Journal created by Bag Lady Lulu (click photo for link)

I really can’t decide what’s more amazing – that it’s already 2012, or that I actually completed Project 365 on December 31st.  I didn’t know if I’d make it!  I am so proud of myself for sticking with it, and really really love the results.  An entire year of my life, my family, our adventures – all scrapped and organized and snug in two fat binders.  It was a wonderful project.

And now I need a year to recover.  :)

So it’s a brand new year.  Have you made some resolutions?  Chosen a few goals?  Picked out your One Little Word?  Christen Olivarez wrote this in her Editor’s Letter of Somerset Life Magazine:  “This year, why not make a resolve to do more of something?  More reading.  More laughing.  More creating.  Simply resolve to do more of what makes you happy.”

I couldn’t agree more.  This year I’d just like to do more of what I love:  Take care of my family.  Take care of myself.  Read good books.  Sew and scrap and make things.  And I’d especially like to write more.  Just Write.  Write because I love to, because it’s fun, because it makes me happy.   For now, I don’t want to worry about publication or agents or e-books or blogging… I just want to write.   Novels, short stories, journaling – whatever my fingers and my heart feel like working on.  It’s time for me to remember why I fell in love with writing in the first place.

Whatever your plans for 2012, I hope that the year is starting out wonderfully for you!  And may you find peace and happiness all year long.

Happy New Year!

Favorite Photo

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Favorite Quote

“Make choices based not on fear, but on what really gives you a sense of fulfillment.”  ~ Pauline Rose Chance

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Favorite Finds

Book description from Amazon:  “In Taking Flight, you’ll find overflowing inspiration–complete with a kindred spirit in author and mixed-media artist Kelly Rae Roberts. Join her on a fearless journey into the heart of creativity as you test your wings and learn to find the sacred in the ordinary, honor your memories, speak your truth and wrap yourself in the arms of community.

Along the way you’ll be inspired by:

• Step-by-step techniques–learn the most-loved mixed-media methods of the author and seven talented contributing artists, and combine them in fresh and unexpected ways.
• Thought-provoking prompts and quotes–along with encouraging stories, insights and gentle guidance for finding your bliss, whatever your art or craft.
• Plenty of eye-candy–pages and pages of the author’s endearing artwork, along with the varied works of the contributors.

Of course, learning to fly isn’t entirely a step-by-step process–sooner or later, you just need to take a deep breath and spread your wings. With Taking Flight as your guide, there’s no doubt that when you do, your creativity will soar.”

Baby Sophia’s album is coming along nicely.  Only four more layouts to go.  I haven’t overdosed on the pink and frills yet…

I never imagined I’d be using a compass to help me make a scrapbook layout, but here I was yesterday, conjuring up memories of tenth grade geometry classes!  This layout was inspired by a table placemat (of all things!?) and will be part of my Project 365 album.  This is just a little peek of the unfinished page – lots of adhering and sewing and embellishments to add.  I’ll post pictures and some instructions and products when I’m finished.

Last night I took a crochet class for beginners… and am very, very thankful that I had such a patient instructor!   While crocheting may not be my calling, I will say that it was really fun to learn.  It was also really relaxing once I figured out how to hook without tying up my fingers or making terrible knots in the pattern.  And one perk I was not expecting -  it smothered my writer’s block and helped me get back on track with my book today.  After a two-week hiatus, I just edited eight pages!  Whew!!  I think I’ll keep the crochet hook and yarn handy…

What creative adventures are you up to these days?

Yep, I’m still plugging away at Project 365!  And also still working on Baby Sophia’s album.  There are butterflies and pink patterns everwhere – I love it! 

Can you unscramble the letters to find the title of this layout? 

**Supplies:  Martha Stewart Crafts butterfly embellishments, My Mind’s Eye “Lime Twist” paper, Prism six strand floss, Close To My Heart – My Acrylix “Alphabets” stamps**

I found this magazine at the local craft store last week and fell in love with a design that was stitched on a tea towel.  At the bottom of the towel were little triangle-shaped trees in different colors and patterns, making up an adorable forest.  It was so cute!  And looked so easy!  I could transfer this simple idea to a scrapbook layout, right?

Wrong.

I started with some funny little triangles.  Found some colorful papers with patterns and textures.  And when I was finished pasting them down, along with a patterned base, it looked nothing like a forest.  Instead, I had created a… seascape?  So my trees became sailboats.  And my scrapbook layout became a small sign for my desk.  I realized when I’d finished stitching and stamping and sewing buttons in place that I had actually enjoyed the fun diversion.  What had started as an assignment for myself turned into an adventure of playing and exploring… and not knowing what I was making until I was nearly done.

So, sailboats it is.  I could use an inspirational sign for my desk, and I already know the perfect place to hang it up!  It’s a good lesson learned; even if your creativity is not leading you where you’d imagined, let yourself get lost for a little while.  Sail in a different direction, even if for only a few minutes.  It’s fun to discover new horizons!

The hand-stitched flowers were a lot harder and more time-consuming than I thought they would be!  But I adore how they turned out – I keep touching them because I just love the texture they give to the page.

Sophia was given the nickname of “little bug”, so of course we had to add some butterflies.  I will be adding lots of other cute bugs to the rest of the album too.

Welcome to the world, sweet little Sophia!

Today I’m really excited to get my copy of Kristan Higgins’ newest novel Until There Was You.  I absolutely love her writing, and have been looking forward to this book for months.  I’ll be standing by the mailbox all afternoon. 

Today I’m putting the final touches on this paper crafting project that was inspired by this blog post.  The Sometimes Crafter is one of my new favorite blogs – such cute stuff there!  It was really fun to work on my own “Three Little Pumpkins” project, and it was such a good distraction since I needed a break from writing.

Today I signed up for a beginner’s crochet class at a local craft shop.  The  talented Emma Lamb and lovely Natasja of crocheTime have inspired me with their gorgeous crochet work.  I don’t know if I’ll have the patience to create anything very big or beautiful, but I’ve really wanted to try crocheting for a while.  So I’m going to give it a whirl!

Today I am loving this quote by Leo Tolstoy.  It is such a good reminder of something so simple:  “If you want to be happy, be.”

The stitching and leaves on this layout turned out a little more frilly than I’d imagined, and at first I was disappointed.  But the more I look at it, the more I like it.  Fall can actually be a frilly kind of season, with all the bright swirling leaves and bare curving tree branches.

I enjoyed Color My Monday so much that I’m already planning another project for next week… I have some gorgeous new colors in mind.  Thanks to those of you who have been following all week – I was really surprised to see so many new visitors.  Leave a comment and say hello if you’re new!  And if you have a crafting blog of your own, make sure you leave your address.  I’d love to see what you’re working on!