journalling. I attached the bottom tag to a 3x4" grid card for stability in the pocket. The other card I cut some white cardstock to size (3x8") and scored along the 4" mark to create a 'lift-up' element to the pocket card.

JUST A LITTLE TIP: You can see that I've used some wood veneer and flair embellishments. These do add bulk to photos so what I have done is decorated the card first, popped it into the pocket and then attached the selected embellishment onto the actual page protector. This just stops the pocket from bulging and helps keep a flat look to the pocket when photographing too.

On the first page, I used an icecream flair from A Piece of Cake Designs. I also used some wood veneer from Think Spring on Etsy.

On the second page, I used a couple of mini flairs from an SC PL kit.

I have fallen in love with this style of memory-keeping all over again. I am determined to keep up with it.

I have my second week photos printed and ready to go. Must get into the studio to put it all together. 

I hope to be back within the next week with my Week 2.

Thanks for popping by.

Take care.

With Sprinkles of Sunshine...

Anna

I'm nearly there!!

I've got all the photos printed and the kit is sitting there ready for me to get the pages done - I've just got to find the precious moments of time to DO it. It comes together rather quickly once I'm in the studio and get started. Lately it has just been TOO HOT to venture out to the studio - it's like a sauna in there!!

Alas...

I do have days 10 through to 15 to show you!

Day 10

This page shows photos of the decorations in the boulevard shopping centre - Miss J was adamant that I take a photo of them, not that she needed to twist my arm or anything ;-)

and the other photo is of two lovely ladies that I met while at the park with my kids. They were rather a blessing actually and I came away feeling lighter and happier!

Creatively, I didn't really do much - some washi tape here and some washi tape there. And I used the stamp set by Kellie Stamps from the Polka Dot Creative kit I am using - yes, you can turn the HO HO HO stamp around and it becomes OH OH OH!

So I've gotta abit of OH OH OH and abit of HO HO HO in celebrating Christmas being everywhere we go ;-) LOL!!

Gotta love versatility hey!?!

Days 11 & 12

These two days were on one page. 

Day 11 was a photo of me reading a Christmas book to the girls before bed. I have a small pile (which is slowly growing) of books dedicated to Christmas and I pull them out every year. The girls were very keen to hear them! Love snuggling on the couch with my girls (if its not too hot being summer here in Australia and all) and spending this quality time with them!

Day 12 is a card I made using a 6x4" grid card. I used a gold paint dauber to create the strokes as a background, cut a triangle shape for a tree and stuck that on. Using the polka dot vellum in the kit, I laid that over the top and sewed around the edge. I used some hessian and a printed Christmas saying for a heading banner and stapled it on. The photo was of the big red bow on our front door that greets anyone who comes to our home.

Days 13, 14 & 15

Day 13 we had a bbq tea at hubby's work. And after that, we all hopped in the car after quickly packing it with our stuff, and started our journey over to my man's parents place. The kids slept (those dark little circles at the bottom of the page are them fast asleep in their carseats!) - we arrived there at 4:24am!!

Oh and I used some cherry flair from A Piece of Cake Designs (not the ones in the kit) - I bought from the November new release sale.

We managed a few hours sleep, had some breakfast, and the day was heating up so we headed for the beach!

I just LOVE beach photos - the light is always so great and they come out so fresh and fun!

The rest of the day was about family time and preparing for my mother in law's 60th birthday party!

The banner in the large cake photo was created using a strip of Kraft cardstock and cutting a wedge out of the bottom to create the banner shape. I punched a circle out of the top, stapled onto the page insert over the photo. I popped a birthday themed flair badge from The Greatest View on Etsy in the circle and that was that!

Over the page, I journalled onto the page insert I had used. I stuck on the end of a photo I had trimmed earlier of the beach and stamped the dates on it with Archival ink. I drew a border around it and arrows to each point I outlined for the days.

Day 15 was time to travel home. It was over 40 degrees celsius the whole way home. We stopped half way for a rest. The girls seemed to handle the heat and wanted to play but it was just too HOT - we ate lunch in the car!!.

Can you tell that I like writing onto my photos and creating borders with my AC Precision Pens!?! LOL!

When we rolled into town, we went straight to the beach and headed to the water to cool down - CLOTHES AND ALL!!

The air was starting to cool and it was just a lovely evening.

This time I've used Amy Tangerine stamps on my photos - 'oh YES' from a Studio Calico PL kit and 'so so good' from a roller phrase stamp I bought from my local scrapbook store.

My book is getting rather thick but I think it should all still fit once I'm done. I love bulging books, it just means there's heaps to enjoy!!! hehehe

Bye for now. 

Take care.

With Sprinkles of Sunshine...

Anna

Another mood board has gone LIVE on the Jot blog - this time created by fellow Jot girl, Amanda Hall.

It's full of beachy, summery goodness and loads of fun!

I've had my layout planned from the first time I saw this mood board challenge and wanted the perfect photo to go with what I wanted the layout to look like. 

However, kids don't really want to co-operate when there is beach fun to be had so I got what I could and worked with that! 

So here is introducing some happy little beach bums...

I am aiming to use more of what I have on hand in my craft room and incorporating into my layouts etc.

I quick-unpicked a pocket off an old pair of jeans. I stitched on some tissue wrapping paper for my background. Repeatedly used some Love diecuts (bought from Etsy). 

Other materials include:

-blue raffia

-yellow ribbon

-wood veneer hearts (inked red)

- enamel dew drop stickers

- A Piece of Cake Designs flair

- and other general supplies

I am enjoying using different materials to add texture and lift the layout.

If you would like to join in or be inspired by other creative team members samples head over to the blog HERE and check it all out!

Happy Creating!

With Sprinkles of Sunshine...

Anna

Hello 2014!

Hello my lovely readers!

The first day of the year was spent clearing out our caravan, tidying the shed (Mr Awesome did anyway!), picking and eating figs (by me!), doing some washing, relaxing, watching telly...and the day ended with a stroll along the beach and some splashing in the water!

I couldn't help but be filled with wide-open wonder as I walked along the beach with the sun on my back and the picture of my family ahead of me surrounded by such beauty. It really was one of those breathe-it-all-in kinda moments!

I did quite a bit of planning and reflecting throughout the day. I sat down and watched the January video for One Little Word by Ali Edwards (you can still register for this year-long workshop), printed out the handout and started connecting and researching my word and what it will look like in my life.

I want 2014 to be a year of GROWTH.

I am so excited and looking forward to all that this year will bring. I don't know - there is just something about this year...I look at the numbers 2-0-1-4 and it seems to have some feeling of greatness to it, like it has some huge meaning in my life. I can't put my finger on it, but I'm curious and anticipating all that 2014 will be.

I hope that this year 2014 will be a pleasant journey for you all, where the good far outweighs the bad and brings many blessings.

Let's do it!

With Sprinkles of Sunshine...

Anna

Well it's New Years EVE and I managed to get 4 days done in my December Daily album.

I have been plugging away with a couple of other creative deadlines therefore my DD has been sitting there patiently waiting for me to return and complete it.

I'm hoping that I will get it done over the next week.

Anyway, here I am to share days six to nine of our December...

DAY 6

I used one of the page inserts of the album for this day. I didn't have a particular story to tell on this day so I chose to write a list of things that I want my kids to learn and grow up knowing about Christmas and just life really. 

Creatively, I decided to go with a folder type thingy on the page. I cut a piece of 12x12" card at the 6 and 1/4" mark. I then scored this piece at the 4 and 1/4" mark and then another score line halfway between that line and the other end of the card. I then cut halfway down the right-hand side score line and cut a diagonal line down to the half way mark of the 'still attached' piece. Folding it in and stapling along the bottom, created the pocket for my little cards which held all the little 'pearls of wisdom' for my kids (and they are good for us adults to remember too!!)

The cover photo for the folder was a piccy from my camera roll on my iphone and I selected it within an app called Phonto and wrote the wording over the image.

Oh! And a few little Heidi Swapp goodies popped on this page too ;-)

Here is some examples of the cards inside...

(excuse the lack of quality - it was taken at night!)

I just kept it simple, using some 3x4 Project Life grid cards and stamping on the numbers, writing the words with black pen and creating a border by roughly outlining the card with a gold gel pen.

Over the page, I had just included a photo of my girls playing and the 'choose joy' print-off I had created using the Rhonna Designs app on my phone.

I also used a 6x4" Project Life grid card to pop a photo in of my Kindy girl with the reindeer mask she had created herself in her last Friday class with Mrs Simson.

DAY 7

I used the other side of the grid card to decorate and pop on the number seven using the Thickers from the Documenting December kit from Polka Dot Creative.

Just a couple of photos of some highlights from that day - pancakes for brekkie (always a hit) and playing with some baby Aussie Cards. Miss J loves collecting these! So glad they came out around Christmas time - it became a nice little December activity. And we have the full set of the red cards now - just in case you were wondering ;-)

DAY 8

(Please excuse the blurriness in some of these photos - they were taken in a bit of a hurry to catch the last dregs of the days light and to get out the door and catch the shops before they shut!!)

Day 8 was my mother in laws birthday. I have included a blown up screen shot of the text message I sent her to wish her Happy Birthday. See - December is not ALL about Christmas! LOL ;-)

I popped a button on the pocket in the left-hand corner of the page and stuck the 8 on it. Using the Thickers again from the kit, I spelt the word YoYo's on the photo of those scrumptious little bikkies that Mr Awesome makes! Some may call them Melting Moments - like me ;-)

I cut down another insert page that comes with the album and stuck a 6x6" photo I had edited on my iphone - again through the Rhonna Designs app (I really do LOVE that app). Mr Awesome had our big square mantle-piece mirror on the floor cleaning it and the kids had gathered around to watch. Me? I thought it was an awesome photo opportunity of course and snapped away ;-)

DAY 9 

Flipping over the 6x6" insert, I stuck in a photo of our dinner that night - PICNIC STYLE in front of the TV watching Kung Fu Panda! The girls love spreading out the blanket on the floor and having a picnic so I let them have what they requested this night :-)

The background was ripped up tissue paper from a gift I mention on the next page from Kate Mason of Messy Miss Kate. 

The gift was an awesomely handmade cushion from Kate. Made from vintage fabrics/sheets and doily and the word LOVE messily stitched on there in TRUE BRILLIANT Kate Mason style!! I ADORE IT!!

I used the pocket page with the two 4x4" squares and popped some red and green paint swatches from Bunnings in as the background cards.

In the 2x8" strip I cut a piece of white card and again glued on some more of the polka dot tissue paper from Kate's gift. I then cut a length of rustic twine and created the word 'love' along the strip stapling madly with my Tiny Attacher as I went along. I think it's one of my favourite bits of my album now :-)

And that is it for now. 

I will try and be back with more as I finish it - bare with me as I would like to have it recorded here on my little bloggy. I hope to not go too much into January with something Christmasy ;-/ Afterall - I've got lots of other things to get under way for the new year. 

ANOTHER YEAR OVER - A NEW ONE ABOUT TO BEGIN

Which brings me to the close of 2013 and my looking forward to what 2014 will bring. 

In my creative world, I am going to keep a few albums - a random one about me (more on that at a later date!), my 2014 Project Life album about my family's adventures throughout the year, and I will be putting together a Project Life / pocket style wedding album for my little sister who is marrying her 'darling' (as Miss J puts it) in February. Yay!

I am continuing on with Jot throughout 2014 which I am incredibly thankful and excited about! It's been such a wonderful experience and I am looking forward to more great things and fun times creating there again!

I am doing the One Little Word workshop by Ali Edwards again this year. You probably weren't aware that I did it this year cos I kinda kept it quiet really. Not intentionally. It just ended up being something I did for me on the side, in my own little personal world. I didn't finish the album in the full sense that Ali did but it's all in a folder where I used the reflective prompts to really connect with my word. It was a great experience. This coming year, I hope to actively get stuck into creating the album and creatively connecting with my word. I'm excited!

My word for 2014 is GROW! Earlier this month, a call for a creative team over on Polka Dot Creative came up. I had been following Jodie and her little business since I saw her advertise in Jot - issue 1.

With my word in mind, I decided to apply. 

And I was accepted! See the announcement over on the PDC blog HERE!

I am soo incredibly honoured and thrilled to be a part of this team. Can't wait to get started!

There is also many decisions to be made and many changes that are looking to be made in this New Year within our little family. I can't share too much yet as it's not set in stone. The beginning of 2014 is starting to look rather interesting I'll say that though ;-) But I am looking forward to it and eager to take part in life and make it One Big Sunshine Spritzer!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

Thank you for stopping by here and sharing in my life.

I hope you keep coming back in 2014.

Be happy.

Be safe.

Smile big!

With Sprinkles of Sunshine...

Anna

Well, I am slowly plodding away at my album.

Tonight I would like to show you my days 4 & 5.

Day 4 was the day I wrapped up some goodies for a special friend. I have a lovely group of online friends and most every Christmas (and other chosen times of the year we so desire!) we do a gift swap. This year I organised the gift swapping. I had the lovely Janelle to send a gift too.

I made her a set of four crocheted coasters in some of her fave colours - grey and yellow. I also made her a Christmas hanging decoration which was a heart shaped cookie cutter wrapped in ribbon. So simple to make and cute to hang - I will admit I made a couple for our home here as well ;-)

The other little package was some items I had purchased for Janelle - a floating tea infuser, a cloud sticky note pad, and some cute little polaroid prints from Typo of pretty teacups, teapots etc.

This page was pretty much photos. But for the decorative elements, I used a couple of 3x4 cards to journal on. I punched out a circle from thin cork, wrapped it with some thread and stuck on a number 4 using the gold thickers from the DD kit from Polka Dot Creative. I wrote my journalling on a piece of vellum which I then stuck onto the card with washi tape - also from the kit.

The other journal card on the other page featured a number list so I decided to write the gift items that I had put together for Janelle on it.

I also created another insert to slot in for day 4 as I had a special story I wanted to include for that day. Something that meant a lot to me.

I used a piece of 6x6" patterned paper from the paper pad in the kit. I didn't rip the top section of paper off as I wanted to keep this for the binder holes. I also cut a piece of 'Believe' Christmas Heidi Swapp paper I had spare from making the star insert back on Day 3. This measured 6x4". 

I attached the 6x6 photo (yes it is of vegetables and eggs - there is a story to this!!) to the un-patterned side of 6x6" paper. I used washi tape down the binder side of the photo.

The 6x4" card I scored down the edge a width of 1/2 inch. I stapled this to the binder edge, covering the main part of the photo.

I then added a title to the front and the journalling to the inside.

On the patterned back, I used the gold Thickers from the kit to write 'grateful' and attached a black chalkboard-like sticker using a white gel pen for the rest of the writing. A few other embellishments added from the kit and I popped it in my album.

 And that was Day Four DONE!!

Day 5 was short and sweet. It involved receiving a Christmas card from our Poppa (on my husbands side). I was touched to get a card from him with an envelope for each of my girls containing some money. Considering he had just laid his wife (our Nan) to rest, a couple of months ago, I thought it was mighty thoughtful and generous of him to sit down and send out a bit of love to his family. I guess it would make him feel more connected in a way. Well, it meant a great deal to me.

The other exciting thing was winning a cute little handmade house from @leoniekiwi on Instagram! 

Gotta love THAT!!

The decorative elements to the page involved using the number 5 as a topper for the tree. The photo of Pop's card - I attached a piece of vellum to the card with washi tape and wrote my journalling on it - when placing in the pocket, the vellum part stays out and lays on top of the pocket - like so...

On the other journal card I used one of the stamps from the stamp set in the kit by Kellie Stamps and I just drew a decorative border.

And that concludes day 4 & 5.

I am really loving putting this album together. I enjoy thinking up different creative ways to show my stories.

I'm really happy with what I have documented so far. It is going to be a great little keepsake!!

Well, until next time...

Take care.

I'm off to watch Love Actually on telly - SOOOO love that movie!!!

With Sprinkles of Sunshine...

Anna

Just thought I would buzz in quickly and show you an easy and simple Christmas card idea.

If you want the handmade card look and need it NOW then this only takes like 30 seconds to whip up!

All you need is:

-Kraft cardstock

-washi tape

-a button

-journalling pen

I cut a 12x12" piece of Kraft card down the middle to make two 6x12" pieces. 

I then scored at the half way mark on those pieces and folded to make a 6x6" card. 

Choose whether you want it to open sideways or flip up. I chose the latter for mine.

Using different lengths of washi tape, form a Christmas tree shape on the front of your card and then use another piece of washi as the stump.

Stick a button on the top of the tree.

I then used my journal pen to create a border and insert the words 'happy Christmas' into it as a greeting!

Done!

Too easy!

I used these three pictured cards to go with Miss J's teachers gifts.

For interest's sake, here are the gifts I put together for the teacher and teacher's aides.

We gave the teacher's aides a Christmasy mug each filled with Favourites chocolates!

For the teacher, I filled a DIY glass bauble (purchased from Lincraft last year - thanks to Deb!!) with paper confetti, sequins, and punched vellum stars. I attached a small tag around the top with 'Kindy 2013' on one side and my girls name on the back. I used a piece of ric-rac as the hanging ribbon - popped it in a small bowl with some shredded packaging paper. I used clear cellophane tied up with some string to wrap the gifts.