jamaica makes

onwards

I worked on a few half-started weeks over the long weekend, this is way back in April before White Week. The right side is my new favorite layout, a BH protector cut down with a narrow strip on the left. It turned out better than I imagined. I have very few horizontal pockets or spots for large images right now, so expect to see more of this this one.

The stitched on pocket obscures the very sweet and heartbreaking email my father sent out about the loss of his beloved buddy, Charlie, who passed that week. The narrow column left the perfect little box for hang tags, yay!

Fav details: Jen's thought bubbles, perfect for any occasion and Studio Calico wood veneer painted with green Essie to the perfect high gloss.

PS. iPhone pics plus the strange Typepad resizing not working in my favor today but we're ignoring that, right.

messages

My new favorite thing: Messages. I downloaded the beta for my Mac the other day and I'm loving the new set up. Text messages and instant messages are one in the same (well, at least those coming from another apple device). We can IM while I'm working and when I walk away the entire conversation continues there on my iPhone or, on my iPad. It's not picking up all of my texts and currently all three devices chime when I get a message but damn, it's nice to text on a real keyboard. Or, to easily copy in a link or a photo. It's awesome. You can download it here or wait for it to come out with Mountain Lion this summer. 

got wood?

 

New kits in the shop today... yay, woodgrain! Lots of long-hoarded patterns: letterpress, metallics, embossing and custom gold-on-gold screenprints from LifeLovePaper. And a small restocking of letterpress cards.

going back

Jumping back a few weeks to the beginning of April...

I started using my Facts & Stats cards to keep track of the little details. When I get too caught up in the process and forget the "why" of it all I remind myself how great it'll be to look back at these albums in 5, 10, 20 years. The details of what I was reading or watching on tv will be interesting then, more interesting than they are now. The fact that I've become obsessed with fizzy water and finding the perfect chai might otherwise have escaped noting. Plus, I can't resist filling in the little boxes or making my own pie charts. It's nerdy, but so me.

Supplies // Ali's Hello Life Boxes No.2, Paislee Press press cards, Duly Noted Facts & Stats

 

White week winner: is #16 Ellie A. Send me your addy (jamaicamakes@me.com) and I'll post your pack today. Thanks everyone for all your sweet comments. And if you do make your own white week, I want to see!

white week

On Friday Vee and I were talking about her Week 12 PL and how she used white journaling cards... white, WHITE! It's such a rarity for her, you know she's all about the color. Long story short, 20 texts later we decided to challenge ourselves to a White Week. All white, or as close as we can get to it.

16 weeks in to Project Life, it was a breath of fresh air. It made me look at the week/the spread in a whole new way. Pulling papers to use as the base instead of filling all the pockets with photos was a first. It was easier since it was a quiet week but still, a nice change. 

Tina's Currents prompt is the perfect substitute for journaling (the hardest part for me) or a listing of the week's activities (which has become my fallback lately). Here, on vellum, it's the perfect addition.

I've been holding on to this for ages, a Currents card cut out of vellum with my Cameo. LOVE. Mega love.

My "white" solution for the photos—blown out with RadLab. That shot of Niko is an all-time favorite, so much attitude. Lately I've spent lots of quality time curled up in the big brown leather chair reading. I forget how much I love to read, the quiet time is good for me.

Another gem from my stash, the cover of an old Linda & Harriet calendar, is the perfect white on white texture for White Week.

Check out Vee's white week!

You should do it too! In celebration of white week, and to encourage you to try it for yourself... I'm giving away a white pack of my Duly Noted: Facts & Stats. Leave me a note here and I'll pick a name on Wednesday.