DECEMBER 2015 DOCUMENTED

AND here's my last month to complete my 2015 project life, December 2015 Documented.

I didn't plan on creating a December Daily album neither a separate album for December. Since the boys are in Philippines I didn't think I'd be able to do a daily thing. I didn't feel like celebrating either because I'd definitely become more emotional thinking of my boys. But since my 12x12 project life album gotten so heavy already, I plunge into the album thing (6x8). Because I was avoiding doing the December Daily, I decided to named it December 2015 Documented. It's not "Christmassy" as well, just a simple album about our December.

For the covers, I used a thick card board from an old sketch pad backing for the back & for the front cover I used a cutting board sheet from Daiso. A bit hard to punch holes but I loved it. Initially, I only have 2 holes for the ring binders but I used some loose 3x4 journal cards as my day cards & since they only have 1 hole, they move around much. That's when I decided to punch a middle hole so that those 3x4 day cards can have 2 holes & stay in place.

Here's a video showing the pages of the album.

For the title page, I cut a word art "good cheer" using my handwriting on a piece of bristol board. Similar to what I did last year with my "love joy peace" word art. Attached it on a thin plastic sheet & insert into a page protector.

I mixed & matched my pages using Simple Stories & Becky Higgins 6x8 page protectors. I trimmed some page protectors for my 3x8 & 4x8 pages. I have a few 6x8 collage photos that I directly punched holes & I have some pages using 6x6 papers. This variety of pages were to create interest in the album.

The journal cards were mostly from my Documenter kit & a free printable cards from Studio Calico. I also used some of Ali Edward's freebies from her 12 days of Christmas & Give Sunday. I always try to keep everything to a minimal since I prefer a "less is more" approach to scrapbooking & don't have enough supplies to use either. Intended to use what I have, the embellishments & the papers. Besides the stamps from Studio Calico, I also loved using the stamps from Kelly Purkey, Christine Herrin & Kellie Winnel. I don't have a lot of stamps (and I hope I have more) but what I have now are the ones that I really kept on using for my project life.

I have also added some memorabilia I got last December. The paper bag from the Gulf Greetings when I bought some postcards; a chocolate wrapper, the tickets & a token from our trip to The Top of Burj Khalifa; the box of the perfume that was given to me; the front cover of the Qasr Al Muwaiji brochure; a song sheet; a Christmas card I got from my last year; the ampersand from my last year's holiday wall art; the birthday card & 1 of the rose (that I dried) that K gave me; and the drawing Makuy made for us.

2015 project life accomplished! Now, I'm ready to start with 2016 project life.

Thanks for dropping by.
Have a nice weekend.
ing

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER-NOVEMBER PROJECT LIFE

I'm back to quickly share my September - November Project Life pages for 2015. 

September

October

November

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Hopefully, I will get my December 2015 Documented album finish before the week ends. Hopefully.

Thanks for dropping by.

xoxo

JUNE-JULY-AUGUST PROJECT LIFE

Just a quick post today. Sharing my three months project life pages, June to August.

Hope I get to somehow inspire you with your project life, too. It's not actually easy to keep up. Sometimes, I get stressed out choosing which photos to print, what journal cards to use, how to embellish, or even which goes where in terms of photos and page protectors. Not to mention what to write or journal. It freaks me out! But when it does, I stay away from it for a while, it could be minutes, hours, days or even weeks. But because I have this "before-I-go" goal of printing all our photos and placing them in albums, I get to push myself to getting it done. Luckily, I end up enjoying the journey of documenting each month. I always ask God to help me get through. I always talk to Him in my mind, 'Lord, which photos... Lord, which journal cards... Lord, how do you think I should do it...'.

June
By far June is my most number of pages. Since I intend to have only one album this year, I didn't make a separate album for our Singapore trip, instead, I added it on June project life pages.

July
Our (k+i) last full month together with the boys in Philippines. Documenting here their first month at their new school although they actually started last June 24. Had to keep and add the letters they wrote to me, to k, and to God.

August
This month was a difficult month for me and for K and the boys, too. The first couple of days were our last days together this year. K+I went back here in UAE with a heavy heart. We were placed in a difficult situation a few days later, during our big move to Dubai from Al Ain. Because of that trial, up until now, it got me thinking that maybe it was a not the right decision to return here and leave the boys in Philippines. But if it's a mistake, I won't let it overcome me but accept it as a lesson and not a loss; "a temporary, necessary detour, not a dead end".

As I live my day-to-day and move closer to my end, I have found this truth in life that today may not be a good day nor the best day for me, BUT, there will always be good in everyday to be thankful for.

Thanks for dropping by.
♥

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Credits: Becky Higgins page protectors, Studio Calico project life/documenter kits & printables, Paislee Press minimalist templates, Kelly Purkey stamps, Kellie Stamps, Christine Herrin stamps, Life Documented Manila purchases, Pretty Papers Studio purchases. Home Edited Motex label maker. 

MAY PROJECT LIFE

I'm SO behind blogging my project life pages BUT here I am now with my May Project Life.

Yes, I love using Paislee Press minimalist templates with my photos. But I also mix some handwritten jounaling throughout my pages. But since I used Liz's templates, it made my documenting, organizing & project life process a lot easier. I actually love the white spaces of my pages. I also embellish less because (1) I don't have enough embellishments & (2) I like a cleaner look for my project life pages ("less is more"). And I'm also using Collect App on my phone to save the photos I want to use for my monthly pages. Every time I sort & edit my photos for printing, I check back on my Collect App. In that way, I won't miss a memory for the month.

(I used my phone in taking photos now & my SLR has been in the drawer since we got back in August. I missed my Nikon D60, too, & perhaps that's why I'm taking my Sony 5N for granted.)

Thanks for dropping by.
♥