Yearly Family Journal: 2013 Edition

Happy New Year!

and with a new year comes my tradition of sharing with you my 

 Family Journal. 

Introducing the 2013 edition! 

 This is why I love sharing this project with all of you.......

 because it works.  I have been doing this journal since 2009.  

Here is a look inside:

every month has a title page.

 every month has a calendar that you fill in with the dates and things that happen on those days as well as a monthly summary that you use as the journal part.  After each summary I have left an empty page to add pictures of the events that month.  So not only is this a journal but works great as a mini scrapbook as well.

 At the end of the journal are these fun pages where you can write the funny things your kids say or other fun events that you want to remember.  The pages are a FREE printable from HERE.  I use the Stampin' Up Art Journals (that are no longer available.....boooo!) but I am sure any 5x7 notebook will work just as great.  I highly recommend using Elmer's Spray Adhesive to assemble your journals.  Glue sticks wrinkle your pages.  

 To see my other Yearly Journals you can click on the dates below:

2009,    2010,   2011,   2012

Happy Journal-ing!!

3 Gifts at Christmas: Reusable Gift Tags, A family tradition

I first introduced you to our family's Christmas Tradition a few years ago.

It's a tradition that I look forward to all year.  Christmas in our house is more special because of it.

Simply, we each receive just 3 gifts at Christmas time. The stocking is not included in the 3 gifts.

The gift of Wonder: something from Santa

The Gift of Usefulness: clothes, tools, anything we need or use

The Gift of Meaning: usually something homemade or a gift of extra meaning for the person

 To go along with this very special tradition I made these gift tags a few years ago for each member of my family.  We use them every year on our gifts.  They are very special to me.  If you want to know how I made them, see this post from a few years ago.

You can also read more about our tradition by going HERE.

May the true meaning of Christmas fill your home as you simplify things this year.

Make sure to follow my blog for I have started to reveal the gifts of my 

Homemade Christmas edition for 2012.

2012 Family Planner Journal

2012 is here and in full force.

And because of that it was time to make a new 

family planner.

 I LOVE LOVE LOVE this idea.

I also know that it works great for me because this is the 4th year that I have done it.
(and because I am so far behind in my other scrap booking) 

You can check out my previous posts about these Family Planners HERE.

But go ahead and take a sneak peak into this one.

**All of the FREE printable's to put together one for you
are all available at McKay Designs.

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2011 Family Journal

 For the 3rd year in a row I have kept a Family Journal. 

Here is my 2011 Family Journal!

 Here is a look inside:

 Each month has a calendar to write down the little important events that happen, then on the opposite side is a page to write a monthly summary.  Then I have left 2 pages after each month to add pictures.

I love how simple this journal is to keep up with all year long.  I am so far behind on all my other scrap booking but I have kept up with this with no stress!

 I have put mine together using these wonderful helps!

The calendars and journal pages are free to print out HERE.

I use this art journal and I use spray adhesive to adhere the pages and scrapbook paper to the journal.

I tie fun ribbon to the binding of the journal for a fun touch.

If you have any other questions check out

THIS post and THIS post

on my other Yearly Journals.

Repurpose envelopes into a mini pocket album

I made this mini pocket album using 5x5 envelopes that I had laying around and binded them using a piece of scrap cardboard and ribbon.  This was really fun to make for a family friend who was baptized over the weekend as a gift and a way for her to remember that day. 

The best part about this are the pockets, so she can add pictures or write something about her special day.

How to make:

Take the sealed side of the envelopes(the bottom) and punch your holes, do the same with your cover and bind it anyway you want. (ribbon, rings, you could even sew it) Then take the opened part of the envelope and fold the flap inside the envlelope for added strength.  There is your pocket!!  I made little paper inserts with tabs so she would have a place to add pictures or write her feelings about her special day.  For the first page I used her invitation so she could keep that as a memory.  See simple and fun. 

For this album I used the pages to spell baptism and put a small saying to go with the letter.  This would also work for birthdays, just spell the name of the person with fun reasons why you love or like them using the letter.  There are many ways to make these for all sorts of events or holidays so before you throw away that envelope, look what you could make with it!

Top 5 posts of 2009

Here are your 5 most favorite posts of the year! I hope this will continue to inspire you as much as I am inspired by all of you.  Thank you all so much for your comments and ideas that you have shared with me.  It is amazing to be a part of all the talent out there and I look forward to even more during this new year.  HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

#5  Fridge magnet makeover

#4 Fabric Wall Hangings

#3 Reusable Shopping Bag Makeover

#2 Cheap Chip Board Book Makeover

#1 My Quiet Book

There are many many more posts that have been favorites of yours, just take a look on the side column of my blog for a long list of projects and have fun finding the projects that you are looking for!  Again, thank you for letting me share all of this with you!

Here is to even a better year for all of us!

2010 Family Planner Journal

I made this family journal last year for 2009 and with just the December summery left to write I am SO EXCITED to say that it's the fullest journal I have completed in many years! I have loved doing this all year long and will now enjoy going back and readying in it over and over. I have even added pictures to it and it's fun to see how we have changed as a family over the past year.

Christmas to myself for sure!

And this is my new 2010 Family Journal, all ready to go for this next year! I am so excited about this. Since I am pregnant again and sicker then I thought I would be this will be a great way to stay up on my scrap booking that has definitely taken a back seat :) It's full of month to month calendars and a page to write a monthly summary and pages to write fun things your kids say to just random thoughts and notes!

So go and check out one of my most favorite sites that I have to give all the credit too for such a fabulous idea and one that has become my lifesaver over the year!!! You will love it too!

Oh and it's free to print it out!!! She knows how to take care of us mom's :)

I use this notebook to put it together but any would do.

Family Reunion....keepsake

Do you need a fast and easy idea for an upcoming Family Reunion?? Well, I have busily ( is that even a word?) getting ready for one that will happen next week and here is what I am doing.

I call them: What I love about you.... books...... just a small token that is gender friendly.

First, I hit the jack pot the other day when I found a ton of mini chip board books. For .25 cents a book and in the size I was looking for made this very affordable! The pages of these books will make the "cover" for the new books.


Here is what you need: Plus some kind of adhesive, either spray or mod podge.

Follow these instructions here to get your covers ready.



For the pages of the new book I used blank index cards, cut them right in half and punched a whole at the top.


Using fabric scraps, I cut them into small pieces to be used to tie onto the ring of the book. This just ads a nice look without being to "girly" for the boys in the family :)

Here is one put together. I only have one done because everyone is going to make themselves a book at the reunion. We will sit in a circle and everyone will have a chance to write why they love that person on a piece of index card. When everyone has filled one out for each member of the family, we will get the pile that was written for ourselves and we will put our books together with all those fun reasons why we are loved so much by those who know us best....our family :) So each person will have a book about them and a fun token to take back home from the reunion.

Now......I am off to get even more things ready for the up coming reunion!!

For more cheap album ideas go HERE and HERE and HERE