a fabulous giveaway from...

an extremely awesome scrapper! here is the post: http://erinblegen.blogspot.com/  go check it out!

last day of January...

and it's snowing!! not big, huge flakes but soft. small ones!
     I've been working on a fun layout for no particular reason:

part of this layout was inspired by an awesome scrapper Toni Herron! you can visit her blog here:  http://toniherron.aussieblogs.com.au/ 

I had just one more picture I wanted to add to this layout but there was no room! that is until I visited Toni's blog. Here is what I came up with:

my goal is to journal on the yellow cardstock which is the back of the picture with me, Daffy and my 2 sons. I used my Silhouette for the curly border and the thought bubble. I hand stitched the white border around the whole layout and the rest is from my stash. I have plans to work on more and then get ready for a crop with a friend of mine who is visiting tomorrow! yay!

     I had a doctor's visit on Tuesday to get more shots of concentrated botox for my right leg to see if it will break the tone and let my leg relax so I can try to walk again...it takes around 2 weeks for full results so any prayers are welcome and appreciated! blessings my scrappy friends!!!

Sketches In Thyme # 100

all week I have worked on various projects. Last night I finished a two page layout for Sketches In Thyme #100! I am excited 1. because it is two pages and 2. because I was able to do all three challenges for SIT!!!! yay! so here is the sketch:

and here is what I came up with:

I have been trying to work with a few new techniques. Like using more flowers!

Here are a few close-ups:

and when I ran out of the letter O, I found these metal beauties:

thank you so much for stopping by today! Later I am working on finishing up some inchies and twinchies for a swap over at Club CK. All in all it has been an extremely productive week Blessings my scrappy friends! Have a great weekend!

new sketch reveal at SEM!

January Sketch Challenge

Hi everyone. Marjolaine here with this month's sketch challenge. This sketch was done by myself. It is my very first attempt at making one and I hope you will enjoy working with it!

**The scrap twist for this challenge is to fussy cut some elements from your patterned paper.**

here's what I came up with:

We hope you will join us this month for this sketch challenge and as usual the prize is great! 

You have until January 30 at 11:59 pm to link up your layout.

Winner will be chosen by random draw.

(There's still time to get in on Challenge #24 also. Check it out here)

One lucky winner, chosen by Random.org, will receive two packages of flair buttons from 

Paper Loves Glue on Etsy features a variety of baker’s twine, flair buttons, embellishment kits and shabby crinkled seam binding ribbon. This handmade ribbon has gorgeous variations of color and aged distressing. The crinkled fabric adds to the vintage appearance giving it a unique look to your crafty projects, gifts, or handmade creations. 

Please make sure you stop by her store and see all the wonderful things she has to offer!  
Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/paperlovesglue?section_id=12308821
Blog: http://aidenmak.blogspot.no/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/paperlovesglue

Here are the awesome flair buttons you can win....

**You may submit the project you create for Scrapping Everyday Miracles  to other challenge blogs but your project must be mainly created for the Scrapping Everyday Miracles challenge in order to win the sponsor prize and/or be one of the Top 3**

*Important: Make sure your link is to the blog post with your project & not just your blog in general...and be sure to remember the SCRAP TWIST!


Thank you for visiting Scrapping Everyday Miracles today! and me! :)

c.s.i. case file no. 54

I haven't ever really documented my love for tea. Well, C.S.I. case file no. 54, for me, was all about tea! I created a layout that is clean and simple. I loved the elements and colors of this challenge!

here is a close up of my journaling:

the fun part of this layout is the quirky banner and the few collage words I added on top of my handwriting! The page itself is from Basic Grey and the "coffee stain" stamp is from Tim Holtz. The rest I printed from C.S. I. for this case file. All in all it's still particulars from my stash! Thanks for looking and if you feel like it, please leave me some love in the form of a comment(s). Blessings my friends!

Sketches In Thyme # 99

here is another awesome sketch over at Sketches In Thyme - # 99:

 and here is the layout I came up with:

everything I used is all from my stash and here are a few close-ups:

still loving banners! can you tell?!!

well, that's it for now...computer is soooooo slow!

blessings my friends!

scraplift reveal

a group of us started a scraplift a few months back and the reveal was just...well...revealed!! :) here's mine:

this was so much fun!

a new technique!

I have tried out this technique before but it's been some time so I tried it again and here it is!:

this is the before picture..... then I selectively colored the pic in Photoshop!

I learned how to do this from a Creating Keepsakes magazine article from the January/February 2012 issue.

I kept the article if anyone needs/wants the steps to try this technique!

a sneak peek!

I have never done this before but then again I've never had a reason to! Truthfully I still don't but hey! I'm crazy like that!! :) All will be revealed later in the month:

SEM January Main Challenge #24

the January main challenge is up over at Scrapping Everyday Miracles:

January's Main Challenge # 24 - Sad Moments

Hello dear friends! Svetlana here to bring you January's Main Challenge. Life is not always filled with smiles and laughter - sometimes there is time when we feel sad and our hearts are broken. But it doesn't matter how big our problems are, God is always near to lift us up and give us hope. 

This month’s challenge is to scrap about a "not-so-happy" moment in your life.

The scrap twist is to include a bird on your project. To me it is a symbol of freedom. We can choose to be free by receiving peace from the Lord into our hearts in any circumstances.

It is very easy to be thankful and see God's big and small everyday blessings when things are going smooth in our lives. But it is in the time of trouble we need Him the most. 

"In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). 

It may be just one of those days when everything seems to be so much bigger than you. Maybe it is season in your life when you need to learn some hard lessons. Or maybe it is something so big when your world seems to fall apart because that person whom you love so dearly is not near anymore... or not coming back... but take heart - there IS ALWAYS hope in Him. You can be sure of that!

While I would like us to look for blessings in the hardships, your take on this challenge shouldn't be hard. You can scrap anything you think of in this line: it can be a photo of your crying or just-a-little-bit sad child; it can be a story about a burst tire in the middle of nowhere...or you can express your feelings and preserve some special memories about a loved person 
who passed away.

I feel I totally missed the mark with the theme of this challenge...I did a layout of my son who is shown being very sad at having to leave the amusement park!!

anyway...please head on over to SEM and link up your take on this challenge. Svetlana did an excellent job and I look forward to seeing your creations!

Sketches In Thyme # 98

     have been wanting to scrap these zoo photos for a good long while and when I saw the sketch # 98 over at Sketches In Thyme I felt the wait was over! Here is the sketch:

and here is what I came up with:

here are a couple of close-ups:

I am still loving banners and here I used chipboard letters from Maya Road, twine and misc. letters. Love, love, love this for the title of my layout "a few zoo pals!"

I wasn't sure if a flower flourish worked on this layout but I like how it turned out! I just really had fun with the whole creative process! The only part left is to journal a bit. oh! and the "A Day at the Zoo" was cut on my Silhouette Cameo.

     well, off to hopefully start another layout for today, then load it on here tomorrow after church. I am joining a ministry that supports and encourages women in prison with monthly cards and I get my 2 assignments after the first service at church tomorrow...excited to share what the Lord has done in my life and be an encouragement through this ministry. Blessings my friends!

awesome giveaway!!!

http://twelvestonesscrapbooking.blogspot.ca/2013/01/first-dt-post-for-ginas-designs.html

this is from a good friend I have over at SEM and on Facebook! love the work she does and she has an awesome spirit!
gonna try and scrap today...it's not easy sitting in my wheelchair these days...my goal and prayer is to walk by this spring. Anyway...the verse in my quiet time today was Philippians 4:11 "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances," and I choose joy today...I am thankful for the peace I have which passes all understanding! can I get an Amen?!!!

Happy, happy New Year!!

     wow! 2013 is here! a new year with so many possibilities! I have a few goals I would like to conquer this year: 1. I would like to learn how to crochet, 2. I would like to explore the digital realm of scrapbooking, and 3. I would like to stretch out of my scrapping comfort zone and participate in a wider and diverse range of challenges. I think these are doable...but one step at a time.

     here is a page I finished just because:

right now I am loving pop dots to add dimension to a page! I am going to go surf some blogs now to see what my scrappy friends are up to! Happy New Year!!