Catalyst #127 "THRIVE"

The Catalyst # 127 over @ Creative Therapy
is to use some type of art medium to
show what your "word" for the year is...

This is my first attempt at collage and tho
it was fun I'm not sure its something
I will be doing a lot of. I have wanted
to try it so this was a good opp.

I chose the word THRIVE.
For so many years my life has been
marked by foot slogging survival,
and believe me it has not been easy
for one main reason! I am not a "just survival" sort
of person-I like to grow and be challenged and
live life very fully, but that all got derailed
for a lot of years.
A friend of mine asked me the
other day how I was doing and I said "surviving"
and she looked at me really intently and said
"When is the last time you were thriving?"
and then I knew what my word was for this year!
When I looked up the definition I loved that, it
was exactly the heart of what my prayers
and hopes for this year are.
And that doesn't mean
that there won't be hard days or trouble or
mountains to climb or valleys too dark to see in.
But I believe that when God says Jesus came
to give us abundant life, He meant what He said!
This blog is a really important element of my
efforts to thrive, as I like to keep it focused
on learning from others, pushing myself
to try new ideas, and growing as a person
through the many lives that intersect mine.

Scrappiest Sketch #103

One more page for The Scrappiest contests

of this week.

I used the tools over at http://www.picnik.com/

to dull down the bright pink

sweatshirt Brielle had on and

then ended up finding some misc. papers

and embellishments that went perfectly.

Shopping my Sister's Fabric Room!

I had an idea for a purse/bag but was having

trouble (for some odd reason) finding

a simple denim blue ticking!

Finally I asked my sister when I was

visiting at her house and in her fabric room

(a little room lined with shelves for fabric,

and filled with fabric pieces of every color and hue,

can you imagine such bliss?!)

there was the perfect ticking.

Pattern is Simplicity 4117

modified of course!

Playing with Texture on Photos

"But the hour is coming, and now is,

when the true worshipers

will worship the Father

in spirit and truth,

for the Father is seeking

such to worship Him."

John 4:23

The Scrappiest Sketch #101

Here's my take on Sketch #101

I used the "Winter Time" papers

from Bella Road

How to be Creative and not Scattered?!

 This is how I start...things are organized

and I focus on one creative medium...

And this is where I end up!

I have so many ideas and mediums to work with

and so many new things I want to learn

and new challenges on blogs I'm following,

that I end up with my craft table piled with

stuff and so many projects I can't decide what

to work on first.

In the process I never really excel at any

one thing...

Does it matter?

Or do I just be me and let

the creativity of each day

be my guide as to what project I

work on?

My Favorite Local Coffee Shop

 Reason #1

It's locally owned and run by great people

 Reason #2

It has great architecture because it used to be

a church, and they've enhanced it with 

some great items like old doors

for chalkboards.

Reason #3

They make the best pumpkin pie latte ever

Reason #4

 They have gluten free scones every day

and GF bread to make deli sandwiches:)

Be sure to stop by if you haven't already!

Main Street, Old Town,  Battleground, WA

New Spring Apron

Finally got some sewing done for myself!

I bought this fabric on a trip

 at a small town quilt store

and wanted to use it for something special.

Today was sunny so it makes the

photo really look like spring:)

Favorite Thrift Find

I had been looking for one of these at my fave

discount stores for about a year with

no success, but then I thought to check

Goodwill and there was four to pick from...

This was the one I chose because it came

with a spoon and plate to catch drips too!

For this time of year with a new crock pot

and a pretty way to get soup the table

 I am good to go!

Some things don't mind the Rain!

"For as the rain comes down,

 And the snow from heaven,

And do not return there,

But water the earth

And make it bring forth and bud,...

So shall My word be

that goes forth from My mouth;

It shall not return to Me void,

But it shall accomplish what I please

And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it."

Isaiah 55:10-11

Painting with Fabric Inspiration

My grandaughter has graduated to a toddler bed

 and to revamp her nursery items

I used an extra curtain to make a pillow

and pajamas. Off the same fabric inspiration,

my daughter asked me to come up with

a simple picture for her wall.

The wall color behind the picture, @

their place, is a chocolate brown.
The cute part was how much
my little princess liked the simple painting:)
She kept looking at it and touching it..
now thats the ultimate compliment!

Rain, Rain, Rain!!!

Since it is going to keep on raining for months:(  

 I decided it was time to have a little fun

and see what kinds of rain I could find!

I think if we look around us 

we may be pleasantly surprised by

how many interesting views there are

to discover in the most mundane of days.

Scrap Challenge for a Dreary Saturday

 For this page layout I used a sketch from The Scrappiest

 to enter a contest over on the site Sweet Peach Crop Shop

and another challenge from "52 More..."

 The #3 challenge from that book is

 to lift a design idea from a home decor item.

So I chose this pillow...

This is the first time I used my sewing machine

on a scrapbook page and was thrilled

with how easy it was to do!

The color orange really was cheerful

to work with on such a dark, rainy day:)

Grandma is the Best Name I Have!

Just Another Day and 52 More Challenges #19

For this page I combined 2 challenges:

Over at Scrapbooks Etc. the challenge

was to "Scrap an Ordinary Day" and

in the book "52 More Scrapbooking Challenges"

by Elizabeth Kartchner

the #19 challenge is to incorporate

10 or more photos on a layout.

The scripture seemed to fit in with the challenge

and each photo had a point of time in my day.

Also by doing some photos very straight

and some crooked shows how days are...

you can plan, but things can go askew at any moment!

Tahiti Bars-YummO!

Be sure to check out the recipe for "Tahiti Sweeties"

@Recipeaholic!

They are absolutely delish...

 I made mine with Gluten free flour,

and they are still yummy!

Be sure to bake them just long enough

so they are still a little jiggly when you take them

  out of the oven, that way they are moist

and gooey.

View from My Back Patio in Winter

"I lift my eyes to the hills-

 where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord,

the Maker of heaven and earth."

Ps. 121:1

"52 more Scrapbook Challenges" #1 & Scrappiest sketch #97

The inspiration for this scrapbook layout came from

the book "52 more Scrapbook Challenges".

The #1 challenge is to use an outfit as

your inspiration. This is the one I chose because

I like the multilayered ruffles and the crocheted

neck piece (and matching hat). Also the

colors went so well with the photo.

I also used a sketch from The Scrappiest as my basic lay out.

The ruffles are the inspiration for the paper strips that

I tore and inked in white. The crocheted piece is

emulated in the ribbon and buttons.

I liked that the waves looked like ruffles

in the picture too. That was why I chose that photo.

Winter in My World

This idea is from this joy+ride

I hope some of my readers will answer these

questions on their blogs!

 I'd love to see what your winter world is like... 

This is my winter world...

on my nightstand:

• eye glasses
• silk scarf
• 12 books :) 4 devotionals, 4 Miss Read novels, 4 misc. fiction
• kleenex
• pen
• Bible
• photos of my family
• lamp with beaded fringe
• journal -with the cover I made that makes me smile everytime I see it

am loving:

• new blogging ideas
• gingerbread flavor in everything
• hot drinks, especially spiced tea and homemade mochas
• early evenings reading in bed

how does winter inspire you?

• the shapes of trees without leaves
• frost patterns that look like art
• incredible sunrises-the mountains look like they're on fire!
• warm fires
• pink cheeks on little ones

whats one item in your winter wardrobe you can't go without?

• my robe, fluffy, warm and cozy

whats your idea of the perfect homemade winter meal?

• Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice soup with homemade bread and lots of butter

What are three constants in your day?

• my grand daughter coming in the door
• a half hour of devotions before I get out of bed in the morning
• finding some beauty in the everyday

What is your winter theme song this year?

• "Ancient Words" by Lynn Deshozo, sung by Robin Mark

Creative Scrappers Sketch #137

I've joined the Creative Scrappers this week using their

sketch #137 to design my page.

I had a really tough time getting the layout to look

right! It seemed like whatever I did

it just looked messy, not cohesive.

I'm also still getting used to my new camera

and having trouble getting a true color match

for the lighting...

Anyway here's my final product!

A New Year with New Opportunities

"A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard,

and he went to find fruit on it, but did not find any.

So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard,

'For three years now I've been coming to look for fruit

on this fig tree and haven't found any.

Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?'

'Sir,' the man replied, 'leave it alone for one more year,

and I'll dig around it and fertilize it.

If it bears fruit next year, fine!

If not then cut it down.' "

Luke 13:6-9

God is the author of Grace!

Accept it and believe it

and let this year be the best you've ever known...