An Easy Make For a Wonderful Gift | Tag Mini

an easy, fun and doable gift idea

journaling confessions

This layout I am to share with you today was created for the Pink Paislee blog and is posted here. That particular assignment was called Design Lab. Design Lab is a study in what goes into memory keeping. The elements that bring it all together for a particular scrapbook style. You can read all the details for that focus on the Pink blog.

What I want to point out here today are photos. In that article I talk about how photos are my starting place. I alluded to the fact that THAT point might seem redundant. But I don’t think everyone does indeed start with the photo. But for me, I gather the images of the moment in my mind and a story starts to form. The story of our life.

One thing that came to the surface as a reminder to me while creating that post, was journaling. I did not list that as a design element. And that’s because, by way of confession, I have let that part of the telling fall off. 

Cathy Z recently reminded me of the richness that comes from truly journaling our stories. She takes such beautiful detail in her telling. She struck a nerve in me. I am not doing my story telling justice. I am not really telling the stories well. I am skipping over that for the supposed sake of creativity and am forgetting the very core of why I take the time in the first place.

So here I am today to place a new line in the sand. I am going to be more purposeful and intentional about my telling. And it starts with the layout right here. I will pull this precious memory out again and tell how we just simply were together the morning of Mother’s Day. How the simplicity of being together in these casual ways speaks to my heart. It’s a peaceable way to celebrate a day, and it meant so much to me. The goofiness of my girls and littlest and how they really act together. The making of breakfast by my oldest daughter in our kitchen. The coming together at table like we do every Sunday morning and the richness that that time is. And how my littles kids (not being so little any longer), love to hang and play a game on the iPad and just talk and banter back and forth. All while still in our jammies.

Simple simple little moments found in our home right now.

ode to my mama

Greetings my friends...
it's been a busy busy two weeks...
and now it is already mom's day!!!

Sharing today a little o' layout I did today of my mama. I woke up thinking about her today...and this is what came about those thoughts...

My mom just had breast cancer surgery this past month. She came through it beautifully, but it has not been without it's difficulties. She has been in a lot of pain and discomfort. It has taken her a bit to get back into the swing of her social life as it is just a bit too difficult for her to even travel in a car. She has had challenges with her medications wreaking havoc with her body. She continues to have lots of medical information given to her that requires a lot of processing and decision making. HOWEVER...through it all...she has smiled. Been upbeat. Smiled. Laughed. Celebrated Easter. Smiled. And endured it all with consummate grace. It's been a beautiful journey to be a part of.

The 'life is beautiful' paper from Dreamy was perfect for a page about my mama. The Dreamy Jumble Words were spot on to embellish this page and add a spirit of what I was feeling while creating this mom page. I had to add some artistic touches using that dang Polka Dot stencil that I love so much. A bit of matte gel and gesso and Blush Color Shine gave me wonderful dimension over the Mini Dot stencil that I used and misted with Blush as well.

More dots on manila. I love that look so much. And another Jumble Word added to my page too.

Here is to you if you are a mom. I hope this is a celebratory time for you. It's not always been for me. But I found in my life that I had to do some changing. Some forgiving. Some letting go of junk that just did not matter. My mom will attest to that. She too has had to do the same. Today we enjoy a renewed relationship and we simply love and accept each other for who we are. No expectations. Just acceptance. It allows a real sweetness in our lives together. And for that I celebrate this Mother's Day.

till next time...

a non~mom gift

as you may or may not have read in my last post of yesterday...
my heart was struck recently upon reading this post by a 'non~mom' to her pastor.
and so i was compelled to create a gift for a friend of mine.

as i am always reaching for Heidi Swapp's Signature Series book from last year,
this project was inspired by one she showcased in that publication.

i adore the ever flexible value of the Memory Files.
as she shared in her book, i took on of these gems and cut it down to size a bit.
then i went to work to make it very interactive.

the Jumbo Tag here is actually a removeable card with a message inside...
as well as a message hidden underneath.
and do you see the 'fabulous' tag peaking out?
it too is a hidden message for the recipient.

a few of the details close up...

the right side of the open file also has some interactive and hidden virtues.
a glassine bag from my stash was used as a pocket to hold a tag that has a hand written message on the underside.

a slit pocket was created to be a larger space for a larger hidden message.
i printed the letter to the pastor and folded it in half...added a Memory File Label to the edge...
and stashed it inside the pocket as a secret space to share this very secret message.

i adore how the Memory Files are amazing canvases for so much creativity to come to life for your photos...
or a needed message to a special friend.

now go...
share your love with someone today.

mothers day ~ heidi swapp & petaloo

this week the heidi swapp media team and petaloo are teaming up and sharing some projects and gift ideas for mother's day. 

follow heidi on instagram (@hkswapp) to win the petaloo giveaway. 

she will be picking a winner on saturday!

the Petaloo petals took to the Color Shine in a beautiful, deep and stunning way.
i had never played with petaloo before...
so this was a great chance to see how the Color Shine...well...shined!

this is one of those projects that really needs to be seen in real life.

the contrast of the primrose, georgia peach and gold lame against the black velvet on the frame is stunning!

i wanted a high contrast look to this, and so black velvet was a sure thing for the frame.

the flowers, seen here in various stages of color, really take the show of this piece.
(can you tell i am running out of gold lame?)
i started with several sprays of the gold lame...
then went with some sprays of the peach...
then the primrose...
and just went back and forth until i was happy with the result.

this quote has been around for a while.
but it really caught my attention when i was working on this project.
i just kept ruminating over the sentiment and it really found a new place in my heart.
being the mom of five children at diverse ages, i am really experiencing the emotions of the parallel thought expressed here.
it is almost gripping me.
and causing me to respond with a change in some priorities.
we truly do not have their hands, their beings in our lives forever.
but i strive daily to make sure that our relationships are such that i will indeed have their hearts forever.

lots more details can be found today on heidi's blog.

if you are a mother, i wish you the most beautiful mother's day ever.

and if you are not...i hope to share an open letter from a non-mom that she recently posted to her pastor...

it really touched me deeply, 

and caused me to respond in kind by reaching out to a very special woman in my life that is not mother...

well...

she is not mother in the physical sense,

but despite the realities in her life...

she strives to be mother in an emotional sense...

and how i have been able to observe that through the years causes me to really love and respect her.

maybe there is someone in your life that you could reach out to this mother's day and love on them too.

just maybe.

happy mothers day

I appreciate what I heard Heidi Swapp say recently:
"learn to take beautiful photos of your children 
so you can remember why you love them."

Because some days it is really hard to feel like the worlds greatest mom.

Somedays we forget.

I know even this week I feel far from the ranks.

But we love them like no other love that was ever before created.
We would give our very lives for them.
Indeed, we do just that.

So for those of you Mom's out there who love in amazing ways...day in...and day out...
Happy Mother's Day.
And may the LORD bless and keep you in your endeavors.

supplies: RhonnaDesigns ~ PrizeWinning Mom Kit ; Quatrefoil Tool Kit

mothers day celebration

Rhonna is highlighting Mother's Day on her blog this week.
So today I show you a recent card made in honor of the upcoming day to celebrate Mom.
A hybrid card using digital elements from RhonnaDesigns.

This card started with a 5x7 canvas and then filled with a soft blush color.
The TextureBrushes kit, using the distressed honeycomb brush...one of my favorite textures, was used on the background. A great tool kit to have.
Then that beautiful colored Punk Junque kit element was layered on the canvas and became the focus point of the card.
There is also a subtle pink Punk Junque brush added behind to give a bit more depth and texture.
Then...around the edges was added more of the TextureBrushes. I picked one of the greys in the Punk Junque colored png and digitally distressed the edges of the card.

These patterns came from other backgrounds altogether. The rose is from one of the A Year to Follow Your Heart 6x8jpgs. I simply cropped the flower, printed, and then trimmed to a banner shape for placement at the top of the card.
Same with the music pattern that came from the Christmas Junque background kit. It was part of the Collage Junque paper. That paper is so diverse to use for different flags and banners and paper punches. It's rather timeless.

To finish the card I added sequins. coffee dyed seam binding and doily. plus i added glittered glue to the butterfly. The butterfly could be printed out separately and then popped up on the card...but I am happy with the little touch of bling.

now go.
create.