My first Mini Album complete with pictures...A gift for my mom

This Christmas I figured I would try my had at a mini album, I wanted to make one pretty bad and I knew my mom would really appreciate one. So I decided to take some of my favorite photos from the wedding and create her Chirstmas gift. My mom was a huge help in making sure my wedding was a success and I love to give her gifts at Christmas that tug at her heart strings. This year of course would not be an exception to that.

I created the below album as her gift and gave it to her on Christmas, it was a complete tear jerker for her and she absolutely loved it.

Becky Higgin's Project Life 2011

Are you familiar with Becky Higgins' Project Life? I love to scrapbook and even though I have not dedicated the time to it that I would like to it's still a strong passion for me. So with Project Life it allows me to combine my love for photography, my love for scrapbooking and my love for my family all into one. I am so excited for the 2011 kit to come out, I check for it's availabilty every.single.day! It's the best way to capture the littlest moments on a day to day basis that you may normally for get about or that never make it in to your regular albums.

And to celebrate the release Becky Higgins is pairing up with a photographer, Amy Fischer to give a way a free kit....and your's truly is trying to win it.

Just look at this beautiful new design, I want this sooo bad!!!!

My December Daily

I decided to participate for the very first year in Ali Edwards December Daily project. I know over the past few years, I have not been in the Christmas spirit per say, I really was just going through the emotions. I wanted something to remind me about the joy and the love I used to have for Christmas, I used to enjoy it so much. I'm hoping to use this as more of a journal, each day will be Christmas related in one form or another. I'm excited, I want to share my favorite memories from Christmas past, traditions that my family has always had and maybe journal about the new traditions I hope to start with our family.

Here's my December Journal completed and ready to be filled. I kept it real simple but I'm happy with the way it turned out. I just used three jump rings for the binding and tied a Christmas ribbon to each ring...a Bind-It-All is on my Christmas list so keep your fingers crossed for me. The outside is chipboard covered with a pattern paper and the interior pages are all recycled manila office folders. The tag on the cover is another manila folder that I cut down, added a calendar of Dec 2010, a safety pin with tree charm and a simple green and white ribbon. The word journal is just die cut letters in a green patterned paper and then I added some white ink to the sides to give it a little dimension. I also inked the edges of the interior pages with red brick distress ink. The album size is 6x8 and once I start filling it I'll have to share the inside pages.

What do you think?

Christmas Spirit

Wow, September 15th, that was my last post, I am a horrible blogger, I pretty much suck. LOL I think this is what attempt #3 to get on track and post on a regular basis, I need to get my behind off Facebook and back blogging. But every since I did my Facebook business page I tend to not post business over here. Everyone is on Facebook now....

So let's get in to my post....Happy December!!!

I bought all new silver Christmas tree decorations from IKEA this year, I wanted something simple and I think it turned out great.

ISO 100 F/5.6 SS 1.3 sec. - I love how I started to get the sparkle, I need to work on my Bokeh a little.

My new IKEA decorations.

And like most everything at IKEA they had to be put together. My kiddos took care of that for me.

The kids were such good helpers, they did a great job on the tree.