Vacation Memories Thru Instagram Mini-Album

On our trip to Florida in August 2011, I shared A LOT of our trip through Instagram.  I had a lot of pics that weren't "just Disney".  They showed all the fun stuff we did and it wasn't just characters from the park. I printed them all out and had an idea in mind to make an Instagram mini-album, using my captions from Instagram as my journaling (maybe slightly modified).  Of course, life got in the way and the album got pushed aside. 

I had just finished catching up on my Project Life album, when I came across the pics and the album I set aside  for it & decided to go for it.  I was inspired to get it done.  I soon realized, that I was getting the pages done quicker than I thought, which inspired me even more to finish it.

While the cover shows that it's mostly Disney World, we also snuck out to Sea World for the first time & those pics are included in this album, that's why I added the wave.... ; )

The best part was how thin I managed to keep the album! I've never made an album SO thin!  I stuck to a lot of stamping, Silhouette Cameo cuts, punches, labels & washi tape (of course!) to keep the bulk to a minimum, but was still surprised at how thin it was!

                                          

I had no plan for the album.  I just tried to keep all the similar pics together on a page.  At first I thought about just slapping the pics in "Smashbook" style.  While there's nothing wrong with that, that's not my style and you can see how the first few pages are much different from the rest of the album. 

 

I eventually noticed that I slowly happened to design the pages in a more grid design.

I took a TON of pics at Sea World but didn't Instagram then all. 

On this page I "cheated" a little.  I snuck in a few shots weren't on Instagram, but just went with it.  Don't tell anyone. ; ) HA!

The last page is very simple & plain but I like it.  The only thing I left out of the album was the date.  I realized it after taking the pics, so I'll just go back & add it late.  No big. 

The album shows that while you're at "Disney World", there's SO much more to see & do than what most people expect.

Pumpkin Picking 2012

Today we went to the pumpkin patch.  The girls found their pumpkins right away.  As they get older, the hunt is shorter.  However, as they get older they want the bigger pumpkins....no wait, that hasn't changed.

It seems like every year we go later in the day to find pumpkins.  Marissa had trouble with the sun in her eyes.  NOTE TO SELF: Go earlier in the day next year.

Gianna's biggest struggle was deciding between the "normal" pumpkins and the "warty" pumpkins.  She wants to carve it so she went with the smooth, normal one.

Another struggle as they get older is tolerating each other long enough for a pic together.  We've been really working on them getting along better.  It's not like I ask them to hold hands or hug all the time!  C'mon, work with me!!

A tradition of ours is measuring the girls. I fear Marissa will outgrow the sign one day.  Hope she slows up soon or she'll be as tall as me!

Gianna is slowly catching up to Marissa.  I tell her to enjoy her age now & not rush things.  She doesn't like being the youngest.

Every chance I get, I try to get a pic with Joe.  Marissa took this (out of many) and after a little cropping I love it. ;)

I love these pumpkins the most.  So pretty.

Gianna was not happy about posing in front of the scarecrow but did it for me. 

Both girls picked out a small white pumpkin to paint.  Love Marissa's smile.

Me and my shadow. 

I'm in denial that it's October.  When I can get away with it, I still wear flip flops.  I don't look forward to the cold, cold days.  It's bad enough how dark it gets early on.  Halloween will be here before we know it!!

12 on 12 October

The twelfth of the month seems to come quick lately.  I could swear we just did September!

Gianna always make sure to change the sign when I leave the house.

They always make me wait in the parking lot even though I went through the drive-thru.  What's the point??

Let's get this over with before I talk myself out of doing it.  Not in the mood to workout but when am I??

Had just enough time to start my October Project Life page.  Feels good to be caught up since i started 2 months behind.

Happy Mail!  Love the cover, hope the inside is as inspiring.

Future Pinterest addict.  She's going to be so mad that I instagrammed her! Bonus--she matches my scraproom!

Finished the Lost Hero...again...working on re-reading the series so I can "borrow" the 3rd book from Marissa.

Got Gianna her own album for her scrapbook layouts.  She was so happy!

Joe brought home fresh Cinnabons for the girls...then took them out to dinner, leaving me home alone.  Love that man!!

"Owl" ready for bed.  Comfy, cozy in my pj's since 7pm.

Marissa likes to hide under my scrap table.  She doesn't realize that I am part ninja when it comes to taking pics.  Gotcha!!

Been trying to find a program in my computer so I can print small 2.5x2.5 ish pics on a sheet of paper without it getting cut off.  Bleh.  I need to learn photoshop.

Can you believe just a couple more months until the end of the year??  Some days I think I took on too much doing both 12on12 and Project Life.  Then as I look through the album I realize it's worth it...though I miss doing 12x12 LO's...need to squeeze that in better.

Project Life August 2012

Back again with my August Project Life pages.  Again I've had these done for awhile as well, just playing catch up a lot...everywhere lately. 

This page starts with the end of July.  I like when the end of the month falls cleanly onto one page and doesn't blend in with another month, but then I'm too picky.  What can I say?  I tend to over think things...especially the meaningless stuff. ;)

For this page I "re-discovered" some old Making Memories felt shapes, and glittered die cuts and thought they'd be perfect for this.  I even used a tag I kept from our flip flops to use on the page. Love random embellies from everyday things!

For the girls' swim certificates I simply slipped them into the 5x7 page protectors and dressed them up with a little washi & labels.

For our trip to the Fair I simply slid all the pics into THIS page protector and called it done.  Nothing fancy at all.  I was on a mission to get caught up on PL.

Another insert that's standard every month is my 12on12 page.

I really worked those old felt die cuts on these pages...

And again another simple insert with a little journaling in one of the pockets.

I had these 4x6 pics printed out and couldn't stand to trim them down to 4x4 so I added another small 8x8 pocket protector (sorry can't find link) & dressed it up slightly.  Not going to let it bother me that Marissa's picture is not vertical.....

The second part of our trip insert...

And this month DID end all on one page.  Letting me start September all by itself.  It's the little things that make me happy.  Went overboard with the bottom "5 years" pocket, but hey, it's DONE!

Project Life July 2012

Once again I am behind on posting my Project Life pages.  I've had these done for awhile but never got around to taking pics of them.  Looking at these now makes me wish it was still Summer.  It just started getting cold around here and I am convinced more than ever, that I am more suited to a warm climate.  I need warmth.  I've been told I'm cold-blooded.  I need shorts & flip flops to make me happy.

With that here are my July pages....

This page didn't "wow" me but I was in "get it done" mode and slapped it together, more or less.

I find with PL that I'm using more of my stamps.  I think seeing peoples pages on Instagram & Pinterest have inspired my stamping a lot.

Can't forget my 12on12 page.

I had a lot of inserts for our trip to the Bronx Zoo.

Front...

Back...

Insert with lots of extra pics...

Back...

I can't say enough how much I love my Silhouette Cameo.  I cut out lots of words or shapes in advance then keep them in a small binder for when I need them.  I try to cut more "everyday" shapes & words in black, white or kraft cardstock.  Makes it easy to grab & use.

Ending July with this page since the end of July & the beginning of August are on the same page.