Sunday, January 1, 2012

Fresh Starts

Happy New Year everyone!  I so love this time of year...a time of renewal...a time for fresh starts...a time for do-overs!  My brain is so overloaded with all of the plans I have to make myself better, my family better, my house better, my job better, my relationships better, my BLOGGING better!  I know that it will be nearly impossible to implement all of these plans, but I always start out with the best of intentions.  So, I'm vowing to post more frequently for several reasons.  I love the interaction I have with all of you out there in blogger land...I love hearing your comments and participating in challenges with you.  I also like having a record of the projects I have done in the past.  It's fun to look back and see how my style has changed, and the older posts are often a good resource when I want to recreate something.  I have not been very good about keeping my "records" up to date, because at the moment, I have 12 projects completed, photographed, but NOT BLOGGED!  So, that means that you are going to get at LEAST 12 posts in a row from me.  Exciting right??

I've also decided that I want to add more personal notes in my posts.  The bloggers that I love to read the most are the ones that incorporate some of their personal lives into their posts.  So...less "technical stuff" and more of the personal stuff.  From now on, you'll find all of the technical details of my projects at the end of my posts, similar to what I've been seeing other bloggers do.  I like this format a lot because it is really easy to go to the end of the post and see what went into making the project when you don't have time to read all of the text of the post. 

Now...on to the first project.  I think I'll get all of the Christmas related projects out of the way first since I know that most people are getting sick of them by now!!  I have to say, this year, I felt like the Christmas season went by way too quickly.  Many years I have had enough of the music, decorations, food, shopping, etc. by now, but this year I'm actually sad to see it all go.  We started taking everything down today and I was really reluctant.  I plan to spend tomorrow packing it all away in the boxes, and I plan to take my time, lingering over each decoration...soaking in all of the memories. 

I think maybe I'm more sentimental this year because I am starting to realize how fleeting these magical Santa years are with my boys.  My oldest is 8 and I'm not sure how many more "magical" Christmases we have left with him!  These little guys are soooo precious and I don't want to forget a single moment.  Something many people don't know about me is that I DO NOT have a good memory.  I don't remember a lot of specifics about my childhood, I don't usually remember stories people have told me over one week ago, all of the little details of the memories I make in my life fade VERY quickly for me.  I'm not sure why this is...I don't think there's anything necessarily wrong with me...I just think that my brain is deficient in this way.  So, I'm really scared that I won't remember all of the precious details of these special years with my little boys.  I'm constantly trying to soak in their smells, thier hugs and kisses, their funny little sayings, the way their chubby little hands look inside of mine, their hearts beating against my chest as I hold them...oh God...please don't let me forget!

Wow...that was deep!  Ok...moving on...time for a project!!! :) 


I was so inspired by a project that Sherry Wright made a few weeks ago for the PTI Make it Monday Challenge: Glue Pad Technique.  In fact, I was so inspired, I pretty much copied her whole project!  I gave this cute little ornament to my secret buddy at work.  I sure hope she liked it!



The little frame was found in the dollar bin at Michaels...what a great spot to find some really cute things!! 


I hope to make more of these next year as gifts...I just ran out of time this year!!!

As always, thanks for visiting!!  Happy New Year!

Kate

Cardstock: PTI Aqua Mist, and various gray and white scraps
Stamps: PTI "In the Meadow"
Cricut Cartridges: Winter Woodland
Other: Michael's frame, chunky white glitter, Recollections rhinestones


2 comments:

  1. Very cute! I always feel like I'm one step behind...I am finding all of these great Christmas projects that I want to do for next year. About a week after Valentine's Day I'm sure I'll have lots of good ideas for 2013's V-Day. Oh well, I'm going to be set for 2012 Halloween!

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  2. Love how it turned out.. glad I could provide some inspiration. :) I totally understand how time flies my ds is 8 as well. Happy New year!

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