Thanksgiving Special

Being grateful...sometimes it's not quite that easy!  If you are like me and you have had more than your fair share of things in your lifetime to deal with...  Yet we are at that time of year where one should look more closely at being grateful for what you do have...because that far outweighs the other stuff in your life.    That is what this mini album will reflect when I am finished adding the photos and journaling...the things I am grateful for in my life..the things that helped me become who I am today... 


One thing you will notice about me, I am a bit out there creative wise.  I do not hesitate to look at what I have first before running out and spending money on things that I just really don't need in the first place.  So, look at the items you have, and tweak to what you have around.  If you have a kit that is in fall colors, then use it...  I looked at what I had around, to create this album...and can't wait to start adding the journaling, photos and the ribbon on the side to bind it all together!   My album will be different in the respect I do not have family near me, nor has family been a major part of my life, so my layouts and projects do not reflect a lot of holidays... This is actually the first project I have done that is holiday related in a number of years, and am excited to finish it up this week!   

When I made this album, I used products I had at home...brads, stickers, die cuts, papers, eyelets, and even an item I received a long time ago from a swap I participated in!  This is the layout that was made with the items from the swap, the colors blending in with all of the pages in the album.  I didn't spend any money on purchasing supplies for this album...and it turned it wonderfully!  I will add the pictures, and journaling to it, and it is done!  

For this set of layouts, I chose to stamp a series of pumpkins and then cut them out to create a border underneath.  The image was embossed to help the black be a bit more raised, and the pumpkins were then chalked to create the colors of the pumpkin.   Easy enough of a technique to recreate in a card, or other project!  


Your challenge for this week is to document the week of Thanksgiving...to show your future generations how you spend the week preparing for that big day.  Do you go shopping on the day after.....rushing out to get all the specials they have?  Or do you spend the day before rushing around trying to get everything taken care of, like me?  


One site to be sure to check out for their 100 days of Holidays is Better Homes and Gardens...  They have anything from decorating, making your own cards, to how to cook the turkey!   Check out these great projects they have made, and tweak them to be what YOU need!  


Journaling challenges:  

Reflect on the events of the past year, what are you grateful for

How have you grown in the past year

Family traditions for Thanksgiving

The who, what, where, when and how's of Thanksgiving Day

Where and how did your traditions start

Do you spend time with family or call them on the phone?

How do you keep everyone busy

Words of wisdom from everyone there

Keep your shopping list and receipts for the meal

Who cooked what dish...why was that assigned

What was your favorite to make and your least favorite

Did you start the day of or the week of to prepare certain foods

During your mealtime, jot down conversations

How talked the most...the least

Who was early...who was late

What's up for dessert...

Clean up

Your favorite Thanksgiving memory as a child, teen, and adult

Count your blessings...name them one by one...

I remember one year being invited to a family Thanksgiving (not my own family)...walking in the house, and within an hour having a houseful of people who loved each other, teased each other, and just had a wonderful time with each other.  I got to experience...for really the first time in my life a family that stood by each other, got along with each other, and extended family members that got along as well.  I am not like some of you...though I wish I were!   I hope this year, you take the time to showcase this time of year...what you are grateful for...the blessing in your life this year, the good things...what you did, or even what you spent!  Look at YOUR life, and decide from there what you want  to showcase, and decide what pictures you want to take!  Have fun, and Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!  

Lynda Jeffs

Memories in Tyme