December Daily 2018, anyone?

Are any of you planning on making a December Daily this year? I am. I've worked on this project each  year since 2013 and have finished the five albums I began.

If you have no idea what I'm referencing in this post, then go visit Ali Edwards and read all about this fabulous brainchild of hers that focuses on documenting one story each day during December.

Last year, I approached my album differently and focused on telling 31 different stories of Christmases while I was growing up in the 70s and 80s. If you want to check out the flip-through of my 2017 project, check out my Decembers to Remember 2017 video here. (My other DD projects are posted on my YouTube channel as well) 

I have traditionally worked in a 6 X 8 album each year, but I'm switching up both my format and my focus for 2018. This year, I'm going to use a traveler's notebook size album - 4 X 8 - using an etched, wooden cover that I bought from Color Cast Designs. I'm super excited about trying this new size. My focus for this DD will be different from what most people do; I'm going to share an element of self-care that I engage in for each day of the month. Because I live alone, work a lot, and am single, I think this will be a different way to approach DD that will hopefully be personally rewarding for me.

Here are a few of the other products I plan to use in this year's album (in addition to all the leftovers I have from prior years):

In a Creative Bubble 3 X 8 Journaling Cards and these too

Crate Paper Merry Days Collection

Felicity Jane - Holly

Carta Bella Santa's Workshop

I haven't done much in my DD album yet, partly because I hardly ever make foundation pages but also because I've been super focused on my online journaling class I'm offering + finishing up a bit of redecorating + the general busyness that occurs as part of the holiday season. This past weekend, though, I did go ahead and make my intentions page. It's the first time I've ever journaled about the reason for my album or the focus/intentions of it, and I regret that I never took the time to do this before now. 

I made this page using older product in  my stash since all of my new DD goodies haven't yet arrived. Take a look and read the journaling; maybe you'll be a little inspired to do an intentions page for your DD project too. (Btw, I don't love the ribbon I used which I just had lying around the house, so I may change those out once I buy more.)

That's it for now. I just thought it might be fun to share my plan with you as well as some of the supplies I'm planning to incorporate. Until we chat again, happy DD foundation making!

Brand new online class coming Wednesday!

My brand new class, The Care and Keeping of You: A Six Week Intensive Journaling Workshop, begins on Wednesday, 10/31.  I hope you'll watch the promo video I embedded here and follow-up with any questions that you might have for me.  Here's a bit more information as you try to determine if you'd like to sign up for my class.

What do you get?

*Six journaling lessons, one will be released each week on Monday.

*Each lesson includes a slideshow with narration that lasts from 45 minutes to one hour.

*Each lesson also includes a printable journaling guide to help you implement the strategy I've described in the lesson.

*Three samples of my work incorporating each lesson; 15 of these samples are in a traveler's notebook format, and three of them are full-size 12 X 12 layouts (three released each week).

*Weekly facebook live videos to discuss any questions you have, group brainstorming sessions, etc.

*Private facebook group to discuss the lessons, ask questions, garner opinions, and share the work you make (available with the first lesson).

*An intro video (available with the first lesson) and a closing video (available at the end of the class) with my thoughts about the class topics.

*A video flipthrough of the projects that I made for this class (18 spreads total - available at the end of the class).

How much does it cost?

*$35 payable via PayPal (a one-time fee includes all of the instruction and interaction listed in the section above this one)

*ScrapGals 2018 Retreat attendees may access this online class as a complimentary supplement to the live version I taught at the retreat.

How do I buy it?

*Click the shop button above at the top of this blog entry and click on the graphic for this class. It will not show up as available until Wednesday afternoon, 10/31.

When are the Facebook live videos planned?

*The Facebook live videos are scheduled for Sunday afternoons at 3 pm central time

*The live sessions will take place on 11/4, 11/11, 11/18, 11/25, 12/2, and 12/9

*If you miss a live session, you will still be able to access the archived video in our private Facebook group

*In the event of a personal emergency, I will reschedule the video with advance notice placed in the private Facebook group

Please feel free to follow up here with any questions you might have about the class. I hope you join me for this workshop beginning Wednesday and cannot wait to work with you to improve the variety and depth of your journaling in your scrapbooks.

Grapevine, Texas ScrapGals Retreat Review in Photos (Little Blue House craft store)

If you're ever in the Grapevine, Texas area, you should definitely stop in and visit the Little Blue House.

The samples that were hanging throughout the store were just darling and so was the decor.

The whole shop was well-stocked with new product and was a visual treat.

I loved these little banner kits that you could put out on your mantel for each of the seasons.

Even the classroom area was decorated well and was stocked with everything you could possibly need.

Aren't those painted jars holding craft supplies a lovely touch? I just wanted to hang out in the classroom space and stroke all the details.

This pallet wall covered with decoupaged scrapbook paper was divine.

I might actually be able to pull off something like this at my house - filing it away for a future project at some point.

I want to recreate this project too. Wouldn't this be gorgeous to make for Memorial Day from leftover ribbon and lace? (Or brand new ribbon and lace that just needs to start living at your house...)

Another shot of the classroom area - I brought all of the supplies for the fun, watercolored nametags we made, but they pretty much had anything we could have needed here in this classroom.

Aren't the displays delicious? And you can't even see all the brand-new lines that well in this pic!

I really liked that the samples showed how to incorporate products into traditional layouts, mini-books, home decor projects, and cards as well. There was something here to appeal to just about everyone.

Our gals did quite a bit of shopping...just saying.

I don't even really do this kind of crafty project, but this display was cute enough that I was ready to buy up a bunch of it. Thank goodness I had to fly home and couldn't indulge myself.

And the stitching corner...swoon!

A few glimpses of our make-n-take...

We had a great time visiting the Little Blue House! Go visit them if you're in the neighborhood or check out their online store her

Grapevine, Texas ScrapGals Retreat - Review in Photos (Day 1 - Friday)

I thought it might be good to recount for you some of our adventures from our recent ScrapGals Retreat in Grapevine, Texas. Note that this is a photo-heavy post and might take a while to load depending on your connection.

Tracie and I left Nashville via a Southwest flight that was quite bumpy due to some turbulence from storms. Our landing in Grapevine was definitely not what I'd call "smooth."

On Friday morning, we headed out for several retreat related errands, then we met up with fellow ScrapGals to explore Grapevine a bit in the afternoon. Here I am ready for our sightseeing and acting goofy in the hotel room mirror.  (Side note: I totally need a big mirror like this at home to be able to see my entire outfit.)

Before we met the retreat-goers, Tracie and I snapped a selfie in a good spot in the hotel hallway by the elevators - no shame, lol!

Downtown Grapevine was lovely and quaint; I enjoyed getting to explore the shops a bit.

This historic log home reminds me of a similar structure in my hometown that is preserved as part of the Kentucky Museum at Western Kentucky University.

This group shot of us is so much fun!

More scenes from downtown Grapevine.

Shooting this fun selfie with Nikki made my day!

And I couldn't resist a group selfie as we rested and told stories along Main Street.

This grape arbor near the log cabin reminded me of a similar arbor that my great-grandparents had when I was growing up.

I love old theaters.

Can you even imagine walking to Texas? At any time of year...from any other state...it's definitely not something I can imagine doing myself.

After our afternoon of browsing along downtown, we went to dinner at Babe's Chicken, a local favorite.

I loved the mismatched chairs they had lined up in front of the restaurant for the crowds that line up to eat there frequently.

And I don't think I've ever seen this much fried food on a plate before now! We had our choice of fried chicken or chicken fried steak. I tried a few bites of each and thought they did a great job with it.

The sides were also served family style - mashed potatoes, white gravy, green salad, corn, and biscuits were all on the menu with the meat choices.

The waitresses were sweet to snap photos of our tables while we were there.

And Tracie even posed with them for another pic! I was kind of trapped at the end of a table and missed out on this photo op. :)

After dinner, we drove to a nearby town and visited the Little Blue House. It was so amazing that I'll share about it in a different post. Fab.u.lous!

While we were there, we shopped a bit, made a make 'n take with our attendees, and even posed for a group pic.

After all that, I was ready to relax in preparation for our first full day of the retreat. I even bought some pineapple and flamingo pajamas in the hopes of scrapbooking these pics at some point - haha!

And that's a wrap for the opening of the Grapevine, TX 2018 ScrapGals Retreat! Check back soon for more pics and info about the fun we had.