catching up

So, one of my scrapbooking projects for 2008 was a monthly calendar where I did one layout/month using photos from that month. I've finally been working on some projects and this is one that I finished last week...I just sat down a couple nights in a row and made myself do these layouts! It was nice to create and play, with simple, finished layouts as a result. So here they are:



july:




august:





september:





october:





november:






december:






In hindsight, I am so glad that I did this calendar...I'll be doing another for 2009! It guarantees that I have at least 1 layout from every month of the year, plus, it's fun to read all the tidbits of things we did this past year. Many of you may have heard of Project 365...well, this is my take on it. My reality is that there is just no way I would stay on top of taking a picture every single day of the year (even though I think it is a fabulous idea!), so this is just another great way to capture one year of your family's life...as well as the monthly photo collages from the past couple posts!



I'm thinking for 2009, maybe I'll use my monthly photo collages as my layouts for the calendar, and then continue with filling in the bottom of the calendar with all the details from that month. Again, it isn't a picture/day, but it CAN be a handful of pictures from each month that totally depict and showcase a year of your life. Whew!



And just a few other thoughts...because I organize my photos by the month on my computer, it was super easy to pick pictures from each month to scrapbook. This way, you don't have to stay on top of this project on a monthly basis...when you get the urge to scrapbook, you can do a few layouts at a time. However...I did fill in the "calendar bottoms" on a monthly basis, just so I wouldn't forget anything. And that's easy to do every month. Makin' sense?



Anyways, just wanted to share this stuff. It feels good to be getting stuff done...next on my list: the baby album.



Can't wait!



Tal:)

photo collages

I've had quite a few people ask me how I made my photo collages in photoshop. Unfortunately, I am totally the WRONG person to go to for explanations on how to do this kind of thing, but I DID find this tutorial that Rebecca did on her blog last year. (just scroll down to the Friday, Jan 11/08 post titled "photo collages").

Bobbi also did a tutorial on collages here. AND you can  make collages or mosaics here. I hope these help you all out a bit!

In other news, we're busy busy around here trying to get ready for baby, as well as getting back to our regular routine with playschool, dancing, church stuff, etc. First thing on the list is getting the girls moved into the same room so we have a place to put this baby and all of her "stuff". I have lots of fun decorating ideas so we'll see how much I actually get done on these rooms...in my head they're really cute! Haha! And of course, I'll share photos as soon as things are done. Oy. What seemed like a little job is really a BIG job and I thought I had so much time...but only a couple months to go! I am getting soooooo excited for the baby. It seems like much more of a reality now that my due date is getting closer (March 22nd), so I've actually been contemplating on what life will be like with 3. Yes, I am mostly overwhelmed when I think about it, but at the same time I know that we'll all adjust and life will go on...with 3 girls instead of just 2. Haha!

And speaking of girls, I have been so surprised by some of the reactions that we get from people when we tell them we're having another girl. So many people have been like, "oh....." like too-bad-for-us-that-we're-not-having-a-boy. I think it's so funny! As if anyone has a say in whether or not they have girls or boys! Our 2 little girls have been the greatest blessings and joys to Graham and I, so when we found out we were having another one, we were nothing but excited. Of course a boy would be fun, too, but we'll take what we're given...I just feel so lucky to be in my 3rd pregnancy when there was a time in my life that I wondered if I would ever even have one. So boys, girls...bring 'em on. Each little life that comes is such a miracle, I can't imagine caring at all what the sex is. (And Graham secretly wanted another girl from the day we found out we were pregnant, so it's all good!)

Anyways...I'd post a picture, but last night as I was sitting at my computer the screen went blank and wouldn't turn back on...scary!! Luckily we have an external hard drive, so there's no worries that I lost any pictures. Man, I would DIE if that happened. So the computers being "diagnosed" today...hopefully I won't be without it for too long! I like it better than the laptop.

:)

Okay, I'm off...trying to decide if I should clean or nap? Ya, I think the nap wins.

Have a good weekend!! (and Happy Birthday, Winter! We love you!!)

Tal:)

Oh, and P.S.....my sister Niki just started a blog (finally!). She is an awesome digital scrapper and is on a bunch of digi design teams, so check her out when you're in need of some fun digi-inspiration!!

a year in pictures '08

Here's a look at my "Year in Picture's '08" mini album. I made one of these for both my mom and mother-in-law for Christmas...I love doing these albums (remember mine from last year?) because it's such a great way to get a whole year into one, compact little book. This mini has 108 pictures in it and only measures 4" x 6.5". I still need to make one for myself, but the grandma's were priority before Christmas! Hope you like it.



















Some notes about my album:
-measures 4" x 6.5"
-all patterned papers are Basic Grey (this was a GREAT way to use up papers from my stash that have been sitting around)
-most accents and embellishments are Heidi Swapp and American Crafts
-font is Heidi Swapp Clear Alpha Font downloaded from digiswapp.com
-all photo collages were created in photoshop and printed as regular 4x6 photos
-attached with a simple binder ring and tulle



It isn't too late to put together a little album like this for yourself of 2008...such a great way to capture a year. I'm excited to do one for 2009 as well. Crazy to think that I'll have 3 adorable little faces in those pictures instead of just the two. Aaaaahh!




Life is good.




Talia:)

happy new year

...a little look at my 2008.




Is it just me or is it hard to believe that another year has come and gone?



I hope everyone has a wonderful and happy new year in 2009.

(and stay tuned for a post on how I used these collages in a mini album!)




Tal:)

christmas 2008

Well, another Christmas has come and gone. I've been sitting here going through all of the pictures I took (there were alot this year!) and thought that I would share some of the highlights. Christmas was so much fun. We were busy busy with family and get togethers, but that's the way it should be, right? The girls were especially fun this year...they knew exactly what was going on, and their excitement was contagious. I just loved being "mama" this year...even though Graham surprised me with a new camera (thanks, sweetie!), it was watching how happy and excited the girls were that made my Christmas this year. I love you, little family of mine!!!




And now on to the pictures.





making cookies for Santa on Christmas eve-day...





Oh, this was sweet...Gabby managed to unwrap half of the presents under the tree on Christmas eve-day while I was folding laundry. AAhhh! I cried, but luckily Payton wasn't with her, so no surprises were ruined. Gabby could have cared less about the presents, she was just loving the "unwrapping" part! Oh, my two year old stinker.




Unicorns from nana and papa on Christmas eve...




Christmas jammies...





with their big cousin, Winter...





Dressed up as Mary, Joseph and the sheep for the reading of the Christmas story from the scriptures...(this is their cousin Kennedy and he was making this face in every picture! Gotta love teenage boys. hehe. And the girls were so serious and reverent as they played their parts and listened to the Christmas story. So so so cute. Gabby loves this costume!)





Opening presents on Christmas morning...






We always head to Graham's parents on Christmas day and this year the kids had soooo much fun playing with their cousins...and Grandpa is always right in there with them!






And here are the kids and grandpa in the hot tub! (Mya, Gabby, Payton, Kedan and Osh)





Like I said, it is hard to believe that Christmas is already over...I always have mixed feelings of sadness and relief at this point. You wait so long for Christmas to come and then it's over so quickly. But it was wonderful. I tried to talk in my last post about how grateful I have felt this year for my family and for the chance we have to celebrate our Savior's birth together, but I couldn't find the words. I tend to have a hard time sharing things that are personal to me in fear that I'll come across as cheesy or even worse, fake, but I really do want to say that this year has been special. Graham and I felt it and we were able to share that together, and for that I am grateful. Hearing Payton sing the wrong words to Christmas songs just slightly off-key, made me the proudest mama. Watching Gabby's face light up as she exclaimed "Baby Jesus!" every time she saw the nativity melted my heart. It is all those little moments and simple joys that made this Christmas one to remember.




Oh, and I had to share this video...Payton and Gabby performing Payton's little Christmas dance on Christmas Eve. Keep in mind that Gabby has never taken a dance class in her life and she's still wearing the sheep costume. Totally and completely priceless. A favorite memory for sure.





xoxo
Tal