Layouts to share...

Okay... here's some pages that I've done within the last 2 months or so. Just click on the images to see the full credits.














This is Krystal's newest kit ::Crush:: over at Funky Playground Designs. Love the attitude of the colors and elements - funky and fresh!

And Misty Cato has a toad-ally cute kit coming out this Saturday @ SSD that you should be on the look out for! And for Libby, let me just say she finished working on something that I'm sure will you will love if you have boys, but definitely can be used for girls as well... And last but, not least, Little Dreamer Designs $1 sale is every Wednesday which is tomorrow! You definitely have to head on over there and see what featured product will be for a dollar because it's always something way too good to pass up! Anyways, that's it for now! Take care!

Faith Discovery Challenges Returns.....

If anyone reads my blog, you know how I love sharing my faith and what it truly means to me as a mom, a wife, a friend, a sister and most of all as a person. My journey through life as had it's shares of trials and tribulations which has molded me to become one who is less reliant on myself and more and more dependent on God each and every day. I'm a work in progress and hope that one day, I can be made perfect in His image and likeness. But, while I'm going through these challenges in life, I find it to be my purpose that I share my faith with others through scrapbooking and allow my life experiences hopefully be an inspiration and encouragement to others. So, please be praying for me as I restart the Faith Discovery Challenges at Faith Sisters... Next week, Wednesday - August 27th - is the next challenge. I will be hosting it once a month, every last Wednesday. These challenges are for everyone who wish to gain greater insight into their faith or would simply like to leave a legacy of faith for their family. Whatever the reason may be, I pray that it will be a blessing to your heart and help draw you closer to the Lord.... Hope to see you there!

Also, Faith Sisters is looking for new Designers to join the Design Team for our shop. The deadline to apply is August 29th, so if you're interested, please find more details about it here.

And last but, not least... I have new layouts that I'd like to share! It's been a great month of creativity for me and have had so much inspiration and motivation through the talented designers I create for and all the wonderful people out there in the scrap community.

So first off, I'd like to showcase a collaboration @ Little Dreamer Designs, ::HOPE for Ryleigh::, a charity kit that will help a wonderful little girl, Ryleigh, who is battling with a bone marrow abnormality called myelodysplasia. Because she has to live 3 hours from home for at least 4 months as she undergoes chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant. The profits from this charity kit will go towards this family to cover medical costs and living expenses. If you'd like to hear more about what you can do to help this family, please visit Ryleigh's personal website here. This kit is jam packed with lots of yummy goodies to play with! You will not be disappointed!

{You Are My Hope}

{Little Dreamer}

And there have been some recent collaborations between some designers at LDD with other talented artists in the digi community!

{Climb} using ::Camp Out::
by Jackie Eckles and Amy Martin

{First Love} using ::{FALL}ing For Retro::
by Leora Sanford and Paislee Press

Today, at our LDD blog will be the Scrap A Moment Challenge - Behind the Scenes @ Birthday Parties

{Pin The Nose On Elmo} using almost everything from
::Candy Pop:: by Lisa Sisneros @ LDD

On to SSD layouts....

{Perfect Love} using ::Retro Boy:: sampler by Fee Jardine
for the Sweet Shoppe Quarterly Assortment Vol.3 @ SSD

{Sweet Gift} using ::Little Miss:: by Fee Jardine @ SSD

{Little Toes} using ::Hey Hey Baby::,
a Perfect Pairs Kit By Libby Weifenbach & Amanda Heimann @ SSD.

{No Doubt} using ::Caught Thinking:: , a Two Scoops kit
by Julie Billingsley & Eva Kipler @ SSD.

{Live Your Dreams} using ::Atomic Bounce::
by Melissa Bennett @ SSD
*For the August Treat of the Month challenge, lifting Amanda Resende's ::Smile:: *

{Last Time} using ::Natural Beauty::
by Kristin Cronin-Barrow @ SSD
*For the SWTSB #33 challenge - Tell Me Your Time*

Okay...whew! These designers are always cranking up new stuff each week so, I'll be working it like crazy! Keep checking back because I have a little gift that I want to share, it's been a while!
Thanks for looking and God bless you!

Keeping this short and SWEET<3

Okay, why is it that it's July 1st already??? Wasn't it yesterday that we were celebrating the new year? I feel like so much time has passed within a blink of an eye--my goodness! Well, I am faced with such a busy month, but excited that it is going to be a blast! I have a list of things to do and prepare for which I hope I follow through with. My BIRTHDAY is in about 2 1/2 weeks! Woohoo!! I'm going on 33 years and life is just beginning for me because I've found something that I absolutely love (besides my hubby and kids) and that is preserving my life stories and photos through digital scrapbooking. I can't imagine life without this beautiful craft and if I can't scrapbook, I think I would've like to become a chef. Yep, I also LOVE to cook... Not just because I think it's fun and because I love to eat good food, but because I love the aspect of bringing my family together and having a good time. Hmmm, maybe I'll share a few recipes with you someday! hehe! Anyways, I became a digital scrap addict since the beginning of 2007, so I guess you can say it's been a year since my born again experience from paper to digi. I feel like I've come a long way, but I know there is so much more to learn. The talented designers and artists that surround me are such an inspiration, for without them I would not have come this far. I'm so grateful that I'm part of some awesome teams (Faith Sisters and Little Dreamers, you ROCK!) and just got accepted to a new CT---which I can't share with you yet! LOL! But, soon you will find out, so check back later!!

Before I go, here are some layouts I've done so far... Thanks for looking!

::Click on images for full credits::

Close to You

Dearest Dad

Us

Happily Ever After

Faith Discovery Challenge #14 - {Remember This?}

Hello! Hope all is well and everyone is blessed today! I've had quite a roller coaster ride these past few weeks. It's funny, after posting the previous challenge about FEAR, guess what? I was faced with that very challenge just last week--more details about that down below. It's just so awesome that the Lord puts these topic ideas in my heart and literally uses them to not only present them to you as inspiration for your layouts, but also to personally challenge me in my own walk with Him. So, now I'm always anticipating for something to happen where God can draw me closer to Him each and every time. :)

Okay, for our Featured Layout for the previous Faith Discovery challenge - FEAR NOT -is from one of our faith sisters, Laura B. Her layout was selected for her journaling that I found was amazing. I also love the photo she used to covey her overall message about her greatest fear. Please take time to read the journaling and leave some love for her in her gallery! Thank you Laura B. for your inspiration!

Featured Layout by LauraB.

{Remember This?}

As mentioned above, I said I would share more details about the fear I had faced last week. I woke up with this stabbing pain in my back side and severe cramping in my lower abdomen. After talking with my doctor, she immediately told me that I need to go to the ER right away. So, my poor husband rushed me to the ER which later turned out that I needed surgery to remove a kidney stone. First of all, I have never had surgery in my whole entire life, this was my first time. So, you can imagine the trauma that this had brought me even though the surgery was considered non-invasive and minor compared to other situations. A lot of things were bringing me down with fear during that very moment I was in the hospital, but the biggest of them all were thoughts of dying and leaving my children and husband behind. However, amidst all of the frightening things that were happening to me, I gave it all to God and I said, "Lord, you have my life in Your hands and I put my trust in You." After my surgery, I realized that God had done something to prevent them from actually going further into my kidney because the stone had already passed into my bladder (sorry if this is unpleasant) and therefore, eliminating the process that would have had a potential risk to cause inflammation and damage to my kidney. Praise the Lord! I wept with joy because I knew deep in my heart that the Lord intervened and had mercy on me. What an awesome touch He had a upon my heart that day that I will never forget.

It was also a great moment of truth for me and I know that God didn't cause this to happen, but He did use this opportunity to teach me about taking better care of myself. I've been pretty stubborn and careless when it comes to living a healthy lifestyle. I would tell myself over and over again, I'm going to get in shape, I'm going to eat healthy, drink a lot of water, get enough sleep, not stress over little things, etc. yet, of course I was never good at sticking to it because I didn't think it to be that important--until now. Because I've had a history of kidney stones, although not nearly as bad as what I just experienced, I know that this recent incident was a result of my lack of attention to what doctors have advised me to do in order to prevent them from reoccurring. Remembering to do even the simplest thing of drinking PLENTY of water was something I ignored and it eventually backfired and caused me tremendous pain and grief. So, I contemplated with the question, "Why is it so hard for me to take better care of myself? What am I doing wrong or not doing in order for me to do what's important for me?" Well, the answer came quickly while I lay in bed, in a still, quiet voice, "You need to learn to love yourself." It was a word from the Lord that made so much sense and I felt a burden lift.

Loving myself for who I am has been a lifetime battle for me and it's something I've struggled with for as long as I can remember. God knew it was time for me to overcome that obstacle which I've prayed about for so long. Since that day, I have made a commitment to gain back my self-confidence and appreciation for me and my life--mind, body, and soul. I'm always making decisions for my family, but now I've been making better choices and decisions for a healthier me. Yes, I'm drinking my water! :) It took a life changing moment for God to open my eyes that before I can love others and become a better person, I must remember that I need to love ME first, not just for the things I do, but for the person that God created me to be. Amen!

Challenge #14 - This topic is about remembering the important things. It could be things we may have forgotten about in our walk with the Lord such as those moments how God opened our eyes to see things we may not have seen or realized before. Sometimes we forget how God has brought us through our struggles and challenges in the past and when we face another problem, instead of praising Him for bringing us through it before, we tend to focus on our circumstances rather than His faithfulness. Overall, this challenge is to remember what the Lord has done for you or for someone you know and how it has effected your faith. I'm sure you'll have many ideas for this challenge, but hopefully as you pray about it, the Lord will give your clear direction for your pages! I look forward to seeing your inspiration!

Faith Verses:

Genesis 9:16 - "Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth."

Psalm 143:5 - "I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done."

Philippians 1:3 - "I thank my God every time I remember you."

Here are our layouts for this challenge and please remember to post your layout in our FDC gallery for us all to see and for me to select the next Featured Layout for this challenge! Also be sure to visit our forums for anything you'd like to share or discuss! Thank you!

*Click on images to see credits*

By Dahlia Co

I wanted to create a LO as a reminder of
what the Lord has taught me through
my recent experience mentioned above.

~Remember to Love You~

By ScrapEvangel

By Jackie Ann

Loving yourself for who you are... and some GOOD NEWS!

One moment, life is like a big storm and the next minute, things go back to normal and I'm still breathing and things are just the way they were except this time, I'm filled with more gratitude and more appreciation for my life, my family, and most of all for the Lord's unfailing mercy.

Reflecting on this past week, I find myself bewildered at how unexpected circumstances came in a way to teach me something that for a long time I've been wanting to understand for the longest time. I know this concept has been taught in many different forms or ways, but after my traumatic experience in the hospital, I finally get it--I need to learn to love myself if I want to take better care of me.

Loving ourselves is not easy and it takes some work. We always find it easy to focus on our weaknesses, but never our strengths. When I look in the mirror, I'd always spot all the imperfections, but find it hard to look at myself with confidence and pride that what I see is what God created and in His eyes, I'm a beautiful masterpiece. Not only do I need to love what I see on the outside, but I need to also love what is in the inside--mind, body, and soul. I've struggled with this for as long as I can remember and all of sudden, it just hit me. I love to be there for others and putting them first, but didn't realize how much I've been neglecting my own needs. But, after my recent emergency experience, I'm determined to take better care of my body, take better consideration of what I can't and cannot do because I know I can't do it all, and I hope to try my best to speak positively about myself and keep my mind on things that will keep me motivated to do better and be a better person.

Well, that is my life lesson that I wanted to share with you today! Hope it makes sense to all you hardworking moms out there and may it encourage you to learn to love who you are, not just for the things you do. :)

Anyways, I have some exciting news to share~ready??? If you've read one of my previous posts about a layout I've done @ Little Dreamer Designs being featured on their blog as Dreamer Showcase, then this will be not so much a surprise to you. However, I'm still finding this extremely hard to believe. A few days ago, Michelle Coleman--owner/designer/visionary--of Little Dreamer Designs emailed me an invitation to become a DREAM GIRL!!! Being that I've never been asked to join a CT especially to one that belongs to such a fabulous group of designers, was a huge shock because like I was speaking of earlier, I just felt I could never be as good as those around me. But hey, maybe after the "love yourself" revelation I had, maybe it supernaturally opened those doors to the desires of my heart?!! LOL! ya never know, huh?

So, I don't have a clue if they have asked a bunch of other ladies to join in and if this will be announced on their blog, but either way it doesn't matter to me because I'm just so honored to be a part of LDD! Hold on, wait a minute though, I'm still a committed member to Faith Sisters and will still be very involved with my family there. Without FS, I believe I wouldn't be where I am now so, don't forget to visit me there as well!

In conclusion, I will leave you with this note--BELIEVE in yourself because God BELIEVES in you and will fulfill the purposes for your life! There is no limits to what God can do and if you have dreams, He is going make them come true...

Here are a few layouts I forgot to post! Thanks for looking! You can click on the image for credits...

Breathe...

Just checking in to say hello! I'm catching my breath and stopping to take a break from my busy life. I've been caught up with designing and preparing challenges for Faith Sisters that I finally made a point to take some time to just be creatively free... My creative juices are just overflowing that I created FOUR layouts (very unlikely of me) in one week and have two more that are close to finish. So, I thought I'd upload it and share it with you... It was really liberating to create a layout that I felt inspired to do by looking through random photos that I've been meaning to scrap so I can finally start collaborating some albums. I also saw how I've filled up my hard drive with so many digital candy that I've never even used and thought I really need to get my money's worth and use them. So, I'm challenging myself to scrap at least 2 layouts a week if I can manage to set time aside from school and my priorities at Faith Sisters and of course, with my family.

Anyways, one of my favorite places to shop and hang out is Little Dreamer Designs. I remembered when they first opened and immediately knew that I was going to love it there. I look forward to every Wednesday, when they have their $1 sales!! Most of all, I love their playful designs! Every time I start on a project or layout, the first place I look to in my collection is Little Dreamers. Here are some layouts that I created with them!

Build A Dream

Credits here.

Through It All

Credits here.

View of You

Credits here.

Another thing I'm also being drawn to is the 'minimalist' approach that I found very interesting and actually really cool. I met a sweet friend over at Scrapbook.com, Warrior Princess, and absolutely adore her work! The clean, modern, and simple design really bring the photo into perspective as the central focus of the layout. As a graphic design student, I've been taught that 'less is more' and I didn't really grasp that concept at first, but now I see it clearly as to why it makes such a huge difference. So, I took up the challenge to try it out!

Cherish The Moment

Credit here.

Today is Memorial Day and hope everyone enjoyed their long weekend! And may we continue to remember those who fought for our freedom and for the liberty of our country. May God bless you all!