Super-simple pages today. Just some snowflakes with twine and letters in the front.
And my snowflake in the back.
And that’s day thirteen.
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A few months ago, I made some handmade tags for Julie’s handmade for the holidays series. There were six tags and one set of downloads. I will post all of them one at a time during this week. For all my tags I used manila tags I bought at Office Depot. You can always cut your own tag from cardstock and punch a hole as well.
Here are the steps to this simple tag:
Supplies Used: Red Statz-On Ink, The Girls’ Paperie Tinsel and Twig Sticker Market, Antique Linen Distress Stickles, beads, felt, script stamp, transparency. This was originally posted at Julie Fei-Fan Balzer‘s blog as part of handmade for the holidays series.
One of the many advantages of doing the daily diaries is that I get to see some of the patterns in my life. One thing I realized is that I definitely go through phases where I am unproductive, negative, and uninspired each month. Sometimes they last a few days, sometimes longer. But it happens each time. More significantly, it passes each time. It comes and it goes. Knowing that it will go again really helps me tackle each new one a bit more calmly. I don’t feel as desperate because I know it’s ephemeral. I’ve been in one of these slumps lately. I feel tired and negative and sad and worn out. Even though I tell myself to rest, I scold myself for resting. For not getting things done. But alas….this too shall pass. I must say, even in my most uninspired days, I am still exercising every day. I am still taking photos and writing my gratitude down. These things are now ingrained in me. They are not negotiable. And that makes me happy. It also makes me happy that Nathaniel’s learned to smile at the camera. He’s going through the terrible twos lately so these photos are that much more precious to me.
I spent my day working and trying to let myself mope. Jake was home so he went to get David and it was library day so they read his book on minerals together.
Then we did some paper snowflakes. I’d been meaning to do them with him for ten days and we finally managed to do it. I followed the five point instructions here.
While mine turned out to be nothing like these amazing ones, they were cute.
Especially after I cut them down.
While I did the others, David wrote in his gratitude journal and then ate his veggies.
I did four of them and they all turned out differently as is the case with these projects.
Nathaniel was jealous so I gave him some paper and crayon and he went to town.
David then started his project of coloring/decorating them any way he wanted.
Tomorrow we hang them. I must admit doing this put me in a better mood and I feel less like the grinch. But still whiny. I am going to go work on my December Daily now and then I have more writing to do. I hope you’re less whiny than I am and having a more inspiring day. oh and I keep forgetting to mention!! I now have a newsletter. The first one will go out on January 31. (I might do a short one for December 31, not decided yet. But definitely one for January.) My plan is that it will only be once a month. It will give you a list/summary of what’s been posted here and elsewhere. It will have som more content special to newsletter subscribers and it will have a free digital download link. That’s what I have planned so far. I might do some photography downloads, too. Like a wallpaper. Not sure yet. If you’re interested in receiving them, you can sign up on my blog, at the top of the right column. If you cannot find it, just email me (karen AT karenika DOT com) and I will sign you up. If you have ideas of things you’d like to see in the newsletter, feel free to let me know! Also, I added an about page to the left column and I plan to add some FAQ pages, too. On my list. Oh the things on my list. Happy night to you! Three Things I’m Grateful For: Three Things David’s Grateful For: We’re only a third way through and my album is already not closing. Not good…. With the front, I just added one reindeer and left it simple.
Inside, I journaled: On the back, I put the photos of the kids getting their haircuts. And that’s day twelve. A few months ago, I made some handmade tags for Julie’s handmade for the holidays series. There were six tags and one set of downloads. I will post all of them one at a time during this week. For all my tags I used manila tags I bought at Office Depot. You can always cut your own tag from cardstock and punch a hole as well.
Here are the steps to this simple tag:
Supplies Used: Peeled Paint and Shabby Shutters Distress Inks, Tim Holtz Idea-ology Facets, Tim Holtz Shabby Vintage Paper, The Girls’ Paperie Tinsel and Twig stamps, The Girls’ Paperie Tinsel and Twig Sticker Market, Stream and Meadow alcohol inks. And here’s a movie where I demonstrate how I made the tag: This was originally posted at Julie Fei-Fan Balzer‘s blog as part of handmade for the holidays series.
We had some chores lined up for today that we’d been putting off for a while. So as soon as I woke up and got over the super-tired feeling I have each morning, I drove to my local Weight Watchers and bought the new points calculator. Then we took both the kids for their haircuts. David was way overdue with sideburns that we too long. Last time, he was really upset but this time he seems to have taken it all well.
It was Nathaniel’s first time and he started by sitting on dad’s lap and did not handle it well at all. He wept and wept so I told Jake I’d have him sit on me. Which calmed him down a bit so the guy could cut.
I distracted him by spraying the water bottle so he would watch and then even laugh a tiny bit.
Thankfully, it was all pretty quick and within minutes we were back home and he was playing with David’s toys. (While Daddy did another long overdue chore of changing the carseat belt location.)
When David realized what he was playing with and took it away, we had another meltdown.
But then TV came to the rescue, of course. Nathaniel’s become quite adept with the tivo remote.
After we put Nathaniel down, David worked on his gingerbreadman chart and I did a layout for the final creative therapy of 2010.
Now I am going to work on my december daily for today and then do some preparation for 2011. I have some blog posts I need to get ready and I’ve been putting that off for a while, too. Some more snuggly time tonight with Jake and our weekend will come to an end. All in all, a magical one. Three Things I’m Grateful For: Three Things David’s Grateful For: I have three pages for today again. I love this pajama page so I didn’t alter it much. Just added the word-stickers.
On the back, I put the photo of me with my three boys and added the title Gilroy Gardens on top of the photo and a few more word stickers.
Second page starts with this photo of David I love.
Journaling Reads: I must admit that we do a lot of these holiday events because I love them. I’ve learned a while ago that it’s best to do them for myself and if you guys like it, too, all the better. This is the only way I am always happy we went. But those times when you enjoy it just as much as I do, if not more, are the times I cherish more than anything else. And when I look back on these days, I will not remember how tired I was or how many times you asked “how many more minutes till we’re home.” I will remember the joyful way you shouted awesome and the excitement that overcame you as you ran from one ride to another, trying to decide which one to go on first. Thank you, my son, for being my best present. The back of that page is a photo of Nathaniel. The third page is just a collage of all the other photos I love from the day.
More on the back.
And that’s day eleven. I must say even though it’s simple, I love love love my December Daily already.
A LOT of photos today. A Lot! It appears these things go in waves. I just wanted them all so I couldn’t decide which ones to get rid of. In the morning, there was a lot of hugging. I love that even though he’s engrossed in his Wii, David still hugs him back and doesn’t ignore him or yell at him.
After the hug was done, Nathaniel signed “finished.” He loves signing that.
He also loves yelling and making loud noises and does them both often much to my dismay.
He’s just figured out how to sit up on the chair and loves to do it. Then yells “mama!” so I can see him up on the chair.
At 3pm, we all got in the car and drove down to Gilroy Gardens so we could see the magical lights. If you’re an old reader you might remember last year’s adventure at the park where I almost broke my nose and we had to go to the emergency room. This year, I was very careful but most importantly, it wasn’t raining. In fact it was the first time we were there ever with clear skies. And we arrived well before sunset which was wonderful cause it meant I could get some photos.
Like these of my wonderful kids.
This was the shot I wanted to take last year before I kissed the floor.
And this. See how I am in the photos more? I told you I was going to do it!
Since we’d never been there during daylight before, I wanted to take photos of the trees that make Gilroy Gardens famous. Like this one.
And this one. Isn’t it amazing that they are grown this way and not carved?
David then got to go on his first ride. Which he loved, of course.
While Nathaniel watched.
Then we stopped to eat some quick dinner. After that, we took the train and got to see the whole park. As we passed through dark and lit up tunnels, David kept shouting “awesome! awesome! awesome!” with so much jubilation that I got choked up. Those two minutes or so were worth everything to me. After the train, we went on the carousel. I love the carousel. And so does David.
I took a mirror shot. More photos with me in them!
Jake and Nathaniel sat in a couch/seat thing in front of us.
Jake and David went on race cars after that and David did a few more rides. As the final event of the night, David wanted to this water-gun-racing thing. Jake helped him.
And of course they won.
On the way out, David walked into this “little elf” hut. I know this is a imperfect photo but I love the way he looks sitting at the table so small like that. He’s so cute.
As the final act of the night, I followed through on my promise to get him a light saber. It was the first thing he asked for when we walked in and I told him we’d get one on the way out so we didn’t have to carry it the whole night. He picked a green one, of course.
Jake then drove us home safely and the kids went to bed (Nathaniel actually fell asleep in the car and didn’t even wake up when Jake carried him up to his room.) Jake and I snuggled up together and watched the first half of Eclipse. And now I am off to bed. Another magical, wonderful day when all I can think of is how grateful I am. How very blessed. I love this season so much. Three Things I’m Grateful For: Three Things David’s Grateful For: I loved this photo from yesterday so I used it on the front of my page.
Here’s the back:
Journaling Reads: But what I love more than anything is the lights. I love that they are everywhere and that they add so much cheer to our life. Which is why I love Vasona Park. I still remember the first year we went there and saw all the lights. I was so awed. I loved looking at the Santa playing basketball, the penguins sliding off the igloo, Rudolph and Santa’s sleigh. Dinosaurs. Volcanos. And the pirate ship. The elusive ship that I cannot photograph for the life of me. This year, they also gave 3-d glasses that created prisims everyhwere and made the whole sight even more magical. Seeing all this from the warm car while listening to Christmas music on the radio might be one of my favorite parts of the season. I love love love Vasona Park. David loved looking at everything tonight, too. Even Nathaniel said “wow” at some point (though he might have just been making the noise randomly.) I know many might think it’s silly but these lights make me happy. They speak to the child still living inside me. And they make her jump with joy.
This second page has the aforementioned 3-d glasses in it.
And that’s day ten. Here’s this week’s thing: 6. Write a love letter to my husband and mail it to him I wrote a love letter to my husband back in June (it was another one of my june projects) and gave it to him as a Father’s Day Card. I didn’t mail it to him but I stuck it on his computer in his office when he wasn’t looking. The card was inspired by this art by Dana. I used the same card for my catalyst for creative therapy:
and here’s the back
the letter inside was two pages typed. Yep, I typed it. I’ve learned over the years that I can express myself more deeply and more eloquently when I type. I’m afraid the contents are too personal to share but suffice it to say I love and adore my husband and I am very thankful he is in my life.
Considerably fewer photos today. I had the day off today so I spent most of my day relaxing and getting small todos done and just enjoying not having to stress about anything. Which apparently meant not taking a lot of photos either. Nathaniel took the opportunity to make a huge mess in the living room.
And then more messes while he ate a ton of crumbs he created.
And I didn’t want to miss David so I asked for a photo and this is what I got.
When Jake got home, we all went to Vasona Park to look at the lights which is where the top image is from. More on Vasona Park in the december daily post tomorrow. We have no plans for the weekend which is wonderful. I love the idea of making some snowflakes together. Snuggling up to watch movies. And resting. Perfect for me. Three Things I’m Grateful For: Three Things David’s Grateful For: I wanted to make some holiday themed overlays to use on my December Daily pages so I thought you might want some, too. Here are the six overlays in this pack:
You can download them by clicking here. In case you haven’t used overlays before, you can see a video on how to use them here: Using Overlays All of these overlays are PNG files and they are transparent which means you can change the color of the overlays, as well. Here’s how to do that: Coloring Overlays I hope you enjoy them! You are welcome to play with these as much as you want and use them anywhere you’d like. You are NOT allowed to sell them ever. You don’t have to but I’d appreciate a link back if you do use them. These overlays were originally posted at writeclickscrapbook.com |
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