From Chaos Comes Happiness

Is it too soon? I know what you're going to tell me . . . you're going to say, "HELL YES, LEANNE!!!" But, my friends. I'm in the mood. For twinkling lights and bells ringing (no, I'm not talking about Marti Gras). For Bing Crosby and David Bowie. For ornaments and nut crackers. For candy canes and fruitcake (blah). Yes, I need a little Christmas. Right this very minute. I've been thinking about the holiday because I'm starting to work on my "December Daily 2010" album. You might remember the project I did last year (the 2009 album). Simply put, it's a daily collection of memories and activities during the the Holiday month. You can look back at my posts from last year here and here . The idea originated from Scrapbook guru Ali Edwards (one of my many idols. Link to her site with Q&A about the project by clicking on her name.) Here are a few shots of my book from last year: This album has be...

Hi. My name is Leanne. And I am "Multi-Creatively Challenged." You see, I've been having an AWESOME WEEK doing some really creative things . . . and in doing so, I discovered a pretty big revelation about myself that I wanted to share with you. You see, I can not "Multi-Create" (another one of those 'Leanne Invented' concepts.) I seem to throw myself 110% into a project (this week = scrapbooking), and then I can't create anything else (this week = No inspiring and interesting Blog posts). So, while it bums me out that I loose my writing mind, I know that you (my faithful blog reader) will stand by and wait for me to come up with something inspiring to tell you about. Won't you? Oh, I do hope so. Since I have nothing inspiring to write about . . . I thought I'd share with you a couple of the things I've been scrapbooking. First, a really cute Winter Wonderland mini-album. I can't take credit for ANY of it (it's a BoBunny kit that ...

I love sleepless nights, don't you? Let me start this over . . . I don't love sleepless nights - unless, of course, you can find a little Christmas Spirit in them! Which is what I just did. (Fa La la la la la laaaa laaa laaaaaa!) I found myself looking at the clock at 1:37 AM today - and then again at 1:43 AM, 1:53 AM and 2:05 AM. Then I stood up and decided to do something productive. I'm so glad I did! Over the weekend Katie drew the most wonderful Christmas picture for me, filled with Christmas tree, stocking by the chimney, and presents. ( SIDE NOTE: How in the world I could receive such an awesome drawing and NOT find some spirit this weekend is just beyond me.) Anyway, here is a little glimpse of her drawing: Totally perfect - isn't it? (Which reminds me - when she gave me the drawing, I said something to her like, "Oh, honey! It's Perfect!" and she actually said, "Nope, Mom. It's not 'perfect'. But it's the best I can do!"...

I almost am! I've been spending some last minutes on my December Daily book and am almost ready for December 1st! This project (created by scrapbook guru Ali Edwards - click here for a link to her site) has been such fun. The project is to prepare an album/scrapbook to hold photos and memories of this December 2009 for my family. Here are a few shots of the album so far: I'm really happy with the cover. I've decided to use an 8x8 chipboard album, and have added additional 6x6 plastic sheets, 8x8 plastic sheets, and 8x8 transparencies in between. My goal was to step out of the comfort zone (which would have been a standard album with same size pages inside). But I really wanted to do something different here. I also wanted to do everything with supplies I had IN MY OWN store! I didn't want to go out and spend any money (or - only wanted to spend very little), and I'm proud that I really followed that idea. Like most scrapbookers, I have a huge amount of supplies th...

Yesterday I got into my car and immediately had CHRISTMAS smack me in the face. Well, in the nose, to be exact. My dear husband hung the most wonderful little Yankee Candle Cinnamon Spice Air Freshener in my car, and the scent pulled me 51 days ahead - to CHRISTMAS! (Yes, I know that I'm a little early. PLEASE forgive me . . . I'm just in that CHRISMAS MOOD! I know! I KNOW! It's crazy . . . . but I LOVE IT!!!) I LOVE CHRISTMAS and EVERYTHING NICE about it! I LOVE that it is the time to celebrate the birth of Jesus - and our nativity set, with twinkle lights glowing by its side, brings me to that special night so many, many years before. I LOVE that it is a time to unpack charming, magical decorations and turn the house into the VERY BEST place in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD. I LOVE that it is the one time of year when I can walk through stores singing aloud to the BEST SONGS EVER WRITTEN, and not have too many people look at me like I'm crazy. I LOVE that we can bake thou...