good friday to you

Here is to wishing you a beautiful Good Friday.
hoping you find your way to a service this day as we enter into the holiest of weekends.

and then may you celebrate deeply on Sunday as we celebrate the reason for our hope...
the resurrection of our LORD Jesus Christ.

Happy Easter.

love you everday

boy layouts take 3.
today i want to share the youngest of the guys in my family.
the little mr.
we were so excited to get out of doors earlier in the month.
actually...i am not sure who was more excited...me or him.
a photo opp for sure nonetheless.

are you noticing a theme here?
no limits paper. such perfect boy patterns.
color spray splotches.
stencils at play.
distressed edges.
now these are elements one can find on all my layouts...usually.
but they are really played up here for the boy look.

this layout has an interactive element to it...

extra photos that i wanted to keep with the initial layout are simply added to a 'card' made for the layout. it is just a swatch of pattern paper folded in half. it is attached to the other layers on the background of the layout, and then the focal photo is placed on top.

i love layers.
there is nothing special about these layers.
just pieces and embellishments that i pulled together with the red theme in mind.
i simply play around with them for a bit and then i glue them down.

and don't forget layers of stamp images. boy pages can really handle lots of extras and layers and splotches and even...
yes even a heart!
hope you have enjoyed this little series on the boy page.
would love for you to link me up if you are inspired to do the same.

you. now.

Continuing with the theme from yesterday from my creative guy weekend.
Today I share the oldest teen male of the family.
I must confess...his personal album I keep up for him is looking a little thin these days...
yet there is so much going on with him.
When they get this age, growth is taking place inside, just a bit harder to document.
When they are little there is so much on the visual aspect of life to photo and add words to.
But it is none the less important to share my heart with this one...

This too is an exercise in No Limits patterns and all things (mostly) Heidi Swapp.
The background paper had to be distressed with splotches of Color Shine plus some stencil work.
I really really like the subtle way Color Shine plays with stencils to add a layer of interest and design to a project. I just can't stop doing this technique right now.

The boy is all bout the suit jacket right now. I caught this photo while he was off guard. the best.
With what he is wearing it caused me to stick with that shock of blue for the background, and then to layer grey and black and keep the rest of the theme fairly monochromatic.

The layers just happened on their own. Love when that takes place. I used a tab paper punch, plus a scrap of Color Magic paper in a bold stripe. Then of course the ever present packaging from Heidi's products. I keep a supply of labels in differing colors and use them pretty much all. the. time. Have you noticed that? And 'the best' flair comes from my sweet friend Kim. I thought it was an appropriate touch.

Another element I am using all the time are the Clear Stamps. They are one of those products that does not get a lot of hype. They do not make a huge play on a project...but they are a perfecting subtle element. I challenge myself to use them every time.
You should too.

tell me

Over the weekend I had a chance to actually do some trad memory pages.
I mean the 12x12 kind.
Just don't do those as often as I use too...
but it is still a format I thoroughly enjoy.

It was a boys weekend.
This is the first in a couple of my guy layouts.
I was totally inspired to be all boy and rock the more masculine feel.
What is sort of funny about that is the inspo came from Wilna Furstenberg's Art Class...
and if you know her work, she is all sweet and feminine and soft.
Everything I am not.
But I digress...

If you follow me on Instagram then you saw a peek of this layout...
it was dedicated to this man...
the one who makes my life possible.
The one, who, when I attempt to mess all things up...
is my center and brings me back in.

The theme came from Edwin McCain's I'll Be.
The song's lyrics really resonate with me about us when I hear it.

The text was created in Silhouette.
Pattern paper from the No Limits paper paper backed up the lyrics.
An artsy touch was added with Color Shine sprayed over stencils.
It added a masculine touch that was perfect for the feel I was going for.

Layers gave the whole piece lots of texture.
Stitching around the edges as well as distressing the paper are touches that I love to give any page, but added to a real manly feel for this project.
The lyrics to the song were typed and printed on the shipping tag that is tucked into a glassing bag and hidden a bit behind the layers.

This is one of those layouts I really don't want to put away but rather keep out.
So, who in your life needs to be celebrated?
If you are married, I challenge you to make your husband your subject.
My marriage is anything but perfect. It is a lot of hard work. But the work pays off in the now as well as in our legacy to come.
So I will remain true to the hard work.
And celebrate along the way.

spring home decor ~ heidi swapp

If you have followed me for at least little bit of time, then you know that I am enjoy taking the supplies that help celebrate my photos and stories and spread that love around my home.


And that is again what is happening here for spring.
Heidi Swapp's Color Shine takes to paper mache eggs...

and Color Magic Party Banners.
The new Serendipity pattern paper shows up as well adding layers and details to the Party Banners.

I adore the vintage touch of the Fabric Flowers and how they play against the more whimsical patterns of the Softness, New Day, and Happiness patterns found in the Serendipity line.

 

I adore the subtle play the Color Shine Gold Lame makes using stencils on the differing patterns. This paper is simply dreamy die cut and customized to your decor.

And I cannot even tell you how excited it was to see the the Color Shine take to these paper mache eggs in such a beautiful way. Simply spray. Add sprinkles of contrasting Color Shine. And you just can't go wrong.  

There are more photos and lots of details found today as I guest host at HeidiSwapp.com.

 

 

@45

today is my birthday.
i am taking inventory today.
my life is most days controlled chaos.
well...except for the controlled part.
but i think i am getting use to it!

insta celebrations font by RhonnaDesigns

 today i woke to a mental list of what my life has been...
what it is...
and what it is still to be.
45 things in all.

photo by maggie massey

this is in no way all inclusive.
however, inwardly thoughtful.

she is 45
she was born to young parents who are married and committed to one another today.
she was born in a tumultuous era of the country and globe in 1968. times have not changed much.
she has one sister. friends today.
she puts her trust in the LORD daily.
she grew up quiet, reserved and introverted.
she strengthens her strengths everyday.
she met her husband in high school.
this is her 24th year of marriage.
she is served coffee in bed every morning by him.
she has been pregnant seven times.
she has given birth five times to amazing bodies and souls.
they call her mama.
she is currently mother to a 17 year old as well as a 2 year old.
she will this year be mom to a senior in high school as well as a freshman. a middle schooler. one in elementary and a preschooler.
they make her laugh everyday.
she is presently potty training her last.
her days are full of training these souls academically, socially and spiritually.
her life was changed by two books: The Bible years ago and daily. More recently by 1000 Gifts {Ann Voskamp}.
she lists her gifts daily.
she reads truth daily.
she has two life long friends. these friends hold her heart in their hands.
she loves to make them laugh.
she has been to Paris. once.
she has a palatable taste for travel.
she is more dedicated to her faith and prayer than she has ever been.
she falls everyday.
she gets back up again. everyday.
she is an idealist.
she has more hopes and dreams than ever.
she wonders when she will ever grow up.
she creates daily.
she continues to look for her best.
she has volunteered her whole life.
she volunteers her time currently to middle schoolers.
she has friends all over the world.
she thinks starbucks is the best invention of her time.
she loves her country and believes it is still the best hope.
loves an honest political conversation.
her favorite movie is still Philadelphia Story.
she decides daily to enjoy more and endure less.
she knows happiness is a serious problem.
she knows everything will be alright in the end. if it is not alright, then it is not the end.
she is immensely blessed and loved.
if she lives as long as her paternal grandmother, she is half way there.

Scripture tells us to number our days. to renew daily.
i think a birthday is great time to number our years and renew our hearts for what is yet to be.

thank you for letting me share.

rhonna designs chalk art cards

I really do adore the Insta Chalk Art Kit from RhonnaDesigns...
the quotes are perfectly uplifting.
the graphics are gorgeous.
I have even taken a few and created 12x12 canvases with them to hang on my new studio wall.
And I love to share them with others by way of cards and tags.
Made a few tags up recently using the Chalk Art Kit. Along with the free background (um...hello...yes..the fabulous chalk background is free!!!)  from the shop, I printed Chalk Art tags and then added them to some larger tags with notched pattern paper and dyed seam binding. Just made them up pretty to send in the mail.

These sentiments have a little help from the Vintage Bliss collection from Simple Stories, Teresa Collins Memories, plus Color Magic Seam Binding dyed with Color Shine Primrose and Tropicana Teal. Because I am not capable of doing any thing these days without a little Color Shine.

The cards measure 4 x 6.

Simply put, layers of pattern paper were used until I liked what I saw.

Lots

Notched paper.
Washi tape.
Butterflies.
you get the idea.

And some of the most beautiful Chalk Art design out there right now.
Thank you Rhonna for making it so easy to uplift and inspire others.
This is just one of those kits I will use over and over again.

wreath class @ the emporium

It was a bit of a dream come true this past weekend to host a class with my friend Bonnie at the newly opened The Emporium shops in Castle Rock. We have been meeting and planning and designing for just about six months now.

We came up with a class idea a few months back and Bonnie went to work designing the actual project. She is very industrious, that one. Her talents run deep.

She runs a shop in this venue, and I should have taken some photos as her display is beautiful. It will just be an excuse for me to get back up there soon just to show that space off in it's own post.

Ten wonderful ladies attended our first event. We were thrilled! Bonnie worked so hard getting the word out in the area. Castle Rock is a quaint little town not far off the main highway here locally. But there is not much at all happening creatively in the area. We have big dreams for this old town. The Emporium is in a park and walk area filled with shops and galleries and eateries. It has so much potential.

So, my local friends, we are busy planning April's class and I do hope you will come find out what all the excitement is about.

sweet memory file pt 2 ~ heidi swapp memory file sketch

Happy Friday to you all...

If you are looking for a weekend project, I think this sketch could be a great start.
The Media Team over at Heidi Swapp has been playing with Memory File Sketches.
Today is the first in 1 Sketch 3 Ways v.2.

My take on this challenge started with this on Monday's post.
Today I have a post over at HeidiSwapp.com showing how I took this sketch, and really made it work for the particular orientation and need of this album.
Love how versatile sketches can be.

This project is a few of my favorite things that I explain further over at Heidi's today...

like my new favorite Clear Pop Banners...

Combining Sugar Chic Memory Files...

...with new Color Pop Memory Files.

And the new Serendipity Mini Fotostack book...

with lots of Definition stickers and elements and extra pages peeking out.

Love adding these little details.

Added just a touch of Color Shine Tinsel to the Color Pop Memory File...

But what is really a lot of fun...the new Clear Pop Bare Pockets...love them!

now go and take a look at the other post...
and then here is to a creative weekend.