NEW Simple Stories Mix & Match Album - Foundations

Have you taken a close look at the Simple Stories  Mix & Match 6 x 8 album?  They are so wonderful and I think the size is perfect for your personal scrapbooking management philosophy - seriously.   I plan to savor the development of my personal album, so today is only a a post about the foundations that starts with a "Simple Story."

For a special album like this with so many journaling elements, I felt inspired to share a very personal story about myself and how I plan to use this album to document a big change in my life . If you look closely, you can read how my story begins in the photo.

As you can see, I have not begun to decorate the cover yet - still in the package - and it may not be decorated for a while, because I really want to see where this book leads me before I commit to the design.  So, blank it shall stay for a bit longer until I figure out a concept.

I'm having some trouble commiting to the full design, so I took one of the Documented 4 x 6 journal elements and typed up what I think is a good beginning and paper-clipped it to the front of the first chipboard divider.  That way I can change it up later or add it to a special pocket.  I probably need to go back and embellish, but like I said, I want to see where this journey leads me and for this project, I am more concerned with getting the story out, before I embellish.

This is the beginning of my story!  There are going to be some big changes in my life as soon as I finish up this current school year, and I want to document how I feel right now, since the school board just approved my sabbatical last week.

One of the things I would love to have  more time for in my life is to write.  I am an English teacher and it seems like I read so much of other's work and don't always take the time to really communicate my own thoughts.  This album/book is going to change all of that.  I have the typewiter and am looking forward to banging some keys just to get it all documented.

This is a photo of me from a few years ago, before my life got so busy with my job and my family and I were moving at a slower pace.  I want to get back to that feeling of calm and contentment.  I am anything but calm right now - though I tend to hide it well.  I think scrapbooking provides a creative outlet that allows me to deplode from how crazy and stressful my life is at work.  However, as of June, 2012, that is all about to change.

Still getting the hang of using a typewriter again.  You would think it was like riding a bike, since it was all I had in high school and college, but alas, I make more mistakes than I would care to admit - which the computer hides beautifully.  Thank goodness for correction tape.

As I said above, I fully plan to go back and embellish my album, but this is a foundation and I want to enjoy the development of something that will be so personal.  I hope that many of you adopt this album and system to document something very dear to you, even your everyday moments.  I am so excited to continue mine.
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Have a wonderful and creative day!


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