December Daily 2019

This post is a few months overdue.  

My 2019 December Daily album is complete. [cue angels singing here...]

We are nearly through March, but better late than never I say. And I wanted to share it here on my blog. 

After all, what else is there to do right now? 

I don't have a binder. Didn't order one. Currently, it's being held together by 2 large binder rings. I don't plan to get a binder. I might create chipboard covers for the front and back. I might replace the binder rings with zip ties. I might just leave it like this. Right now, I don't really care. I'm just glad that the album is done. 

This year, I didn't document day-by-day. Rather, I documented story-by-story. It was such a refreshing way to look at this project. It took a lot of the stress away. In fact, I had more story ideas than days of the month. Then time got away from me, and I just wanted this album done and put away. 

I had ordered Document December product from EllesStudio. I loved the journal cards, paper, stickers, numbers and plastic shapes that were part of her kit. I will definitely use EllesStudio product again in the future. I used product I have accumulated from from past years, some of which were ali edwards, paislee press, studio calico. I used digital product from both Sahlin Studio and Sahin Designs.  Other than the Document December stuff that was purchased, I didn't buy a thing. Though I did look for Christmasy vellum/transparencies. I would have loved more of those 'see through' elements. But found nothing like that available. 

I also have a mixture of typed journalling and hand written journalling. 

Guys, this is my favourite album yet. I am so happy with how it turned out. 

Let's have a look... 

 

Pull out tab for the next two pages, story 17 talks about Madelyn and Ama's annual gingerbread house decorating, which almost didn't happen this year. I'm so glad Madelyn insisted.

Story 18 was about Madelyn's friend group at school. How they all decided to do a secret santa, and everyone got and received such thoughtful gifts.

Another pull out tab here, about how Barry knows my love of the silly Hallmark movies, and ordered these socks for me and then gave them to me when they arrived. So appreciate his thoughtfulness.

This is one of my most favourite pages, and was definitely a labour of love. There was no way I could print small enough to add things to the calendar of this card, included in EllesStudio, but I knew I wanted to use it, because it has December 2019 on it. 

I printed out all these photos, cut them out and glued them on this page.  Mostly they're pictures that got added on the day they were taken, dr appt for me, candles on sale at Bath and Bodyworks, clothing club Christmas Exchange, Trex group at the Nutcracker, etc. 

It really only means something to me, and I'm totally cool with that. 

Like I said, this is my favourite album I've created for December Daily so far. 

I'm so glad it's finished.

March Template | Sahin Designs

Gosh, the kids played a LOT of ringette and hockey the last week of February and first week of March.

Pre hysterics of Covid-19, thankfully. This virus has put the world into a tail spin. The remaining practices and ice events of hockey were cancelled. Madelyn was able to get to her very last practice before ringette followed suit.

We are in a very weird time. Unprecedented.

Thankfully, there are some things you can count on. Elif from Sahin Designs just released her March templates. She doesn't disappoint.

March Template:

Mason and Barry were in an out of town hockey tourney a few weeks ago. I wasn't able to go, as  Madelyn had ice times of her own.

There was a photographer at the tourney, taking pictures of all the teams playing. The images of all the games were shared with the teams.

I was able to create this awesome layout, using those photos. It almost feels like I was there.

I'm so thankful for these last few photos of Mason playing hockey.

There were a bunch of 3-on-3 games scheduled to take place the last few weeks of March. To use up remaining ice slots.  In past years, this is one of the favourite parts of hockey. Playing 3-on-3 against team mates and other McKnight teams. I know Mason cherished this fun social time. I'm so sorry that it was cancelled before it even began.

There have been a lot of disappointments the last few weeks.

And a lot of uncertainty as to what's to come. Right now, we're all just taking this thing day by day.


The following Sahin Designs products were used: 

March Template: https://sahindesigns.com/products/march-2020-layout-templates/
Hibernate Papers: https://sahindesigns.com/products/hibernate-papers/

Daybook Papers: https://sahindesigns.com/products/daybook-papers/

Daybook Elements: https://sahindesigns.com/products/daybook-elements/

PL2020 - Week 9 | Sahlin Studio

Going back, a little over 3 weeks ago, to week 9. 

The Corona Virus was on the news, but I felt far away from it. Relatively untouched by it.  

Guess how that turned out? 

Little did we know, how different life would become, in the coming weeks. 

• First city-play off game for the Mustangs
• House for sale on our street.
• 2nd round of provincial playdowns for Armada.
• Working on my December Daily album. 

The following Sahlin Studio products were used: 

Melon Sorbet Elements: https://the-lilypad.com/store/melon-sorbet-elements.html

Melon Sorbet J. Cards: https://the-lilypad.com/store/melon-sorbet-cards.html

Grad Collection | Sahin Designs

I've known for quite a while, that I wanted to showcase Elif's Grad Collection, in the creative gallery.

Mason had grad photos done in November.

I have waited patiently for grad pictures to arrive and when they did, I got to work.

3 weeks ago, although I was aware of the Corona virus, I felt relatively untouched by it.

Man, a lot has changed in just one week.

A week ago today, school was cancelled, indefinitely for my kids. We have been encouraged to stay home and self isolate.

Which is what we've done, except for the occasional trip to the grocery store and walk around the block.

On the bright side, my scrapbooking is caught up...

Here's the layout I created.

The idea a week ago, that grad would be cancelled, was not even on my radar... Alas, it looks like that is exactly what's in the cards. My heart truly breaks for the class of 2020, who have worked so hard to get here, and now, we're all facing a fair amount of uncertainty.

Hopefully, down the road we'll look back at this time and be reminded about how it made us grow. In ways we never thought we needed to grow.

But for now, please be safe and take care. Do your part to help, by staying home.


The following Sahin Designs products were used: 

Elements: https://sahindesigns.com/products/grad-elements/

J. Cards: https://sahindesigns.com/products/grad-cards/

Paper: https://sahindesigns.com/products/grad-papers/

PL2020 - Week 8 | Sahlin Studio

Doing my best to continue to take things as they come, one day at a time. 

Here is week 8 of my project life album: 

• Mad creating a little felted bear for a friends birthday. 
• Weekend #1 in Hussar, AB for Provincial play-downs. 
• Last regular season game for McKnight Mustangs.

The following Sahlin Studio products were used: 

Documentary Elements - https://the-lilypad.com/store/documentary-elements.html

Documentary J. Cards - https://the-lilypad.com/store/documentary-journal-cards.html

Changing Times and Happy St. Patrick's Day

Wow. A lot has happened since my last post, 5 days ago.

COVID-19 has become a full fledged Pandemic, and people are behaving in a very unattractive fashion. It makes me embarrassed for mankind. 

In the past 5 days, the following things have happened: 

Friday - March 13, 2020

• Provincials for U16B in Leduc, Alberta were cancelled
• Ringette Alberta and Calgary Ringette cancelled the remainder of the season. 
• Postponement notice from CBE of all school and and sporting events. 
• Bamfield trip for Grade 9's, cancelled at 4 pm [they were scheduled to leave sunday morning]
• Hockey Calgary cancelled the remainder of the hockey season. 

Saturday March 14th, 2020 

• Girl Guide meetings and events, cancelled until mid April. 

Sunday - March 15th, 2020

• All CBE classes cancelled immediately and indefinitely. [The official email arrived at 8:13 pm]

Monday - March 16th, 2020

• Calgary Public Library closed
• All city Pools/Rinks/Recreation Centres closed. 
• Heritage Park, closed.
• Calgary Zoo, closed.
• COP/Winsport, closed.
• Nakisha ski resort, closed. 
• No more sitting in coffee shops [Tim's/Starbuck's]
• No more dine in eating, Earl's. 
• State of emergency address from the Prime Minister

Tuesday - March 17th, 2020

• Landmark Cinemas, closed. 
• Nordstrom stores across North America, closed. 

There was a lot happening before last friday, most sporting events across North America were postponed. Most events that were to take place, the ballet, theatre, concert etc, have been postponed. Last Thursday this became known as a Pandemic...  

I could have lived my whole life without having put that on my life list.

I'm doing my best to not panic, for my kids sake. But I have to tell you, acting like everything is normal is absolutely exhausting right now. 

Let's all do our part, to keep hands washed. Stay away from others. Be kind and thoughtful to people who are worse off than we are. Let's all just take a deep breath, and give our worries over to God. [Easier said than done, I feel like I'm levitating right now]  

Take this one day at a time. One hour at a time. 

Currently working on things I can control, such as: 

I will have spring cleaned the heck out of my house. 

Making meals for my people.

Digital scrapbooking.

Walking the doggo.

Sorting through rooms and things that are way over do.

This too shall pass... 

Oh, and happy St. Patrick's Day. 

Garden Helper | Sahin Designs

This is the newly released Garden Helper Collection from Sahin Designs.

The idea of gardening, getting into the dirt. Watching trees and flowers begin to bloom, well, it's such a lovely thought.

Currently, my feed on Instagram is full of people posting photos of cherry blossoms, daffodils, strappy sandals, capri pants and skirts... It would seem that people in some parts of the world are welcoming spring with open arms. Where I live however,  I still won't leave my house without my winter boots, heavy winter coat, a scarf and hat, and trust me, mittens. You don't want to drive without mittens or gloves on. [Well, unless you have a heated steering wheel, which I do not] 

We are literally, a minimum of 2 months away from seeing green grass, blooms, flowers etc of any kind. It's actually kind of depressing. Currently in fact, we're in the middle of a winter storm warning. With not only the forecast of 10-20 cm of snow, the temperature is supposed to drop and get really cold. Again. 

All I see when I look out the window right now is snow. Sadly, it doesn't evoke feelings of gardening. 

When you're constantly chilled, and all you see is snow, it's hard to imagine summer is on it's way.

Luckily, I found a photo of warmer days, time spent in the garden, first thing in the morning. So I created this layout to use the collection: 

Love how it turned out. I know the snow won't last. Spring and summer will come again. I just need to be patient. 

I can't wait to get out there again, and plant my favourites. 

The following Sahin Designs products were used:

Garden Helper Elements: https://sahindesigns.com/products/garden-helper-elements/
Garden Helper Papers: https://sahindesigns.com/products/garden-helper-papers/
Garden Helper J. Cards: https://sahindesigns.com/products/garden-helper-cards/

PL2020 - Week 7 | Sahlin Studio

Gosh, I forgot to post this layout here!!  I usually do it before posting it to social media.

Here is week 7 of my project life album, I have to say, I'm really loving the vibrant colours this product has to offer. More so than usual I'm sure because where I live it's white [snow covered] or brown [dirty everything and dead grass]

• My kids are so lucky, they have 'fans' come out to nearly everyone of their games. Mason and Madelyn even, on occasion, come to watch each other play. 
• Girls kicked butt in their first city play-off game.
• Love. This. Dog. 
• A long over-due trip to the dentist. 
• I made valentine's day cookies. This year the boys were away for a hockey weekend, and the Madelyn had practices All. Weekend. Long. 
• A photo Barry sent of the boys in Crows Nest Pass.

I used the following Sahlin Studio products: 

Celebrate Kit - https://the-lilypad.com/store/celebrate-kit.html

Celebrate J. Cards - https://the-lilypad.com/store/celebrate-journal-cards.html

March Template Freebie | Sahlin Studio

February 10th - 16th, I participated along with Ali Edwards challenge, pieces of me.

It was refreshing, and to be honest, made me remember why I was so eager to get an iPhone and download the IG app. This made me appreciate the app, all over again. 

When I saw the Sahlin Studio template for March, I thought it would be perfect to document some of my photos from the week long challenge. [This template is free to download through the month of March, follow this link]

Here's the template:  

Here's what I did with it: 

Getting into the photos was uncomfortable. Especially the ones where I had to put myself out there. Eyes closed prompt... Eeks. Didn't love that one. But I did them. And so did an entire community of people. I loved seeing the photos and reading other people's stories. I'm glad that I put myself out there and did this. I even found some new people to follow. 

The following Sahlin Studio products were used: 

PM Vibe: Paper: https://the-lilypad.com/store/Project-Mouse-Vibes-Papers.html

PM Vibe: Elements: https://the-lilypad.com/store/Project-Mouse-Vibes-Elements.html