exactly a year ago, i shared this post on my blog. it was the day before thanksgiving, and it was a last minute share. i even talked about how last minute i am. and guess what? nothing much has changed since then. lol! here it is, the day before thanksgiving again. and here i am, sharing the same project. and it's still looking about the same as it did last year. i'm sort of recycling this project idea, to share again today. because i love the idea of it. and maybe you will too, and want to make one of your own.
you can read more details about what i was doing and planning, over on THIS POST. but the main idea was to make an album, that featured every family member and what they were thankful for. i mentioned last year that i was going to take a photo of everyone on thanksgiving day. and i did. i pulled each person aside, and took a great shot of them. i also mentioned that i was going to have everyone fill out a journaling page, listing what they were thankful for. and i did that too. some famil members were a little hesitant on the idea, and didn't know what to write. i gave free reign. they could be serious, funny, sentimental. whatever they were thankful for, i wanted them to write. and they all did.
and this was my plan for what i would do with the photo and journaling page for each family member, when i got back home. 9x9 page. white cardstock page base. a pattern paper strip, and some coordinating colored cardstock. some ribbon, or maybe a few simple embellishments. and their name, which would be die cut with my slice. easy peasy.
i had the photos all printed, right after thanksgiving. i had planned on doing them all in black and white, to keep the album cohesive. but i had some photos that were perfect in color. some family members just had the right color clothes on. lol! so i have a mix of black and white, and color photos. so, one would think that this album would be done. and complete. and ready to set out tomorrow, on the thanksgiving table.
well, it's not. lol! story of my life. for every one thing i DO accomplished, i have 5 things that did NOT get accomplished. i did remember to pull these out yesterday though. so i have all the photos matched up with the journaling page for each family member. i have papers cut. it's all ready to assemble. so hopefully, i can get this done tonight.
just wanted to give you a peek at a few of the family's pages. this is alyssa's. i like all the little drawings she added to her journaling page.
this is sarah's. i love that she wrote "thankful" down the side of her paper, and then listed things that started with that same letter.
and my grandma. we can't read a lot of what she wrote. but it's her handwriting, and her words. and it's special, because she passed away about 6 months after this. i am so happy that i made everyone take a photo. because this photo of my grandma captured her, right before she got sick. i'm thankful we have this smiling photo to remember her by.
i want to tell you that i'll come back on friday, and post some of the other pages of the album. the finished project. but if i promise that, i most likely will NOT come back and share. lol! it's the twisted way my creative mind works. so no promises from me today. maybe you'll see the finished project, maybe you won't. just have to wait and see :)
update at 2:30pm. just had to come back and show you that i AM making progress. in between life, work, and all that other stuff ;)
I love ur thankful album. It's such a great way to capture everyone and to get their handwriting down will be priceless years to come!! Can't wait to see the next one :)
Posted by: Carla | November 24, 2010 at 09:22 AM
I remember this. Your as bad as me. LOL. Have a great thanksgiving laura.
Posted by: PATTY | November 24, 2010 at 09:40 AM
Happy THanksgiving for tomorrow! I'd never heard of it before my B-I-L met a Pennsylvanian girl in Zambia a few years ago (out with the Peacecorps) & got married to her! Sounds like a lovely concept though...Your album will be stunning when it is all compiled & looks like you've thought it through so well & made it not too complex. Can't wait to see it!
Posted by: Helen Tilbury | November 24, 2010 at 11:56 AM
I love how it looks already so when it's done it will be even more wonderful. Love the photo of your grandma. This will be our first without our grandpa who passed just 2 months ago. Love capturing these moments for our kids. Have a Happy Thanksgiving and many blessings.
p.s. it's ok if you don't come back on Friday but please show it to us soon.
Posted by: dawn | November 24, 2010 at 01:22 PM
Laura, This is such a great idea...I remember this from last year. I really adore the picture of your grandmother. Makes my heart happy and heavy at the same time. Does that make sense? Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
Posted by: Lynn | November 24, 2010 at 03:34 PM
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family! Your album is lovely!!!
Looking forward to the finished project(;
Posted by: Suzanne | November 24, 2010 at 04:12 PM
This album looks sooo cool! I wish my family was more "wordy", otherwise I would try to make that too! Such a great way how to remember good times and capture it forever...
Posted by: Ninotschka | November 24, 2010 at 08:01 PM
i love the simplicity of this album. really nice. love that u got grandma to write. happy thanksgiving
Posted by: lynda p | November 24, 2010 at 09:45 PM
I really really LOVE this album! I would love to do something like this one year....Enjoy your Thanksgiving!!
Posted by: Sara Rossi | November 24, 2010 at 09:54 PM
Happy Thanksgiving...this is the first year that my husband's entire family will be together in over 20 years. I'm going to see if everyone will do this so I can make an album. Thanks the sharing a wonderful idea!
Posted by: Debbie Tope | November 25, 2010 at 07:46 AM
I really hope that you get this completed (at some stage) 'cos it truly looks fabulous. The precious photo and Journalling from your Grandmother shows us all just how important these moments are.
Posted by: Carmel Keane | November 25, 2010 at 02:46 PM
We are so much alike, no wonder I'm drawn to your blog! :) Sometimes I go to my 'room' and realize the list of things to get done is so long, that I kill any creative juices running through me and give up without trying. My 365 project... about 170... my 52 weeks project, about 22... and many more! :) So here's to us, and our creative, but somewhat illogical minds! :) Happy Thanksgiving!
Posted by: Yvonne | November 25, 2010 at 05:14 PM
Laura, you continue to amaze me with your projects! Love this one and I have many of the same products in my stash and NOW I know what I will use them for -- Thanksgiving 2011 I am READY!
Posted by: CraftyCat | November 26, 2010 at 03:54 PM