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giveaway: TAKE TWELVE

There are a lot of great projects being kicked off right now: Photo365, Project Life, Eat Well Move More. One that I'm really excited about is Ella Publishing's Take Twelve 2012 Challenge. I first came across the 12 on the 12th concept through a couple of different folks: Cathy Zielske, Lee Currie, and Elizabeth Dillow. I stuck with it consistently, but then my laptop crashed and I lost my photos before I had a chance to commit any of them to layouts. I won't be making that same mistake this year. The Take Twelve 2012 Challenge gives me the tools and the inspiration to get my photos taken, scrapped, AND shared this year. For those of you who feel intimidated by the daily/weekly pressure of Project Life or Photo365, this is a great way to document your year, one day at a time.

Ella Publishing Co. provides you with inspiring ideas, shortcuts, and printables for the 2012 Take Twelve Project. The goal of the 2012 Take Twelve Project is to take 12 photos on the 12th day of each month for a full 12 months—and scrapbook them! You can join in the fun any month of the year, but we hope you'll join in starting January 12. Get the scoop at ellapublishing.com/taketwelve.

Learn more about the history of the Take Twelve project and see our FAQ section.

I've got a free copy of the Ella Publishing Co.'s Take Twelve Guided Inspiration Kit to give away. Leave a comment to enter. Tweet about it and/or post it on your Facebook status for additional chances to win -- just link me up to your status update or your tweet. That's three chances to win!

I'll select the winner (via random.org) on Friday morning; in the meantime, check out the links on Ella's website and join us on Thursday to get started this month!

 

 

12 of 12: May 2010

I am really behind on this project. I've taken my photos for March and April, but I just haven't had time to put them into any sort of layout. That's one of my main plans, as soon as summer break rolls around. :) Meanwhile, here's a summary of today's 12 of 12:

(from top left):
1. Marriott beds are sinfully comfortable. They should probably be illegal.
2. The Marriott -- in particular, the Lexington Griffin Gate. Quite nice. I'm here for a staff workshop.
3. Lots of reading this morning: dropouts, academic rigor, social support, assessment. Good stuff to really get the brain working, thinking, making new connections. Love this kind of thing.
4. Rain. Lots of rain at one point, but just one rumble of thunder.
5. Qdoba for lunch: beans and rice, chicken, salsa and chips. It was my first time to eat from this chain -- we don't have one anywhere near us. It was okay, but not something I'd seek out again on my own.
6. Trying to explain to people who just don't get it why I kept taking pictures of things. "Why aren't you taking pictures of people?" "Because I don't want people in my pictures." ;)
7. On the escalator, going down to the YA section of Joseph Beth Booksellers. One of my most favorite places ever (and I do mean the YA section of that store, not just the store itself.)
8. A peek over the balcony on the way to my room at the hotel.
9. Opening my copy of Will Grayson, Will Grayson to discover that it is a SIGNED COPY? What a kickass surprise!!!
10. Packing a few things tonight so that I don't have to do much in the morning.
11. Hot chocolate and some internet time. Answer me this please: why is it that the cheap hotels have free wi-fi but in the good hotels, you have to pay for it? As much as $15.00 for 24 hours??? I just don't get it.
12. A little mindless TV-watching before bed. Something I *never* do at home.

12 of 12: February 2010

I'm a little late in posting this -- so many things to catch up on this month.

As you'll see in my journaling below, I didn't get to actually take any photos on the 12th this month; it just wasn't possible, in a number of ways. But that's okay. As with any project of this nature, the key is to maintain some type of flexibility. Adding rigid projects to your life is a surefire way to make sure that you'll never complete the project; allow yourself some flexibility, some give-and-take, and you'll be much more likely to follow through each month.

I'm using a 12 of 12 template that I created (it's available in my shop) with some modifications each month -- I plan on posting a tutorial soon that talks about modifying templates, since there are TONS of things you can do to make templates even more effective and useful for the way you scrap. Sticking with a similar layout each month is another way to speed the process for me.

credits: Just My Type papers and elements by Audacious Designs, paint stroke from Lovebirds by Emily Powers

Here's the journaling:

The first part of February has been “the month of crazy travel and school presentations” for me. So
much so, in fact, that I was able to take NO pictures on the 12th, because I spent the entire day in a
classroom of juniors, presenting ACT prep strategies (not to mention, the camera wasn’t allowed). Not
a problem, though. Since I had to travel to Louisville on Saturday, and I was taking Cami with me, I
decided to snap my pictures on the 13th instead. Cam had a blast traveling with me, and it was a joy
for me to get to spend some one-on-one time with her. Everything is new to her, and that excitement
carries over so that I feel it as well. After loading our bags, we stopped by Wal-mart for the Littlest
Pet Shop parade (such a letdown), before strapping in and making the 4-hour drive to Louisville. We
checked into our room at The Galt House, then headed to 4th St. Live on the trolley. Dinner and Mardi
Gras beads at TGI Fridays (ribs for Cam, bruschetta pasta for me) was followed by listening to Eve 6
do a soundcheck in front of the restaurant and some browsing in Borders. A gooey cookie and hot
chocolate accompanied us through the pediwalk back to the hotel, before some playtime and lights out.

12 of 12: January 2010

Edited to add: I'm so excited! My Glimpses layout made Gallery Standouts today, which RARELY happens for me.

credits: Winterberry kit and solids, tag from Organic kit (both from Audacious Designs at DHD)

Did you capture your 12 of 12 yesterday? At first I really thought that I wouldn't have much content for my pictures because I work full-time and much of what I do looks the same all day long. But that's the great thing about carrying a camera around with you all day long -- you start to see things from a new perspective. You notice more. What I think I'm going to like most about this project is putting more of my daily life into my albums. I do a lot of documenting what goes on for our family as a whole, and what each of the girls do invidually. This is a way to document all the bits and pieces of my day; I'm also willing to guess that my days will not end up as similar as I had first feared.

If you are looking for a quick and easy way to scrap your 12 of 12 photos, I'm going to be offering a new template for sale in my shop at Design House Digital each month. Here's my first offering:

If you completed your 12 of 12 (photos, layouts, whatever format you chose) feel free to link to it in the comments -- I'd love for you to share!

And just because I was on a scrapping role last night, here's another quick layout share:

 

credits: Winterberry kit, Winterberry Solids, Winter Piecings, Winter Word Art (tree), 1-2-3 Template (see how easily I substituted other elements for those numbered circles?), all by Audacious Designs at Design House Digitals