A little Grace, a year in review...

I have been catching up on my blog reading and I have found

so many wonderful posts reflecting on the coming year,
setting new goals and challenges.

I have been contemplating so many similar things myself.

I cannot lie, 2011 was not what I expected. Since Jan our family
has been in a constant whirlwind of changes and I truly thought that
it would throw my kids into a tailspinbut on the contrary, they have
adjsuted beautifully proving once again that God is soveriegn.

We made two major moves - first from CO to TX (change) six months
 later from corperate housing to our new home.(change) Our kids
changed schools three times! (change, change, change) Our little ones
have special needs and anyone who is familiar with special needs
knows that change is especially difficult! It is amazing how each move has been
 very smooth when these transitions happened; we have
been blessed with great teachers, principals and specialists.

In addition to physical moves:
While we were trying to settle in here in TX
 our oldest was still away in NV, her first year of college
Her car was totalled by a drunk driver,
I thank God that she and her friends were not in it at the time!

Our oldest son had stayed in CO to finish High school early and moved

back with us in March. (change) We are grateful for God's timing as

we went back to CO for his graduation in May when got the

phone call that our oldest daughter was being admitted to the hospital for seizures.

We were able to bring her home with us from college.(change)

She has had a rough year but is doing well now.

We praise God for healing - she was having tremors, small seizures or episodes.

She never had anything like this before.
After months of tests, they have ruled out many potentially serious

illness' and conditions. We do not have answers as to what it was,

we praise God that it seems to have stopped.

She is staying home and is going to college locally.

Most recently my mother has come to live in TX. (change)

 There have been a few health problems

with mom that were not being addressed before that we are addressing now.

I am learning that it is alot easier to work with children than it is with adults,

especially when it comes to their health!

She has been here since Oct, we are making s-l-o-w progress.

But hey, progress is progress!

We are members of a new church (change) and plugged in,

thank you God for new supportive friends!

We continue to be blessed with phonecalls and prayers

from supportive old friends.

(I am tempted to say "back home" but this is our home now)

You know who you are, thank you.

Reminds me of one of my favorite quotes by Charles Swindoll...

“I cannot even imagine where I would be today were

 it not for that handful of friends who have given me

a heart full of joy."

I have to believe that with all these changes and 

hardships this year it could have

easily driven my kids crazy (not to mention me!)
and we would be out of control.

It has been stressful, sometimes it felt like

more than we could bear but God has given us grace,

extravagant grace in each circumstance and that has not been the case.

Which also reminds me of a lesson my hubby recently

taught the youth (did I mention we are also the

 new youth pastors at our church?)(change) using this scripture...

I Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.
 And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted
beyond what you can bear.
But when you are tempted,
 He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

In all of this I continue to thank God fo this hobby that has

brought extra income when we've needed it, friends,

an outlet for my sanity and joy - remembering to celebrate &

document the little things. Grace is a good thing and I am grateful!

 Change is inevitable but I am looking forward to calmer changes in the new year.

Settling down looks really good to me right now!

I am still contemplating new goals and challenges for the new year.

I have already started either revamping or dropping things that were not
working for me in 2011 and am concentrating on things that are more
 effective and full filling for me and my family in the new year.

I wish you peace, joy and love in the new year

And grace if you need it (I hope you don't need it.).

Oh...

And details on my banner? You can read about it here...

http://designmemorycraft.typepad.com/design-memory-craft/2011/12/gelato-technique.html

                                                  (If it has not posted check back later!)

supplies:

Clear Scraps banner, Faber- Castell Design Memory Craft Gelatos,

Spellbinders Die, Thickers, ZVA flowers.

stringed pearls & tulle

Artistic tendancies...

Well I hope you had a wonderful Christmas!

 It seems like this year has just flown by!

I was very blessed as it was quite peaceful

around our house (well AFTER the presents were opened!)

I was happy to get back in my scrap room after all the hustling around

and being sick! Blech!

Today I am sharing a mini I made a while back that I had not shared yet.

I am also very excited to report that one of my favorite mediums

 Liquitex iridescent medium (the iridescent butterfly) is still being sold -

just in a different container than I had so I didn't recognize it!

Did you know that Gelatos can be made into mists?

Yep, just mix with water!

This was a lot of fun to make, I love using various textures and artsy techniques!

I was looking over my work for the past year and discovered the projects that

I love the most are those that had an artistic flair to it. Moving forward I think

I will try to incorporate more art into my work.

Here are the pages to the mini -

there were so many I had to make them into a couple of collages!

I got this mini at Scrap Gal.

In addition to the iridescant medium

I used  Gelatos, Big Stampers Brushes and PITT Artist Pens from

Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft.

Dusty Attic chipboard and Crafty Secrets images & stamps.

Here's a fun tip - the Big Stampers Brush & PITT Artist Pens are waterproof!

You can draw, doodle & journal on your our page and then mist away and it wont bleed!

How cool is that?

Well the countdown is on!

Christmas is four days away and in spite of being sick I have finished the shopping,

bought the cards (didn't send any but I am doing digi cards for those with computers)!

The kids saw Santa & Mrs Claus - which isn't a normal for us,

Christmas is about Jesus not Santa.

But this was at hubby's work Christmas Party and the kids had a good time!

The kids have enjoyed all the festivities and celebrations!

Baby girls Nutcracker performance, school & church parties and

last weekend they were in the Christmas production at church (pics coming soon!)

I can't say that my kids believe in Santa -

we really don't put that much emphasis

on him but baby girl had a few questions

about reindeer so she had to go back and ask...

As you can see
Santa was a bit perplexed
on how to answer her questions!
It was fun to watch!

Even hubby got into the spirit!

Today I am not leaving the house, the kids are out of school

and I am so tired of running around!

I am feeling better thanks to a shot and antibiotics!

Thank you for all the well wishing & prayers!

If I don't post again until Christmas, I want to leave you with this..

Imagine if you could that on Christmas day, you open  your front door

and on your porch would be a beautifully wrapped box

in your favorite colors.

 It would be tied with iridescent ribbon - a very large and perfect bow.

The tag says "for my dear friend" and you know that it was from me.

The gift is

 Joy, Peace, & Love.

I want to wish you a very Merry Christmas and

peace on the day we remember the birth of Christ.

I hope you take the time to thank God for you blessings.

Enjoy the people

you have been blessed with in your lives.

 I will try to do the same.

Here are cyber ((hugs)) for you!

Together...

Hey friends! Today I want to share some tricks of the trade, OK not really -

 I don't know any big secrets but I can share a little project with you!

I used an XL Deco  - this acrylic page from Clear Scraps is 12x12.

The title and banner are also acrylic from Clear Scraps.

I had fun using tissue paper and a little Glossy Accents on them.

The large circle is a laser cut from Ta Da Creative Studios.

The doily was altered with Gelatos from Faber Castell Design Memory Craft.

 I did a lot of misting directly on the back of the acrylic,

 you just have to set it aside and let it dry on it's own- no heat guns!

To make the edges black I started using Staz On ink but some

 the letters were really small so I also used a Sharpie.

So there you have it - a few tricks you can use on your acrylic projects!

Meanwhile can you believe there are only 6 days until Christmas?

I would like to say that I am finished with shopping and cards but nope

I am not.

Today I woke up with a swollen throat, I have strep so they probably wont get done.

But I will be better before Christmas and

hopefully still be able to sing at church in Christmas day!

Getting Published!

If you subscribe to CREATING KEEPSAKES

 and got you magazine you will see that I have a layout published on pg 33!!!

***

Now, I am no way an expert on getting published as I really don't get it.

One of  my goals for 2011 was to be published

in a paper magazine and to be published in Creating Keepsakes

was definitely a dream come true!

 Now I have been published online many times and

  years ago I won two contests and a scrapbook convention and both projects where

published in a paper magazine (Memories magazine - which is no longer around)

but it eluded me how others get published

and some get published over and over.

 I talked to many, many girls who have been published and I will pass on that advice

because they were right.

So what's the big secret to getting published???

..........................................................

.........................................................

..........................................................

Keep submitting!

Lots and Lots and LOTS of projects!

I submitted a lot of layouts this year and right when I was so tired of hearing nothing

and ready to quit submitting I got an email from Creating Keepsakes!

AND it wasn't something I had just submitted - so if you are saving it for publishing don't post it!

Here are some insider scoops I also learned which 

did not make me feel better but helped me understand the process.

Maybe it will help you.

***

They have a magazine to sell and the pages

not only have to be good but they have to compliment each other -

so you may have the perfect layout but the wrong color or style or whatever.

They have THOUSANDS of layouts to choose from so if your picture isn't good

to begin with it's probably going to get overlooked.

It's not personal - you may be a fabulous scrapbooker

but it's not what they need THIS TIME so keep submitting!

 One of the girls I talked to said she submits 20-30 layouts

for each call EVERYTIME - and maybe she will get one picked up!

Pay attention to the type of project they need.

*added after I posted thanks to K. - good journaling!

And even though they picked your layout -

they tell you it still could get cut before the final edit comes out

(which is why I didn't say anything until I saw it with my own eyes!)

And that's all I know.

Not much. 

But it sure is exciting to see

your layout in a magazine!

Oh and after I got the news for Creating Keepsakes I got an email from

Stamping, Stationary, Scrapbooking magazine

that they are going to publish one of my projects in the Jan issue!!!

The project they picked was something I sent in from the call BEFORE the

current call (I had missed the current call!)

I haven't seen that one yet as it doesn't come out until Jan 1 but  it

just goes to show if you want something

Don't give up!

let it snow...a little house***

OK yes  - I am really enjoying making these little houses! LOL! Here are some other fun techniques or products you might try on your projects! First the little house (I believe) is a another Maya Road and I made it for a display at The Craftey Scrapper!
The details...

Don't you love when you get an idea and it actually works?
First I want you to pay attention to that little tree -
Clear Scraps actually sells 12x12 sheets of acrylic and I used
 a Spellbinders leaf die to cut out this tree! I cut two leaves out of the
sheet, bent them in half and adhered them together-just a little down
the center with Helmar 450 glue. I added snow and cemented it
down to the cardboard base with Snow Tex.

The snow is a product called Snow Tex - this stuff has been around for a long time and it is always a part of my stash. It is a pasty texture, you can add water if you want to make it smoother (or more runny!) and it dries rock hard so you can use it to hold things in place. You can even add a  little glitter
and it looks sooo pretty. (I didn't for this project because I wanted a lot of contrast between the house and my cute little tree.)

COLOR; anyone who knows me or has been on my blog a while knows I love color! I decorated my little house with Pink Paislee Mistables (paper) and of course my trusty Gellatos from Faber- Castell s Design Memory Craft ! All you have to do is draw some lines and go back with  a wet paint brush to move the  brilliant color! Some of the Gellatos are metallic so you get the look without the  mess! The papers are already embossed and resist the color! I love this look!

The windows are framed with cut outs from another Spellbinders die, as well as any trim you see!

The roof is a stencil with iridescent medium by Liquitex. I will say that I bought this years ago - another staple in my stash and now I can't find it!! Which is a real bummer becasue this stuff is so great with a stencil!

Last but not least - you cant really see it in the picture but the windows have a stained glass

look - I cut squares out of the 12x12  acrylic sheet from Clear Scraps to fit to fit each wall and colored them with my Big Stampers Brush from Faber Castell Design Memory Craft! 

Lots of ideas! Happy Crafting!

Love My Tapes blog hop!

Welcome bloggers!

Today I am participating in a blog hop for Love My Tapes!

I love ribbon and adhesive already on the back?

That is the beauty of Love My Tapes!

If you are following the blog hop and you came from Lisa's blog

you are in the right place as I am last stop except for the Love My Tapes blog.

If you came to visit me because you are just super fabulous

and decide to join in this blog hop 

there are only 5 blogs to visit

but you must comment on all 5 blogs to be eligible

to win super prizes on the Love My Tapes blog!

Here is a mini I created that goes into this house...

If it's your first time here on my  blog

I have a tutorial on how to make these stones here.

and details on the house here.

The mini comes in the chipboard house kit by Maya Road.

(I got it at Scrap Gal)

Here are my pages and you can see the

Peppermint Mini Checks (ribbon) from Love My Tapes on the first page!
(It is one of my favorites!)

Here is the Peppermint Checks again with the birds

and the Jane Polka Dots (ribbon from Love My Tapes) in green on the last page.

So there you have it!

So glad you came by I hope that you will join my peeps by becoming a follower!

I have another fun giveaway coming soon!

Making stones...

A while back I posted this cute little house but I want to share with you how to make "stones" out of scrap chipboard! First cut various sizes out of chipboard, round the edges. (Think river rocks!)

Then take Design Memory Craft Gelatos in black, coconut and metallic silver
 and randomly draw on parts of the chipboard.
(Hint * with black, less is more!)

Mist with water and spread  the color around with your finger.

This is what they should look like when you are finished.
You can always add more color if you don't like the look.

Use a glaze on top  and set aside to dry - if the chipboard was wet when
you added the glaze it  might take a little longer to dry but it will be worth it!

And here is the finished project - polished stones!
You should try this!

Gingerbread baby!!

Baby girl had her first ballet recital!

She was a gingerbread in the Nutcracker!

She was so excited  - but kinda bummed

because she did not get to wear a pretty dress.

Half of the girls had to be gingerbread boys and

she cried when she found out she was one of them.

But we convinced her that she still looked adorable in her little costume! 

 She worked so hard!

And her teacher promised in the spring 

recital she will be wearing a beautiful dress!

Of course we think she still looks lovely and not at all like a BOY!

Here she is on stage...

You can see her right in the middle of those skirts! LOL! 

It actually made her easier to find onstage!

She was really nervous when she saw how many people

were waiting to come into the audience

 but she did a fabulous job!

We are so proud of her!

Our beautiful lil' gingerbread baby girl!

For the love of ...

 Over the summer I took these pictures and there were even more that I didn't use!

This is a great way to get lots of pictures on a page!

With all those pictures I wanted to make sure I left some white space too.

 I used these fun clear embellishments fror Clear Scraps.
Those traditional color papers are the "Frozen Tozen"

collection from Ta Da Creative Studios!

I also enjoyed using my pastel pencils and PITT Artist pens for the journaling.

 Kinda reminded me of high school & college

where I doodled all the time to stay awake in class! LOL!

(Umm I still do if I am tired!)

***

Oh did I mention the winner for my Novembers thankful giveaway???

MustangKayla

please email me your addy

and let me know if you want

a Target card or a scrapbook store gift card!