A Year of Thanksgiving

Today on my friend Ali's blog, she is encouraging everyone to take a little peek inside your studios or work areas and gather those wonderful bits of leftovers from mini albums and make a new home for them.  I have yet to do this weekend challenge (I am still not unpacked from Artfest. . .frown) however I was reminded of a Thankful journal of sorts that Emily introduced back in the fall of last year. (I don't know how to link the actual day, so scroll down a bit to 'giving thanks').

It was one of those projects that I dove right in to. I don't know why - but the ideas just came to me after reading her post and I couldn't stop. I'd like to share with you what I made, and the process that I took - totally what Ali is talking about today.  It has made me so happy to jot down those things, big and small, that I am thankful for. The hard part is remembering to write them down - daily.

Photo one - I just went around my studio and opened drawers and looked in cubbies and grabbed random papers. I looked in my scrap bin and in my ephemera bin. I grabbed paper, bingo cards, calendar pages, game instruction sheets, old hymnal page, and an old dictionary page with the work thankful. I also looked in an old childrens book and tore out a page with some great colors on it. I looked in my scrap bin and on occasion cut a piece of paper to fit in the book, but for the most part, I just added it in. If you know me, this isn't my mode of operation. I usually must have things that match (colors) and pages can't run off the edges or be too small. I totally didn't care on this one, and it was nice to be open to the possibility of change.

Photo two - I love basic grey chipboard letters, and have quite a collection. I simply decided what I wanted the front to say and then painted the letters black. I think it took two coats. After drying, I took the great sanding tool from basic grey and roughed up the edges. (most likely glued on with tacky glue) For the cover, I had an old organ music book that I loved the worn cover on. I took out the inside pages and Mark drilled three holes in the spine for me. I simply added O rings to hold it together.

Here are some samples of the inside pages. I simply took one of my number stamp sets (it's one of my very first purchases over 10 years ago and I have no idea who made it. . . sorry) and stamped 1 - 7 on each page, representing a week. You may be able to see tiny pencil marks to the side, as the first of the year fell on a Tuesday and it was hard for me to remember what day I was on if a day was accidentally skipped. I did make a cover page 'A new year of blessings' using some old Sharon Soniff letter stickers and making memories embellishements from their noteworthy line. The rest is just fun pages of whatever I could find in that 15 minutes.

I was very blessed to have met Emily at Artfest, and I mentioned what an inspiration she was for me to start this daily thankful journal. I think too often we get so tied up in our jobs or the lives of our kids or what is shared on the news that we forget to be thankful for what we have. Even the little things. I know for one of my days when it was pouring down rain, I was thankful for my umbrella. On another day when I was reminded of the homelessness and hunger in our world, I was thankful that I could open my pantry door and make dinner without worry.

So go ahead - celebrate National Scrapbooking day tomorrow making a little something for yourself. Hopefully some of these ideas have sparked some creativity of your own.

Comments

[Stephanie T.s]

Ali's project post was 'da bomb! GiRL! I LOVE what you did here...How fun was that?!
As much as I'd like to park my workbench and get into 'the zone'...my plate's too full with wedding mania (19 days to go) and busy tackling a few glitches (ohhhhh don't even ask!) BUT...it's nice to be truly needed by my baby girl, even if it's in the midst of this craziness.

big hugs!

[pamela huntington]

Hi Jill,
Wow I feel so fortunate to have met you at Artfest.. and
I adore the lovely packet
of goodies you gave me!!!
I read your blog and your cottage home is just luscious...very sweet just like
you! Have a great day
pamela

[Stephanie T.s]

I'm lurking...need a Jilly fix...Really, I think you are the only person who understands my obsessive need for 'pink'! Miss you!

[emily ruth]

i just wanted to stop by & say how fun your class was!...i was so happy that angie called & invited me...you did a great job...i'd love to know how you felt about it...enjoy the sun...
:)