Day #14 - 30 Days of Thankful

Day #14 - Today I'm thankful for a daughter who's finally finding her math footing, and it took Geometry to do it.

If you're partaking in 30 Days of Thankful, the Instagram version or something similar (there are quite few options out there) please share your links in the comments to your blog, photos, words or layouts.

Slow Start. . .Rake Up #11

This week has just been one of those weeks.  The little corners in the house that collect clutter, seem to be piling up and are starting to annoy me.  I don't feel like I've been home.  I haven't, other than knitting on Tuesday, created anything.  There are a half dozen things at home that need to be finished.  And in general I just can't seem to get focused.  I'm sure I'm not alone - we all have weeks like this.  I'm hanging in there until next week, when all the kids are off school and the days should be calmer - though I expect the house won't improve.

 

A little look at  the November Smaller than a Breadbox kit (which are on sale now, if you don't have an autoship).  Created by Kristin Perez using the Smaller kit, the Jillibean Pumpkin Chowder line.  I love how summery this layout is.  The bright green and pops of orange.  You'd never know the other sides of the papers are all about fall!

 

 

Rake Up #11 - I was scouting around for ideas to deal with my Take 12 album, but got side-tracked (see no focus) by this totally cute card over on the SRM blog, created by Michelle Bertuzzi.  It's so jolly and festive.  And hello, head-slap moment for the snowflake punched in green to look like pine boughs!  Break down the components of this card and it's a super simple, super cute look.  So, if you're looking for Take 12 layout ideas, this card reminds me to just keep it simple.  Card maker. . .well right here in red and white and green.  Layout creator. . .color scheme, layering, pull out those long-forgotten scallop punches or scissors.

 

 

Since we're half way through the month, leave an update today on how you're doing and where you're at.  My update:

• Take 12 album - no layouts made
• Take 12 photos, I believe I have them printed out through April - I might have gotten May, but I'd have to look at the pile.
• December Daily 2011 photos - ah, no.  But if you'll recall my impulse purchase netted me my 2012 album.  That will now need to be assembled and added to my to-do list.
• Christmas Cards once started are still unfinished
• Conversion of previous "boo" decor to "joy" . . . not too much joy going on just yet
• Knitting project. . .in progress.  Last class is tonight.
• 30 Days of Thankful is on track - I need to print out the photos for this week and get them in the album, but on target.

Not bad, actually.  I'm okay with where I am and that's the point isn't it.  Not necessarily checking off every item, but moving forward.

 

If you haven't left your list of Rake Up Goals and you want to take part, you can leave your comment attached to the post HERE. 

Note: As you complete your projects, leave a comment under any Rake Up post sharing what you completed. If you've got a photo to share, include the link.

Happy Thursday,

Day #13 - 30 Days of Thankful

Day #13 - Today I'm thankful for creativity and imagination in my children.  It doens't matter that the phone is fake, or that it doesn't have an outlet to plug a cable into - let alone a cable - when the battery is dead on your cell phone you make it work.

 

 

If you're partaking in 30 Days of Thankful, the Instagram version or something similar (there are quite few options out there) please share your links in the comments to your blog, photos, words or layouts.

Car Bound. . .Rake Up #10

Yesterday was one of those days I feel like I was harnessed to my car.  And it's not even soccer season!  I just felt like I was driving everyone everywhere, with a short breaks to run around in the house doing chores or getting dinner together before dashing off to the next place and task. 

I didn't get my homework done for my knitting class.  However, since the bulk of learning was over, and it was more helping people in their projects with where they were, I was able to sit quietly and just knit.  Which means not only did I accomplish the nerve-wracking adding a new color (in the round), but I added two colors!  In the round.  We won't discuss the extra row I knitted because I wasn't paying attention.  Hopefully, I'll carve out some time to continue working so that at the last class I can be far enough along to get the help I'm sure to need to complete the process.  Otherwise, like I was telling the teacher, I need a part two to the class to finish it up. 

I did realize that knitting was taking hold though, because as I stood in line at the grocery store I saw a Gooseberry Patch Holiday book and while flipping through saw a knitting (or what I thought might be a knitting) project inside.  I flipped to the back looking for knitting instructions, while my mind started thinking of color combos to use.  Turned out it was taking apart already-knit sweaters and creating a cozy blanket.  I know I've got the hook because not only was I planning colors, but when I saw the easy-sweater approach, instead of heading to the thrift store, I thought, "I can do that by knitting my own sample blocks and assembling."  Of course, the appeal may have been the blocks were nice, square, on straight needles, simple-stitch knitting (aka stitches I know), but I'm still wanting to create the blanket (the photo below isn't the actual one that spurred all this mind-whirling thought, but the concept is the same.)

Rake Up #10 is for those of you who have organizing your crafty-space on your list.  I'm again borrowing information from Professional Organizer, Geralin Thomas, and the informational series she posted on her blog.  While sorting through your stash, answer the question: "Have I used something similar in the past?  I have a soldering iron, which I’ve never even taken out of the package. This makes me sad because when I bought it, I had high hopes for making jewelry! Unfortunately, I’ve never gone further down that particular path than just saying, “Wouldn’t it be cool to…” It may be time to send the soldering iron (and the accompanying wire, etc.) to someone who will appreciate it and USE it."  In essence if you haven't used it in the past, and it's still sitting unused, chances are good, it's not going to be used.  Let it go.

If you're not doing a creative purge of your stash, use the blanket image to motivate you to work on the next item in your list.  Cards?  Emboss different blocks, use different patterned papers, stamp different images, etc. to create the blocked affect.  The same can be said for your layouts.  Look for different textures - paper, embossing, misted, canvas, cotton, etc.

If you haven't left your list of Rake Up Goals and you want to take part, you can leave your comment attached to the post HERE. I am reading them and looking for ways to help you complete your lists. And you just never know when I may select a name and reward your accomplishments ;) I'm kooky that way.

Note: As you complete your projects, leave a comment under any Rake Up post sharing what you completed. If you've got a photo to share, include the link.

Happy Wednesday.

Day #12 - 30 Days of Thanksful

Day #12 - Today I am thankful for the end to another month's business cycle.

If you're partaking in 30 Days of Thankful, the Instagram version or something similar (there are quite few options out there) please share your links in the comments to your blog, photos, words or layouts.

I Did a Bad Thing. . .Rake Up #9

It was a total impulse buy.  You can't wave October Afternoon at me and not expect me to bite.  It's like throwing chum at a shark. . .it's gonna go for it, it's going to be fast (you'll never see the strike, you'll just be missing an arm - or money from your account) and it's  certainly not going to be pretty when it's over (let the buyer's remorse rationalization set in.)  My justification?  Well, duh, December Daily 2012.  Sha.  Jeez.  Looking at the photo I'm pretty sure I can get 10 years of December Dailies out of it, but whatever.  It's October Afternoon people! 

Don't judge. 

Rake Up #9 - I've pulled out my Christmas Planner, have updated the pages and started to record the purchases I've already made, the ones to be made and other odd bits for this season.  This, I believe is the first year I've started shopping this early and I have a pretty good stash; I'm so excited.  So, for those of you with Christmas items on your Rake Up list, I present the following inspiration. 

I found these luminaries on Pinterest and had to pin them on Apron Strings' I Can Do That board.  How cute (and seemingly easy to do) are these?  The white and green color scheme.  The snowflakes.  The silver.  It's all so good.  You could do these with orange ribbon and pumpkin stencils for a centerpiece to your Thanksgiving table.  These could inspire your Christmas cards - how quick for the bulk of your list!

If you haven't left your list of Rake Up Goals and you want to take part, you can leave your comment attached to the post HERE. I am reading them and looking for ways to help you complete your lists. And you just never know when I may select a name and reward your accomplishments ;) I'm kooky that way.

Note: As you complete your projects, leave a comment under any Rake Up post sharing what you completed. If you've got a photo to share, include the link.

I seem to be lacking in focus today.  So I'm off to try to rectify that.

Happy Tuesday.

Day #11 - 30 Days of Thankful

Day #11 - Today I'm thankful for Sunday mornings with big sisters, little brothers and Wii Mario Cart.

If you're partaking in 30 Days of Thankful, the Instagram version or something similar (there are quite few options out there) please share your links in the comments to your blog, photos, words or layouts.