Wednesday, February 6, 2013

5-Year Journal Project

I mentioned the last week I have finally started the 5 year journal project! many of you are probably wondering what on earth is a 5 year journal, well its just that, a journal you keep for 5 years! It is a huge undertaking but I am only looking at it on a day by day basis. That's all I really have to worry about, answering one question a day, it's so do-able, one minute of  my time – that’s all it takes. The fun part is that recording my answers in the same spot for five years,  so I can get to see the comparison of the year’s entries. My only problem was how I was going to document this. So I thought I would share my solution and my progress.

I am creating a 3x5 card for each day and storing them in this little file drawer. It was my gradfathers and I love its usefullness!
I have already got all the dividers and index cards inside ready to be decorated (as you can see January is done, I love how all the ribbons and tags pop up just a bit, makes it look crafty :)
For the monthly divider cards I am keeping it very simple! Just stamping a calendae grid on the card (I used colored index cards to keep them differentiated from the other cards) For each card I just add some small embellishment or sticker in the bottom corner and a tab on the top.
Like I mentioned earlier I already counted out enough cards for each month so I can just pull out a month and create whenever I have some extra time. i figured there is no rush as long as I finish each month before it starts!
I got all my questions from Get it Scrapped, they have  it broken down by month. along with some samples of how she created her cards. I followed her example of using the 3x5 cards, it seemed simple, yet crafty. My other choice was to just buy the 5 year journal to record my answers in, but where is the fun in that?











Here are some samples of the cards I have finished so far:


On the back of each card I stamped the date, I will just repeat this for each year that I complete it, although I will wait til next January, february, March, ect. to stamp 2014s date that way I am sure to leave myself plenty of space for answers plus I don't feel locked in to have to complete another year if it gets to be too much. But at a daily approach it seems pretty easy and after this year all the cards will be completed and simply waiting for each years answer to be added.

I pulled out my card sketchbook to help me design many of my cards. I figureds it might be helpful in designing 365 different cards!!! It seems to be woking really well. I love that this project is on a smaller scale because it allows me to use many of my scraps!











I cannot wait to make it thru this year and look to be able to look back and have the whole thing put together. Right now I have just started April. Not too bad, but I have a bunch of other projects begging for attention so I will have to continue later! I will keep you all updated on my progress and my journey!

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Project Life 2013: Week 5

The Mom Creative

the constant shoe collection of my sister's by the front door. . . .can I say grrr....no matter how many times I walk them all back upstairs to her room, they find their way back!

Another snow storm. . .I am not complaining, I have been waiting for the snow

Replenishing my "happy mail" stash

My crazy dad taking advantage of the late rain storm to rinse all the salt off his truck!

Coffee at Panera

trying to get a jump on my taxes. . . 1040 forms have all been delayed, go figure

hanging out with good friends at our church roller skating event! So fun!


Here's a little preview of my page for the week. I always try to put together as much as I can even though I order my pictures afterwards.

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Monday, February 4, 2013

Grateful for. . . #85-105



85. blue skies and warm sunshine
86. playing cards with my sister
87. full moon, low and beautiful
88. long overdue errands

89. not having to go out in the rain/snow/sleet mess
90. seeing the smile one of my cards put on someone's face. . .God is good!
91. free cappucino  coupon from Turkey Hill (with the expiration date of tomorrow!)
92. Tangled soundtrack. . .fun wholesome music
93. fun, new scarf

94. 101 free pictures, I have really been needing a good sale
95. not directly involved in our 2nd audit! I get so nervous!
96. trying new recipes
97.safety and fun while roller skating

98. memory verses and an accountability partner
99. a good firm roof and a warm house during the high winds and rain storms!
100. one on one Bible study/discipleship with Hope
101. hanging out with ggod friends at Chik-fil-a (we almost filled an entire section!) Good times!

102. sharing one anothers burdens
103. Catching up with an old cowoker
104. had 3 paychecks to deposit, I love watching the Lord provide all my needs
105. Project Life 2103 completely up to date, finally!
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Wednesday, January 30, 2013

1000 Gifts

Obviously I have not been posting my gratitude list so far this year! Yes I am still recording all of the big and little things that I am grateful for each day. I thought about going back and doing a "catch up" post, but as I am already up to #84 I figured that would be too much! So I am just going to start right where I am at! I have been hearing that reading my lists encourages other to write their own, so that is why I am posting! What better reason do I need than that? So come along join in the fun and make your life more positive, more blessed, and more joyful by counting all those   things God gives us each and every day. There are way more than just 1000 gifts. . . . .


January 20-January 26 2013
64. Using my talents to be an encouragement (isn't that why God gives us all talents in the first place? I am so grateful to finally found a way to use mine!!)
65. new pillows for my parents
66. reduced work shift at the end of a long day
67. the start of a new project
68. a warm, comfy bed, especially on a cold, partially snowy morning
69. God's unclogging the basement pipes after dad and I tried everything and had to give up in defeat, ready to call a plumber!
70. scented candles 
71. making someones's day with something as small as a card
72. the long awaited and dreaded audit went very smoothly (even if the auditor decided to follow me around most of the evening! Grr. . . )
73. hot coffee, I can never be too grateful for a mug of steaming hot coffee first thing in the morning!
74. creative progress, especially after a few days of trying to figure out where to go with a project
75. an added work shift, always a plus when the boss calls me for an extra shift!
76. catching up with Hope
77. finding a friend that I trust enough to open up about very emotional personal issues! Praise the Lord! He always knows who to bring into my life and when :)
78. mini pizzas on tortillas
79. glittery snow, it was so peaceful and beautiful falling from the sky!
80. errands and caramel steamers with mom, love our mother - daughter time together
81. cold enough weather to open the windows and freshen the house after all those flu germs!
82. finding good deals
83. hearing my family's laughter
84. extra coupons at the grocery store, almost never happens!

"In silent times = seek God
In painful times = praise God
In terrible times = trust God
At all times = thank God!"  
Ann VosKamp One Thousand Gifts

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Project Life 2013: Week 4

The Mom Creative

Our new favorite family game, Dutch Blitz. I got it for my mom for Christmas not realizing just how much the entire family would LOVE it!!!

All mom wanted for her birthday was a new pillow, so I indulged her and bought one. They were on sale at Kohl's buy 1, get 1 for $1. . .so my dad got one too :)

hello my name is Jenn and I am addicted to chapstick!

Finally figured out a way to document my 5 year journal project, so excited to see it at the end of the year (hopefully I'll at least be able to complete 1 year, cause 5 seems so daunting!)

Waiting for a friend to show up at Panera to begin our discipleship study

Warming up with a Wawa coffee on this freezing morning that we had to be out on

I love being smart with my $$$, I only spent $1.50 and got 5 packs of washi tape, 4 rolls of ribbon, 3 packs of different adhesives/glue dots, some adhesive gems, a pack of word stickers, and a bottle of spray glitter ink! My mom taught me well!

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Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Project Life 2013: Week 3

The Mom Creative


Some favorite ice creams, no matter the temperature we have an evening routine of a small bowl of ice cream!

WooHoo!! Biggest Loser Season 14, all snuggled in bed with my snack ready to go!

Self portrait day (you can still see one of the 4 cold sores I ended up with last week while I was sick!! I've never had more than 1 at a time before, it is NO fun at all!)

Giant gas savings: $1.80 off per gallon! My dad ended up saving more than he actually spent! God is so good!

Subbing for community helper day, I went as a surgeon, I even added my hair net and booties once I got to school. I love any excuse to get dressed up!

My 2013 Project Life goodies arrived, there is something about taking a picture with that beautiful white packaging :)

Texas Roadhouse for mom's birthday dinner. This was the best shot I got because she refused to look at the camera. She's just like me, not a big fan of her birthday!

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Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Project Life 2013: Week 2

The Mom Creative

Started my week off with a little fever

Hello flu. . .what a long awful weekend

Medications could be found on every counter

Attempting to dog/cat sit while recovering. . .uggg!

More signs of illness at our house, I was taught to share, sorry mom and Carrie :(

Feeling well enough to sub

Dad attempting to clean out his tool boxes. . .how many sockets does one man need??

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