I can’t believe the new year is already upon us. Where does the time go? If your life is anything like mine, then 2009 flew by before you could take in all that was going on. The year had its ups and downs—the expected and the unexpected. It was full of change—some of it good, some of it not so good; some of it by choice, some of it not by choice.
As I contemplated the past year, I decided my main goal for 2010 is to make more of life’s changes be determined by me. Not just changes in circumstances, but changes in me. Stampin’ Up! makes a stamp set entitled “Define Your Life.” I love this set, not just because it makes great scrapbook pages and cards (which it does), but because its title speaks to me as well. I, probably like most of you, feel I can use a little more definition in my life.
This year, I’m determining to define my life. To define what I want to be, where I want to go, and how I’m going to make that happen. To not just let life happen, but to make it happen.
It’s said that in order to achieve your goals, you have to write them down. I’m going to take a little spin on this theory and create a Define Your Life journal for myself, with a 6″ x 6″ page dedicated to each aspect I want to be, do, or learn over the next year. I’m not worried about creating every page right now. I’ll be adding to the journal as the year goes on. I’ll still be working on scrapbooking the events in my life, but I’m hoping that having these other types of pages will remind me to actively work toward making my life what I want it to be.
Maybe you’d like to spend more time with family,
"Ready, Set, Bump" by Pam Callaghan, as seen in the January 2010 issue of Creating Keepsakes.
travel more,
"Downtown" by Kelly Purkey, as seen in the January 2010 issue of Creating Keepsakes
achieve something big,
"Paris Marathon" by Sande Krieger, as seen in the January 2010 issue of Creating Keepsakes
work on a talent,
"How Does Our Summer Grow?" by Jing-Jing Nickel, as seen in the January 2010 issue of Creating Keepsakes
or just delight in the little things this year.
"Delight in the Details" by Amanda Johnston, as seen in the January 2010 issue of Creating Keepsakes.
I’d love to hear from you about it. How do you keep motivated to make positive changes in your life, and how do you document those changes? Drop me a line in the comments section of this post, and let’s keep each other motivated to make 2010 the best year yet.
May this new year bring everything you hope and dream it will.
To help some of your dreams come true, two lucky winners will recieve a selection of Stampin’ Up! clear mount blocks, a stamp set, and either a package of patterned paper or a corner punch. Simply leave a comment on this post, and two lucky winners will be drawn on January 5th.
Happy New Year!
—Lara Penrod, managing editor
Free Font Friday
As you celebrate the new year, enjoy this holiday treat to you as part of Free Font Friday—a free download of the CK New Year’s Day font.
I didn’t even know SU! started doing clear! WOW!
It is a challenge to stay positive- especially when life hands you lemons on occasion! Sometimes I literally have to count my blessings- that usually works!
Last year my theme of the year was thrive while survive, since there were a few hurdles in my year. This year I would like to get back to what I enjoy, beyond surviving. I’m jumping back into scrapbooking, getting out to enjoy nature and just enjoying life.
2009 was a tough year with many personal struggles…In these struggles, I found out who I am. I resolve to scrap who I am this year. I started many things last year which didn’t get finished. So this year, I took the “Notes” notebook created at CKConvention (which I was afraid to use). I am using the tabs to divide up my life into sections with lists of things I want to do. As I complete them…I will date it. At the end of the year…the entire notebook will be my final page of my 2010 book. In years to come..I will know exactly what I accomplished in 2010!!! Another personally successful year!!
Last year I made a resolution to do more of what I love (like scrapbooking) and I’ve learned to say NO a lot more – like when asked to volunteer – I still do it, but I choose what I want to do. Good luck with your 2010 resolution and thanks for a great publication!
How fun! a giveaway to start the year off….now this is a great way to start!
How fun! a giveaway to start the year off….now this is a great way to start!
As a mother of three boys and a new little girl, this year was not about me at all. My goal in 2010 is to find time every 4-6 weeks to do something scrapbooking…anything! I also have taken a vow to myself to take pictures of all of my children, both individually and as a group each month. This is so that my annual “family pictures” calendar is quicker to do! I make this calendar for my mom, my mom-in-law, my sister and my grand-aunt. I would also like to schedule hubby time this year as well…sometimes (alot!) we forget the reason these kids have filled up our house! I hope to stay ahead of things, and not feel so overwhelmed each week!
Winning would make my almost-40th-birthday awesome!
Great layout ideas. Thanks for the chance to win some goodies!!
Fun post, thanks for the chance to win!
I love the idea of “Define Your Life”. This year I want to do that too. I want to travel more and enjoy life.
I feel similar…after years of making & building a home & family….I’ve let defining slip to allowing life. It’s time to make choices that bring peace into every day.
Happy New (more peaceful) Year!
Lovely stamp set
Happy new year!! i hope start this year with lucky!!!
As a new scrapper, I’m so excited to get ideas on how to keep a better record of whats been going on with my life. I’m hopeful that 2010 will be a great year and I’ve decided to do more things that make me happy, get more involved in my community and spend more time with my family. Thanks for all the encouragement and fun layouts.
Love the paqges in this post. Thanks for the opportunity to win some SU stamos. Would love love them. Bye Irene
I have made several new year’s resolutions (scrapbooking related and non-related). Maybe I’ve put too much on my plate but I’m hoping that my health will get better so that I can accomplish my goals.
Happy New Year!!! Beautiful layouts. Love the idea of define your life. 2010 is going to be a busy year for me. A few trips coming up. Hopefully everything goes smoothly.
This will be a year of many good things…i’m changing me for the betterment of my family. Transformation, not goals, is my theme.
Wow! I’m excited about the new SU products! Would love to win them
Happy New Year to you too!
The Stampin Up products look great – thanks for the chance to win some! I’m hoping to slow down a little bit and enjoy my kids more – the time is flying by and now that my oldest is graduating high school I want to make sure to spend as much time as possible with them.
I hope there is a lot less worry for my family about money.
I really like the SU products. An instructor at class I take uses these sets and they are wonderful.
These look great.
Love the delight in the details design .. what a good way to put together some of my more random images!
The products look just great. I am hoping to enjoy my family and myself
more.
To make change and stay motivated I stay organized and set goals. I write my aspirations down and reflect on them weekly, if not daily. I also ask my sister to keep me accountable. This has really helped me a lot!
I really hope my husband can be hired back from his employer after being caught in the 5th round of layoffs…it is so much more about the medical insurance benefits than even the paycheck for us…I think we are both just so exhausted from the constant worry. Thank you for a chance to win!
I love the holidays but I am so glad I can get back to normal now. Thanks for the giveaways!
Last year my goal was to create more and spend less time behind the computer and I did create more LO and cards. This year my goal is the same. I would love to win this prize.
Eveline.
Great layouts and great goals-
I love giveaways! And I love Stampin’ Up! What a great way to start the new year! Thank you CK!!!
Awesome layouts – would love to win one of the giveaways! Thanks for the chance!
I try to remember my son watches me so I need to lead by example.
happy new year ck! love the awesome layouts! i love kelly purkey’s work
I love the “Delight in the Details’ layout. Thanks for the inspiration and the chance for a 2010 treat!
Great giveaway. My family is what keeps me motivated. To have them around and helps me to remind myself that I have to be an example or at least try. Thank you so much for the chance.
Hugs, Rosalee
My goal this year is to be less stressed so I started a blog where I can process my feelings for the day. The goal is to find at least one thing out of the day that makes me happy. The blog motivates me to let go of stress while simultaneously documenting my progress toward my goal for this year.
My husband and my best friend keep me motivated and focused on my goals. I keep a journal where I jott down life experiences.
I keep motivated by learning to “live in the moment”. If I think only about right now, this very minute, then I tend to stay on track of what I want to accomplish and by the end of the day I pick out one thing that made me smile that day and that’s my last thought before drifting off to sleep.
Love the do more with less ideas! I am planning on documenting my goals this year, think I will try a 6 x 6 album!
I totally agree that you have to write your goals down to help motivate yourself. I love the idea of a “goal” journal or mini album! I’m adding that to my January to do list!
I personally want to submit more projects for publication. I’d love to be published this year!
Stampin’ Up! is also one of my favorites for stamps. I really like the concept of creating a 6×6 album of things I want to accomplish. Puts a way better spin on just writing things in a notebook or journal. I may have to follow in your footsteps. This may inspire me to actually complete the things on my list. Thanks!!!
I love all of these layouts and can’t wait to start crafting this year. I have a bunch of clear stamps and no blocks — silly me. My fingers are so crossed for this giveaway.
Happy New Year!!!
Happy New Year CK and CK blog readers. This layouts are great I love the Disney layout. There are tons of fun details at Disney world
Wow, great giveaway! I love stamps on acrylic blocks- saves so much space! These layouts are great as well!
Dealing with change — I tend to make lists and try break things into manageable pieces. Documenting … I guess I should figure out a way to use those lists in layouts!
I’m new to stamping and don’t have any Stampin Up stuff yet — I hope to change that soon
)
I love the layouts and hope my January issue shows up before the end of the month!
I love this giveaway. My new year resolution is to do family scrapbooks for my brother and two sisters of our growing up years. I want to have the scrapbooks done by 2010 Thanksgiving. Setting a completion date keeps me motivated.
Love the stampin up stamps!! My goal this year in scrapbooking is to use the tools and products that I have been collecting for the last year or so. I have so many things I need to use and try new techinques.
How exciting! I did not know that Stampin’ Up was making clear stamps now.
LaRisa P.