One Little Word: January 2011
I finished my January assignment for Ali Edwards’ One Little Word class at Big Picture Classes earlier in the week, and I have to say I am pretty happy with it. This was the end result (all the pictures can be clicked on to view them larger):
I was surprised how much doing the assignment helped solidify my thinking on the word that I had already chosen (focus). Until I worked my way through this project, I thought I already had a good feel for what my word meant but I discovered new depth to its usefulness while doing this first assignment.
First up is the photo page that backs the title page of the album. I know the instructions called for a photo of just me but given the situation right now in our family, with Mike having just gone away, me alone is something that I didn’t want to celebrate on the title page of my album. And it also seemed appropriate to use a photo of the three of us since that is what my word choice is all about: focusing on us, and what needs to be done to get us through this experience.
In the close-up you can see that I altered the overlay that was provided with the class assignment this month. I imported it into Photoshop Elements as a brush and placed it on a new layer over the photo. Then I got out (sorry, I’m not enough of a digi person to say “switched to” yet) the eraser tool and erased the date part from the overlay. I then added two new elements to the photo: the word “transitions” from Ali Edwards’ Growing Up brush set at Designer Digitals, and the year number “2011″ in text using the Georgia font.
Here’s some close-up looks at the individual cards in the 9 card page. I was particularly pleased with the quote that I found for my quote card:
The text cards are all entirely digital. The graph paper background on those cards is from the new Jesse Edwards kit I Declare at Designer Digitals. I decided to do those cards digitally because I could fit more on them than if I used my large handwriting.
The cards made from red patterned papers (the text and the floral) are the digital papers that I discussed in the tip on Paperclipping Roundtable about how digital papers are perfect for projects like this because they can be resized easily to the perfect scale to be used in small pieces. I then layered paper and stamp elements on top of the printed out digital backgrounds.
Two of the cards I made from kraft paper and then stamped on them. I included touches of red on both of these to tie them in with the red patterned paper on the other two decorative cards.
Discovering the words “adjust”, “heart”, and “sharpen” within the thesaurus entry I used for my word “focus” made me even more certain that I had chosen the right word for 2011. All of those other words definitely add meaningful depth to my word.
I think I want to do an additional page of quotes like I have heard some people discussing doing in the class forum and Ali mention doing. But with CHA prep in full swing, that will probably have to wait until February to be done.
Supply List:
Designer Digitals Digital Papers: I Declare by Jesse Edwards
Designer Digitals Digital Papers: Typo by Lynn Grieveson
Designer Digitals Brushes: Growing Up by Ali Edwards
Technique Tuesday Clear Stamps: No Day Like Today by Ali Edwards [Studio AE - Oct. 2010]
Stamper’s Anonymous Clear Stamps: Nature’s Elements by Tim Holtz
Unity Stamp Co. Rubber Stamps: She Sprouted Wings by Melody Ross
Bazzill Kraft Cardstock
BasicGrey 6 x 6 paper pad Boxer
American Crafts MiniMarks Ned Jr (Black)
October Afternoon Label Stickers Road Map
K & Company Mini Accents Handmade Stitched Floral
EK Success Large Punch Square Flourish
Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Black Soot)
DMC Floss
I’m really excited to continue this album next month. I’m almost sorry that CHA will interfere with the start of the February so I won’t be able to dive into February’s assignment right away. But ironically, that is what my 2011 word is all about…having to learn how to focus on priorities that are important to my family. And my work will have to come first in early February before I can take personal time for the class work!
