Project Life 25 {4.8.2013 - 4.14.2013}

Its Friday!!!

I'm so excited!

Seriously, this has been the longest week - and its only been 4 days (just fyi: I just typed 12 days...so yeah...that's how long I think its been!)

So, as usual for Friday, even though I shared one yesterday, I have a Project Life page!

I only have one side of the page this time, as the other side has all pictures from my school's gala. Since I'd basically have to blur out the whole page to comply with the social media rules in my contract, I thought I'd skip it!

Also - I think I finally found a way to photography my layouts here! I was looking for ideas when I found this article on How to Photograph Your Scrapbook Layouts.

So, I didn't follow all of it, just step 3. I fun tacked my layout to the wall, took a picture and un stuck it.

Love it! I will definitely be using this technique more often!

What's your favorite way to photograph layouts?

Project Life 25 {4.1.2013 - 4.7.2013}

Happy Weekend Eve!

This is the post I was going to share Tuesday, before I got all confused and thought it was Monday.

Oh well, better late than never.

I'm really excited to share the last few Project Life layouts from my 25th year. And I'm even more excited to move on to 2013 (which I will just pick up where this project ends. Then in 2014 I'll be on a regular calendar year like everyone else!)

Okay, I'm not sure why this shot is so glare-y. I still playing around with places to photograph my layouts in the new apartment!

I have to say, now that I've been working on my Project Life pages for Baton Rouge, I'm liking it a bit better. I really try to be positive in my pages, or to at least address the negatives in a positive way, which is making me think more positively!

Plus, this page is entirely about the apartment, which is my favorite part of living in Baton Rouge!

Does scrapping an event you feel not so great about ever help you feel better about it?

WOYWW {05.29.2013}

Did you know that it is Wednesday? 

I didn't. I was so confused. I planned to share a Project Life layout with you all on Tuesday, but I got all confused and thought Tuesday was Monday. And that today was Tuesday.

But it isn't Tuesday, its Wednesday. 

And I've cleaned my desk! And thanks to Julia I get to post a picture, to prove to future generations to my desk can be clean.

So the layout will wait until Thursday :)

Almost done with this Project Life album...and almost time to move on to the clementine album!

DIY Citronella Candles (No Double Boiler, Melting or Hot Wax Required!)

Happy Weekend Eve!

I am so glad that it is finally Thursday. Tomorrow is kind of a fake day at school (parent-teacher conferences, no actual teaching = a break kind of work day!)

Then it is Memorial Day Weekend!

Do you have any plans for the long weekend?

Our plans are pretty relaxed - see a movie, get the tuxes for the wedding, and spend lots and lots of time outside!

Of course, we can't spend any time outside after dark without citronella candles.

And, thanks to pinterest, and this pin, I just had to make my own.

Mine were a little different than the original pin. I didn't have the materials to melt down the wax, but I found these awesome bags of wax crystals that don't need to be melted at Hobby Lobby.

So, without further adieu, here they are...

You will need:

1 bottle of citronella oil (I got mine at Whole Foods)

4 mason jars
3-4 bags of wax
candle wicks
4 large Ziploc bags
1 glue gun
glue stick

Directions:

1. Place a dot of hot glue on the inside of the mason jar, in the center. Quickly put the metal part of the candle wick over it. Repeat for all of the jars.

2. Pour each bag of wax into their own Ziploc bag. Add 20-25 drops of citronella oil to each. Seal and shake the bags. If you have more citronella oil left over, evenly distribute it among the bags. Seal and shake again.

3. Pour the candle wax beads into the jars. You can do all one color in each jar, or you can layer them like sand art. While pouring, try to keep the wick as in the center/straight as possible. Since the candles don't set, you can always wiggle the wick around. A plastic utensil or even a toothpick is good for moving the wax around to where you want it.

4. Cut the wick to about 1/4" above the top of the wax.

5. Light the candles and enjoy!

*NOTE* If you are going to leave your candles outside, I'd put the mason jar cover on them. Mine got all wet from the huge rain storm we had two days after I made them. I mean, they still lit beautifully the next day, but the wax got a little shaken up by that storm.

I loved this craft so much that I actually boxed up all the supplies and sent them, along with these directions, to my mom for Mother's Day!

She loved making them, and here are her beautiful candles:

Do you ever love a craft so much that you just have to pass it on?

25th Birthday Tag

Last month, AJ and I were invited out for his coworker's birthday. We decided to pick up a bottle of wine, and since I was feeling a little crafty, I decided to throw together a tag...10 minutes before we had to leave!

I'm actually really happy with it. I really like the cupcake stickers. I bought them so long ago, but almost never use them...I'm definitely hoarding them!

Do you hoard your cutest supplies too?

Project Life 25 {3.25.2013 - 3.31.2013}

I know I was going to share this page on Friday. And then on Saturday...Sunday...and Monday.

But, I hadn't made this page yet, and I was so reluctant to. Just so not motivated!

You see, its the first page about Baton Rouge, and I was still in my Baton Rouge is not Chicago funk.

Then I realized, all the pictures I have are about the things I do like down here - AJ, the apartment and our new car!

 Our pool ~ AJ very carefully reading the directions on the Swiffer ~ Our new apartment

New car! ~ Riding in the new car ~ Getting ice cream in the new car

You know, creating a Project Life page about Baton Rouge makes it seem not so bad!

I'll be around to visit everyone tonight! I missed visiting all of you the past few days, and its the biggest, most brightly colored thing on my to do list today!!

See you all later :)

Third Thursday Scrapbook Stories {05.16.2013}

Happy weekend eve!

Have you ever made a picture-less layout?

I recently did!

Here's a little sneak peek...

Stop by Julie's to see the rest :)

I'll be back tomorrow with a Project Life layout - my first about Baton Rouge!

WOYWW {05.15.2013)

Its Wednesday!

The day that we share our desks and get to sneak peeks at everyone else's, thanks to the fabulous Julia.

 My desk got moved onto the chairs to make room for this:

Chocolate ice cream and Reese's cups cake! Yum!

What's on your desk today?

About Me Birthday Layout

Today is my birthday!

In honor of my birthday, I wanted to do an about me layout. Ali Edwards created this layout for her son's birthday, and I thought it would be fun to do my own.

Of course, I didn't make it until last night, and I didn't have the paper to print out an 8x10 picture, so the picture is temporary. But that's okay!

What are your plans for today?

I'm going to have my favorite pizza for dinner, and then AJ has a surprise dessert. I wonder what it is?! I'm very excited about it though!

Project Life 25 {March 2013}

So, I have a confession.

I totally stopped scrapping two weeks ago. I finished my last Project Life page about Chicago, and I kind of freaked out.

Before that, it hadn't really hit me that we live here. It all kind of felt like a vacation.

Suddenly, I realized, while we may live in the mid west again one day, I won't ever live in Chicago ago. Like, in the city.

Now, don't get me wrong, I don't dislike Baton Rouge, our apartment is lovely, and I really like how close my job and Super Target are.

But I miss the city - being able to walk everywhere, having restaurants, museums, parks, the beach, basically everything, right outside of our door.

And the realization that we won't ever live in Chicago again wasn't pretty. I couldn't even watch Mike and Molly, and don't get me started on what happened when I noticed Ferris Bueller's Day Off was on TV!

So, I'm going to share all of my Chicago Project Life pages with you right now.

And that is that. All of Chicago. Documented in scrapbooks + Project Life.

I do have one more layout about Chicago. But I'm not sure when I'll be up for making it, let alone sharing it! But I am excited to start scrapping about Baton Rouge!

{Guest Post} 5 Photo Apps to Create Save the Dates with Just Your Phone

Today I have a guest post for you from Rachael.

Rachael is a NYC mom who has a passion for her family, writing, and the fast-paced culture of city life. Follow Rachael on Twitter, you'll find her here: @livealittleNYC

She wanted to share a post with you all about using photo apps to create photo cards - including Save the Dates!

So I'll stop rambling and turn it over to Rachael. But I will be back tomorrow with an update, and some PL pages :)

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Anyone who has a smartphone knows there are a seemingly endless number of apps to help do just about anything. They help us stay organized, respond to email, keep us up-to-date with our social sites, and of course, help us take great photos. When you are planning a wedding, apps can become even more important while you try to stay on top of every little detail. Here are five great apps that can help you take great photos you can use for your “save the date” cards for your wedding!

1. Pocketbooth: This is a great (and cheap) little app and is referred to as “the photo booth that fits in your pocket.” Pocketbooth allows you to choose matte vs. glossy paper, sepia tone, black and white, and color. This app is for the iPhone and iPod touch with a user-facing camera.

2. Instagram: This free app is quite possibly the most widely used photography app on any smartphone platform. Instagram has plenty of built-in filters and special effects and the app has become so popular, more and more sites are making it easy to upload directly from Instagram.

3. Photoshop Touch: Everyone knows the amazing application Photoshop – as well as the price tag that comes with it. Photoshop Touch is an inexpensive little app that allows you to edit your photos using core features from its pricey older brother.

4. After Focus: This app lets you really put a professional look on your photos by letting you manually blur your backgrounds so they are less distracting to the focal point. After Focus comes in both a free and “Pro” version ($1.99) to handle higher resolution photos.

5. Camera Zoom FX: This is a great app if you have a phone with a somewhat slow camera. This cheap little app lets you create color effects, vignettes and other options to give your photos a finished look. Camera Zoom FX has received great reviews from multiple expert technology sites.

Once you have your photos ready, it is time to create your personalized “save the date” cards for your upcoming wedding. One site that has great save the date cards that are easily personalized is Wedding Paper Divas. It is very simple to upload your photos, create your message and order your cards all in one visit!

With all the great photo apps for smartphones today, there is no reason to settle for boring or out-of-focus photos. Most are only a few dollars, if not free and have a very low learning curve. Once you are up and running, you can create great memories for your wedding and beyond!

Scavenger Hunt Sunday {05.06.2013}

Happy Monday!

Did your weekend fly by as quickly as mine did?! We were very busy this weekend with the crawfish festival and chaperoning prom.

But, I still managed to take pictures for Scavenger Hunt Sunday!

Background

If these lights don't say "its time to dance!" I'm not sure what background does!

Spotted or Dots

Dippin Dots?

Weather

It was cloudy on our drive last weekend, but it was very very sunny at the golf tournament. The weather changes so quickly here!

Motion

Ferris Wheels kind of scare me (okay, they scare me a whole lot!) but they are pretty to photograph!

Sweet

AJ was very sweet to come to prom with me as a chaperone :)

Linking up with:

Project Life 25 {Week 42: February 25 - March 3}

TGIF!

AJ was away this week (again!) so I wasn't sleeping (again!) I cannot wait for this weekend so I can catch up on sleep and crafts!

For this week, February 25-March 3, I can only share one side of my Project Life. The other side is entirely wedding crafts, which I'd like to keep a surprise just a little while longer.

What are you up to this weekend? Saturday is a bit crazy, we are going to a festival and to the prom! But Sunday we are relaxing all day!

Sticker Organization

Oh man. I've been so unproductive this week.

Well, not really. I ran errands. I cleaned. I worked every day. And I started doing Blogilates for an hour every night.

But I've been unproductive craftily. I didn't even share my desk yesterday, because its just a pile of things that need to be put away! How un-fun is that?!

Part of my cleaning last weekend did involve my crafty supplies though.

As Tracy would say, I defunkified my stickers.

Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures before...but it was a disaster. Stickers everywhere, no order, no anything, just a messy mess of stickers in a tote. Then, I found a huge pile of alphabet stickers in another folder.

Obviously, something had to be done.

First, I went through all my alphabets and paired up ones that were the same. Then, I found this old binder.

Each alphabet, or alphabet set (letters that were the same font bug different colors, or extremely similar in design) got their own page protector.

I love that I can just flip through the pages to see what I have. I'm really excited about it for Project Life!

But, that was just the alphabets. And there were all of the other stickers to contend with.

I took all of my stickers out and sorted them into several categories. Each category got put into its own baggie.

I based the categories on how many stickers I had. So Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Fall, Halloween, and Christmas all got their own bags. As did travel, baseball, animals/random, characters, stars/flowers/jewels, friends/girly ones.

Then, I put all of the baggies back into the tote that they came out of.

And that's it! Now I actually know where all of my stickers are! Next up - organizing my scraps!

What organization projects are on your to do list?