With All My Heart

Happy Monday!

Today I have a layout to share with you that was published in last month's issue of ScrapStreet Magazine.  I was asked to create a layout that documented my musings, thoughts/wishes/dreams for my future.  This is what I came up with.

Using Echo Park Graceful collection

It's unusual for me to have this much personal reflection visible on my layout. It is usually hidden in a pocket. The purpose of this layout however, was to record my musings/indulge in some self-reflection. I wanted the story to be visible, and available, especially for my children. I think it's important for them to be able to see me as more than just their mom. I want them to know that even though there are days where it may be difficult to tell, I am so very grateful for the life that I have, and they are very much a part of that.

The journaling reads:
"Sometimes it's hard not to be overcome with emotion when I think about the great wealth of blessings I have been given in my lifetime. Never in a million years would I have dreamed I would be living the life I have. Here I am; at 38. A wife and a mother. Surrounded by the people I love, and who love me in return. I am blessed. I have a husband who has promised to love me despite my shortcoming, is gracious with me, and is my biggest cheerleader, regardless of the task I've decided to take on. My three girls fill my heart to overflowing. They are beautiful, intelligent, funny, compassionate, and kind. They have the ability to make me want to scream and laugh all within the same sixty seconds. I pray all the time that I will not fail them as a parent. I am so grateful that they are forgiving and patient with me, as I continue to find my way as their mother. Together, we are living a dream, so much greater than I ever could have imagined for us. With all my heart, I give thanks for the honor of living this life!"

I really love this layout.  Not because I love looking at photos of myself, but because it will be nice to look back and remember this time in my life.  As much as I always think I'll remember certain details or events of my life I know that it's impossible to remember all of it.  I also look at it as a very tangible and open prayer of thanksgiving to the One who has blessed me with all of it.  None of it would matter without Jesus.

On another note, if you're local, this is a reminder of the layouts I'll be teaching this week at The Scrapbook Cottage.  They all about layers, and mist.  The class is on Thursday, August 23 at 6 pm.  There is still room, simply call the store to register 257-2771.

Using Amy Tangerine Sketch book collection

Using Simple Stories Summer Fresh Collection

Hope your week is off to a great start friends!

♥ S. Pin It

LCTS Sketch #145

Natalie is our sketch designer this week over at Let's Capture These Sketches.  Here is the sketch we had to work with.

This one was a little tricky at first for me, until I realized I could group everything just a little closer together creating a layout that still followed the sketch, but reflected my true style.

Here is my take on it.

One of the best things to me about being part of a sketch team, is that I get the opportunity to dig into my stash and pull out older items that I've let sit idle for too long.  Because the focus is on the sketch and not the product, I'm free to mix and match to my heart's content.  Here I've used some new Evalicious: journal card, badge, and tag, some really old Crate Paper: the punched yellow strip (Random Collection), some Studio Calico washi tape, some Amy Tan leaves, and Ormolu tag, an old Prima sculpture flower, a really old stamp (I think it's Maya Road), and the start chip board again is really old (I think maybe Jenni Bowlin?!), along with some Studio Calico mist, Jillibean soup alphas and some Maya Raod trim.  Love 'using it all up'.  If you'd like to get your hands on those Evalicious goodies, or even the Ormolu tags they are available in the LCOM store.

A couple detail shots:

Made the flower with a Gluber and some May Arts trim

A little Studio Calico washi tape

 To see what the rest of the DT created and link up your own take on Sketch #145 hop on over here.

Thanks for popping in today friends.  Hope you're in the middle of a great weekend!

♥ S.


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Daughter of Mine

A quick just for fun layout. 

This one was made using a Nook kit featuring the Echo Park Graceful collection.  The colours in the collection were so easy to work with.

I used my Studio Calico butterfly mask to create a layered vellum butterfly.  The edges are inked with Tim Holtz Spun Sugaar distress ink.  The gorgeous kraft doily was a scrappy gift from my friend Nicole (best little envelope to ever arrive in my mailbox!).

I used the trim in the kit to create the flower and pined a My Mind's Eye brad through the center.

Et voilà, one fast and easy page to remember a quick photo captured on the day we spent 12.5 hours at the Canadian National Dance Championships.

Thanks for stopping by friends!

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Just Love This

Have any of you become as addicted with Instagram and all it's co-ordinating apps as I have?  I love the 4x4 size for scrapping, and the lighting effects in Picfx are so gorgeous on the printed photo.  As soon as I finished editing this photo of my youngest two girls, and myself, I knew it would be a perfect match to this gorgeous paper line.

I really do love this page, it's simplicity with little clusters of fun, a little stamping, a little misting, and a little stitching all just make me happy.

rest your mouse over the photo to read the journaling

This collection has been one of my favorite collections to work with.  I've created so many pages with it, and still have paper, and embellishments to spare.

You see more close ups and get your hands on some of the product used by checking out my post on the Let's Capture Our Memories blog today.

Thanks for your comments they sure make my day (and help me to know I'm not just talking to the air around me).

Speaking of comments, have you seen this post yet?  It's a great opportunity to support two wonderful scrappy women I just happen to really like, and win yourself a little shopping spree at the same time.  You really don't want to miss out on this opportunity!

Have a wonderful day friends!

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Best Family Vacation

Cara is up this at Scrapping Everyday Miracles with this month's challenge...to scrap about your favorite vacation.  I love this challenge, because it gave me a good excuse to pull out these old photos of our family trip to the island of Turks and Caicos.  In case you're wondering where in the world it is I've included this map.

source

We joined another family for a week long stay in paradise.  It was one of those trips that you just know will be a once in a lifetime thing.  We took all three kids, and stayed at the all-inclusive Beaches resort and spa.  It was incredible.  19 restaurants, 3 separate villages, numerous pools, with swim up bars, snorkeling with starfish and stingray, and miles, and miles of white sandy beaches.  It was truly one of those places that made me stop and consider how amazing Heaven must truly be.  All that beauty was simply breath taking, and Heaven, according to the Bible is suppose to be even better than anything God has created here on earth, I can't even begin to imagine.  It was such a wonderful time to just play together in the green/blue sea, stay up late talking and laughing, and not having to worry about work, school, or do  any housework at all.

Here's a layout showcasing a few of the photos we captured the last evening we were there.

I really wanted to keep the focus on the photos so there are very few embellishments as you can see, not my usual clusters of bits and pieces.

The journaling reads:
"Our very first 'plane ride' family vacation was in 2008 to the most beautiful place on earth.  Turks & Caicos: with Heidi and Andrew and their girls, Lexi and Annika.  Everything about it was magical.  The many restaurants, the pools with swim up bars, the snorkeling, Kids Club, the video arcade.  So many happy memories made.  So thankful Heidi took these photos of us."

The twist this month is to use a stencil on your layout.  I did so with the butterfly, traced onto vellum, cut, then inked the edges.  Our sponsor this month is Artful Delight.  To see the rest of the DT layouts, and get more info on the prize up for grabs this month please hop over to SEM.  Hope you'll have a chance to play along.  Or at least leave me a comment telling me your fave vacation ever, I'd love to hear about it.

Have a wonderful Monday friends,

♥ S. Pin It

Reveal #143

This week we were given the privilege of working with a unique sketch by JJ.  All the squares, and straight lines were right up my ally. 

Sketch 143

The design allows for several modifications, as the squares could either be interpreted as photos, blocks of patterned paper or journal spots.  Here is my interpretation.

The photos are of our resident joker: Miss Eden.  One morning while she was suppose to be getting ready for school, she showed up in my bathroom doorway striking this 'what's up dude?' pose.  She thought it would be funny to put body lotion on her face to look like a mustache, and goatee.  Although mornings can be difficult between the two of us (as one of s like the other to move more quickly, and the other likes to take her sweet time), antics like this keep us laughing, rather than crying.

Some details shots

I freehand drew the flourishes and hand stitched over

I pieced the papers together and used my machine to add some stitching

Mr Huey's Warm Calico, with a Pink Paislee Mask

If you'd like to see what the rest of the team did with the sketch, and maybe even link up your own take on the sketch hop over to Let's Capture These Sketches.

I'll be back on Monday with Cara's Challenge #19 for all us from Scrapping Everyday Miracles.  Until then we are off to the lake for a few days.  I hope you have some fun, laid back style, family time scheduled for your weekend too, regardless of what corner of the world you are.

Thanks for stopping by today, and for your kind comments!

♥ S.


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Summer Luvin'

August already hey?!

Summer has been wonderful around here so far.  Lots of playing, lots of late nights with movies, and popcorn.  Some time with friends, time at the lake, and a little bit of everything in between.  That's the way I like it.  I do apologize for being more absent from the blog, but our down time is something I take pretty seriously with the way our lives are so very scheduled during the school year.  Rather than writing about our experiences I'm out with my friends and family creating them.

I thought I'd share a few of those memories with you today.  I love Instagram, and so enjoy preserving, and scrapping my photos this way.  It's also a fabulous way to stay connected with friends, and their every day little moments.

One morning before gymnastics camp

Cat sitting for Gus

This kid is so creative, even her nails are fun

Ice cream on the beach with Aunty Deb

Eden in the neighbour's dreamy backyard

A little dessert

This was actually the last day of school at the hotel pool

Loved the Hunger Games trilogy.  Have you read it?

Together for the first time in over 15 years

Can't wait to see this next week!  Our sweet little friend is in it.

Yes, he's really that cute!

I couldn't help this ridiculous smile, there's nothing like the first publication!

Blue Bombers home opener.  They won, I lost my voice for 4 days :)

Are you on Instagram.  I'd love to follow you, leave me your username in the comments section, and I'll look you up.  You can find me at "sherrifunk", original, I know :)

Here's a page  of our ever adorable Wilson I created a  while back for the 12 Days of Summer Challenge over at Let's Capture Our Memories.

For someone who never wanted a dog, I sure to seem to have a lot of photos of him :)

We are off for holidays for the next couple of weeks.  We'll be in and out a couple of times, but I just wanted to let you know that I will not be blogging regularly, although I do  have a few posts scheduled to run, so you won't be left high and dry.

• Tomorrow I'll be back with Sketch #143 reveal for Let's Capture These Sketches. 
• Monday I'll have Challenge #19 live for Scrapping Everyday Miracles.
• Tuesday I'll have a layout to share for Let's Capture Our Memories.
• And a couple more will follow the week after. 

I'm  also gathering up some goodies to do a giveaway at the end of summer.  You all have been so wonderful keeping up with me, encouraging me, and blessing me with your kind words.  So much so, that I've surpassed 100 followers.  That's exciting, and something worth celebrating.  Because I want the goodies to be great, I've decided to do it at the end of summer in hopes that I'll be able to get my hands on more of the new CHA items.  So keep coming back to visit.  And if you're not already a follower, please join me to become eligible.

Off to enjoy the rest of this gorgeous Manitoba summer day.  Have a blessed day friends,

♥S. Pin It