Corey sent this to me yesterday.

Here’s a couple of layouts that I finished in the last day or so.

I’m liking the community over at Oscraps.  Seems very relaxed and very nice.

Getting ready for vacation.  Trying to decide if I should post as I go or abandon technology altogether and wait till we get back.  What do you like to do on your vacation in terms of blogging?

Layout Credits:
Sunrise{enjoythismoment}
elements (altered or recolored) Eastbourne Kathryn Wilson + Paislee Press Collaboration
background paper (altered), frame Zippy Hippy Paislee Press Designs
word art Fresh Air Nina Scraps Designs
frame Mailing Label Frames Vol.2 Paislee Press + TaylorMade

Blueberry Jam
frame Bits + Pieces Small Elements Pack Natasha NaSt
Floral Brushes Cinzial
paper, word art Fresh Air Nina Scraps Designs
paper, ribbon Eastbourne Kathryn Wilson + Paislee Press
brown, blue paper, date circle, tree stamp, circle art, grunge alpha JMDesigns

What is something that you would really like to scrap about but you just can’t seem to?  We all have easy things to scrap about…but what things never make it into our albums?  What are the things that are at our deepest core…the things that make us who we are…the stories we don’t tell?

One of the things I find the hardest to scrap about but the thing I’d like to scrap about more is my faith.  It is something that makes me who I am and yet it is not something that is easily scrapped.  Maybe it is because it is something that is at my deepest core and I have to really examine myself and write/scrap about me (always difficult) and I don’t often have photos that could convey what I feel.

At the same time…for posterity purposes…what am I leaving behind in terms of scrapping that will tell the story of who I am or who I was?

This dilemma has been plaguing me for some time now and it all came together yesterday for me.  One of the challenges this week at Designer Digitals is a lyrics challenge.  These lyrics  are from the song It’s Amazing by Toni Congi.

This got me thinking of a chorus we sing in church called Amazed.  Here are the lyrics.

You dance over me while I am unaware
You sing all around but I never hear the sound
Lord I’m amazed by You
Lord I’m amazed by You
Lord I’m amazed by You
And how You love me
You paint the morning sky with miracles in mind
My hope will always stand
For You hold me in Your hand
How deep how wide
How great is Your love for me

Yesterday when I went biking I was riding through the Cherry Creek Trail..which is so beautiful.  When I’m outside in God’s beautiful creation it always makes me feel closer to Him.  It makes me so happy that He created me to be an artist because He’s the ultimate artist!  But mostly I am amazed at how much He loves me considering how small and insignificant I am compared to the world around me.  How he takes care of the flowers in the field.  And the birds in the air.  And yet He loves and cares for ME!  ;D

So here’s the layout I came up with…the first one I’ve done related to my faith…ever.  I’m quite happy with it!  I hope this inspires you to go out an scrap about whatever it is that is difficult for you to scrap!

Grunge Overlay Set No.1 JMDesigns
Lynn Grievenson Milly Molly, Essential Bases No.4, Antiquities, Antiquities No.2
Lyric Challenge 8-16-09, Digital Date Stamps No14, Curled and Flat Photo Frames No.3 Katie Pertiet

It has been a long week for some reason.  The girls have been fighting like you wouldn’t believe.  That surprises me given the fact that when we do a lot of things together as a family (like the week previous) that usually makes them behave like angels.  Not so this time.  I’m at my whits end.  And I don’t like feeling like this.  Monday school starts.  It is so bittersweet.  The summer flew.  I cannot believe they are going back so soon and yet I’m just so looking forward to the fighting to be over!  Both girls will be in school all day.  That is going to be strange!!! A part of me is excited and a part of me is sad.  Another part of life is ending.  Another beginning.

Last night was meet your teacher night at school.  So this is all becoming a reality.  Laney has the same teacher as Ava did in 1st grade.  It was déjà vu all over again.  Ava’s class is right across the hall from Laney’s.  It was nice to have two returning students this year.  They were both very comfortable and had lots of friends they were reuniting with. ;D

So on to this week’s freebie.  I was able to get something done.  I needed to work to feel like a normal adult in amoungst the fighting of short people in the house!  I felt like playing with the Fibonacci Spiral again.  This is what I came up with.

And here’s the layout that I did with it.  If you use it please feel free to share!  My friend Wendy has been doing some lovely layouts with my templates lately.  You can check out her lovely blog here.  It is always great to see other people’s takes on my designs! ;D

template, paper, circle word art stamp JMDesigns
background paper Island Blues, Essential Bases {1} (both altered) Lynn Grievenson
bird cage stamp House of 3
buttons French Summer Lynn Grievenson

Here’s Wendy’s take…

I’ve created a new layout and template to share with you.  I may have stated this before but I used to dislike templates.  I used to think using templates took away creativity and freedom.  I’ve come to change my opinion on this.  I love templates! They are fast and fun!  Sometimes I incorporate just part of a template or quick page to my scrapbooking so I still maintain my creativity and feel like it is still “mine”.  And sometimes it is just easy to use a template and plug in your photos if you just don’t feel like “being creative” and just want to see your photos in a finished layout.

I created this template this week and did a layout with the photos of the fireworks we set off in our cul-de-sac.

template, paper JMDesigns
word art Wordle
Circle It No 2 Anna Aspnes

This template is a freebie for one week only and then it will go into my store after July 16th after that time you may purchase it.  The format for downloading my freebies is a little different now.  Just enter your name and email (much like when you have to when entering a comment on my blog) then you will receive an email with a link to the download file.  I hope you enjoy it and as always let me know if you use it!

This looks interesting. ;D

How do you change a photo from the one on the left to the one on the right?

It is a technique called selective recoloring.  It is not very hard to do.  ;D

1.  Open your photo in PS and separate the layer from the background by right clicking on the background layer.

2.  Duplicate the layer.

3.  Create new fill or adjustment layer to create a black and white layer.  Right click on the new layer and merge down.  You will have two layers now.  One color photo and one duplicate black and white photo.

4.  Make sure your black and white layer stays above the color layer photo.  I also like to rename my layers.  It just keeps things in order.  It is a good habit to get into especially when you are working on projects with lots of layers.  (This one doesn’t happen to have a lot of layers but like I said it is a good habit to get into.)

5.  Next, select the eraser in your tool bar (1).

6.  Select the size of brush you wish to use to erase (2).  Depending on the area I’m working in will depend on the size of the brush.  Remember you can quickly change the size of your brush while you are working by using the [ ] keys on your keyboard (pc users).  This comes in very handy when working in tight spots and then going back out to larger areas when erasing color.

7.  When erasing make sure you have the black and white layer selected (3)!!

8.  When finished your photo should look like this.  Save.

And here is the layout I did with the photo…

Katie Pertiet 4×6 frame
Lynn Grievenson Elizabeth Kit (butterfly)
Lynn Grievenson French Summer (postal stamp, ribbon)
Ali Edwards The Story Word Art
paper, year stamp, clock stamp, defining word stamp JMDesigns

I had put digital design on the back burner for a bit.  The photography class was taking a lot of my concentration.  I was also having a creative slump in the digital creative department.  I was getting a little upset about it.  Instead of beating my head against the wall…my usual reaction…I put it away for a time.  Feeling a little more confident lately, I decided to jump back in.  I’m glad I got a break and I’m extremely happy with this paper pack.

You can download the pack for free here.  Enjoy!

I also felt like putting together a layout with these new papers to give you an example. ;D  My friend Michelle is having a monthly challenge over on her blog.  Check it out.  You could win some blog candy. ;D  I am entering this layout for her week 2 challenge.

Paper Purple Grunge Jen Maddocks Designs
Katie Pertiet Little Leaves Rub-ons
Andrea Victoria journaling challenge freebie from Designer Digitals
Ali Edwards The Story Word Art

If you live in Colorado I hope you stayed safe in the spring storm.  We got about 18 inches here.  Very heavy wet snow.  Several of the trees in our back yard are completely bent to the ground.  I hope they survive. ;D

Our rec center had an egg hunt this morning.  It was raining all morning but stopped long enough for them to have the hunt.  What luck!

paper  Weathered Neutrals Anna Aspnes
egg shape found online
Floral Edgers Brushes-n-Stamps No2 Katie Pertiet
2009 Year Brushes Jen Maddocks Design
Fonts: Susie’s Hand, Phaisian, Lindsey Pro

It seems lately that I rarely get any good photos of  Ava.  Today that was not the case.  She got in the car when I picked her up from school very excited.  I asked her how her day was.  She said excellent.  They had an in school field trip.  During part of it they had a word search contest.  Ava won!  The prize she won was a rock and tool kit.  You use the tools to break the “rock” apart and find a dinosaur inside.  She was pumped!  She’s been so into breaking rocks apart lately.  She wants to look inside them for gems and “treasures.” ;D  She wanted to do it the minute we got home.  And so she did!

Some days Ava is so grown up.  Yesterday we were sitting at the table.  I was helping her with her homework.  I started to get a migraine.  I laid my head down on the table.  After a few minutes Ava says, “Mom.  Why don’t you just go to the couch and lay down.  I can finish up here at the table by myself.”

“Ava that is so sweet.  I really feel terrible.  Come to the living room with me.  I’ll help you with your definitions while on the couch and then you can do the rest.”

“Ok, Mom.”

So we headed to the couch.  It helped me…as much as anything can when I have a migraine.  I helped her with her definitions and then tried to rest.  I heard Laney ask me something.  Ava said, “Shhhh Laney!  Don’t ask her anything she doesn’t feel good and she’s trying to rest!”  I don’t remember anything after that.  They must have done a good job of being quiet cause I got some rest and didn’t wake up till Corey got home.  When Ava acts like that sometimes I wonder who switched her. ;D  Not more than a 1/2 hour before they were fighting and slamming doors.  Go figure. ;D

***

I also wanted to say Happy Easter to everyone.  No matter what you do or how you celebrate I hope your day is wonderful!  I have an Easter layout that I want to share.

Quick Collage 200 Series templates Scrapbooks Etc.
the story word art Ali Edwards
2008 year brush Jen Maddocks Design
Chandelierious No.1 brush set  Anna Aspenes
tape CD Muckosky Story Starters
fonts: Susie’s Hand, Will & Grace

I was working on putting some stuff together for the crop weekend…which officially starts TOMORROW!!!  WOOHOO!  I ended up completing the layout cause inspiration struck.  I tend to over think my layouts.  Specifically paper layouts…not so much on digi…not sure why…And what I mean by over thinking is I usually think there isn’t enough on the page and I sit there forever trying to decide what to add.  I decided to not over think this one and make it simple and easy.  I tried to focus on the photos and just have a couple of elements on the page.  I also stayed away from patterned paper which is hard for me to do as well.

I’m very happy with the results!!!!

Supplies Used
Cardstock American Crafts
Thickers American Crafts
ribbon Heidi Grace
butterflies KI Memories
date stamp Heidi Swapp
simply circle Jen Maddocks design w PS

***

Also if anyone is interested in going to the Scrap Etc. event just go to this blog and place a comment.  They are giving away 5 spots!!  Looks like a lot of fun!!!!  Don’t forget to mention I referred you! ;D