P52 Friday - Week #8 - Inspiring Links

This week my spread features mostly products from Meredith Cardall's new release, "A Wise Old Owl".

In release news, the TEEN BOY Collab by Albums to Remember and Connie Prince is out. It is SO good.... And I don't even have a boy! The kit is jam packed with great word bits, a cool chain-link fence, ink splotches, stars, scribbles, techno-gadgets - everything you need for those older boy pages. These kind of kits are in short supply, this is a must have for the men in your life.

While we're at it, don't forget, there is also a Page Builder set hiding in the "Designer AllStar Alliance" part of the store! And I have it from a good source that more page builder sets will be releasing in the Albums to Remember store very soon too!





Okay! On to our P52 Friday post. I just wanted to share a couple fun/inspiring links with you this week and I hope that helps you on your way or sparks a new idea for you if you feel like you don't have anything this week : )

#1 - We've talked in the past about "Scrap Therapy" and I saw this article this week and like what she had to say! It has some cute examples of different ways that scrapping can help us process our weeks. This page had a huge list of excellent resources for helping you scrap hard times or hard memories. My personal favorite was a list of one-liners about dysfuntional families including: "Your know you come from a dysfunctional family if your vacations are planned through AA instead of AAA."

#2 - This lady did a Project 52 with 52 goals for herself - why not consider doing a Life Project 12 or something with 10-12 goals for yourself for the year that you could track occasionally with a layout. Some of the goals are little - like "organize my pantry" and some are more long term - like "floss daily".... I really liked her #23: Sing in public. What a fun goal! I have one adult voice student this year and I am so proud of her for being brave and taking the plunge to try out singing lessons later in life. Our lessons are such a blast : )

#3 - Scrapbooking for your children or about your own childhood? Check out this basic list of things that you might want to remember to record. This page had a few ideas too. I like where she writes: "What happens if there's a childhood memory that you really want to scrap, but you can't find any photos to document it? You shouldn't give up. Instead, it's time to get creative! See if you can somehow take a picture that represents the event or memory. For instance, if you remember having a special bear that you took with you everywhere, take a picture of your child's favorite bear and journal about how it reminds you of your own."


Okay, that's it for me this week! I just want to say how much I am enjoying this group and all the love and support I see each person giving to others in the group.  : D

If you are doing the MMS P52 series, their work from Week #7 was "CAPTIVATE".

And, as always...

If you are trying to do one layout a week, do it!

If you are trying to do two layouts a week, do it!

If you are doing a layout a month, make sure you've taken your weekly photo(s).

If you are doing a layout per year, make sure you've taken your weekly photo! 

P52 Friday - Week #7 - Lent Is Coming

It's P52 Friday! Already? Yikes!!! I don't know about you but I think I've taken about 3 pictures this week (my camera battery was dead and I just didn't bother to find the charger) and don't really know what I am going to do... I think I'll be pulling out a pre-made week from my stash - I just remembered I did one with a Valentine's kit, I guess that'll be the one!!

Week #7 - mostly using "Bananas for You" by Connie Prince - coming soon to MMS

Have you checked out Barb's shop this week? There are all kinds of fun things! A new Page Builder set, a mystery mini-kit, PURPLE BLISS!!!... need I say more?

I had a glance at my calendar the other day and realized that the season of Lent (the 40 days before Easter) is fast approaching and started wondering if I could some use scrapping as part of my lenten reflections. I know that not all of us in this group are in any way religious so I apologize in advance for the theme of this post if it offends you or is of no use to you! Even if you don't attend a church that actively follows the church liturgy very closely, most people are familiar with the idea of Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday, Lent and then Good Friday/Easter. I found a great post on one of my favorite blogs with a bunch of ideas for Lent and I think what I want to do, starting this coming week is to make one of the pages of my weekly two page spread a Lenten reflection. I haven't decided what I am going to give up or read for lent - but she has some great suggestions in the article. Even if you aren't in to religion at all, I really like her ideas for different types of fasts that you can also use to benefit society or raise awareness - for example: Choose to make water your only beverage for 40 days to help Blood:Water Mission provide clean water for people in Africa who don't have a choice. Check out Forty Days of Water for more info. Faith or no faith, we can all take time in our lives to reflect on the things we have and the injustice in the world around us and try and do something tangible about it - no matter how small that action might be.

I will now retreat off my soap box and ask you guys for suggestions and a few questions - (1) Have you seen any easter/lent scrapbooking pages that inspired you? Can you give us a link to them? (2) Do you know of any good kits for this kind of project? I know Albums to Remember has a "Faith" series in the shop but I haven't seen a lot out there on this theme. (3) Are you giving up anything for Lent this year? The only thing I say you can't give up is your P52!!! No "I'm going to scrap less" for Lent is allowed : D (4) What are you reading during Lent this year? (5) Even if you aren't churchy, do you do some type of "Lent" anyway? Post under the link for this post on our Facebook wall so we can all benefit from your posts!

If you are following the MMS P52 series, their word for last Saturday was "FEEL".

And, as always...

If you are trying to do one layout a week, do it!

If you are trying to do two layouts a week, do it!

If you are doing a layout a month, make sure you've taken your weekly photo(s).

If you are doing a layout per year, make sure you've taken your weekly photo!

P52 Friday - Week #6 - Today's the Day to (Re)Resolve!

Week #6 - made mostly with products from Crisdam Designs' "The Story Begins" series

Fallen off the band-wagon? 

This week is a cheerful reminder that our P52 wagon just keeps going in circles and will come pick you back up when you're ready to hop on! Missed a week or two? Who cares! Make a layout that covers two weeks. Don't give up on your goal to preserve those family memories for better or worse. If your P52 commitment is getting you stressed or bogged down, take the week off, buy a new kit to inspire you and HOP BACK ON!!! We can do this!!! Consider this the wagon looping back around, grab my hand and let me pull you back on : )


Here's a couple helpful links for the week...

...Don't forget about Barb's awesome All in a Day P52 Kit

...Need a GREAT tutorial by Jonyce on using Page Builders/Outside Content in Page Builders on MMS??? Check out these two tutorials - there are even PDFs you can download!!

...Want to catch-up fast? The "All in a Day Template" set has hit the store too! Confusingly under a different design name - we are working on clearing that up in the future.

...Still trying to finish January? Here's a great set of templates from Connie Prince!



**FORMAT CHANGE NOTE**

Rather than doing a Friday AND Saturday post, I am going to start doing just Friday and for those following the MMS P52 series, I will reference the PREVIOUS week's MMS Saturday post in my Friday post for the following week. Make sense? My Saturday posts were feeling really redundant! So We'll skip those and just do P52 Friday : D


So. If you are following the MMS P52 series, their word for last Saturday was "EMBRACE".


And, as always...

If you are trying to do one layout a week, do it!

If you are trying to do two layouts a week, do it!

If you are doing a layout a month, make sure you've taken your weekly photo(s).

If you are doing a layout per year, make sure you've taken your weekly photo!

Sunderday unAssignement #5

Our Saturday unAssignment is a tad late this week...

If you are following the MMS P52, here's the link: http://www.mymemoriesblog.com/2012/02/welcome-to-mymemories-project-52-week-5.html and the word of the week is "Embrace". I am most excited to see the link to http://www.wordle.net/ -I've seen these around online and wished I could make them and now I know how!!

Don't forget that today is the last day of the MMS weekend SUPER SALE!!! Add at least $20.00 worth of goodies to your cart, use the code here in the COUPON/PROMO code box at check out and save $10.00 on your purchase!!! Woo hoo! Promo code: SUPERSCRAP2012 (please keep in mind that this code will also be in the newsletter this weekend, but you can only use it once in your account!!) 





And, as always...

If you are trying to do one layout a week, do it!

If you are trying to do two layouts a week, do it!

If you are doing a layout a month, make sure you've taken your weekly photo(s).

If you are doing a layout per year, make sure you've taken your weekly photo!

P52 Friday - Week 5 - Getting Current While Staying Current

My Week #5 using "So Silly" by Sugar Pie Scraps

Couple things to start...

Did you hear about the HUGE sale at MMS this weekend? According to Lisa... Add at least $20.00 worth of goodies to your cart, use the code here in the COUPON/PROMO code box at check out and save $10.00 on your purchase!!! Woo hoo! Promo code: SUPERSCRAP2012 (please keep in mind that this code will also be in the newsletter this weekend, but you can only use it once in your account!!)

Have you seen Barb's new "P52" kit in the store? It coordinates perfectly with "All in a Day" and tags and tabs for almost every possible situation you could think of!

Want to make your own P52 Inspiration Journal? Check out Scrap Kat's Thoughtful Thursday post on Albums to Remember's Facebook page!


And now, my P52 Friday Idea!

Here's what's been going on for me. I am doing a P52 this year but I have this huge monkey on my back and that is finishing my album for my daughter's first year and four months. I started scrapping just after she was born so some of the early pages embaress me and then I was feeling stressed because I wasn't using all the photos I took and I didn't want just one or two pictures for each month - so I finally figured out what I am going to do!

Using Picasa, I imported my photos from iPhoto and picked my favorite 10-15 photos for each month and used the super easy "Collage" feature to automatically generate a 12x12 mosaic collage for each month (no organizing or sorting, it makes them all fit on it's own! You can move photos around/shuffe them but it does all the sizing for you!!). Then I exported the collage at highest quality jpeg and imported it to make the left side of my spread for that month. On the other side, I am either re-using an LO I already made in the past year for that month or making a new one if I hate the old one. I am also inserting some of my better LOs from Emily's first year in the book here and there and just letting the old bad ones go and chalking them up to good practice! In order to make the collage match the other side of the spread I add little embellies from the kit I am using on the right-side of the page. Some months, like Christmas and our trip to Cancun, get 4 pages instead of 2.

Here's an example:

Emily's Month #1 using Meredith Cardall's "Pea in the Pod" (which is retired)

I say all this to give you an idea if you are doing a P12 or if you ever have a month where you can't keep up with your weekly LOs and just need to catch up! OR if you have a week with a zillion photos and just can't choose, this is a great option too.

One last thing... this is LITERALLY what was happening the whole time I was trying to write this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNkp4QF3we8


Add in some whining and crying and you get my morning. Oh, the sacrifices we all have to make for P52 Fridays!!!

P52 - Saturday unAssignment #4

If you are following along with the MMS P52 Series, here is a link to their fourth post: http://www.mymemoriesblog.com/2012/01/welcome-to-mymemories-project-52-week-4.html

Pull back the curtain, cue music, it's the.... Saturday unAssignment #4.

If you are following the MMS P52, their word of the week is "Renew".

This week's P52 Friday was all about what to do when, well, you don't know what to do! Hope some of those ideas help you when you're feeling stuck with your weekly page(s). My challenge to you this week is to not let a slow week throw you off your game - if you have the time, why not start pre-making a layout of two for the next couple weeks? My secret to staying on top of things is using a bit of free time or inspired scrappy moments to whip up a couple layouts in advance (you can always change them or keep bumping them down the line if you are caught up or have a different idea for that week).


And, as always...

If you are trying to do one layout a week, do it!

If you are trying to do two layouts a week, do it!

If you are doing a layout a month, make sure you've taken your weekly photo and it's probably time to make that JANUARY spread, can you believe the month is nearly over?!?!

If you are doing a layout per year, make sure you've taken your weekly photo!

P52 Friday - Week #4 - I've Got Nothin'! (and what to do about it)

Want the PDF? Download here: http://www.mediafire.com/?49tqkg69scvt99q

Here's my spread for this week! It features mostly products from Meredith Cardall's "Snow Pals Bundle" which just released exclusively at ScrapOrchard.com

It's only "Week 4" but chances are you've already had a "now what?!" week where nothing note-worthy has happened and/or you don't feel like talking about your feelings - and if it hasn't happened yet, it's coming!! Here are a few ideas for alternative themes you could do for your weekly LO when things are slow or you want to break out of the usual pattern and do something different...

How about...

- a typical day or a typical week: what's the usual routine? is there a routine? what does an average week at your home look like? you may think these things are mundane and that you'll never forget them because they are so simple but it's amazing what we DON'T remember if we don't take time to jot it down.
- this week in the news: what's big news these days? which celebrity broke up with who? which abandoned house on 89th street burnt down? who's sports team won what? etc...
 - interview a family member or pet: this is one of my favorites, especially for small children and pets. Imagine or actually find out their answers to regular and silly questions like how they are voting in the election (this would be great for a pet hahaa) or which super power they want! (here are some examples: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
- our favorite shows: make a page highlighting the must-watch shows at your house. Who like what and why? What are you totally addicted to? Which show did you swear you'd never watch again but did (cough The Bachelor cough)?
- our top five/ten foods OR what's for dinner?: talk about/photograph a favorite family dish or recipe and why you like it or what important occasions it is always served at.
- bucket list: a friend of mine has a "30 before 30" list of things she wants to do before turning 30. What's on your bucket list? Or your 50 before 50 (or 5 before 50)? Go all "Oprah" and make your own "Dream Board" for yourself - where do you want to be 10 years from now? What are your goals? (here are some examples: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
- Dear __________: write a letter to someone. It could be your children in the future, a deceased relative you wish you could sit down for coffee with, God, a famous person (dead or alive), or even your future self... What would you write?


Got anymore ideas? Let us know on the FB page or by commenting here!

Happy Scrapping!
Jen

Have you seen? NEW PAGE BUILDERS are in store this week! And Barb is now featuring bundled packages for those of you who just gotta get 'em all : D  (Also, did you notice that "Albums to Remember" is the TOP DESIGNER now at MMS? Thank you all soooooo much for your crazy support - make sure to congratulate Barb on accomplishing one of her big designing goals!)

P52 - Saturday unAssignment #3

If you are following along with the MMS P52 Series, here is a link to their third post: http://www.mymemoriesblog.com/2012/01/welcome-to-mymemories-project-52-week-3.html

Presenting.... Saturday unAssignment #3.

If you are following the MMS P52, their word of the week is "BEGIN". As always, Lisa has some wonderful ideas!!

Getting behind already? Why not catch-up with a one or two page layout that covers two weeks instead of one? Not a big deal - and keeps you on-track and feeling like you're in the groove.

If you've been tracking with our P52 Friday posts, you know this week's theme was "Scrap Yer Crap" where I encouraged you to use this great hobby of ours to "scrap it out" through the good times and the bad. Scrapping isn't about presenting your family in the best light all the time - although sometimes it feels that way, especially when you see "Margo Smith's" page on her perfect daughter's perfect recital performance with a perfect layout that is so lovely you just wanna scream! So, my challenge to you this week - should you choose to accept it - is to continue embracing honesty in your journaling and LOs. The photos don't need to be perfect, you don't need to be a poet - don't be afraid to just put it out there. Even if you never print if off for your family, it just feels good to get it out!!

Want to see some other people scrapping their downer moments? Here's a couple I found...

my body failed me
bad day
a rough day
baby's bad mood
this is why I scrap
unloveable

And a classic from me - I won the Digidares that week! -  about my saga with the clogged toilet!

And, as always...

If you are trying to do one layout a week, do it!

If you are trying to do two layouts a week, do it!

If you are doing a layout a month, make sure you've taken your weekly photo!

If you are doing a layout per year, make sure you've taken your weekly photo!

P52 Fridays - Week #3 - "Scrap Yer Crap"

Before we get rolling, just wanted to let you know that Barb has posted a tutorial on her blog on how to load/use Page Builders in MMSv3.

This week's P52 Friday is inspired by my stupid week - maybe you had one too? A lot of scrapbooking is cheerful, sometimes "romanticized" versions of the way our lives really our. We go a little over the top trying to make it look like we had the perfect week or perfect day or perfect kid - and maybe we really did! But probably we didn't... sometimes life hands us lemon after lemon and we don't feel like making tasty lemonade LOs, we just need to scrap our crap and be honest.

As I write this post, this week it's been -35 Celsius every day, I've been fighting off mild depression and that of a close loved-one's as well, had one of my weekly (or more) rounds of doubting anything I once held as my "faith" (I'm an over-thinker), accidentally sloshed scalding hot water on my toddler's back and had to take her to the ER and now have daily appointments at the clinic for redressing her wounds, got the car halfway out the drive in -30 Celsius weather only to the have e-brake stick in the ON position and had to get towed to the dealer so our car could thaw-out and get looked at and they decided nothing was wrong and charged us for their time anyway and now the ebrake is frozen in the off position (which is slightly better!), hubby accidently left his truck in gear and it drove itself in to a building, I drove away with the car still plugged in and cracked the outlet, had to make a trip to the walk-in because Emily's doc didn't pass on her prescription to the burn clinic, and found out some other family stuff that is frustrating... Is this week over yet?? Seriously. But enough of my pity party!



Here's what I'm trying to say. To the left is the LO I had pre-made for this week. Cute, huh? So darn cheerful! I guess I was a little too optimistic about what January 15-21 would hold. A bunch of the cheery paper and embellies are from MCD's newest release, "What Friends Are For" and I LOVE it. But it was a terrible fit for my terrible week. So I'm just gonna recycle this for a better week. I decided to trade in the cheery for the dreary - because that's how I feel and there's no use pretending I don't. I have a favorite fall-back kit for all things melancholy from the ever-delightful Carolyn Rose Kite (who just got back in to designing again, WHOOT!). It's called "Raining in My Heart" and is perfect for when you've got the blues (or rather, the black and greys!).

Here's a preview of where this week's LO is heading instead... so be it. I've already seen others in this group scrap about their bout with the flu/cold and even their own terrible year they had last year - and as sad as that is, it makes me relieved to see other people be honest with their scrapping. Menda is one of the best gals I know for this - she inspires me with her openness and the way she shows us how to use scrap-therapy to vent, to share and to encourage others that they aren't the only ones who couldn't bear to have pink flowers and cheery stickers on their page this week.


I hope you are having an awesome week and I can't wait to see your pages - but if yours happens to have sucked royally, don't be afraid to share that either.


It's a Project 52, not a Perfect 52.


- Looking for more kits for bad moods, rainy days and sadness? Check out this ISO thread at DST.
- Albums to Remember has a cute little "Black Bliss" mini-kit that goes with the"All In A Day" mega kit that would work well for this type of theme too.

For a PDF of this post, go here: http://www.mediafire.com/?ruhwcg265n2zq4x

P52 - Saturday unAssignment #2

First off, if you are following along with the MMS P52 Series, here is a link to their second post: http://www.mymemoriesblog.com/2012/01/welcome-to-mymemories-project-52-week-2.html

And now....theeeeeeeeeeeeee Saturday unAssignment #2.

If you are following the MMS plan, their word of the week is "PLAN".

Here's my little mini-assignment for you. Scrap Kat posted a great "Thoughtful Thursday" post on Albums to Remember's facebook page this week on re-purposing kits (for example, using embellishments from a Christmas kit to make a wedding page or using paper from a birthday kit to make an every-day page). This can be a big money saver if you can't afford many new kits and a creative adventure as you rediscover elements of old kits and make them new to you all over again.

Therefor, I challenge you to include 1-2 elements in your page (could be embellishments, alphas, paper, whatever!) from a kit you never would've suspected would help you with your P52 Week 2 page. And then share when you post where you found those little gems hiding! I love being thrifty!!! As always, if this in no way inspires you or helps you, just leave it! : D We're here to have fun and make pages we like ourselves, not what someone else would like : )  : )


And, as always...

If you are trying to do one layout a week, do it!

If you are trying to do two layouts a week, do it!

If you are doing a layout a month, make sure you've taken your weekly photo!

If you are doing a layout per year, make sure you've taken your weekly photo!



DOWNLOAD THE PDF of this blog post!