On My Desk

I like the way you scrapbook or tell stories with a purpose/direction instead of just taking photos to take them or making a book without the story in mind. You remind me to think about my purpose with my scrapbooks. Thank you. Also-love the yellows! :)

Oh, Ali, what a lovely lovely book. The whole idea of "I love you today because . . . " warms my heart, it's something I might have to do.
I have been feeling the need to only do meaningful projects this year - and while it's what motivates me, it also leaves me a bit overwhelmed at the list of "to-scrapbook" items I have hanging over me. Ah, well...thanks for the inspiration you continue to provide!

This idea is wonderful and thoughtful. I love how you wait to do a project and think it thru so it's just right for what your feeling. I love this idea and it would make your kids and family feel so special after reading it. Thank you again for your inspirations. Mini albums are a favorite of mine.

I love this idea! I too feel the need to make my journaling meaningful and sometimes I struggle with just the right words!

I so hear you...I have just been sitting at my desk pondering a similar thing about the whole pushing paper part being pointless without adding the meaningful stories behind it...thankyou so much for sharing your perspectve and meaning with us always! Tatum xx

I really love the idea of mini books for capturing our stories, they're so tangible and easily shared.

So cute! Love the simplicity as always!

This is so beautiful! I can't wait to see the inside! :) What a great concept - I love this.

Ali - I LOVE the look of this!! Can't wait to see the inside as well... How about that adorable button on top... Who makes that?

pretty!
I feel that way too. I thought it had to do with my age. I sense the importance of passing time more now than ever.

ali, reading your blog (and being your student at "yesterday & today") is making me see scrapbooking in a different way. i was always worried about not having the perfect embellishments to make my scrapbooks. but not anymore. thank you soooo much!!!
=^ . ^=

That sounds lovely. One of these days... I hope to make a meaningful scrapbook like that, too.

ohh lovely, I can't wait to see it. my own stories of summer album is coming along...keeping it up dated on my blog. thanks for sharing all that you do.

Ali, I seem to be having that same thought lately. I have barely scrapbooked anything in the past 9 months! In fact, I haven't even printed ONE SINGLE photo from 2010, and usually I have printed at least 1,000 or more by now! I find I just don't want to scrapbook anything unless it's telling a story or saying something, rather than what I used to do , which was make a pretty page.I think I have definately switched to making Life Journals rather than big pages too....but I will see where it goes once all my big pages are organized into albums, which could take years!
thanks for inspiring! tara

Ali ~ I love each thing you do more than the last. I am right there with you on the journaling. I have gotten into 'story' mode more and more instead of 'caption' mode.

I can always tell which pages I journaled with intent and which ones I journaled to get done. And of course, my heart resides in the ones with intent. I like your idea of havnig a jumping off point for each page, particularly in a mini book.
My own scrapping is changing and I'm just not sure where I'm going with it. So, in terms of docummenting my family & our journey, I suppose I am still looking for that path to move forward on. I can handle life's deviations, twists & turns, but its nice to have ground to place a foot on to start down the road with.

You are becoming a writer more than a scrapbooker...I like the term Life Journals that Tara used.
I think a lot of us are moving to writers who embellish the story with pictures and pretty things...and it is so much more rewarding than cranking out a 2 page spread with a title and bunch of cute meaningless pictures.
I have noticed that I am moving to quality over quantity...and that is a good thing.

Beautiful! I love the "I love you today because..." what a beautiful sentiment

I forgot to ask earlier Ali, how many pictures did you take on vacation? I'm thinking it was a lot because of the beautiful places you saw. Thanks

Over a thousand :).