My Granny

Last Friday evening, Sandy and Alex hosted a "Write Women Back into History" crop at SCRAP THAT

I had thought about this crop for a couple of weeks. I love themes! They really give me a challenge to focus on something that I might not normally think of.

I settled on doing a layout of my great grandmother, ♥Granny♥. I have very few pictures of her and have never scrapped one.

Here's my granny ~ Mrs. Irene Easley ...



I believe this photo was taken some time in the 80's in Arkansas when she visited my aunt and uncle for Easter. She has a beautiful flower corsage which inspired the paper dahlia (inspired by a great post by Jolene Pienaar), which I adorned with looped pearls, a clear button center, layered with a flower and coral pear accent, a felt swirling stem, and a green organza bow.



I LOVE the antique look of the paper by K&Co. It makes me think of her little old county house in Louisiana.

I repeated the pearls again on the sweet chipboard butterfly and on the bottom of her photo.



The antique lace along the bottom finishes it off, just as I had hoped.

Now I want to scrap my other grandmothers, too! I'll let you know if I do ;)

♥

Patter Cross Scripture Challenge #6: Neighbor

Again, my layout for the challenge word "Neighbor" doesn't actually contain the word itself, but rather how we should treat our neighbors. And as Debbie Lewis commented on her ATC post of the word challenge, our neighbors are not only those who live in close proximity to us, but rather "the people that we meet each day." (I think that was a Sesame Street song long ago! :)

This verse in Colossians holds much direction for us in our Christian life -



qualities that we, as children of God and ambassadors of Christ to a lost world, should be marked by.




May I be a good neighbor . . . For HIS name sake. ♥

Patter Cross Scripture Challenge #5: Follow

The Good Shepherd


"My sheep hear my voice . . . they know me and they follow me . . . "





Oh, I want to know His voice . . .



and FOLLOW Him!

Patter Cross Scripture Challenge #4: Home

Home!



. . . Heaven is my home!



As a child of God, redeemed by the precious sacrifice of Christ on the cross, my future is secure!



I love this verse in Psalm 27 . . . "One thing I ask of the Lord . . . "



...Oh what a day... :)

Patter Cross Scripture Challenge #3: Abide

One more! :)

Ya know, since these were posted by Patter weeks ago, I couldn't help but MEDITATE on them. It's been really good. :)

ABIDE . . . I knew right away that my layout would have to do with roses!



In 1999 our family had the blessed privilege of living in a "farm house" in Virginia. It was BEAUTIFUL!!!! The house built in 1950 was full of hard wood floors, built-in bookcases, a fireplace, a wood stove, and a large back porch! . . . ahhh! Just perfect for my little "country-lovin" self! :)

But more than this, it was a FARM! Settled on the edge of 100 acres, our house was surrounded by alfalfa, wheat and corn fields, who took their place in season. Our drive was lined with huge boxwood hedges, and the house was surrounded by gorgeous old oak trees, maples and dogwoods. It was like a retreat! We housed chickens in the coop out back and planted flowers in every bed we could find. What a blessed 4 years we spent in this home!

Among the many trees and flowering plants, I found a beautiful rambling rose bush. It was truly lovely! One fine summer day, I cut a gorgeous rose from the bush and placed it lovingly in a vase of water next to my bed. That evening, only hours later, I noticed that the petals were falling off and the rose was as limp as a wet sock. "Awwww..." Why did it look so pitiful after such a very short while? Almost immediately the Lord spoke something to my heart that He had been showing me for some time ... "Without me you can do nothing."

After only a very short time of this rose being cut off from its source of life, it was loosing its vitality of life and beauty! "The branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine." It doesn't take long at all to "feel" my lack without the Lord. Very quickly I feel weak, worried, fearful, tempted, hopeless . . . BUT GOD! HE is my strength, my fruitfulness . . . it's all Him! . . . and isn't that a great truth? He is so dependable, so reliable. If this life was up to me, I'd be in trouble! But HE never changes!



.... Abide in the Vine!

Patter Cross Scripture Challenge #2:Temptation (finally!)

FINALLY!! I'm "catching up" on the Scripture Challenge! :) It's been a very productive couple of days here .... Why does inspiration seem to come in spurts sometimes? I like it! :)

Here is my layout for the word challenge from January 17 . . . Temptation.



The scripture that was on my heart for this layout does not actually contain the word "temptation", but rather has been a KEY verse for me when battling temptations in my own life. I seem to feel tempted more toward fear, anxiety, worry, doubt, etc. When anxiety is great within me, I recount the work of Christ on my behalf, that which makes me strong. "Your love, O Lord, supported me!"
"In Christ alone my hope is found. He is my light, my strength, my song!"

Blessings to you today!

PageMaps Contest

I am anxious to even think about the prize for this PageMaps Challenge .... Look!



YES! A Cricut! How generous of them! :)

Here is my entry . . . (crossing my fingers) . . .



"Being real with each other . . .
Every other week over coffee. In laughter or tears;
pain or joy. Really real - No matter what!
Through illness, job loss, adoption, financial hardship, family trials, life altering decisions and countless joys – We were genuine! We remained ready and willing to give and receive encouragement, truth and love!
We grew together over those years, as a delicate flower ~ Kelly, the resourceful roots; Julie, our steady stem; and me, the hopeful bud. What a blessing . . .
Our Fellowship Group!"





The three of us were assigned to be "accountability partners" by the wise counsel of a dear friend, who was also our care group leader's wife (small groups at our local church). The three of us had known one another for quite a while, but were not noteably "close". BOY! We had NO idea how God would use this little group of ours to grow us! We encouraged one another in truth and care more than any of us could have ever imagined! What an amazing 4 years! Over the past year, two of us have moved to different states while one is back "home" in Virginia, but we are still THERE for one another . . . still confiding in one another . . . STILL GENUINE!



*I love those girls!*

Well, whether I win this awesomely wonderful crafting machine, this sketch was great fun, as usual; and it is ALWAYS a blessing to recount the gifts God has given me .... especially friends!!!

Blessings to all! :)

Challenging!

Another challenge.
BoBunny was having a COLOR challenge, which is fun! THEN, The Sweet Stop was having a sketch challenge, actually for cards.

And as their cute sketch sat in front of me all week, I just HAD to go ahead and do my scrapbook page following the sweet pattern, using the cool summer colors for the BoBunny challenge.
Here's what "happened"!

My oldest baby girl and my baby sister! .... ♥ I'm a day late for the BoBunny challenge, but wanted to "share" anyway!

G'nite all!

Challenge: Page Maps card sketch

Another challenge!! :) I'm having such fun with these!



One of my favorite things .. PAGE MAPS .. put out this challenge, and I was totally inspired by the cute birdy on the sketch (seems to be lots of little birdies on sketches right now :) I had some of this paper line from Bella Blvd called "Honey, I'm Home" ... sporting adorable houses, keys, and fun coordinating stripes, flowers, etc. It's soo fun! So there was a sweet little solitary owl on one of the papers that was just calling to be on this card sketch, with a cute little "owl" (I will) phrase.
*After a sweet, spontaneous conversation with a cashier at Walmart just the other day, when she asked me to please pray for her ... to which I said I certainly would .... "I will be praying for you" was certainly on my mind! (Lord, be with Jesse!)

Here's my entry...



Thanks for stoppin' by! Hope you have a great day! :)

Double Whammy Challenge! - SA04 & ODBDSLC5

:) Another challenge entry to post today!

Stamping Around is having a cool Colour Challenge using this colour palette:


....AND.....

Our Daily Bread Designs is having a card sketch challenge using this sketch:



So.... I combined them for my entry for both! ... a "double whammy!"



It was fun working with these colors, which ARE some of my favorites anyway! (I think I have a lot of favorites! ;) And I used papers that I've had for a while (Some DCWV Stack papers, Bazzill textured cardstock, and a little glitter, which I LOVE right now!)

Thanks for the "challenge"!

G'nite!

CHALLENGE: BoBunny Card Sketch 3/2

BoBunny is having a challenge with this card sketch ...


... and here is my entry ...



I used the beautiful BoBunny Tuscany Die Cuts for this card. I just LOVE yellows and reds together, so this Tuscany Collection is just gorgeous to me!! And what fun to work with SUNFLOWERS in the midst of the cold weather we are having! Makes me ready for summer flowers!! :)

I also made this birthday card using the sketch, for fun ...



;) ~V

Pretty Paper bags!

This Saturday (March 13) at SCRAP THAT we will be crafting this cute Paper Bag album! YES, it is made out of true brown paper lunch bags! *Another GREAT project idea from Scrapbook-crazy.com
The finished album will sport an adorable purse style, monogrammed with your initial.
The inside will include sweet details "All About You" ...

... and some of your "Favorite Things" ...

So please plan to join us this Saturday at 1:00 pm, and we'll have some fun sharing a little of ourselves with this crafty paper project. The price of this class is $12, which includes all supplies!
Don't forget to call (332-0985) or stop by the store to register! I'd LOVE to see you there! :)
~Vanessa

St. Patty's Day Cards

Just thought I'd share some some photos of the St. Patty's Day cards that we will do in our first Wednesday class at SCRAP THAT, tomorrow at 1:30 pm!!
Come join us for the fun!!! :)

Happy March!

*Another peak at the 2010 Desk Calendar.
If you're interested in ordering a kit to create one yourself, contact me at goldensentiments@gmail.com.

Blessings to you for a happy first day of March!