2013 Calendar

I just posted my 2013 Calendar on my Memory Box blog but I thought some of you may enjoy seeing it too. If you still have some Christmas gifts to make, this would be a great one to do, and it doesn't take too long. First, here is my calendar:

Tray: 7Gypsies Solo Shadow Box Tray 6x6 
Papers: Memory Box Pixie, Memory Box mocha cs
Stamps: Memory Box Flowering Branches E1836
Stamp Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink spun sugar and frayed burlap
Dies: Memory Box Pristine Border die, Poppystamps Simple Banner die (836)
Embellishments: Memory Box white pearls, printed calendar by findingnana, 7Gypsies brown ruler, wooden spool from Hobby Lobby wrapped in Divine Twine, wooden clothes pins and scrabble tile from Hobby Lobby, Magnolia pink crystal trim, Prima Solitaire Meadow flower and wooden button, misc. scissor charm, misc. lace trim

To see all of the details, just click here to see my Memory Box post! Thanks for stopping by. Blessings,

Organizational {Friday} Organizing Techniques

Did you ever think you might need to organize techniques that you learn? Well, recently I attended an online class with Tim Holtz. The techniques were amazing. I also have other great techniques that I have learned in other classes that I need to keep track of too. I was printing out sheets and keeping them in a binder but I am getting SO many binders and running out of shelf space. One thing Tim does that I love is that he recommends you create a sample tag and put the instructions on the back.  Tim uses the Ranger Inkssentials Manila #8 tags for his samples. Well, I started a few sample tags but then I wondered how I would store them. The #8 tags are so large. I have some of the #5 tags and love them but I still didn't know how I would store them. So, I decided to try an ATC card to see if they were thick enough for the technique and similar to the Ranger tags that Tim uses. And guess what? They worked beautifully! So today I wanted to show you what I did with my ATCs and how I will store all of my techniques learned in classes (whether online or in person).

Create your Technique ATC
First, you need to try the technique on an ATC card. This is a great way to practice and see how you like the technique too! Here is one of my "trial cards." You can see how I tried the technique on the ATC first, and then I used the technique again to make a card. For details on how I made this particular card, look here on my Memory Box blog.

Once your sample cards are done, put the technique instructions on the back of each ATC.

Storing your Techniques
To store, I am keeping them on another 7Gypsies ATC holder that I had on hand. I have several of these and LOVE them! If you haven't ever seen one of my "full" ATC holders, here is the one I did for my Scripture Challenge back in 2008.

For my ATC supplies, I always get them from Lisa at Your ATC Store. She has tons of goodies, great prices, and excellent customer service!

So, store your technique cards on this wonderful holder. I don't have all of Tim's techniques done yet but here are a few plus some other random ones:

It is super easy to flip through, find a fun technique, and use it for a paper creation! Better yet, challenge yourself by spinning the ATC holder, and use the technique that lands in front of you. This is so much easier to use and see than a binder. I am loving this!

And now, get ready because over the next few weeks, I am going to be showing some other goodies that are going on this ATC holder. If you don't have an ATC holder and cards, now is the time to get them so you can join in and create yours with me! Start with the techniques, and then you will see what comes next. Just think "swatch holder." :) Thanks for stopping by!

Tuesday's {Tip} Uses for Rolodex Files

Back in mid-June, someone asked for Rolodex ideas. What could she do with a Rolodex that she got for $2.99 at Goodwill? Well, here is the response I gave, and I thought my readers might love these ideas too!

**Keep favorite scriptures or quotes like this (a Rolodex instead of ATC)
**Keep a stamp inventory like this.
**Keep a list of journaling prompts (pull one & have fun). You can see some here and here.
**Keep a file of birthdays, anniversaries, and special dates.
**Create mini albums (kids, family, vacations, "about me," etc.)
**Create a color challenge or inspiration file like this one.
**Create a "year in photos" album (a photo a week with journaling on the back).
**If you like to read, keep a reading log (a card per book). You can even print a tiny "avatar" size picture of the book cover for fun!
**Print sketches and keep your sketches in the Rolodex.

So, if you have a Rolodex and don't know what to do with it, hopefully my ideas will help you out a bit. These would also make great Christmas gifts too! You can also use a 7Gypsies Revolving holder for these ideas too. You can still find these at Your ATC Store.

I hope you find this helpful and fun! Now start looking for those bargain Rolodex files and get started! Be sure to list your ideas in the comment section too if you have them! I am sure everyone would love to see more ideas. Have a blessed Tuesday everyone!

Scripture Challenge: Where We Have Gone & a RAK!

Good evening everyone! The 50th challenge has been posted. Can you believe we only have two weeks left? It is hard for me to believe that it has been 50 amazing weeks already. I pray you have been blessed by the study!

I wanted to share with you where I started with my Scripture Challenge ATC holder and where I am now. Here is what it looked like back in early February just a few weeks into the challenge: And here is what it looks like after 50 weeks of study: This ATC holder represents many things to me--favorite scriptures, many precious hours spent in His amazing Word, a history to pass down, a scripture reference when I need it, and much, much more. This sits on my desk, and it is very precious to me.

**Please note, the following RAKs have been given away. Thank you!

I would love to see where you have come this year. If you have completed an album, an ATC holder, etc., I would love to see photos! Please post them in a gallery, on your blogs, wherever you would like and leave a link here in the comment section for all of us to see. I will be giving away two RAKs for those that post images from this year's study.

The first RAK is a book by Donna Partow called "Soon to be a Major Motion Picture." The description of the book is:

"In Soon to Be a Major Motion Picture, Donna Partow uses her own 'it could have been a major motion picture' life experiences to challenge you to take a closer look at your life. With humorous stories and faith-enriching insights on how to become all you want to be as a follower of Christ, Partow encourages you to revel in the joy of God's grace, no matter where you are in life and in your relationship with God. Honestly and openly communicating heartfelt struggles faced by countless women everywhere, Soon to Be a Major Motion Picture will teach you to let go of the drama, stretch your soul, and draw closer to God."
The second RAK is a book by Lisa Whelchel called "Speaking Mom-ese." The description of this book is:

"Lisa Whelchel definitely knows how to speak the language of motherhood. From the days you just want to break down in tears because the kids are sick and cranky and the house is a wreck, to the joys of seeing your kids' eyes light up when they 'get' a new understanding of God's love, she's been there and can relate. Through 52 mini devotions, Speaking Mom-ese provides encouragement and connects moms to each other and to God."
Please leave your links here by Sunday, December 21st, at 11:59 p.m. CST. Two winners will be announced on Monday, December 22nd.

I can't wait to see what you have done this year. And for those of you that will be doing this challenge next year, I hope this gets you excited for what is to come. Blessings to each of you!

Scripture Challenge RAK {Let's See Those Pages}

Okay, everyone must have had a very busy summer because it has been so quiet! In our study for this week {Week 34}, we are talking about blessings. Have you thought about how your pages or cards may bless others as you share them? So, my challenge for you this week is for you to share those cards and pages!!! I want to see them! So, post a link to your work here in this comment thread so we can look, and you may win a RAK. If you don't have a gallery or blog to post them to, please consider using our amazing Scripture Challenge gallery at Create My Keepsake. You can find the gallery here. You get to see my cards each week but I haven't shared my ATC Holder with you in a while. Here is what is looks like now:
It is really filling up, and it looks so pretty on my desk!

And as a little incentive for you to share, I am giving away a little RAK. For everyone that shares a link here to any Scripture Challenge page or card you create this week, you will be entered into a drawing to win this amazing stamp from Unity Stamp Co. I used the stamp on this tag:
So, get creating, and post those links right here in the comments section by 11:59 p.m. Sunday, August 31st! I will post the winner next Monday. Happy studying, and remember, your creation may just bless someone else that sees it!

Scripture Challenge {Week 11}

Do you separate your “religious” activities from your “regular” activities? Are you grouping your daily or weekly tasks into tasks for God, tasks for the family, tasks for the school, etc.? I think you get the idea. Well, our precious Lord does not want us to live by grouping our activities and tasks. He wants us to understand that everything we do, everywhere we go (even the grocery), falls under His precious Kingdom. We are to live a Godly lifestyle daily not just on Sundays, Wednesdays, or days we are at the church. Living for Him is a lifestyle. His precious Word teaches us how to live our lives daily for Him. It is our instruction manual on how to live.

Genesis 6:9 tells us that “Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God.” Are you walking/living for God or the world? Noah was more concerned about pleasing the Lord than pleasing people. How about you? So, if you haven’t guessed by now, our word for this week is:

Week 11 Challenge Word: Live

It truly is a challenge to live for Him daily but He gives us the Holy Spirit to guide us. Shoot up a quick prayer if you feel like gossiping, worrying, complaining, etc. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you His words. And another great thing to think about is the acronym WWJD (What Would Jesus Do). If you aren’t sure about something, ask yourself “What would Jesus do?” Follow His example. Jesus is our perfect model for relating to the world.

To choose my scriptures this week, I used Bible Gateway. I love that site, and I think a lot of you use it too. Anyway, when I searched on the keyword “live,” it gave me 1,112 scriptures. And yes, I looked through all of them! My eyes were a bit cross-eyed by the time I was done. There were scriptures about where people lived, what cities people lived near, how many years they actually lived, etc. Well, then I discovered that I should have searched on “exact phrase.” When I did that, I only got 617 scriptures. So, hopefully this little tip will help you if you use Bible Gateway to search the scriptures. And I found 24 scriptures that I loved. But the three I chose to put on my card this week were:

Amos 5:14: “Seek good, not evil, that you may live.”
Colossians 1:10: “And we pray this in order that you may please Him in every way, bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.”
Galatians 5:16: “So I say, live by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”

And I used miscellaneous goodies from the Create My Keepsake February kit, and I used a one of the new 7Gypsies ATC transparencies. They are really fun with many different designs in the package.

As you go out this Holy Week and the days and weeks ahead, remember how Jesus lived, how He is our perfect example, and that He sacrificed so that we might live! Have a blessed week!

7Gypies ATC Holder for Scripture Challenge

I thought it might be fun to go ahead and share my ATC holder full of my Scripture Challenge cards thus far. All cards on here (except one) were completed using the awesome Create My Keepsake kits!!!! Those kits sure are making my holder look pretty on my desk! :) I can't wait to fill it up more. If you have links to your holders or albums, feel free to post in the comment section. I am sure we would all love to see them thus far! Happy Scrapping!