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Sunday, October 31, 2010

Sunday Inspiration - Spooky

Hold on, man. We don't go anywhere with "scary," "spooky," "haunted," or "forbidden" in the title. ~ From Scooby-Doo ~

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Big Boy Underwear and another one.

Seems like I just finished these, but they are actually a couple of weeks old...

The first one is about that magical time in a boy's life when he gets his first REAL underwear...if you don't have kids, you may find this odd...but if you DO have kids, you know well what this is about. A CELEBRATION that we have a commitment to use the potty and wear REAL underwear. Truthfully, we still make a daily celebration out of picking just the right characters for each day's adventures!


Supplies:
Printed Paper: Fancy Pants
Journal Card: Fancy Pants
Corrugated die cuts: Jillibean Soup
Die Cuts: Sassafras Lass
Alphabet stickers: American Crafts
Linnen Ribbon: Tim Holtz
Button: Creative Cafe
Ink: Papertrey Ink
Pen: Zig
Adhesive: Glue Glider Pro, Making Memories


Supplies:
Printed Paper: Pebbles, Inc.
Cardstock: Bazzill
Alphabet Stickers: Cosmo Cricket
Rub-ons: Pebbles, Inc.
Adhesive: Zip Dry, Glue Glider Pro

I had SO much fun with these layouts! They make me happy just looking at them!

Happy Day, everyone!

Peace!

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Resurrecting an old project

Last year...in AUGUST, no less...I began the foundation of what was supposed to be my 2009 December Daily album.

At the time, before I'd even purchased a Christmas line for the seasion, I used a bunch of papers from my stash - October Afternoon, Cloud Nine, Scenic Route, Pink Paislee, Collage Press - mostly non-Christmas but in red, lime green, cream and black. I had some older Hambly Screen print transparencies and a new sheer that I used also...

This is my foundation - not much of a shot, but you get the idea...its set up for full 7" by 9" pages plus some half pages and some decorative edge pages.



It never got accomplished.

I have some pictures and some things captured, but as we approach 2010, I realize...I should just start now. I mean last year, I had a baby on the 21st of December and the whole scrapbooking thing wasn't all that high on my list. I was a bit distracted!

BUT this year...maybe this year I should resurrect it and just give it a new title...I think I could easily swing getting 2009 to read 2010...and then I don't waste a perfectly lovely book.

hmmmm...

What do you think?

Peace, everyone!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Pumpkin Patch Retrospective 2010

The pumpkin patch is getting to be a regular old tradition for us around here. Noah is still too little to drag out to the dirt and the chaos, so he stayed with Grandma this year.

Jayden and I ventured out to the Patch on Friday with the other kids, teachers and parents of his school. I was surprised to see how much difference a year makes in the adventure:

2007:



2008:



2009:



And here's the latest - 2010:


Pretty much all traces of that baby chub so evident in the first three pictures has disappeared. He's a real-live boy, all about Scooby-Doo and swinging from anything that will allow swinging, running and jumping and getting into every possible scrape.

Its amazing how so short a time can bring so much change.

Have a WONDERFUL day, everyone!

Peace!

Monday, October 25, 2010

Monday Muse - Nurture Creativity

Today's muse is brought to you buy the local Community School for the Arts:


What an image...as a musician, I can completely appreciate the concept...

but further, this idea of art having roots, growing up out of foundational princapals...its amazing.

I have found a NUMBER of amazing things that share this tree-of-life concept, necklaces, cards, poems, its as though my eyes were suddenly opened to all of the possibilities of a tree of life by this one image.

So, what about you...what does this inspire in you?

Peace, ya'll!

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Sunday Inspiration - The Speed of Life

We speed through life, wanting to get on to the next thing, unable to take pleasure in the moment. We chart life on a checklist, ticking off experiences as if they were chores, overly committed to our views and unable to deal with the unexpected. We seem distracted and spaced out, unable to hear what our family members say to us, always preoccupied with some other place and time.- Danny Gregory – The Creative License

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Remember *SFTIO October Purpose Kit*

This is my final Design Team layout for the Scrapbooking From the Inside Out Purpose kit, although I might get back into that kit and take on some of the monthly challenges or dig into some of the inspiration on the FREE Inspiration Page. There is SO much to explore in this theme!!

This final layout is about knowing and remembering who I am.

I once received an invaluable piece of advice – Remember who you are.


It can be a tough piece of advice if you don’t KNOW who you are. I know in my journey thus far, I’ve worried about who I should be, who I think I might be, who I want to be, who I hope to be, who I will never be…all of them in search of who I am.


Well, the reality is that who I am digs down deep into the foundations of my character…and through both joy and adversity, my character is refined daily…so who I am is about today, and digging down deep until I hit bedrock.

When I get lost, that is where I go. When I wonder who I will be someday or fret over where I might have lost touch with myself, I always go back to this…Remember who you are:

Have a GORGEOUS day, everyone!

Peace, ya’ll

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Sunday Inspiration - Hungry and Blind

We should weep for ourselves. For we have big things, know big things, yet our nights are filled with anxiety, our days with drudgery, and in the forest around us we see only trees.

We have big things – megachurches, multimedia resources, ministries that reach around the world. We know big things – the doctrines of the Bible, the differences between the denominations, the dateline of Armageddon.

But we don’t look into each other’s eyes.

And we’re hungry for quietness.

We are famished for experiences that are real, relationships that are deep, work that is meaningful.


- Ken Gire – Knowing What is Sacred -

Saturday, October 16, 2010

BLOOM and some insight into God working through you

Adoption isn't something that is always high on my radar...I haven't known a ton of adopted people in my life, and, since we have our hands full with our own two little monkeys, I haven't considered adoption as an opportunity for us so much as an opportunity for others.

To be honest, I don't think this is an uncommon viewpoint among Americans (or the world?) - that adoption is for OTHER people to consider...

But some time ago, I went to hear a talk given by Tom Davis who happens to be the CEO of Children's Hope Chest. I was truthfully appalled, sickened, and greived over the plight of orphaned children and children who are "lost" or "at risk" or just plain neglected in this world. When I first heard Tom speak, it was with great hope that I began to see that I have the power to make a difference in the lives of orphans. Now, honestly, I'm still processing what that means for us...we are intent upon finding a way to support financially and/or through work being done here in our own city for children who fall through the cracks, are missing parents, or are without homes or financial means.

I guess my point is that I know God is working in this area for my family - things like sponsoring a child, being foster parents or just getting ourselves involved in the lives of local children through one of the local organizations have all come up. And impressing upon our kiddos how blessed they are and how much they could contribute positively to the lives of others less blessed are things we are really working on.

BUT, I have an array of beautiful women in my life who seem always to be doing beautiful things in really HUGE ways for orphans...they are truly in the trenches with this issue, much like Tom Davis.

My friends Elizabeth, Amy and Sarabeth are passionate about giving orphans a chance to find forever families and giving them support until those forever families are found.

I've watched with great interest and emotion as Elizabeth and Amy have adopted children, expanding their families in ways that seem just gorgeous and huge and unbelievably compassionate through adoption - one domestically and one through foreign adoption. And have prayed fervently with them here in my little corner of the world as they walked out their desires to really help orphaned children in a physically tangible way.

In each case, I'm always amazed at what God does for the children, whom He watches over to the extent of numbering every hair on their heads. Through these women, He has raised up powerful advocates for adoption and those who have been called to be forever families for these children.

Recently, they embarked on a mission trip to Haiti, specifically to see for themselves what is going on with the children and then set about fulfilling the needs of the orphans of Haiti.

Through this process, they have maintained one purpose - MAKE A DIFFERENCE for orphans...and I'm so proud and so grateful to them for sharing their journey and encouraging each of us to come along, participate, be part of the solution to the epidemic of neglect and pain that orphaned children become victims of.

Their organization is called Bloom Project. You can also check out their blog HERE!

Knowing what these amazing women are capable of, I'm certain that they will be changing the lives of ALL of us with their plans. I know I have prayed more than ever before for these amazing women and that an entirely new world has opened before my eyes as a result of knowing them.

For this I am so eternally grateful.

And it has me asking a question: What has God put on your heart? Where are your passions?  And what are you doing about them!!?!?!

Peace, ya'll!

BLESSINGS and PEACE, ya'll!

Friday, October 15, 2010

An SFTIO giveaway from Cathy Z!

Hey, would you like to win a Purpose Kit from Cathy Z!?!?!?

The amazing Cathy Z has the PURPOSE kit from Scrapbooking From the Inside Out up for grabs on her blog today.

Isn't this one amazing? I had to go look up the "steampunk" trend, to be brutally honest. I think I might have found a new obsession! Its just gorgeous in every unexpected way!


If you head on over to Cathy's Blog and leave a comment about what you do to celebrate or get in the mood for fall.

PS...I feel a bit like I hit the big time...We're talking about Cathy Z here! Somebody pinch me!

Good luck, and Happy Scrapping!

Peace, ya’ll!

Thursday, October 14, 2010

On Purpose *SFTIO October Purpose Kit*

How is it that I have a basket full of divided page protectors and not all that many layouts that incorporate them in my layout stack?

I thinks somewhere along the line, I started to think of them as just “picture holders” and not the immensely flexible design option that they are.

So, I set out to explore my Scrapbooking From the Inside Out Purpose kit with a divided page protector.

My idea: use it as a transparency and not as just place to put things…in other words, put some things OUTSIDE of the divided slots:



As I was creating, I was thinking about all the ways this could be fun…paint, alcohol ink, masks, rub-ons, double or triple transparencies laid over top, stickers, stamps, sewing, ribbon…really, the possibilities are endless, right?

What about you? What do you think you could do with a divided page protector and your creativity?

Peace, ya’ll!!

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Happy Birthday, Scott!!

Today, my amazing husband has a birthday...

I won't tell you how old he is...he doesn't look his age, tho!

Have an AMAZING DAY, Honey! I LOVE YOU!!!


Peace, ya'll!!

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Kaiser Craft and SFTIO - ANOTHER Give away!!!

SERIOUSLY!?!?!?!

ANOTHER chance to win this amazing October PURPOSE kit from Scrapbooking From the Inside Out!!!

This kit is FULL of amazing products for digging into purpose:


The kit has some of the gorgeous products from the Kaisercraft Lush line in it...they are so beautiful (so beautiful, in fact, that I wanted to just frame some of them and hang them!) I had some difficulty choosing which side of the double sided papers to choose because both sides are so beautiful.




If you head on over to the Kaisercraft Blog and leave a comment about YOUR purpose, you could win this amzing kit!

Good luck, and Happy Scrapping!

Peace, ya’ll!

Crate Paper and SFTIO - GIVEAWAY!!!

What?  Two posts in one day???  Well...its cuz its a special day!  (see other post!)

The October Scrapbooking From the Inside Out kit is all about PURPOSE.

Lots to think about there!

Do you believe you were born with a purpose?

Do you move with purpose through your life?

Do you know yours or are you still seeking? Do you believe you "find" purpose or are we just born knowning?

This kit is FULL of amazing products for digging into purpose:


The kit includes some amazing products from the Crate Paper Restoration line:




And GUESS WHAT!?!?!  You could win this amazing kit from Crate Paper! Just head on over to the Crate Paper Blog and leave a comment about what you think your purpose is!!!

Good luck, and Happy Scrapping!

Peace, ya’ll!

Happy Birthday, My Boy!

Today is my fourth anniversay of motherhood

At approximately 1:00 in the afternoon, this little creature came into the world and changed my life forever...and now he's FOUR YEARS OLD!!!

YIPES!!!



I'm certain I'll have new exciting pictures by the end of the day...we are having some FUN this afternoon!

Have an AMAZING DAY, everyone!

Monday, October 11, 2010

Monday Muse - Learning the Hard way

Today's Muse is brought to you by Thought Questions, one of my favorite little punch in the arm inspirations:


I LOVE the colors in this...and the thoughts....

THere are so many life experiences I had to experience first hand...but the most important one is motherhood...I never knew, until I had my own, what all that was about.

What about you???

Peace, ya'll!

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Sunday Inspiration - Pure Creativity

Pure creativity is all around us. Think of how a branch bends, how new leaves arrange themselves, how a tree reacts to circumstance, water, sun, wind and calamity. That’s pure creation with no pause for harsh self-judgement. (You never hear a pear tree whine, “I’m no good at fruit!”) - Danny Gregory – The Creative License -

Friday, October 08, 2010

Five Question Friday - my dream home?

Is it Friday already?

WOOHOO!!

Well, that means that I get to make some yummy goodies this weekend, plan for the birthdays of two of my guys, prepare for the arrival of GG and Aunt "Joyann" as my son calls her, and SCRAPBOOK.

Sounds like that means we need a nice easy, frivolous post for the day...Five Question Friday.

Here we go!

1. What do you listen to while driving? The radio, CD's or just my thoughts.

2. What is your least favorite thing about Fall? If there is anything at all, its the first time I have to turn on the heater...its smelly the first time!

3. What does your dream house look like, inside and out? Its a craftsman with a deep front porch and a white kitchen...Like this maybe:



4. Would you ever own a minivan? I already do!

5. Do you wash new clothes before wearing them? For the most part...it makes them less itchy to wear.

Have a beautiful Friday, everyone!!

Wednesday, October 06, 2010

one purpose *SFTIO October Purpose Kit*

So…have you been thinking about your purpose?

The Scrapbooking From the Inside Out Purpose kit really had me thinking.

Practically speaking, I could say I have a whole lot of purposes – wife, mom, friend, artist, employee, Life Group leader…the list could really be endless .

But the common thread in each of these, the place I strive (often unsuccessfully) to the best of my ability is to reflect the Grace and Love of the God I serve. Its hard sometimes to set myself aside, to align my longings and my life to the flow of God.

Still, it is the purpose I believe I was made for…

The colors in this kit are SO remarkable and on trend…for example, there is a huge push with yellow and charcoal. I loved how cozy and deep they felt…and how sophisticated.


There is a lot of cut work on this layout…that yellow border..but OH, how rewarding it is to see it against the charcoal cardstock.

I LOVED the butterflies on the Graphic 35 paper as well..beautiful to cut out a ton of them and scatter them about. I also ventured into making some of my own flowers. I’ve been experimenting with some techniques I learned at CKC in August and liking them enough to start using them on layouts.


And, hey, with two boys in my house, its not often that I get to scrapbook intricately cut flowers or butterflies on my layouts!!! So WOOHOO for getting to do something girly and sophisticated!

Peace, ya’ll!!

Monday, October 04, 2010

Monday Muse - Pumpkins

I always post a retrospective on pumpkin patch visits here in October and WILL do so later on this month...

Its been tough to get into autumn here as the weather has remained so warm and the trees so green...

BUT the temp dipped to 45 degrees last night and today I was able to break out my tights and new riding boots (still in short sleeves, mind you, but the boots are a big step toward fall!). I'm certain that the leaves will finally start to change this week and we might feel a bit more like fall soon.

I remember that I went into the hospital on 10/12 to have a baby a few years ago and it still felt like summer. When I left the hospital three days later, autumn had suddenly arrived...seems we will see the same thing this year.

Still, being able to wear tights and boots is a big deal. So, I thought I'd pull out some pumpkin pictures...nothing like stacks of pumpkins to inspire the senses...who would have thought that the lowly pumpkin could be so gorgeous!?!?!?



Oh, what I could do with the colors alone! YUM!

Incidently, for all my California friends, these were taken at The Pumpkin Patch on Live Oak Canyon Road and the 10 in Redlands.

Sunday, October 03, 2010

Sunday Inspiration - Prepared to Receive

Prepared to Receive

Every moment and every event of every man’s life on earth plants something in his soul.  For just as the wind carries thousands of invisible and visible winged seeds, so the stream of time brings with it germs of spiritual vitality that come to rest imperceptibly in the minds and wills of men. Most of these unnumbered seeds perish and are lost, because men are not prepared to receive them.- Thomas Merton – Seeds of Contemplation - 

Friday, October 01, 2010

Purpose

I feel as though I just posted that it was September 1st and now here it is October 1st! October is a BIG month in my house…two family birthdays, a friend’s birthday, and Halloween, combined with my desire to bake more, go pumpkin hunting, spend time in the beautiful leaves…it’s a month full of adventure for us.

October 1st also means I get to post about the new Scrapbooking From the Inside Out kit!

This month, the theme is Purpose.

Lots to think about there! Do you believe you have one? Do you move with purpose through your life? Do you know yours or are you still seeking?

This kit is FULL of amazing products for digging into your purpose:


10 Sheets double sided patterned paper from the Crate Paper Restoration line, Graphic 45 Steampunk Debutante line and Kaisercraft Lush line. I Just LOVE all the printed papers in this kit. Its so on-trend! I went exploring “Steampunk” when we got the kit and I think I have a new obsession!




The cardstocks this month are all American Crafts in Charcoal, Black, Rust and Jade – GORGEOUS!


There are a TON of embellishments in this kit…a full Basic Grey chipboard alphabet Wander font in Green and a full set of Cosmo Cricket Tiny Type Clear letters in Brown, Gem Gears from 7gypsies, Kraft Window Envelopes from Maya Raod, Melissa Frances Ephemera General Store Stickers, Crate Paper Restoration Chipboard, Graphic 45 Chipboard Buttons, Jillibean Soup Corrugated Shapes Arrows, Maya Raod Bingo Markers, Basic Grey Basics Journaling Transparencies…Oh the list goes on and on…its really a stunning kit!







My favorite part this month was the Tim Holtz Masks in Timeworks and the Tim Holtz Distress Stickles…these things are so versatile and fun! I loved the clock face and the gears from the masks and, well…I’m not exactly a glitter person. I hate that it gets everywhere and I always seem to end up with it on my face. But Stickles is my answer to glitter…it’s the only type of “glitter” I use, actually. And this color is GORGEOUS!


My first layout from the kit is called Meant to Be:


Its all about the things I know I’m meant to be, all the things I strive to be, as a woman, as a wife, as a mother, as a friend, as an artist. I don’t often do cut work, but I so loved the imagery in this kit that I couldn’t resist cutting some things out!


So, what’s your purpose?!?!?!

Peace, ya’ll!