Pencil Lines Sketches

These sketches are amazing!!!  I finally had a chance to sit down and work with one of their sketches!  I loved this week's sketch and had so much fun working with it!  You can find a copy of the sketch on the Pencil Lines Sketch Blog, along with some examples using the sketch.

  

And here's my interpretation of the sketch!  Again, most of the products used are from the Scrap4Life August Kit - Celebrate!  

Supplies Used: Bazzill Cardstock, Fancy Pants PP (Celebrate), Lil Davis PP, Making Memories tiny letter stickers, American Craft thickers, Basic Grey Chipboard stickers, ribbon, buttons, Zig Writer (chocolate), Colorbox Ink (brown)

Thanks for looking and have a blessed holiday weekend!!!

Random Chaos Challenge!

So I've been stalking this blog for quite some time, even have it saved in my favorite blogs, but haven't had a chance to do any of their challenges!  So I thought I'd give this week a try!  The challenge this week at Random Chaos was to create a card with an "out of the ordinary" sentiment.  I thought it was perfect since I had just bought this stamp from the $1 bin at Michael's.  Isn't it cute?!  I will be giving it to a friend of mine who has birthday coming up really soon! Enjoy!

Supplies Used:  Bazzil with an Edge Cardstock (black), Bazzill Cardstock (white), Teresa Collins PP (Bella Collection), May Arts Ribbon, Kaiser Craft bling, Stickles, Michael's Stamp, Stampin' Up ink (black), white puffy paint

Faith Sisters' Scripture Challenge

Last week's Scripture Challenge word was "HEART".  Before I show you my card, I want to share a little something.  We usually have Bible Study on Wednesday nights at church.  Well, last Wednesday, Bible Study was cancelled so that the Missionettes and Royal Rangers could hold a little "mini conference" for the parents.  That evening, one of the older Missionettes gave a little sermon on "giving"  It was also that morning that I was studying the different scriptures on "heart".  Now the reason I mention her sermon is because although her sermon was about "giving",  she constantly mentioned "giving from the ."  That the Lord does not only want us to "give" but when we do "give" it should come from our "heart"!   That morning I had studied the following verse from 1 Samuel 16:7 "Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."  I felt God's presence that evening.  I find it amazing how God can use these children to speak to us.  He truly is an amazing God.  

So, of course, I had to use that verse on my card last week!  I used some old SEI paper to create this card.  The other verses I used for my card are:

Psalm 51:10 "Create in me a pure heart."

Mark 12:30 "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your mind, and with all your strength."

Thanks for looking!  God Bless!

S4L August Kit - Celebrate

So I finally got to use my August Kit from Scrap4Life!  The colors have been so fun to work with!  The kit was perfect for these pictures from the twins' first birthday party back in December.  I still got several more pictures from that day to scrap but at least this is a start!  If you  haven't seen it, this is what the August Kit from Scrap4Life looks like!  And you are in luck...there are still three kits available!!!

I've gotten three layouts done so far and still have tons of the kit left!  Woohoo!!  Here we are with the twins...of course, none of them looking into the camera.  But, oh well!! I used the  Sketch #62 from Sketch It Out!

Supplies Used:  Bazzill Cardstock, GCD Studios PP (Carnival Ride), Fancy Pants PP (Celebrate), Basic Grey Chip Stickers (Cupcake), Dollar Tree Store foam letters, Colorbox Ink (Lipstick Red), Zig Writer (black), ribbon, button, and white puffy paint

Here we are blowing out the candles!   Oh, btw, that was the yummiest cake, evah!!  It was an ice cream cake from Cold Stone Creamery!  Love that place!!  Again, I used a sketch!!  This time it was from So Sketchy! Sketch #11.

Supplies Used:  Bazzill Cardstock, Lil Davis PP, Fancy Pants PP (Celebrate), Basic Grey Chip Stickers (Cupcake), Doodlebug & other misc. buttons, Doodlebug Paper Frills, Colorbox Ink (Chestnut Roan), Zig Writer (Chocolate), floss, white puffy paint

And here is the party invitation I created digitally!  We had fun taking those pictures for the invitation!  Oh, and guess what?!  Another sketch!!  LOL!  Just found this following sketch site, Stuck Sketches, and love it!  The layout is based on Sketch #53.

Supplies Used:  Bazzill with an Edge Cardstock, Fancy Pants PP (Celebrate), American Craft Thickers (Jewelry Box), Basic Grey Chip Stickers (Cupcake), Bazzill Paper Flower, Imaginisce Brads, May Arts Ribbon, Colorbox Ink (Chestnut Roan), Zig Writer (Chocolate), button, paper clip

Thanks for looking!

Scrap4Life is looking for designers....

Here's the announcement:

SCRAP 4 LIFE'S DESIGN TEAM SEARCH CONTEST

Want a chance to work with Scrap 4 Life’s amazing monthly kits and other amazing scrapbooking products? If so, then this is for you! Scrap 4 Life is searching for six scrapbookers to join its design team and would like to invite YOU to participate!

Beginning Monday, September 15th, participants will compete in 4 weeks of challenges to become part of Scrap 4 Life’s design team. Every Monday, a new challenge will be posted and contestants will have until Friday (5 days) to complete each challenge. Scrap 4 Life admin will take Saturday and Sunday to review the entries. Then, on Monday, Scrap 4 Life will announce the contestants who will move on to the next round. That same Monday, the next challenge will be issued. Again, the competition will last 4 weeks and the new Design Team members will be announced on Sunday, October 12th. 

Design team commitment will be for 6 months from November 1 ,2008 to April 30, 2009.

*The number of contestants voted out each week will depend on how many participants sign up to play. All assignments must be new and created specifically for this contest. All layouts/projects created for Scrap 4 Life may not be posted in any other online galleries until the competition is complete. Rules and procedures are subject to change without notice at owners’ discretion. Current design team may participate.

To enter, you must be a registered member of http://www.scrap4life.com. Beginning September 1st there will be an official sign-up thread. In addition, you must have at least one layout in the gallery. Deadline to sign-up is Sunday, September 14, 2008, 12:00am EST. 

The first challenge will be posted on Monday, September 15th. You will have until the following Friday at 12:00am (EST) to post your layout. Then on Monday at 9:00am (EST) we will announce who is going through to the next round and also, the next challenge will be posted and continue the same schedule until the end of the competition.

DESIGN TEAM RESPONSIBILITIES
If you are selected to be on the Scrap4Life Design Team, your responsibilities will include:

6-month commitment to Scrap 4 Life
Create 3-4 layouts/projects per month with supplied product every other month. 
There will be two groups of three designers. Group 1 will design one month and Group 2 the next, and so on.
Host at least one online crop.
Actively participate in Scrap 4 Life’s message board discussions and challenges.
Actively praise layouts/projects in Scrap 4 Life’s gallery.
Participate in online crops.
Post at least one monthly challenge to forum and blog 
Meet deadlines as set by owner or design team coordinator

Benefits include:

• One out of the six months, you will receive a Scrap 4 Life exclusive kit (approximately $30 worth of product) to design with; the other 2 months, you will receive $25 worth of product to complete your layout/project assignments.
• 20% discount on store purchases
Please send a PM or email Jodie Taylor, Scrap 4 Life’s owner, if you have any questions at jodie@scrap4life.com.

A Card Making Day...

So what started out to be a quick card for the 2 Sketches 4 You challenge blog, ended up being an afternoon of card making.  When I finished making the card for Laura's sketch, I had some scraps left.  I've had this 3 Bugs in a Rug paper for over a year now.  Well, I wanted to be done with it already.  LOL!  So I decided to use what was left and make some more cards.  I was able to get three cards with the left over paper!  Woohoo!!  Check out my cards!  Now, remember, I'm still very new at card making so be nice!  hehe!

This first one was done for Laura's sketch at 2 Sketches 4 You.  I feel like it's missing something but, don't know what.  LOL!  

The next four cards I made using the left over 3 Bugs paper!  Not bad, huh!  Talk about using up those scraps!  hehe!  

Children are Life's Treasures

All Girl

It's a Boy

  

Girl

Thanks for looking!

"Back to School" Cyber Crop

I was able to participate a little bit at this weekend's cyber crop at Scrap4Life. I did 4 of the challenges; however, I'm just posting 3. Daniel noticed a mistake on one of the ones I did so I have to go back and fix that. Once I do that, I'll be able to share!

Here's little Miss B last Christmas. I just love this picture of her. I have so many more xmas pictures that I need to scrap. At least this is a start!

Here's the Jer Man! This was taken last summer! I just love how he sucks in his lower lip! I think it looks so adorable! The purpose of this layout was to show what Jeremy's name meant. If you can't tell from the layout, it says the meaning for Jeremy is "God will uplift." "God will raise up." "God will set free."

And here are just some cards I did for the crop. I'm not much of a card maker but I like the way they turned out!

Have a blessed week!!

Crazy busy week!!

Wow!  This has been one busy week for us!!  So much going on!!  Daniel and Bianca went back to school on Monday.  Daniel started middle school and Bianca went off to kindergarden!  They were so excited that neither of them got much sleep!  When the alarm went off, they both jumped out of bed!  LOL!  Let's see how long that last!  Here are some pictures I took of them before they headed off to school:

.

And here's Bianca in her classroom!  She did NOT cry even though she said she was!  

In addition to school starting this week, Tropical Storm Fay has been a *big* pain!  It was heading straight towards us; however, it instead went east after school had been cancelled and we spent money stocking up on canned goods and water.  I guess better safe than sorry!  Huh?

The kids are also enjoying their time with their grandparents this week.  My in-laws are in town visiting.  They are enjoying all of grandma's cooking!  So has Carlos!  haha!  My MIL loves to spoil them!  

Unfortunately, because I have been busy I haven't done much scrapbooking at all!  Waaaah!  But here's a card I did last week for the Faith Sister's Scripture Challenges.  This was a challenge from a few weeks ago!  The word that week was "choice"!  As you read through the cards, you will see how they each go hand in hand!  Here's my card:

There were so many verses an "choice".  Here are the two that spoke the most to me.

Deuteronomy 30:19b-20a

"Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him."

Joshua 24:15

"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

Have a blessed day!

Join Scrap4Life this weekend!

Rainy Day...

Today has been such a cloudy and rainy day!  Not a fun way to spend the last few days of summer!  But it is the perfect "scrapping" weather!  hehe!  Here's a layout I did of my silly girls.

Yes, I hope "daddy" is ready because these two girls are gonna be lots of trouble!  Especially when they are together!  They both gain up against their brothers.  They lock Jeremy out when they are playing and well, Bianca just loves to drive her big brother crazy!  And can you say "girlie girl"?!  Yes, these two are as girlie girl as they come!  Bianca has been the perfect teach for Jaz.  Oh no!!  lol!

And I was also able to do this week's sketch challenge over at 2 Sketches 4 You.  This week's sketch was by Laura.  I loved it!  Here's my card:

And just to share a bit more on yesterday's post...last night I attended bible study at my church.  It had been a couple of months since I had gone.  The topic of last night's study was "faith".  But what really got me was that the pastor's study yesterday focused on what it is to be a "Believer" "to Believe in the Lord" And he had us open the bible to James 1:22, which says, "Do not merely listen to the word, .... Do what it says."  Wow!  God truly is an amazing God!  He reconfirmed what I had written in yesterday's post!  I just had to share!  

God Bless You!

He Speaks To Me

A couple of weeks ago, I was doing some web browsing and I came across this site:  Faith Sisters.  I immediately saved it but with my crazy summer and getting ready for vacation I couldn't really sit down and read it.  Well, I finally had a chance to sit down and read it.  All I can say is "God is amazing!"  He has really spoken to me through this site.  Over a year ago, I was going through some really hard times; which I have a shared with very few people.  One day I will share my story as I have a duty to God to do so.  Had I not turned to God, I'm not sure if I would have ever gotten through.  But what we can not do...God can!  God pulled me out of that darkness and I felt a happiness and peace like never before.  

Well, these last few months, life got really busy and I was pushing the Lord to the side.  There is a song that I heard once on  the radio while driving that talks about "Drowning in forgetfulness"  That is what was  happening to me.  I don't want to forget what the Lord did in my life nor do I ever want to live a life without him in it, again!  

So as I was reading through the Faith Sisters blog, I knew God was speaking directly to me.  God is great!  This week's scripture is on the word "Believe".  As I read through her lesson, the following quote really got me..."We as believers can do more damage to our Lord than an atheist.  Don't tell 'em you're a believer until you want to act like a believer."  Ouch!  I wanna live as a "believer" and I pray to God to always guide me in the right direction and to help me always make the right decisions.  I worked on this week's challenge so that whenever I need to be reminded, I can just pull out this card!

Romans 10:9-10a

"That if you can confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it's with your heart that you believe and are justified...."

God Bless You!

Feellin' Beachy!

After coming back from vacation, I guess I'm still in the "beach" mood because I've done tons of beach layouts this week!  Most of these pictures were taken back in May while spending a day at Manatee Beach.  It was a fun day!  My mom was here visiting from Chicago.  

Daniel playing paddleball and Jeremy trying to join in.  hehe!

Although it was only May...it was very HOT out!  

Do you see the sand around Jeremy's mouth?  Yep, he was eating sand!  LOL!

Carlos and the kids playing at the beach!

I just love this picture!  

And another picture I just love!  The babies were really able to enjoy the beach this summer.  Last year they were still too tiny!  

Have a great weekend!!!

Sketch Blogs...

They are addicting!  You start with one and then you find another and another and another.  I love them!  

I worked on my first sketch from Creative Scrappers!  I'm lovin' their weekly sketches.  Here is this week's sketch and my layout based on the sketch:

I also worked on another card using one of Kazan's beautiful sketches from 2 Sketches 4 You. Not sure if I like how this card turned out but oh well....LOL!  I'm hoping as time goes on, my cards will get better.  hehe! 

On another note...Bianca is all set and registered for kindergarden!  We went "Back to School" shopping yesterday.  She is so excited!  She loves her new "Camp Rock" backpack!  What happened to Disney Princesses and Dora?  They grow up so fast!!  Talk about growing up fast...Daniel heads off to middle school in less than 2 weeks!  He has his open house next week and gets his class schedule!  He tries to play it off...but he is so excited, too!  LOL!

Back from vacation!!!

We are back from vacation and had a wonderful time!!  We ate and ate and ate!!  The pool was gorgeous!  The beach was pretty but rocky!  The kids enjoyed playing with their cousins!  Check out some of the pictures...yes, I went a bit "photo happy"!  lol!