I'm in the midst of another scrapbook

challenge this month.

... and while the challenge is only 14 layouts, my friend Sheri is challenging us to use lots of different techniques and tools...

And it's been fun! 

I'm also using some things [over 15 yrs old] that I found recently when cleaned out a bit. 

Time FLIES, y'all. 

 

ANYWAY - I  thought I'd share these three challenges where I completed layouts about our time working on a favorite Troll, Mama Zelda, right here in Huntsville.

Here's a quick share of

 some of the scrapbook pages I completed this month!

 

Nicole Soh, my local dealer, does  a 'Jump Start January' each year.

  

She gives us a daily prompt with the challenge to 

complete [and post] yours within 24 hours. 

 

I'll be honest - I gave myself grace this year and did NOT push myself

 for the 24 hour completion for each and every day.

 

Although,  I have met that challenge a few years straight.

 

But it's hard when we're on the road a couple of weeks in January.

Still, I took a few scrappy things and completed them as I had time.

  

[I need to take some photos of the things I take with me when we travel...]

 

I LOVE the layouts Nicole challenges us with - and enjoy doing this so much! 

  

It helps me finish up the previous year's events [in this case 2024, because I almost always scrapbook a year behind*] 

 

and get a good start on the next year.

[LOOK!! - I found some ole photos!]

And yes. 

We have conversations often about what on earth our family 

might do with these scrapbooks one day... 

 

And Honestly? What does it matter?  

 [Maybe someone in the family might want them....]

Trash them / Keep them. Who cares? 

  

But right here /right now? It makes me happy. It brings me joy to look at my photos, remember people, places and things... and play a little creatively.

And - OOPS - I DID COMPLETE the titles when I returned home, lol...

and added a little llama in that blank space on that layout, HA. 

And just for fun - here's a photo of our fun 

in-person group during the cold weather - lol -  

So there's that. 

#HardwickAdventures  

Another random scrapbook

 page to share with you -

 Let's think outside the box - lol -  

This from our first little foray down The Natchez Trace and we LOVED staying at the Harpeth River Bridge Campground!

You can read more about our stay here - 

#HardwickAdventures 

Another random scrapbook

 page to share - 

This is the first time we've ever traveled the 

entire 402 miles down the Natchez Trace Parkway... 

WE did it quickly and look forward to driving it again when we have more time to stop along the way - 

#HardwickAdventures 

Another random scrapbook

 page to share with you - 

I kinda love thee vintage photos of my mom and dad - 

Taken in Florida around 1955 or so - 

The story I was told - she'd been diagnosed with Bell's Palsy and told she needed to relax and recuperate so my daddy took her to Florida for a few days of sun, sand, and relaxation. 

 Another favorite scrapbook page - 

From back in the day ...

[is that eyelets?] 

I'm never quite sure

 

 what to do with scrapbook paper that is designed to tell its own story - 

[I hate to cover it up!]

But I just really love how this page turned out...

The first page of our 1,986 mile trip through the Dakotas last summer -

Side Note: Do y'all take a photo in airport parking to remember where you parked?

  #always

Paper? From my travel paper bin -

Maybe Echo Park? Maybe Carta Bella?

#HardwickAdventures

Y'all know that I still

 enjoy scrapbooking - 

and I'm going to try and share a bit more with you 

throughout this coming year -

[Heads UP: many of my pages are about camping - ha.]

I am SO FORTUNATE to have Nicole in my life - 

She's the sweetest friend [yes!]

But she also offers us a space to crop just about anytime we want to -

ALL. MONTH. LONG.

[You can go here to check out her events with times and pricing -]

Last month she coordinated a layout a day challenge -

And y'all - I love a good sketch -- 

AND the challenge to get it done within 24 hours.

So I printed up some photos at the end of December and 

I WAS READY.

I used supplies I already had a home...

It was fun - challenging - and most of all, do-able.

I'm happy to say that 2022 is COMPLETED

and I've got a good start on 2023...

[I don't know about you - but I almost always work a year behind - it gives me better perspective on what I truly want included...]

Fingers crossed that the video works!

I did A LOT OF

 SCRAPBOOKING last month!

Much thanks to Nicole Soh and her layout-a-day challenge!! 

I completed 31 layouts - and thought I would share some of them with here - 

Enjoy!

 And -- if you're local and want to learn more about scrapbooking,

Nicole has a beginner's class that will help you learn!!

Go here to find out more - 

or here -   

We are so fortunate to have her in our area!!!

It's been a long time

since I've participated in a scrapbook challenge 

and a page-a-day for the month of January 

has been a mighty big commitment! 

Here's a few pages I've completed so far - 

Two things to keep in mind - 

1 -I'm working with photos over a year old

I rarely scrapbook photos right after they are taken -

[My December albums are the exception.]

And 2 - These pages may go in different albums, 

depending on who is in the photos...

For instance this next one will go in 

an album labeled 'People We Love - friends -"

Since they are the sweet wedding photos 

of some of our best friends' son...

And another thing to keep in mind...

In this challenge, we were given 

specific layout ideas for inspiration -

Some of mine are almost exact copies... 

And some are just 'inspired by'...

so they loosely represent the original...

But they all combine my own 'spin' on the idea 

as I'm trying to used the supplies I [STILL] have on hand...

And of course they all favorite photos 

I've taken throughout the year...

Some are one page layouts...

and some are two pages... 

But they all have a story to tell,

and bring back wonderful memories as I look at them...

Stay tuned to the end of the month becasue I look forward to reporting THIRTY ONE layouts compete at that time!

Here's the last week

of my December album - 2022!

Yippee

This will be short and photo heavy - 

Loving my cute Christmas PJs 

I picked up at a thrift store while traveling last summer - 

Yay for snow days!

This was a little unexpected and caught our city  -- and travelers -- by surprise - but we made it home from The Shoals - slowly...

So fun seeing our boys have fun together 

and with friends - 

And we always look forward to our New Year's Eve gathering with long-time friends - 

Even when it's not on New Year's Eve - lol - 

Still putting in my weekly 'report' 

- something I've done consistently for 52 weeks - wow.

Sure enjoyed time with out extended Hatcher family - 

And I'll admit that I grabbed good photos off FB of each part of the family tree for my scrapbook - 

Or asked them to send me one to include!

Our extended Bolton gathering was slim 

because Sister has the covid at their house - 

We met halfway and picked up their gifts - 

Notice I'm sanitizing them a bit - lol

Mixture of texted photos and mine - 

And the last page will probably have some 2023 meme welcoming in the new year - But I had to include our traditional NYE meal...

and the cats' happiness at being able to gaze out their window once again. HA.

Happy New Year's y'all. 

I hope 2023 is a wonderful year for each of you!!