Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Time for some Burlap & Buttercups inspiration

So I finally had some time to play with my February kit from Burlap & Buttercups - love these kits, you really should check them out!  I stole a few pieces of papers for some other projects (and can't quite remember where they ended up), but these came directly out of the box as is...

First, my style - I have come to the peaceful conclusion that I am a simple scrapper that adores customizing each layout to the subject!  You know how awesome that is to finally know and be okay with my style!  No more fitting in, just lovely scrapping that makes me happy.  So let me show you what that means:

Here is the sketch that I drew up in January for Memorable Seasons Sketch-a-Thon:
Pretty simple right?  Now here is how I interpreted it today,
Materials Used:  Lily Bee, American Crafts, October Afternoon, Melissa Frances, MME, stickles, Cosmo Cricket
Still the same simple layout, but I decided I wanted to be vintagey when I made this layout so I added those type of touches (frame, doily, dress pattern, rose sticker, etc...) and dressed up my simple layout.  So my advice to you is find your style and then stick with it; that doesn't mean you can't follow the trends, but allow them to become yours don't remake yourself.  Believe me, you have never seen a more trend/technique junkie than myself - but process each new thing to see how it fits, kinda like trying on new shoes!  :)

Next, I loved these Basic Grey papers that were in January's kit (I know a little behind) and so I created this:
Materials Used:  The Twinery, Basic Grey, MM, Maya Rd, Martha Stewart, tissue paper
I have been struggling with days that just don't go well and getting so upset because it didn't meet my expectations.  So this says, Today is the perfect day for me!  I have gotten so bogged down with my schedule and my plans that I had forgotten that God created each day for us to enjoy - it is almost like he made the day and wrapped it up and gave us the present.  But what have I been doing with that present?  Have I been opening it up and truly enjoying all that was included or have I just left my present (day) wrapped because it didn't fit my plans?  

So I encourage you open your present - enjoy the life God has planned for you and be yourself - it is wonderfully freeing!

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Lily Bee Sketch Challenge #5

Okay so if you have been here to my blog in the past month you know that I LOVE LILY BEE products!  Yep, it is totally true, I have fallen Head Over Heels in love with them.  So when I saw this sketch on their blog I knew that I would be playing along.

Here's the sketch that we were given:


And here is what I created using Lily Bee and American Crafts Thickers.


Yep, I am already documenting 2011 Christmas - pretty good, huh!  Don't worry I'm not that caught up, just the papers matched my pictures and the sketch made me think of their big present.

Day 2 of Memorable Seasons crop

Welcome back for another challenge at Memorable Seasons! 

Are you ready for a fun challenge? My challenge for you is to scrap someone other than your normal subjects - a friend maybe, a brother or sister that doesn't make it into your album, anyone that isn't normal for you.

Here are two of mine that I made for this challenge using my Lily Bee Head Over Heels kit that I was sent:

This is my sister at her wedding this past May - I just loved the photographs the photographer took and the location for the pictures was gorgeous!



This is my brother and his children, just miss them wherever they are! 


You have until the 29th of February to join us - so stop on over!

Friday, February 24, 2012

It is cropping time at Memorable Seasons!

Hurry on over and join us at Memorable Seasons for the weekend we are having a crop and it promises to be tons of fun!  There are quite a few games going on and I just issued my first challenge.

Okay so I love to scrap layouts, but even more I love making things! So my challenge to you is to create something to give away to a friend. You might make a card (or 2), a gift bag set, a home decor piece, whatever just use some paper and it will work.

Here is what I made again with my Lily Bee kit - the plan was to give them away, but I really like them so we will see...
My first was a clock that I have been saving for just the right paper and then I found it!


Next I had a Maya Rd chipboard house set in my DT kit so I started thinking...


And then since I am supposed to be making something to give away I needed a card...


I hope you come and join us, it will be tons of fun!  I'll be back tomorrow with my next challenge.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Do you know my King?

I need to share something that is very strong on my heart.  I don't normally write these kind of posts, but I've really been thinking a lot this week due to some awesome women I have met through Scrapping Everyday Miracles DT call and I need to obey what the Lord has put on my heart.

Each of you have your own beliefs and values, some might be similar to mine and some might be different; just as each of us scrap in different ways and tell our story differently through our art. But I don't want there ever to be a time that you my dear blog friends say - I never knew, why didn't someone tell me the truth?


 

John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."  That is the whole truth - to have your sins forgiven, your past wiped completely away, you must believe that Jesus is God's Son and that He died on the cross for your sins and then ask the Lord Jesus Christ to come into your heart.  I don't want to force my beliefs on you, but I needed to tell you so that at anytime you need help you will remember my blog and come searching for this post.

I am so thankful for each and every one of you that comes by my blog and I love getting your comments they mean so much to me.  Thank you for allowing me to share my heart with you today.

Have you gotten into the tape frenzy?

I haven't, love the stuff and use it, but I don't have it on everything.  My favorites (or all I have) is a turquoise heart one from Hambly, Tim Holtz definitions, and a new one K&Co smash tape.

This layout uses the K&Co and it was also the featured project at 2Peas on Monday!
Materials Used:  Lily Bee, K&Co, Hambly, OA, Twinery
I made sure that I used some of my tapes on this so that I could link it up to the Tape it Up party at Paper Issues.  You still have time to join us if you have done some taping!

Time for some Tape!
You know it, you love it, you have rolls and rolls(and rolls) of it!
Whether you are a Washi girl, a Dymo girl, a masker, a taper, a candlestick maker, we want to see what you have made!
Link it up!
New project, old project, 1 project, 5 projects, as long as you used paper, you are in!
We will feature tons of great projects here and on Facebook, so make sure you like us!
Leave some blog love, mingle, make some new friends.
You have until March 3 to link up!

Monday, February 20, 2012

Just had to share this!


That's my layout as the featured project at 2Peas!  You can take a closer look here:  http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/gallery/.

Nikki Sivils inspiration

(Make sure you get to the end of the post- there is some neat stuff down there!)

Today is sketch day at Scrapping Everyday Miracles!  This is the sketch we were given to use:


and here is what I created:


 I also created these projects with some more of the Nikki goodies I received!





This layout was just published in Scrapbook News and Review.


 I created one more layout with my goodies, but you will have to wait until the July 2012 issue of Scrapbook Trends comes out to see that one!  :)

So usually my favorite technique that you find on all my layouts is misting, but not in this set!  In this group of projects, my second go-to technique is fussy cutting - you will always find me with my Fiskar finger knife cutting away at least once a day, maybe it is a stress reliever???

Make sure you stop by Scrapping Everyday Miracles Facebook page and comment on the Nikki Album for a chance to win some more Nikki goodies!  Here's a link so you don't miss the excitement!  Scrapping Everyday Miracles Facebook Page

Thanks for stopping by!  As a way to thank you my readers I am offering a non-expirable coupon code to another one of my DT's, Paper Issues etsy.  The code is sweet and it is good for 20% off at any time!  Pretty sweet, huh?

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Another week of...

I'm not sure what?  I really couldn't tell you what I accomplished this week!  I've stayed busy, but there are quite a few jobs left undone and I don't think I feel like doing them tomorrow either.  :(

I did manage to photograph some of the stuff that I completed lately and I have been scrapping just in VERY slow motion.

Here is our wreath I made for us this Christmas:


I made this layout for a challenge at the Scrapbook Nook to use 10 or more words for a title.
Materials Used:  Jillibean Soup
I decided to whip up another card with my Lily Bee goodies from Memorable Seasons - I don't know if you can tell, but my cupcake is very dimensional I added some fluff.
Materials Used:  Lily Bee, stickles
Thanks so much for stopping by, I really appreciate all of my readers.  Make sure you stop back on Monday for some exciting things!  :)

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Happy Valentine's Day!

I hope your are having a wonderful '"lovey" day as we call it here.  We are dressed in red, the kids helped me make a dessert, and I let them off the hook with their schoolwork today (really I wanted to have some time to scrap, but that hasn't happened yet).  Tonight we are planning to have heart pancakes, dirt and pepperoni bread - sounds delicious doesn't it?  :)

So even though my hubby and I aren't doing anything for Valentine's tonight we actually had a very busy weekend.  Sunday night we had a Valentine's dinner at our church so that was nice to spend some time with friends.  But the big event that really will put Valentine's 2012 on the map is we went to see the Duggars on Saturday!  Let me tell you, this was a huge dream come true for me.  They were at Liberty University for a marriage conference and since this isn't too far away, we bought tickets found babysitting and headed off without ANY kids!  :) 

I so enjoyed myself - they are really just the way they seem on TV, very sweet and sincere.  Michelle is short and looks very well after having 19 kids (I was wondering on this one b/c I know how my body changed with each of ours).  Michelle is extremely sweet and has such a loving voice all the time - this is something that I was really challenged on, to keep my voice quiet and speak lovingly all the time.

They shared some of what their testimony, some which is in their books but some that wasn't.  I had really gone to ask one question - Michelle had said on TV or in a book that the first 5 were the hardest.  Well I am at that spot right now.  I did really well up to this point in our lives, but 5 kids is really HARD.  I've really been praying that the Lord would give me wisdom what I could do to make things more peaceful and accomplish more in our days.  Well the Lord heard my prayer and that is exactly what she spoke on in depth - how she got passed that point and triumphed in her struggle.  You should have seen me in there, I was a mess!  But man, both Mike and I came home with some things to try to implement in our lives and the change has already been amazing.  I am so grateful that the Lord heard my prayer, touched another person's heart to share what I needed and that I was able to meet someone that I really respect.  What a wonderful Valentine's present!

So I will leave you with a picture of us with the Duggars, I am sure you will see a layout eventually about this, but it hasn't happened yet.


And one other dream of mine that came true last night, I got a request from Scrapbook Trends for one of my layouts!  :)

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Recording our thoughts

Today is my first official challenge at Memorable Seasons and I chose to issue a Journaling challenge.  I always write on my layouts, not because I like my handwriting, but because I think it is important to share what is happening at that moment in our lives so that we can always remember what the Lord has done in our lives - you might call my scrapbooks our "Book of Rememberance" as the Lord mentions.

Here is my challenge if you would like to join us - you have until the end of the month to load your layout in the gallery at Memorable Seasons and you will then be entered into the drawing for a gift certificate to the store.  The store is amazing!  There are so many pre-orders and they are ALL discounted so you really want this!  So I always write something on my layouts - what about you? Well for this challenge I am asking you to REALLY write on your layout. You can handwrite or use the computer, but you must include a lot of journaling - really put your heart into this one.

Here are some of my layouts that I made from my Lily Bee Head Over Heels kit that I received:

Materials Used:  Lily Bee, Tattered Angels, KI Memories
Materials Used:  Lily Bee, Tattered Angels, KI Memories, Martha Stewart

Materials Used:  Lily Bee, Tattered Angels, American Crafts, Fiskar, KaiserCraft

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

You've got to check this out!

Just wanted to share this - my friend Diana has a wonderful little etsy shop with gorgeous goodies and she is having a giveaway, right now!  Here is a link to the post and make sure that you check out her shop.

I also have some neat news to share, my dear friend Sherri has nominated me for the Liebster award!
Liebster, is German for 'dearest' or 'beloved' but it can also mean 'favorite'
So what is this award - I wondered the same too!  :)  The idea of the Liebster award is to bring attention to blogs with fewer than 200 followers.  I am so honored as my friend is soooo talented and such a wonderful lady - I hope to one day actually meet up with her!  You should really stop on over to Sherri's blog, Growing up: in faith, love & scrappiness, I promise you won't want to leave.

I was also honored by two other wonderful scrappers with this award Julie: http://hisglorygirl.blogspot.com/ and Shellye: http://paperedcottage.blogspot.com/  ; thank you all for your kindness!

One of the conditions in accepting the award is to pass it along to five more blogs (or 6 if you can't narrow it down).  So here are some of my favorite blogs that I would love to share some love with - if you have a moment please go visit them and then come back and leave a comment here and I will enter you for a giveaway. 


Lilith:  http://lilithandscrap.blogspot.com/
Lisa: http://creativejuicefreshsqueezed.blogspot.com/
Carol:  http://carolmonson.blogspot.com/
Maureen:  http://lovingthislife1.blogspot.com/
Rachel: http://burlapandbuttercups.blogspot.com/
Nicole: http://scrappingeverydaymiracles.blogspot.com/

For those interested, the Rules are:

1. Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.
2. Reveal your five picks for the award and let them know.
3. Post the award on your blog.
4. Bask in the love from the most supportive people on the blogshare-other bloggers.
5. Finally and the best rule of all..........have fun and spread the love!

Monday, February 6, 2012

Scrapping Everyday Miracles February challenge


Today brings a new challenge at Scrapping Everyday Miracles and an exciting twist - we were sent products from Nikki Sivils to work with!  You can win some of her collections by joining us in our challenge and linking up before the end of the month.

Here is Challenge #13:  Happy Valentine's Day... I know it is bit early but still want to say it!

Everywhere I go I see hearts hearts and more hearts... Red ones, pink ones, white ones, candy, paper and plastic... just hearts hearts hearts. Which got me thinking each of us are passionate about something... each of us have things that we just put our heart into! Col 3:23 says "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord...." Which leads me to this months challenge....


This months challenge is to scrap about something that you are passionate about.... something you are or did work at with all of your heart! It is okay if you dont want to scrap about yourself... it could be about anyone that has put all of their heart into doing something!


The scrap twist is to use a heart in or on your project....




I created my layout, the Art of Expression because ... (journaling reads)
I delight in expressing all the Lord has done for me through writing, playing my violin and scrapping our memories.  I am so thankful for the creativity that the Lord has blessed me with.

You can find more of what I created with my goodies here:  Nikki Sivils inspiration and the new Scrapbook News & Review has another of my layouts in it using my Nikki goodies.

Friday, February 3, 2012

Bring a friend month

Another week has passed all too quickly for me.  It was so nice and warm here this week that the kids and I ventured out and that just messed up my whole schedule for the week!  Now I remember why I stay in my little cocoon.  Oh well, lesson learned.  Because of our little adventures, I didn't get much scrapping done this week either - I have quite a few projects laid out so hopefully I can get to them today.

February started my official term at Memorable Seasons and I received some lovely goodies in the mail a few weeks ago to work with.  Lily Bee's Head Over Heels

Here are the fronts:

 Here are the backs of the papers:

I made this card with all the brads and the sticker - just seemed to fit!


Here is a layout I created using my kit, some Tattered Angels, Kaiser Craft pearls, ribbon, and flower from Paper Loves Glue Etsy:


Every Tuesday and Thursday we have a new challenge and they run through the end of the month.  So far Tami has challenged us with some color - make sure you stop by because there are a lot of neat things going on this month.  This month is also bring a friend month so there are a lot of promotions going on if you come and join in our challenges.  Plus, you have GOT to check out the store - everything is on sale!  :) 

Make sure you stop back by on Monday as Scrapping Everyday Miracles will have a new challenge to issue!  See you then, have a great weekend.