Sunday, March 31, 2013

He is Risen! Happy Easter!



When Jesus rose from the dead, grief departed, and
 His suffering—so wrenching and complete—became a thing of the past. 
At the moment of Christ's resurrection, His focus, and ours, turned to the future. 

The miraculous lesson of Easter is that through Jesus' death on the Cross, 
we have been granted a second chance—permission to leave our old lives behind and stand before the pristine, unmarred canvas of a new day, with all its potential for joy and choices that honor God. 

Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior? 
If not, Easter is the perfect time to ask Him into your heart and your life
 Stop reliving the past, beating yourself up over all the mistakes you've made.
 The slate has been wiped clean! 

You can paint a new life for yourself,
 bright with the colors of redemption, grace and renewal. 
                                                                                 {Joyce Meyers}

Friday, March 29, 2013

ScrapThat Kit Reveal and Blog Hop !


Welcome to the ScrapThat! 
April Kit Reveal and Blog Hop!! 

If you came here from
Amarilys Doria 
you are on the right track!
If you want to start at the beginning 
or lose your way,here is the Blog Hop order:
Scrap That!!

We are so excited to share the details about our newest kit featuring brand new papers
created by Donna Salazar for GCD Studios.

 The Queen of Girlie Grunge herself, Donna Salazar, will also be joining our hop!
When you get to her blog, scroll down and you will see a familiar face - our own fabulously talented DT Leader, Tracey S., is one of 5 artists chosen to be on the 2013 Donna Salazar Guest Design Team! We are so proud of her !!


We are so thrilled to welcome the beautiful and creative artist
Lynn Shokoples
as our April Guest Designer!!!


Hi everyone! My name is Lynn Shokoples and I live in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.  I've also been blessed to join the Bo Bunny and Quick Quotes design teams this year. When I'm not scrapbooking I'm a wife, and a mom to two wonderful young adults, Nicole who's 25 and Ryan who is 20 and my new son-in-law Christopher. I'm so thrilled and honored to be a Guest Designer this month with such a group of talented artists here at ScrapThat. I love to blog and love to meet fellow scrappers, so please feel free to stop by anytime. 

Stop by and visit Lynn's blog at http://scrappyhappymom.blogspot.ca/

Now, without further ado,
 introducing our fabulous April Kit, "Within Nature"

Featuring the GCD/Donna Salazar collection, "Natural Beauty." Opening the box to this kit feels like opening your closet and finding your most favorite, comfortable clothes packed with a little bling! The colors are rich and vintage and range from elegant pale neutrals to muted pinks, to deep denim blues and sages. These are paired with textured blooms from Prima, Petaloo and more!

Take a look:

Main Kit

Embellishment Add-On

Flower Add-On
Paper Add-On

More details on this  Collection can be seen here: ScrapThat! Store 

We are currently accepting new
Kit Club Members.
For more information,
complete the form on the link below:
New Subscriber 

Look at the beautiful sketch Amarilys has created for April:

See details about the challenge here: Sketch Challenges
Be sure to also check out the details of our monthly DT challenge
 hosted in April by Tracey S. here: DT Challenge

Everyone is welcome to participate.
All entries for both challenges are due by April 24th
Something new! All winners of our challenges, including Layout of the Week, will be eligible to receive 10% off any 2012 Kits-includes Add-ons!

Our Blog Hop features 11 fabulous hop sites including our Design Team blogs. 
We have been scrapping away and are so excited to show you our  creations! 


If you came looking for the SOUS Layout,you are also in the right place!

Here is my Layout using the Main Kit only and today's Stuck on U Sketch :


I made all the roses with Spellbinders and the textured flowers with Tim Holtz' Tattered Floral die and embossing. With the cool wood look papers, I used Timmy's (what else ?) wood embossing folder and some distress ink. The background is a mix of gesso, walnut stain and perfect pearls. the pic is my Mom with my niece,Vivien, last Easter, opening some kind of goodie.

My next layout uses the MK and add-ons and is inspired by Amy's sketch:

This denim paper is so fun! I love the little metal rivet roses that come with the Embellishment Add-on-how perfect! Using my faithful Holtz die,I Cut the burlap add added layers to the petaloo blooms. The Dandelion chippie is from my winnings at ScrapFX and just begged to be added. So I dunked it in molding paste and glimmed it with the kit's Stickles. Also from my stash is the blue ribbon,the earring/zipper pull and the small alphas. The brown ribbon is from the October ScrapThat! kit.

My 3rd Layout is a freestyle, using Add-ons:

I love this pic of my DD and wanted to keep the LO simple. I was inspired by Another Freaking Scrappy Challenge to scrap a challenge in our lives. My DD has been depressed lately and as I struggle with depression as well, it is so hard for me to see her down.There is a lot of ink and texture that is better seen IRL. I altered the gold hearts with silver Rub n'Buff to match my DD's necklace. Just for the record, I had the pic and necklace BEFORE I received the kit ! LOL. Do you like the little blue blooms? I will be giving a tute on these later in April. Here's a closer look:

Ok,so on with the hop!!
Two Prizes are up for grabs this month !

Donna Salazar will be drawing a winner from hoppers who comment on her blog for this amazing prize package including some of her new products from the Family Jeans collection and one of her brand new stencils.
 Be sure to check out her blog for additional details.

Next up is our SPECTACULAR April Blog Hop Prize
is a ScrapThat!  Main Kit,"Serendipity".
This kit is chock FULL of fabulous scrapbooking products including the amazing Sweet Nothings Collection from Kaiser Craft. With rich warm colors, and rustic embellishments like wooden gates and bronze cord, this kit lends itself beautifully to heritage layouts layouts.  We have included a white pen for you to use when creating a faux stitching effect.
thumbnail_April 2012 Serindipity Kit 021.jpg

To qualify for this month's FABULOUS Prize, 
you must complete the following:

* Visit each blog listed on the hop to see what each designer has created using this month's kit and sketch(comments are very much appreciated).

* Each designer's blog hop post will feature a word to make up a secret sentence,
collect these words along the way.

* You must become a FOLLOWER of each blog along the way 
and LIKE us on our Facebook Page!

* Post the ScrapThat! Blinkie on your blog.

* For your last stop on our Blog Hop return to the ScrapThat! Chat Blog.
Leave a comment letting us know you have
completed the hop.
(Please do NOT include the secret sentence in your comments.)
*Email the secret sentence to Tracey Sabella:tracey@scrapthat.ca

The Blog Hop ends Sunday, March 31 at Midnight EST


The prize MUST be claimed within 3 days of the forum announcement which will also be made on the ScrapThat! Blog.
~ If left unclaimed a NEW winner will be chosen ~
**Winner will pay actual shipping costs for sending the kit from Canada.**
Shipping costs will be invoiced via PayPal unless you are a kit member,
 then your prize will be shipped with your monthly kit.
Prizes won during the month will be mailed out the first week of the following month.
Due to Customs clearance, International mailings sometimes take 30-75 days to receive.

My secret word is: 
new!

Next hop over to :
Sarah Routledge 

For your final stop, return to the ScrapThat! Blog 
to let us know you have completed the hop.
Remember ~ only send the secret sentence to tracey@scrapthat.ca
Happy Hopping and Have a Happy Easter !

Scrapping Everyday Miracles Spring Blog Hop!











Hi there! Welcome to the Scrapping Everyday Miracles Spring Blog hop! It's a new term and we wanted to introduce our new Design Team and throw a little blog candy your way!
If you came here from Jessica then you are on the right track!
 If you want to start at the beginning  here is the blog roll order:
If you are not familiar with SEM, here is what our founder, Nicole, has to share:
"Here at SEM we want people to see that God is working in their lives all around them. That everyday is full of miracles if we just take the time to see them. It is the little things that sometimes we don't take the time to notice but He is standing right there saying here I am. As times are hard and we may feel where is God... where are the blessings.... why is this happening to me... if we take the time to stop sometimes the littlest thing can change your prospective.... can give you the hope to keeping going. As we complete challenges it is a chance for followers and the DT to spend time with God as we scrap... talking to Him and asking Him what He wants you to see... and what He will bring to mind when it comes to the theme of the challenge. "


I wanted to share with you a cute spring layout,
 featuring my niece,Vivien, on her first easter:


What do you love most about Spring?
Spring is a re-awakening of nature and spirit to me. After Christmas, I feel like I am just marking time until Easter. Oh, sure we have Valentine's Day and St. Patrick's Day to distract us from our winter blues but Easter is the start of the warmer days and promise of new growth to come! 
As a Christian, I feel Easter is really the decisive issue. Most folks have no problem believing in the Nativity Story. What's not to love about a baby? Most folks will agree with the fact that Jesus Christ was crucified. But, one must make a conscious decision as to whether or not they believe HE ROSE AGAIN! 
Jesus did what no one else could do and He did it for us! When things looked darkest for his followers, He rose above and gave them hope, just like He does today!

Where do you live?
I live in the mountains of the Berkshires in North Adams,Massachusetts,USA, where we are having an unusually long winter. I work as an RN and my center hosted a community egg hunt. It was really easy to hide the eggs this year as we still have at least a foot of snow on the ground!
In addition to the SEM Grand prize, 
I will be offering a Surprise Spring RAK of my own.
 To qualify:
 1. Leave me a comment telling me what YOU love about spring and/or 
                2. if you are not already a follower,become one and let me know in your comments


Our Blog Hop Grand prize is sponsored by...




Genuinely Jane Studios (GJS) manufactures small and medium sized mini-albums for scrapbooking, mixed media and altered arts in a variety of shapes and sizes. 100% American-made, our facility is located in rural, north-central Missouri and uses only the highest quality materials.  

Owned by a military veteran, and accomplished woodworker,  Mark Carosiello and a lifelong crafter, industry manufacturer’s rep, design team member,  passionate scrapbooker and altered artist, Susan Wojtkowski, we understand the craft and the crafter.



Twitter: @GJaneStudios



Our Hop into Spring Blog Hop Prize is two Genuinely Jane Wood albums!  You will receive both the dress form album and the flower album.



Here is an example of a flower album after it has been decorated!




To win this prize you need to leave a comment on each DT member's blog and we'll randomly choose one blog to select the winner from.
 All winners will be announced Saturday, April 6th.

Come check out the SEM Facebook Chit-Chat Page. We have a great prize over there also... to go along with a fun new challenge! (if you're not already part of the Chit-Chat page, just request an invitation when you get there, and we'll get you added!).
Thanks for stopping by!

 Next on your stop is:Helen


..




Wednesday, March 27, 2013

ScrapThat! April Kit Sneak Peeks are here !!

Here is a sampler of what we have been working on  playing with this month:


I am really excited to show off this great kit and I can't wait to see what the rest of the DT has created!
Come back and play along in our Reveal Blog Hop starting Friday,March 29 at 6:30am through Sunday for inspiration and a chance to win this kit:


Hope to see you there!

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Praise Him in this Storm


 I want to share with you my Praise story. This is a page  in my art journal:


The lyrics are from part of one of my favorite Casting Crowns' songs as follows:

I was sure by now

God You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say "Amen", and it's still raining
As the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

And I'll praise You in this storm

And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

This song became literal for me a few weekends ago. As my husband and I were driving through New England to my Birthday getaway at a Bed and Breakfast in Maine, what was light snow soon became a full-out sleety blizzard. As cars were slowing down we found ourselves flanked on all sides. 2 years ago I would have been nagging my husband about his driving but instead I prayed fervently for God to send him wisdom and discernment. We hit a patch of ice and our car spun out of control, making 2 360 degree turns and landing on the other side of the road, facing traffic. My husband was able to quickly drive the car back unto the road. How did we not hit any of those cars? 
About 45 minutes later,  at a pace a tortoise could outrun, we were driving with 2 18-Wheelers too close for comfort behind us and to the side of us. We hit another ice patch and again did a 360 degree turn. As I held the safety bar, I did not feel scared but I waited for the crash. Once again, we were completed unharmed and protected. The car was fine. 
There can be no other explanation than God's protection. We are blessed to be alive and unharmed and having caused no harm to anyone else on the road. I just had to share my story.


Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell 
of all his wonderful acts!
1 Chronicles 16:9

Don't forget to stop by for :

See you then!!

Monday, March 18, 2013

SEM Sketch Challenge!

We at Scrapping Everyday Miracles have a great March mid-month mojo maker for you!
Check out sketch challenge here March Sketch Challenge
Here is my take on it:


I struggle with multi-pic layouts so I swapped out the pics for my journaling blocks and made the circle the picture spot. The scrap twist is to use buttons so I added these cool Prima Craftsman wood buttons and ribbon  from the ScrapThat March kit! I created the flowers with Tim Holtz Tattered Florals die, inspired by this Tute from the talented Lisa Gregory. The Swirly Chippie is a beauty by Blue Fern Studios that I covered in gold Rub n'Buff and crackled.


The verse that came to me is Psalm 51:6,
Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts,
And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom

I struggle with a few physical disabilities and sometimes become frustrated with why I have them and need the multiple medications that are needed to keep my mind and body in balance. I have stepped out in faith of healing and ceased taking the various medications for the conditions. I soon became overwhelmed with my symptoms and gradually realized that I was not functional without the medications. I was angry and disappointed that God did not do as I requested in faith. I am slowly coming around to realize that just because I don't know why the workings of my mind and body are the way they are,He created me just this way for His purpose, not my agenda. In time, I pray I will learn what it is He is trying to teach me.

So..enough about me..we want to see YOUR creations with this versatile sketch! 
One winner will be chosen randomly and could win this:

This month's sponsor is ScrapChicKits and here is what the owner Sue has to say about it:
“I got started into scrapbooking from Bernadine Segui who is an American fluent in French who has a website in French and does amazing design work. Here is her link  for any of you who speak French. I wanted to bring some of her products together into kits for the English speaking and that's how Scrapchickits got started.   I love family history and scrapbooking can make our history so bright and creative. My store features quality products from Websters, Crate Paper, Pink Paisley and more  at a very reasonable price.  My shop is on Etsy so it is really easy to find and to order. ScrapChicKits. Happy Scrapbooking!"

And now for the prize that Sue has so generously donated:

Dolls, Butterflies and Flower Scrapbooking kit 8

This kit is especially designed for your little girl who loves dolls, dress up and flowers. It is luscious pink and turquoise. Look what you get inside: 3 Crate Paper Cottage Collection papers, 1 Crate Paper Paper Doll Collection paper, 4 Crate Paper Pink Plum Collection papers, Crate Paper Chipboard Paper Doll Accents, Crate Paper Paper Doll Glazed Brads, 18 inches turquoise ribbon, My Minds Eye Alphabet.

One winner will be chosen randomly.

**NOTE: You may submit the project 
you create for Scrapping Everyday Miracles to other challenge blogs 
but your project must be
 mainly created for the Scrapping Everyday Miracles challenge
 in order to win the sponsor prize**

 All entries must be linked to the main SEM site by March 31st, 11:59pm PST.

*Important: Make sure your link is to the blog post with your project & not just your blog in general...and be sure to remember the SCRAP TWIST!

Friday, March 15, 2013

SOUS FridaySketch Reveal!

Happy Friday! Today brings an inspiring new sketch from our own Sandi Clarkson. 
Take a look here:March 15th sketch too see the sketch and what our talented DT has created with it!
I was excited to work with this sketch because it was so different and pushed me outside my comfort zone.
Here is my interpretation:


I have been forcing myself to use my older papers so I brought out these G45 Once Upon a Springtime papers and had a fussy cutting good time. I was fortunate to be be blessed with a huge blog prize from my friend Marjolaine Walker of these gorgeous Gina's designs chippies! They are very detailed and lovely and I knew they would perfect for this delicate page.
Thanks so much for stopping by!

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Sharing my ScrapThat! pages


Hi there! Today I want to share a little more about 2 of my layouts created with the beautiful March Kit,"New Blooms", featuring Meg's Garden.

Here is my first page using the main kit only:



I did lots of fussy cutting since these papers are so rich with detail. I embossed my mat using the Cuttlebug and Holtz Damask embossing folder. I adhered the brown ribbon from the kit to a  strip of the paper and folded it to make 2 pleated "ribbons." The kit includes a page of medallions so all I did for the nameplate was add a few of the pearls and back it with ruffled ribbon. With the included cheesecloth I made loose flowers and used the Kaisercraft pearls for centers. Since I can't sew at all, the stitching is all "faux."

My second layout uses the add-ons and is based on Amy's sketch:



I really love the colors of this one! The cute Prima clothespins hold a pleated ribbon and doily from my stash and the alphas were some horrid hot pink leftovers that I crackled to match. I curled the kit's Tim Holtz film strip using my heat gun and hubby's help! I painted the DA butterfly with pink and white acrylic paint ,then applied the crackle while it was still wet which blends the colors in a cool effect. I created the card stock flowers using a Sizzix die,embossing each layer before compiling, then using watercolors for soft effect.


Stop by the ScrapThat! Gallery to see more pages and projects made from this beautiful kit!
Can't wait to see what you create with it!