Everyone else is doing it!

And I hate to feel left out, so here is my Top layouts for 2010. These are some of my favorites, though there are still a few that I cannot put up because I am awaiting to hear if they will be published.

Of course featuring that cute little one I call "niece." Loved the colors and the pictures of this one.

One of my first layouts for a For The Luv Of Art challenge. Love, love, love the colors on this page!

6.

An all time favorite brainchild of mine. Sticks, heat embossing, paint splatters, and my favorite neutral.

7.

Totally funky colors and absolutely awesome people.

8.

This layout moves me every time I see it. I think I was channeling her spirit when I made it.

9.

LOVE!!! The colors, the flowers, the embellies, just everything. I could eat this layout up!

10.

So proud of the handmade element to this one. I know it is very recent, but it had to have a spot.

And just because, I am adding an extra one. This would be my favorite layout that was a push for me. It isn't really my typical colors, though I did revisit them in my favorite #8 above, yet when I finished this, I was really drawn to it and how it had come together. It was based on a sketch from My Mind's Eye.

Thanks for playing along with my recap. Guess what? Tomorrow, on the first day of a new decade, I will do another Top 10 recap, featuring my favorite ten non-layout creations of 2010. Have a fabulous and safe New Year's Eve!

Feeling the Christmas spirit!

I went to a Holiday Crop over the weekend and was able to get *most* of my Christmas cards done. I also started this layout and finished it at home. I love the Cosmo Cricket holiday line with it's mix of colors-- purples, grays, greens, and reds. I have held onto this photo of my niece for a year waiting for the perfect layout for it and I think I found it.

Cosmo Cricket patterned paper, American Crafts Thickers, Maya Road ribbon, MS embossing punch and twine, misc. brads and buttons

I made the flowers surrounding the photo, including the ribbon ones. I was going to completely surround the picture with, but figured it would 1) be too much and 2) take too much time. Instead I am very happy with how it looks. 

Another thing that is totally Christmas time is Jeff Guinn's Santa-centric novels, starting with The Autobiography of Santa Claus. I highly recommend these novels. They are fabulous and especially wonderful at this time of year. I would imagine that kids would enjoy these stories as much as adults.

My big idea!

Drumroll, please.....

...

.....

I found a really cool green binder at the Dollar Store and it sat on my table, taunting me to put it to good use. A school binder? An inspiration binder? Something for Christmas? The December Daily? None of these seemed like the right calling for it. Then inspiration struck.

A recording of Christmas morning! To me, there is nothing that signifies the culmination of the Christmas spirit like Christmas morning. The family gathered around each other, generally in pajamas, sporting bed hair, and sleep still blearing their eyes. There is chit chat, hands gripping coffee cups, and a special glow from the Christmas tree which seems reflected in the love showing through on everyones faces. 

My intention with this book is to make quick one page layouts that focus on those moments. I have only gone back two years so far, but I may go back further. I want it to be a snapshot of who was there, where the celebration happened, and maybe even some things that were going on with those people.  

In 2008, we were in Oregon for Christmas. My brother and sister-in-law were expecting their first child. I love this picture of my siblings and I curled up on the couch together, the last year before there were children in our lives, our last year before we crossed the threshold of being someone's child to having our own.

I used KaiserCraft's Ginko patterned paper border punched with an MS Around the Page punch, Bazzill dotted swiss card stock inked with Vintage Photo Distress, AC Thickers number stickers, K&Co chipboard sentiment, and a greeting card from the Dollar Spot at Target last year. The card holds the journaling.

This layout is from my niece's first Christmas and I love how these photos really embrace the feel of our Christmas morning and that Miss Cady-Bird is at the center of the action, much like she is at the center of our hearts. 

This is based on red Bazzill card stock with a K&Co Yuletide patterned paper on the bottom, Me & My Big Ideas chip trees and bird, Making Memories snowflake transparency, K&Co Evergreen glitter tree and sentiment, and GCD Studios number stickers. The pom pom trim and snowflake brads are of unknown origins.

I know in the craziness that can be the holiday season, you might think that having one more project is just too much, but I certainly encourage you consider making one of these Christmas celebration books for yourself. It is a tradition that can be enjoyed for many years. If you do choose to follow me on this journey, I would LOVE to see your creations, so please, please, please share.

An icy slide into December!

Wow! This year has zoomed by! December 1st already? It is time to start on my December Daily, I am working on the free class offered by Jessica Sprague, and I have a new project that I really cannot wait to reveal tomorrow. Hopefully it will inspire some of you.

This last half of the year has been a bit crazy, but it is starting to wind down. School will be ending in a few weeks, I am starting to find my routine, life is just good. I am going to play a quick catch up here:

My new favorite Thanksgiving decoration. They remind me of a balloon from the Macy's Parade.

Then there is my newest handmade Fall decoration. No surprise it is a banner, right? 

Thanksgiving dinner was unconventional with no turkey. I feel like I did a lot of these that day.

But this turned out pretty darn good. At least that is what the masses said.

And I found some more inspiration when I found the top of my desk last night. Can't wait to send this to my friends.

Okay, so that is about the last two weeks of November in Cliff's Notes. I will be back tomorrow to unveil another of my midnight, should be sleeping inspirations.