Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Though the Mountains Fall Into the Sea-Minibook Page

Board Book refuge and strength w border

Continuing to work in my little (5.5x5.5) altered board book for an assignment in Scrapbooking Your Faith with Courtney Walsh. The book is titled “Think on These,” and each double-page spread contains a Scripture verse that is special to me. I love the verse that reminds me that God is my refuge and strength—that He is always there in time of trouble, and that I am not to fear, even if everything on earth fails and the mountains fall into the sea!

I used Wendy Vecchi’s art parts (intended to be house roofs, I think!) to “represent” mountains. I stained them with Distress Stains (Vintage Photo, Forest Moss, and Bronze Metallic Stain). I painted the background with Ranger Paint Dabbers, added some strips of patterned paper and then stamped randomly.

(As a side note, it’s fun to be working in this little children’s book that is an ABC book—enjoying the little pictures before I cover them with “my art!”)

Monday, October 29, 2012

Love This Season!

fall 1 w border

This week’s challenge at Studio L3 yielded a background that just begged for some tattered leaves, made with Kraft Glassine and then “painted” with Perfect Pearls. I also “painted” cream seam binding with copper Perfect Pearls for the ribbon.

For the background of the tag, I used the technique of Crumpled Kraft Suede, as featured on page 40 of Tim Holtz’s book Compendium of Curiosities, Volume 2.

For the tag that says “Fall,” I heat embossed black card stock with Silver Embossing Powder. It was so fun—looked like it was becoming real silver as it heated!

The challenge at Studo L3 is sponsored by The Funkie Junkie Boutique.

I am also entering this project in these challenges:

Simon Says Stamp and Show: Just Add Pearl
Simon Says Autumn Leaves
Sunday Stamper’s Autumn Challenge

A Great Love

how great is your love canvas 2 w border

I’m working today on a canvas project (8x8), begun a few days ago, and inspired by an assignment in my Scrapbooking Your Faith class taught by Courtney Walsh. As a focal concept, I chose a song that has to do with God’s love. My motivation at the time was less than highly spiritual—I wanted to use a particular element on the canvas—the same kind of torn-tissue-covered heart that Courtney used in the class materials.

how great is your love canvas side view w border

Not surprisingly, as I was working on the project this morning, as often happens, an inspiration came to me, directly related to what’s going on in my heart.

I have two granddaughters, each in their freshman year in college. This is a challenging time in their lives, and as a grandmother, I have a tendency to worry. Well, let me say, that I have always had a tendency to worry, long before I was a grandmother! But, now it seems to be multiplied, or at least multi-layered (my child +their child)…Yes, I know all the Scripture verses about “worry,” and I do try to trust more, I really do.

But today, I was thinking about (i.e., rationalizing) my worry about my girls, and was saying to myself, “But I just love them so much.” Bingo. Working on my project, it came to me: As much as I love my girls, God loves me, AND THEM, even more. So why can I not realize that He will take care of them. God’s love is greater than any other love (even than that of a grandmother!).

We have sung the song “How Great is Your Love” (recorded by Mercy Me) so many times at our church. Today, I am reminded that His Great Love can cover my granddaughters, yes, even while they are away at college!

How Great Is Your Love
My heart is steadfast oh God
And I will sing
With all my heart and soul
Music for the King
And I will awake the dawn
With my praise to you O Lord

How great is Your love
So much higher than the heavens
With faithfulness that reaches the sky
How great is Your love
So much higher than the heavens
With faithfulness that reaches the sky
O how great is Your love

Praise the Lord O my soul
And glory to the King
Forever You are robed with majesty
We come to you O Lord
And Lay our praise at your feet

Be exalted O God and let Your glory reign
Be exalted O God and let Your glory reign.

“For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.” – Psalm 108:4 (NIV)

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Love Does Not Keep a Record

love keeps no record 3 w border

Continuing to work in the little altered book—I can hardly make myself work on other projects, it is so fun to do this little book (“Think on These Things” is the title). I decided first to use this page of tissue paper to cover a painted background that I wasn’t thrilled with. Then when I noticed that this portion of the tissue paper has the dictionary definition for the word “forgive,” I realized I actually needed a reminder about that very topic! So, I printed a portion of a verse from one of my favorite chapters, I Corinthians 13, known as the Love Chapter.

So, having covered the painted board book pages with deco-page, I then adhered the tissue paper and used Pan Pastels to add some touches of color. I cut some hearts out of patterned paper and kept it simple by adding some rub-ons. Sometimes when I really want the page to make a point to me, I like to keep the embellishments to a minimum.

So far my favorite thing about the Scrapbooking Your Faith class with Courtney Walsh has been the board book!

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Altered Board Book-another page

do not be anxious minibook page w border

Working on my class, “Scrapbooking Your Faith,” this is another page in the little board book that I am altering. I was ready for some bright colors (too many pastels here lately) and so enjoyed using Modern Red and Altered Orange from Claudine Hellmuth.

LOVE this passage—one of my favorites!

Happy Birthday to My Hubby

Today my husband is 67 years old! I can hardly believe my own words! We have such a blessed life, and we honestly don’t even think about our age unless we are forced! We celebrated with our son’s family a couple of nights ago, and then with our son for lunch today.

Russell's 67th

The card from our son’s family was wonderful, and our 17-year old grandson Conner wrote something very special in the card. He said,

“Thank you for being such a strong example for any man who knows you. It leads others to lead others, to lead others. You have been a huge part in shaping who I am, and I will carry you and your strength into the lives of my wife and my kids. Thank you for being a part of my solid foundation in Christ.” Love, Conner

What better birthday gift than to have these special words penned by your grandson! And they are so true! I am so blessed to be married to the most wonderful man in the world! How do I get to have that wonderful gift of grace (so undeserved)? God must be especially fond of me!

Ford Men with Ford Trucks

My three Ford men with their Ford trucks

Conner (grandson)      Mark (son)         Russell

Friday, October 19, 2012

The Autumn Leaves

autumn leaves w border

I just can’t get enough of the beauty of Autumn. One of my favorite piano pieces is “Autumn Leaves.” In fact, through the years, it became my “signature” piece. My piece is a piano solo, but the lyrics of the song are well known.

The falling leaves drift by the window,
The autumn leaves of red and gold…

This tag uses a fantastic technique involving embossing and Perfect Pearls. Tim Holtz describes a similar technique on page 53 of his book, Compendium of Curiosities Vol II. I changed up the technique (off the top of my head) and came up with this tag that I actually love. I started with a black tag and used gold, bronze and copper Perfect Pearls.

I just couldn’t make myself cover the background with tons of embellishments, so it remains quite simple. It will likely find its place on one of my current scrapbook pages.

I am joining in the Favorites Challenge at Simon Says Stamp and Show (my favorite piano piece is “Autumn Leaves" and my favorite season is Autumn).

At Anything But a Card the current challenge is Anything Fall. This blog is becoming one of my favorites, because…uh, duh, I don’t make cards!

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Altered Book MiniAlbum-Think on These Things

iPhone photo1 w border

Still working on assignments for Week One of “Scrapbooking Your Faith” with Courtney Walsh. Having completed my 8x8 scrapbook page on My Life Goal (see previous post), I am now starting to put together a minibook of meaningful Scripture passages. I decided to alter a little child’s board book—it is about 5.5 x 5.5. First, I covered each “page” with gesso. For the cover of the book, I painted it with blue acrylic paint and then smudged it up with white paint. Seems I can’t do anything without adding a tag! This one I stained with Dusty Concord, Faded Jeans and the fantastic new Brushed Pewter Metallic Stain! Added a little pewter Bible charm.

The first page of the book will be the verse that is referenced by the book title: “Think on these things.” It will be followed by six double-page layouts on some of my favorite verses.

Monday, October 15, 2012

God is Showing Off

We have lived in our “house in the woods” for seven autumns. Never has the color been more glorious than this year, and somehow we thought it would be less colorful because of the extremely hot summer. I just walked around my house and snapped photos inside and out and decided to post them all—no editing, just the “tour” as it was.

IMG_2522IMG_2523IMG_2524IMG_2525IMG_2526IMG_2528IMG_2537IMG_2521IMG_2529IMG_2531IMG_2530IMG_2532IMG_2533IMG_2534IMG_2535IMG_2540IMG_2542

Wow! God’s artwork is so much better than mine. The colors are perfect, the design couldn’t be better, and I didn’t even have to get paint or ink all over my hands!

Psalm 19

1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.
3 They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
5 It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
6 It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is deprived of its warmth.

Have I mentioned that fall is my favorite season?

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Scrapbooking Class

My Life Verse Page wrmrk

I was so enthralled with the Sweethaven books (see previous post) that I wanted to know more about the author, Courtney Walsh. As a result of visiting her blog, I learned of her class, “Scrapbooking Your Faith.” Right down my alley! It was necessary to get in gear, as the class started immediately!

The point that Courtney makes is that while we typically scrapbook family events, we sometimes do not actually document our faith in scrapbooks. For me, the faith-part of my life is not separate from the rest of my life, so woven throughout my chronological scrapbooks of my life (I scrapbook everything), the evidence of my faith is ever-present. Also, I keep an Inspiration Art Journal and a Prayer Journal, as well as a minibook with Scriptures of the Month. However, I have never put together a scrapbook album devoted to my faith, and this is something I want to do, to add to the “things” I will want my descendants to see, as they seek to know who their ancestor was!

The first assignment was to create a layout depicting My Life Verse. In my case, my life verse is more aptly described as My Life Goal and has been on my sidebar since I started my blog many months ago.

At this stage of my life, my legacy as a wife, mother and grandmother has become a high priority. So, this passage is so meaningful to me:

She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.

She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:

--Proverbs 31:25-28 (NIV.

Friday, October 12, 2012

I Lift My Eyes Unto the Mountains-Inspiration Art Journal

We just returned from a wonderful refreshing and relaxing vacation to the mountains in Breckenridge, Colorado. We rented a beautiful house on a secluded ranch. The view of the mountains from our house was splendiferous, and one morning we were thrilled to wake up to snow! (Picture taken from our deck.)

I Life My Eyes

Often, Scripture passages pop into my head, to describe a certain scene or situation (a benefit of having a lot of years’ worth of memories). In this case, when I saw this view from our house each day, the passage that came to mind was Psalm 121:

1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;

After we were home, the passage stayed on my mind, and I decided to do a layout for my Inspiration Art Journal. I wanted to keep it simple so that the meaning of the passage itself remained the "main thing.” I used a lot of watercolor crayons, white paint and stamps.

Life My Eyes Art Journal w border

This passage, and the reminders of its meaning from our trip, validate the reality of Creation and the Creator. Note that the passage does not say that my help comes from the Mountains. It clearly states that my help comes from the Creator of the Mountains. Oh, yes!! And this Scriptural reminder of the source of my Help goes on to further show this promise: He watches over me and will not let my foot slip! Yay me!

Yay, Heavenly Father Creator God!

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

12 Tags of 2012-October

October Tag 1 w border

Me, the not-so-much-about-Halloween person, just created a Halloween tag! Actually, I think my negativity toward this particular holiday originated when I was teaching elementary school and it got so crazy over-the-top out of control—(I’m talking about the parents!). But these days, I’m okay with the “cutesy” things for Halloween, and since the purple-orange color combination became the “thing,” I’m even more interested!

I still do not have a lot of Halloween “stuff” on hand and do not buy the stamps and dies for Halloween, as by this time of the year, I am very “into” Thanksgiving preparations.

However, when I saw Tim’s October tag, I realized I could make it work, with a combination of mainly Tim supplies and a couple of images from my Cricut cartridges (rarely used these days). I like that Tim encourages us to use what we have on hand, and that definitely promotes creativity, and we all know Tim Holtz is all about creativity!

I am posting this tag in the Simon Says Stamp Glimmer and Sparkle Challenge and Anything But a Card Shiny, Sparkly, Blingy Challenge.

Monday, October 8, 2012

Love These Books!

Sweethaven SummerSweethaven HomecomingSweethaven Christmas

I love to read, and I love it when I find an author I truly enjoy. If she follows up one great book with another and another (a series, duh!)—even better! These books (with a scrapbooking theme woven throughout) are so good, and I love that I can download them to my iPad Kindle. I also totally enjoy Courtney’s blog!

Sunday, October 7, 2012

“DELIGHT Yourself” Art Journal Page

Delight in the Lord w border

We have been on vacation for several days now, and I did not bring my art supplies with me, but I just realized I did not post this art journal page I completed just before leaving home. It has a special meaning right now, and I enjoyed creating it, so here it is.

The new technique I am liking right now is water color crayons and white acrylic paint. I used old dictionary pages for the first background layer, and though it’s hard to see in the photo, I circled the words “delight” and “desire” on the dictionary pages.

I love to remember God’s promises, and this is a good one!

Delight yourself in the Lord,
And He will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4