Now you see it, now you don't!

Hey gals - if you are coming by for the giveaway please be sure to leave your e-mail in your comment on the 10/21 thread, OR make sure your link takes me somewhere that I can contact you...just in case! (LOL)

Guess what...tooty toot!! The apple serving tray is coming down off my blog, but will leave it up another day. Paper Crafts has picked it up. YEAH!!!

Spook-tacular Give Away!!

I promised a give away for those who leave a comment on my new avatar blog post - and here it is. Not yet posted anywhere else as I have to head to work in minutes! Isn't she, or he, fun?

This is a skull mini album by Magistical Memories - it's perfect for those trick or treat memories! Since we don't do Halloween in our family I thought I would RAK it, but wanted to play with it first. Don't forget - the 20% off sale at Magistical Memories ends on Halloween - fill up your treat bag!

I started out by painting the skull black, and then stippled over the top with white paint. I then applied Tim Holtz's Crackle finish on top. It's really perfect for this "old cracked skull". Once the crackle was dried, I applied Diamond Glaze by Judkinks over the top to level out the entire surface.


Last week I was introduced to Krylon's webbing spray - hot dang - fun stuff, especially for Halloween chipboard! The first time I used this product I was indoor at the store, and in the interest of keeping the carpet paint free my sweeping motion lacked expanse. (LOL)


Yesterday I took my project out to the deck to spray. There was a pretty good wind, and I have to say - after testing on scrap paper and seeing just how the wind would affect my spray, I set the skull in the perfect spot to get wisps of black webbing on it. Do you think maybe this fellow needs dental floss? (LOL)

I backed the cover with black cardstock, there are two inside pages of raw chipboard for you to decorate. If you want a chance at winning this, just leave a comment here. Thanks to everyone - I already sent in image 2 as my new avatar for the GDT spot, but just say "hey" and you will be in the drawing. Send a friend, have them mention your name and I will enter you in 2x!

Make sure to post in the Oct. 21 "Help Me Choose" thread for the skull mini album giveaway - by midnight on Halloween!, otherwise I am too easily confused. (LOL) Thanks for playing!

Autumn Harvest Kit - Harvest it this fall!

Oh my, two posts in one day! BUT I just found the most perfect background paper for a layout I started about two weeks ago. The paper is by a new designer, DigiScrapaliscious, at FaithSisters.com - there is a lot of talent in this lady folks!

I began this layout for the "humble" challenge at FaithSisters. I love Micah 6:8, which inspired my journaling.
The journey may be long - yet time seems to slip away. Wherever you go, whatever you do, follow Christ, and "...walk humbly with your God."

Are the clocks and arrows fun, or what?! When I saw these items by Dielle Designs I knew that I would find so many uses for them in my digital layouts, and since clocks are hard to come by traditionally, they will be worked into future hybrid projects as well.

The entire Autumn Harvest Colloboration Kit at FaithSisters is HOT! You have not completed your fall harvest until you pick this one up for your collection. You can get it free with $10 purchase at the site, and there is a second kit to go with it if you make a $20 purchase. I have to tell you, I just unzipped all my elements and am blown away by their beauty and scrapability - it makes me EXCITED to digi scrap! Be sure to get yours!

Credits: Background Paper: DigiScrapaliscious
Clocks and arrows: Dielle Designs “Write This Way” and “Let’s Face It”
Foliage: Amy Summerall FS Autumn Harvest Collab. Kit

Shimmer Tag for the Teacher

Today I am sharing the tag I made to go with the serving tray - I paraphrased the scripture verses from the "service" challenge to come up with a teacher quote for the tag.

The Fiskars Threading Water border punch was used along the bottom of the office supply tag. To colorize the tag I wet it, crumpled and let it dry. I then used water color pencils in forest, blending the green in with water, which really faded it to the palest shade of green. I used a variety of inks - rubbing the pads directly to the tag or dabbing here and there: Tsukineko Brilliance ink in coffee brown, VersaMagic ink in Spanish olive, and Colorbox gold; and once all that was dry I spritzed with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Old Lace, which is a brown, and ironed dry to flatten. I used inks on the chipboard tree by Magistical Memories, and used Making Memories red snaps to make apples. A row of zig zag stitches helps give this tag a personal touch. With the sparkle of Glimmer Mist this tag is really pretty IRL, the close up may help, but really does not do it justice.



The tree is the smallest one in a package of three from Magistical Memories. I look forward to scrapping photos to the apple orchard and using another. Lovin' the chipboard? There are still a few more days left to get in on the 20% off sale taking place right now - check it out here.

Thanks to everyone who has been voting on my avatar. You can still comment if you like on that thread, and on Halloween, this Friday, our daughter will draw a number and we will find the post that matches the number. The winner will receive something BOO-fully cute in the mail. I am actually working on it today, and hope to post it tomorrow.

Serving Up An Apple to the Teacher

My apologies...this project has been removed for publication. Stay tuned for the April issue of Paper Crafts "Cards and Gifts" to be released in April 2009.


Service – look this word up at dictionary.com and you get 37 results!

Service is this week’s scripture challenge at FaithSisters.com. I created a serving tray featuring new paper by Magenta called “Apple Cinnamon”. From the first time I saw it I knew the paper would be perfect for a teacher’s gift. The paper itself is a work of art – I could not bear to cut or cover any of it. By using it in a Creative Imaginations serving tray, it can be displayed as a work of art when not in use, or a functional serving tray. I am confident the teachers will enjoy receiving this as a gift for Christmas. If you have not yet thought of a teacher’s gift – consider this one. It is pretty easy to make.

Teachers provide a special service to the world – teaching the younger generation, or even helping illiterate adults around the world who’ve not had the benefit of schooling. When I consider the fruits of their labors – it is great! Kids are learning to read, do math, write - they are being prepared to go out into the world to serve in the way God has pre-ordained for them.

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Mark 10:45
Consider this… Jesus did not come as a haughty king, but one who came and humbly served the people around him. Whether it was through teaching, healing, or dying for us on the cross – He was a most holy servant. As we strive to be more like Him we need to cast away any airs that we may put upon our selves and be humbled into service that glorifies Him.

We all have that opportunity. God has put us where we are to serve Him with a joyful heart. It does not matter if we are a corporate CEO, retail clerk, teacher, or “at-home mom” – each of us makes a difference to the ones we serve by showing Christ’s love through our actions.

Ephesians 6:6-8 reads: “Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.”These scripture verses have gotten me through some rough days at work in my lifetime. They've been taped to my computer monitor – a constant reminder of Whom I truly am working for.

Sometimes it is hard to get up and go to work (been there, done that). Maybe you are frustrated with those who you report to. Perhaps they are unkind, unreasonable, or unrealistic in their expectations. Maybe there are times when work even feels unjust. By remembering Whom you truly work for, by doing your best, and serving with a cheerful heart, you may even soften the hearts of those who have not asked Jesus into their heart so that they may receive salvation. Remember that actions speak louder than words.

I love these verses from Colossians 1:10-12 as they relate to service: “And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.”

Do you know someone who serves in this way? The apple serving tray delivered with a scripture tag is a great way to honor someone who is planting seeds, whether they be a teacher, a clergyperson, volunteer, or wonderful friend. It would make a wonderful Christmas gift, or auction item for a school fundraiser.

As I continue on my journey it is my prayer that I will serve in love, bear good fruit and plant seeds for the kingdom. May your journey do the same!

In addition to the CI serving tray and Magenta paper, supplies for this project include: Making Memory paints in black, nutmeg and Ruby glaze; DecoArt crackle medium, Offray organdy Asiana burgundy ribbon; and Fiskars Craft Drill (used to make holes for the ribbon to be threaded through).

Please Help Me Choose!

The Paper Element is enroute! I am so excited to be a guest design team member this coming November for this awesome company - check out their fabulous collections here!

I was asked to send a bio and picture - and I have been wanting to take a new self portrait for a while now. It was a cold, but beautiful fall morning. I went up the hill and found my uncle had set some nice large rocks down (great seats!) along the edge of a small bluff. I thought the far off woods would make a great backdrop - but I honestly do not like that a line of trees meets the skyline in mid-ear, or the shadows being cast by the morning sun. I took LOTS of outdoor pics, and nare a one was, in my opinion, portrait worthy.

So I came inside, where the coffee was warm and the wind was not blowing. The lighting in our living room is pretty good on a sunny morning - so here are the top picks from my morning shoot.

#1


#2


And having a little fun in Photoshop - a little color splash! Of course I can make this all black and white if preferred. (LOL)
#3


I am hoping you will help me decide which new picture will become my new avatar on the MBs. Just for helping me out I will send a little something out to one randomly drawn individual. Thanks for your help, and watch for projects featuring The Paper Element coming to this blog in the next few weeks!

BTW - if you received the Nov./Dec. issue of Scrapbooks Etc. you can find my Santa Baby tray on page 80. I loved creating this project which features Scenice Route and Super T tree stamps by Heather at Busy Bee Scrapbooking. I am surrounded by many whose work I admire in the Etc. column: Tracy Kyle, Erika Ghumm and Rita Weiss. This is my first real pub in Scrapbooks Etc. - pinch me!! The thumbnail of a reader gallery layout back in the March issue was nice, but not near as thrilling as this! (LOL)

Let me know if you like picture 1, 2 or 3 in a comment below. Thanks for your help!

Halloween Stamp Giveaway!

Do you love Halloween?? I see Halloween products flying out of the LSS every day - from party invitations to scrapping your little ones in cute costumes - Halloween is a BIG event for many.

My friend Lisa has a set of cool acrylic Halloween stamps to give away. All you have to do is visit her blog and leave a comment. As soon as she has 150 comments there will be a lucky winner. You have nothing to lose...because while you are there you can check out some of her fabulous creations and be inspired!

Good luck!

Not Dreaming - He’s Watching Over Me!

Gosh – I have been wanting to blog ALL week. Drives me nuts when I don’t have time to type about life – ‘cuz I just LOVE to write and blog! There has been so much going on this past week. Have wanted to share this and that…and then this and that, so now where to start? Well, first – let me say I am SO glad to be here typing today. Praise God…because I had a surprise today that have totally altered our lives.

First, I want to draw attention to the layout above. I have to say I love the contrast of our daughter’s turquoise colored shirt with the fall colors. BoBunny’s “Beautiful Life” papers has that hint of aqua going through it and it was the perfect choice. Dana Zarling, a newer designer with BoBunny, creates BEAUTIFUL papers – I love ALL of her stuff! This is definitely my favorite new fall release of papers and cut-outs. Dana will be at the Scrapbook Superstore in Madison, Wi on Dec. 13 for a designer showcase. She will be creating a make n’ take with her new Winter Whispers line, which I also have by the way – gorgeous! Mark your calendar and swing by the store if you are in Madison.

Check out my chipboard leaves by Magistical Memories. Notice anything different? I have always been a “realist” when it comes to playing with my leaf chipboard shapes…but not this time. Noting the blue in the layout I opted to paint the raw chipboard with Tahiti blue acrylic paint, then I topped it with Coffee Bean brown ink by Rubber Stampede, and on top of that I used Staz-on by Tsukineko and scroll stamps by Autumn Leaves to stamp on the chipboard leaves. I then stitched around the leaf edges with brown thread on the sewing machine. Because they’re leaves and unique in their own right, my stitching had no need to be perfect as I maneuvered the shape through the machine around corners and curves. I topped the small leaf with a button and ribbon, and used a BoBunny cut-out to create my title block, or should I say “title leaf”. (LOL) Here is a detail – you can see how I fringed the mat for added texture and dimension…



If you love chipboard, even as half as much as I do, you may want to try for the Magistical Memories 2009 Design Team – they have an open call right now and you can find the details here.

This week my husband and I celebrated 19 wonderful years. We visited the nearby Baraboo bluffs and hiked trails at White Mound County Park near Plain, WI. What a super park – a definite treasure and secret that needs to be let out of the bag. If you like to camp check out White Mound! The bluffs were in full color- I have LOTS of pictures needless to day. When we arrived home Saturday afternoon it was still gorgeous so we took some family photos outdoors – cannot wait to scrap pictures from this past week!

Tuesday was our actual anniversary. For the past 4 yrs. We have been taking off work to spend the day together. Another gorgeous day and we hiked trails at nearby Indian Lake County Park. You can see some of the photos I took in this digital layout, which uses the October ad inspiration challenge from A Cherry On Top, digi elements by Faith Sisters Father’s Day Collaboration Kit.



God has given us a most glorious fall. But more than that, He has blessed me with 19 glorious years of marriage and two awesome kids. I will never take them for granted. Life can change in an instant, one should never live regretting anything. Take time to say, “I love you” to those you love, and hug every day – even when your kids are thinking they are too grown up to be hugged. Hug them anyways. Because you just never know…. Like today….

We have a steep driveway – probably around 50-60 degree angle. I put the car in reverse to go to work, and stepped on the brake as I always do to go down the driveway. Only thing is…I had no response! I managed to turn the car so that it stayed on the road instead of going off into the neighbor’s yard, as there is a drop off on the other side of the road. I then started coasting backwards while in reverse, put it in drive and the car moved forward. So that was good, I could stop it from going backwards. Tested the brakes…hmmm, this is not right… Drove ever so slowly, and if I put the brake to the floor it would come to a stop…kind of. Obviously I needed to get the car to the local service station, Mike’s Mobile in Cross Plains. A fairly flat, somewhat uphill kind of drive, and only 3 stop signs taking the back side streets. I crept to the service station, braking a half a block from any stop sign, which got me there. Whew!! I went in and asked if Mike, the owner, could take a look. He found a broken brake line right away, rusted right through. Wow – I was just at the coffeehouse earlier in the morning meeting gals for bible study and everything was fine – the brakes were not even mushy.

I got to thinking about this… the “what ifs.” Afterall, my drive to work is a hilly and curvy one – with drops off the road edge that always made me close my eyes as a kid. The whole thought that I might have been on those roads driving 55 mph to get to work is just too scary to imagine. I have no doubt God was watching over me today. That brake line could have snapped at any moment, but He was in control and it apparently snapped in our driveway. Praise the Lord!

We are also blessed with wonderful neighbors. One neighbor was on his lunch break so he drove me into work. Another did not need both vehicles for the weekend so they were going to loan me a car so I could get to work. As it turns out, Mike must have worked real hard to get to my car, as he was swamped and did not feel he could get to it until Monday. By 5:05 my husband was able to go pick up my car, so I have my old Buick back for weekend transportation. This is what it is all about folks…. lovin’ one another, helping one another in need, and praising God for His presence in my life and so happy that He watches over me as I stumble through life’s journey.

My journaling on “Dream” reads: Beyond the happiness of playing in leaves- dream of the joy that life can bring.
Fall leaves are so temporary…here today, gone tomorrow. But the only joy that can truly last a lifetime is that which comes when you have a personal relationship with Jesus. I pray that each and every one of you finds that joy, it will carry you through the trials in life. No matter where you are in your journey, He is watching over you just as He does me. You could be walking the straight and narrow, or may be you have fallen way off the path…it doesn’t matter, because God will meet you where you are at and love on you.

Is it snowing yet??

Isn't this guy just the cutest?? I love snowmen. In the Magistical Memories forum I began my "what seems like an annual discussion" on what folks would like to see in chipboard shapes. So if you would like to share your input, hop on over and let the designers know what shapes you are craving in chipboard!

Tops on my list is a snowman, but in the meantime I decided to create one. I drew up a template for the snowman and his hat on my PC, printed, cut out and used as a template to cut out chipboard. I even cut out 2 hats so the back of the snowman looks as good as the front. (LOL)

I love the "birds of a feather" shapes from Magistical Memories. I collect snowmen and have a number of them...one on a collectors plate, another as a statue, and one on a quilt I designed and made - in which a snowman is holding a red bird. Love the contrast of red popping off a winter scene and had to recreate it for this card, which reads "Baby it's cold outside...." and inside "But thoughts of you warm my heart."

Have extra plastic paper dividers sitting around? Make use of them! I love the translucent material (the ones I use are by Display Dynamics)and they are fun to build layouts upon. (Use Staz-on Inks to create your own design. I did this for an HOF entry last year and see KI now has a similar product out - guess I am ahead of the latest and greatest sometimes!) (LOL)

For today's share feature I made a 5x7 card. Using plenty of Reminisce Frosty rub-ons on both the outside and inside of the card, the material allows the second layer of rub-ons to show through the front of the card creating a cool 3-D effect.



As you can see I used lots of mediums to create this card: Stickles by Ranger, white crystal glitter sprinkled atop dimensional glaze by Judikins, paints, Ranger Crackle Finish (on the hat - looks very cool), sparkle mod podge on the backside of the snowman, and Sakura black glaze pen to outline my chippy bird.

You can find the bird in Magistical Memories "Birds of a Feather" package - check out their critter section for this and a herd of cute animals. Love chipboard? Magistical Memories is having a DT contest - check it out in the announcements section of the forum!

Fortunately the snow has not yet arrived. We have all intentions of enjoying a great birding weekend and some hiking - colors are just starting to change here in southern Wisconsin.

It's Reveal Time!!

Reminisce is really keeping folks on the edge of their seats this week! Instead of making the announcement today of whom the talented new DT member is...they are slowly revealing the winners...one day at a time. Ohhh the pins and needles so many must be on!!

Well, I have to say I am relieved not to be on those pins. Reminisce loved the entries so much they decided to add a 4th place to their winners list...and I almost missed it...but as I scrolled to see who was on the HM list I saw my work! I admit I did not read the entire blog to note that there was a tie for 4th...and praise God, I was one of those two! I am really looking forward to the products Reminisce is going to send me way! Woo hoo!

A shout out also to my rockin' friend Nancy Jones!! She was on the honorable mention list...and seriously folks, with a disease that is crippling her body and days she cannot function - this woman cranks out some super hero layouts! She is a total inspiration!

Also on this REVEAL day I want to share with you two digital layouts created for FaithSisters this day. The irony of these two pages is that I am using an awesome collaboration kit called "Let's Connect" - and it has so many fun images for those who have cell phones, laptops, text messaging...everything to scrap your modern day computer geek or gamer! BUT instead, I scrapped two pages that take us back to 1862...yeppers, I scrapped the photos of Abe Lincoln from the Wade House Civil War Reenactment last weekend - I feel like I travelled in a time capsule!


The 2nd layout is of our son playing Union Soldier. When I saw the page with the bars going across I was reminded of grass, in a funky sort of way, and how soldiers hid out in the long grasses to avoid being seen by the enemy. I had fun with it! I saw the networking wires in the kit, took off the computer plug ins and created something like barbed wire...because every soldier boy wants barbed wire on his scrapbook pages! (LOL)


If you have tech savvy users in your family I highly recommend "Let's Connect" - but think outside the box and scrap a heritage layout as well. The papers in this kit are gorgeous, and some are rockin' fun!

Wow -already October! September just flew past and I scrapped SO MUCH! Between displays for the LSS, manufacturer and magazine calls (if you desire to be published take time to submit!) I was one busy person! In three days my firstborn will be 11 years old. Oh my!

Yesterday was D-Day - as in Design Team Deadline for Reminisce. I had to throw my hat in the ring of course. It just makes sense with my work at the LSS to team up with a manufacturer whose product flies off the store shelves. The store owner is really loving the Reminisce layouts and projects I bring in for display - whether I make the team or not. I was not sure how to best present my work to Reminisce, so for the first time ever I created a manufacturer review - you can see my September Reminisce projects here.

Once I had that taken care of I still had a few September 30th deadlines to finish. In honor of our son's pending birthday I will share two I created about him.
The first takes me back to the first day of school. While waiting at the bus stop our 5th grader had all kinds of advice for his little sister, beginning kindergarten. I whipped the layout above together in less than 30 min. as we were heading out the door - I seriously completed 6 layouts yesterday, when I have been averaging 1-2 in a day. (LOL)

Here is a detail of what I call my "calico owl" - Magistical Memories chipboard covered in Scenic Route PPs.


Speaking of Magistical Memories - I totally enjoyed my September GDT spot, and yesterday Crystle asked me if I would be willing to stay on the team for the remainder of the year. Ummm, yeah!!! No brainer -considering I have applied for that team the past three times MM was looking! Woo hoo! I LOVE playing with chipboard!

The second is dedicated to my solider boy. WWII history used to be at the top of his list, but after going to a Civil War reenactment this past Saturday he said he is totally into the Civil War now. He took his own money along to buy a Union infantry cap and musket. Doesn't he look good?!


This digital layout was created using elements from FaithSisters "Let's Connect" collaboration kit. I have barely begun playing with this awesome kit. I love the masculinity of the metal mesh frames, which were silver, but I added a bit of red to the element to create a soft copper color to better tie in with the photo.

Well, I better get set for work. I still have to make a card for display to move a product that is not really leaving the store. I get the assignments with products that no one knows what to do with. (LOL) I love the challenge! Time to bring out my alcohol inks....