A few layouts to share!

I've been busy getting my Etsy store up and running and also on getting the Christmas Card Blog going.....but I have managed to squeeze in a few layouts! I'm trying to keep up with the journaling class at the Digi chick....it's been really good so far and it is stretching me creatively...that's good right!?!?!

 This first layout I did for the challenge over at Log Your Memory. A layout about me....I don't do many so i guess it was a good challenge!

This next layout was for a challenge on the Log your memory site but it also fit a challenge at the Digi chicks. I am really happy with how this came out. I have not gotten many pics of my Dad since he became sick so this is a special page.

And for this last layout we need to reverse the process, tell the story first then find a picture to go with it. It was a lot harder then you think! But I'm glad I got this story down on paper!

I'm busy now getting some Christmas cards made for the Etsy shop.....look for them soon!!

Layout of the Week!!! and Log Your Memory!!

I have a couple of layouts to share! First I was surprised to head on over to the Digichick the other day and see that my layout was picked for layout of the week! I shared this one with you the other day and it was picked for LOTW!!! I was so excited!!

The next layout I did was for sketch #41 over at 52 Sketches. And also for the bible verse Thursday challenge over at CPCM. The challenge was to use fall colors and a verse on the seasons. I chose 

Genesis 8:22

As long as the earth endures,

seedtime and harvest,

cold and heat,

summer and winter,

day and night will never cease.

I took this picture of Caleb the last time we went hiking. He was so cute running to keep up with everyone!

More exciting news is I found a wonderful new site that is just starting out! It's called Log Your Memory and it looks like it's going to be a great place to hang out! The site is all about your journaling and the importance of the stories behind your photos. They have an actual log book that you can get to keep track of your memories until you can scrap them! For a busy Mom like me with a lot of kids....this is a great thing!! So go check them out and join in the challenges on their forums! they are having a kick off contest and the prize is one of their log books!!! I'm off to work on that challenge!!

My Big News!!

I'm finally ready to spill the beans and tell you what i have been working on this past week! You will see something new on my side bar here.....Yes it's my very own Etsy Shop!! Hearts at Home Designs!

I have been wanting to open an Etsy Shop for a while but just never took the time to do it. The reason I took the plunge at this time is for a bigger and better cause than just me selling my items. Let me tell you what God has been doing!

The kids and I have been learning about Africa and the many orphans that are trying to survive there. Our hearts have been touched by their stores and their lives and we have decided to try to make a difference in their lives by raising money to send to them. This money would provide clean water, food and many basic things that we take for granted. Now, we like to create and so God gave us the idea of creating for Him!

We have been following an amazing ministry called Amazima. A young girl named Katie is running this ministry and blogs about her days giving us a glimpse of the daily needs of these children. The need is so great and we are told in James 1:27 to help the fatherless and the widows.

And so we are stepping out in faith that God will use our hands to produce items that will raise money to help these children of God! We will be giving to Amazima Ministries 50% of all our profit from the Etsy store! So please go and browse through our store and come back often as we will be adding things on a regular basis!

We will also be taking custom orders so if you have a favorite verse or saying and you would like it made into a canvas or a card, please just let me know!

We look forward to seeing God move, won't you join us!

CPCM Sketch and some layouts

I just posted the sketch over at CPCM so head on over and join in the fun! I created a card this week with the sketch..

I also got a couple more layouts done for this months october challenges over at the Digichick!

Have a blessed day!!

Baby Shower Gifts!!

I was so excited to get to create some things for our friends baby shower....She works at the stable with my girls and so we decided to make her some cute onsies with a rocking horse on them....I just created the picture and text in word and we used inkjet t-shirt transfer paper to get it onto the onsies! Sooo easy and they are absolutely adorable!! I altered a box I had to put them in and made a matching hanging tag!

I also altered a wooden door hanger and then I followed a tutorial over at the Hybrid Chick for this name banner.

 

 

 

There is a lot of detail that is hard to see in the banner, I took 2 close up shots to try to show some of it. I used the tutorial over at the hybrid chick but put my own twist on it. They used jump rings to put their's together but I did not have any and so I used ribbon on mine. I actually used all things I had on hand and did not buy anything extra...(I was proud of myself!!)
I finished it off with a card and bag and it came together really well!!

So it was a really crafty weekend over here....and I'm still working on my new venture so by the middle of this week I should be able to spill the beans!!!

I'll add this quick layout in that I just finished up for one of the October Mega Challenges over at the Digichick!

Busy, Busy!!

Yes, I've been busy....I have a new venture up my sleeve and I'll be able to tell you all about it in a few days!! So check back!!
I've also been busy in the scrap room! Here are a few layouts I just finished up....

I am taking the Every life has a story class over at the Digichicks....it's all about improving your journaling skills. This layout was done for the first challenge. You had to take a layout you already completed and add journaling to it. This layout had some journaling but I added a lot more and told the whole story of the day instead of just a few words. This is Christophers 6th Birthday this past week.

Now this is a paper layout I just finished of Christophers 3rd birthday....what a cutie!! I am really enjoying going back and pulling photos from the past few years to do layouts. So what I'm really saying is I like being behind!!! I'll be back soon to tell you my news!!!

What is a speed scrap?

Last night I decided to participate in a speed scrap over at The Digi Chick. What fun!! I never did a speed scrap before and I was a little nervous about what to expect! And it started at 10:00 which is way past my bed time!! But I stayed up and made it though and has a lot of fun!

The way it works is about every 10 minutes the hostess will post another prompt and you go and add to your page. When the hour is up you have about an hour to finish your layout and get it posted in the gallery....the ladies that participated were a blast and Cheryl our hostess did a wonderful job!

They gave away 2 kits...I did not win but came away with this wonderful layout that I am really happy with! I love this pic of Caleb and wanted to get this moment in his little life saved so we remember it!

So I highly recommend speed scrapping! Lots of fun and it really stretches your creativity!!