And So I Don't Forget...

Learning Something New: Complete

My Learn Something New mini-album is complete. And I love it! :)

I created an introduction page on the inside of the front cover.

 

And the last few lessons of the month.

 Day 26 - Today I learnt that if I don't write down the wonderfully insightful lessons I learn each day I forget them.

This is probably my least favourite page of the album - it is just so busy. If I hadn't already used the other side of this page I probably would have started again. But I had, so I didn't. Done and moving on. 

Day 27 - Today I learnt steps are a whole lot easier with an obliging groomsman to hold onto. 

Click to enlarge. 

Day 28 - Today I learnt that I am physically incapable of making it home without smearing, smudging or generally mooshing my manicure.

Journaling reads: Also considered as lessons for today: When it rains there is no point rushing for a train as it's guaranteed to be running late. Or/ When the floor is slippery people waddle like ducks.

Day 29 - Today I learnt that my Mum snuck over and cleaned the steps of my apartment block.

Journaling: Thank you! Love you Mum!

The evening of the 29th I rang up my parents and Mum asked if I'd noticed anything different - if I had seen her suprise. I had no idea what she was talking about.  

That afternoon Mum been dropping something off at my place so had bought with her some cleaning supplies and boiling water in a thermos. On hands and knees she had scrubbed down the steps, drying them off with a towel as she went so no one slipped. They had been bugging her so she had done something about it.

I had actually noticed the smell of cleaning products when I had walking in the door but hadn't thought anything of it. Don't know why I didn't realise that Mum would be the source! :)

Day 30 - Today I learnt that if you are happy, rain on your wedding day doesn't bother you one little bit.

This is the only lesson that you need to turn the page to complete. As the last lesson in the album, from the biggest event of the month, I like that. I think it adds a sense of significance.

Inside the back cover is a closing comment and a favourite photo of the month.

There always are new lessons waiting to be learnt. Enjoy them.

And the back cover.

This is a bright, colourful, random and fat mini-album. So glad I did it. (And thanks to Shimelle, I can complete the Learn Something New class every year if I choose, at no more cost. A great set-up for alumni!)

I think it is a lot easier to experiment and play if you aren't using your 'serious' memories and photos. A class like this can be a great way to have fun with scrapbooking. :)

 

This link will take you to all my Learn Something New posts.

LSN: Days 20, 21, 24 & 25

I have some more pages from my Learn Something New mini to share. Although it's quite fat and not so mini anymore. :)

Click to enlarge.

Day 20 - Today I learnt that life is too short and libraries too big to persevere with a book you don't enjoy.

Click to enlarge.

Day 21 - Today I learnt that I am ready to enter the property market.

Journaling: In the space of a day I went from learning Paula (housemate) was moving out to knowing I was now ready to buy my own place. Oh so very ready for no housemates. Dreaming of my own scrap room. 

For this right page I collaged some house photos from a magazine and misted heavily. But, the mist didn't set and kept rubbing off on my fingers. So, I Mod Podged it. All fixed. :)

Days 22 and 23 can be seen here.

Click to enlarge.

Day 24 - Today I learnt that every time I have been a bridesmaid Geelong has won the next Premiership.

Journaling: Nicole, Nov 2006 – ‘07 win. Lucy, March 2009 – ‘09 win. Now with Liz getting married the day before the Grand Final, will it be 3 for 3?     YOU BETCHA! What? You didn’t think I actually managed to keep up-to-date on this mini did you?

The information and photos on the right of this spread is from the 1st of October, after this project was officially complete. That doesn't bother me in the slightest. In fact, I love that it tells the whole story and is a chance to laugh at myself. 

This link on Pinterest inspired me to create the confetti pocket.

It was super easy. I just grabbed a page protector and cut a bit off. I sewed around three sides, inserted confetti, and sewed up that final size. 

Click to enlarge.

 Day 25 - Today I learnt that I prefer to assume the best of people, not the worst.

For the right side of this spread is a water colour painting. (Thanks to my auntie Lyn who gave me the paints for my birthday.) It is my second attempt at painting in..I don't know how long. Years!

This was my first attempt: 

I finished this one and added it to the album only to realise it didn't match the opposite page (just the cardstock base at that stage) at all. It's also a bit gloomy. The sentiment written around the edge - always look on the bright side of life - just didn't seem to fit.

So I went crazy with a pink and orange tree. :)

And that's where I am up to right now. I'm still ahead of this month's matching date (25 done and it's only the 23rd) but the calendar is creeping up on me. I would like it finished before November as it's not long then before December Daily time. Yikes! 

LSN: Days 16-19

Work continues on my Learn Something New mini-book. Every page up to Day 20 is now complete so, given it is only the 15th of October, I am less than a month out of date. :) 

16: Today I learnt that I never want to be too cautious to try something new.

Sensible is a whole different thing!

17: Today I learnt that I really don't like people ringing up and asking to speak to my Mum.

Journaling reads: RING RING. -Hello. *Can I please speak to your Mum? - I am 20..er..8 years old. What do you want? *Oh, sorry, sorry. My mistake.

Click to enlarge.

18: Today I learnt that a lovely comment from someone I respect and admire can make my day.

I actually pulled out the sewing machine for this one. :) That is something I would like to do more often.

The photo is a screenshot from Twitter. For future, I must remember that holding CTRL and pressing the + key will make the screen zoom in. The definitely helps with resolution for printing screenshots.

19: Today I learnt that giving someone a compliment that makes them feel happy makes me feel happy.

I think that last page has the chicken-pox! Not sure why I decided on the pearls. :)

I am really pleased with the amount of ink and mist I have used on these pages (and the whole album). It is such an experiment and play with new product, old product, under-used product.

Love that. Must continue it.

LSN: Days 14, 15, 22 & 23

Day 14: Today I learnt that I need to, want to, get better at connecting with people.

Journaling reads: This seems to be what the universe is trying to tell me today. Envious of my sister making friends overseas. An email from a friend I have been thinking of but haven't connection. Realising I haven't seen a good friend in quite a while. Receiving a wedding invitation & not knowing my step-cousin was engaged. 

Day 15: Today I learnt that it is good to be challenged so you exceed your own expectations. 

Journaling reads: Achieving something you didn't thing you could. Love that feeling. So powerful.

Day 23: Today I learnt that when making appointments I need to remember I can not be in two places at once.

I think I actually created Day 23 on day 23 - probably the only time that happened in this album. Generally I have been working through the days but this idea seemed perfect for this page so I jumped ahead and made it. I'll fill in the gaps soon enough.

The Incredibooth photostrips better suited a vertical page so that's what I decided to do. The idea had already been lurking in the back of my head - part of that less restrained vibe I am going for. :) I repeated it on Day 15 to tie it in a little.

Day 22: Today I learnt that tasks seem so much less daunting once you simply begin.

This page is inspired by Elise Blaha. I love the writing she was experimenting with so bought some India Ink to give it a try. Now I need to find some more projects to use it on, otherwise this is a pretty expensive page! :) 

LSN: Day 13, Inspired

Day 13 - Today I learnt that working on this mini is making me feel so very inspired.

Ever have one of days where is seems like everything you find on the internet was posted just for you? When everything you see sparks your creativity?

The 13th of September was one of those days. Love that. 

As I looked at Pinterest and blogs in GoogleReader I made little sketches for myself.

Some of those ideas have already made it into the mini.

This page by Rahel Menig:

Source: bluemoonscrapbooking.blogspot.com via Delanie on Pinterest

 

inspired the use of layers on this page:

and the date cluster on Day 13 (at the top of this post).

The scallops/feathers on Day 13 were inspired by a shirt I saw someone wearing. I tend to be more literal in my inspiration - getting ideas for paper projects from paper projects - so I'm pleased I translated the idea onto the page. 

Does this look familiar?

Source: upupcreative.com via Delanie on Pinterest

It was the inspiration for this page:

 

Hmmm, let me see... From those sketches I have used these ideas so far:

Some of pages you have seen (or can, here, here and here) and some that are yet to be posted. Is that a tantalising hint to encourage you to come back? :)

But it wasn't only layouts and page ideas that seemed posted just for me. I listened to the latest Paperclipping Roundtable podcast, Making Unique Minibooks, (this is totally what they were talking about) then discovered on older one I'd missed, Not That Deep. Who knew this could be considered at art journal? I also enjoyed Melissa Stinson's article on Combating Creative Burnout. By working on this album, which is making me feel so inspired, I am actually using a lot of her ideas so I can recommend them. 

 

I just wanted to finish off this post by saying how appreciative I am to be a part of this 'scrapbooking community' we have. I so very much enjoy your comments, both here on the blog and other places I lurk on the web. (My Pinterest and Twitter.) I'm delighted to think that, like all the inspiration I gain online, I'm giving some back to you.

Thank you so very much for reading. 

LSN: Days 9 - 12

First of all, please excuse the lousy photos. My little point and shoot doesn't like low-light at all and every page here seems to have something that reflects. Oih. Thankfully it is less than a week till my big camera returns. :)

Day 9 - Today I learnt that spring sunshine should be enjoyed because it can retreat again at any moment.

This lesson was prompted by the evening football match I attended. After a number of warm, sunny days the temperature that day decided to drop by at least 10 degrees. It even hailed that morning! I watched the game rugged up in layer after layer. And it rained. Lovely.  

This side shows that transparency better.

Another lesson could have been - don't splatter red ink as it just ends up looking too much like blood.

Day 10 - Today I learnt that mean and selfish drivers make road rage seem mighty appealing.

Click to enlarge.

Day 11 - Today I learnt that it is possible to be more nervous for someone else than I ever was for myself.

This day my little sister headed off overseas (with my camera!) for her first trip on her own. Mum, Dad and I went together to drop her off at the airport and it was hard seeing her head off through those doors. Definitely nervous and excited on her behalf. :)

Click to enlarge.

Day 12 - Today I learn that without the instant gratification of digital, photography would not have been for me.

Without my big camera, I decided to take my 12 on the 12th photos this day with the Hipstamatic app on my iPhone. I didn't like having to wait even a couple of minutes for those photos to 'develop' on my phone so definitely can't see myself liking photography anywhere near as much as I do if we were still in the days of film. I'm too impatient. :)

For the page on the right I used an envelope so I could slip the 12 on the 12th photos from that day into the minibook. 

And that is where I am up to at the moment. Still playing. Still enjoying.

 

You can find my previous pages here and here. Learn Something New is a concept by Shimelle.

LSN: Days 4-8

I am really enjoying creating this Learn Something New mini-book. As I discussed here, I'm relaxing and playing.

Day 4 - Today I learnt that enjoyable and productive weekends can still be hectic.

Day 5 - Today I learnt that new iPhones are very distracting.

Journaling reads: Despite disliking their dominance of the market, even been called anti-iPhone, when I decided to give up and get one I got as dizzy and excited as anyone. So excited in fact that on the train home after picking it up I was so busy playing with the phone I managed to miss my station. By three stops!

Day 6 - Today I learnt that spray tans are like doing yoga basically naked in cold rain.

Day 7 - Today I learnt that you should never be too old to dance the hokey pokey.

Talia is my acquired niece and in her first year of school. Mum and I agreed to go to the school dance night which had a Bollywood theme. Talia was all dressed up in bangles, bindi and a sparkly, swirly dress - even the rest of us made a bit of an effort. She was so incredibly excited, it was really lovely to see. Mum and I were assigned the important task of putting jewel stickers in her hair. :)

Hearing the heel-toe polka certainly brought back memories - I was amazed at how many of the dances were the same ones that I had done when I was back in school. They played some crowd favourites too, those ones that you never seem to forget the moves too. Hey, macarena, ahia!   

Journaling reads: Talia's school Bollywood dance night. Talia, so excited, claimed it the 'best night ever'. I danced the Nutbush and Bus Stop with Talia but when Mum and I heard the Chicken Dance then the Hokey Pokey come on we didn't resist, dancing together up behind our table.

Day 8 - Today I learnt that sometimes sleep is more important than pretty much everything.

There are little stories in this album that I am so glad I have recorded. Maybe they would have made it onto this blog anyway, but maybe not. 

The mini-book pages are not up to date but that doesn't bother me in the slightest. I am recording the lessons each day, jotted down in my diary or phone. When I get a chance I work on more pages.

No stress. Just playing. :) 

LSN: Less Restrained

After being disappointed with my first attempt, I began this mini-book again. Now I'm loving it! 

Although happy with my simple scrapping style generally, I think I was finding my pages a bit restrained. Missing a touch of fun and whimsy.

With this mini-book I am just letting go and playing. Bright, contrasting colours, stamps and ink, embellishments that don't related to the topic. If I find something I haven't used before I'm adding it to a pile of products to try and use here. (For some reason using a bicycle stamp somewhere is a must.) 

Definitely less restrained. :)

One consistent element throughout the album will be my lesson of the day. I am handwriting 'Today I learnt...' then continuing the sentence in a set of alphabet stamps.

Some days have additional journaling. Some days have photos. Some days are on two pages and some are on one.

(Not sure yet what I want to add to the back of the cover.)

Detail shot simply because I am loving this page. Ripped corrugated cardboard (from a scrapbooking order) is definitely less restrained! :)

When I was photographing this page I realised I had forgotten 'Today I learnt...' so I added that in. Then I realised that I had forgotten the journaling I wanted to add. Oih! That is now written vertically, on the left of the photos.

This entry is a double pager so only half finished when I took this photo. The right side now has a photo and lots of green embossing powder.

So far each of these pages are single pieces of paper - I am using both front and back. I've come up with some interesting combinations but am enjoying the challenge of trying to tie them in together. 

Days 1 - 3 complete, only 27 to go. :)

Learning Something New

This month I am taking Shimelle's Learn Something New class. The idea is that for each day in September you note down something you learnt that day.

So far this month I have learnt:

1...that I currently weight ## point something kg. (A girl's got to keep some secrets!)

2...that Geelong’s biggest winning margin over Collingwood, since they began playing each other in 1892, is 96 points.

3...that pretty high heel shoes shouldn't be saved for the right occasion.

4...that enjoyable and productive weekends can still be hectic.

5...that new iPhones are very distracting.

6...that spray tans are like doing yoga, basically naked, in cold rain.

7...that you are never too old to dance the Hokey Pokey.

I decided to record these lessons in a mini-album but didn't get off to a good start, choosing to rip up the only 2 pages I had completed. I'm generally not one for redoing pages - there are a couple of layouts my albums that I have never liked - preferring to accept and move onto the next thing. 

However, I think this mini-album has the potential to be one of my favourites (I love many of the little stories that go with those first 7 lessons) and, with 28 pages still to complete, I didn't want to continue on from that bad start. 

In search of inspiration and ideas, I came across Kate O'Brien's mini-books, such as this one and this one. (Anyone know if she is sharing online these days?) I love how she incorporates stamping and embellishments into a very graphic style with a lot of white space, her use of text on photos and transparencies. When I look at her work I think 'clean grunge'.

So with that in mind, I'm keen to begin again. I want to pull out my inks and stamps and get a little messy. I want to use transparencies, letter stickers, handwriting and journaling spots.     

With this album I want to play, experiment and have fun.