Thursday, June 26, 2014

Practical Scrapper: Scrapping our Stash Blog Hop

Hey there! Welcome to this month's hop. It's time to bust out that stash and use it up.This week has flown by and it's hard to believe it's already Friday. Summer is in full swing and that means a lot of activity around our house. I haven't been able to find tons of time to get into my craft room and scrap lately, but I actually dug into my stash earlier in the month to create a layout for my nephew's graduation party. I used an old Simple Stories line that I had which was absolutely perfect for a layout about Jeff. The Hello My Name Is Awesome tag pretty much sums up this boy for sure. He is full of confidence and really... he is pretty awesome! I also had the fun wood veneer pieces which I believe are all Studio Calico. Don't you love wood veneer?



I hope you enjoy the rest of the hop. Your next stop is Cheryl's blog where you will find some amazing inspiration. I have the entire list posted below so if you are just joining me be sure to go back and see the fabulous projects from the designer's before me.


Here's to using that stash!
Lisa

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Saturday, June 21, 2014

Footloose and Fancy Free with SWAT!

Happy first day of summer. It feels like we've been there awhile already with the kids out of school and busy with activities but today is the first official day of summer. It's a great day to share my latest layout made for the S.W.A.T. design team. Our latest challenge is to create a layout featuring feet. I decided to take a picture in my backyard where I love to put my feet up and read a great book in the summer. It is such a relaxing place with the waterfall going and the beautiful flowers everywhere.


I actually used a mix of older Bella Blvd. lines I received recently after winning a contest on their page. I was so lucky to get one of their warehouse boxes they put together each year and had an incredible time looking through the fun stuff that came. I thought these papers accurately depict the feel I get of happiness and contentment while sitting with a great book.

Join us with your take on our challenge and you can win a gift certificate to Creative Embellishments, an incredible online store with amazing products for your pages and creations.

Lisa
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Saturday, June 7, 2014

Selfie Time! New SWAT Drill with a Fabulous Prize.

Hey there! Making a quick stop to drop off my newest page. This one was a hard one. The new challenge for S.W.A.T. is to scrap a selfie. That means I have to scrap about myself! Not an easy thing since I'd rather scrap the ones I love. I snapped this selfie over much teasing and laughter at my niece's wedding. Oh how my boys and nephews and nieces thought it was hilarious that I couldn't snap a good selfie and kept trying and trying. (Especially when they tried to get me to make a duck face... we'll save that for...um, never! That is long since deleted!) Anyway, of the million I took I did come up with one I thought wasn't too bad and put some of my thoughts down from being 40.


The journaling may be hard to read so here it is:
What I Know at 40 I Wish I Knew Then-
1. The things that seemed so big then don't matter now. Learn to relax and breathe.
2. Losing my faith is not an option. There is no way I'm doing this on my own. God has the reigns.
3. Give grace. You never know what someone else is going through. Let go of judgement and just love!

Oh, how those life lessons seem so simple but they are hard to come by. This last year has been a tough one for me personally as well as the family as a whole. Some days I wonder exactly where things are headed and how we are going to take the next step forward. It's those times I find myself clinging to God and his promises. It would be easy to let go right now, but my faith keeps me hanging on.

Thanks for stopping by. Creative Embellishments is sponsoring this month's challenges. You don't want to miss that. Snap a selfie today and join us. We'd love to see what you create.

Lisa
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Saturday, May 17, 2014

May Flowers!

Another beautiful Saturday and another fun challenge with the SWAT girls! This time it is all about May flowers. With a late snowstorm hitting over Mother's Day I am worried I won't be getting all the flowers to pop up and be beautiful in my yard. Hopefully some of them are hearty enough and will pull through. Since I'm not seeing many blooms outside I took the challenge of creating blooms in my craft room this week. It is really a simple looking flower and was made with two heart punches and a little brad. Easy peasy. Check it out.


I took two different size heart punches, one plain and one scalloped, punched out five hearts and started laying them down and gluing them. The paper was scraps left from another project so it was a fabulously easy and inexpensive embellishment. Who doesn't love that? I know there are so many creative and easy ways to make handmade flowers for your pages and projects. Take on the challenge and join us for this drill. Link up a new project using homemade flowers to the blog by the end of the month and you will be in the running for a $20 gift card to The Flying Unicorn. (Details on the blog)


Thought I would drop this cute thing off too. It doesn't have handmade flowers but it definitely shouts spring. Since I had all the stuff from this cute Pebbles line out on my desk already I decided to throw another fun card together for my mom. She really loved the bird. Anything to see a smile on her face!



Have a super Saturday. I am heading out this afternoon to try to find my mom something she can wear to my niece's wedding which is happening in two weeks! Can't wait.

Lisa
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Saturday, May 3, 2014

Color Challenge, NSD and Winner!

Happy, happy Saturday. I was supposed to be hanging with some friends in Lincoln, NE while my hubby ran the 1/2 marathon, but a back injury prevented him from running and kept us home. Really bummed about that. I decided to take advantage of being at home though and spend some time scrapping and joining in on some fun National Scrapbooking Day fun. Now it is 3:00 and I am just getting into my scrap room...of course! It never fails that my best laid plans tend to fall apart. That's ok, I've got an hour and I intend to do something!

I am sharing a card I made for S.W.A.T'S newest challenge. We are beginning May with some happy colors to inspire your scrapping. Spring is here and it is time to feel bright and cheery. Here is what I did with our color challenge.

 Beautiful colors, right?

My take:

I decided to create a cheery card for my mom for Mother's Day. The flowers in the picture reminded me of the flower washi tape I had and I added in from there. I love the feel these colors give and added a little bling in there too because who doesn't need a little bling?! I felt like a plain white background was a little dull so I embossed with a chevron embossing card and my Sizzix Texture Botique. Perfect!
How about joining us and creating something fun with these colors. You have all month to join and there is a fabulous prize up for grabs. Come see what the other members of the design team created and feel the cheer of spring!

Before I go I promised a winner from last week's hop. The random winner of some fun embellishments is Angela! Angela please contact me at dpeeples1 at hotmail.com and I will get this fun prize out to you. And you are right! We may be neighbors. You'll have to let me know where you live. I love meeting scrappy friends.

Have a super weekend and get creative!
Lisa

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Friday, April 25, 2014

Scrapping Our Stash (with a little giveaway!)

Hello, hello and welcome to April's Scrapping Our Stash blog hop. I almost didn't get a project done this month it's been so busy here. I started the month out completely packing up and getting my scrap room ready to paint and redo. My plan was to get in there, get it painted and get the new furniture set up all in just a couple of days.  Ha, ha, ha! Yeah right! Unfortunately life around here likes to stay unpredictable and crazy  so it took a little longer than I thought to get the walls fixed, primed, painted and looking good. It took another week to get a free day with David to get the furniture assembled and installed. Now it's all about the organizing and deciding where to put everything. It's usable but not exactly like I want it quite yet. Anyway, pictures will be coming later, but for now I'll move on to what you are really here for...

When I started getting things unpacked and ready to set out I ran across this beautiful picture taken in Estes Park last year. I was reminded again why I absolutely love living in Colorado. I have to say every place I've lived in the last several years has it's own kind of beauty, but growing up in Colorado with the beauty of the Rocky Mountains right in our backyard spoiled me. To me there is nothing that can compare with a sunset over the gorgeous mountains and this particular evenings sunset did not disappoint. I pulled out some old My Mind's Eye that I had sitting in my stash and found the colors to be perfect for complimenting the gorgeous colors of the sunset. I also used buttons from my stash and a couple of brads from an older Echo Park collection. I love how it came together. Simple yet the photo stands out.


Delicious, right??! I love My Mind's Eye. As a matter of fact, as I've been unpacking and organizing I found that I have quite a bit of it hanging out in my stash. I even found a Follow Your Heart button pack and a few other fun items I would like to give to one of you. Just leave me a comment below, and if you don't already follow my blog just choose a way to follow on the left hand side and you will be entered to win.

Thanks for stopping by.  Next on the list is Alison's blog and you won't want to miss it.If you are just joining me here today and want to start hopping from here feel free. Make sure you hop backwards too. You don't want to miss any of the fabulousness being shared today.

Practical Scrappers http:practicalscrappers.blogspot.com
Monica Bradford http://scrapinspired.com
Wendy Coffman: www.stampingrules.com

Have a super weekend.
Lisa





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Saturday, April 5, 2014

BINGO!

Happy Saturday! It is a new month and we are starting it off at S.W.A.T by challenging you to mix up your supplies and techniques and pick a row to create your project.
 




I am hoping you will join us for this challenge. When you do be sure you let us know what row you used and remember this challenge can be combined with any challenge so have fun but please don't forget to link back to us here at S.W.A.T.

Now let me share what I created for this challenge. I chose to use an arrow, number, rub-ons, doily and two photos (vertical line #4) as my bingo. The two picture part was easy since I had these two photos of my sweeties laying on my desk ready to scrap anyway. Oh for them to be this little and cute again!



I miss the days of them dressing like cowboys and playing together. Nathan had a long period of time where he was obsessed with his cowboy boots and his little brother liked to follow and do anything his big brother did so this was often how I would find them. Now for the bingo part. The arrow is pretty easy to find. The numbers are in the top right corner on the mail stamp. This is also a rub on as are the brackets under the title. Finally the doily is  the mat that is behind the photos. I first wasn't sure that this would be ok since it is not what we traditionally think of when we think of Grandma's lace doilies, but the definition of a doily includes any small, ornamental mat so I figure this diamond mat that I cut using my Cricut would qualify :)

That's it for me. Working on my craft room today. I have been painting it all week and am ready to get the furniture put together and the space organized.  Have a super weekend!

Lisa
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Monday, March 31, 2014

Shaped Cards

Good Monday morning! Spring break is over, at least for one kid. The other gets an extended holiday due to the stomach flu deciding to visit. I personally think he would rather be at school given how he is feeling at the moment. You know they are really sick when the tv and video games aren't even holding appeal. lol
I want to share a quick and easy card I made for the Practical Scrappers shaped cards feature this last weekend. I love the look of shaped cards and there are so many different and fun looks that can be created nowadays with the help of die cut machines which I have to say I am so thankful to have. I cut this fun butterfly card out with my Silhouette Portrait and it was so super easy. I didn't have to do much to embellish it, but did add a touch of bling to pretty it up. I am so ready for spring...the butterfly seemed like the perfect thing to help hurry it along.



Head over to Practical Scrappers to be inspired with more fun shaped cards.
Lisa
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Thursday, March 20, 2014

Practical Scrappers: Scrapping our Stash Hop

Happy Spring! Oh, I am so excited to be moving into a time of new growth, warmer weather and staying light outside later! This winter has been a long one and I am definitely ready for it to be over. Today I am hopping with the Practical Scrappers team and we are once again sharing our projects using our fabulous stash. If you came here from Kelly Jean's blog you are on the right track. Didn't she do an awesome job?

My project today is a quick and easy card using a fabulous little bit of Little Yellow Bicycle I had sitting in my scraps drawer. I also used an Elle's Studio circle tag and some random embellisments I had sitting in my pile. I love how this makes me feel springy. I'm not sure if it is the flowers, the happy or the fabulous light shade of blue. Anyway, here it is. 


While I have you here I am also going to share a second card that I should have shared earlier this week. Unfortunately it's been the week of the migraine again, stomach virus for the youngest, and I have been subbing most of the week as well. All that to say this is my project for 10 things twine that went up at Practical Scrappers a couple of days ago. you will want to make sure to check out the great ideas the other gals had too since most of us have jumbled rolls of twine sitting around somewhere :) 


This card fits perfectly for today too as it is all stuff from my stash as well. See that green shamrock button in the center?? I bet I've had that in my stash for well over 5 years now if not longer, always waiting for the right thing to use it on. Yeah! Love using that stash. For the twine I looped the string around my fingers 3 times and then twisted the loops to make a stem. I doubled the heart shapes for the clover and pop dotted them up so I could hide the ends of the twine and make it look a little more finished.

It's time for you to hop on. You are heading to see Nicole Laha next. I know she has some fabulousness to share too. Have fun hopping.

 Lisa
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Saturday, March 15, 2014

It's Sketch Time with S.W.A.T.

Hello again. It's time for the second March drill with S.W.A.T. and this time we get to play with a fabulous sketch. I had some pictures of Nathan's field day from kindergarten (yes, I am that far behind when I go back to chronological scrapping) and decided to try to take the sketch farther and make it into a double page layout. I decided the best way to use it was to use the sketch in it's original form for the first side and then I rotated the sketch 180 degrees and used it for the second page. I like the way it turned out.

First here is the sketch that we are using for this challenge.



This is what I came up with. I liked the circle shape of the doilies and thought that worked well with the schoolish theme of the pictures. I also decided to use a picture where the subtitle would have gone on the second page and used more than one photo in the main area of both sketches. I love to take sketches and use them as a jumping point to incorporating my own ideas.



Don't you love the Imaginisce Childhood memories line that I used here. So bright and perfect for those elementary years. I also used my Cricut to cut out the title as well as the arrows and circles. I added the splatters onto the background because it was looking extremely plain. I am still not sure I should have, but what's done is done.

Thanks for joining me today and make sure you check out all of the fun projects from the design team on the S.W.A.T blog. There is a prize pack of new Gelattos up for grabs if you take time to join in this challenge with us. I would love to see you there!

Have a super Saturday.
Lisa
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Saturday, March 1, 2014

Mixed Media Madness- Choose Love

I'm back for a second post today to share my newest mixed media project that incorporates my one word challenge for myself for the month of February. I was excited to see that our first drill for March on the S.W.A.T. blog for this month involved mixed media as I have started to step outside my creative box and experiment a little with some fun techniques lately. I have to tell you, it is a stretch for me because it often involves letting ago my perfectionist, line it up and make it look even tendencies in order to let things just happen. I do enjoy trying out different mediums though and experimenting a little with textures and colors.
In February I decided to focus on love as my one word challenge for this year. My word for the year is Choose and I decided to make a conscious effort to focus on choosing love and what that means. For me, choosing love goes back to a phrase that I have been challenged with over the last couple of years that incorporates how I want to live my life so others see what I am about. Love God, Love Others. Four simple words but with actions behind those four simple words a world of difference can be made around us. As a Christian I feel that we sometimes get a lot of criticism based off of harsh or critical behavior of a few. To me, living my life for Christ and showing others that He is important to me boils down to what I do to show these four simple words in my life. If I truly love God and work to build intimacy in my relationship with Him that will build an outflow in my life that will impact others more than any words I can say. And the same is true with loving others. If I love others the way that God loves others I will show it with kindness, gentleness, acceptance, peace, empathy, compassion... all things that would like to see grow within myself.  God's love for me and for everyone is not harsh, angry, judgemental, or critical. It is full of mercy and grace and a kindness that we can only begin to understand. Because I want to be able to be a vessel of God's love I created a reminder for myself and my family of what choosing love boils down to.



For this piece I started with a fresh coat of Gesso. I then used some Gel medium and several stencils I have to create some interesting textural pieces. I applied some she art journal paper and let that dry as well. I began applying some different gelattos and spraying them with water to help blend them. This was my first time working with gelattos after receiving them for Christmas. OH, I'm in love! So fun to work with blending and creating depth of color. I chose to just work with shades of orange which is a total stretch for me. Not a normal color choice for me but it was fun to step out and try something different. My first instinct was blues and purples which won't surprise those who know me, but since this was a challenge I made myself try a different palette.  After the gelattos set I added the pink burlap heart which I traced from a stencil made with my Cricut. I'm not fabulous free handing so I like a little help :) I added a little ink to define the edges, placed my stickers for the title, did a little distressing and sanding and then finished with some random stamps. I am pleased with the final results.
So how about you? Do you indulge in a little mixed media? Whether it be creating canvas', art journal pages, incorporating it into your scrapbook pages or cards...whatever your fun may be, we would love to have you link it up to our challenge at S.W.A.T. You have the full month of March to get it done and linked up. Paper Bakery is the sponsor for this month and they are awesome! I used several pieces from their August mixed media kit including the she art paper, the burlap, and their exclusive stencil that came with the kit. If you haven't seen their monthly selection of kits you need to check them out.
Lisa
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Happy Birthday ideas

Coming from a family full of lots of nieces and nephews, birthdays always seem to be just around the corner. Having a bunch of ideas and inspiration for birthday cards is always a hit in my book. That is exactly what is going on at Practical Scrappers today. I made a quick and easy card using Crate Paper's Party Day collection and decided to go masculine since I have several boy birthdays coming up.


Quick, easy and not too frilly...perfect recipe for a manly card. Head over and see what the other designers had to share as well. You won't be disappointed!
Lisa
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Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Celebrate Hump Day With a Good Friend

Happy Hump Day! It's my day to celebrate hump day on the S.W.A.T. blog. It has been so busy around here that I literally missed a day somewhere and didn't realize we were already at Wednesday. Surgeries, MRI's...my son's are keeping me and the medical professionals busy these days. Life hasn't been all bad though. My very good friend Dawn came to visit and brighten my week last week. It was such a welcome distraction in the midst of life that gets overrun with too many things to accomplish and not enough time. Being with Dawn made me think back to how our friendship started. We both moved to Lincoln from Denver around the same time in 2002. It took moving to a whole new place for us to meet even though looking back we had many places and people in common in Denver. Funny how that happens. Our friendship was instantaneous but our time living close together was short lived. They were transferred to a new area only 18 months after we met. Sometimes friendships suffer with distance, but Dawn and I had an incredible connection as did our husbands and kids too. We have made it work even though real life face time is few and far between. Here is a layout I made of Dawn and I just before she moved away.


Hump Day seems like a good day to think about friendships and how much they add to our lives. How about you? Do you have that special friend that can instantly pick you up when you are down, or make you laugh when you just need to? Maybe you should scrap that today. What better way to celebrate a good friend.

Lisa
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Saturday, February 15, 2014

S.W.A.T- Love is in the Air

I'm back. Two posts in two days. That is kind of a record for me lately. Life has been super busy and I am finding it hard to juggle everything and do it all well lately.
Yesterday I promised a layout that I find dear to my heart. David and I have been married for 20 years. My biggest regret from the actual wedding was not hiring a dependable and great photographer. We were given some of the proofs, about 1/2 of what we ordered and then he disappeared. We have no album, some great shots and some that are just eh. My very favorite picture of us in the limo was one that we never got back and didn't get the proof of. I think since they were such a source of disappointment I haven't ever really done much with them but lately I have been pulling them out and getting the urge to get what I do have into some great pages that will showcase a day that is so important to us. This was our official first kiss as husband and wife.


Oh my goodness, we look young! 19 and 21...way too young when it comes to my boys. I think about Nathan being married in less than 5 years and my head spins. NO WAY! Anyway, I was able to use up a lot of my stash with this layout. This line is from Authentique. It is their Lovely collection and it has been sitting in my stash for awhile now. I used one of the very first Cricut cartridges I bought way back, Love Struck. I did add a little new with the cute wooden hearts from Creative Embellishments. that I first covered with a white gelatto and then painted with red paint. It doesn't show well on this picture but when you look at it in real life it made a very cool ombre effect.

Make sure you take a look at all the love inspiration on the S.W.A.T.  blog today. Our new drill is all about love and we would love to see what you create. There is an awesome prize up for grabs this month. Come take a look and play.

Lisa
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Friday, February 14, 2014

Practical Scrappers- Scrapping Our Stash Blog Hop

Happy Valentine's Day and welcome to my little stop on the Practical Scrappers Scrapping Our Stash Valentine's Blog Hop. You should have arrived here from Erin Morehouse's blog where I know you saw some pure awesomeness. I love that this is a valentine theme hop seeing as how I have plenty of love themed stash to use. I have a super easy gift to share with you today and if you come back tomorrow I am sharing a LOVE layout created for the new S.W.A.T drill that is also made using only things from my stash.
I had two fun glass containers that have been sitting on a shelf in my craft room for quite some time now. I knew I wanted to do something with them, so when I needed to come up with a quick gift on the fly this week I put them to good use. 


Simple, quick and the perfect little bit of Valentine fun. After filling the pieces with M&M's (because who doesn't love a bit of chocolate?) I added some simple stickers left over from an older Authentique line and tied on some Echo Park tags I had left over using ribbon and twine from where else? My stash of course :) Again, nothing complicated...everything was ready to go and waiting in my stash. It just needed to be pulled together into something that can bring a little smile to some special friends.

Today used just a few little things from my stash. Like I said earlier, come back tomorrow for a layout that is dear to my heart using even more fabulousness I had laying around. Now head over to see what Claude Campeau has created to inspire you with today. If you want a full list of the hop use you can check back on the Practical Scrappers post for today. You can also read about the fabulous prize being offered by Kiwi Lane Designs and find out how you can be entered. 

Lisa


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Monday, February 3, 2014

Catching Up

Hi there!
Doing some serious catch up work today. I have been very out of it this last week, doing the things that needed to be done day to day to try to get by but falling behind on everything else. I started with a migraine last Monday and have had a severe headache since. Trying something new today from the doctor to see if we can knock this out but thought I would pop in here really quick to post my projects from Practical Scrappers and S.W.A.T last week.

First up was the On Trend post from Practical Scrappers. We were focused on the ever popular chalkboard look that is currently found everywhere. I used the Basic Grey Fresh Cut line and some awesome chalkboard cards from Studio Calico for this page which is part of my 2014 One Word layouts. This month I have chosen to focus on Hope. We've had some challenging things facing us these last few months as a family. Sometimes in the midst of those challenges I find myself so looking for something to hang onto because things seem impossible and too hard to face head on. That is when I find myself reaching out for the only thing that gives me the full and steady hope that I need, Jesus. Sometimes it's just saying His name and letting it whisper over me that gets me to take one more breath and say "We can do this". He is the anchor that keeps me steady and grounded. The anchor sentiment is a perfect reminder to me of a verse that I hold close to me, Hebrews 6:19. The other sentiment is actually part of a song that has long been a favorite of mine.  Every time I hear this song played it brings a peace to me that is unexplainable. As soon as I saw this journal card set with these two cards I knew that they would make the perfect page for me to express my focus on choosing hope when things seem insurmountable. I have a second side to the page which includes some journaling, but I am choosing to keep that piece just for me and hopefully one day looked at and read by my children and grandchildren to let them see the piece of me that kept me anchored. Don't you love the anchor piece too? That is from a friend's store, Creative Embellishments and this fits the challenge they are having this month as well. There could not have been a better piece for this page.



The second project I am sharing is actually a blast from the past. With the migraine going I wasn't able to make a new project for the new drill at S.W.A.T.  February's first drill is a celebration of one year as a challenge site. I have been with it since the beginning and love the challenges that Lanette puts together. There is such a variety of challenges to use product, sketches, inspirations...you name it. I love the versatility and seeing the fun link ups that come in from blog readers. If you haven't checked it out yet I am hoping you will. The challenges are easy, laid back and there are always some great prizes.  Our new drill focuses on One. Your challenge is to use black and white with just one other color. Having that one pop of color against the black and white can be so eye catching. Let's see what you can do with it. By the way, the prize for this month is a kit from 3 Scrappy Boys and it is a good one. There is a picture of it on the S.W.A.T. blog if you click the link above. My project was a card I made last year that is still one of my faves because of the blue that is so bright against the background.


Thanks for stopping by! Off to see about knocking this headache out.
Lisa
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Sunday, January 19, 2014

S.W.A.T: Sketch with a twist-buttons

Just finished the most exciting Broncos game and am so excited to be returning to the Super Bowl! My oldest has been the biggest fan since he could speak and he is absolutely giddy...no other word to describe it. The last 2 times we were playing in the big game he was about 6 week and just over a year so he is ready to see one he can remember :)

This week there is a new sketch challenge on the S.W.A.T. blog. This is the second drill of the month and it is a sketch with the twist of using buttons. I had these fun pictures of my husband's grandpa who we love dearly. He is so funny and gives us much to laugh at when he is around. He is the only living grandparent for my husband and I and it is special for us to see the boys interact and enjoy relationship with him. I used up lots of stash for this layout. The black and white paper from Doodlebug has been in my possession for an extremely long time. I thought it paired well with the black, red and white buttons I have had for just as long. Add some washi, some sequins and a few other fun necessities and I like how it came together.


Here is the sketch I used and the one you will use if you choose to join us. There is a fabulous grouping of embellishments up for grabs and you would have great odds of winning! Come take a stab at it and join some fabulous ladies for some fun. Don't forget to use a button or many on your layout.


Have a super week.
Lisa
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Friday, January 17, 2014

Practical Scrappers Card Sketch and Winner!

Hey there. Popping in on a Friday night after a very busy week. This actually went up on the Practical Scrappers blog this week and somehow it didn't get published for the right day here on my blog. I had that happen with another recent post and am trying to figure out if it is user error or something with blogger. (Probably the former but most certainly have to at least try to convince myself I'm not totally crazy and inept so...) I will share the other missing layout later this week with a big apology to my dear friend Melissa as I was a special guest designer for her and it didn't get linked here.

Anyway, here is the card I made for the Practical Scrappers blog. Christine Meyer, our fearless and very creative leader, has jumped into the world of sketch designing and I chose to use her example to base my card off of.


Here is Christine's sketch.


I also promised a winner for the blog hop from last weekend. That person is Iris. Iris, please email me with your address and I will get a fun scrappy stash in the mail. I have it boxed up and ready to go.

Lisa

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Friday, January 10, 2014

Scrap Your Stash Blog Hop with Practical Scrappers

Woohoo! So excited to be part of a fun use your stash blog hop with Practical Scrappers today. If you are here after visiting Kerri's site, Welcome! If you just stopped in there are tons of amazing crafters with projects for you to see today and some of them even have prizes. I may even be one of those with a fun prize... you may have to read to the bottom to see :) Just sayin'. Let's get started

CHA is this weekend and that means the industry is putting out all kinds of fabulous new product.  So what better time to kick off our new monthly series of Scrapping our Stash! I don't about you but my craft room is full of stuff, great stuff but lots of stuff! The idea of working through what I have (to make room for the new stuff coming out, of course!) is so appealing to me and when I look through my tons of paper and embellies I still am in love with so many of the older lines. Today I am going to share a couple of pages I put together for my husband's parents album. I add pages from the year to an ongoing album that I have kept for them for the last 12 years.

The pictures on this first page were taken at the special anniversary dinner we had for our parents for their fiftieth anniversary. We are so lucky to have such a beautiful, loving relationship to look to and to pass on to our kids. I thought this old Basic Grey line, Little Black Dress went well with the theme with the gold accents it has. I used my Cricut and Teresa Collins Sophisticated cartridge to cut the title, the number  and the flourish. I covered each of these in Glossy Accents to give that raised, shiny look. 


The next page I did uses an old Little Yellow Bicycle line, Hello Fall. We took Dad on the Cog Rail train up to Pike's Peak for his seventieth birthday. He loves trains and was thrilled to go until he got to the top of the mountain and had some heart problems due to the altitude. The next train ride will definitely stay on lower ground! I found these little wooden fall accents in my stash but they were out of their container so I can't remember where they came from. Aren't they cute though?

So that is what I have to share for this month's Scrap Your Stash segment. Now for the prize. Since this is all about the stash, I have a goodie box filled with fun stuff from my own stash. I'll give you a few clues since I don't have a picture. There is a little washi, some fun wooden embellies, letters and a bit more. I promise it is all good stuff...no scrap crap here :) (I once went to a crop where they had scrap crap drawings all night long and some of it was OLD so I had to say it! It was fun though.) In order to qualify for my prize just leave me a comment and tell me if you have a huge scrap stash or if you are not one to hoard. I would love for you to pick one of the ways in the right hand column to follow my blog and let me know which way you do. That's it. Easy Peasy. I will draw a winner and let you know who was picked in one of my upcoming blog posts.

Kim Ryden is next on the list. If you want a full list check out the bottom of my post. And a special shout out to the big sponsor of today's hop: Kiwi Lane Designs! For information on how to win the big blog hop prize make sure you follow the directions on the Practical Scrappers website.

Lisa


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Wednesday, January 8, 2014

S.W.A.T Challenge: One Word for 2014- Choose

Hello friends. 2014 has started off fast for us. The boys are both back in school (well, one is home sick today so...) and classes have started out with lots of homework already. Nathan is a driving fool...okay don't take that literally. Hopefully he is using his wisdom and making good driving decisions right?? Anyway, he is off to the races and loving his freedom. His brother is liking it too. I guess it's cooler to be toted around by his sibling than his mother. I have taken advantage of it by having him run a few little errands for me. I know the newness will wear off and he will start complaining about running around for me so I'll take it while I have it.

I started last year with choosing one word that I would let be my word for the year instead of setting multiple goals. My word last year was connect. Having moved again it was something that I needed to do both physically with the new area around me, emotionally with the feelings I was having after all the changes the last few years, and spiritually as all the moving had made me a little numb, not gonna lie. I also needed to work through the feelings dealing with my nerve issues and the implant that would be taking place. I feel like connect was a good word for me last year and one that I can continue to embrace. This year I have chosen a new word. It is one that has been very big in my mind and one that I knew was my word but took awhile to embrace  because it requires a lot from me. My word for this year is Choose... as in choose my attitude and where it will take me. Life has definitely been full of ups and downs this last year. It has been very good in some respects and super hard in others. What I've found is that too often it is way too easy to let our circumstances dictate the emotions and responses I have...oftentimes for the worse. It is easy to wallow in hopelessness or disappointments and let those choose the next steps you take. I have found that, for me, I have to learn to make a determined effort to look beyond the moment and what's happening right then and choose to respond in a different way. I am going to work on setting my mind on things above (Col 3:2). Just a few verses down,
Colossians 3:12-14 sums up the choices I want to make perfectly. 12Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. I have a choice. I can choose how I will face life... I can choose my attitude.

 Lucky for me, the new January challenge on the S.W.A.T blog was to create a layout, art journal page or whatever would help you to document the one word you have for the year. I did this last year and loved the visual reminder of why I chose that word. I have more pages in mind to add to this over the year and will share them as they come. For today here is the layout that I created for the challenge.


Do you have a word for the year or a list of goals to attain. I would love for you to join us in our challenge. There is a $20 gift certificate to 2 Peas for the winner of this month's challenges. Now that is incentive!

Share with me your word or one specific goal in the comments below. I would love to hear what you are working on.
Lisa
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