Saturday, July 26, 2014

My Little Champ

I finally sat down and created this layout just in the nick of time!  Beth has a very cool sketch and challenge over at MDS Monday this week.  I've had the layout in my mind for a few days and finally did it tonight!


Products Used:
Game Day, Game Day Baseball, Everybody's Business, Hello Fall Flag Punch

I knew this sketch would work well with one of the thousands of sports photos I have of the boys.  I decided on one of Carter pitching.  I love the way it showcases him "in the zone".  I wasn't too sure what colors to use so I ended up color matching the blue from the sleeve of his undershirt - love that feature in MDS!  I can't wait to see this page in print!


Lucky for me, print products are on sale through July 31st!!  Click here to see the print sale prices!

Well, it's late so I'm off to catch some zzzzzz's.  Thanks for stopping by!!

Reminders:

Signature - Tree

Thursday, July 24, 2014

MDS Blog Hop - Oh Snap!

Hello friends!  Thanks for stopping by for our MDS Blog Hop!  Today we have a new designer joining us - Wendy Weixler!  We're excited to have her share her talents with us!!  For today's Blog Hop, we're showing you what we've been working on.  I've been trying to make a dent in the jpegs on my laptop!! The more layouts I can get done, the better!  And what better way than MDS?!

I found a couple of photos from a visit to the vet I wanted to scrapbook.  A trip to the vet with two 85 pound dogs is always interesting.  Thank goodness my boys are old enough to help me!  My dogs (Marley & Pepper) usually realize about 10 feet outside of the vet's front door where they are and come to an abrupt stop.  This leads to one of us pulling the leash and the other pushing from behind.  I'm sure it's quite entertaining for anyone watching us.  We still laugh about one trip in particular…  Carter was waiting in the car with Pepper while Evan and I brought Marley inside.  (Seriously, we've learned it has to be done in "shifts".)  There were tons of other dogs inside so we had to hold on to her real tightly so she didn't go near them.  While I was trying to hold Marley's leash and sign in, she got wrapped around Evan's legs.  You know how when the back of your knees get hit, you automatically buckle?  Yeah, next thing I knew, Evan was on the ground.  I looked down and noticed that I had written all across my chest with the pen I was using to "try" and sign in.  I was sweating from the stress of it all and crying because Evan and I were laughing so hard.  It really felt like we were living out an excerpt from the book, Marley & Me.  We finally got settled and looked around.  Not one person in the waiting area, smiled, laughed or reassured us in any way.  For some reason, that just made us laugh even more…  Well, I'm happy to say that we survived that trip to the vet and they've seemed to go a little smoother ever since.  I really wish I had photos to scrap from that adventure.  But, here's a layout from a recent visit - Marley looks so sweet and happy to be there, doesn't she?!  Hmm…...


MDS Downloads Used:
Hi There (DSP and Bubble Punch), Retro Fresh Pocket Cards (recolored to Strawberry Slush), Downtown Grunge (frames), Paw Parade, The Best Year, Tickets & Tags

I love using pink and green!  With two boys, using girly colors feels like a treat!  The colors from the "Hi There" download are soooo fun!!  And I loved the "Oh Snap" sentiment from the Retro Fresh Pocket Cards to go with this page.  Once I recolored it, it was perfect!


Don't forget to follow along with our Blog Hop and see what the other designers have been up to!  Next up is Beth Rush!  Click the link below to hop on over to her blog!


Thanks for visiting and don't forget to check out the CURRENT PROMOTIONS here!!

Reminders:

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Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Being A Mom is Tough

Hi there,

My blog has always been my creative outlet - where I share my crafty side, my creations and memories through scrapbooking.  But today, I'm joining in a blog hop with an online Bible study I'm doing.  We are currently reading "Am I Messing Up My Kids" by Lysa TerKeurst through the Proverbs 31 Ministries.  (And just a little warning… a writer I'm not… lol)

Being a mom is the most important, most challenging and most rewarding job I've ever had.  My boys are 12 and 14 and there are days I'm in awe of the men they're becoming and then there are days I wonder what planet they're from!  Either way, I often wonder if I'm being the parent God intended for me to be.

I realize that no matter what age your kids are, parenting is tough.  I remember when I was first pregnant, I was so worried if I'd be a good mom.  Would it come naturally? Would I know what to do?  Then, I remember the first few weeks of being a mom.  My son had colic - I mean bad, screaming, crying colic for hours every evening.  My husband and I would take turns passing him back and forth trying to comfort him without losing our own patience.  This was not what I envisioned!!  Many nights I felt so helpless and was so relieved once we made it through that stage.  Yep, being a mom of a newborn was tough.

Then, he got a little bit older and I fell into my routine of being a mom.  But I still remember some of those helpless feelings…. Once, I was cutting his tiny nails - I missed, and cut his little finger.  He cried and cried and I did too!  From that day on, my husband has always cut both of our boys' nails! Then there were the times we went to the pediatrician and they were due for immunizations.  I remember that helpless feeling as they looked at me crying wondering why I was letting this man hurt them.  Torture for any mom!

As they got to the toddler years, I remember worrying if I was doing the right thing… Music classes, play groups, reading, eating the right foods…. Were they going to get sick from that nugget they ate off of the car floor that had been there for who knows how long…?  (Please, tell me I'm not the only one that had that happen?!)  There is so much to worry think about!  They attended preschool and they didn't always love it.  I remember many days that they were pulled out of the mini van crying as I drove away feeling helpless.

And now we've made it to the teen/tween years.  Am I too strict or too lenient with discipline?  Do they have good, solid friendships?  Are they good friends to others?  Are they becoming well rounded young men?  Do they know they can come to me with anything?  Am I too protective?  Do we spend enough time together as a family?  Are they learning to serve others?  Where are they on their faith walk?  And now as my oldest will be in high school soon, does he have the right classes and extracurriculars to get into the college of his choice?

Seriously, it's enough to make this mama feel like a crazy person!  The good news is, I think most of us feel this way at some point and that comforts me just a little!  But, the even better news is that God is on my side.  He's got my back even when I feel like I'm not being the best mom I can be.  And I often have to remind myself to turn those worries over to God and my wish for my kids into prayer.

The Bible verse this week in our study is Psalm 23:3.  It's such a good one for us imperfect moms that sometimes feel helpless or overcome with worry.  And it's such a great one to share with your kids too!


Ok, this is longer than I intended but I have to end with this quick story…  Sunday night my 12 yo finished his summer reading book on our Kindle.  He showed it to me and asked (with a very concerned look on his face) what this book was:


I told him it was the book for my Bible study.  He was so relieved and said - "Oh, THIS is your Bible study book?  I thought that you thought something was wrong with us.  And you were reading this book to try and figure it out."

Bless his little heart (as we say here in the South).  I explained that it was a book for my Bible study to help me be a better Christian mom.  Then, he told me that I already was the best mom ever.  Sweet boy - I guess I'm doing ok.  :P

Thanks for stopping by!  Click the button below to join or follow along with our Blog Hop!



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Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Choose Happiness

It's time for a sketch challenge over at Stampin' Celebration!!  Would you believe it?!  I actually stamped and didn't make a digi project!!  I received some new goodies in the mail from the new Stampin' Up! catalog and couldn't wait to play!  Here's what I created:


Products Used:
Stamps:  Choose Happiness
Ink:  Lost Lagoon, Early Espresso, Hello Honey
Paper:  Typeset, Lost Lagoon, Hello Honey, Crumb Cake
Other:  Label Bracket Punch, 1/4" Cotton Ribbon in Early Espresso, Linen Thread, Big Shot, Deco Labels Collection Framelits, Sponge Dauber, Dimensionals

And here's a close up of that sweet little sentiment:


I {heart} this new stamp set and the new In Colors!!

And here's the sketch I used for my inspiration:


Make sure and check out the other designers' creations over at the Stampin' Celebration Blog!  We'd love for you to play along!!  Use the above sketch to create something fabulous and link it up with us for your chance to be the Pick of the Party! We can't wait to see what you're inspired to make!

Thanks for visiting!!

Reminders:

Signature - Tree

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Summer Fun!

Happy Thursday!  The MDS Hop is back and sharing a little summer fun with you!! This theme is perfect for this time of year!!  I actually scrapped an older photo from 2 summers ago, but I love it just the same!


Downloads Used:
Be Awesome Today, Finest Simplicity, A Split Second, Summer Splash, Summer Possibilities, Lemonade Stand, Good Times II, Banner Punch, For the Home

I used a lot of different paper on this layout.  I just love the mix of summer-y colors against the gray background!  :)

Hop along with us to see what summer fun the other designers have been up to!  Next up on our hop is Elizabeth Rush and I can't wait to see what she created!  Click the button below to visit her blog!


Thanks for stopping by!!

Reminders:

Signature - Tree

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Horsin' Around with MDS Monday

I was in the mood to scrapbook today…. and I found a fun sketch over at MDS Monday as my inspiration.  Here's the quick page I put together:


Downloads Used:
Natural Composition Overlays, Extreme Elements, Mis-stiched, Game Day Stitching, Burlap Ribbon, Blossoms Abound, Essential Wooden Elements, Oval Bubble Punch

I looked through a bunch of photos on my computer, and found these from a trip to Hilton Head a couple of years ago.  I thought they fit the sketch perfectly!


I had fun playing along with this sketch!  And can't wait until my layout is printed and in my album!  :)

Thanks for stopping by! 

Reminders:

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S'more Great Moments

Today we have another fun inspiration challenge over at Stampin' Celebration!


I was instantly drawn to the campfire and the s'mores!  (Yum).  When we were in Cooperstown last month, the lake house we rented had a great fire pit.  We couldn't wait to make s'mores - and of course I had a few photos to scrapbook from that night!


Downloads Used:
Happy Camper Memories, Downtown Grunge (frames), World Traveler, Be Yourself, Dropping You A Line, Extreme Elements (stars), Ink Splatters, Old School

I used the coloring tool on the campfire stamp and the title stamp.  I love these cute photos! :)

We'd love to see what you create using the above photo collage as your inspiration. You have two weeks to link your projects.  And NEW this month, everyone can vote on the entries for our "Pick of the Party"!  So join the fun!  Don't forget to check out the Stampin' Celebration Blog to see what the other designers created!

Reminders:

Signature - Tree