Get It Scrapped Blog » One Month At A Time

One Month at a Time | January 2012

TamiTaylor — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:00:22 +0000

It finally started feeling like winter here in Vegas, and then it started feeling like too much winter!

Even after living here for six years, I am surprised at how cold it gets. I know it’s not as cold as most places, and it’s not unexpectedly snowy like the recent Washington weather my friend Ami endured, but 40 degree winters after 120 degree summers is cold.

Then, we were surprised with a great weather day on Martin Luther King’s birthday; it hit the mid-sixties and was as sunny as the day was long. Add in the free entry to all National Parks and it was a win-win! I took the boys and their new Nikons on a photo walk to Red Rock Canyon and tried to teach them a little about photography. It was wonderful to get outdoors and I loved that we all had a common goal: get some great photos.

Here’s how my month looked:

Are you ready to get this past month scrapbooked? Here’s the sketch:

Click here to download the zipped psd file

Click here to download the pdf file

Get Ready for Next Month

Here the “By the numbers” sheet to help you keep track of the month:

Click here to download the By the Numbers pdf.

Want just the “Dozen Things” list? Click here.

Scrapbooking Your Photos “One Month at a Time” in 2012

TamiTaylor — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 13:52:57 +0000

by Tami Taylor

Welcome to a third year of scrapbooking your photos “One Month at a Time” at Get It Scrapped. I’m excited to put a new twist on this project in 2012.

The first year our “by the numbers” sheet focused on holidays and happenings for that month.
Last year we used the names and symbols of the months to trigger stories to share.
This year, we are going to focus on our life through lists, a dozen things to scrapbook or photograph and of course keeping track of our lives By the Numbers. “One Month at a Time” will be posted on the first Friday of the month this year.

Every month in 2012:

- Download a sketch and/or layered template for scrapbooking your month’s activities
- Download a “By the Numbers” pdf file that includes:

prompts to help keep your creative juices flowing until the next month’s post
a spot to jot down fun stats from the month, and
a fun list of a dozen things you can use to inspire a layout all its own

- See how I completed my one month layout, plus add a link to yours in the comment section so you can inspire others!

By the Numbers – January 2012

Click here to open “By the Numbers” pdf.

Click here to download just the “Dozen Things” list.

(On the next screen right click the image and choose “Save As”)

2012 Title Page Sketch/Template

Click here to download layered template in (zipped psd).

Click here to open pdf.

Make a cover page

I’m starting my 2012 series with a mission statement of sorts. I added photos to support these 2012 goals.

Scrapbooking Your Photos “One Month at a Time” December 2011

TamiTaylor — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 14:26:18 +0000

by Tami Taylor

I’m not sure why, but it always surprises me when a year ends. It feels quick and abrupt, even with 365 days notice. But, alas, here it is, and in a moment it will be 2012 – a Leap Year, an Election Year (US), an international Year of Cooperatives – as declared by the United Nations… oh and the apocalypse. Obviously I don’t believe in the last one. But it is an interesting why to live the year, kind of puts a live-out-loud-make-every-moment-count spin on life. Hmm, now that I’m thinking on it – it will make a great theme for the upcoming One Month at a Time series…

For now, let’s finish what we started. This final month of the year brought about quite a bit of chaos here at the Taylor house. There is nothing more dreadful to a mom of four active boys than “Winter Break”– the time when teachers get so tired of dealing with kids and holiday excitement, they opt to leave us mothers to our own resources. Fine – I may be exaggerating a little, but, wow, my kids have been drinking from the crazy fountain lately.

Here’s our December:

Ready to finish up 2011? Here are the final sketch files:

Click here for the pdf version of the sketch.

Click here to download the zipped psd file.

Stay tuned, in a few days I will be back with a new year of One Month at a Time. In 2012, it will be all about lists and scrapbooking our lives, one month at a time!

One Month at a Time – November 2011

TamiTaylor — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 15:14:12 +0000

by Tami Taylor

November has always been one of my favorite months. I love that it tends to be more about togetherness, the giddy excitement of the pending holidays, and new beginnings with a new year around the corner.

I really appreciate my fellow foodies ‘friending’ me on pinterest. I found some yummy recipes and used a few for my Thanksgiving feast. I also found a great recipe for Almond Joy cupcakes that my now 14-year-old excitedly offered to let me “experiment” making for his birthday party. His party was a small affair which meant the cupcake-to-boy ratio was one to please any teen.

I am sorry I didn’t follow along with 30days of Thanks last month. We had many trials and tribulations handed to me in November, but at the end of it, all I can say is there are some amazing people in my life, and I am truly one of the luckiest scrapbookers out there. I will never run out of people to brag about in my scrapbook!

This month is a photo a day tradition I’d like to keep going. Each December I love taking a picture a day, and last year I took Katrina Kennedy’s Capture Your Holidays class. Now I use this month as practice up to the big day. What’s more, I wind up with some pretty darn cool photos to post on my blog, add to my December Daily album, and, finally, use for months to come in scrapbooks. If you want to take a look at how I did last year, click here. (The journaling is from another site called reverb11 where you reflect on the previous year. Unfortunately, it is no longer going on if anyone knows of a similar site please share!)

Just like last month I like to create a template to plop my photos in and have a bigger presentation. Here’s what I’ll use this month:

Click here for the zipped psd file for this template.

Please note I used the same kit as in my November 2011. This is not included in the psd file.

And, now, let’s get caught up on our One Month. Here’s how my November looked:

November 2011 by Tami Taylor | Supplies: Day Dreamer kit from Sweet Digi Scraps

Click here for the zipped PSD file.
Click here for a pdf version of this sketch.

Click here for a pdf version of this sheet.

Don’t forget to keep track of December, it makes it easier on you to journal at the end of the month.

Just want the faves card?

One Month at a Time – October 2011

TamiTaylor — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 09:23:11 +0000

by Tami Taylor

October was a chaotic month. We’ve had a lot of changes around the Taylor house trying to shape up our routines and pay more attention to each other. We attended art festivals, fall festivals and held our own 4th birthday festival.

With November, comes the season of “I can do that!” I take on this crazy idea that I can do so many things before the Christmas holiday, before the end of the year, before fill-in-the-blank happens. Within a few weeks, I learn my lesson and prioritize what’s really important. Until reality sets in my list shows that this month I am going to accomplish:

Project Advent – build a advent calendar to house some very cool legos I purchased for the little ones and yet undecided goodies for the big ones – look for the tutorial on this soon here at Get It Scrapped!
11/11/11 – Not entirely sure what I’ll do but I’m a sucker for numbers. I’m sure my son Kyle will ask me to head to Target as the new video game SkyRim releases this day.
Christmas Cards – yes I need to start in November or by December first; otherwise I start thinking they aren’t that important.
Family Photograph – Yikes.. though even now I’m thinking I could combine this with the ridiculous idea to send Christmas Cards – kill two birds with one stone right?
30daysofthanks - I really do love this and did it last year. It was so much fun I continued on into December. If you want to follow along I will be posting my thanks on my blog Tidbits. If you join in please share your blog link here in the comments or on my blog. I’ll give you a shout out.

And because I’m such a sharer, here’s my format this year for my photos for 30daysofthanks. It makes them fun on the blog and super easy to print into mini albums.

Click here for a psd version of this template.

Please note the papers shown in my image above and the layout I did for October are not included in the psd template as I do not own the copyright to distribute them. It’s a kit called OMG! from Anna Aspnes, unfortunately it’s not currently available. But you can find other great things by Anna by visiting her blog or OScraps.

Add on to that, November also houses one of my favorite holidays, Thanksgiving. What better holiday is there? It’s not about the gifts or running around, it’s about food and companionship. I believe in big spreads and new foods and pretending calories are good for just a day. Beyond the gluttony, I believe in the spirit of having family just hang out together for a day. Waist bands popping, football’s on-couch flopping and my crazy female relatives talking black-friday shopping. I do hope everyone enjoys a little time for family.

For now though, let’s get caught up on our One Month. Here’s how my October looked:

Click here for the zipped PSD file.
Click here for a pdf version of this sketch.

Click here for a pdf version of this sheet.

Just want the faves card?

One Month at a Time – September 2011

TamiTaylor — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 11:47:14 +0000

by Tami Taylor

Fall is finally here. As I’ve said before, fall is my favorite time of the year. My layout “OK, I Confess” documents why it’s my favorite time of year: Season Premiers!

I made this layout for the October Seminar at Masterful Sc rapbook Design on “These Times,” but let’s be honest – I take any opportunity to talk TV. Anyone catch the new show New Girl? It’s very cute. My favorite remains Modern Family.

I also love fall because the temperature drops a little, and that means the return of comfort food. (Let’s face it: soup in a Vegas summer doesn’t work.)

To add to my love for cooking and baking there is now Pinterest.

I can’t wait to try a ton of these recipes. If you have any great food finds, please let me know! If you don’t have a Pinterest account and want one, let me know because I have a few invites left. It’s a great place to lose track of time and find some great inspiration for food or art!

Before I start delving into all that yumminess for the fall I had to make sure I had my September scrapbooked. Here’s how it looked at the Taylor House:

If you’re ready to check September off your list, here are the materials to help you:

Click here for the psd version of the sketch

Click here for the pdf version of the sketch
Don’t forget to start documenting your October, here’s some help:

Click here for the pdf version of the By the Numbers sheet

Just want the Favorites card? Here it is:

One Month at a Time – August 2011

TamiTaylor — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 16:23:46 +0000

by Tami Taylor

Look for “One Month at a Time” on the 1st of each month. Tami Taylor gives you a sketch and shows you how she’s scrapbooked the past month. She’s also got prompts for gathering memories in the upcoming month so that you can get your photos scrapbooked “one month at a time.”

August was a ton of fun. There weren’t a lot of responsibilities. No vacation to plan for or recuperate from, and, aside from one summer birthday bash, nothing but lazy days of summer.

Then, on my calendar, it appeared: the most beautiful two words “school resumes.”

It isn’t so much that the kids are gone each weekday, though the break is nice for a stay-at-home mom, as it is the routine that I savor when school is in session. I enjoy deadlines and schedules: I’m a little quirky like that. I love the busy morning shuffle getting kids out the door, the afternoon excitement about what happened at school, and Friday actually meaning something. The weekend loses its luster when every day is a day off for kids.

Now that school is back I get to watch my kids start another school year full of excitement over attending new classes, meeting new friends, and seeing old friends daily. It’s bittersweet, though. I love September, but I will miss this August. It was one of the most relaxing summers I’ve had in a long time.

My “one-month-at-a-time” August layout captures both the sense of summer ending and school starting. Portraits of each of my children with their back-to-school gear are lined up alongside one happy summer group photo at the pool and a party cake.

Are you ready to document your August? Here’s a sketch for doing just that.

Click here to download the zipped psd file.

Click here to download the pdf file.
To help you through September, here are facts and prompts for capturing your memories.

Click here for the pdf version of the sheet.

Or just the Favs card

One Month at a Time – July 2011

TamiTaylor — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 14:12:59 +0000

by Tami Taylor

I can’t believe it’s August–and nearly halfway through to boot! I fear the summer is getting away from me. After what felt like the month-long vacation to Michigan in June then a crazy busy and FUN month at Masterful Scrapbook Design in July, I have actually planned a few weeks of relaxation and nothing. Squares of my August calendar that are still blank are going to remain that way. I also have an actual crop to attend this weekend.

I know this August is going to be the most amazing month of fun, until the 22nd. Then five year old will turn six. He’ll need two hands to show his age; he’ll start first grade; and the next day he’ll start college–or so it seems. Don’t get me started on how that time flies by! For now, I’m just getting in extra hugs and cuddling until he’s too cool for mom.

Even as busy as I was in July I made sure they got daily doses of the pool and whatever other fun I could invent. So far the one they talk about the most is when I set my camera up and gave them the wireless remote. Who’d have thought just taking photos of themselves would be so entertaining? The bottom right shot in my July layout is one of many from that photo shoot.

Here’s how my July looked, and yes I realize it’s a lot of pink, but it was my birthday month and I tend to get a little overly girly during that month. The kit is from Sir ScrapaLot.

Ready to give it a try?

Click here to download the zipped psd file.

Click here to download the pdf file.

Ready to have some fun in August? Here’s a sheet to help:

Click here to download the pdf.

Just want the favs card?

Until next month, happy scrapping!

One Month at a Time – June 2011

TamiTaylor — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 16:38:33 +0000

by Tami Taylor
Yikes! Half the year has flown by.

I could easily blame life or the fact that, with four boys at home, the only mode we know is “go”. If I’m being honest, though, it’s because I don’t choose to slow down and breathe.

Our June was non-stop from the last day of school to our return from vacation (a roadtrip to Michigan to visit my family). Most of the vacation I spent worrying the kids weren’t having “enough” fun. When I think back now, it was a blast hanging out at my dad’s house. Grandpa has candy dishes sitting out for the taking; he lets you eat in the living room; and you have free reign on the all the pop and chips you can handle.

I came home with two extra kids in tow: my niece and nephew so then I spent more time worrying about whether they were enjoying their vacation.

Now it’s July, and I’m trying to find some semblance of a routine. Since I make my own routine, I have no excuses for the speed of my life. I’ve decided I’m going to spend my birthday month practicing the fine art of simply ‘being.’

I have a raft and a slushie maker, and I even purchased a few drink umbrellas from the dollar store to enhance the atmosphere. It’s the lazy days of summer, and–gosh darn it–that’s how I plan to spend my Summer of 2011!

Thankfully, one thing I don’t have to worry about is my monthly scrapbooking. Here’s my June layout:

Are you caught up? With these sketches and psd templates it’s so easy!

Click here for the psd file of this sketch.

Click here for the pdf version of this sketch.

And to help you with your journaling here are a few ideas to think about during July.

Click here for the pdf of this sheet.

Just want the favorites card? Here it is!

One Month at a Time – May 2011

TamiTaylor — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 13:03:11 +0000

by Tami Taylor

Happy May everyone. The last full month of the school year is always crazy around here as we have hyper kids ready for summer and teachers still trying to get a few more facts in their brains. The combination doesn’t always work.

Every weekend in May at the Taylor House we had a birthday celebration. We celebrated my father-in-law, my sister-in-law, my babysitter (who had her party in my scrap room so she and friends could get inky – TONS of fun having some girls around for a whole day!!) and, most importantly, my daughter Amanda. She couldn’t be in Vegas for the weekend but we went out to eat in her honor and sent her lots of mental hugs.

Here’s how my May looked:

Are you ready to scrapbook your may?

Click here for the pdf of this sketch

Click here for the psd file of this sketch

As I approached this end of the month tradition, all I could think was that in a few short days I’d be getting into a car and driving 2,000 miles with four boys. I really think I was out of my mind the day I agreed to that idea. It will be a lasting memory at the very least, and you can never give your kids too many of those right? If anyone has any fun photo tips for road trips I’d love to hear them!

Here’s a sheet to help you keep track of your June:

Click here for the pdf of the June sheet