The Sweetest Thing

Blog Hop Giveaway extended.  Because I've got so much to share on the blog over the next couple of days.  I've decided to extend my giveaway to Thursday.  If you haven't done so, you may get in on the action here.  Winner will be announced on Friday, March 8th.

A new month a new Challenge over at Scrapping Everyday Miracles.

This month Marjolaine has challenged us to scrap about a gift we've given or received, that really touched our hearts.  It was a perfect challenge to scrap the sweet, sweet gift Théa, my 10 year old, gave us this past Valentine's Day.  After dinner that night she took off from the table and returned with two gift bags.  One marked Daddy, and one marked Mommy.  We were told we had to open them simultaneously.  Inside were these canvases.

The twist is to add bling.  Mine is yellow, so a little difficult to see.

I have been fortunate enough to receive many gifts in my lifetime, but none so sweet, and thoughtful as this.  There is just something about your child choosing to pour time and energy into something handmade especially for you.  I love that the Lord put inside of her a love for all things artsy.  It's been a real blessing watching her discover her strengths and giftings, and even more so when she chooses to use them in a way that is pleasing to the Lord.  For all the times I want to crumple over in frustration, exhaustion, or sheer bewilderment at this thing called parenting, moments like that one on Valentine's Day, make it all seem like a journey I should feel continually blessed to be on.  How about you?  What gifts have you received or given that still cause you to feel incredibly proud or grateful?

To see what the rest of the team created in the spirit of gratitude pop over to the SEM blog.  You have until March 31st to link up you own creation, and get in on a chance at lovely kit sponsored by Sue at ScrapChicKits

This will be my last post for Scrapping Everyday Miracles.  I will forever be grateful to Nicole for welcoming me onto the team in the middle of a term.  SEM is a wonderfully warm, inspiring, supportive, creative place on the web.  She has done a wonderful job of creating a place for those who love the Lord to come together, share together, and create together, all with Jesus at the centre of it.  I wish her and all the new, soon-to-be announced members of the team the very best as they carry on the vision of Scrapping Everyday Miracles.

On a happier note, please come back tomorrow for a fun announcement, I've been keeping secret for weeks, and for your chance at the best RAK I've ever offered on my blog.  It's big.  I promise you'll want in on this.

Happy Monday friends! Pin It

Coffee Filter Ruffles & A Winner

Happy Hump Day friends!

Last week, while searching for something to share over at Scrapping Everyday Miracles, I discovered a tutorial that I thought was so cool, I just had to try it right away: coffee Filter Ruffles.  You can see the link that I first discovered here.  I was so inspired by it, that I just had to give it a try right away so I could share it with today.

These are the images that got me so excited.

Cut the centre out of a few stacked coffee filters

To create your own ruffles follow these easy steps.  Grab a few coffee filters, and cut out the centre.  I'm saving my centres to use on another craft someday.  So I had to give it a try for myself.  I thought the ruffle layers were a little large though, so I cut them in half, both lengthwise and widthwise.

 I then grabbed a handful of Studio Calico Mr. Huey's 

and began dying the ruffles one at a time.

 End result looked like this.  I did end up adding an extra shade of green.  

You'll notice that the coverage is a little splotchy in some areas. 

I decided not to worry about it, but just to go with the flow.

Using double sided tape I covered the bottom, front of the card and began layering.  

I snipped off the parts of the ruffles that were over hanging.

To finish it off, I simply added a couple little embellishments, 

and voila, a happy little card to add to my stash.

Have you ever seen a tip/technique or any idea that got you so excited you had to try it right away.  If so, link me up I'd love to see what inspires you.

Lastly I have a winner for my Kiwi Lane Designs blog hop.  I want to thank all of you for stopping by and commenting, and especially those that became new followers.  I hope to continue to inspire you with quality, and creative projects throughout the year.

Congratulations Valerie!  You have won my set of Tiny Accents Templates, and some fabulous Love Notes tags from Chic Tags.  Please send an email to sherrifunkATgmailDOTcom with your snail mail.  And I will get your prize out to you asap.  If I do not hear from you by Wed February 13, I will choose another winner.  Congrats again!

I am off for a quick trip to Mexico tomorrow.  Just me and my hubs, really looking forward to some time away, just the two of us.  I hope to have a few photos of sand and sun for you next week.  Until then, enjoy the rest of your week everyone, and thank you so much for stopping by today. Pin It

Home Is Where The Heart Is

Happy Monday friends,

Today is a day off for my kiddos, have I mentioned before how much I love to sleep in?  One of my favourite things to do on earth.  It was a lovely weekend here, a little work, a little dance, a sleepover, a scrappy date, church, and of course the Superbowl.  Good times.

This morning, I have the February challenge at Scrapping Everyday Miracles to share with you.  It's all about where you feel most at home this month.  That could mean different things to different people depending on your circumstance.  For me it truly is wherever I know my hubby and kids will be.  That's home.  If they all chose to live in the Arctic circle, I would have to find a way to make it work, because it just wouldn't be home anywhere else if they weren't with me.  Of course there are times where I love them all being away so I can have some peace and quiet, but what makes that peace and quiet so sweet is the knowledge that soon enough everyone will be back bringing with them all the noises big and small that make them who they are, and in turn make me who I am.

Here is the layout I created for the challenge.  The twist is to add journaling on a tag.

All sorts of bits and pieces to this one, mostly My Mind's Eye, and Chic Tags product

A little hard to see, but I spread some gesso and blue paint across behind everything.

I wanted the photo to take centre stage, so I literally centred it, then placed "love" themed embellies all around.

Journaling on the hidden tag is a quote I saw somewhere on-line (Pinterest perhaps) 

"We may not have it all together, but together we have it all"

Hope you feel inspired to create a "home" themed project of your own.  If you join us you'll be in the running for a prize from this month's sponsor as well as possibly earn a spot as a future guest designer for us.  You can get all the info, and see where the rest of the team feels most at home right here.

Have a great week everyone! Pin It

January Sketch Challenge

Happy Monday friends,

Marjolaine provided Scrapping Everyday Miracles with her very first sketch challenge this week.  Here is my take on it.

That little tab at the bottom pulls out to reveal the hidden journaling.

Here is the original sketch

You can see that for the most part I worked with all the elements, but changed things around just a bit.  Rather than a circle I went with a rectangular shape on which to mount my photo.  This silhouette cut was a free one I discovered at Studio Calico provided by Kinsey Wilson.  (You can download the file here).  I was dying to use it so I pulled it out for this one.  I made the original cut on white card stock, and used the fabulous new Heidi Swapp Colorshine in mint green to colour the mask to better compliment the photo I was using.  Isn't that amazing coverage?  You've got to try her mists they are fantastic, and give a rich, intense colour.  Totally different from Mr. Huey's, not better just different.  I then moved the cluster along the edge to the other side, layering little bits and pieces rather than using the large square blocks.  I am in love with the finished result.  The twist on the challenge was to fussy cut a patterned paper.  There may have been a better way to cut the papers to go behind the mask, if so I don't know of it.  This baby took me a good while to cut out and cover.  A lot of Sookwang tape, and glossy accents at work here.

There is a great prize up for grabs this month.  It is not one, but two packages of flair from Paper Loves Glue.  They are super cute.

You can see what the rest of the DT did with the sketch, and link up your own creation here.  And incase you missed it the main challenge is here.  It's a call to scrap a "sad moment" in your life.  The DT had some really touching stories to share along with some great layouts.

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I hope your week is off to a great start! Pin It

Scrapping the Sad Moments

The first challenge of the year is up at Scrapping Everyday Miracles.

This month we were encouraged to scrap a sad moment in our lives.  It was perfect timing in a way.  I discovered a few childhood family photos on my laptop as I was cleaning it up over Christmas.  This photo is so telling of the way I feel about my childhood.  So much sadness still present in my heart over it.  Look at my brother and me, how sad we appear to be.  Chances are we were likely yelled at for one thing or another just before this photo was snapped.  The only person smiling in the photo is my father.  The controlling, and abusive one in the family.

The twist this month was to use a bird, a symbol of freedom on our project.  Mine is tiny, but it's there on the My Mind's Eye brad on the bottom right.

A lot of journaling on this one.  Not hidden this time, but right out in the open, giving God the glory for the woman I've become in spite of the heavy hand under which I was brought up.  Jouranaling reads: "People often have a hard time believing my upbringing was as difficult as it was.  My bubbly, outgoing personality doesn't line up with what should have been the product of the emotional abuse I suffered as a child.  My explanation is always that God had a plan for me.  It was by His grace that both my brother and I turned out to be caring, loving individuals who broke the pattern of generational sins in my father's family.  John 16:33 has been a type of life verse for me. "I have told you these things that you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble but take heart for I have overcome the world."  It's so clear in this photo how unhappy we all are, only my father is smiling.  He was the only one with anything to smile about.  We all lived under his heavy and controlling hand. Thankfully, all my life I had other adults, surrogate parents who loved me, encouraged me, and showed me what the love of Jesus truly looked like.  The Holy Spirit worked through them to grow in me compassion, forgiveness, and a tender heart.  I am who I am because of Jesus.  Amen"

Have you ever scrapped a sad moment in your life?  I found this a little emotionally draining to do, but I'm glad I did it.  It will become part of my scrapbooks.  It's a part of my history, and deserves it's place among the memories of the rest of my story.

If you'd like to see what the rest of the team chose to scrap you may do so here.  If you choose to play along with us, you may link up there also.  You have until January 31st to do so, and be entered for a chance at our Top 3, as well as a $15 gift certificate to Paper Loves Glue (a fabulous little Etsy shop with great crafting product)

Hope your week is off to a great start, thanks for popping by today! Pin It

The Good Life

Happy Monday friends, I hope you each had a wonderful weekend.  Can you believe it's December already?  The beginning of a new month also means it's time for a new Challenge over at Scrapping Everyday Miracles.  Tracey had us focus on the joy of the Season this month.  To me, the Christmas season is a time to be thankful first and foremost for the baby that came to save the wold.  The gift of salvation is the greatest gift I've ever received.  Second to that would be my family, and that would not have been possible without the unconditional love of this man.  The love of my life for the past 16, soon to be 17 years.  My joy is found in everything he is connected to.  He is a wonderful and hardworking provider for our family.  A hands on dad, who takes a genuine and daily interest in all three of his girls.  He puts up with all my type A personality-ness, and occasional nagging.  He is my biggest cheerleader, and a wonderful example to our girls of the type of man they should, one day, expect in their lives to grow old with.

The twist this month is to use bling, or sparkle on your layout.  I chose to add some My Mind's Eye bling, and some Studio Calico Shine to my layout (sorry they're a little difficult to see with the white backgroud).  Here are some close ups.

Cut file from Studio Calico

I loved this All Is Bright Collection from My Mind's Eye so much I didn't want to reserve it only for Christmas photos.  I think it looks great with everyday photos too.

You'll want to pop over to the SEM blog to check out what the other dt members created, and see who our generous sponsors are for the month.  That's right...sponsors, as in plural.  We are fortunate enough to have two prizes up for grabs this month.  There will be one for the Main Challenge, as well as one for the Sketch Challenge (which I will be posting for you in 2 weeks).  You can see all the details here.

Thanks so much for popping in today.  I hope you feel inspired to go and create a layout that focuses on your own blessings.

♥ S. Pin It

SEM November Sketch Challenge

Nicole has provided us with this sketch from Sassy Sketches to work with this month.

I have been taking the Silhouette Cameo sponsored Cut-It-Out Class by Studio Calico this month.  And this sketch was the perfect opportunity for me to use my new machine to create pinked circles to use as my background.  This cut was the first one we learned how to make in the class, so I couldn't wait to put it to good use.

Here is the layout I created about my handsome nephew using the sketch and a few cuts from my silhouette.

The twist was to use a number on our layout so I placed his first initial and his age in red onto the first photo.  He's such an easy subject to scrap, with his adorable personality and million dollar smile.  I used the journaling stickers from My Mind's Eye to record my journaling for this one.  It read's "Love this kid's spectacular, so bit, brilliant, cute, bright, beautiful smile."

You can see what others on the team came up with using the same sketch by popping over to the blog here.


And don't for get our gracious sponsor for the month is Peace, Love & Scrapbooking Kit Club.  As a special treat they are also offering Scrapping Everyday Miracle members an additional 15% off this months kit, all you have to do is quote GC0906338 at check out.  Hop over here to grab yours.  You have until November 30 at 11:59PST to link up your creations.

Happy Monday friends!





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SEM Challenge #22

Where did October go?  It doesn't seem possible that today is really November 5th.  It is however, and the good news is that another Monthly Challenge has been posted over at Scrapping Everyday Miracles.

This month Cara has challenged us to create a layout that focuses on family.  My gang never fails to offer me all kinds of inspiration.  I used photos from a little shoot we did for a girlfriend who was finishing up a photography course in June and needed a family to shoot.  I think she did a great job.  She captured some lovely family shots of us, and even indulged us a bit and let us be a little wild and crazy for a few (that's the real us anyhow, ha ha)

Journaling reads: Good looking & FUN.  Yup, that's us in a nutshell.

I worked with the the brand spakin' new Sn@p Collection by Simple Stories.  They have totally moved into my number one manufacturer spot I tell you.  This line is playful and fun, and perfect for both full page layouts, their Sn@p (6x8) albums, and Project Life.  When I saw the papers I just knew they'd go great with these photos of my crazy little family.  I've also use The Crafters Workshop 6x6 chicken wire mask, and a Pink Paislee mistable butterfly.  The twist this month is to use ribbon on your layout.

Pop over here to see what the rest of the team came up with, and get all the deets on our gracious sponsor for the month Peace, Love & Scrapbooking Kit Club.  As a special treat they are also offering Scrapping Everyday Miracle members an additional 15% off this months kit, all you have to do is quote GC0906338 at check out.  Hop over here to grab yours.

Hope to see you link up with us this month.

Happy Monday friends, may the week be off to a great start for you.

♥ S.
(eta: not sure what's up with Blogger, this shows it is scheduled to go live at 5 AM Central time on November 5, but posted tonight, obviously the SEM post will not be up yet, it will go live on the 5th, sorry folks).  Pin It

Happy World Card Making Day

Today is a day card makers all around the globe look forward to every year.  There are so many manufacturers, retailers, bloggers, magazines, and forums that celebrate with all of us.  There is definitely no shortage of places to go for inspiration, challenges, and amazing prizes up for grabs.

Scrapping Everyday Miracles decided to join in the fun this year, and create a card just for this special day.  I still had some stickers I was wanting to use up from the Crate Pretty Party collection, along with a few scraps of paper for the Story Teller Collection, so I created a little trio of cards.

In only one hour I was able to both participate in the celebration of the day, and begin to stock up on my stash of everyday cards.

How about you, will you be creating handmade greeting cards today?  I'd love to come have a 'peek-see' if so. 

And if you haven't heard Paper Issues had joined in on the celebration in a big way.  Check it out here.

Have a wonderful weekend friends, and Happy Card Making Day!

♥ S. Pin It

Winner, winner chicken dinner

A quick post to announce the winner of my RAK from the Scrapping Everyday Miracles blog hop.  I used Random Generator to help me choose a winner among the 22 comments left on my post.

Congratulations Faith Hope Cherrytea, all this and a few extra goodies I am going to throw in, will be on it's way to you soon.

I will send you an email requesting your snail mail.  You will have the weekend to get back to me.  If I don't hear from you I will draw another winner.

I'll be back tomorrow with a few shares for World Card Making Day.

Have a wonderful weekend friends!

♥ S. Pin It

The Miracles of Fall

Happy Monday friends, and welcome to a brand new week.

The Miracles of Fall is the focus of Scrapping Everyday Miracles Challenge #21

I decided to focus on the blessing of fresh produce.  As gorgeous as the changing of leaves can be this time of year, and the flight of the geese as they make their way to warmer climats, a bounty of fresh vegetables sure can make one feel incredibly blessed.

On this particular afternoon Mom called and asked if she could please bring over some of the harvest from her garden, and that of a friend's.  I wasn't home at the time when she stopped by.  When I came home there were bags full of wonderful smelling red potatoes, huge bright orange carrots, a funny shaped pumpkin, the largest zucchini I have ever seen, along with some glorious smelling tomatoes.  I felt rich, I tell you.  It may not have been worth a lot in monetary terms, but the thought that I had more than I could possibly need on my own, while so many go without was overwhelming.

Where normally, thoughts of Fall conjure up visions of brightly coloured trees, this year thoughts of Fall will remind me of the incredible gift of fresh, brightly coloured produce freely grown and harvested in my mother-in-law's garden.  Many a zucchini bread, and fresh oven-baked potatoes await my family.  Crisp, fresh carrots will satisfy my girls' hunger at lunch, and gorgeous peppers, and tomatoes will garnish many a meal to come.

This Fall we are so very blessed.

Simple Stories Harvest  Lane Collection

So in celebration of Fall, this month our Challenge at SEM is for you to scrap an everyday miracle you've captured in this wonderfully colourful, and refreshing season.  Even if you live in a climate where the change is colours is not as distinct as it is here in North America, there are still miracles happening all the time, all around you.  As always there is a twist...we challenge you to use paint on your layout.  You'll notice, I kind of cheated on that.  I opted for the a Maya Road metallic mist over the paint, because of the overall design of my layout.  But ink, is ink afterall, so please feel free to adjust your own layout as necessary, we won't hold it against you.

You can see the rest of the Design Team's Fall inspired layouts and, get the inside scoop on this month's sponsor right here.  We hope you'll be inspired to join us this month. 

Thanks for stopping by today. 

♥ S.


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A New Chapter Blog Hop

 Happy Friday friends,

I'm thrilled to welcome you to Scrapping Everyday Miracle's blog hop.  It's been wonderful welcoming a few more talented ladies to our team.  Sad to see some of my friends leave, but that's the great thing about the world wide web, no one is ever too far away.  I wish our departing friends all the very best as they go on to begin a new chapter in their own lives.

A New Chapter.  That's the theme for this hop.  We are inviting you to create a project that captures the essence of the new chapter you are currently in.

My new chapter is that I've joined a woman's bible study once again.  It's been several years, and although I have some great resources for my own quiet times here at home with a great cup of coffee, my journal, and my sharpie pen.  There is something really special about gathering around a table with other women, from other walks of life, with other stories to share.  Last week was the first week.  I went thinking I would only know one or two women, but ended up running into quite a few other women from various past chapters of my life.  I also met some really wonderful woman right at my own table.  They were warm, unassuming, welcoming, and ready to dive in and be real with one another about what God is calling them to in their lives (or not knowing exactly what it is that God may be calling them to at this point in their lives).  I had a wonderful time, and am really looking forward to the Beth Moore study on James.  I've heard such great  things about her studies.  I've seen dvd studies by her, and listened to several You Tube, and Pod casts by her.  She's so charismatic, passionate, and full of conviction for her desire to teach others about the lessons she's learned along the way through various chapters of her life.

Using My Scrapbook Nook August kit featuring Carta Bella

The verse printed on the tag in the little pocket is Isaiah 43:19  "See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?  I am making a way in the desert, and streams in the wasteland."  It's kind of our theme verse for this hop.

SEM always has a twist, and this month it's to use to book pages on your project.  Now, I have to be honest, I totally forgot about it.  I had it out, and everything...I just simply forgot to add it.  On the upside, however I have two actual books in my photo, ha ha.  I'm hoping that will cover me.

And what's a blog hop without a few raks (Random Acts of (scrapbooking) Kindness).  Here is what I have up for grabs for one lucky reader.

I'm a big fan of bits and pieces, and so that's what I'm offering up to you, I'll even throw in a package of Chic Tags (my new fave embellishment), and an Evalicious badge or two.  To be eligible, I'd love it if you would become a follower of my blog (if you haven't already), and leave me a comment letting me know you're interested in this bundle of goodies.  That's it.  Easy peasy right?  This give away is open to everyone, as I am willing to ship internationally.  I will leave it open until Monday, 11:59 pm October 1st, and use Random Generator dot com to select a winner, and post on Saturday  October 6th.

Now, I hope you're in a hopping kind of mood.  I have your hopping orders right here.  If you haven't started there, I suggest you go back to the Scrapping Everyday Miracles blog, and start there.  The rest of the order will be as follows.

 Svetlana 

  Felicity 

  Elizabeth

  Kelly 

  Nicole

  Sherri

  Marjolaine 

  Cara

  Einat 

  Tracey G 

Dolores

Make sure you stop back at SEM to finish off.  Commenting there after completing the hop will enter you to win the grand prize from our very generous sponsor Art Freckles. 

Our grand prize winner 
will win a 
prize pack 
valued at 
$25 CAD

  In addition, Art Freckles is offering 15% discount to our blog hoppers on all purchases made between Sept. 28th and Oct. 5th.  
Use coupon code is 'SEMHOP'

Happy Hopping friends.  I'll be back tomorrow with a sketch reveal.

♥ S.

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You're Invited

We have some new additions to our design team, and we'd love for you to pop over to the SEM blog and say hello.  You'll get a peek at their style, learn a little more about them, and find out more about this....

You can see the introduction to the new ladies joining the team here.

Speaking of prizes I will be offering up a little something for one of my lucky readers also.  You'll have to come back on Friday to see what goodies I have set aside for you.  You'll also see a new project I created especially for the event.

Hope to see you on Friday!


 



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SEM September Sketch Challenge

Scrapping Everyday Miracles September Sketch Challenge

Here is what you will be working with this month.  Isn't it great?  So glad Shimelle was kind enough to allow us to use it this sketch, it was fun to work with.

her blog

The Scrap Twist this month is to use a mixed alpha title.  Here is my layout.

I loved this quote I found online, and pinned it for use at a later date.  That day was when I printed out this photo of my then, new cute black flats.  A short...very short actually woman in flats...I know...counteractive...but I love 'em.  I don't spend a lot of money on shoes, rather I prefer to wait for sales, so I can have more at the same price.

Here is a close up shot of the journaling. 

Have you been enticed to play along?  I hope so.  Participating in this sketch will earn you the chance at a fabulous card kit being offered up by our generous sponsor this moth The Card Kitchen.

May Kit - prize may not be as shown

You still have plenty of time to link up with Challenge #20 this month also.  Doing so will earn you a second chance into the drawing for our sponsored prize. 

Remember all layouts must be linked up to the Scrapping Everyday Miracles blog by Sunday September 30, 2012 no later than 11:59 PST.  Make sure to link directly to your post, and not just your blog, and don't forget about the scrap twist.

Happy creating.  And thanks so much for stopping by today!

♥ S.

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