Happy New Year . . .

I've never really made new year's "resolutions"  . . . but this year I am setting a couple of goals for myself with regards to my scrapbooking . . . just certain things I want to be better about . . . one of those goals is to post more often (I'm shooting for at least once a week) on my blog . . .

The other goal is to start using up some of the scrap stuff I've been hoarding . . . I'm always buying new products when they come out and some of it sits for way too long . . .

No more!!  This year I have made a goal to start using those older paper packs, embellishments, etc. and to dig some of the dozens and dozens of stamp sets out and USE THEM!!!  What a concept, huh?!?!

I have found that a great way to use my products is through Project Life . . . I totally heart PL!!! Here is one of the pages from my 2012 pages (I'm struggling with getting my pictures the correct size . . . I'll post more tomorrow when I have better light to take photos and more time to mess with them - sure think this could be WAY easier with all of the technological advances we've made - if anybody has any quick and easy picture posting advice I would greatly appreciate it):

For my new 2013 PL book I am not buying a core kit (I did for 2012 and it was a great way to start). . . instead I am going through my oldies but goodies and I have joined 2 different monthly subscription clubs . . . Cocoa Daisy's stamp subscription club ($14.50 for a minimum of 3 beautiful, acrylic stamp sets mailed to your home every month - I LOVE THAT!!) and, more recently, the new Project Life monthly subscription kit through Studio Calico (OMG . . . love these kits . . . .  $24.99/month for a great fun pack of PL cards and embellishments not to mention their website loaded with information, videos, etc. about PL) . . .

I'd love to hear your thoughts and your crafty goals for 2013.

Thanks for stopping by . . .

Jeani

Beautiful Thailand

I just got back from a 2 week trip to Phuket, Thailand . . . Wow!  Really . . there are no words to describe the country, the people, the culture  . . . it was AMAZING!  My mom, sister and I went over for my brother's wedding.  Here are a handful of photos of some of our adventures:

We only spent one day at the beach - Nai Harn Beach - beautiful!

My sister & I at the Fish Spa - yikes - look at the grip she has on my leg!

We had to take an elephant ride . . . don't have to do it again, but we can say we did it once!

Ellen and I with our cold drinks after the elephant ride:

My brother and Nu during the wedding ceremony - awesome!

My brother with his son and step-daughter - such a beautiful family!

My brother, sister, Mom, Nu and I at the wedding reception - such a great time!!

Bo, Nu and Sam

The sun coming up as we swam in the pool on our first full day in Phuket:

The beach at the gypsy village in Rawai:

Pina Colodas by the pool!

We went up to Big Buddha and were all blessed by the monk - very cool!

Patong - or "Crazy Town" as we called it - wowzer!

Finding our chairs at Nai Harn beach:

Mom, El and I sipping coconut water at a very cool bar on the way to Kata:

It's been raining (really hard) on the Olympic Peninsula the last few days . . . . *sigh* . . . I miss Thailand and my brother.  Can't wait to go back again.

Now I need to get busy and get an album together of my trip . . . I saved everything (currency, receipts, ticket stubs, etc.) and took TONS of pics . . .so I just need to put it all together in an album so I can show everyone what an amazing trip it was!

More later!

Evening boat ride . . .

on Lake Sutherland tonight . . . we took the boys and their cousin for a boat ride . . . it was beautiful . . .



Heading to Seattle tomorrow to take my niece home . . . back this weekend to post photos of our adventures and some more Project Life pages I've completed.

Thanks for stopping by . . . enjoy your day!

Wrapping up some old layouts . . .

I created these layouts several months ago (emphasis on "several") and finally got around to finishing them with journaling, etc. yesterday - woohoo!  Here they are:

Joe's 6th birthday - we always celebrate with just family on the actual day if it falls during the week, which Joe's did last year.  Then we have the big party on the weekend with friends, etc.  This was our quiet little family celebration, complete with Snuggie and all :-)

I love these photos of my brother, sister and I that we took in a Scottish Pub in Victoria, B.C. (a quick hour ferry ride from my home in Port Angeles).  We had a great time that day . . . and these photos make me smile remembering it!  Mom was there too, but she isn't in these photos!

Last one today . . . my sweet Joey . . . I had this sheet of paper and a totally different photo of Joe set up to scrap but it just hadn't been working for me so I never finished it.  And, totally separate . . .  I've had these pictures of Joe sitting on my scrap desk for (dare I say) a year (is it just me or does anyone else do this - ack!!) . . . I put the two together (paper and photos) and it just worked perfectly . . . I added some embellishments and some alpha letters and I am sooooo happy with the finished layout!  Isn't he just the sweetest little bug!

That's it for today . . . still hoping the sun will come out for camp this afternoon.  I'll try to get some good garden shots tomorrow morning (they would be better in the sunshine!) and post.

Thanks for stopping by . . . enjoy your day!

Cub scout day camp week

We're busy with Cub Scout Day Camp this week but I'm going to try to get to some posts since our camp doesn't start until 3:00 each day.  I've got some garden photos to share also . . . I'll try to dig up some before photos so you can see how far we've come . . . whew . . . almost done with that project!

I've been busy . . . cleaning my scraproom, painting my greenhouse, working in the yard and keeping up with my Project Life.  I've even manages to complete 5 layouts that needed journaling or embellishments so now I'm ready to start some new projects - oh yeah, besides stripping and staining my kitchen cupboards that is.  Yikes!

Stay tuned for new posts this week.  Lavendar Festival in Sequim this weekend . . . my mom, sis and niece are coming over.  Never a dull moment here on the Olympic Peninsula!

Enjoy your day!

New garden chair

I purchased this adorable bent wicker chair from one of the highschool students who was making (and selling) them to earn money to participate in a CTE competition . . . I got it for a great price and I knew it would go perfectly in my new garden!! I was thrilled to finally pick it up today!

The garden is almost done . . . just a little paint (and a roof) on my greenhouse and some pea gravel and we'll be DONE!  I'll post before and after photos as soon as the last of the work is complete.  It's been a long process . . . we started our complete backyard renovation last summer.  Glad to be able to enjoy it this summer . . . from my new chair!

Thanks for stopping by . . . enjoy your day!

Teacher Thank Yous

The boys and I ventured out today to get some nice flower baskets for their teachers since tomorrow is the last day of school (woohoo!!).  Aren't they adorable?!

I made the sweet tags the other day (totally scraplifted from MishMash - love her style) and added some fun teacher notepads I found at WalMart a few months ago.

My oldest son made this cute little list on one of the notepads in his teacher's packet:

Such fun putting all of this together for their wonderful teachers!  It's been a bit of a trying year for both boys (struggles in math and with independence - perhaps a little 'boundary testing') and I know they are really looking forward to summer vacation - so am I!!

Thanks for stopping by and . . . enjoy your day!

Felt in the shop

I just added some cute felt embellishments to the shop:

Here is a Project Life day I just completed - our Cubscout BBQ out at Salt Creek today . . . I love using the little banner tabs on layouts and cards too.  If you like them, stop by the shop and grab some.

Thanks for stopping by . . . have a great day!

PaperGarden

Here's a sample of one of the fun items I have in my shop:

These are great for Project Life and on scrapbook layouts.  Here's a recent Project Life page I made using one my Days of the Week Tags:

I'm working on a fun new embellishment for the shop (and my Project Life) tonight . . . I'll post a picture tomorrow so you can get them while I have them in stock!

Thanks for stopping by . . . have a great night!

New venture

I spend so much time working on my Project Life book these days and I see so much product online, that I've decided to make my own embellishments for my PL book as well as my scrapbook pages.  I thought some of you might enjoy them as well, so I've opened up shop!

Check out my fun stuff here!  Why PaperGarden? Because that name incorporates two of my favorite things (besides my family!) . . . papercrafting and gardening.  Eventually, I'm hoping to expand into fun things for the garden . . . but for now it's all about paper (tags, journaling cards, etc.) and some fun felt embellishments I'm working on.  I'd love for you to stop by and check it out . . . maybe even order a set of fun tags for your projects.

Thanks for stopping by . . . . have a great weekend!