Thursday, May 24, 2012

One Down, ????? To Go

I'm not on facebook very often, but yesterday I updated my status to tell the world that I was starting to fulfill my 2012 goal of finishing all my half (or less than) done projects.  That's how excited I was.  I was surprised at how many comments that posting generated.  Apparently I'm not alone in the "unfinished symphony" problem.  If I can do it, so can you.  Step away from the computer, DO NOT enter into any swaps or challenges this week, and get busy completing the unfinished.  You'll feel so much better.

My first project was the travel journal we began during the 2009 Tim Holtz/Wendy Vecchi cruise to Mexico.  On board we did all the foundation work....decorated the grungeboard pages, added some stamping, inking, etc., but I never got around to adding photos or any journaling.  I always keep a small notebook with me when I travel, so I had all the details I needed, and all the photos are on my computer, so it was just a matter of actually sitting down and DOING it.  Yesterday was the day.  Yea!

First of all, click HERE if you'd like to see what the journal looked like before I got started. (You'll have to scroll down when you get there to see the section on the journal.)   Look at it now!

There are enough tabbed pages to have a section for each day of the cruise, and each section also included pocket pages made from small brown paper bags.  The ribbons you see are attached to tags, inserted into each pocket.  You'll see more of that in a bit.



You can see here that I added a photo from my day in Los Angeles, prior to the cruise, some ephemera from the hotel, and a bit of journaling.  On the brown paper bag I glued down some Day 1 cruise notes that I cut from the newsletter you get every day on cruises.  These went on each bag.  If you journal or scrapbook it's a good idea to keep all the newletters if you cruise; bits and pieces of them come in very handy.

Here's a close up of the journaling tag that we made to insert in each bag pocket.  I had them all completed and just had to add the journaling.


Here are the front and back of the Day 1 tag.  Again, I used a bit of the daily newsletter as well as my own writing.  Thanks to my notetaking, I even could write down what I had for dinner each night.  In the greater scheme of things, is that information earth shattering?  No, of course not.  But I think it's those kinds of little details that make your journal or scrapbook pages come to life.  And in a million years I'd never have remembered our waiter's name, even though I did remember that he had a great personality and added a lot to our dinnertime fun.






In addition to the tags, the bag pockets are roomy enough to include other mementos, such as this welcoming letter from Scrapmap.  Other items that fit are additional photos, postcards, maps, etc.



This page shows photos of my workspace before we started working on this journal, and also me in the studio finishing up some decorating during my free time.  And you can see the journaling I added (computer generated on kraft cardstock).


Another bag pocket page.  In case you were wondering, all those pages were stamped using a fantastic foam alphabet set from way back when Tim worked with Junkitz.  No longer available, Tim had a few sets for sale, and I immediately scooped one up.  I use it a lot, and really love the look of it.


As I mentioned before, I always take notes when I vacation.  Although I used these notes in my journaling here, I didn't include every little detail.  So, I created a new bag pocket and inserted those notes inside.  Even though they really only amounted to scrawls in an old steno pad, I didn't want to lose anything I wrote. 


This shows just how nice and chunky my journal became.  I even have a few more spots on some of the pages for additional photos, so I just may go back and see if there are any I'd like to include.



I have a whole lot left to finish, but having this one finally completed has been great motivation for me to continue, until my "to-do" list is empty.







19 comments:

Bearcrazyman said...

Looks great.

Alicia B said...

That is amazing Eileen- congrats on finishing it!! *Hugs* Alicia

Dorothy said...

Wow Eileen!!! That is fantastic!!!

TOPS #839 said...

Oh WOW Eileen that is BEAUTIFUL!!!! Love it!!!!

Scrappin' Stacy said...

This looks really good. You must be so proud to have finished a project and have it turn out so beautiful as well!

Nancy said...

Congrats on finishing this! It is wonderful!! Great memories of great times...
And, yep, I'm pulling mine out this weekend to finish, too. Thank you for the nudge!

PattiA said...

Thanks for the nudge. Your book looks great. Mine is so close to being finished (as is the one from Canada/New England)now I just need to do find it! I can't wait to see what else you finish!

Anonymous said...

Oh WOW Eileen......This piece is breathtaking!!!!! I LOVE this gorgeous gorgeous creation!!!

Helen said...

Wow! It may have taken you a while, but it is fabulous!! Good luck with the rest of your part done artwork!!

Monica said...

Eileen, over the past 5 years I have tried and failed to write a journal when i travel. It is so much easier to complete at home and relive as you have a special time. that is a good idea to include your notes. love how you finished it.

teri said...

This looks really terrific! Is this the same style journal we received at Keys4Art?

And are you going to work on the Over the Edge book we started last year with Ingrid?

Anonymous said...

Stunning journal! Congrats on getting it done.

Nancy D. said...

It turned out great Eileen...my sister & I have the same "unfinished" album(s) from his last 3 cruises!..we so need to join you! Thanks for the inspiration!

Sue Fraser said...

Congrats on getting your journal finished Eileen. Now I guess that I should get mine finished too, well if I can remember where I put it!!( The unfinished pile is hiding somewhere)

Patzee said...

Wowee! The journals you finish now have the benefit of all those journaling workshops you've taken lately. Great job!! Can I interest you in finsihing a few of my Tim cruise journals? Thanks for the inspiration!

Elaine Akers said...

Eileen..your journal is wonderful. Great job!!

Lori said...

Love it! Love the idea of finishing those "UFO's". That was a fun time in Mexico...ah, the memories! And you got to relive them this weekend! Yeah!

sally said...

Good luck with your pile of UFOs ! If this one is anything to go by I'm sure you will do a brilliant job

Elena said...

This is so great Eileen!, I have Sooooooo many unfinished projects!!! I really should finish them!