One Little Word 2014: Inspirational Layout

I am a little behind in my OLW prompts.  I have written out all my January prompts, but I haven't written them all pretty on the cardstock to go into my album.  I haven't even looked at February's prompts....My goal this month is to get caught up though!

I think I mentioned before that I wanted to make a 12"x12" layout of my OLW that I can display as a reminder all year long.  I got the inspiration from Wilna Furstenberg's first and last videos of the Two Peas in a Bucket "In the Mood to Scrap" 2013 video series.  Her first video and layout can be found here.  Her last video in that series, documenting her One Little Word for 2014 can be found here.

Before I started this layout, I knew I wanted to do some brush script of my OLW: DO on white cardstock in several places.  I also wanted to use a recent photo of myself.  And I wanted to use products and papers from Maggie Holmes' Flea Market collection because I have tons of it!

I have to say, I absolutely LOVE this layout!  It did not turn out exactly how I had envisioned in my head, but I still love it!  After I completed the brush script, I wanted to tone it down a bit, so I sewed on a piece of vellum onto the background to create a soft look (except for the top "do," which I wanted to stand out).  Before the vellum was sewn down, I added a scattering of sequins and a punched border.

And then came the layering....I know I've said this before and I'll say it again, but I LOVE LAYERING!!  It's such a great way to use up paper scraps.  Everything on this layout is from the Flea Market collection except for the resin flower and pearl brads, the tag hiding my journaling, the vellum, the sequins, the doilies and the white cardstock.

This layout was so much fun to put together.  Having coordinating pieces or a collection just makes it easier to put things onto paper.  

As you all are well aware by this point, I am loving the gold trend and Maggie Holmes' collection just looks so great with gold.  

I still need to purchase a shadow box to house and display this layout in my scrap room.  It's just too pretty to be tucked away in an album.  Plus, I need it to help me to take action with DOing things this year.

I'm also making a simple journal to write in throughout the year to help document my actions, as well as to note the difficulties.  This journal does not coordinate with this layout as I used pieces from Studio Calico's Printshop collection.  I just need to decorate the cover and I'll let you all take a peek at it!

So, how are you doing with your One Little Word?  Have you made any inspirational pieces to help keep your mind on it?  I'd love to hear what you all have to say!  Leave me some comments down below!

xoxo,
Heather

Just Two Midwest Girls Scrap Challenge: Scrap Your Goals!

Welcome back everyone!  Kelly and I saw some awesome December albums for our last challenge.  Our winner is Amanda! Please contact Kelly about your prize. Check out Amanda's amazing album here.  Thank you to everyone who linked up their albums.  Please continue to play along with us!

Whoa, have these two weeks just flown by!  Kelly and I are back with a fun new challenge that's perfect for the beginning of a new year.  Today, we're bringing you our projects where we scrap our goals!

2014 Intentions by Ali Edwards

This layout, by Ali Edwards, was our inspiration piece.  This layout and the Ali Edwards' story can be found here in the Winter 2013 issue of Scrapbooking and Cards Today (this is a free online magazine, by the way!).  Her story begins on page 53.

This challenge was a perfect way for me to scrap about my One Little Word.  I honestly didn't have any intention of doing a layout like this, but it just went perfectly with some of the January prompts for Ali's workshop.

I was going through my stack of patterned paper and cardstock a week or so ago.  I started matching up some papers for a project I had in mind (more on that in another post).  The combination of this large confetti circle patterned paper from Glitz Design's Wild & Free collection with this lime green cardstock was meant to be.  I just couldn't stop thinking about how fun and bright and ME these papers were, so I knew I had to use them for this challenge.

I mounted the patterned paper onto the green cardstock and brought in this white chevron arrow heads on a pink background patterned paper from Dear Lizzy's Polka Dot Party line.  I used this paper for strips at the top and bottom of the layout, as well as for a mat behind my picture.

I took this picture last week while at work.  I wanted a recent photo of me, but I didn't have a good one, so I had to take a work selfie.  And because the lighting sucked and I knew what colors I'd use for this layout, I toned the photo down by making it black and white.

For the layers behind my photo, I used some of the lime green cardstock, scraps from another Glitz Design Wild & Free paper (black hearts on a white background), the Dear Lizzy pink patterned paper, a glassine bag, and I believe a gray patterned paper also from the Wild & Free collection.  I have been loving this stack of patterned paper behind a photo.  

The "2014" is Dear Lizzy Thickers and the word "intentions" is cut out from the same lime green paper using my Cameo.  I just used a font on my computer (I think it was Honey Script).  

 Before this layout even started, I knew I wanted to use those big numbers from the Heidi Swapp Mixed Company Ephemera Pack (this came in the November 2013 Citrus Twist main scrapbook kit).  I wanted this to be in a list format.  As the layout was coming together, I really wanted those circles on the patterned paper to be my journaling spots.  That's how I figured out where to space my numbers.  I ran a neon pink highlighter around the edges of each number to make them pop against the background.  Before, the numbers we just getting lost.  

As I mentioned earlier, this journaling comes from Ali Edwards' One Little Word January prompts.  I used the four areas of my life to focus on intentions for this year:  physical, emotional, creative, and in my relationships.  Then I wrote some overall intentions for each focus area.  It's amazing all the ways I have been inviting my OLW into my life, just by embracing it and taking opportunities to think about and make it mine.

I embellished with some washi tape from one of the MME Cut & Paste lines;  the silver glitter tape Kelly got me for Christmas!; brads, enamel dots, and buttons from the MME Cut & Paste Adorbs collection; word stickers from the MME Cut & Paste Flair collection; and star and arrow Two Peas in a Bucket exclusive paper clips.

I can't tell you how much I love this layout.  I think I'm going to hang it up on my bulletin board in my scrap room so I can see it everyday.  

So, now it's your turn!  Come play along with us and scrap your goals!  It doesn't have to be a new project.  It doesn't have to be related to new year's resolutions or goals.  It doesn't have to be a layout.  Maybe you created a journal to document your personal goals from any areas of your life.  It can be ANYTHING!  We just love seeing your projects!  

Link your project in my comments section on this post, in Kelly's comments section on her blog, or onto our Facebook page (this can be found in my side bar!). You have until Thursday, January 30 at 8pm CST to show us how you're scrapping your goals.  Those that play along could win a $5 gift card to Two Peas in a Bucket.

Don't forget to like our Facebook page!  Now, head on over to Kelly's blog to see how she scrapped her goals.  Looking forward to seeing your projects!

xoxo,
Heather

The One with the Ladies Night Out!

Ooohh la la!  Right?!  It's not what you think...

My friend and I decided a month or so ago that we wanted a craft night.  And we wanted something a little different than paper play.  My friend discovered a pottery place that has pottery painting classes.  And, just by chance, the night we were both free there was a ladies night.  

  
We had a lot of fun.  We painted a ceramic "canvas."  And it was a perfect opportunity to create something to make my One Little Word visible.

How trendy is this background?  My friend and I had no idea what we were making before we walked into the classroom. 

I used a silkscreen for the first time. And we painted with our fingers.  It was really freeing.  

And here is the finished project (minus the visit to the kiln).  I hand-painted my word instead of using a stencil.  This was a perfect opportunity to display my One Little Word.  I can't wait to pick this up and hang it in my scrap room.

I am definitely doing something like this again.  This studio has a ton of raw pottery items that are available to buy and then you can pay for studio time to paint!  The hubby and I decided that we would do that for a date night!

For those of you participating in the One Little Word journey, have you made a project to display your word?

xoxo,
Heather

My One Little Word 2014: DO

My One Little Word for 2014.  DO.  I am very excited about bringing this word into my life.  Something I will have to learn about embracing this word is not to let my life get too hectic.  DO, for me, doesn't mean I have to say yes to everything; DO every plan I think of; participate in every challenge/activity.  DO means for me that I will not be afraid to go after my dreams; I will just DO it.  I won't be afraid to succeed; I'll just DO it; I won't be afraid to DO what makes me happy; I will just DO it.  I want to embrace my life; I want to live my life.  I'm extremely blessed to be healthy, young, motivated, intelligent, I don't want to waste this amazing opportunity.  

I procrastinate...a lot.  I used to make new year's resolutions about not procrastinating, blah, blah, blah.  It never really worked out.  I think it's because I was focusing so much on that negative behavior:  procrastination.  That's all I thought about:  not procrastinating.  DO is such a positive spin on the stereotypical goal of not procrastinating.  

So, instead of focusing on all these behaviors or things I don't necessarily like about myself, I'm going to focus on what I can DO to make me an even better me.  

I've started a Pinterest board about my One Little Word.  Feel free to follow it, get inspired, get motivated, and just DO.

Here's to making the most of 2014 and to just DO.

xoxo,
Heather

P.S.--I will be sharing my OLW pages on my blog throughout the year.  I do not have a set schedule yet (i.e. weekly, bi-weekly, monthly), but it will be on a Monday.  Looking forward to sharing my journey with you all!