One Little Word Blog Hop for December

It's December 1!  I'm very excited to start my December Daily album.  But I'm here to report on my One Little Word album!  My word this year is design and it has been a great word for me.  I have been working hard to catch up and used this month's blog hop to motivate me to finish November so that it wasn't looming over my head.

I like this prompt a lot - and ended up having a lot to write!  It was hard to fit it all onto the 2.5 x 3.5 cards.  I'm still figuring out if I will make a separate page for the journaling that didn't fit.  I think I might just put it in my Yearbook in a Snap for Stacy Julian's Twelve class.

Here's what the draft looked like - almost filled the blank cards too!

One cool aspect of my design for this page is that the number patterned paper has my birthday in it.  Can you see it?  My birthday is 11 - 24 - 77.

Here are the other participants in this month's hop.  Next up: Karen!

Margie    http://xnomads.typepad.com

Lisa    http://backtoallen.com/category/challenges/one-little-word/

Kimberlee   http://scrapsandsass.blogspot.com

Monica    http://scrapinspired.com/category/one-little-word/

Naomi    http://www.poeticaperture.com

Cheri    http://cheriandrews.blogspot.com

Ruth     http://suburbansahm.blogspot.com

Veronica   www.veronicanorris.typepad.com

Kara   http://iwannabemewhenigrowup.blogspot.com

ME --> Cynthia  http://paperpapereverywhere.blogspot.com

Karen   http://womenontractors.blogspot.com/

Kelly  http://mindingmynest.com

Carolina  www.micinnamons.blogspot.com

Missus Wookie  http://mrswookieswanderings.blogspot.co.uk

And special thanks to Lisa for organizing this month.

One Little Word blog hop for July

Scanning over my blogposts, it seems that One Little Word is the main thing triggering me to blog!  I guess that's a nice unintended consequence of signing up for the class.  But I have been so behind on the prompts this year, that this is my first blog hop for 2012.   Many thanks to Margie for organizing and keeping me on the email list!

My word this year is design.  It has been a good pick and a good fit for my goals for this year.  In fact, I was going through the dictionary/thesaurus prompt from January just last week (like I said, I'm BEHIND!), and I was really surprised by how many synonyms captured exactly what I have been focusing on this year by choosing this word, like action, accomplish, create, even big picture!

I had so much fun with the June prompt to play.  I didn't paint or make a mess, just pulled out some of my current favorite and inspiring patterned papers and moved them around on the floor for an hour or so until I found a combo that I liked.  And I love what I ended up with.  I am very deliberate when I scrapbook, and take forever to make a decision, even a decision to cut into the paper, that having permission to play and mess up and make something for no real purpose stretches me.  But that's a good thing.  And something I want to do more of.  Something I want from this word and for my creative life more generally.

Next up, Donna!

And here's the whole list if you want to check out everyone else's words:

Margie  http://xnomads.typepad.com

Monica  http://scrapinspired.com/tag/one-little-word/

Jamie   jmpgirl.blopspot.com

Jenn    www.studiojenn.blogspot.com

Amanda  http://scrappnbee.blogspot.com

Ruth    http://suburbansahm.blogspot.com

Cheri   http://cheriandrews.blogspot.com 

Naomi   http://poeticaperture.com

Lisa http://backtoallen.com/category/challenges/one-little-word/

Veronica  www.veronicanorris.typepad.com

Missus Wookie http://mrswookieswanderings.blogspot.com/

Kelly   http://mindingmynest.com

Nikki   http://www.inkyart.com.au

Jill                http://jillconyers.com/

Brighton www.simplebrighton.com

Tere    http://terecontodomicorazon.blogspot.com

Cynthia http://paperpapereverywhere.blogspot.com/

Donna   http://holimess.blogspot.com/

One Little Word blog hop for January

This is a recap of the December prompt for my 2011 One Little Word and also a preview of my 2012 word!

I counted down to 2012 by standing in an embrace with my awesome husband and sweet daughter, and it seemed such a fitting way to end the year.

Embrace has been a good word for 2011. I found that it really helped me to relax and accept the changes that were constant throughout this year.

Now to announce my word for 2012.....

The word is design.

This word chose me - I was working on planning my courses that I will be teaching this spring and I was reading a book called Understanding by Design. One of the chapters started with a definition of design - to plan with purpose and intent; to execute - and I thought, that is exactly what I want to do this coming year! I like the literal meaning of it too, since I would really like to spend more time learning about design and applying it to my scrapbooking.

Next up on the blog hop is Lee!

And here is a list of everyone that is participating:
Margie http://xnomads.typepad.com
Cheri http://cheriandrews.blogspot.com
Veronica www.veronicanorris.typepad.com
Kara http://iwannabemewhenigrowup.blogspot.com/
Rebekah http://istampscrapcraft.blogspot.com/
Sharyn http://www.LaVieEnChic.com
Jill http://jillconyers.com
Lynn www.crafty-creativity.blogspot.com
Monica http://scrapinspired.com/
Lisa http://backtoallen.com/writers_blog
-> Cynthia H http://paperpapereverywhere.blogspot.com <-
Lee http://thelinarstudio.typepad.com/embracelife/
Abbey http://athomewiththerichardsfamily.blogspot.com/
Monica B www.questtoperfectimperfection.blogspot.com
Nikki http://www.inkyart.com.au
Tere http://terecontodomicorazon.blogspot.com/
Melissa S http://blog.mshanhun.com
Nicky http://seejanebake.blogspot.com
Stephanie http://www.scrapworthylives.com/
Jenn L www.studiojenn.blogspot.com
Cindy http://seriousplay.typepad.com
Amanda http://scrappnbee.blogspot.com
Sam http://learncreatedo.wordpress.com/
Jan http://mysimplelittlelife.typepad.com
Jamie http://jmpgirl.blogspot.com
Karen http://breathenowsmile.blogspot.com/

One Little Word blog hop for December!

My word: embrace

I have sort of been keeping up with my One Little Word album, but I definitely haven't been doing a good job of updating my blog. I am embracing that fact and reminding myself that I have been spending a lot of quality time with my baby instead! : )

Speaking of the baby, I was hoping to get my page scanned and uploaded before the hop went live, but she kept me up all night last night, so that didn't happen. I hope to be able to update before the day is over. I can say that I printed the brown lettering set on Bazzill's Coconut Cream paper (this is becoming my favorite off-white cardstock) and wrote in the journaling with a brown pen.


If I'm cute and smiley all day, does that make up for the fact that I'm a crankypants all night long?

Here is my journaling:
I believe that my new job is a good fit for me.
I know that E is well adjusted and thriving despite all the changes we have subjected her to, with moving and being between two different states.
I love E more and more each day. Her smile, her growth, and her discovery are so amazing to witness.
I learned that motherhood was not an easy transition for me.
I am enjoying reading again, having felt uninspired when we first got to Indiana. I am loving taking E to the library (and she seems to love it too!)
This word has helped me relax, be at peace, and accept where I am right now. I feel like I stress about things a little less and am enjoying things a little more.

Next up is Jan!

If you want to start at the beginning, go to Margie's blog.

And here's the entire list:

Margie http://xnomads.typepad.com
Julie Ann http://julieannshahin2.blogspot.com
Jill http://jillconyers.typepad.com
Monica B http://questtoperfectimperfection.blogspot.com
Nikki http://www.inkyart.com.au
Debra http://blakleyhomeplace.blogspot.com
Amanda http://scrappnbee.blogspot.com
Sam http://learncreatedo.wordpress.com
Lynn http://crafty-creativity.blogspot.com
--> You are Here
http://paperpapereverywhere.blogspot.com <--
Jan http://mysimplelittlelife.typepad.com
Jenn http://studiojenn.blogspot.com
Cindy http://seriousplay.typepad.com
Lisa http://backtoallen.com/writers_blog

One Little Word Blog Hop for April

I got a lot done on my One Little Word project this month!


I added the "beginnings" frame to my January 5x7 photo and got it printed. It looks great in my album!


I fixed my January layout - I wasn't happy with how I had originally made my card with "embrace" on it. But now I think it's just right!


I got my February photos printed and added captions to them so that I would remember why I took them:

You can click on any of the images to see them larger.

And I made my March layout!! Our task this month was to choose an action related to our word and do it. My action was to submit a COMPLETE draft of my dissertation to my committee by March 20. I came close - I did send something to my chair on March 20, but it wasn't complete. I sent her a complete draft a week later - hey, it's before the end of the month, right?





I never put butterflies on anything (it's a scrapbook trend I have generally avoided), but I decided to go for it this time since they kind of represent change. And part of my goal with choosing "embrace" was to try new things in my creative process. So the butterflies represent the change that comes with finishing a dissertation and the flowers represent the growth that I have undergone in this whole process.

Also, I didn't go into this with a fixed color palette in mind, but it looks like turquoise, orange, and brown are emerging as themes.

Next up, Cheri A! Make sure you scroll down and check out how she decluttered her scrap space -- it looks AMAZING! And definitely check out Margie's blog to thank her for organizing such a great blog hop!

Here's the complete list of participants in case you want to hop around:
1. Margie http://xnomads.typepad.com/blog
2. Amanda http://scrappnbee.blogspot.com
3. Donna http://donnabryantdurand.blogspot.com
4. Joy www.undiscoveredjoy.blogspot.com
5. Jan http://mysimplelittlelife.typepad.com
6. Jamie http://jmpgirl.blogspot.com/
7. Nikki http://www.inkyart.com.au
8. Monica B2 www.questtoperfectimperfection.blogspot.com
9. Cindy http://seriousplay.typepad.com
10. Stacey http://www.TheAcornGarden.com/blog
11. Katrina http://k84mansramblings.blogspot.com/
12. Rebekah http://istampscrapcraft.blogspot.com/
13. Monica http://scraplifters.blogspot.com/
14. Chrissy http://getcraftywithchrissy.blogspot.com/
15. Jill http://jillconyers.typepad.com/
16. Lisa http://makeyourownescape.blogspot.com
17. Kathryn www.katlodesigns.com
18. Jennifer www.studiojenn.blogspot.com
19. Jen www.byjen.com
20. Sam http://learncreatedo.wordpress.com/
21. Miranda http://mirandasscrapsite.blogspot.com
22. Lynn www.crafty-creativity.blogspot.com
23. Cynthia http://paperpapereverywhere.blogspot.com/ --- you are here
24. Cheri A http://cheriandrews.blogspot.com --- go here next
25. Deb http://blakleyhomeplace.blogspot.com
26. Nicky www.seejanebake.blogspot.com
27. Karen D http://womenontractors.blogspot.com/
28. Tina http://ryzmomplus2.typepad.com/my_weblog/
29. Kimberly http://foreverdaisies.blogspot.com/
30. Abbey http://athomewiththerichardsfamily.blogspot.com/
31. Julie Ann http://julieannshahin2.blogspot.com
32. Lisa A http://backtoallen.com/writers_blog

Some "digital" scrapbooking

I have had three scrapbooking tasks on my to do list for a while now. As of today, I can check them off (plus two bonus ones)! Yes, I am totally procrastinating finishing my dissertation. I keep telling myself this is how I work best.

1) Make a 6x6 layout of pictures from my in-laws' Solstice party to put into my December Daily album. This is the very last page I have to do before the album is complete. DONE!


2) Make the 5x7 Beginnings layout for my One Little Word album. DONE!


3) Make a 6x12 layout so that I can print another 6x12 layout I made a year and a half ago. Put the two together to print as one 12x12. DONE!


4) Make the 8x10 February photo collage for my One Little Word album. DONE!


5) Place all of these as a single order at scrapbookpictures.com. DONE! (And even managed to get it in before their sale expired!)

One Little Word Blog Hop for March

Hard to believe it is March already! I am participating in the One Little Word Blog Hop again this month and wanted to thank Margie for getting me in to the list at the very last minute! I emailed her at midnight last night and she worked some magic and got me into the rotation. That makes me last on the list, so click over to Margie's blog when you are done here to go full circle (or start the hop from the beginning). A big thank you to Cindy also for linking me in to the hop so that I could participate.

My word for the year is embrace, and our February prompt from Ali Edwards was to take pictures of things that remind us of our word. I took two photo walks (something I never do!) to scout out possible inspiration and found myself drawn to circles (encircle is a synonym of embrace).

From my photo walk in Vail, CO: Wind mobiles


From my photo walk in Charleston, SC: a logo for a weekend festival. I liked that it had the year along with the circles.


Some other photos from my Charleston walk can be found here. My favorite photo is by far the one of the older couple on the boardwalk.

I also found my word in my internet surfing and took screenshots - that counts as a picture, right? : ) These shots come from a blog post which can be found here. The first one is from the text of the post and the second is from the comments.




This month I also made the cover for my album:


And took a class on Embracing Imperfection at Big Picture Classes - how perfect of a title! I took this screenshot from the handout as a reminder to myself to embrace my imperfections : ) I took the advice to heart and made 3 scrapbook layouts this month!


I am trying hard to be mindful of my word in my daily life. I find that it is making me calmer and that I am having an easier time of handling things as they come. That's a good thing!

Here is the complete list of bloggers participating in the Hop:
1. Margie http://xnomads.typepad.com
2. Monica B http://scraplifters.blogspot.com/
3. Jill http://jillconyers.typepad.com/
4. Miranda http://mirandasscrapsite.blogspot.com
5. Donna http://www.donnabryantdurand.blogspot.com
6. Lynn www.crafty-creativity.blogspot.com
7. Stacey http://www.TheAcornGarden.com/blog
8. Lisa http://backtoallen.com/writers_blog
9. Cassie http://craftycassiescorner.blogspot.com
10. Abbey http://athomewiththerichardsfamily.blogspot.com/
11. Nicky http://seejanebake.blogspot.com
12. Holly http://lovingrobots.blogspot.com
13. Karen http://breathenowsmile.blogspot.com
14. Claudia http://creative-moms.com
15. Rebekah http://istampscrapcraft.blogspot.com
16. Kimberly http://foreverdaisies.blogspot.com
17. Kat www.katswonderings.blogspot.com
18. Kristina http://ciqis.blogspot.com
19. Jan http://mysimplelittlelife.typepad.com
20. Nikki http://www.inkyart.com.au/
21. Amanda www.scrappnbee.blogspot.com
22. Lisa http://luluoz.typepad.com
23. Sam http://learncreatedo.wordpress.com
24. Maureen http://cookingmylife.blogspot.com
25. Kristi http://theprojectofme.wordpress.com
26. Tere http://terecontodomicorazon.blogspot.com
27. Karen http://womenontractors.blogspot.com
28. Katrina http://k84mansramblings.blogspot.com
29. Monica Bergler http://questtoperfectimperfection.blogspot.com
30. Mandy http://captureandcreate.wordpress.com
31. Lisa http://makeyourownescape.blogspot.com
32. Chrissy http://getcraftywithchrissy.blogspot.com
33. Lee http://linarstudio.typepad.com/embracelife
34. Jen www.byjen.com
35. Sylvia http://baxtersmom1.blogspot.com/
36. Christianne http://christiannemarra.blogspot.com/
37. Cheri http://cheriandrews.blogspot.com
38. Joy www.undiscoveredjoy.blogspot.com
39. Beth http://justbebeth.wordpress.com/
40. Jennifer L www.studiojenn.blogspot.com
41. Kathryn www.katlodesigns.com
42. Heather www.scrappyhare.blogspot.com
43. Cindy http://seriousplay.typepad.com
44. Cynthia http://paperpapereverywhere.blogspot.com/

One Little Word in photos

Our task for my One Little Word Class this month is to take pictures of things in the world that make us think of our word. Here is what I came across today.

Embrace the Basics


Embrace each other

One Little Word blog hop

Welcome to the One Little Word Blog Hop!

My word for the year is embrace.

I want to be better about embracing the projects I undertake and getting them done without too much agonizing and perfectionism, so I decided to participate in this blog hop to give myself a deadline for the January assignment from Ali's class. I don't totally love the final result - the mix of papers isn't quite right - but I am EMBRACING it as is. Maybe I will change them up, maybe not, for now I am calling it good enough.

Our assignment this month was to look up the definition of your word, its synonyms, a quote that included your word, and to explain why you chose it. The linguist in me loved this task! Here is what I did:



I think the quote is my favorite part: "It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power."
-- Alan Cohen

The participants in the blog hop are all in the class. Next up: Kathryn!
Here is the entire list if you want to see who else is participating:
1) Margie http://xnomads.typepad.com
2) Jill Conyers http://jillconyers.typepad.com/life_as_i_see_it/
3) Monica http://scraplifters.blogspot.com
4) Lynn W http://crafty-creativity.blogspot.com
5) Miranda http://mirandasscrapsite.blogspot.com
6) Mandy http://captureandcreate.wordpress.com
7) Kathy http://katswonderings.blogspot.com
8) Lisa http://makeyourownescape.blogspot.com
9) Donna http://donnabryantdurand.blogspot.com
10) Abbey http://athomewiththerichardsfamily.blogspot.com/
11) Sam http://learncreatedo.wordpress.com/
12) April http://capturethememories.blogspot.com
13) Nicky http://seejanebake.blogspot.com
14) Rebekah http://istampscrapcraft.blogspot.com/
15) Relly http://rel.ly
16) Nancy http://goshery.blogspot.com
17) Cynthia http://paperpapereverywhere.blogspot.com/
18) Kathryn http://katlodesigns.com
19) Nikki http://www.inkyart.com.au
20) Heather http://scrappyhare.blogspot.com
21) Gayle www.lifeonlilypadlane.blogspot.com
22) Kristina http://ciqis.blogspot.com
23) Debra http://blakleyhomeplace.blogspot.com
24) Becky http://beckyandjames.com
25) Amy http://reflectivesnapshots.com
26) Marlene http://moore-fun-in-the-sun.blogspot.com/
27) Maureen http://cookingmylife.blogspot.com
28) Cheri http://cheriandrews.blogspot.com
29) Monica Scrapmom http://questtoperfectimperfection.blogspot.com
30) Jan http://mysimplelittlelife.typepad.com
31) Junelle http://yesandamenblog.blogspot.com
32) Margaret http://www.gutsymom.blogspot.com
33) Sharyn http://www.analteredlife.com
34) Tere http://terecontodomicorazon.blogspot.com/

One Little Word, once a month

Since I am participating in Ali Edwards' One Little Word project again this year, and am committed enough to be signed up for the class at Big Picture Classes, I figured I might as well devote at least one blog post a month to my one little word.

Here is the title page I made for my class album:


I have been thinking a lot about how I want to put my word into action this year, but I will save that for another post : ) January's not over yet!

One Little Word

Well, you may have noticed a new banner in the side bar. Yes, it is another Ali Edwards' project, no surprise there! I am choosing one little word to focus on throughout this year. I did this last year and found that it really helped me to stay on track with my goals for the year.

Last year's word was finished. I chose it because I wanted to be finished with my dissertation and finished with a number of unfinished projects. It hadn't been enough to resolve to finish these projects in the past, so I chose the past tense version of the word to hopefully visualize them actually done rather than the process of getting them done. And there are so many things that I FINISHED!
* three chapters of my dissertation
* three quilts!
* two papers for publication, one is submitted and one is being reviewed by my advisor
* my Teaching with Technology certificate through UT's Graduate Student Instructor program
* Week in the Life
* all of the foundation pages, pictures, and journaling for December Daily (I haven't finished assembling it yet, but I have all of the pieces that I need)

This year's word is embrace. There are so many changes coming up this year that I know are good for me and for my life path. I want to embrace these changes, feeling at peace with my decisions rather than wondering the perpetual “what if?” that I have plagued myself with in the past. We shall see where this word takes me this year.