Take Note.....it's a Diet Coke Slogan

Everyday for the past couple of weeks, I have been driving by a "Diet Coke" advertisement in a bus shelter.....the words just jumped right out and shouted at me. I couldn't stop thinking about how effective these words were, and how great they would be for a title on a layout. 

My daughter Hannah, has also just come back from a 5 day canoe trip from Algonquin, and I thought about the appropriateness of the title and the above picture. She does things that no one else in our family does, she tries things that no one else in our family would try. She has an unbelievable sense of adventure and spirit for life. The words on the "Diet Coke" bus shelter advertisement were just so suitable as my title to this layout celebrating her. 

The Studio Calico "Take Note" collection of papers and wood veneer embellishments worked really well together. So many people liked the frames, and asked me how I would use them. Truthfully, I liked them to, BUT had no idea quite what I was going to do with them. Well, once the package was opened....I had tons of fun with them, including cutting them.

Next time you see a magazine or billboard slogan, consider it as a title for YOUR next layout.

There are some "COMPULSARY" layouts

I have to say that there are two layouts that I feel compelled and obligated to do. One of them is always "a year in review" layout and the other is a "birthday" layout. I don't necessarily do them around the time of the year when the event occurs, but it stays on my mind until I get them done. I started doing a year in review layout several years ago, and I have to say....I LOVE looking back at them. It really is a very brief synopsis of some of the highlights of our year. It is also nice to put them all together in one separate book, and from year to year, you get to see the changes, the growth, the events.  

I had nothing in mind since January for what or how I was going to do this layout, until the other day, when I picked up a piece of "simple stories" paper that had each month on it. Immediately, I knew that that would be my ticket to get started. I started by picking a photo or two from each month,  printing them and then cutting up the paper. I was also determined to make this a single page layout. YES, there are WAY many more photos and events from each month that I would have loved to include, but, I picked the ones that in some way or another stand out in a memorable way for me. I also tried to include at least a pic of each member of the family. 

Once all the pictures and paper was stuck down, I was able to pull out my boxes of goodies. I had so much fun embellishing this layout. My aim was to have some kind of something attached to each month, to signify the picture in some way. I like the way it all turned out, even if it is already mid May, I like that I have a reminder of the previous year.

Project Life....17 weeks and still going strong

Well, I am VERY pleased to say that Project Life is still going strong. Yep 17 weeks into twenty twelve, all up to date. It seems as though everyone started off this year with a big bang of enthusiasm doing Project Life. For some, that spark has subsided just a little. For others, they are weeks behind, but still doing what needs to be done. My advice is simple....if you are behind, really behind. DON'T GIVE IT UP. It is better to just pick up from here and now, the current week and move forward with it. I promised myself at the ontake of this commitment, that IF if fell behind, THAT I would NOT stress over it, BUT just pick up from where LIFE is at. Remember in the years to come, it will not matter that some weeks may be missing or incomplete....IT WILL MATTER FAR MORE of the weeks that are documented. Worry about what you can do.....not what you can't. Spend time moving forward.

Remember WHY you embarked on the whole Project Life journey. 

RIGHT SIDE

LEFT SIDE

THE DOUBLE SPREAD

I encourage you....keep going!