Betcha....

Betcha thought this would be another post with lots of photos of Evan...he is a whole week old!

But I thought I would share a little book I made for my boss at Hallmark who is sorta retiring. File folders, old pay stubs, plus lots of other fun stuff.

the cover says "I'm too pretty to work"-
don't you wish that would fly?!

drink umbrellas plus I included a "Mike's"-

I added in a recipe-

I added a Nicholas Sparks book and some book plates-

some inspirational tags-

and a little note from me....

okay...couldn't resist....Sunday's photo-

Journaling and classes

I'm fairly new at this process of journaling. I took the Soul Restoration class last year and did a lot of journaling. Mostly with prompts provided by the class. I searched my past to see what truths/lies I could discern.
I have signed up for another class with the Brave Girls that I hope will finally show me how to be at peace in the body God gave me.
but...I saw this class by Red Velvet and thought it would probably be fantastic. It's self paced, and they give all the lessons at once. So I can do one a week, or maybe one each day for 52 days. Whatever works into my schedule. It is really affordable too. They have ideas and prompts of what to journal about. Totally looking forward to their unique spin on things...

Homemade Smash book

This is my first attempt at a mixed media journal-sort of like the Smash book. Have you heard of them?! I get all excited just thinking of them-they are journal/scrapbooks with cute decorated pages. The user then "smashes" stuff from their life into the books. The one I have I use for special things I do such as movie stubs and for things I find online that are especially encouraging to me.

This one is much smaller but I figured things out as I went and that meant smaller is better.

I set up a Flicker group so you could see all the pages. I used old dictionary, novel and kid's storybook pages as well as grid paper and ledger pages too. Just a collection of some of the massive supply of paper I have. I will probably be adding packets of papers to my Etsy account so others can put their own books together too. It doesn't need to have the binder strip, simple office supply rings or ribbon would even work. Just punch holes and use what ever is around. I've got lots of ideas but not necessarily the stamina to get them all done. Stay tuned....

An offer for you-Project Life

Have you seen all the information about Project Life? It's a super easy way to scrapbook-just slip in the photos and little journaling cards. Becky Higgins designed it a few years ago. I bought a kit thinking it would be great. But...I decided I really like the traditional process more. So I have this kit to sell. It retailed for more, but I could take $40 for it. I just added up the products for the new line which has the components sold separately. The total would be about $80! There is room for over 100 pictures if I remember correctly. Here is the kit lay out, not sure I know where the date stamp is...
Ali Edwards has been doing hers and posting her pages. Here are a few:
She puts bits and pieces from her everyday life in too. She is using hers as a 365 one year project but they could be used for so much more.

Now if even that seems overwhelming-I could put it together for you with your photos but it would have to include $$ for my time.

Let me know if you would be interested.

a Soul Restoration recap

If you have followed my posts at all you have read about the class I took online and about the projects I did. But I know I haven't completely outlined what I learned or how it changed me.
The gals at Brave Girls are having a little contest for those of us who went through the first online class. We are to write about our experience and then post links on their facebook page. If you are interested in reading the posts or even just helping me win...go read the posts and "like" those who inspire you...like me...
This first photo is of my clean new journal before class started. Just a spiral notebook from Michael's...the band is important as you will see...
yep-that is what it looks like now, full of fun artwork, my favorite papers and my soul poured out upon the pages. Here is another look to show you just how full it is and why I needed that band!

Oh look, there are more pages to do there at the bottom of the stack.

The first lesson I learned was what Peace would look like to me- silencing my inner critic, covering lies that Satan wants me to believe with God's truths. One of the great ways I do this is by putting my truth cards right on my dresser so I can pick one each day and then focus on those thoughts. (You can see some of the examples in my Soul Restoration catagory) I also so
appreciate the daily notes the the group sends. They are always life affirming and challenge me to look at things differently.

Looking through my life's timeline also showed me that some of the things I think of and about myself, crept in years before I thought they had. So I try to remember the little girl in me when I get to thinking about acting differently than my authentic self. I realize that the little girl had to grow up too fast and so taking things slowly and making time for play is really important to my soul.
I love the thought of authentic self. You sift things through what you know of life-but being authentic to me means being able to not have to change who I am for each person I encounter. Not having to reign in enthusiasm if that is what I am feeling. Not feeling guilty if what I feel like doing is just sitting and not thinking about anything in particular. How amazing would it be if we all felt the freedom to be real in each circumstance we encounter. Not having to worry about how to say something in such a way that nobody will be offended or challenged. It would be life changing for sure.

Some of the pages in my journal also hold the words to songs that I find especially meaningful like you're beautiful, you are more, what love really means, voice of truth. The songs that when they come on I crank on high and sing right along. Surrounding myself with life affirmation music changes the way I feel, as much as working on crafts or my journal does. The journal was an interesting project to get into. I have a girlfriend who for years has been doing art journaling. She has created amazing books that I love to go through and just relish the creativity. I always looked at journaling as a thing people did daily. Well I don't like the idea of "having" to do things and so I dabbled in journaling from time to time but the whole commitment thing blew me away. Besides each time I journaled I was dealing with the same problems. This time though I gave myself the freedom to journal as the feeling came to me. Having the prompts that went with the class helped me zero in on the issues I have dealt with for years. It enabled me to look at things differently and gently allow myself to feel again. I must say it is way easier to write my soul down on a pretty piece of art than on a big white page of blue lines.

I also liked the lesson where we explored "doing it anyway". By looking at each obstacle or situation I encounter which could have the potential to derail me and start me back into a spiral down and realizing that by looking at it differently, I could continue down my healthier path. I could essentially face the situation and "do it anyway" and still be able to go onto the next thing.

I think my favorite part of the whole process was when we wrote out our "instruction manual."
By writing down the things I do when I am on track or off track, etc. I have a tangible place that I can go to with concrete things to do to keep on the path to a completely restored soul.

Finally, today I made my promise book. This was the last project and I had to go and review the video to see what it was supposed to be like. I had done another book that was focused on God's promises to me. This was supposed to be my promises to myself. I had this little book in my stash from a thrifting trip. Since it was 2 ringed I was able to add an envelope, a photo card as well as other items from my inventory to create a unique book. I was amazed at how quickly I was able to fill it with promises. Things I came across during the class that remind me that I am a prize. A prize not only to God but to myself and those around me.
It has truly been an amazing experience and I am looking forward to part II coming in a few months.

Crafting fun!

Since we are leaving today to celebrate our 30th anniversary...Amy won't be able to come and craft :(
BUT she did come yesterday instead :)

We had purchased an online class called the She Art Workshop. So we sat down to watch the instruction videos. A lot of the techniques we were already familiar with, so we did a bit of fast forwarding. We also didn't watch all the videos for week 1 because we were itching to get to the craft room. Here is my first canvas-with a bit of a glare. I don't think I'm done completely with her yet-doesn't seem like enough on the canvas.

Then after Amy left we ran errands and when we came home I did a bit of cooking and kitchen packing. It was around 9pm that I actually got back to the craft cottage to make up a travel journal. I signed up for a class on Wednesday- I think and just hadn't had time to get to the creating yet. But I was determined...I had picked up a small album with a ribbon tie at Target for $1 and so I used that as the start. I cut up some chipboard pages, a few different sizes and then got out my newly purchased clear acrylic pages and travel punch-outs. Along with other misc. items from my stash I finished it in the wee hours of the morning! The idea is to have somewhere to put those things that represent your trip such as; menus, business cards, receipts, tags off things you buy,etc. as well as adding photos once we get home.

Here is how it looks-I need non purple rings though.

The page on the left is the acrylic with double sided punch outs adhered with staples.
The page on the right is an old plastic file folder cut down and covered with a paper pattern.

The page on the left is a cut down one with a tag attached.
The photo on the right is of my mom at the beach in 1955.

Page on the left is some more of the plastic page protector with punch outs and paint.
The blue page is cut down with a decorative trim and library pocket.

The left page just shows how I put some different elements together.
On the right is another acrylic page with a quote. You are able
to see the next few pages through the acrylic.

A flash card of ice cream is on the left. Ice cream is my dessert of choice.
When we head to Cannon Beach we always stop in at
the candy store for Tillamook white licorice flavor.

On the right is a page for me to list all the books I read.

Just a couple of cute travel journaling pages.
The one on the right has a replica of a service station receipt.
I plan to record how many gallons, prices and how many miles we travel.

Just a few of the pages-I'll show more images when I have it finished.

I need to find our hotel reservation, finish packing, shower and get ready for the day...