Sunday, January 30, 2011

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.

Saturday, January 29, 2011

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!

Friday, January 28, 2011

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

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

The Scrappiest Sketch #101

Here's my take on Sketch #101
I used the "Winter Time" papers
from Bella Road

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

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?

Sunday, January 23, 2011

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

Saturday, January 22, 2011

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:)

Friday, January 21, 2011

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!

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

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

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

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!

Monday, January 17, 2011

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.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

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:)

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

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!

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Tahiti Bars-YummO!

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

Monday, January 10, 2011

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

Saturday, January 8, 2011

"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.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

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


Monday, January 3, 2011

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!

Saturday, January 1, 2011

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...