"And hope does not disappoint us,
because God has poured out his LOVE into our hearts by the Holy Spirit..." Romans 5:5

Sunday, January 31, 2010

Scrapbooking Tips


TIP TIP TIP
I love using CHIPBOARD LETTERS on my titles!
These are so inexpensive and easy to apply.
However, some of them can be rather large
so fitting an entire title of big chipboard letters
into one title would overwhelm my photos.
I like to use only ONE chipboard letter to begin my title.
The other letters in my title can be created with
stamps, stickers, or diecuts (as I've used here.)
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TIP TIP TIP
Stumped on embellishments?
Slap on a sticker or two!
I don't always match every single aspect of my page.
As you can see here, these stickers
don't coordinate perfectly with the other page elements.
That's okay.  The little orange fish pops and looks adorable!

Thursday, January 28, 2010

In Love Half My Life...


My Best Friend and I have been together now for
nearly TWENTY YEARS
and I want to surprise him with some fun lovin'
the week of our celebration.
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I've created this fun little "pop-out box"
that will explode when he opens it.


Once open, this cute little exploding box
will contain a sweet sweet message...
*

along with some of his favorite sweets!
I plan to make some of his favorite "cookies"
(I know... very appropriate, huh?!)
and place a couple of them on top of the little card.
*

Then, of course, I will treat him to lunch!
Aren't these papers and cards just adorable?!
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My sweetie's favorite cookie...
CLEAN COOKIES
1 box cake mix
(any flavor, but his favorite for this recipe is white or yellow)
4oz whip topping
1 egg
Mix all together.  Roll into 3/4"-1" size balls.
Roll in powder sugar.
Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes.
YUM!
My son calls these "clean and dirty cookies" because
the chocolate ones look "dirty" and the white look "clean."
he he he.

Monday, January 25, 2010

"Pop-Out Valentine" at Lavender Sentiments


You seriously HAVE to join me
this Thursday at Lavender Sentiments
this Thursday at 6:00pm
to create this adorable Valentine card!
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When folded, it looks like this "sweet heart" pictured above.
When opened...


POW!
It explodes into this amazing 12x12 bundle of hearts!
And it is so fun and easy to create!
You will love the pattern!
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Along with the "Pop-Out Valentine,"
we'll also create this 2-page 12x12 spread
of lovey dovey goodness...
 



I hope to see your "sweet heart" there!
Blessings!

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Scrapbooking Tips


TIP TIP TIP
Along with one of last week's tips
about using STICKER LETTERS
to speed up the scrapbooking process,
this week's tip is about sticker letters as well.
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What to do with all of those left over letters?
COMBINE THEM.
Create a title using two to three different colors
(and yes, even two to three different styles)
of sticker letters.
*

Saturday, January 23, 2010

With Cheerful Sympathy


It seems I've been having to make
so many sympathy cards lately.
I thought I'd take a break from
the usual "lovely" floral design I usually create
and try a more cheerful look.
*
Here is wishing you and yours a "cheerful" day!

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Scrapbooking Tips


TIP TIP TIP
You ready for this one...
DO NOT BE CREATIVE!
Yes, I can hardly believe those words came from my mouth.
If you know me personally,
you know this is not something I would usually encourage.
Hear me out on this one.  he he he.
There are so many amazing designers around!
Let them create for you!
COPY COPY COPY!
*
Sometimes I will create from a skeleton sketch
(such as the ones you see on Triple the Sketch or Page Maps)
and sometimes I will create from a finished page of someone else's.
My paper and embellishments can be completely different.
My placement of those items can be exactly the same.
I get so many pages completed using this tip!
 *

*

TIP TIP TIP
"Stick to it!"
Using sheets of sticker letters really speeds
up my scrapbooking process.
I actually prefer to STAMP my titles because
I can create a much more eye-catching title with stamps.
However, since I have SO MANY photos
I'd like to have in albums and
very little time to get them there,
I need super fast techniques to speed the process.
*
When I am scrapbooking multiple pages at one time,
I will use the same sticker sheet on many of my pages
(especially if the theme is the same.)
This may seem a bit boring to some scrapbookers
but again, I'm going for speed.
And let's face it, when my family members
are looking at my albums long after I am gone...
the great great grandkids aren't going to notice
that Granny used a certain lettering system over and over.
he he he.
   *

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Scrapbooking Tips for the New Year


In 2010, I plan on scrapbooking much more than I use to.
I LOVE scrapbooking!
It is such a fun way to remember!
I've also decided to share some scrapbooking tips
with you, my friends/readers.
Not that I am an expert on scrapbooking by any means...
these are tips that encourage me to preserve memories
in a way that enrich not only the lives of my own family members
but of those I know and love as well.
How can I resist sharing with YOU?!
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TIP TIP TIP
Top loading albums are my favorite ablums to use
when I preserve photos into a scrapbook.
These albums give you the chance to "go back"
and add, take away, or rearrange pages if you need to.
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I have created scrapbook pages within hinged albums
only to end up finding a few photos that were misplaced
or were chronologically out of order.
*
Top loading albums make my scrapbooking
chronologically easy to stay "on track" with scrapbooking.
Hinged albums are very nice.
I personally prefer top loading albums
due to the reasons stated above.
  

TIP TIP TIP
I can save money and card stock by utilizing
BOTH SIDES of my scrapbook page.
Notice the base of these three pages is
a bright orange card stock.
My first page (titled "fun and games") is actually
the reverse side of my second page (untitled.)
NOTE...
This technique can only be performed
when my pictures are in chronological order
and I know for sure I have no other pictures to add within the
time frame of the pictures I am working with at the time.

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Celebrating through Scrapbooking

Our family had such a fun time celebrating
the New Year with dear friends.
I believe God blessed us specially this year
to celebrate with long-time friends
as well as new ones.
If that is a sign of what's to come for 2010,
I'm already grateful!
*

I am very excited to get my photos developed
for my 2010 scrapbook page!
I used an MOSD intricacy sheet & stick ons
to make my page lively and fun
(which is exactly how the celebration went!)
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Here's to wishing you 2010 blessings
(and even more than that!)

Friday, January 1, 2010

Happy New Year and the winner is...


Congratulations, Shirley!
You've won my BLOG CANDY!!!
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Thanks to everyone who dropped by to comment.
It's so fun to see where everyone is from
as well as check out other blogs and blog candy.
*
Enjoy your new toys, Shirley
and
HAPPY NEW YEAR
to everyone!
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