Mom will you....

Kelly has asked me to design a baby announcement card! ( I did Jakob's two years ago) And I have found that Kelly has become kind of "picky".... so I've been busy the last couple of days especially since I realized she only has about 7-1/2 weeks before baby girl is due to arrive.
Here are three design choices and I hope that she will be happy with one of them, eventually!!!!

#1 (I really liked the design of this one but she said it's too "scrapbook-y - whatevah!) Back to the drawing board....

#2 She's leaning toward this one.

#3 I love this one, but she said the flowers and the "tickled pink" stuck out too far and I told her I can flatten it by not using the foam adhesive squares, no problem... but I like the 3-D dimension, I thought it added some interest & depth to the monochromatic look. (sigh...)

The inside I will probably do on the computer by printing out

the birth details on a piece of vellum.

The patterned paper and card stock will not be the same as shown but we haven't had time to go shopping. Hopefully this Saturday she can come into the store to see what is available (I happen to be working that day!) It's National Scrapbooking Day and I'm filling in for Marcie so that she can teach a couple of classes. Kelly's tentative due date is June 15 (it's a scheduled c-section, however it may be changed to the 8th, the little girl is already about 5 lbs.) Please note the Scripture at the end of this blog and I hope you catch the irony of it. (ouch!)

Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, never haughty or selfish or rude. Love does not demand its own way. It is not irritable or touchy. It does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong. It is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out. 1 Corinthians 13:4-6

Layout: Sketch 54 from Triple the Sketch

Thanks for stopping by!!

I'm taking a break from cardmaking tonight and I did a scrapbook layout of Jakob. I was inspired by the sketch at http://www.triplethesketch.blogspot.com/. I had a series of pictures that were so sweet of Jakob looking out the front room window waiting for Poppa to come home from working at the mill. He still has the rosy cheeks from his nap and is holding his best bud, Lambie.

The title is from a song called "Jesus Loves Me"

I took the bottom three pictures and reduced them 50% to fit the page better. This is a very simple layout and I just love the papers and colors.
Here are the "ingredients"
Bo Bunny: Abbey Road line, patterned paper
Bo Bunny: Abbey Road line: buttons & bling
Queen and Co.: green pearls
Bazzill: brown card stock
Pink Paisley: Alpha stickers - Enchanting line
Scrapbook Adhesive runner
Yes! Paste, all purpose glue (I love this stuff!)
Tools: EK Success: photo corner scallops; Fiskars, trimmer.

Hope everyone has a super excellent Tuesday!

We love Him because He first love us. 1 John 4:19

She loves her Grammie

(Jakob & Riley checking out the barking dog on the other side of the fence.)

I got a wonderful gift yesterday!

It's not something money can buy, it was two arms reaching

out to me for a hug! A sweet little hug from my cute,

independant, rarely affectionate

granddaughter, Riley.

I think I'm winning her over!

No, let me re-phrase that. I am winning her over!!

It was kind of funny how it happened... she was standing at the door ready to go home with her parents and I said to her, "Riley, give Grammie a love bye-bye" which my son said, "mom she won't even give me a hug goodbye" and the little darlin' reached up to me! AHA! Needless to say I just gave Sean the "look" and just about did a little happy dance! Oh, wait a minute, I did do the happy dance (lol) And guess what I did...I tried it again and she gave me another hug and a kiss!! Yes!!! It was no fluke! She loves her Grammie!

Perhaps this wouldn't be such a big deal but my grandson is so affectionate, he wakes up from his nap and says "go to Poppa's and Grammie's?" and then doesn't want to go home when he gets here! And he is a cuddler so it's hard when his little cousin is such an opposite.

But I'm sensing a change! (and it's not a diaper!)

Riley Ann (16 months)

Unmerited Favor in a Card

Hello there! I hope your day is going well and thank you for visiting my blog!! I hope you'll leave a comment!

I found a stamp I hadn't used for a long time so I thought I'd use it for a "quick" card of encouragement for a friend. Well, let me tell you... Do you believe God can use card making to teach Biblical truths? Well, I found out that He can! To be perfectly honest, I know God can use anything to teach a lesson, but we must have willing hearts as students to learn.

I'll try to be brief (ha!) Here's the lesson, it's about grace, it's about God being the Potter, and I am the clay! Or in this case I am the flower on the card. This flower did not start out well, the paint I used (instead of ink) was not applied evenly(as I thought) so there was a lot of gaps and missing color. (kinda like my life before I received Jesus Christ as my Savior) What I thought would be an easy fix ended up not being easy and downright frustrating. So with a cry for help in the form of a prayer, I persevered and God delivered the patience I needed to continue on. I took small steps at first, afraid to make a total mess, and I didn't have the tools I needed to do the distressing, so I had to improvise. As I was finishing up the flower, what I had wanted to do was throw it away and start over but God impressed upon me to not give up. He hadn't given up on me and extended His grace (unmerited favor) to me. Thus the name on the card, it originally was going to be stamped, "A Friend Loves At All Times." Well the Lord definitely extended His grace to me so that I could finish the card and reminded me about His loving patience with this growing in grace "bloomster." I know bloomster isn't a word, matter a fact the spell check wanted me to use the word blister or bloomers but I like to think of myself as "blooming where I'm planted" and I definitely don't want to be thought of as a blister, (ha!) Well, this has gotten a bit too wordy, which seems to be the norm for me lately... but I hope you get the big picture of God's grace extended to us, what a Friend We Have In Jesus!

The supplies I used:
Pattern paper : Basic Grey; Bazzill cardstock; American Craft ribbon; Adirondack Acrylic Paint Dabber: Lettuce, Watermelon, Mountain Rose, Sunshine Yellow; Stamps: Hero Arts, Showy Blossom, unknown yellow painted flower center; Ink: Ranger, Peeled Paint; Cuddlebug: Embossing folder, Dotted Swiss; Grace: transparency from Staples brand, font: Wanda's Write; an emery board, my fingernail & water for distressing!

(I did paint on the back of the transparency with the Mountain Rose, then scratched some off and repainted with the Watermelon) if you click to enlarge I think you'll be able to see that.

The finished card is 5" x 5.75"

Quick post! (edited on 5/6/09)

Hi all,

Here are two cards I've been working on and I really need a need a better camera, sorry that the photos aren't the greatest. I've paper pieced the stamped image (Unity Stamp Co, Blessing From Him set)

(I'm using these cards for the new technique for CPCM NTYW04)

(really poor quality photo, sorry!)

(Close up of the corner) Love the blue on the "Peace" it's a new product for me called "Smooch" pearlized accent ink, Azure. It looks like a fingernail polish container and the brush is very small.

Here are the supplies I used.

Pattern Paper: KaiserCraft - Cocco line, doublesided (1.Periwinkle, 2. Mocha)
Bazzill Bling cardstock (brown)
Stamp: Unity Stamp Co "Blessings From Him" set
StazOn Jet Black Ink
Queen and Company "Winter Rhinestones"
Smooch Pearlized Accent Ink "Azure" (on the dove)
GelWriter (green) on the leaves in the doves mouth
EK Success corner rounder
Inside of card I used the font "Tracy" to type out the Scripture from Philippians 4:7
I printed it on white cardstock.
Finished card size: 4.75" x 7"

Eccl. 3:11 is the Scripture on the front.

Finished size 6"x 6"

I also used the "Smooch" pearlized accent ink on this card, it's the "pumpkin" color on the tree and the bird.

Here are the supplies I used.

Paper: Paper Accents Recycled Card Stock "Brown Bag" and white card stock;
Basic Grey - Eva Line "Decadent"
American Crafts Brown rick rack/ribbon, 6.75" long
Stamps: Unity Stamp Co. Something Within (Scripture); Unity Stamp Co. Owl Always Love You set, branch and flower; Inkadinkadoo, bird stamp from the All Occasion set
Inks: StazOn, Saddle Brown ; Ranger’s, Peeled Paint Distress Ink;
Clearsnap, Smooch Pearlized Accent Ink, pumpkin.
Adhesives: Scrapbook Adhesives, E-Z runner, 3-D foam Squares; Xyron create a sticker
Cuddlebug, Swirl Embossing Folder.

Have a wonderful evening!!

Natalie

Ranger University!

I'm so excited for my "boss" (she hates to be called that)Sondra Kirtley, she has been accepted to Ranger University. She just found out last night!! Whoo-hoo! It's going to be a party today!! I'm heading to "work" now and if you have a chance check out the store website, please do! We have the largest scrapbooking store in northern California http://www.scrappersedge.net/ We get so many "Scrapbookers" coming in who are traveling through from other states and othe countries (yes, other countries!) who are very impressed with how big and well stocked the store is. If you are in the area, stop by and say hello!

I'm only there on Mon. & Tue. but we have a friendly staff to help with all your papercraft needs!! Hope to hear from you and so glad you stopped by to check out my blog!

Challenge CPCM-BVT01

Well I did it!
I finally got into my craft room and made room on the table so that I could be "crafty!" I was playing around with my new alcohol inks from Adirondack and was "practicing" blending on a piece of glossy white cardstock. I felt pretty good about the blending so I decided to stamp on it. Well, needless to say my attempt was not too successful. I'm not sure what I did, may have over inked the stamp. Something went wrong! It smeared and didn't cover completely. I even did a practice stamp on regular cardstock. I admit, I'm still learning the fine art of stamping but this was ridiculous. But I try always to make "lemonade out of lemons" so I punched some scallop circles and re-stamped the salvageable paper and then cut out the flower shapes.

This is what I salvaged

The center scallop, if you look close can see the messed up bird!

Here are my flowers to be saved for another craft project, for another day!

Tonight I did finish a card for a Challenge from Christian Paper Crafts Magazine.

It was their first Challenge (I believe) CPCM-BVT01 and the challenge was to create a card with a Scripture on the front of it. And here is my take on the challenge:

The products I used:

Stamp: Unity Stamp Co. "Blessings from HIM" set
Patterned paper: Bo Bunny "Abbey Road Vine" (doublesided)

Cardstock: Bazzill (craft, aqua)

Paper Accents: White cardstock 8.5 x 11

Bling Flowers : Bo Bunny "Abbey Road"

Brads: Making Memories

Ribbon: American Crafts

Ink: Stazon (Saddle Brown) Distress Ink (Walnut Stain, Broken China)

Xyron to attach the ribbon, Scrapbook Adhesives E-Z runner
Finished Card size: 4.75" x 7"

The green strip is paper (backside of the main pattern paper I used) and the

ribbon is beneath it.

I forgot to mention in the above description that I used my Cuddlebug to emboss the aqua cardstock. I used the Dotted Swiss folder.

Oh my goodness, how time flies! I need to get to bed I've got that cute little grandson of mine coming over in the morning, who by the way is in the beginning stages of the "terrible-two's" Oh I remember those days well!!

Tomorrow I will post this on the CPCM blog, I'm waiting to be approved!

Have a super blessed and incredibly delightful Thursday!

I am Truly Blessed

Look at this cutie with all his little naptime buddies!!

Talk about a good sport, Jake wasn't feeling very well,

a cold coming on and yet he was posing for Grammie!

Gotta love it!

We had a freezing day today with the wind doing it's best to knock me over! I managed to take a couple of pictures before the wind picked up this morning before heading to work. I love the backyard when the tree is in bloom, can't wait for it to warm up so I can go sit back there with my coffee first thing in the morning!

My wisteria!

This is new to my blog... my dwarf apple tree, just now blossoming!

Well I'm hoping to get to my craft table this weekend, I'm just really needing to get some of the creative juices flowing. But, I've got to clean house first that's my priority in the next couple of days so I can have a day off to "play."

We were blessed with some great news yesterday. Our oldest daughter, Amy got a new job. We've been praying she would get a job in her field (Health Science) since she graduated from Chico State in January. She put herself through school after moving away about 12 years ago. The funny thing is that she has said she would never move back to our area and live, NEVER! Of course you probably know where this is heading.... her interview was in Sacramento,

however the job is in Eureka which is close to where we live!!

You won't believe how many times I've said to her "never say never"

and I always got the response, "Oh mom, I'm not moving back"

Well, she knows this is a "God-thing" and for her to admit that, is answer to prayer, too!

All my kids are living back close and we have our grandbabies close by too!

How can life get any better??!!

Well, I've got homework to finish (Esther - "It's tough being a Woman" by Beth Moore) from the Ladies Bible Study that I'm facilitating. If you have the opportunity to do this Bible Study I encourage you to do so. The homework is so interesting (I hate to call it homework, I always hated homework!!) I'm having a great time with it! It may be tough being a woman but this woman (me) is truly blessed!!

Set your mind on things above, not on the things that are on the earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Col 3:2-3

"Let's respond out of our mind-set rather than our mood"

(I had the above quote written next to the above Scripture but I'm not sure who said it!)

Celebrating the Resurrection!

Jake with chocolate cake still on his lips!

Riley Ann holding her basket!

I'm writing this after all the celebrations for the day have ended. All the kids are home, church is over, most of the dishes are done and I'm getting ready for bed! But I felt compelled to write, it's been on my heart... thinking about what Jesus went through willingly for me and for you. What a blessed hope we have because of the resurrection.

Sometimes I think we can take for granted our salvation, especially living in the United States. I've had conversations with people who think that since they live in America that automatically makes them a Christian!

But if you are born again then you know that if Jesus wasn't raised from the dead the Scriptures says we would still be in our sins! And if still in our sins, then we would be awaiting the wrath of a righteous Judge. Oh my goodness, I'm so grateful for the grace that has been extended to mankind, to me personally and to you.

A free gift available to whosoever calls on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

If you've not yet made that decision, won't you please consider doing so. I would also encourage you to read God's love letter to us, the Bible. We mature as Christians by reading and obeying the Scriptures and our faith in Him is increased because, "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God" (Romans 10:17). Tell someone that you've received Jesus as Lord and Saviour and find a Bible believing/teaching church that doesn't compromise God's Word so that you can grow and be encouraged! It's truly an exciting life you don't want to miss!

My God reigns!

Natalie

Organizing!

I was so excited to get some of my creative supplies organized. On http://triplethescraps.blogspot.com/ Patter Cross shared an idea getting her stamp pads organized and I followed suit with my glimmer mists from Tattered Angels. Since I consider myself a novice in this papercrafting fun I don't have that many so it will be easy to grow and stay organized. I also did the stamp pads so I feel so organized (today!)....

Have a wonderful weekend, I'm off to breakfast/brunch with my hubby as soon as he gets home from studying at the church. It's going to be a busy, busy day!!

Blessings!

Natalie

I just love this time of year! We've had a beautiful spring day and I want to share the progression of my flowering plum or cherry tree (remember it doesn't bear fruit so I don't know what it is!)

Late February

Early March

Mid-March

End of March

Today April 10th

By next week the ground will white with petals, looks like snow without the cold!

Hope everyone has a blessed Resurrection Sunday! Not sure if I'll have a chance to blog anymore this weekend, the gal who cleans the church is out of town so guess who has to do it?? Moi! So that adds to my work load quite a bit. But that's what I do. I'm called to serve and if I'm called to clean the toilets and mop the floors then I want to do the best job that I can because it's for the LORD! I'm just grateful that I'm healthy and able to help. God is so good to me.

Embracing His grace,

Natalie

I finished the accordian mini album for my friend Tina, finally!! I had so many interruptions, but that's just life here in the Houston home! I'm not completely happy with the finished product but I was trying some new things and used my Cricut to cut out the circle scallops.

The backside of the album I glimmer misted with Pink Taffy and Robin Egg Green.

I've decorated each circle only on one side with the thought that my friend should write little notes on the backside of the album for her new granddaughter. Tina is a precious woman of God and I thought it would be very special to write prayers or encouragement to the new baby Jaidyn (aka Princess Jaidyn!) and then pass it on to her when she becomes an adult.

The first circle has a scripture from Psalm 28:7

The last two lines say "give thanks to Him in song." Tina is

a worship leader so I thought this would be a good scripture to begin

this little "journey".

The stamp is from Unity Stamp Co. "Something Within" set.

All the patterned paper is from Graphic 45 "Baby2Bride Collection" I loved these soft colors.

The cardstock is Bazzill. I also should mention that the patterned paper is doublesided.

This second scallop I hole punched and added ribbon.

#3 Scallop you can really see the Glimmer mist. I stamped the edges with a decorative floral from Inkainkadoo and added photo corners that I punched using the Paper Shapers Scallop. (I did not mist the corners for contrast) #4 circle I used my Cricut to cut out the star (George cart). The tag with ribbon and "Baby" tag are from Graphic 45.

#5 Just added brackets and bling, # 6 distressed the brackets with paint and Glimmer mist added a star w/button on the top corner.

#7 This is one of my favorites! Glimmer misted the cardstock, distressed the edges with pink paint that added little white "doodles" with paint. Flower is a daisy punch from EK Success and the button from BG Two Scoops. The stamp is from Unity Stamp Co.

"Something from Within" set.

#8 I cut a circle using my Cricut to make a round frame. Distressed the frame with pink paint and white doodling! Punched the scallop circle with a Marvy Uchida punch and added the "You're Special" sentiment and bird stamp from Inkadinkadoo.
My little album is too fat for the tin it came in so I'lve got to come up with some kind of container to package it in. I want Tina to be able to take it around and show her girlfriends pictures of the new grandbaby!

This is going to be a busy week I've got a hair appt. after work tomorrow (Thank YOU, Jesus!!) I've had enough bad hair days this month already! Then Wednesday it's Bible Study in the a.m., then off to the blood bank for my quarterly blood letting! I have iron overload so I need to dump some of my blood! That takes me a day or two to recover my strength. Ugh! Thursday Bible Study p.m. and my little Jakob all day. Friday the kids are coming over for dinner. Saturday getting ready for Sunday and Sunday is Resurrection Sunday with dinner at my mom's, it's also her 71st birthday. We are going nontraditional with a Chinese menu. Should be an interesting week! Looking foward to the blessings and the challenges!

It's time to head to bed! Have a terrific Tuesday!

Natalie

The precepts of the Lord are right, making the heart glad; the commandment of the Lord is radiant, makng the eyes light up. Psalm 19:8

A Sneak peak...

I'm finally back in my craft room, yippee!! I'm so thankful. The not so good news is I had to file an extension on my taxes due to some computer problems that won't be resolved until next week and we can't get into the accountant before the 15th this does not make the hubby a happy camper (praise the Lord he is so understanding and extending me some grace here, I love that man!!)

Here is what I'm working on! Just a little sneak peak, it has to be just a quick look cause I want to finish this tonight! So, I have to get off the computer and get to work! Or should I say PLAY!

This is a gift that I'm making my friend Tina who is about to become a "Nonnie" next month!

Okay that's all you get to see, I will say I dusted off my little BUG and decided to use her for some paper cutting. The new paper I'm using is from Graphic 45 "Baby 2 Bride Collection. What a gorgeous soft palette for my "little" project!

Just thought I'd share....Last weekend my dear hubby bought me an empty spice rack to sort my buttons. I think I'm going to need another one very soon!

Just want to leave you with an encouraging word this is a quote from

Beth Moore's book Breaking Free,

"God's expertise is reconstruction. After all, Christ was a carpenter by trade. Nothing has ever been allowed to crumble in a Christian's life or heritage that God can't reconstruct and use." Doesn't that just give you hope!!

I will rebuild its ruins and will set it up again, so that those who are left of mankind may seek the Lord. Acts 15:16-17

Have a blessed weekend, take time to share your faith with someone, you'll be surprised how sharing an encouraging word with another will lift you up!

Back to my craft table!

Natalie

Happy Birthday!!

Happy Birthday, Kerry.

I am truly a blessed woman with a man as loving and patient as he is and I just want to let you all know that!! I can't say he's perfect but I can say he's perfect for me!! I'm still working on the dirty clothes left on the bathroom floor, selective hearing and the toilet seat up! But that's okay, we both have our little issues that we have learned to live with, even though they may drive us both a little crazy at times!! Just being real...

I do need to share a little about him and why I admire him. You see I met him while we were both working at a department store I was eighteen and he was twenty, the cute guy in the sporting goods department! We were married ten and half months later. Talk about whirlwind, talk about crazy, talk about not having a clue!! But we did it! Three children later (in 4 years)and a series of problems, it came to a point where we could have gone in different directions but instead we found common ground, the Lord Jesus Christ. Not only did our Lord become the very glue that held us together but He was our very breath and life! Needless to say we became very involved in our local church and God began growing us as a couple and as believers. Sixteen years later, Kerry became the Pastor of this same little church that meant so much to us as we were learning to live as husband and wife, and he will begin his eleventh year as pastor this May. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would be married to a pastor, I wanted to be a nun when I was in first grade, for crying out loud!

My man has a deep love for his family, the flock that God has entrusted him with, and a passionate love for God's Word. I stand amazed how he can keep on going while working eight hours in a lumber mill, then the next 16 hours being husband, father, poppa, pastor, teacher and still find a little bit of time in there to sleep (and snore, loudly I might add!). God has definitely gifted him mightly with wisdom, knowledge and endurance!

So, baby if you are reading this: HAPPY BIRTHDAY... I love you with all my heart! I sure enjoy growing older (notice I didn't say old!) with you and boy aren't we having a blast with our grandbabies! #3 is due in June, another little princess to love and I know you'll be changing her dirty drawers, too!
See you see, he is almost perfect!!


Have a blessed weekend,

Natalie

12/08