Hi, I'm glad you stopped by.  This is the third post in my series, The 10 Days of November. 
You can access previous posts here, and here.

As I was planning this series, I knew I wanted to include a few handmade journaling and filler cards.

For these cards, I primarily used  Papertrey Ink stamps and dies.  I love the new Monthly Moments-November stamp set.  I might have to go back and take another look at previous Monthly Moments stamp sets! 

I made 4 of the journaling card below, and will place them at each place setting on our Thanksgiving table.  Every year as we lounge around the table, we take turns sharing what we are thankful for.  This year, I decided to have those thoughts documented (in their own handwriting), and include them in The 10 Days of November album.

Tomorrow, I'll share the foundation pages for The 10 Days of November. 

One-Layer Simplicity Challenge #11

This month the One-Layer Simplicity challenge is Home, Sweet Home.  I decided to use Stampin' Up's new Wondrous Wreath set.  Many of the cards I've seen around blogland using this set are done in the various shades greens with red berries.  I thought fall colors would a pretty. 

You can link your card to the One-Layer Simplicity blog.  You still have a few more days to play.


Supplies: Stamps - Wondrous Wreath, Stampin' Up & Thinking of You (sentiment), Papertrey Ink Ink- Harvest Gold, Orange Zest, Tettacotta Tile, Papertrey Ink  Twine 

The 10 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 2

Today is Day 2 in my series, The 10 days of Thanksgiving.  You can find Day 1 here.   I thought I would share my process when starting a new scrapbook project.

First, I choose the album.  What size do I need for my project?  What color or material (cover) do I want?   Then, I decide on the card stock and patterned paper.  What's my theme?  How much paper do I need?  Did I really say that?  One can never have too much paper, right?  With all the collection packs and pads available today, it's easy to find exactly what you are looking for.  And, with many of the collections you will find alphabet stickers, journaling cards, and element stickers included. 

For this project I'm using Carta Bella's, A Perfect Autumn collection and Simple Stories - Snap Studios, 6 x 8 faux leather album in brown.  I wanted a smaller album (not the standard 12 x 12) because I'm only documenting 10 days each year.  This will be the featured coffee table display book during the month of November, so I need a practical size.  

 

Next, I shop my stash looking for embellishments that coordinate with my theme and color palette. Below are some of the items I plan to use.  I know I'll be adding to this assortment with die cuts, stamps, and I'm sure, more embellishments.  Embellish until you're heart's content, right?

I would love to hear what your creative process is when starting a new project! 

Look for more posts in my series, The 10 Days of Thanksgiving.  I'll share my thoughts on "must have" tools, handmade journaling cards ideas, foundations pages, and of course, the end result.

The 10 Days of November: Day 1

Welcome to the 10 Days of November.  This project is a November Daily, if you will.   Let me explain.  The 10 days represent the Friday before Thanksgiving and continues through the week of Thanksgiving, ending on Sunday. This year the dates are Friday, November 21 – November 30, 2014.  To me, this is Thanksgiving!  It's when family and friends come together, traveling across the country or across town.  It’s about the love and traditions we share.  And, it's about the stories and memories we remember.

I’ve been considering a project like this for some time, and out of sheer frustration, I decided it was time to make it happen!   Thanksgiving is not just a day sandwiched between Halloween and Christmas!  It's a special holiday and it needs to be spotlighted. 

I know you are all familiar with the December Daily concept.  It’s a wonderful project highlighting all those special moments during the month of December. I needed create a small version (fewer days) for documenting those same special memories during Thanksgiving.  Of course, I could incorporate my 10 Days of November into Project Life each year, but by doing that, my project didn’t seem to have the importance I was looking for.  I love the idea of a separate, smaller album just for Thanksgiving.  This is something I plan to add to each year, and display during the Thanksgiving holiday.

As I was planning my 10 days of November, I made a list of things I wanted to include and photograph.  I thought some of these ideas might help you.  Of course, this is not my original list.  You probably couldn’t read it.  Thank goodness my daughter Katelyn, came to my rescue and put together this beautiful list.  Thanks Kate!

I hope you’ll join me in documenting your 10 days of November, however please feel free to fine-tune your November album with any time period that works for you.  You may feel the 7 Days of November is a better fit!  Do I hear 5 days?  I would love to hear what you are doing.

Please stop back by this week for additional posts of my 10 Days of November series.    

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Happy Halloween...

Wishing you a Halloween full of treats and screams! 

I wanted to share a couple of Halloween treats (actually the packaging) I put together, last minute.  Very last minute!  The request came from my youngest daughter.  Last night she asked if I would make "something" Halloween for a few of her friends.  Our dialogue went something like this: "Honey, Halloween is tomorrow"!  "Ya mom, I know".   At that point, I knew anything else I might have said was pointless!  My daughter is 16...!

So, feeling really good about her request, I went to work.  All stamps and die cuts are Reverse Confetti.  They quickly became my inspiration, as most of the items were still on my work table from previous projects!      

Clear pillow boxes are something I keep on hand.  I find them useful for package anything from gift cards, to jewelry, to candy. Really anything small.  I purchased these from Etsy.

I hope this post will be helpful the next time you have to put together some pretty packaging, even if you have little to no notice. 

I hope you'll stop by next week for a Thanksgiving project I've been working on.

More Halloween Cards and a Question

Do you ever feel like you are cheating when you've made a card with no stamping?  I actually thought that as I was finishing up these cards.  When I came to my senses, I realized these cards came together quickly, and I was pleased with the results. So, what more could I possibly want?  In the end, I just needed a few more cards to hand deliver to a few neighbors (along with some goodies, of course).  I achieved that. 

My thoughts: not every card has to be labor intensive, loaded with layers and bling, or hand stamped. There is a place for cards that can be assembled easily.  For example, if you are making more than three or four cards, that’s mass production (in my opinion).  You need a design that comes together quickly.  No frills!

So what are your thoughts on "non-stamped" cards?  How often do you create them?

The trick or treat dies are from a 2013 Papertrey Ink release.  They're not retired, thank goodness! Last Halloween I used these dies to create some cute packaging. 

With the second card, I did some spatter on the inside.  I wish I would have taken a picture to show you.  It was just around the edges to decorate the inside.  I hope the spatter trend sticks around for awhile.  I'm having fun with it.

A New Look ... And Some Cards

Welcome to "A Paperie Journey's" new look!  For those of us old gals, a facelift.  I was looking for something clean and simple but stylish.  I feel I've achieved that look.  What do you think?

Okay, on with the show...  I have a few Halloween cards to share with you. 

First, let me tell you I've fallen in love with Cast A Spell stamp set by Reverse Confetti .  All three cards are from that set.

 

 

I've been wanting to experiment with spatter and I finally did with the card above   So much fun!  Since I was working with regular cardstock and not watercolor paper, I decided to use acrylic paint (watered down a bit) and a narrow paintbrush.   

 



For this card, my inspiration came from HERE, the Reverse Confetti blog.  I'm not even sure I can say "inspiration".  I CASE'D it (copy and steal everything)!   I loved the card.  It was clean and simple and ... just adorable! 

I'm planning a regular post each month (the last week of the month), One Set-Three Ways.  I hope this monthly segment will help you optimize your stamp sets.

Thanks for stopping by.