2012 Journal

I saw this accordion fold 2012 journal on Scrapbooks & Cards Today Blog and instantly thought of making something similar for my friend Sara's birthday.  Here are two photos of this cute journal that gave me inspiration!  Not shown below are the cards that are inserted into each pocket with prompts such as "wanting", "feeling" and "thinking".  The idea is to write something about each of these prompts once a month for the entire year.  Sara loves to write and journal, so I knew she would just love this idea!

Now, Sara loves red and black, so I chose the products appropriately.  I decided to use glassine kraft envelopes to hold a little card containing the following prompts:
        enjoying, feeling, wanting, scripture, reading, needing, writing, wondering, singing, creating

Here is the cover:

Top view:

The envelopes are layered under the accent papers and the calendars are mounted to the back of the envelopes.  I mounted them backwards so that the flaps would be easy to open.  The calendars cover up the seam in the envelopes.

I had so much fun making this that I decided I will make something similar for myself.  Now, just to decide on a design!

Hope you enjoyed seeing this as much as I enjoyed making it!

Mary

PRODUCTS USED:
Paper: Canvas Corp: Black & Kraft French Script, Black & Kraft Ribbon Stripe; Stampin' Up!: Red Riding Hood Cardstock; Bazzill: Black Textured Cardstock
Stickers: Cloud 9 Design: Number Rain Dots (black)
Envelopes: Jim Holtz Kraft Glassing Pockets
Calendars: Jenni Bowlin: Yellow/Red 2-1/2" x 4" Calendar Cards
Tape: Smash: Black with White Polka Dots
Buttons: Basic Grey "Femme Fatale Assortment"
Twill Tape: Simplicity 5/8" Black Twill Tape (from Jo-Ann Fabrics)
Tools: Corner Rounder

I've Been Published! (Online, that is!)

I was notified yesterday that the layout I did about my Nook was going to be part of Creating Keepsakes blog today!  You can't imagine how excited I was to hear that! Check out their blog here.

Here again is the inspiration for "My Nook" layout.  I found this sketch in Creating Keepsakes magazine that I decided to scraplift. This is my first time using a sketch and I must say that I really enjoyed it! The basic design was already done for me; I just had to pick the paper, photos and embellishments.

 Here again are photos of my layout. 

Thanks for sharing in my excitement!

Mary

My Nook

I wanted to create a page about my Nook Color, which I received for my birthday earlier this year.  I recently won an iPad 2 and am no longer using my Nook (anyone want to buy it?), but I wanted to document the fact that I had it and enjoyed reading books on it.  I found this sketch in Creating Keepsakes magazine that I decided to scraplift.  This is my first time using a sketch and I must say that I really enjoyed it!  The basic design was already done for me; I just had to pick the paper, photos and embellishments.

 Here is my take on this sketch:

Supplies Used:

Cardstock: Basic Grey “Oxford” Collection: honor roll, study hall, midterm, alma mater, finishing school; Basic Grey “Out of Print” Collection: mish mash, pasto

Letters: Basic Grey “Undresed Wilma” chipboard letters

Stamps: “Note to Self (Stampin’ Up!)

Die: Top Note (Stampin’ Up!)

Punches: ½” circle, 1” circle, 1-1/4” circle, Tag Corner, Decorative Label (Stampin’ Up!); Bracket Punch, 1/8” circle (Fiskars)

Ink: Chocolate Chip (Stampin’ Up!)

Stampin’ Write Marker: Chocolate Chip (Stampin’ Up!)

Ranger Alcohol Inks: Sail Boat Blue & Pearl Mixative

Stickers: Soft Spoken Stickers (Me and My Bid Ideas); Red Petite Type Square Letters & Cream Petite Type Circle Letters (Authentique)

3-D Flower Template (Hot Off The Press)

Gold Embossing Powder

Brown Twine

Thanks for looking!

Mary

Words to Live By Scrapbook

A while back, I participated in an on-line class by Big Picture Classes called "Words to Live By".  Each day, a different scrapbook artist, gave us a word to scrapbook.  I decided to use scripture verses and my brand new Lily Bee "This and That" 6x6 Tiny Tablet and matching letters.....so cute!  This was also my first attempt at using Tim Holtz alcohol inks on acetate.  I rounded out the designs with stamps from Stampin' Up!

FRONT COVER:

FREE:  Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free." ~ John 8:31-32

WONDER: Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you. Were I to speak and tell of your deeds they would be too many to declare. ~ Psalm 40:5

EMBRACE: Love God, your God, walk in all his ways, do what's commanded, embrace him, serve him with everything you are and have. ~ Joshua 22:1

PLAY: Thank God! Call out his name! Tell the whole world who he is and what he's done! Sing to him! Play songs for him! Broadcast all his wonders! ~ 1 Chronicles 16:8-9

CHERISH: You are a people set apart as holy to God, your God. He chose you out of all the people on earth for himself as a cherished personal treasure. ~ Deut. 7:6

GIVE: One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. ~ Proverbs 11:24

LESS: He must become greater; I must become less. ~ John 3:30

SHARE: Share with the Lord's people who are in need. ~ Romans 12:13

NEST: Like a bird that wanders from her nest, so is a man who strays from his home. ~ Proverbs 27:8

LIVE: God has delivered me from going down to the pit and i shall live to enjoy the light of life. ~ Job 33:38

MOMENT: For his anger last only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. ~ Psalm 30:5

ENJOY: Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. ~ Psalm 37:2-3

This was so much fun to make and even more fun to look at again and again!

Mary

11.11.11 @ 11.11 a.m.

So, how often does 11.11.11 come around?  Well, only once, of course!  And how often does 11.11.11 at 11:11 happen?  Well, twice, I guess.  A.M. and P.M. 

Elizabeth Kartchner, an amazing scrap-artist, in her blog suggested we photograph where we were/what we were doing 11:11 a.m. on 11.11.11.  And, while I assume most of those who took this challenge are going to post some great scrapbook page they were working on at the time, or a beautiful location they were visiting, I offer up only this photo of my desk at work.  I had to work today at 11:11 a.m.  Not real inspiring.

Note, however, my handcrafted calendar sitting on top of my hard drive.  And, don't overlook the glue stick and highlighters....craft making supplies, right?

 

Also, my dear friend Sara, also an Elizabeth Kartchner fan and fellow crafty person, works with me.  Here is a photo her.

 

I hope everyone had a memorable 11.11.11.

Mary

So, I stumbled across a new blog in which the author has a Blog Your Heart Challenge every month.  Here's the challenge...."it's a pretty simple challenge. blog your heart. HONESTLY. it can be silly, funny, serious, short or long...whatever you want it to be. as long as it is authentic."  And, while my blog has primarily been about sharing my scrappy/stamping activities, I thought I would take the challenge and share a little bit.  So, here's the state of my heart.

1. Blogging My Heart scares me a little.  I've never been one to share so transparently, but I've been learning that it's not as scary as it seems.
2. I've been lazy lately and it frustrates me.  Why is it that when I know I'm being lazy, I continue to do it anyway?  I guess it's like Roman 7:19-20 says, "For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it."
3. The weather is turning cold and I'm not happy about it.  I get chilled to the bone very easily.  Even a stiff breeze on a nice summer day can make me chilly.  I am, however, thankful for the heat in my house, flannel sheets, warm sweaters and Smart Wool socks!
4. I LOVE MY HUSBAND!  I enjoy spending time with him cooking dinner, watching movies, playing games, camping, going to church, snuggling, talking, shopping, etc.  He knows me better than anyone, which is kind of scary, but comforting at the same time.  He supports and encourages me when I need it.  He's there for me no matter what.  I know he loves me too, and that makes me happy!
5. I have a couple of very dear friends that I miss.  All I need to do is call them up and plan a time to get together.  (There's that laziness again.)  They enrich my life so much and I'm always blessed by the time and words we share.
6. I have been reading "The Shelter of God's Promises" by Sheila Walsh.  I just finished chapter 4 and was reminded that "..our calling is to be conformed, to be made like Christ. In this Christlikeness is our confidence."  I sometimes still wonder who I am, where I'm going, and what my purpose is.  I think I'm subconsciously looking for something BIG, something that will gain approval or show off my gifts and talents; or something so extraordinary that others will be awe.  I don't seek those things out with intention and I don't believe that doing things will secure my salvation.  I just think we all want to be noticed.  However, I need to make sure that it is Christ that is noticing me; that he sees and hears me when I spend time with him.  In doing that, I will know who I am, where I'm going, and what my purpose is.

Well, that's my heart right now.  I guess it wasn't too hard to share after all.  :)

Have a happy day!

Mary

Creation Sings

I was playing around with my photo editor and made a collage with some of my flower photos.  I also had this great paper, letters and paper ribbon from Basic Grey that I wanted to use so I combined them and created the following page.  It's a little more colorful and busy than I would normally like, but this page makes me happy.

I created little pockets on the back to house these pull out tabs with scripture verses on them.

I hope you enjoyed it as much as I do!

Mary