I had a birthday yesterday.
I wasn’t feeling old until a friendly barista asked me on Thursday what my weekend plans were, and upon hearing I’d be 40 on Sunday, exclaimed, “Oh! My mom turns 40 next week!”
Excuse me? Your mom?
(Since my oldest is barely nine, it’s easy to forget that I celebrated my 21st birthday just three weeks after my own mom turned 40.)
While I don’t feel “over the hill” (and according to current life expectancy calculators, have not even started to crest it), I’m reflecting more than usual on how to intentionally make the most of my time, my faith, my family, and my resources, just to name the most important things.
So what does that have to do with scrapbooking? Well, I believe that for us creative types, fresh inspiration can come when we adopt a make the most of philosophy. So that’s what we’ll explore this week, using the acronym FORTY as our guide. Slick, huh? Let’s begin!
F is for Freebies: Making the Most of Your Budget
Let’s face it. In a difficult economy, it becomes vital to categorize our needs and our wants. If you find yourself in a place where you have curtailed shopping for the latest and greatest releases (whether by choice or by force), you needn’t feel like you’re without new & inspiring supplies. There are generous people all over this wonderful worldwide web who design free goodies for people just like you! Isn’t that cool?
Today I will share some of my favorites, all of which can be printed and used on a page. Just click on the images for more information and download instructions. (Perhaps you’ll take a minute to leave the designer a note of thanks. :) Enjoy!
(Psst... I just made the connection that the fabulous sets of journaling spots shown above were all designed by W.C.S. reader Avital Gertner, one of the most faithful contributors to our Flickr Group. Isn't she amazing? Thank you, Avital!)
(Avital again. Houndstooth! The thumbnail doesn't do it justice, so click.)
(When you click, you won’t see it at first, because you must create an account at Designer Digitals to download freebies. Either print or use this one digitally.)
(Cathy Z has a download for "a year of tags." Use one tag as a journaling spot, print an entire month and make a mini album, choose a number and make a tag for that same date each month throughout the year... or whatever.)
For you fellow lovers of all things vintage, here are some fun images—a few of them designed, others scanned and shared because they are old enough to have become public domain.
(You’ll find a Photoshop brush of this as well.)
And one more really exciting freebie, in case you haven’t heard. The Pioneer Woman’s Photoshop actions are now available for PSE 5-8. Woohoo! Go here for more info.
P.S. I couldn’t resist throwing in these bonus non-scrapbook-related printables. Those of you with children on spring break may particularly appreciate the last one. :)
