BW Scrapbooking Synergy

This is a layout of Jim and Preston playing with the ever popular gyroscope.
I am so glad that they are able to have fun together, especially after the little scare that Jim gave us just before the holiday. He had a minor heart attack, spent three days in the hospital and had a stent placed. He is doing just great now, except he has a reaction to one of the medications they gave him!

For the LO I used a variety of BWScrapbooking.com kits and elements. I did this LO in Photoshop 2.0. Can you believe it? We own 2.0 on our old computers.

PP: Holiday Memories BWScrapbooking.com, Elements: Grateful Harvest BWScrapbooking.com; Snowflakes, Lace Snowflakes BWScrapbooking.com; Grunge overlay and Dirty Chipboard letters, BWScrapbooking.com and Font, Teen.
{Digi Page Protectors} by Emily Powers

Hope you all have a wonderful and safe New Years! Best wishes in 2009!

Baby It's Cold Outside

We Northwesterners are tough (maybe not as tough as Alaskans, but still....). Today has knocked the stuffing out of us all! We woke up to a lovely dusting of the "white stuff". Underneath the snow was a layer of ice making driving like an ice rink zamboni without the traction. Sheesh! We came back from Church as an average speed of 20 miles per hour, finding all of the flat roads. The wind has been gusting alot in our neighborhood making the 24 degrees seem much, much colder.
On a happy note, this is the first snow for Onyx the kitty. She had fun watching the flakes (and no this time it wasn't us!).
Well, we'll see what happens tomorrow. Work? School? As for me I am content tonight to be working on my scrapbooking LO of the pretty winter lights and making stir fry. Keep warm, my friends.

BW Scrapbooking Announces Creative Design Team

Jeff Werner and the gang over at BWScrapbooking.com are happy to announce the appointment of the new Creative Design Team:

Lisa Grimmett
Rachel Kilpatrick
Julie Langham
Nicole Polhamus
Jill Sarginson
Jane Smith
Velvet Spicer and
Victoria Warren-Mears

I have been selected to be the CT Coordinator! I am really excited to work with this phenomenally talented group of women. Their work is amazing and I am honored to be asked to lead.

BW Scrapbooking Blinkie Logo

Hi, to all of you on the DT. Here is the logo for your use in the Blinkie Challenge! If you want me to e-mail me one, let me know!

Christmas Is Coming!

We are busy getting ready for the holidays at our house. This LO uses a new kit called Christmas Memories from BWScrapbooking.com. I love these photos of Jim. They are totally inspired by the movie "Christmas Vacation" and Clark W. Griswold (our hero).

The Passage of Time

As we enter the holiday season, I often reflect about how we mark the passage of time. Birthday's, anniversaries, class reunions, years since someone has been gone...... the list goes on and on. I think that this is one reason I like to make scrapbook layouts. For the really old photos, those in my family who I was not blessed to know, I can research their lives. For those I have known it is a way to memorialize them. My memories of their special qualities and who they were to me. In that way, hopefully, my family will be able to share my thoughts in the future.

I have recently completed two layouts that mark the passage of time. The first one Mears Family, honors my DH Jim and our now 10 year marriage. The second one is me as a high school senior. This was 28 plus years ago now. (And I haven't aged a bit).

Thanks to those of you who visit my blog. You are wonderful friends and I truly am Thankful for YOU!

Loving the Fall and Being Creative

I have been busy creating over the last week. I found a fabulous sketch over at My Creative Scrapbook by Liz Qualman! I did a traditional LO of me when I was 15 months old and a digital LO using a kit from BWScrapbooking.com called Grateful Bounty. I love doing one traditional and one digital once I find a sketch or design that I love. I also have a new one called Nature that I did of DH and DS using a Becky Fleck sketch. I love the colors of the papers on this one too. Did I mention how much I love the fall? Thanks for stopping by!

So Excited!

I have my first blog follower! Thanks for "following" me Julie. I am really excited about this New to me feature.
I have been busy completing some hybrid work for BWScrapbooking.com and a collaboration with MOSD. So far, I have gotten the friend album done. I am really please with the new templates Jeff designed at BWScrapbooking.com, and even better they are on sale right now!
I have a few more LOs that will be being posted in the next week. I should start working on DS and DH birthday LOs. Good times were had by all!
Happy Monday!

My Baby's 8 Tomorrow

Preston's turning 8 years old tomorrow. I made invitations for his party, complete with penny candy. We went to see a wonderful production of Hansel and Gretel at the Northwest Children's Theater. It was wonderful! Both John Ellingson and Colin Warren were in the production. They both have been Preston's theater teachers, so it was wonderful to see them act. We also went to St. Cupcake for a cupcake after the show. Tomorrow Preston's class will celebrate with him. Mini muffins and red vines all around!

Since I haven't been updating, what am I doing?

I have been busy scrapping! That is no excuse for not updating but, here is some of what I have completed. Later in November, I will be posting a Christmas story book for a challenge being held at Faith Sisters. It is a wonderful story. I also will be posting the invitations I am making for Prestons 8th birthday. I don't know when he got to be so old!!!! I am not getting any older?!?

This LO is done in paper. The one that follows is digital with the identical design from a kit by BWScrapbooking.com.

Faith Sisters Birthday Bash Cyber Crop!!!!!

Join Faith Sisters for our Birthday Bash Cyber Crop!

Who: YOU are invited!
When: September 26-28th
What: Challenges, Prizes (traditional and digital,) Sales,
Chats, New Goodies and MORE!
Where: www.FaithSisters.com
Why: To celebrate our 1 year birthday!

Earn points toward winning prizes by doing challenges, purchasing digi kits from our shop, and more!

Please go to Faith Sisters and sign up in the forum! Let them know I sent you. I will look forward to seeing you then!!!!!

Some New Layouts

Here are some layouts I made for my Creative Team work at Faith Sisters. I am loving completing the weekly challenges and inspirational challenges. I hope that you will join me in exploring your faith; no matter what denomination or belief system you follow.

Faith Sisters

I am so excited to let everyone know that I was selected to be on the Faith Sisters Creative Challenge Team. Each week faith booking challenges are posted at the site. I will be on the Creative team until November. I am really looking forward to using my art to express my faith!

Excited Times Three

I was selected to the Digital Creative Team at BWScrapbooking.com. I am having a lot of fun with their digital kits. They are all inclusive and loads of fun to use. I use Photoshop Elements 5.0. I learn more each day! The two layouts above are done with the Kit: Frost Festival - Winter Themed Digital Scrapbook Page Kit

Also, I just got a September/October issue of Bead Trends. Two of my pieces of jewelry, a necklace and a bracelet are featured in the ecclectic design section. It is amazing to see something I did in a print publication!

I am really enjoying my artistic pursuits. I am creating altered items for my Scrappy Jo's team as we speak! This month I am doing two door hangers and a clothes pin. I also have a great surprise idea that I am working on! More to follow!

Altered Items for Scrappy Jo's

I just finished up my monthly altered items for the Scrappy Jo Design Team.
Here are two of the projects that I finished. The bird house features 64 paper shingles that measure 3/4 square. I glazed them and let them dry to give the rustic look you see!

The bottom items are an altered tape dispenser and a tablet that holds large and small post-it notes in one place. All to beautify the work space!

I'm so excited

I just found out that I have been selected as the Altered Item Specialist for Scrappy Jo's Scrapbook Supplies. Hope you will all come visit!

I also just finished this project! An elegant altered french fry box and no it did not come from a fast food restaurant. Don't you just love the papers? They are from the Black Market Paper Society, a new company.

Celebrating America and the Cowboy

As many of you know my husband Jim owns a Western clothing store in Portland Oregon called Yee Haw. And yes that is my son in the ads. We think he is kind of funny and photogenic!
In this time of year that we set aside to honor our Country, it seems only fitting to me to have created a red, white, and blue cowboy layout. We love the free-spirit of the cowboy and we all love to ride horses. Although I am the newest at it.
Last year for Fathers Day we had these photos taken for Jim. I finally had the right inspiration to scrap them.
Have a wonderful week and remember to be thankful for the freedoms we enjoy.

Celebrity Morph by MyHeritage

MyHeritage: Family tree - Genealogy - Celebrity
Just found this site from my good friend Retro Julie. Who would have known that I am really Gwyneth Paltrow in disguise???

The Mariners Won!!!

Just got home from our 4th of July trip to Everett, Washington. On the 4th we went to the Mariners game in Seattle. They won!!!! Yeah!!! I will be getting my photos back from the two recent games. I can hardly wait to get to my scrap table! What a fun summer we are having so far.

Is It July So Soon?

How can it already be July? Preston is out of school for summer.
We have been to several Seattle Mariner's games, although we can't seem to get them to win for us.
This weekend we found a fabulous, new to us as a family, place to go. The Museum of Flight in Seattle. What a fun place for kids and adults!
I've been doing more scrapping lately. There was a fun crop over at Serendipity that I did. Now Scrappy Jo's is having a wonderful July event. I have so much fun doing these!

I posted a new crop LO I did. Love this picture of Preston. This was simple with Thicker felt lettering. I did the journaling in word art and used a wavy setting to echo the "watery" theme.

Happy June!

Well, it seems that spring and summer are arriving here in Portland. This weekend I completed two sets of ATCs and my first two pages for a mini album challenge at Memorable Seasons http://www.memorableseasons.com. The theme is Spring into Summer.
The ATCs are for the Styles the Word ATC Swap. I am really excited to swap ATCs with these talented ladies.

Scrapbooking the Positives and the not so Positives

I find that many times when I am looking on scrapbooking sites, you only see layouts of the positives. I am convinced that every person has challenges in their life. I also am convinced that not every child is a perfect child. Recently I have decided to scrap the "good things" of life, but also to get real about the "challenges". It has been incredibly liberating. I love my life, but I need to be real. Just thought I would share.

Styles the Word Blog is having an ATC Swap!!!! I love my ATCs and I love this site: http://stylestheword.blogspot.com/

The information on how to participate follows:

~~ATC SWAP~~

Hello girls! It has been almost a month since my last post (blush). I have a lot going on here, so thanks for being so patient with me...hugs to you all!

I am hosting an ATC swap for the STW girls and blog readers. It is totally optional for the design team, but I think it would be fun to showcase the varying styles on an ATC to switch things up a bit.

If anyone is interested, email me at twisty.kristie@gmail.com. Sign ups will run from today until May 15th. After that, I will let everyone know how many ATCs they will need to make, and my address for everyone to mail them to me for distribution.

Thanks to all, and God Bless!

Kristie

Influence of Life Philosopher *Scrap Faith*

*Scrap Faith* issued a great new challenge, entitled: Influence

On our way to finding our own faith there are always people who influence us. These people can be anyone...family, friends, acquaintances...but they set an example of goodness and change who we are with their influence.

The challenge is to scrap an individual who has impacted you spiritually.

While I wouldn't say Charles Schultz was the biggest impact on my spirituality, who can fail to appreciate Linus' devotion to the Great Pumpkin, while fully understanding the Biblical Basis of Christmas? When I am feeling up or down, there is always something to be found in the Peanuts gang. I go to them for daily encouragement.

Reality Show Challenge *Dream Girls*

This challenge was completed for the challenge over at Dream Girls, a super new scrapbooking site. The reality show is to be a writer for the Rolling Stone Magazine. I have been waiting to scrap this photo of my dh and ds, somehow this just seemed "right".

Heritage Lay Outs

My family history is really important to me. I have been scanning photos of my grandparents and great-grandparents to use in my heritage album. It has been fun using memorabilia as well. In my latest LO, I used a doily crocheted by my great grandma with her photo. I love the tea coloring. So much fun!

When

This a LO for a challenge at Scrap Faith to describe when you knew your religious beliefs were right for you. The journaling says: When did I know?
I attended a Presbyterian Church regularly until I was 11. The kids that went to my church were really mean in middle school and I drifted away from my beliefs.

When I was in College, my roommate Jill Anderson was a devote Methodist. She quietly witnessed to me. We had Bible studies at our dorm and did lots of fun things. When I was in Pullman, I began attending the American Baptist Church. I loved it and continued going to one in Everett and when I moved to Olympia. When I moved to Seattle, there was a lot of contention in the ABC. At that time, I met my husband. He was going to RCIA to become Catholic. I went to church with him and learned as he did. As we got more serious, I knew that I would become Catholic because I wanted to share the same beliefs. In 1998 at Easter I completed my RCIA class at St. Bridget in Seattle. I have never been surer that being Catholic is right for me. I have lots of support from people at Ascension Parish and St. Ignatius, where Preston attends school. I am a catechist and help out where ever I can. God has proven faithful to me through many trials. I know He loves and cares for me.

My April Fools

This LO was completed for the Scrapdragon's Challenge Number 14 - Foolin' Around

I was to: use the word "fool" somewhere on the layout, it can be in the title or the journaling; use something "unexpected" on the layout; not use any two products from the same line/manufacturer other than cardstock!

The title of this LO is Fool 4 Love!


Journaling Reads:

Where's my baby?
Preston, daddy is crazy about you. At 7 1/2 years, you're about as big as you can be and still get a lift. March 2008

So here is what I came up with all from scraps
The patterned papers are from:
Karen Foster
Basic Grey
Hot Off the Press
The cardstock is from:
DCWV
Bazzill Bling Line
Rub Ons are from:
Colorbok and Unknown,
Chipboard: Rusty pickle
Staples: Swingline
Buttons: Unknown
The Unexpected item is a Flattened dinosaur penny from the Oregon Museaum of Science and Industry.

Thanks for a great challenge and for checking this out!

This layout was created for a challenge at Scrappin' the Music (#29).

"The song this week is by Brandi Carlile called The Story. Just found this wonderful woman, my sister played this song for me and it is one of those moments when a song hits you in the gut and you have to re-play it a couple of times to make sure you heard everything! I went right out and bought her CD called The Story. LOVE IT! So.... when I'm doing a layout to a song the first thing I do is print off the song lyrics, read them, and then hilight what I love in the song. Then I use that for my Title and journaling. So remember that you can use any part of the song for your inspiration in your layout!"

Brandi Carlisle is from Washington State and has a phenomenal voice. I love this song. I put the lyrics over my face in PSE 5.0. I used a font that would look fuzzy to give an ethereal feeling. Thanks for a super challenge!

Back from Suquamish

I was fortunate enough to spend Friday in Suquamish Washington at the Suquamish Tribe. I had a wonderful visit and got to see the 8000 Drums Aboriginal Drumming. The Canoe Family at Suquamish was drumming at Old Man House as part of the event, which is described below:

Darlene Courchene was contacted by my friend Gilles Novaks who is a Montagnais Indian from Montreal. He is a Medicine Man and a Healer.
He asked me to get as many Tribal people to participate in a worldwide ceremony called the "8,000 Drums."He was contacted by two Huron Clan Grandmothers from up there in Canada and they asked him to help spread the word to Indians everywhere. It will take place on March 21, 2008 at 12:00 noon. All you need to do isplay a drum either alone, or with a group or have the whole Tribe participate. The purpose is to fulfill the OTOMI PROPHECY. The Otomi'sare Mayan Olmec and Toltec descendants. The drums will be played so that the Creator will hear us and grant our wishes as we pray for help in the Healing Process of our Mother Earth....People are destroying Her and our Mother Earth needs our prayers. Thank you.

The drumming was beautiful. I am so fortunate to have these experiences.

Scrapdragons: Challenge #13

Just found this challenge on Scrapdragons blog http://thescrapdragons.blogspot.com. "So our challenge for you this month is to use CD or Album Cover art to inspire a layout. The layout can be any size and any type."

So here is my entry: Mears Our Faith Guides Us





















It is inspired by the Cream - Disreali Gears Album Cover (which features Eric Clapton). Love that Eric Clapton!

Scrappin' Mojo Iron Chef and Sous Chefs

Congratulations to Laura the new Scrappin' Mojo Iron Chef and Kim and Amy the new Sous Chefs! The work they did throughout the contest was phenomenal. It was an honor for me to be in the final 7.

Weeks 3 and 4 Iron Chef

I made it through week three of the Iron Chef competition at Scrappin' Mojo. I am on to week 4 where the secret ingredient is Fibers! I love the site. A lot of really nice and talented women are posting on the site. This has been a lot of fun for me and forced me to think creatively quickly. I love the challenge of using different items as a focal point!

Week 2: Iron Chef at Scrappin Mojo

I just found out that I made it to week 2 of the Iron Chef competition at Scrappin Mojo. The idea is that they sent you an envelope of different items, last week we used buttons and this week flowers. They offer a challenge and give you the opportunity to meet it with the special ingredients. It is a lot of fun! I have met some really fun folks over at the site!

Luck of the Irish

St Patrick's Day is coming. I have been awash in Green Card Making for my For Scraps Sake Friends (shhhh!) don't tell them.

May the road rise to meet you,

May the wind be always at your back,

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

The rains fall soft upon your fields  

and, Until we meet again

May God hold you in the palm of His hand                        

- An Irish Blessing

Valentine's Day Thoughts

One of my favorite songs is from the Music Man and was performed by the Beatles; 'Til There Was You. This was one of the songs performed at my wedding. I might add my DH has no recollection of the music!

There were bells on a hill
But I never heard them ringing
No I never heard them at all
'Til there was you
There were birds in the sky
But I never saw them winging
No I never saw them at all
'Til there was you
Then there was music and wonderful roses
They tell me in sweet fragrant meadows of dawn and you
There was love all around
But I never heard it singing
No I never heard it at all
'Til there was you
Then there was music and wonderful roses
They tell me in sweet fragrant meadows of dawn and you
There was love all around
But I never heard it singing
No I never heard it at all
'Til there was you
'Til there was you

This song serves as my inspiration any time I do pages of my family. This week I challenge you to do a LO of Love. Particularly the love you feel for your family and friends.