Ready for the New Year

I have just written on my Humor and Doings site that I'm working on my resolutions for the new year.  I'm examining what is working and what is not.  It is a good time to evaluate and change.  I started this blog with good intentions, but it is one of those things that must be attended to almost daily.  I have so many other things that I both need and want to do, and writing and posting hasn't been as high on my list as it should be if I'm going to keep going.  

I am giving myself permission to vacation from the need to blog.  I appreciate those who have come to visit.  I do intend to be working on my photo albums and scrapbooks.  I have a long list of items that need my attention if they are ever to be completed.  

May all have a blessed new year.

CJ

My House Repair Album

Since my entire October was taken up with the great saga of my home repair, I decided that I must get it into a book for sharing. The home fixing up thing took over my life. It really did.

Thankfully, I did manage to find some humor in the whole event. I took pictures by the tons. My nice Master Carpenter Man grew accustomed to my snapping his picture. He just gave up and ignored me.

I purchased an 8 x 8 traditional album from Creative Memories in chocolate. I thought that nice rich brown would go well with all the pictures of Master Carpenter Man tearing up my house with saws and such. I used white pages and, of course, page protectors.

I started the album with a few pictures of Master Carpenter Man when he was working for my mother. I wanted it clear that I knew what I was getting into when I commissioned him to come make a mess in my house. I was fully aware that there would be issues of what I called 'Tim Droppings'.

I used some paper that I had purchased previously from CM and decorated the page. I even cut a few circles with the circle shape maker and think it adds a bit of interest in the border... almost like pegs in wood.


I printed my own photos for this book, so sized them smaller and also used an editing program to add some comments directly on the picture. When I thought about doing this, I have to admit that I was rather pleased with myself.

Again, I went for the simple look in decorating the pages. A bit of colored cardstock cut in triangles to give a little accent.




I even followed Master Carpenter Man into the attic and managed to bug him there. Like I said, he managed to ignore me most of the time.

I accented this page with some CM paper that I'd saved. Again, I used a triangle on one page and a random cut of paper on the other. I used some orange cardstock and cut holes with CM's Bubble shape maker. Lining the holes up so I could see them, I then used the large Square shape maker. I even saved the little dots left when I punched with the Bubble maker. Using CM's Precision Point Adhesive, I glued the little dots around the square. I rather like the look.

I've had a few friends visit since the dining and living room ceilings have been redone. I've kept this book on my coffee table in the living room. When friends look at it, they have been amazed at exactly how much work went into this whole fixing up process. They have chuckled and seem to have enjoyed looking at the pictures. I've given you just a sampling. There is more... much more.

I've enjoyed them too. I have plans to have Master Carpenter Man return to work on the kitchen. Each time I look at this album, I wonder about that. Oh, there will be more pictures and more pages added to my book.

Christmas Card

My Stampin Up friend, Crafting Ida, rallied us for a get-together to make some new cards. I love it when she does that. She teaches us new techniques and moves us along to newer card crafting heights.



This is one of my favorites from our recent class.
The mistletoe is from SU's A Cardinal Christmas. Of course, I had to order that set as liked the mistletoe very much and will use it for many other things.



I do believe the mistletoe is stamped with 'Old Olive'. Ida kept us busy with the ornament as used embossing for the gold, then glue and glitter for the eye popping color.

I have to confess that as hard as we tried, I do believe we left glitter behind to be spread throughout the home of our lovely hostess. Kids of all ages... even ours... can be deadly with glitter. I'm glad it wasn't at my house. I also remember why I didn't use glitter for my art projects when still teaching fourth grade.

I realize that the public expects full details as to how to make items that are shown on blogs. I'm looking for the stamp set name for the ornament. I'm sure as soon as Ida sees this, she will be e-mailing me. I, of course, will amend my instructions to include that pertinent information. Tah Dah.

Crafting Ida taught us to make a bow. This I'm going to do in another post. I'll need to get out the camera and do a step at a time. It will make more sense. I just wonder why that secret was lost on me before now.

Stuff Going On

I have a confession. I realize that I've not posted for awhile. I can't promise an everyday posting. I admire those who have their daily lives disciplined to include all those important things. I just can't seem to get it all together. Sometimes I rebel.

This past August, I signed up to be an independent Creative Memories consultant. The policy of the company kept me from being too verbal about it. They have guidelines, and posting on blog sites about all of it wasn't permitted at the time. However, the company has revised their guidelines, and I am now able to be more up front on my blog space about what I'm doing.

I've told you before that I'm into scrapbooking. It really is all about preserving memories and telling stories. I plan to be back and let you know what I'm doing.
I will be back with pictures, etc. soon.... Really... I will.