Way back in October, I kicked off my Autumn’s Memories & Gratitudes Mini Album! A little blend of October Daily and 30 Days of Thankful.
And honestly? With this project, I finally feel like I’ve found October Daily peace. I’ve wanted to do a project like this for years, but I could never quite land on the right rhythm.
This time, though, it felt like the perfect dance: a mix of cozy autumn documenting sprinkled with gratitude-filled moments. And the best part? I actually finished it—on time, without the project hangover or that lingering guilt of leaving something I loved undone.
Starting Craftmas by sharing something that feels complete and joy-filled just makes Day 1 even sweeter. Let’s dive in!
I still have one or two layouts that I am sharing with my Member Community coming up on this weekend. These are layouts that I finished up about a week ago. I was a little bit sad putting up all of these beautiful products that I worked.
All the product I used came from two Traci Reed Collections I picked up, and printed out myself. If you won’t mind printing things out yourself, make sure to check out her collections. They are beautiful.
I honestly kept this project so simple, and that made all the difference. I didn’t set any rules for myself or try to force a certain style of documenting. No pressure, no “shoulds,” no overthinking what the pages needed to look like.
My only goal was to capture the moments and thoughts that brought me joy—big or small—and to pause long enough to notice what I was grateful for. Giving myself that freedom created a softer, more meaningful rhythm. Instead of chasing the “perfect” page, I let the stories show up naturally…and that’s what made this project feel peaceful, doable, and genuinely heartfelt.
Another part of this project I really enjoyed was working with smaller-sized photos. There’s something so charming about those tiny snapshots—they make the whole album feel more intimate and story-focused. Now I’m determined to find an easy, no-fuss way to print my photos in a variety of smaller sizes without turning it into a whole production.
Overall, this project was such a joy that I’m already planning on doing it again next year—and I’m genuinely looking forward to it.
Wrapping up this project feels really good. Keeping things simple, letting the stories come naturally, playing with those smaller photos, and giving myself permission to document without pressure—it all added up to an experience I genuinely loved. This little album reminded me why I show up for memory keeping in the first place: the joy, the gratitude, the everyday bits of life that deserve to be seen and saved.
And that feels like the perfect energy to bring into Day 1 of Craftmas. Starting the month with a finished project in my hands, a clear head, and a happy creative heart is honestly the best gift I could have given myself.
Thank you for being here with me on this crafty ride. I’m so excited for everything still to come this month—twenty-five days of creativity, storytelling, and a little sparkle sprinkled in.
Here’s to a beautiful start to Craftmas 2024!
