When no one is around....

I have had the journaling for this layout written for a year and a half!! Back then when I found myself all of the sudden single again...I had lots of time alone, when the kids were napping or had gone to bed. I was thinking one night about how I really needed to get to know myself all over again. The idea for this page was thought of...the journaling was written...and I am just now finally getting to put it in the scrapbook. NO...this is not my most prized possession layout...neither does it have super-deep meaning. It's just a part of my story I wanted to tell. That's all.

Here's the little list I had written...it's going to feel so good to throw it in the trash now that it's documented. My scrap desk isn't that big!
Here is the layout in progress...I decided it needed some paint splattered on it since it was pretty simple...so I covered the photo block and added a little.
The finished project...

I used the Pink Paislee acrylic alphabet that I loved...and finally bought the other day for the title in the bottom corner.

The stickers are Hallmark "stickeroni" LOL. They were a little funky and work on this random page! I still have another sheet of them left, which I'm sure I'll never use. The butterfly was punched from the vintage map in my July kit! And the cool fabric flower and patterned paper is also by Pink Paislee!

I decided after my photo and stickers were stuck down to splatter paint...a word to the wise...do it before anything is stuck down! LOL

Hope you had a great day! Off to give the kids a bath! I also will be working on a mid-month newsletter...can't believe it's already the 15th? Where does the time go?

Some Mad Hope!

Here's a layout I finished the other night...I was up way too late painting and stitching, but I was having too much fun to stop! (Thanks to my sister for keeping me company! Since we are a few states away from each other...it's fun to "crop" together sometimes over the phone!) To most of you this is probably a weird title for a page...but while I was working I was listening to Matt Nathanson, whose album is named "Some Mad Hope." I thought it was perfect for how I am feeling right now. I am so full of hope and am crazy blessed in my life right now. The picture of the rainstorm that is featured was just a random shot I took from the edge of a cornfield. I had one of those moments...I don't think I will ever forget where I was at, what I was doing and how I felt right then. When the whole world is crashing down around you...in the world around you (hello bad economy) in your personal life (enough said) you look around for some PEACE! (Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do no see.")
My faith pulls me through every time!! When you look hard enough for God in your situation...you can find Him. That's a promise!
The patterned paper is ancient Basic Grey and looks very grungy and that is the look I was going for. Chipboard letters are by Heidi Swapp...I have SO much of her product!
These felt hearts were another thing my sweet mom sent me. I used 3 of them...since I have a little family of 3. It's a little symbolic that they are stitched together...just like we are.

The "hope" rub-on which I used directly on the photo are from an Ali Edwards Creating Keepsakes kit, as well as the ones I used on the journaling pocket.

I used my Slick Writer to journal underneath the HOPE rub-on.

I like the way it turned out in the end. It was the first time I only painted a few of the letters in my title. I thought it added some visual interest. Hope you all had a great start to your week! I am planning another giveaway for this week! Stay tuned!

He's a keeper!

This boy is such a joy! I was taking some video of one of his latest stories which he likes to tell and show the pictures he's drawn to go along with the tale...and they are absolutely precious. This kid has an imagination like no other! Right after we finished, he asked if I would video another one. This is what I got...priceless! Seriously some of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me! I love it how he mentions that "she loves God the most of all..." if that is how he would describe me to strangers, then I must be doing something right! I will treasure this little video for-ev-er!!

I will be back tomorrow with another layout to share...I hope that you all had a fantastic weekend!!

"Eighter" the octopus

Last night I whipped up this little card for our guest designer next month using our "Navigate" kit! I am loving all of the fun things you can do with those exclusive felt shapes! This photo washes out the vibrant colors of the papers a little bit, but you get the idea. This took me all of 20 minutes or so to make. Can you imagine what this card would have cost at Hallmark? Just another reminder that paying $27.50 or $29.50 for a WHOLE kit is a steal of a deal. This card would have easily been $5 in the store. All you have to make with your kit is 5-6 cards to pay for the entire thing! Totally justifies the cost of the kit, in my opinion. Oh...and with all that you get...you can definitely make a lot more than 5 or 6 cards!!
Looking at this photo it looks like there may have been some octopus cruelty happening here...but I can promise you that NO octopus's were harmed in the making of this card! LOL.

So I challenge you to take some scraps you have laying around this weekend (let's face it...we all do!) and whip up a few cards! You'll be happy you have some on hand when the next occasion arises where you need one! I mean who doesn't get a big smile on their face when they get a nice card from a friend or family member in the mail??

Tonight it's the Peoria Chiefs with a side of Matthew West on the schedule...do you think I can talk the kids into taking a nap? LOL.

Mower girl!!

I am officially mower girl. We have 6 acres of land here (NO, I don't have to mow all of that!) some of it is trees, but a lot of it is grass. I actually like to mow...I have been doing it since I was a little girl, it's relaxing and rewarding to see how nice it looks once it's all cut. But ever since I have had to mow this ginormous yard, I can't help but complain a little about how much time it takes! I thought about putting in a big garden to cut down on the grass I would have to mow, only to realize I would have a lot more weeding to do. So it's still all grass. Yesterday when I mowed I saw...3 rabbits...2 frogs (which barely escaped with their lives!!) a dead bird (I think it hit the window) and a dead snake! It's a good thing I saw the snake as I was finishing...it was very traumatic! If you know me...then you know that snakes are my #1 fear!! I had to take some deep breaths and remind myself that I am bigger than a little snake and also that it was dead...which was a very good thing, because I ran over it twice with the mower just to be sure!! So once I finally finished whining about all the work I had to do in the yard...I watched my kids and the dog running around wild and free and I thanked the Lord for this yard. They LOVE it! And a big yard is better than NO yard at all. (Oh, and they aren't afraid of anything out in the yard...except bugs! Go figure!) But as my jounaling reads "If I had a million dollars the first thing I would do is get someone to mow the yard!"
That cool fabric flower is another fun thing from the Donna Downey fabric line by Prima. Comes exactly like this...I just attached it to my page!

I also stitched across my letter stickers in the title for fun. I was using scraps I had laying around. This was a fun, quick page.

I took this picture and posted it on my facebook account and all my friends commented about my blue toenails. So funny!

Hope you had a great Friday!! I got to go to a crop tonight and work with the upcoming August kit! So fun!! I've gotta get back to the scrap studio and finish up!

Quick share...

I am in love with these floors!! NO, not the before...the after!!
source:)
Wouldn't they just brighten up the grey days? I'll be back in a little bit with another layout to share! Happy Friday!

Circa 2001

As promised...the layout of the dog eating watermelon. LOL. Looking back at your scrapbooks is kind of like looking back on the fashions that you used to wear and think you looked SO cool in. I thought this page was perfectly great when I put it together! Now...well there isn't much to say about it, totally boring in my opinion. NO journaling! As I was looking back through that particular album...that was the trend. A silly store-bought title that went with the theme of the page and not another word. I have come a LONG way!
This is still one of the cutest pictures EVER!

Can you tell he liked it? Spoiled rotten when he was a puppy!!
From now on, I think anytime I am feeling like what I am putting together just isn't turning out "right" I am going to remember just how very far I have come in this hobby. How my creativity has blossomed and changed. AND how thankful I am for all of the awesome new products that make putting together a scrapbook these days SO much easier!

Speaking of new products...I just got a package in the mail of brand new CHA products that won't be for sale until the show at the end of the month! Woohoo! (And I even got the yard mowed today! It's a very good thing!) And now it's off to start my layout about mowing the yard...hopefully I'll have something to share tomorrow! Have a great evening!

****edited to add: Cosmo Cricket is doing a really wonderful thing over on their blog...go leave a comment and then head to your local food bank/church/or wherever you can give.****