Sunday, November 29, 2020

Scrapbooking | Emphasis, Contrast & Type

I have finally completed working through Cathy Zielske's Design Your Life 2.0 class (that I signed up for and didn't complete in 2017!). This year I've worked through all the videos & created a digital and a traditional layout for each of the eight templates/sketches.

Week Four is all about using emphasis, contrast, and type to improve the design of our layouts. My final two layouts use the same template/design as my Family Visit layout from July. 

I used one of Cathy's week four digital templates to showcase photos and tell the story of Robbie's recent obsession with baking bread. I added a page border and put the smaller photo on the left, but otherwise kept the template the same (with the exception of the color scheme, which I altered to match my photos).


I then printed four photos from Robbie's recent birthday and used this same design to create a traditional layout. I stamped a title and used several older bits & pieces from my stash as embellishments. 


I'm excited to have these two layouts to add to our 2020 chronological album...and to have completed this informative and FUN class (finally!). In total (from 2017 & 2020), I've completed 21 layouts inspired by this class! And, I'm sure I'll use these digital templates again while the design tips and lessons will continue to help me improve my layouts.

Wednesday, November 18, 2020

LSNED 2020 (& September 2020 Scrapped)

I didn't record a new (or remembered) lesson every day of September this year; however, I did make note of twelve lessons and created a digital layout to document them for our 2020 chronological scrapbook. This year Shimelle included several links in her daily Learn Something New Every Day emails, so some of my lessons came from there while others presented themselves as we went about our everyday life.

1. Even on days I feel tired and blah, I can be productive if I pace myself. I completed a small scrapbook-for-hire project despite feeling listless on a dreary gray day.

2. Having a plan in place keeps things on track when obstacles (like rainy weather) arise. When we began our morning walks, we agreed that if the weather was too bad or either of us had a very early morning call/appointment, we would each exercise at home during the day to get "credit" for that day's exercise.

3. Andragogy is “the method and practice of teaching adult learners.” Pedagogy is “the art and science and profession of teaching.” Pedagogy is associated more with teaching kids and is dependent on the teacher, and andragogy is more self-directed. Despite having taken several pedagogy classes and continuing education workshops for my teaching certification, I don't remember ever hearing the word andragogy before.

4. The first and youngest woman to have flown in space is Valentina Tereshkova. In June 1963, she flew a solo mission on the Russian Vostok 6. She is also the only woman to have flown on a solo space mission.

5. God can heal any relationship and reconciliation can lead to better relationships.

6. We must contend earnestly for the faith.

7. I can add a custom color swatch to the colors palette in PSE. This little technique was shared by Cathy Zielske in one of the bonus videos in the Design Your Life 2.0 class.

8. A Rube Goldberg machine refers to a complicated gadget designed to perform simple tasks in convoluted ways. It’s named after the cartoonist Reuben Goldberg who drew popular cartoons with these types of machines.

9. Seinfeld’s “Don’t Break the Chain” system of productivity works. We're adding heart stickers to our monthly calendar to track our daily walks/exercise.

10. The Bungee Chair is now available in red with the flat straps!

11. Giant chocolate chip cookies baked in mini cast iron skillets are called pizookies (a combination of pizza + cookies). I've enjoyed these yummy desserts before, but I don't remember hearing this name until my friend LeAnne mentioned them while we were scrapbooking together via Zoom.

12. The Tiber River runs through Rome. I can usually remember that the Thames runs through London and the Seine runs through Paris because I've visited both of those cities. However, I'm often stumped when a crossword asks for a river running through other cities (which happens pretty often), so this fact caught my attention while I was attending a virtual tour of Rome hosted by our financial advisor.

This 12x12 digital layout (along with our month in numbers) completes the month of September in our 2020 album!

Did you participate in LSNED this year? What lessons did you learn?

Monday, November 16, 2020

Scrapbooking | September 2020 By The Numbers

This year, as I process each month's photos, I'm creating a digital layout featuring six photos and journaling "by the numbers." I'm using a digital template and various papers from my stash. My plan is to include a photo of me and Robbie and a photo of my mantel display as the top line of photos each month. 

Here's how the numbers add up for September.


* 15 days Robbie worked from home + 1 sick day (dr appts) & 5 vacation days.
* 8 hamburgers & 12 Zummos grilled on Labor Day.
* 1 visit to Mama & Daddy.
* 1 new-to-us couch for living room.
* 2 red Bungee Chairs purchased.
* 257 binders re-organized, combined, and (mostly) re-numbered.
* 28 walks (+ 2 days of Plan B exercise).
* 4 1/4 CPE hours completed for Melissa’s teaching certification.
* 12 lessons recorded for LSNED 2020.
* 1 Harry Potter Lego Knight Bus assembled by Robbie.
* 1 virtual Christ for India Mission Event attended.
* 8 Harry Potter movies watched.
* 17 layouts created, 50-page theme album completed, 3 Bible pages illustrated, 2 scrapbook-for-hire projects completed (5-page album & 54-page album), 1 collage assembled, 8 blog posts published.

We had a "movie marathon" and watched all eight of the Harry Potter movies over the course of eight evenings. If you've been around my blog awhile, you already know that we are huge fans of the Harry Potter books and movies. We've watched all the movies numerous times and always enjoy them!

How did the numbers add up for you in September?

Saturday, November 14, 2020

Mantels | Fall 2020

My goal this year is to design a new mantel display each month in a way that will remind us of bits and pieces of our wonderful life...and share those stories here on the blog.

October and November's display has a fall theme and features green and burgundy items.


I wanted to try something simple for the fall, so this display showcases fewer items than in previous months. I have a small collection of hymnals that I've gathered over the last few years. The Church Hymnal on the top of this stack is one I purchased new over 20 years ago because it's the version I grew up using in church. A couple of the others came from my grandma and/or Daddy, and I added the Baptist Hymnal from a box of hymnals a friend donated for me to use in Hymnal Journaling classes.


I grabbed a basket from our stash to hold the large pinecones we typically store in a large bowl on top of the fridge. I'm not sure where this particular basket came from as we have a "rotating stock" when it comes to baskets. We receive gifts in baskets and often use them for various purposes (display, holding items for my classes, etc) and then we'll fill them to give away as gifts.


Robbie had these two vases before we married; one of his many home décor purchases from Pier One Imports. The leaf vine is one we picked up after Thanksgiving on clearance at Hobby Lobby several years ago.


I've really enjoyed this simple (dare I say elegant?) display as we anticipate a much fuller display for the Christmas season. Happy Fall Y'all!

Sunday, November 8, 2020

Upcoming Class | Hope & Christmas Trees Virtual Bible Journaling Class

There’s no doubt about it - this has been a tough year all around the world.

As we look forward to the holidays and anticipate the celebration of our Lord’s birth, how is your hope?

I’m excited to announce that my very first VIRTUAL Bible Journaling Class will be focusing on hope and how our Christmas trees can be a reminder of the hope we have in Christ.

Join me in December as we discuss Biblical hope, persevering through the tough times, and recognizing the blessings along the way. We’ll also look at why Christmas trees are a symbol of hope as we learn several techniques for illustrating these evergreen trees in the margins of our Bibles. 

Hope & Christmas Trees
December 4 or 5, 2020 (Friday or Saturday)
10am - noon
Virtual Class presented via Zoom.
$15

Your class fee includes Biblical teaching, illustrated Bible journaling technique demonstrations, and a printable notes and tips handout.

Please note:

*This class will be presented live via Zoom. There will not be a replay available.

*Your spot is reserved once payment is received. Within 48 hours of payment, you will receive a confirmation email. The link to the Zoom classroom and the notes handout will be sent separately as we get closer to the class date.

*There is not a supply kit for this event. However, I will be sending a list of items you may want to have on hand during the class. You’ll definitely want to have your Bible and a pen on hand. Otherwise, I encourage you to use what you have available as you illustrate what the Lord is showing you through His Word.

*If you are registered and unable to attend, please let me know before November 23 for a full refund. Sorry, cancellations after November 22 are nonrefundable.

Please let me know if you have any questions. Click the appropriate link below to reserve your spot today!

Click here to sign up for the FRIDAY class!

Click here to sign up for the SATURDAY class!

I would love for you to join me as we dive into the Word and use our creativity to draw closer to the Lord during the most wonderful time of the year!

Wednesday, November 4, 2020

Scrapbooking | More Layouts From Page Kits

If you've been following along here this year, you'll know that I've enjoyed using page kits for a variety of layouts this year. 

One of the kits I had on hand (from last year's Scrapbook Expo) is from Quick Quotes and can be used to create four 12x12 pages.

So far, I've only used one of the pages to showcase photos from a weekend getaway in 2013. I had to punch out the frames in the large teal paper to create space for my photos and memorabilia, then piece the center embellishment together.


I had one page leftover from another Quick Quotes kit, and I was thrilled to find several older photos of Robbie's grandparents that went well with the colors and design.


The final two layouts are from a Lickety Split kit and have 6x6 grid bases.



I have to admit that it's FUN to flip through my photos and find ones that match the colors and themes in a kit and put a layout together quickly and easily. And they really look good, too, don't you think!

Monday, November 2, 2020

Miscellaneous Crafting

Although scrapbooking is my primary paper crafting hobby, I enjoy mixing things up with other crafting as well.

I created this little card that reminds us to Bee Happy using a card kit from our local scrapbook store.

These mini canvases that I painted in the heat of August reminded me that fall was on the way! 

When my niece was here this summer, she brought a yummy recipe that we tried and then scrapped for our 6x6 recipe albums.

I also altered a couple of clipboards my sister requested earlier in the year. It's hard to tell from the photo, but the one on the left is a mini-clipboard and the one on the right is letter size.

What miscellaneous crafting have you done lately?

Sunday, November 1, 2020

Sunday Musings | He Sings Over Me

Zephaniah 3:17 says:

The Lord your God in your midst,
The Mighty One, will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.



Have you ever thought about the fact that the Lord will rejoice over you with singing? Isn't that image a wonderful reminder that we, too, should rejoice with singing.


When my niece was here visiting this summer, we discussed this verse and spent time Bible journaling together using inspiration from a similar page on Pinterest.