Reflecting On 2008 Mini Album

Happy New Year everyone. I love this time of year. Time for crisp new diary refills and fresh starts. Time to slow down for a bit and reflect on the year that has just gone and make plans for the year ahead.

The relaxed pace of the holidays has highlighted for me that I let my life get a bit out of balance at times in 2008. (Don’t we all hey!) I wanted to record the questions I’ve been asking myself so that I can look over them during 2009 if I find myself with my priorities a bit skewed now and then.

I decided a little 6 x 6 album would be perfect. To keep this project speedy and simple, I gathered together just a few supplies and got started.

It was such a quick one to put together that I’m actually finished already, and we’re not even into double figures yet in January - amazing!

Read on for more...

For this album I’ve used a pack of Stampin’ Up! double sided patterned paper and the matching cardstock. This pack is called Afternoon Tea and is from the new Summer Mini Catalogue.

I did my journaling with a black marker, and used some lettering stamps and a black Staz On ink pad to highlight a word or two. The lettering stamp set is called Best Friends Alphabet Lower. I also used the stamp set Live Your Dream which has images that match the patterned paper.

The journaling is done on vellum cardstock. It is a nice heavy weight vellum that I find holds its shape well. Goes nicely through the printer too and I often use it for computer journaling. I sprayed each completed square with vellum adhesive spray, left it a few minutes to go tacky then stuck them on.

Here is a page I must read when I find myself googling obscure facts …..

Now I should add that my purpose in making this album was not to make myself feel guilty and the answer to all my questions isn’t no! But there are a few questions there that induce a bit of a squirm and prick my conscience a little.

I think it will just help me to flick through it every now and then during the year to see if I’m happy with how I’m spending my time this year. Don’t you find it is so easy to get into a drift along mode or for trivial unimportant things to take up large chunks of time and energy.

For the last few pages I used some textured cardstock in colours I liked. I wanted to keep these pages plain to focus on the questions.

Balance – seems to be something lots of us are striving for. Best wishes for a balanced 2009 for us all, with lots of craft time of course!

Cheers,
Sue

All of the products I’ve used for this album are available from me. Find out how to order your Stampin’ Up! products at my new look blog www.madexcreations.com. SaleABration is on during January and February - get a free stamp set for every $100 you spend.