Did you select a word for 2017?This is a practice I have took part in for the last several years and I have really come to enjoy it!Choosing a word for the year can really help us to focus throughout the year. For many, it's a much better, more feasible plan that making a few resolutions or goals that will be discarded by the end of January. I think one reason choosing a word for the year works it that it's broad enough to encompass many of our goals.There have definitely been years that I have chosen a word that I was really excited about, but I let that excitement wear off rather quickly. I did not get a lot out of my word and did not grow from the experience during those years.Then there have been other years when I have chosen a focus word for the year and have kept that word before me throughout the year, returning to it time and time again. Those were the years that … [Read more...]
New Year, New Me? 3 Tips for Adjusting Your “Failed” Resolutions
So, it's been about a week since the beginning of 2017. I'm betting you spent time leading up to January 1 coming up with some incredible resolutions for 2017 - resolutions that you most likely have already failed at. It happened to me every year I made resolutions. It's something about the excitement of the new year that makes us excited to start fresh, and yet only days later we are discourage and give up. Here are three things I've learned to do when I "fail" at my resolutions. Make them into long term goals - I've found that goal setting is much more effective for me than resolutions. If I set a long term goal, I can plan the steps I need to take to get there. So, if you resolution was to "go to the gym four times a week" maybe you set that as your long term goal, and start with only going regularly once a week. Then you can build up from there. Generalize them all into a … [Read more...]
MOC 2017 Spotlight – Take 1
Hello everyone and Happy New Year! It's Polly Karen here at the end of the first week of the 5th annual Month of Challenges (MOC5). I don't know about you but I LOVE the boost to my mojo that MOC gives me! I've been scrapping every evening and when I'm not scrapping, I'm thinking about scrapping! I can tell that I'm not alone because I've been browsing the gallery and there are SO many fantastic layouts in there! I am here to shine my spotlight on just a tiny percentage of those fabulous layouts. I'm going to highlight just a few from the first 8 challenges that have been posted. I'll be back towards the end of the month to do it all again! :) Day 1 - Brought to you by the letter...by QuiltyMom: by amien1:by _scrapaholic: Day 2 - Year in Review:by kirstiegai: by silent ranks: Day 3 - … [Read more...]
Welcome the First BYOC of 2017!
Happy New Year Pad Scrappers!I hope 2017 has been kind to you so far. I've got a treat for you this first Friday of the year: our January BYOC. For those of you who are new to the concept, BYOC stands for Build Your Own Collection. Every month our talented designers create products with the same general theme and palette colors. That way, everything coordinates, whether you buy two products or 20. And because we have such a large range of wonderful designers, you've got a lot of great products to choose from. January's palette has some strong earth tones with pops of sunny yellow and coral. Let's have a look at the magic they've cooked up for you this month.First, a variety of lovely elements:A collection of funky fab papers:Cute journal cards for you pocket scrappers:Clever templates to help you plan your layouts:And a fun alpha and style sets to add the … [Read more...]
Document Your Favorites
Having just celebrated Christmas and New Years, I bet there are lots of favorites to remember from the holiday season. Why not document them in a layout, so you'll always remember? You can document in point form, list form or journal in a story form. The more info you can include, the better, as it will really help to refresh your memory in years to come, as you look back, but if you are like me though, a list form or point form is easier to put together. I have a terrible memory so I find it helpful to list some key points, then later I will add more journaling, if it jogs my memory, with more detail.Popular favorites to document include: holiday celebration weekend activity trip summer vacation seasonI scrapped this holiday page and added a few favorite things from the trip.For a more personal page, document some of your faves right now, which is … [Read more...]
Hello 2017!
Well hello 2017! I greet you with BIG OPEN ARMS! I think a majority of us would agree - 2016 was a doozy! Whew!I always love this time every year because I'm always so hopeful about what the following year has in store. I am not an over planner. Ha! Not even close man and I really do tend to look at things in a practical way. Resolutions fade so I am going to concentrate on *reachable goals this year.So with that in mind, I've drafted up a few steps for myself this year:Out with the old - In with the new!!Adios 2016, I'm gonna clear my head of you now. OK? OK! This is a good time to think about decluttering one room at a time. Remember the 3 sections, 'Keep' 'donate' and 'throw away'. I always stand in sheer amazement of how I manage to save trash. No really - trash. I always look at my husband with a puzzled look and say 'why did we keep the jelly of the month club … [Read more...]