us right now: 2011 mini

This year I was searching to do some kind of mini album for 2011.

I was inspired by Monika Wright's gratitude album and Karen Grunberg's weekly gratitude project from last year. But I knew I couldn't keep up with a weekly journal.. and I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted the focus to be.  Then I saw Karen's (of Karenika.com) 2011 idea - Us Right Now.   

While I loved Monika's gratitude album from 2010.. I knew I needed something "easier for me".

So when she posted her 2011 gratitude mini I had a great idea!! 

 (see how her 2011 gratitude album is shaping up so far)

  

I took Karen's weekly project... which is an awesome idea, and adjusted it to monthly.. and decided to do an "Us Right Now" monthly mini! As I was mulling it over.. Monika shared a post on her 2011 Snapshots in Time album.. and I immediately thought - perfect!!

Solution: order custom album!

So of course, I asked Monika to design one for me... which she did!

(a custom listing in her etsy shop)

First I'll show you what arrived with my "iloveitall" purchase:

Monika always sends extra goodies :) 

She made the mini in my color scheme - (boys).

 Here are some of the inside pages:

                                                                                                                                                                         

So here is my first month's entry.

I chose to type because I'm not a huge fan of my handwriting.

I'm pretty excited about how this turned out! All I really have to do is take one family picture each month.

Of course, I haven't taken February yet, so maybe its not that easy :)

But when the year is over, I hope to have a great memory book!!

This mini is a great example of how all my blog-reading inspiration combines to make a project that fits my life and creative goals. 

I am so grateful for all the wonderful ideas that make my creative life easier.

So... guess what?? I'm having an iloveitall giveaway!!

One of you will win a Snapshots in Time mini-album.. 

(its a DIY album, including papers, printed month-in-review journaling cards,  

2 2" binder rings, extra embellishments and kraft paper for front and back covers)

in order to win you must:

* be a follower of projectenvygirl

* leave a comment on this post - what would you do with your mini??

a winner will be chosen in two weeks.

and...  you can use the coupon code PROJECTENVYGIRL 

 at Monika's etsy shop for a 15% discount through Friday March 5, 2011.

twine time.

Welcome to my first installment of:

Friday Favorite! 

When I first saw this product, I knew I had to have it.

 But honestly, I just wanted to sit it in a basket in my scrap room and look at it!  I wasn't really thinking about how I'd actually use it. I had seen a lot of projects using baker's twine, but I just wasn't sure I could be as creative.

Not sure if that makes sense - but nevertheless I was hesitant.

After mulling it over, I decided - JUST BUY IT! 

So I did, I purchased the sampler pack for $14.95.
(the new sampler is $20 with 3 additional colors)

And here's what happened: 

These aren't the greatest pictures, but you get the idea. I'm now using it all the time and I love it! So now I really want this:

This twine is now one of my favorite products - a must-have for my crafting! I've used it in mini albums, scrapbook pages, teacher gifts, you name it... 

If you hop on over to The Twinery - you can check out all kinds of great examples and ideas. 

You'll also want to check out the cool story of how they started their business!

december daily. done.

So here it is... finally finished.
(I think last year I posted it in July!)

My second December Daily.

I think this is a project I will definitely stick with!

Most products this time are courtesy of the awesome Teresa Collins - Noel Collection.

These are just a few of my favorite pages... you can see the complete album here.

Here's a look at my 2009 DD album :)

If you haven't attempted this yet, but would like to -

just check out the DD Flickr gallery for plenty of inspiration!!


this post is linked here:

butterfly punch project

I finally finished my butterfly punch picture..

The original idea came from this post from Ali Edwards back in 2008!

(I cannot believe it took me that long) 

So here's my take... I wanted to get the boys pictures involved somehow...  

I'm not sure I like these as much as her original art..

but at least my scrap room is finally coming along!

project envy: scrapbookpatty

Today I am excited to introduce you to one of my favorite scrapbookers... Patty.  Her pages are wonderful, and today she is sharing her tips on making mini albums.

Hi everyone my name is Patricia Kumfer, most know me by ScrapbookPatty. I have been immersed in the scrapbooking hobby for about 8 years. Between taking care of my family, college, and other responsibilities, I constantly am thinking about what project I’m going to create next. I currently design for Paper Posies and My Cute Stamps and have been published in Scrapbook Trends & Cards Magazine quite a few times. So you may have seen me around.

I was so excited to get an email from Andrea asking me to come on here and discuss the “The Secrets of a Mini”. Besides scrapbooking layouts, I love to make mini books, Chipboard books in particular. I know at first Mini books can be kind of intimidating, but they actually are really easy and a lot of fun.

Here are a couple steps to how I get brainstorming and started on a mini book.

-I start with my canvas (main body of the book). I have been lucky to find most of chipboard books for $1 at Michaels craft store. But one of my favorite companies is Maya Road. They have wonderful altered books in a variety of shapes.
Supplies: Tape Runner, Scissors, Pencil, glue dots, extacto knife.

-I know you're thinking .... THAT’S IT??? That’s really all you need. I have tried it all (modge podge, glue sticks) its way to messy. You also don’t want to wait months for it to dry.

-Once I get a book I like to browse on a theme. I love to use kits. It’s a big help and it doesn’t have you searching for a bunch of “KINDA” matching supplies.

So you have your supplies and photos …. WHAT NOW????

-START SCRAPPING. Think of it like a mini scrapbook page. I normally start with tape running glue all over each side of the chipboard base and cutting it out. It works best for me. I know some who sand the edges down to get it smooth but it just depends on your taste.

-Once you get all your base paper down let your creativity flow. I normally piece things before I glue them down and sometimes I add more paper depending on what I feel it needs. My motto the more dimension the better. I love miini books that have a lot going on from start to finish.

Here is one of my favorite mini chipboard books I made for a friend.

Thank you for giving me the time to share one of my favorite projects and my hobby with you. Stay Creative and Be inspired.

Thanks so much Patty!! You can check out Patty's blog here. If you would like to be featured.. or have a featured suggestion...  please let me know :)

52 photos.

I'm having a pretty fun time playing along with this one ....



It's called 52 Photos and you can find out more about it here. 
And I joined late, so if you're interested in basically doing a photo challenge each week and sharing with a group of fun women, by all means join up!!

This week's challenge is UP...

a sammye jo surprise!

One of my first "online bloggy" friends.. happened to be the awesome, creative Sammye Jo of 62 Cards!

And I really couldn't believe it when I found out we actually lived about 20 minutes away from each other...

I'm a huge fan of her etsy shop so several months ago, when looking for a new adhesive to use.. I ordered a glue glider from her - because she swears by them! It took her a while to get it to me... which did not bother me one bit... but being the sweet and awesome Kentucky girl she is... here's what arrived at my doorstep:

 

Are you kidding me???

This whole care package and an apology for the late delivery of the glue glider... totally not necessary - however, is she the sweetest thing or what????

My boys could not believe someone would do something this nice!

So... feel free to give her Sammye Jo some love today.... head over to 62 Cards on etsy... check out her awesome creative blog... and follow her on facebook!

Thank you Sammye Jo!!!! You are the best!

happy hearts day...

my funny valentines!

have a great day!

project envy girl.

New Year... New Look...
So now I can check one of my 2011 goals off my list: simplify and focus my blog.

I started as "Patchwork Pages" with the idea of focusing on my scrapbooking..  and at the time it seemed to fit. I was inspired by some many women bloggers, that I really just wanted to get involved.

However my immersion into the "blogosphere" has changed my outlook drastically. I started to realize I did not have a lot of time to spend on my posts... because I kept finding so many creative and unique projects to tackle. I became more creative, yet incredibly busy and completely neglected my blog - which I miss.

So I guess in 2010, I actually became a bit more crafty. Which is surprising for me, but a good thing. I found some absolutely wonderful creative women whose blogs have become daily visits for me. They inspire and remind me what life is all about. You'll get to know them really well if you stick around.

I started keeping a tumblr blog, mainly as a way to catalog all of these great ideas I was finding. I called it "Project Envy Girl" which I have now determined is really who I am.

If I had 5 extra hours a day, or could lose this full time job that takes up a large portion of my life, I am convinced I would be "Project Girl" - but alas, that is not my life!

So I am now officially "Project Envy Girl" and I hope you'll stick around to see all the wonderful and inspiring stuff I'm finding everyday and the projects I'm actually finding time to finish! I'm hoping to feature more blogs, more projects and post more!

Thanks for making my blog a part of your day or week or whenever... and I hope you like the new look!

Andrea