news, layouts, etc

ok, so a little mish mash of info here today.

first up... this started today at DHD

& my first dollar kit is up today

{by shannon} using the script

{by me} using the block {I took inspiration from the layout in this gallery}

I also used on this layout the freebie Hello Love Flair, LoveLoveLove papers, InStitches Bright Basics & Neutral Basics & Tag You're It + elements & papers from this new mini kit I created that popped up today at One Story Down {which is free if you complete the girl vs scrap challenge shown on this post}

here's another layout I did with some of the stuff in the kit too...

I also used some things from LoveLoveLove & another Karla Dudley Protector set. & yes, I'm addicted to labels... I'm blaming it on my paper stash... I was inspired I guess ;)

here's a page from Shannon's Project Life album where she used some of the Let's Go too!

psssstttttt.... look for more of the Let's Go coming soon to DHD :)

talk to you soon!

{robyn}

project life. week 3. jan 15-21.

week 3.

here we go:

page 1

Saturday it snowed & on Sunday the kids finally had some measurable snow to play in & I caught Collin & Lydia out playing in our driveway. We also worked at finally getting our Christmas decorations put away. It was up for over 2 months. It was time. Monday Evan & Lydia didn't have school, so we went on a morning trip to a few stores & then I treated them to lunch. Evan has been asking for a long time to go to Wendy's.  Lydia was most excited about the TruMoo chocolate milk. The girl is a commercial junkie. I saved part of the packaging that Evan's burger came in & sewed it on the card.  The same day I caught a photo of the sun streaming through the clouds when we were leaving to pick Collin up at school & added the quote from Lydia. Also caught a pic of the girl & her new favorite trick of riding the rail, the love of her life, Froggy, a card with a quick overview of the week & pieces of a states test Evan took & a note from his teacher about the tests.  We've been in non-stop study mode for states & capitols tests.

page 2

Thursday was a busy day. Lydia had a dentist appt first thing in the morning {no cavities}.  Right next door to our dentist is Target {with Starbucks inside}. We had a while before we had to be anywhere, so we checked out toys, clothes, whatever & I enjoyed some Starbucks too.  Then we were off to Evan's school for his Invention Convention.  They start before Christmas break on planning & inventing, so it was great to finally see it all come together.  He created a revolving closet {the model is a mini version} & everyone seemed to have good things to say about it. I loved his "commercial" line "It's like a deposit for your clothes" so I included that on a label.  Other things were a picture of Lydia doing her homework before school one morning {she insists that she do it herself now}, a piece of her homework that was in her backpack {the week before was L week, which she's been waiting for all year}, a pic I took while playing scrabble with Evan & his chosen first word, which I put on the folded up paper we used to keep score.  Friday night Lydia decided she wanted a sleepover at my sister's house, so I took a pic of us leaving to take her there, along with her haul, which, of course, included her huge frog & a text conversation with my sister.  I also made sure I got my sister to take some pics of Lydia while she was there & she sent me the sweet photo of her sleeping {with a photo of grandma & grandpa that she brought along}. Saturday night Dan & I had a much needed date night.

& a few inserts. Lydia's photocopier art from school.

& a letter Lydia wrote to Dan {via my sister when she had a sleepover} so cute. the next insert is the scoring for Evan's invention from the judges.

& I flipped the written comments from the judges & put it on the other side.

so week 3 done. week 4 is already in the works.  I had week 3 about 95% done since Sunday, but trying to catch up on design work & kids' homework definitely slowed things up this week.  I also think I need to change the way I photograph my pages... any hints for me?

{robyn}

project life. week 2. jan 8-14.

week 2. warm weather. cold weather. snow. finally. lunch date with daddy. chiropractor visit for Lydia. starting again on c25k. homework. homework. homework. dr visit for me. more invention convention finishing for Evan. science fair experiements for Collin. stress. a friends birthday party for Evan. & a family trip to see the Cardinal Caravan to end our week.

pg 1

i found myself using lots of printables {this page Hello Forever, Paislee Press & some older ones from Jen Allyson} & labels {squee! new from Martha Stewart} this week & also used a new {free} 4x6 photo template {from Paislee Press} to put together photo collages for the 4x6 spots. I included a printout the dr gave me on my blood test results. lots of stitching this week too to add a little something.

close up pg 1

pg 2

I also seemed to use an old Making Memories magnetic stamp set that I've had forever. may have to look into getting some more little alphabet sets.  I really liked using them again.  I used a little Kraft Funday on this page too. the 6x6 pads are so perfect.  I printed out a screenshot of a text conversation I had with Collin one day, stamped out a portion of something Lydia said, included a birthday party invitation, a kids menu from a restaurant we ate at & a sticker from a jersey Evan got this weekend. On this page I used another few printables from Hello Forever {umm, hello, see the 23 on the jersey & the 23 on the card? meant to be} & Paislee Press & also my Everyday Journaling Cards

full spread {front of insert}

{back of insert}

I also included a 6x12" insert this week to document our Saturday trip to see the Cardinal Caravan.  It was definitely a highlight of our week.  I could have included so much more, but tried to not go overboard because I'm sure I'll be making layouts about it as well.  For this I tried to do photo collages in photoshop to streamline the process a little. I added an overview of the trip by typing it up & printing it on a journal page.  I also included a bit from a brochure we got there. 

so that's it! week 2 done.

{robyn}

project life. week 1. jan 1-7.

yay! I've completed my first week of project life! I'm loving it. I started printing out a few pictures Friday night & had been making notes on paper {& in my head} about what I wanted to include.  Saturday I worked on it here & there in short segments when I was able to escape up to my studio. Sunday was much of the same, printing off more pictures & moving stuff around. This morning I finished up just before I had to go get the girly from preschool.  I wish I could have taken photos of it this morning.  I didn't get back home until late this afternoon, so if it's sunny in the morning I may retake these, but I'm just jazzed to get these up :)  so, here's the spread... ***edited to include better & more photos*** :)

page 1

page 2

& a closeup of each page

 overview of the week: this week started the new year of course & we basically didn't do much!  Monday Collin went to stay at his friend Bailey's house {his mom sent me this pic of the boys before going off on an airsoft war}, Evan had the xbox all to himself {this is rare}. Tuesday we picked Collin up & had lunch together with our friends before heading home, Lydia packed her suitcase after we got home & was quite certain she would be spending the night at Bailey's house the next night. Wednesday was back to school after Christmas break & Lydia was soooo excited! the girl loves school :)  Thursday Lydia & I babysat my sweet great niece & the boys wanted to pose for this shot {Lydia was slightly over-tired if you can't tell}, Dan came home a little early to play ball with Evan.  The weather has been crazy warm for January in Iowa. I also received my replacement iPhone. After months of mine restarting constantly & then it completely dying on me, I was ready for one that worked.  Friday my new office file cabinets came & I love them! Saturday was the start of building Evan's invention for a project at school, Lydia went to see Tin Tin with aunt Carol.  I also included a printout of a screenshot from my blog.  One of my readers left me the sweetest comment & it totally made my day {maybe even my year}.

*next week I'll try to be better about keeping track of what I'm using on the layouts & add a supply list... :)

{robyn}

happy 2012 & the start of project life

hello 2012... hello project life! I've been itching to start this project & have been brainstorming ideas for my cover page over the last week.  I probably spent way too much time on it, but I think I'm happy the way it turned out... except I can't decide on placement of a few things.  I initially had it like the first, but then when I put this photo up it looked top heavy... so then I mixed them up & can't decide. I know... overthinking it, but what do you think?

I found this cool canvas M at Hobby Lobby & knew I needed it for this page.  I added the grey stitching to make it stand out a little more against that awesome My Mind's Eye Lost & found 2 paper.  I've got a thing for the Studio Calico Scraps {the blue scalloped tissue paper}, so I had to stitch on a little of that too. the 5 sticker is from Crate paper.

I cut apart the Sasparilla High Noon paper from October Afternoon to spell out our name & the initials & numbers on the cards at the far left & right.  Then I stitched them together & added the My Mind's Eye Kraft Everyday Fun banner border at the bottom of each.  The die cut number tags are from the December Studio Calico kit {Ormalu}.  again, more stitching :) I added the Kraft Happy Days & Everday Fun chipboard buttons to represent each of us too & attatched them with my new favorite tool, the Tiny Attatcher. The papers under each number is from Crate paper & the papers under the stitched letters are from October Afternoon.

yay! again, can't wait to take on this challenge.  I love seeing what everyone has done with it over this past year & my goal is to keep up, keep it simple & enjoy the process!

now... ready.set. let's make some memories :)

{robyn}