Early morning light!

Waking up early on a Saturday can turn to be quite productive... Just don't ask me to do this every Saturday!

I just took over the den/former game room for my craft room recently. Before I just had about a third of it, so I need some cute items to jazz up the rest of the room since I've spread out. Lighting is a big issue, so a couple candles are just what I needed, and why not make something special!?

So I searched through Pinterest a bit to get some inspiration and came across a post of a lady who turned baby food jars into table decor for a party/wedding. But I wanted them to be bigger & knew I had simple Mason jars already. I also needed painters tape/stickers, a craft/exacto knife & spray paint. I knew I had everything I needed tucked away in different drawers, so I got it out & got started.

I took painters tape and added it to one side of the jar (if you have extra wide tape that's better, if not just layer it like I did). I then took an exacto knife and free handed a design. I chose stars, but you could do hearts, circles, whatever! If you don't feel confident with that, you could use a sticker or even print out a shape online and trace it onto the tape. Then cut out. Go slow, it can slip easily & you want strait simple cuts for the cleanest look! After your design is cut, peel away the outer, leftover tape. Last bit of the messy work it to spray paint the jar! You could use any color or sheen (glossy, satin, matte) that you like. I had a can of glossy black, so that's what I used! Spray 2 very thin layers, allowing each layer to dry. Be patient, if you think it's dry, just because the out side is, your probably wrong...  Give it an hour or so. If it's outside and rainy, give it longer then bring in for a while before continuing. Lastly, once dry, peel away the decal/tape to show off the negative space! You can add detail with a white chalk/detail marker if you'd like. Put the lid back on (without the top insert) and add some twine. Simple, beautiful & you made it all yourself!

Doesn't it look fabulous! You can then add a candle like I did or even use it as a pen holder, or to hold little things like washi tape, clothes pins, etc.

Project Life is consuming my life... In the best way!

So I have been a scrapbooker for many, many years. All the way back to my highschool days when I just had paper, markers, pictures and maybe some stickers. I know the ins and outs of how to scrapbook and try to stay up to date with what's out there on the market. But then came Project Life...

All HE!! broke lose in my brain when I came across this company. I actually found them while watching HSN, and secretly shopping (shhhhh.... Don't tell my husband ;-) )... I ordered an "all in one kit" that came with a 12" album, coordinating dividers and the core kit. With that though also meant I could sign up for an auto ship option that would send me a new mini album and mini kit 3 times through out the next year.... My husband would say it was a big mistake.... I absolutely, positively disagree! 

So to go back before PL, it would take me YEARS to complete a scrapbook... They were revolving doors, never ending and I eventually burnt myself out on scrap booking. It's still and always will be my number one passion... But really, like hours to do two 12x12" layouts is crazy! So there for a while I was at most, 4 years behind... Slowly I just kept getting further and further behind & felt like a horrible crafter and family memory keeper with every passing event or holiday.

But that's all changed now. I have completed an entire year (in two 12x12" and one mini 8x8" albums) in less than 2 months... Really only in 3 days, working a couple hours at a time. With the ease of dropping the core kits cards in slots, adding some journaling if need be and cutting photos, it's pleasurable again. I feel like the next few years to get caught up will be a breeze. 

This is a picture of my "empty albums" I have 2 others full and on the scrapbook shelf.

Now I have 3 12x12" albums with coordinating kits and 2 mini albums with kits ready and waiting along with a few extra kits. But not only has Project Life converted my scrap booking world to fit our ever busy life, now I use those adorable themed card pieces and attach them to cardstock for easy, cute and funny greeting cards. Then, last month I was blown away again.... Through an Instagram "friend" I saw they had planners, recipe books and even journals! All bright, colorful, simple and ready to be used as is or add page protectors and coordinating core kits to do a "smash book" kind of thing. I choose the planner first, because I'm a nut for planners and it is the beginning of the year after all... I got it all set up (I chose the multicolored chevron album) and decided it did need cards. So I bought page protectors and the little set of cards too. They went too fast. But then I remembered all those sets I had in my closet and decided I shouldn't be such a hoarder and actually USE THEM! The Honey Edition Core Kit is a perfect match. Now I only keep 4 months at a time in my planner because the cards take up room and I found a little zipper pocket to keep pens/washi tape/white out in for easy use. You'll see a pic below of my planner as I'm still getting it just right.

But anyways... I am thrilled to get back to my crafting roots and Project Life has given me my passion back. 

Then that same Instagram friend posted how there was a punch you could use to punch pictures or other paper/Cardstock/souvenirs for travel, etc into the perfect, rounded corner 3x4" shape... Needless to say I went strait to the store today and got that too.... Could this really be any easier!? No, other than not scrap booking at all this can't. 

So I just need to get going on the other years.... Costco's photo website may be down for a while with all the pictures I'll be uploading soon.... You know just to let you know. 

If you've been wanting to scrapbook, but "don't have time" or "don't want to buy ALL THE THINGS" or  just have no idea where to start... Start with Project Life. You buy a Core Kit, then the pages and coordinating album. Print pictures and slip them all in place. Easy right?! 

You can find Project Life in many stores... Close to me in Washington are Micheal's & Hobby Lobby, or on tv (HSN) and on ProjectLife.com. I'm sure there are other places too. There are some other companies who are jumping on board with the idea too and are creating there own products that can coordinate. Target has a line, at Micheal's you have a few other options too but I love Me & My Big Ideas Pocket Pages. At Hobby Lobby they also have a few companies but I love SN@P. More will be popping up I'm sure. Even Direct Sales companies like Stampin' Up! (I'm actually a Demonstrator!) is creating new cards and page protectors to keep in competition, though they have a ways to go sadly.

Ok I'm gonna go start another album!! Bye!