My 2012 Goals Journal and light tent

Hi all! I hope everyone had a fantastic New Year Celebration.

I had a grand day crafting. It was so good to be spending some time doing what I love after the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.

I already posted my goals for 2012, and I decided to make this journal to record my progress as well as a place to make notes on projects throughout the year.

It is my entry into the Cricut Circle Weekly Challenge. The challenge is a project to reflect/record your resolutions. It needs to have two cricut cuts.

I started with a grid paper journal I picked up at the start of the school year for one dollar. The patterned paper is called the Daily Grind from Fancy Pants.

I cut the words explore, create and simplify from Home Decor in vinyl. The 2012 is stamped.

I added a few flower gems from my stash, and tied a bow and some charms to a binder clip.
The flowers were cut from Mother's Day Bouquet. I embossed them with some Cuttlebug folders, Script texture and Swiss Dots.

I made a pocket on the inside cover with a scrap of the paper from the front cover. I stamped the word "contents" on the first two pages, front and back and added a journal card with my 2012 goals written out.
I printed out these calendar pages I downloaded from Paper Crafts Connection Blog. You can get them here.

I stamped page numbers in all the corners using some older clear stamps I had. I love the font. I wish I could remember who made them.
I made the back pocket simply by folding the paper around the cover and adhering it to the inside only on the edges. Here is where I am storing the calendars until I put them in the book.

I am really looking forward to having a busy, crafty year, and I hope to reach all of my goals.

On a side note:

The lighting in our house is dreadful, and I was so tired of my pictures coming out so poorly, that I constructed a light tent from a design I saw on the internet.

It is simple and cheap! I used two sheets of 20x30 white foam core board. The first sheet I scored and bent in half. The other sheet I cut in half, then made cut out squares in the sides. I then taped them to the bent piece to form a box. The top half was constructed with some left over strips.

I covered the top three sides with some cheap cotton Muslin I picked up at Joanns for 2 dollars/yd.
Inside I taped a drape to the top edge. Here is a pic of the inside. I just use work lights that my hubby had on the outside.

Its not a professional piece, but it gets the job done good enough and it cost me about 6 bucks to make, unlike the $100 price tag that many light tents carry.

Well that's all for today.

I am encouraging everyone to go and make something today!

Have a Great and Crafty Day!

Jan