The Holiday Season is over....but not for October Afternoon Holiday Style

Well Christmas and New Years may be over, but now is the time to sit and scrap all those holiday photos, whatever it is that you may celebrate. We all get so caught up in the season, we all take so many pictures with the intention of getting them scrapped.....AND then, suddenly and quickly the season is over, and the excitement and enthusiasm has died down. Well, don't let it! Even if it is just a couple of pictures on one layout, get it done. Break the rule of "ALL OR NOTHING".....just do a little something.

When I saw the October Afternoon "Holiday Style" paper, I just knew that I had to have it. I am the most devout fan of OA in general, and LOVE everything. Even if I don't love it all on first sight, I usually land up buying each and every sheet of the paper in the collection....and, slowly, ever so slowly fall in love with each and every sheet.

Both of these layouts were inspired by various sketches. I tend to use the sketch as a kind of map to get started, so that I am NOT looking at blank page longingly and not knowing quite where to start. It is amazing how much a sketch helps to just get going. I also LOVED using all the little goodies to layer and embellish. Some people are always wanting to hold onto that one little piece, but remember, that there will always be another one little piece that you will love just as much. Use your stash, enjoy using it.

Last Week of Project Life 2011

Well, here it is.....my last week of Project Life 2011.

I can't account for all 52 weeks, only because I started this around Easter, which brought me to completing 36 weeks by the end of the year. I can't begin to tell you how very self accomplished I feel, when I sit down and flip through these pages. I also did NOT allow myself to fall behind with this project, and for the weeks that I really didn't feel like embellishing too much, and just wanting to get it down, I am grateful that I did. Yep, some weeks look far more decorated, embellished and colorful than others, but at the end of the day, what really matters, is the story this book tells, rather than the "prettiness" that surrounds it.

So, here we are....the first week of the New Year just over, and I am glad to say, that as I write this post, I have also just completed week one of Project Life 2012!

If you are thinking about embarking on this outstanding adventure in scrapbooking, I encourage you to stop thinking about it, and just start it. The whole idea can seem a little bit intimidating, but I assure you, that once you start, you will ask yourself why you didn't start it all earlier. There are also so many wonderful bloggers out there who post there weekly project life layouts, that provide so much inspiration. If at any point, I sit down to do my weekly layout, without feeling inspired, I simply look at any one of these blogs, which sometimes give me the "where" and "how" to get started.

I use tons of bits and pieces of whatever I have. It truly is a great way of getting rid of stuff, alot of old stuff, that may never have gotten used up. I have also since learnt how to purchase, download and use stuff digitally, which is something that I never thought for one second that I would ever be able to do. Project Life has opened new doors, where I have learnt new things.

I have also discovered these outstanding little journaling cards and tags, which I have fallen in love with from Elle's Studio....I can not begin to tell you how much I love them. But I am even more excited to to tell you that in the next week or so, they will be available for sale at Stamping Bella. Just looking at them all will be enough to get you, to want to start your Project Life.

Don't wait, don't hesitate...each day, each moment is precious!

Document it!