Month of Gratitude

Welcome to the first day of the Month of Gratitude. Each year, for the month of November, I write about something I am grateful for in my life. One gratitude for each day of the month. And when I stop and think about it, 30 gratitudes barely covers all the blessings in my life. What I love about the Month of Gratitude is, that I pointedly take the time to write down the good stuff. Its contagious. Once you start, its easy to keep going, to keep on being thankful each and every day. Even in the midst of the not so good stuff. Think of this as a start to a life-long attitude of gratitude, or as a refresher to revive your grateful heart.

Please consider joining me. Post on your blog. On your Facebook wall. On Twitter. Maybe you will take a photo each day and post to Instagram. Maybe you will even start an actual journal. However you choose to post, here is to the start of thanksgiving each and every day.

As I look back and read my gratitudes from years past, I am amazed at what life has brought to our lives. Good, bad, ugly, happy. But one thing I wish I would have done, was to write them down on paper. This year I am going to change that. I have been doing Project Life/pocket page scrapbooking this year for the first time. Its awesome. I am a big fan. So, I am going to add my Month of Gratitude entries into the book. Take a look.

As I was looking through my pocket pages, I noticed the F style. One 4x6 card, but then all 3x4. Perfect for holding a bunch of journaling cards. Then I grabbed the new collection from Basic Grey (Persimmon) because its a beautiful fall paper line, and some of my favorite stamps and dies from Technique Tuesday.

Here is what I came up with. My first 10 gratitude cards. I love this. Know why? Its like 11 mini cards that each get their own space. Not a "sometimes overwhelming" 12x12 page. I got to stamp, die cut, use papers, use stickers. Happy sigh. It was a lot of fun!

I will give you a closer look at each card. I love all the pre-made elements to the cards from the Persimmon collection. All I needed to add were stickers. And collections are awesome because they provide the mix and match! (and lines, lines are good. lines keep the stickers straight!:))

Left card: stickers and patterned paper. Simple and I can write directly on the patterned paper.

Right card: A pre-made lined journaling card. I added a strip of patterned paper. Then I stamped a leaf, die cut it, and adhered it. Finally, I added some stamped words. (and that navy blue piece behind the leaf? left overs from the strip. love that)

Left card: Patterned paper and a sticker.

Right card: The label shape is a sticker, it said happy halloween, but no problem, I added a circle die cut from a pre-made lined journaling card. And then added a few more stickers.

Left card: Pre-made lined journaling card. I stamped the leaf onto patterned paper and die cut it. Using the same stamp, I stamped on the journaling card. Then stamped the words. This stamp will get used on this project a lot!

Right card: Layering fun with tags and stickers in the collection.

 

Left card: Repeat of the one above, different leaf though. :)

Right card: Pre-made journaling card from the Persimmon collection. I added the sunburst shape from the collection.

Left card: Its a busy patterned paper. I may end up typing my journaling out on white cardstock and adhering it...

Right card: Layers of patterned paper and stickers and stamping. Just too much fun!

And here is my first card. Its simple, yet so true. This is quite the life I live. This very life. My days at home. My running around. Caring for my family. Doing the dishes. Cooking dinner. All of it. I am exactly where I am supposed to be. Right at this very moment. And on days when the laundry is piled up and we need to be in two places at once, and I forgot to make a treat for school, I need to remember that. Life is good. MY life is good. So good. 

thanks for stopping by!

~kimberly