These Days Are For | Scrapbook & Cards Today Summer 2015 Article

The Summer issue of Scrapbook & Cards Today magazine is now available and my article this time is all about the concept of "these days are for..." We've updated my column for 2015 and it's now called Spark Your Story and each article includes a specific Story Spark to get your storytelling mojo going.

In this issue my article is focused on using the day of the week or the time of day as the lens through which you detail a story. 

One of the reasons I do Week In The Life™ year after year is to answer the question what are my days for at this time in my life? What are Saturday's for (it's changed from year to year)? What are Monday's for? Meaning, what do we do and where do we go and what's important this year? I used this prompt specifically last year on Saturday and started each portion of my storytelling with the phrase, "Saturdays are for..." You can see my words and photos approach here

As you'll see below, this idea is easily translated to similar ideas such as "afternoons are for..." and "On Mondays..."

Today I'm sharing the full images of my layouts from this article here but invite you to click over and download your own FREE digital copy of the magazine and read my full article that includes more about the concept and ideas related to each layout. You can also become a subscriber and have it delivered to your home address(awesome). They have even set it up where you can download just a PDF of my article: Spark Your Story.

Here's a look at the pages I created for this issue: 

Saturdays Are For

Here's the journaling: 

Saturdays are for trips to the library to replenish our basket of books. Simon always wants to check out a movie too - usually one he remembers from when he was a little kid (like Sesame Street). Anna pulls book after book from the shelf until the basket is overflowing and I can barely carry it out. I love it. Saturdays are for taking that big basket home and reading together on the couch. Anna is really starting to be a good reader these days - it's so great to see it all coming together for her. Saturdays are for uninterrupted lego building. Simon can still play legos for hours. Recently he has gotten back into creating stop motion videos with the lego characters. Saturdays are for getting together with friends from near and far. We don't do this enough, but when we do it's really good for all of us. Love having people here for dinner or for the night. Saturdays are for time with the McKercher's. When both Aaron and I "have kids" we often get together at our house or their house for dinner or hang out time. Saturdays are for sometimes going to the movies - it's still one of our favorite things to do together. 

We've now made the These Days Are For digital set into a traditional stamp set. Pick up a stamp set here or the digital set here

On Mondays We Begin Again

Here's the journaling:

Mondays are for fresh starts and new beginnings. I love that about Mondays. The starting over, the new chance for an awesome week no matter what came before. Mondays are for back to the routines of work and school and the regular rhythm of the week. Mondays are for next chances. Mondays are for settling back into our jobs. Mondays are for long hugs after school and sometimes movie nights. I love Mondays. 

Letter stickers available here. Life Documented Stamp available here

Afternoons Are For

Here's the journaling: 

Afternoons are for horse lessons for Simon at RideAble on Thursdays. // Afternoons are for riding bikes around the cul-de-sac. // Afternoons are for homework and projects for both kids around the table. // Afternoons are for gymnastics for Anna on Tuesday & Thursdays. // Afternoons are for soccer practice for Anna on Tuesday & Thursdays. 

In general, I'm a fan of schedules. I like to have things lined out for all our expectations and plans. That said, I'm not a fan of packed schedules. I like scheduled down/free time when none of us have obligations or practices or work. Right now each kid has 1-2 activities and I try to keep it to one per day usually (even though Anna has two things on T/TH right now). I want them to have time to read and pretend and play and just be along with awesome fun activities. 


Big thanks to Scrapbook & Cards Today for being so great to work with! 

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17 thoughts

  1. anowotny says…
    07/27/2015

    Love the idea of documenting what a specific day looks like. There is definitely a pattern to things within the week. I need to do this. Thanks for so much inspiration.

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. Jana_NJ says…
    07/27/2015

    Ali are you going to do a post how to set the foundation for the WIL album just got my kit this week, August is crazy but have not idea how to set up

    Reply 3 Replies
    1. AliEdwards says…
      07/27/2015

      Hey Jana! I don't do a lot of advance planning for this project. Most likely I'll get my page protectors in order and cut up the 3x4 cards and place them inside the pockets. Other than that I really just focus on the photos and the words during the week and then put it together after. I have some posts planned coming up that speak to getting ready - photo ideas, thoughts about the process, etc.

    2. Jana_NJ says…
      07/29/2015

      Ali makes sense, I will do that ! just one more questions is the extra page protectors going to be available here at your shop?
      thanks again !

    3. AliEdwards says…
      07/29/2015

      Hi! We've got some available now in the shop: http://aliedwards.com/shop/page-protectors

  3. Jgk04 says…
    07/27/2015

    Great layouts Ali! Makes me want to create RIGHT NOW, but alas, work first :). Thank you for the ongoing inspiration and a fun start to Monday!

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. SusanBowers says…
    07/27/2015

    Wonderful Ali! More story starters/prompts - yes!

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. angymuse says…
    07/27/2015

    YES! This is exactly what i needed to cave in and buy this stamp set! I dont know how you do it.. but thank you! you push me to document my everyday and ill forever be grateful! awesome layouts

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. mtercha says…
      07/27/2015

      This is exactly how I feel.

  6. mtercha says…
    07/27/2015

    Your column is the first thing I turn to, and this is awesome. You are so good at inspiring others, thank you. And these layouts are beautiful. I loved seeing that color of your alphas, too, I have and love them, but can be color challenged. That looks great. Thanks for a beautiful and inspiring article. Michelle t

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. Bellaa75 says…
    07/28/2015

    Thanks for sharing, love your articles.

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. scrap_horse says…
    07/28/2015

    Ali, I love your take on Mondays. Hating Mondays has become a cultural norm which seems so negative and unnecessary. Sometimes it is difficult to get up early and get back into the weekday routine, but it doesn't need to be any worse than that in our minds. It is refreshing to read a positive take on Mondays. I like it!

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. angelzmom says…
    07/29/2015

    WOW! Your story/journaling/mojo-igniting prompts are the BEST!

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. yin100 says…
    08/05/2015

    Totally awesome and so inspiring! You're the best and genuine and master story teller!

    Reply 0 Replies

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