CPS #49

Here is my take on CPS sketch #49. I love this sketch-it's simply wonderful!

Imagination Project patterned paper, Bazzil Cardstock, Heidi Swapp flowers, and AC Remarks.

Thanks for looking!

It's Monday *smile anyway*

Yes today is Monday and I have determined that it will be a great day!

Another day to greet with a smile. Another day to tell my kids and my husband that I love them. Another day to accomplish those tasks I keep putting off. I am thankful for each and every day I have breath and I will endeavor to use it wisely.

Here is a little saying I found:

With smiles and laughter, your days will become lighter, more joyous and more bearable even on those hay-wired days. Your smiling face looks much more appealing and beautiful too.

I wish you many smiles today!

Here is my latest 2008 Scripture challenge layout.

The word for the 2nd week is Kindness.

The scripture I used is "Therefore as God's chosen people, Holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another....Forgive.... Col. 3:12-13

Those are the words I used to teach my children regarding behavior. Look at my daughter's face. So happy to be holding her little sister. I have learned many things being a mom. I need to remember the lessons of my children's youth!

CPS #48

I had so much fun with the first sketch, I just had to try the next. This is my take on CPS #48.
I used all Making Memories (The Noteworthy line) supplies. I love this line!!! The only exception are the jewels- from Heidi Swapp, the cardstock-Bazzill, and the Bow is from Studio Calico.

CPS #47

This week I found the Card Positioning Systems web site. What a great site!! They have absolutely fantastic sketches! Here is my take on CPS #47.

I used Tinkering Ink and Collage Press patterned paper, Scenic Route chipboard, AC thickers alphas, Heidi Swapp masks, Bazzill cardstock, and Anna Griffin epoxy stickers.

Fun Find

I found a wonderful old book that was in pretty bad shape and I thought...I could make some fun cards using the pages. Nicole Samuels, who is on the DT of Studio Calico, made some wonderful cards and a pocket to put them in. She totally inspired me. So here are my cards and pleated pocket that were inspired by her awesome work.

2008 Scripture Challenge

Week 1 the subject was Faith. I decided to use Hebrews 1 -Now Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. I used this verse because the Lord is really working on my heart to have Faith in Him not myself. I continually take things into my own hands rather than trusting and relying on Him. May this layout be a continual reminder that I need to rely upon the Lord!!

LRS January Designs

These are my designs with the Little Red Scrapbook January kit. It was a lot of fun to pull different things out of these papers.

Thought for Today

You are destined for Victory

God has His hand on your life. He knows the thoughts He has for you. Thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11). If God could say that to a nation who at the time was totally rebellious and corrupt, how much more to you! God has planned good things for you.

He knows the plans He has for me. I am holding that verse close to my heart this week as we found out that our sweet daughter and son-in-law are moving to the Seattle area. They will not be moving until June, but until then, it will be a time full of joy as well as tears. I will miss them so much! I am so thankful that we have had the time that we have had to cultivate our relationship and enjoy each other's company. These stages of life stink!!! I am so happy for them though. Matt will have a great job and the Seattle area is not so bad. It will make for a fun place to vacation for Ed and I. I do believe I am conflicted!!!

I am so thankful that we had our family pictures taken last month-who knows when our whole family will be together again. What a beautiful family I have!! I am so thankful! Photography by Rising Wolf Studios, Manhattan, Montana.

Friday's Thoughts

Three things in life that, once gone, never come back
1. Time
2. Words
3. Opportunity

Three things in life that can destroy a person
1. Anger
2. Pride
3. Unforgiveness

Three things in life that you should never lose
1. Hope
2. Peace
3. Honesty

Three things in life that are most valuable
1. Love
2. Family & Friends
3. Kindness

Three things in life that are never certain

1. Fortune
2. Success
3. Dreams

Three things that make a person
1. Commitment
2. Sincerity
3. Hard work

Three things that are truly constant -
Father - Son - Holy Spirit

Simple truths that so often are hard to remember, but essential to the life change I am seeking!
Have a great day everyone!!

I've been Tagged!!!

Maegan at Little Red Scrapbook tagged me so I thought I would have a little fun and play along!

MOUTHOLOGY

Q: What is your salad dressing of choice?
A: Red Pepper Vinagrette
Q: What is your favorite fast food restaurant?
A: Sonic
Q: What is your favorite sit-down restaurant?
A: Damascos
Q: On average, what size tip do you leave at a restaurant?
A: 15-18%
Q: What food could you eat every day for two weeks and not get sick of?
A: Pizza
Q: What are your pizza toppings of choice?
A: Canadian Bacon and Pineapple
Q: What do you like to put on your toast?
A: butter

TECHNOLOGY

Q: What is your wallpaper on your computer?
A: A Sunset
Q: How many televisions are in your house?
A: two

BIOLOGY

Q: Are you right-handed or left-handed?
A: Right
Q: Have you ever had anything removed from your body?
A: One wisdom tooth
Q: When was the last time you had a cavity?
A: it's been years
Q: What is the last heavy item you lifted?
A: Box of books
Q: Have you ever been knocked unconscious?
A: nope

BULL[CRAP]OLOGY

Q: If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die?
A: no
Q: If you could change your name, what would you change it to?
A: I don't think I would
Q: What color do you think looks best on you?
A: Blue
Q: Have you ever swallowed a non-food item by mistake?
A: No
Q: Have you ever saved someones life?
A: No
Q: Has someone ever saved yours?
A: No

DAREOLOGY

Q: Would you kiss a member of the same sex for $100?
A: No
Q: Would you allow one of your little fingers to be cut off for $200,000?
A: No
Q: Would you never blog again for $50,000?
A: Definitely!
Q: Would you pose naked in a magazine for $250,000?
A: No
Q: Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1,000?
A. No
Q: Would you, without fear of punishment, take a human life for $1,000,000?
A: Never

DUMBOLOGY

Q: What is in your left pocket?
A: Chapstick
Q: Is Napoleon Dynamite actually a good movie?
A: it's ok
Q: Do you have hardwood or carpet in your house?
A: Carpet
Q: Do you sit or stand in the shower?
A: stand
Q: Would you live with roommates?
A: I would take people in to live here if help is needed
Q: How many pairs of flip flops do you own?
A: 1
Q: Last time you had a run-in with the cops?
A:
Q: Who is number 1 on your top 8?
A: My Sweetie-Ed

LASTOLOGY
Q: Last Friend you talked to?
A: Judy
Q: Last person who called you?
A: Heidi
Q: Last person you hugged?
A: Benny
Q: Last person to stick their foot in your face?
A: Benny

FAVORITOLOGY
Q: Number?
A: 7
Q: Season?
A: Spring

CURRENTOLOGY
Q: Missing someone?
A: Yes!!!
Q: Mood?
A: A little sad, missing Heidi
Q: Listening to?
A: Relient K
Q: Watching?
A: Transformers
Q: Worrying about?
A: nothing important

RANDOMOLOGY
Q: First place you went this morning?
A: Work
Q: What can you not wait to do?
A: scrap
Q: What's the last movie you saw in theater?
A: National Treasure II
Q: Do you smile often?
A: All the time
Q: Are you a friendly person?
A: Yes

I tagged Mary Jo and Sara!

Friday's thought for the day

Here is my thought for the day...

I choose joy... I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical... the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.

~Max Lucado

I want to make this the priority of my day-choosing joy!!!

I also want to post the layout I did for the Faith Sisters Resolved Challenge and the Method Playground challenge (Bling in the New Year). I used the Studio Calico December kit for this layout.

Look back at 2007

I have had such a great time looking at top 10 lists tonight, I thought I would make my own! I really feel my scrapping has grown by leaps and bounds and I need to carry that growth on in to 2008. The various challenges I have partcipated in have certainly helped as well! Don't settle, don't rush!! That will be my new motto! So here's hoping for some serious scrappy growth to come! So without further ado-Here are my favorites from 2007 in no particular order:

This is my first attempt at painting on a layout! I loved the results! This is my oldest with her best friends--oh so sweet!

This is a simple yet sweet layout of my oldest on her wedding day. Words cannot express the emotions that fill my heart when I remember that day!

This layout was made with my first Studio Calico kit. I loved that kit and used every single bit of it up! My son and his stick-he was most happy with the simplest of things!!

My sweet Heidi all grown up and totally beautiful!! I love this layout!!

Look at those muscles on my cute little hubby!! I love this quote: There is no greater fan of flyfishing than the worm. Patrick McManus I got a kick out of those who thought I was calling my hubby a worm! LOL!!
This is another one of those layouts where I tried something new. The flowers and the glitter were tons of fun! Thanks for the challenges!! I love this picture of me with my oldest!
Another attempt at using paint on a layout!! I totally love this medium. I was so excited to find this pictures knowing that the title of this layout would be balance. I love this whole layout!
I love the colors on this layout of my sweet Heidi. At this age there are so many questions and you just have to discipline yourself to find the answers.
I just love the total look of joy in Bethany's face. This layout was so much fun to put together-it still gives me joy just looking at it!

I just love the way this layout came together too. Such a happy layout! What can be better than watching your daughter dance her little heart out??

Well these are my selections. I have a long way to go, but I will certainly enjoy the process of getting there! Thanks for looking!!

Happy New Year!!!

This year I am not going to make resolutions, but I am going to make life changes.
With my mom being diagnosed with Cancer this year, I have decided to not put off changing my eating and exercising habits any longer. I know this is very important and I do not know why I have put it off for so long. I also am planning on getting myself better organized. There is no excuse for putting these things off any longer and for sure I am not getting any younger! It is time to change my life!

One of the best changes of 2007 was scrapping more. I scrap for many reasons, but I have found it is very thereaputic- Much better than paying for a counselor! I want to scrap more real life goals and focus on scripture too. I am joing the Faith Sisters blog and scrap challenge! I look so forward to the pages I will create in 2008!

Speaking of scrapping, Little Red Scrapbook posted the January kit. Here is a peek!
Can't wait to get started with this month's kit!!!

December Designs for LRS

December's kit for LRS featured the Elegant line from American Crafts. I totally loved working with these papers and embellishments! Thanks to Maegan for providing such a wonderful kit!!!

Reflecting

Wow! 2007 has been an interesting roller coaster ride of a year. It has been full of many accomplishments and trials. From skiing for the first time on January 1st to organizing my home on December 31, the year has been packed full of many interesting, surprising, and lifechanging moments. The month of December has been the most difficult of all as my mom was diagnosed with lung cancer. I was able to fly out to see her and those days were some of the best of my year.

In the year to come, I feel like I really need to concentrate more on spiritual growth. I am going to join the 2008 Scripture Challenge and I plan to concentrate less on winning scrapbook contests and work on my heart and scrapping from my heart. This year will be bringing more challenges and I want to be spiritually ready! My oldest daughter and her husband must decide by January 18 if they will take a job in Bremerton, Washington. The anticipation of their move is both exciting and heart breaking. Thankfully it is only 12 hours away and it will open up new avenues for Ed and I to explore! So, bring on 2008! I am ready for the challenge!!!

OLW Challenge layout

I have actually found some time to scrap! Boy have I needed the therapy!!!

I loved the OLW challenge for this week. Gone. I decided to do a page dedicated to my daughters who no longer live at home. The journaling states Gone....are the days of their youth, those carefree days of learning and play. Even though I miss those days, I am totally enjoying their adulthood! We have grown closer than I ever imagined we would! I am so proud of them!
What a blessing to see your daughters grow to be amazing women! I am so blessed!!

What a Day!!

Have you ever had one of those days?? First of all, our garage door popped a spring. Ok, so no big deal, just gotta heat up the car and scrape the windows in the morning. Got it covered.
Then, at 6:00 this morning I am drying a load of laundry and I hear a loud pop. I have one more small load I need to dry, but it is Ben's soccer uniform, so I know it will air dry before he has to leave. Got it covered. I'll tell my hubby about it later. Then, just before I leave for work, my stomach rumbles big time. Ok, so I am late for work and not feeling too hot. I say a big prayer on the way. Thankfully I make it through the day with no mishaps until I walk out the door. Someone walks out at the same time I do and opens the door right onto my heal (which is not covered because I chose to wear my birks today). I have a large gash and am bleeding all over. I get home...yay my sanctuary! Aaaahhhh..... I fix dinner for the fam and open a can of chicken noodle soup for myself and the next thing I know an Insurance Saleswoman is at the door. My sweet, dear husband forgot to let me know he made an appointment.

I am so thankful that the day, though it was full unexpected twists and turns, was a good day!
The chickadees were whistling this morning, the sky was blue, the sun was shining and God was good! The dryer problem ended up being a blown fuse and my garage is still not fixed, but it will give my sweet, dear husband something to tackle this weekend. I just gotta say-Life Is Good!
I am thankful!!

Thanks to Jessica Sprague!!!

I took the Up and Running with Photoshop course with Jessica Sprague last month! It was awesome!! I can't believe how much I learned!!! I hope to use all I have learned in my pages to come. It is amazing what you can do when you know how to use your tools!!! Thank you Jessica for demystifying PSE!! Here are a few of the layouts I did in the class!! What a blast!!!

Soccer Season Dominates

We have been on the road for a couple of weeks now. The season has been exciting. Our Varsity Boys soccer team is quite young but they are learning more each week! They actually beat our cross town rivals last Tuesday!!! Go Panthers!!

I have to post a couple of pictures of Benny! You know the proud mom thing! I will be scrapping them soon as we only have three games left in the regular season!

Go Benny!!! Go Panthers!!! Beat Billings Central!!!