Magical
Friday, May 29, 2009
I love when something works - you have an idea and it just works! This is a layout I have been wanting to do for a long time and I love the way it turned out! The journal tells the story of my little princess and why I had to journal it! Here are some details...
The paper is all from Websters and as soon as I saw it I knew I would have to cut it all out!
Ahh... the pretty princess...I cut out that ladybug, the leaves and the bird coming up too! The journal block was torn, inked and browned with my heat emboss gun.
I used glossy accents on the bird and the lady bug. The title I cut with my Cricut, it's enhanced with Stickles. I drew and cut out the pumpkin by hand- the paper was creme, I used chalk and embossing powder to get the look I wanted.
And there it is! The journal block says:
Oh my sweet princess, you were so sad as your brother and sister prepared to go “the ball”. You wanted to dress up too, so we got you dressed up in your beautiful gown. But when your brother’s date showed up, you were appalled! You could not believe that he was taking somebody else to “the ball” (a.k.a. Winter Formal). You cried when they left and we had our own dance at home. I assure you princess, you will have your day I promise, there will dances, and pretty gowns and fancy hairdos...
Someday your prince will come and it will be…MAGICAL
TFL!
Labels: baby girl
Juiced 11:03 PM
My Friend
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Anyone who knows me knows that I have many aquiantences and few friends. Oh don't get me wrong I just think that a friend is a special relationship that happens between two people and true friends are blessings that don't come along every day.
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One of my favorite quotes is from Charles Swindoll "I cannot even imagine where I would be today were it not for that handful of friends who have given me a heart full of joy."
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Over at Scrapbooking from the inside out a challenge was:
"Dreams are one way that our subconscious communicates with us about hopes that may be buried deep and hidden from our conscious selves. Have you had a dream that 'spoke' to you about something in your life that you thought had been resolved, or about something with which you weren't outwardly struggling? What did you learn about your real hopes? And did it change anything you did in real life? Please create a LO on this topic."
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I had to think about this and then I had a dream...( I feel like MLK saying that phrase!) Well this is the result of that dream...
Here is the hidden journaling :
Saturday night (May 23rd, 2009) I had a dream that a lady at church came up to me so excited to tell me that she met a friend of mine. She was talking about all the great stories she shared and all the fun we used to have and she said that Menya wanted her to give me great big hug for her and to tell me that she missed me. She hugged me and I lost it completely. While she continued to ramble on about my friend I thought, surely she knows that my friend has passed away. This is a very sweet woman and surely she does not mean to hurt me by saying these things. Finally she stops talking; noticing that I am crying says “what’s the matter honey?” I tell her that she must be mistaken because my friend passed away and for a second I thought, did I just say that? What if I am wrong and the funeral I attended was really a nightmare – am I losing it? She looked devastated and said “Honey I am so sorry, I was talking about her daughter, lil’ Menya.” And I woke up sobbing.
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Why is it that when you think you have healed from something it comes back again to open your wounds? My dear friend passed away suddenly a year ago January. It was unexpected and it all happened so fast; I did get to see her before she passed. For the past two days I’ve been thinking “why”. Why did I have that dream? Why does it feel like I’m grieving all over again? I did scrapbook about what happened, so why don’t I feel any better? I am mourning all over again! I hate feeling like this because I know she is in a better place, with no more pain or suffering. And then it hit me – I did journal what happened, but at the time I could not journal what I felt. I was in shock – we all were.
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So for my friend…whom I loved.
Menya was the kind of friend that we could not talk for months and when we did see each other again it was like we were never apart. We did not need to talk everyday- we lived in different states. When we met we lived in Cali, (15 years ago?) we were on the worship team and sang together for 6 years. When we moved out of state, she and her husband helped us move. We visited each other on occasion, and we would laugh so hard we would cry.
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She was a Godly woman, full of wisdom and when she gave advice I listened. As we grew older the years between us became smaller and sometimes we found spiritually, that we were in the same place. She understood and loved my children as I love hers. When I would second guess myself she told me that I was doing the right thing and that God would say to me one day “Well done good and faithful servant”. When others second guessed me or my parenting – she told me not to listen to them, “you are doing a good job, and God gave that child to you, He is in control.”
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She was an amazing singer, she could sing any part she inspired me to do the same. She was an amazing speaker and teacher. We held conferences for youth for years and we would always ask her to come and speak – she was awesome and she was purpose driven, I knew if I couldn’t get her to take a break in her schedule I could get her to come out and speak! The preaching was directed at the kids but the other youth other workers would sit in and we always learned so much; she was so inspiring. She could make you laugh, cry, think and even repent!
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She was always honest with me, in love; she knew how to tell you something (even if it was bad) yet encourage you at the same time. She knew scripture like nobody’s business. I can’t ever remember a thing; I always have to go back and check my bible! She was always teaching or taking a class, she loved to learn. She led a very full life, some very, very painful and some full of joy! She was beautiful inside and out. I was so blessed to be a part of her life and I miss her desperately. May 26, 2009
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“I hold on to this hope and the promise that He brings. That there will be a place with no more suffering. There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears. There will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more we'll see Jesus face to face.”
( from the song "There will be a day" by Jeremy Camp)
Thanks for letting me share my friend with you.
Labels: friends, SFTIO
Juiced 8:19 PM
Never Give Up!
Monday, May 25, 2009
It's Sunday, so I felt like this layout was appropriate. The pictures aren't fabulous but I wanted a pic that all the kids are in - not an easy thing to do with 5 kids! The papers are from Bo Bunny. Rhinestones are from Heidi Swapp, Hero Arts (flower) and Prima ( black swirls).
I came up with this from another prompt at Scrapbooking from the Inside Out. The prompt was to think of a time when you found hope in the midst of darkness. I cannot even begin to tell you about what I've seen God do in our lives. The journaling for this was just a small sampling. :) Here is the journaling I came up with, in case it's hard to read:
They told me you would never speak. You do.
They told me you would never hear or respond. You do.
They told me you would never be in regular classroom. You are.
They told me you would never be off your countless medications for chronic asthma.
You are medicine free.
They told me you would never excel academically. You made honor roll.
They told me you would never eat normal foods because you were severely allergic to everything. You eat everything.
They told me not to expect you to keep up with the rest of the class.
You are at the top of your class.
They told me you might not make it. You are here and physically healthy.
They told me you would never speak, you talk incessantly.
They told me not to expect too much. You are fantastic.
They told me I would never have children. I have 5, two biological and three adopted.
They told me I had an Ectopic pregnancy. That baby is 17 years old.
They told me I would be in pain the rest of my life with endometriosis. I am pain free.
And you ask me why I believe? With God all things are possible. Mark 10:27
I have been mommy for a long time; I have seen countless miracles in my children alone. When I have been “told” these things I have prayed, so have countless others. We have seen God do amazing things. When I am told these negative and sometimes horrible things, I say you don’t know my God. He is my HOPE and my strength and I will never give up!
Just a little pretty to end my post! God Bless!
Labels: it's a God thing
Juiced 12:59 AM
Sing
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Here is my boy, caught on camera doing something I love, singing. It just melts my heart to look at this picture! I love that all of my kids love to sing, just like
their mama! Sweet and simple! Papers are from GCD. Enjoy!
Labels: GCD Studios
Juiced 12:12 AM
Good News!
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Can I just say that love a kit. These papers are from Crate Paper and I love the muted feel of them! The journaling is from the song "I was made to love you" by Toby Mac
I loved this picture and it went perfectly with the lyrics, "You were here before me.You were waiting on me, And you said you'd keep me, never would you leave me (I was made to love and be loved by you) I was made to love you." The little ones climbing up that mountain just reminds me that God is bigger. He was here before me, He is all knowing and He is in control no matter what the circumstance.
We were made to love Him.
Ok so the next time I tell you to go to a crop you need to go! So I didn't get that many layouts done but hey it was fun and I WON! Sandi at Scrapperrie is so generous! I won $10.00 towards the store playing BINGO. Then she had overall drawings for participation! I won $20.00 for that! Whoo Hoo! You can't beat $30.00 in scrappy merchandise!
Today over at Creatively Yours they anounced the new Design Team :) and I was on it! So I was able to update last post. :) You can check it out here
http://creativelyyours.wordpress.com/They are giving away some blog candy so you should go check it out!
Now if you're in a scrappy slump here's a fun prompt for you from Rachel at SFTIO "Do you harbor a secret hope - a fantasy that no one (or very few) know about?" I imagine that this may spark some thoughts, some journaling, well add some pics, cute paper and do a layout! Maybe it's time to look at that 'ol bucket list again? For more challenges you can go here ...
http://www.scrapbookingfromtheinsideout.com/board/index.php?showforum=8
Well I'm tired and those kids will be up bright and early keeping me busy so hasta la vista! Or perhaps hasta manana! Thanks for stoppin by!
Labels: Creatively Yours, SFTIO
Juiced 12:18 AM
A little sparkle (UPDATED!!!)
Thursday, May 21, 2009
I have been very busy with all of the end of the year school festivities! I'm sure you have been too! Tommorow is the last day of school!
Monday was a great day! I got a lot of good news all at once; First I got an email asking me to be on a sketch blog design team for
Creatively Yours and that was exciting. ( The layout above is from a skecth by Ali and Noella at CY) You can check them out here
http://creativelyyours.wordpress.com/If you already have a subscription they are under the May 2009 Style Spotlight
Later I got a phone call from Rachel, the owner of
Scrapbooking from the Inside Out! She offered me a position on their Design Team! Whoo hoo! SFTIO believes in the process of telling your story, in all its beauty and depth, its glorious times, messy moments, and painful lessons, being transformed. Each month, they focus on a specific emotion. The monthly kit for sale will be geared toward products that can be used to explore what that emotion means to you, in your life. May's emotion is "HOPE". One of the prompts was scrapbooking what gives you hope when thngs are really low. Thats what inspired my layout above" You can check them out here
http://www.scrapbookingfromtheinsideout.com/index.htmlI was on a roll so I called the thyroid doctor about my oldest. Her thyroid is now completely healed! Hooray!
And yesterday my kindergardener, class of 2021 ( wow thats weird to see!) graduated!
Labels: Creatively Yours, SFTIO
Juiced 12:36 AM
A little bit of this and a little bit of that...
Friday, May 15, 2009
I love, love anything that makes me think or create! So here are some inspirations I want to share with you!
First you may notice a little
blinkie for "A faith perspective" (on the right) you can click on it and check out a new christian/
papercraft online magazine. They have this wonderful article called "
Faithbooking the Everyday". Here is a quote from the writer Anne House.
"Our scrapbooks need to become less about what we’
ve done and more about what God has done through how we’
ve lived. The values we hold and the ways we have acted on those beliefs and the people we hold dear comprise the every day of our lives. The special days, the events need to be recorded, but the every day of our lives should not be forgotten."
How awesome is that? I have not totally navigated my way around the site yet but what I have seen is pretty cool. I am sure that most of you are
a lot more technically savvy than I am!
LOL! And they have good taste, they picked my "going through the motions" layout for one of their LO of the week!
Another thing that is so fun and driving me lately are these online crops! Right now the one (below) at
scrapperrie is totally fun! I love
when they give you a little time
to get the challenges done - you have until Monday if you still want to participate!
Oh and
don't let me forget that I love a good challenge! My latest discovery is "
scrapbooking from the inside out. " (You can click on them under my
fav's) They scrapbook different emotions and this month is about hope- I created this LO from a sketch by Ali Mac Donald over at Creativelyyours.wordpres.com (very cool skecth site -more inspiration!). The prompt was 3 things to wish for. I did 3 wishes for baby girl!
CLOSE UP
JOURNALINGTHE
LAYOUTWell, thanks for stoppin' by!Labels: scrappin news
Juiced 12:50 AM
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Juiced 1:37 AM
Side Bar
Fun stuff - Just so you know first there is a crop coming up at Scrapperrie! (Just in case you didn't get enough of National Scrapbook Day cropping in!) You can go here...www.scrapperrie.com Oh if you do go and register drop my name please!( Referral) You will then be entering us both to win goodies! Woo Hoo! Love free stuff!
On another side bar if you're looking for new cool scrappy stuff go check out VintagePlum.com. This is their new kit!
Tomorrow...back to our normal programing!
Labels: scrapperrie, VP
Juiced 1:16 AM
Got teens?
Monday, May 11, 2009
This is a lO for anyone who has a teenager or preteen. I read this discussion over at scrapbooking from the inside out about a time when your realized something- when your eyes were opened. When something was made very clear to you. Then you had to scrap a LO with mostly clear elements. I used transperencies (Fancy Pants, Hambly), acrylic letters(Spare Parts), ghost flowers(Heidi Swapp) I did put an SEI paper behind it- it was much easier to photgraph that way.
Here it is without the SEI paper- it looks much better in person! I used in and emboosing powder on the flowers and letters. I embossed the half circle behind the title and journaling.
The Journaling is printed below in case you can't read the photo...
"Anyone who has teenagers knows it’s hard to watch your kids make
mistakes and fall…hard. I’ve had this book on the shelf for a while and have not read it. I was passing by the bookshelf the other day and decided to pick it up and read some of it.
The book talked about how God was the perfect parent, Adam and Eve were his children and they were rebellious and sinned. It wasn’t His fault or His choice for them. God handled the rebellion with swift punishment. God understands how it feels to do everything good for your children and then have to watch your beloved children sin and stumble through life. I believe his heart breaks daily with our choices.
It was IN THIS MOMENT that I realized that my kids are old enough (well the oldest two) to take responsibility for their actions. We have always held them accountable but somehow I feel responsible for their choices, as if I can control their free will. It is not what I’ve done but the choice that they have made. If they make a bad choice it is not about me, or my parenting skills; it’s about free will; it’s their choice. If Adam and Eve rebelled against the perfect parent why am I surprised when my kids make a bad choice?
…Interesting."
Juiced 11:38 PM
Happy Mothers Day!
Sunday, May 10, 2009
So did you have a wonderful mothers day? I hope so! Yeah I'm talking to you. You who have mentored a child, been there for a friend, provided much need advice, been honest and loving to another. I have five children but I know that I have mothered many more -even taken them into my home. Some of the kids I've worked with call me mom, not to take the place of their mothers but in realization that I care and love them as if they were my own; And they know I am there for them.
On mothers day, this is going to sound weird but I had a pleasant day (well part of the day) all to myself. I had no interest in going to a crowded
restaurant, or
hangin' out with the kids somewhere. I just want some "me" time. I cannot tell you the last time I was able to take a shower without being interrupted by little people and their needs, or tattling! So it was nice, quiet, got to scrapbook and
that's always fun! Later hubby
brought the kids back and did a BBQ so I didn't have to cook. Not too shabby! I sent mom her package ( previous post) so all was taken care of!
Onto
today's layout! Um, no I did not do a mothers day LO - I have never been one to scrap whatever holiday it is, I scrap whatever moves me at the time! I shared the prom pics of my eldest in a previous post, this is what I did with one of them!
I asked her about her hopes and dreams and she
surprised me with these quick answers...
Any body who knows my daughter will be
surprised at the two kids answer- I was and so was her brother! Having the three little ones with special needs can be a bit much sometimes and she has always said "I'm never having any kids!" I remind her not to say that
out loud! When I was growing up I always said I would only have one and now I have five!
LOL ! God has a sense of humor.
Just a close up of all the cutting, inking, chalking,
stickles etc! The paper is from Rusty Pickle. I found a new (well new to me) website that gives out challenges about emotions, thoughts and dreams. They are so thought provoking - if you are in a
scrapbooking rut or are new to scrapping you need to check it out. They have amazing prompts and the ladies there are so honest and raw. I love that! I am totally inspired! Check it out! Anybody who has met me knows how passionate I am about
scrapbooking- "your life story" matters! This site has the same
philosophy and gives prompt to help you get there! Very cool - check it out here
http://www.scrapbookingfromtheinsideout.com/about.html
Juiced 12:23 AM
A very long day...
Thursday, May 7, 2009
It's been a hard week, seriously. So today I needed something light. Nothing lighter than a happy fun loving three year old! Baby girl knows how to light up even the most somber room! (paper is My Minds Eye & K& CO, sketch is 52/52)
Being a mom is hard sometimes! Today all five kids and hubby were home. No school (picture me rolling my eyes) parent teacher conferences.
10 am I started my day taking half of the bunch to the hospital for tests for my eldest. Another thyroid test - we had hoped by now that it had returned to normal but it hasn't. We are grateful that it is not her heart like the doctors originally thought.
11:30 Because schedules were overlapping hubby took the other half of the bunch to the first parent teacher conference. (I was on the other side of town.)
12 noon We were both finished but had to meet at the bank for some business, deposits
etc. Then we took the brood to lunch.
1 pm We took the group to therapy- one of our little guys has anxiety issues.
2pm We took the bunch to get the two little boys haircuts that were
desperately overdue!
3pm I took the girls back to the hospital to get the second set of my eldest daughters test done while hubby took the boys home. Baby girl about lost it when she peeked in on big sister and could not see her head in the "big machine"! The lab tech took her on the other side to show her that her head was still attached!
3:45 - 5pm After the tests we had to go by work for my eldest to get her schedule and it took us almost an hour to get home with all the traffic! It usually only takes us twenty minutes! We got home and grabbed a quick snack for the kiddos and headed back out again!
5:30pm Parent teacher conferences for our eldest son.
6 pm Parent teacher conference for youngest son, different school.
6:30 pm Hit the grocery store for dinner that I would not have to cook!
7 pm Late dinner
7:30 Wash the little ones up and got them ready for bed
8pm Kiddos in bed and checking my email and
bloggin'.
MAN! It's been a LONG no fun, boring day!
Thank God
tomorrow is not such a crazy day!
Labels: 52sketches52weeks
Juiced 10:39 PM
Got crafts?
Monday, May 4, 2009
Sometimes you see something and it inspires you to do something totally different! This was an ad challenge at Citrus Tree Studio (see below)and this is what I did with it (see above). As I was doing this challenge it reminded me of elementary school and how much time I used to spend drawing rainbows! (Admit it so did you!) I've always loved color! So I got my paint brushes out and went to town!
Now I must admit this was a bit out of the box for me with so many colors and so much going on but hey it's a creative challange right? So I painted away. Then I sprayed it with glimmer mist, then broke out my stickles! Then I painted this again and again, it just wasn't coming out how I originally intended. Seriously it was driving me nuts! You know when you get to the point that you just have to get it right because it's like it won if you don't?! (Ok maybe thats just me, but I digress...) As if that wasn't enough I broke out my snow tex for the cloud! I love that stuff - the picture doesn't do it justice! But in the end I was ok with the way it turned out!LOL!
I've had these letters forever, found them on clearance somewhere... Oh and last but not least I stamped and embossed the crowns onto cardstock then sprayed them with moon glow, then added a little bling! Then I had to cut them out and bend them so they wouldn't stick out on the sides! They look so cool!
I don't know what I'll do with it but it hey I didn't quit! "Quitters never win!" (hey is my dad here?) Maybe you can you should take a creative challenge! I know a lot of you are super creative that read my blog! Happy creating!
Labels: art inspiration
Juiced 10:09 PM
Give aways!
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Don't you just love give aways! This site is giving something away every day for the month of May!
http://www.fantabulouslyfrugal.com/ This is the giveaway for the 3rd- I love purple and the butterfly makes it perfect! Totally cute!
Onto the layout! I know when my friend Emily
sees this she is going to crack up because I swore to her that I'd never sew on a layout!
LOL!
I did this for a
challenge at Citrus Tree Studios and it was actually fun!
LOL! I am
definitely no a seamstress by any means- I can't even figure out my sewing machine! I had to hand sew this and I really like the way it turned out! I would do this again, but probably not very often!
LOL!
Labels: baby girl, giveaways
Juiced 9:11 PM
shhh! don't tell mom!
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Well over at Allyscraps.com I had to come up with a project about flowers, since Mothers day is coming up I figure I'd do something for her! She only goes on here when I show her so I figure you guys won't spoil the surprize! This was a dove chocolate tin hubby found on clearance after Valentines day! He knew I would do something with it! I used glitter on the outside, it was already embossed! I made the little card that say flowers for you on Mothers day!
When you lift the "card" this is what you see...
And this is whats inside! Pic's of the grandkids of course! I bought those flowers at Hobby Lobby, last year I knew they'd come in handy one day!LOL! Well thanks for stopin' by!
Labels: Mothers day
Juiced 1:43 AM
VP sneak peek!
Friday, May 1, 2009
Here is a sneak peek from the new Vintage Plum kit for May (starting the 10th!) called Primary school summers! Hmmm the name alone brings up so many ideas to journal! Well I only have a sec so I'll be back later to post some more!
Labels: VP
Juiced 3:28 PM