A Reading Journal - A Jenni Bowlin Stuidos Hybrid Project

So there are two purposes to this blog post.  One - I wanted to talk about books.  Specifically, Charlotte's books.  I won't lie and tell you that I'm in a book club or am remotely "well read."  In fact, I think the last book I read was called the Toddler Whisperer.  BUT...I do read A LOT of books with Charlotte.  In fact, they are often my biggest source of crafting inspiration.  Which leads me to purpose number two - upcycling old journals.


Are you like me and hoard, um, I mean collect a ton of notebooks and journals but never seem to finish them?  Well, that's not true.  I do have a number of completed notebooks filled with lots of nonsense.  They're often hard to read through at times.  Like, did I really care that much about Twin Blonde Boy that it consumed four journals full of girl angst?!?!?  However, this particular journal was the victim of my poor stamping skills. 

So, I thought I would attempt to recover it to make Charlotte her very own reading journal (i.e. a place for me to write down all the books we read together, i.e. an attempt to make me feel better about not reading grown up books that don't include photos of chicken and cake.  But not on the same page.  Cause, that's just weird). 

Using some the new Jenni Bowlin Studio ("JBS") Red and Black Extension Kit 4 (available over at Jenni Bowlin Digital Store), I created a book cover in Photoshop.  I also added some wording to one of the Red Labels included in the JBS kit.  Then, using my large format printer (Cannon Pro9000 Mark II), I printed all of my digital elements onto a 12x12 sheet of white American Crafts cardstock.

Next, I trimmed down all of the difference elements with my paper trimmer and adhered them onto the notebook using my Xyron machines (specifically, the Xyron Creatopia for the book cover and the Xyron 2.5" Create-a-Sticker for the inside label).

After I printed out the cover, I noticed that it was too small to actually cover the entire journal.  (Oops!)  However, since I love the look of red and aqua, I decided to keep it that way.  (Whew!)  Here is what the notebook looked like with everything securely adhered on. 

I punched out small hearts from a piece of JBS patterned paper that I also printed onto white cardstock.  After running them through a small Xyron sticker maker, I adhered the strip of stickers onto the back page with some washi tape.  The idea is that she can add a heart sticker to any of her favorite books.

Super easy and super cute!  I love hybrid projects - where computer design and some good Xyron machines merge to make something awesome.

I promise to update y'all on what books we end up loving this year.  I know that the first one will definitely be Go, Dog. Go by P.D. Eastman. 

As always, thanks for stopping by!

Catching Up - Some More Digital Scrapbook Layouts

Just wanted to post some digital scrapbook layouts I've done that somehow never made it to the blog for one reason or another.  So enjoy!

1.  Playing with Daddy {a digital scrapbook layout}.  This layout is based on this beautiful sketch by Erin Shultz (Mid Week Mojo - Pearl #1) for Scrapbook Steals.  It was also the perfect excuse to play with some new digital products from Jenni Bowlin Studios.

Supplies:  Jenni Bowlin Studios (Classic Border Shapes, Mercantile Mix Paper Collection 2, Mercantile Mix Paper Collection 4, Rhinestone Buttons & Bows); Splendid Fiins (@ the office supplies 1, Sew Crafty - messy stitches vol 1, Knock Out - "wood grain" mask); Pink Paislee (Kraft Capers Paper Pack); Photoshop CS5; Sketch (Erin Shultz for Scrapbook Steals).

2.  Nashville {a digital scrapbook layout}.  This layout is an attempt to scrapbook our cross country drive last September.  I'm still not quite sure how I'm going to document our amazing trip cross country but here is a first attempt using some new products from Splendid Fiins.

Supplies:  Splendid Fiins (Kinda Sketchy, wishy washi - skies ae grey set 1, Sew Crafty - messy stitches vol 1; Photoshop CS5).

3.  Horsing Around {a digital scrapbook layout}.  And finally, this is a layout I made awhile back inspired by this amazing sketch by Misty Buck for Scrapbook Steals.  

Supplies:  Jenni Bowlin Studios (Tangerine Dream Collection, Printed Tickets Stars & Stats, Classic Label Papers ); Kitschy Digitals (Clotheslines); Queen of Quirk (Country Mouse Accent Pack; Photoshop CS5; Sketch (Misty Buck for Scrapbook Steals).

As always, thanks for stopping by!

Getting By

It has been over two weeks since Justin has left.  My nephew graduated from middle school.  I baked 150 cupcakes for his party.

 

Last week I started a new job the same day Charlotte started a new school.  Unopened mail started to pile up on my desk.  I fall asleep in Charlotte's bed every night.  I wake up at random hours of the night to craft.  I'm tired.  But I'm busy.  And busy helps me to get through the day.

My friend, Laura, (who is an amazing military mom/ wife with a husband on deployment and pregnant with her third) sent me a link this amazing article the other day.  It's written by a military dad about the families and loved ones that are left behind during deployment.  It hits the nail on the head on so many things - the loneliness, the worry, the stress, the pressure...

I was sitting in Starbucks with Charlotte this weekend and started crying.  Charlotte and I were sharing a pretzel and she set a piece aside on her napkin.  "This is for Daddy," she declared.  Every time we sit down to eat, she always saves a piece of something for Daddy.

These past few weeks have been filled with lots of reflection - about our family, our future, our relationship.  None of it is necessarily bad or regretful.  I'm just slowly coming to terms with our reality of being a military family.  Justin has been in the military for years - 15 years now.  So that isn't anything new for us.  It's Charlotte that makes it so hard.  She's a strong little person though.  I could learn a lot from her.  And together, we'll get through this.

1.  Our Hero {a digital scrapbook layout}.  I borrowed the journaling for this layout from a recent post about my military child.  I used some new patriotic inspired papers and bingo cards from Jenni Bowlin Studio available over at JessicaSprague.com.

Digital Supplies:  Jenni Bowlin Studios (Trendy Collection, Patriotic Bingo Cards); Design by Dani (Boy Crazy).

2.  Where is my Daddy {a lift-the-flap book/ card}.  Since Justin left, Charlotte insists that we read Daddy and Me by Karen Katz every night.  It's a lift-the-flap book about a father and daughter building a doghouse together.  "Charlotte's screwdriver," she states while pointing to the pink screwdriver.  "Daddy and Charlotte make it," she declares while pointing to the little doghouse. Inspired by this sweet book, I decided to make a little life the flap book/ card for Justin's father's day card.

I didn't include photos of each page, but it reads something like this...

Where is daddy's car?  In the garage.

Where are daddy's tools?

 

In the toolbox.

Where is Daddy?  Daddy, where are you? 

Daddy is on the ship to keep Charlotte and Mommy safe.

But remember, even when Daddy is gone for a long time, where is Daddy always?

 

 

In Charlotte's BIG pink heart!

 

Supplies:  Echo Park Digital Products (Family Man); Xyron 1.5" Sticker Maker, Xyron Mega Runner; Xyron 2.5" Sticker Maker; Kraft Cardstock (Recollections).  

If you want more Father's Day craft ideas, make sure to check out the Xyron Design Team Facebook Album.  And for those who have been following me and the Ella Publishing Team on our Take 12 Challenge, I hope that you have your cameras ready.  It's June 12th!!!!

As always, thanks so much for stopping by (and listening...)