Bright Lights Conference

Recently, my oldest daughter and I attended a Bright Lights Conference.  Many or our friends and cousins attended along with us.  We had 11 guests staying in our home!  

Here is the group or young girls and moms/aunts at the conference - missing Martha and Eunice in the group photo!   

The girls with Sarah Mally, the main speaker.

Let your little light shine!

Sarah Mally's "chalk talk" picture.  This was amazing to watch her draw and then to see the reveal under the black light!  It looked better when the house lights were off.

Some of the group leaders singing "I've been changed".


Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

We had a great time, and learned a lot!

Topics included:

• How to be Strong for the Lord in Your Youth

• Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends

• How to Turn Your Heart to Your Parents

• How to Be a Bright Light in the World

• Avoiding Wrong Influences

• Seeking the Lord with All of Your Heart

• How to Boldly Share the Gospel

• Developing a Disciplined Walk with God

I highly recommend it for all girls ages 8 and up!

More info here if you would like to learn more about it.

Bookcase Re-do

I found this bookcase at a garage sale. It was the perfect little size for my daughter's bedroom that I'm currently remodeling. However, it needed an uplift. Yes, that is brown duct tape covering a hole in the back.

After sanding it, I applied Adhesion Primer - just one coat. Then I put on two coats of white paint. The blue paint on the back is the same color as one of her walls in her room. When her room is finished, I'll be sure to post pictures. Hopefully soon!

Template Freebie

I love to use layout templates whenever I begin a new layout. They give me a starting place, even if I end up changing everything around. Occasionally, I make my own templates from layouts I've created from scratch (on those days when my creative juices are over-flowing). Click here or on the picture to download the template for any Photoshop version. Misty Cato has a great tutorial on using templates on her blog here.  Actually, Misty has many great tutorials so check them out and have fun!

Mirror for a Hawkeye fan

My sister-in-law and I found this mirror standing in a closet in an apartment after someone moved out.  The dresser for it was no where to be found.  I mentioned that it was a good mirror if I painted it black.  She looked at me like I was crazy!  

But then when she noticed that I was serious, she said, "Can you put a Hawkeye on it?"  So this mirror is for her apartment (which is full of Hawkeye garb!).  Enjoy it Ruthie!

I primed it with Adhesion Primer, and gave it two coats of black paint with a nylon brush (see this post).  I Googled the Hawkeye symbol, printed it on heavy paper, and cut it out.  I used regular craft paint and a stencil brush to paint it on (two coats).  

My 7-year-old is helping me redecorate her room. Here is a preview of some of the items for her new room!  

Credits-

Papers and flowers: Walkin On Sunshine by TraciReed
Wood letters from Michael's

She chose the papers and designs, and I helped her cut them out and apply them to the letters and switch/outlet plates. She thinks using Mod Podge is fun!  We had a blast doing this!  I'll post more about her room re-do later!

 

Dress-Up Time

My older daughter took this photo of her little sister one afternoon while they were having a fashion show. I loved this photo, but there was a rather distracting pile of coats and junk in the background. Sometimes it's hard to get a perfect photo around my house!  There's always something cluttering up the background - dishes, toys, remodeling stuff, TRASH.  

So I practiced using the selection tools in Photoshop to extract her from the background and then I placed her in fairytale land.  Now this is a more pleasing backdrop don't ya think?  When I showed her this layout, she said "I like the pink castle!"

  Credits-

Storybook Castle Collection by Amanda McGee

ScrapSimple Digi Layout Templates - StorybookCastle by Amanda McGee

Page Frames by Penny Springmann

Quick and Simple Room Re-do

I helped my niece (age 16) redecorate her room on a Saturday afternoon a few months ago.  (Yes, we did this in ONE day!)  We began by choosing new bedding at Kohl's, and visiting the paint store for matching wall colors.  We found some circle stencils and more matching paint at Hobby Lobby.  We also found some little circle mirrors in various sizes.  It's hard to tell in the photo, but some of the circles are actually those mirrors.  We had fun painting together all afternoon, and she was pleased with the result.  

I'm planning on doing this same "circle" theme in my daughter's room soon.  Why not re-use the stencils I purchased?  Stay tuned for those pictures!

What the kids have been up to lately...

I've been busy scrappin' a few pages lately - trying to get caught up before spring and summer arrive and I leave the computer to go be outside!

Credits-

Template:  Scrap Your Heart Out 2 by Janet Phillips (page 5)

Papers, Elements:  On The Loose by Shawna Clingerman and Dani Mogstad

"dollar" embellishment:  Nest Egg Collection by Trish Yochum

Font:  Once Upon a Font by Darcy Baldwin

I've seen many layouts with a little cluster of embellishments (or a photo) off to the side or corner all by themselves, and I've never understood it. If anyone knows the design concept behind it, please let me know.  So this is the first time I've tried it. I'm out of my comfort zone...this is fun!

Credits-

Layout lift of "my sunshine" by Giseli Freitas

Frames (recolored): Spring-A-Ling by Melissa Bennett

Papers, Elements:  Lil Miss Funfetti by Julie Billingsley

Font:  LisaB by Darcy Baldwin

Credits-

QuickPage freebie from Traci Reed's design team using her Maude & Millie kit

Alpha from Sweet Shoppe Designer collaborative "once upon a girl/boy" (recolored)

Painting Cheap Laminate Furniture - it CAN be done!

Through the inspiration of a friend and the help of a this article, I set out to improve the looks of this cheap cart I've had since 1990.  Notice the peeling laminate along the top edge.

First, I disassembled it, and cleaned off the dust.  :o)  I gave it a light sanding with 150 grit sand paper, and peeled away any loose/bubbled laminate.  Then I began with a coat of Adhesion Primer using a really soft 100% nylon brush.  I tried using a foam roller, but I didn't like the texture it left.

Then I put on 2 coats of black paint.  I waited a couple days between each coat.  This really tested my patience.  I prefer to work hard on a project and not stop until it's done.  I don't like to wait!  When the paint was fully cured, I tested my finger nail on the back of the shelf, and the paint scratched off a bit too easily in my opinion, so I followed the tip in that article I posted above, and put on a coat of satin polyurethane using a foam brush.  I let it cure for several days before I reassembled the cart.

I'm pleased with the result, and now I'm inspired to do this to more of my ugly furniture!  I'm not sure why I bought a whole gallon of that black paint.  I certainly didn't use very much of it.  Looks like I'll be painting more stuff black.  :o)

Spring Fever

I am SO ready for spring.  I can't wait to get outside and play in the dirt!  Speaking of dirt, below is a layout I did recently as part of a challenge in the Sweet Shoppe Designs community.  The challenge was to scrap some photos from 5 years ago.  Kids grow up too fast!

Credits-
Template:  Scrap Your Heart Out 2 by Janet Phillips (page 14)

Papers, Elements:  Little Know It All by Eva Kipler

"dirt" alpha (recolored):  Gleeful by Amanda McGee

Font:  Once Upon a Font by Darcy Baldwin

Here again!

Ok, so I haven't posted in like, FOREVER.  But I had some problems in the computer department for about 6 months.  First my desktop died beyond repair, and I was using my laptop.  Then my laptop died too, and I lost a couple months worth of photos because I did not have my back-up system properly working on the laptop. Sheesh!  The kite layout in the last post is one of the things I lost!  Oh well, at least it got posted in web-quality form on the internet!  But I don't have the high-resolution file anymore for printing.  So last December, I purchased a desktop once again with enough power to have fun with my digital scrapbooking again.!  blah blah blah...


So I've been wanting  to share a before and after shot of a clock I refinished.  I am continually inspired and motivated by a friend at Kammy's Korner.


I forgot to take a before picture, so I dug through my old photos until I found one of the clock on the wall in it's original condition.  This was taken in 2007 in my 90's kitchen which badly needed updating!  Oh yes, and please disregard the big no-no of putting your baby in a Bumbo seat on an elevated surface.  I'm a bad mother...shame on me.  Anyway, there's the clock with it's mauve hearts and country green frame.

And here's the after shot.  My new family room is brown, cream, and dark orange.  Now I don't need to buy a new clock!  Now how can I recolor that wall quilt?  NOT happening!

The swirls are some acrylic stamps that I dipped in cream paint.  And I tried to "grunge" it up by painting some white paint on the edges with a sponge.

Oldies

Thanks to a challenge at Sweet Shoppe Designs, I found inspiration to make a scrapbook page for some older photos.  These were taken 4 years ago, and I had never put them in a photo album or made any scrapbook pages with them.  The challenge was: "June 15th is Fly A Kite Day! Go fly a kite and scrap it!"  I have always loved these pictures.  Why hadn't I scrapped them yet?

Credits -

Kit: Trail Mix by Heather Roselli and Julie Billingsley
Photo Cluster: Bent Bunch 16 by Penny Springmann
Border: Page Frame Templates by Penny Springmann
Font: CK Typeset

Older photos, newer scrapbook pages

I just finished these pages, and I thought I would share them.  I took WAY too many photos last summer at this picnic.  But the kids were so photogenic doing the many funny relay races!

Credits - 

Kit:  Park Play by Amanda McGee

Layout Templates (altered): Album Series 5 by Angie Briggs

Fonts:  Traveling Typewriter, AMC Chalk Talk

Girls must twirl!

How do you catch the action of twirling and constant giggling in photographs?  I think the girls were quite dizzy by the time I told them to stop!

Credits - 

Layout Inspiration:  Jenny Jorgensen
Kit:  Delightful by Syndee Nuckles

Doodle Art:  Creative Memories
Filmstrip Frame:  Lifted Photos - Weathered by Melissa Renfro
Fonts: SS Play Font, CTMH Fountain Pen

End of the Year School Activites

Leah participated in the "Little Indian Track Meet" a couple weeks ago.  She did the standing long jump, and the 50 m, 100 m, and 200 m races.  She competed against other 1st-grade girls.  The 50 m race was the very first event, and I don't think she understood that the man was shooting a gun to start.  She was a step behind everyone else off the line!  We had a fun day, and that's all that matters!

Here is Libby at her Preschool Graduation.  Leah got to walk up with her!

This is Libby with both Preschool classes, using the parachute.  She caught me taking the picture and waved to me.

Mother/Daughter Tea at Linn Manor Care Center

Last Sunday was our 3rd annual Tea Party at Linn Manor.  Dana Gratton and I, along with the ladies at Linn Manor (thanks to Cassie, Marilyn, Pat, Linda and Mary) had so much fun planning and producing!  Leah and Libby were our little princess servers.  All of the residents and families had a wonderful afternoon together.

Birthday #3

Happy birthday to Laura!  It's so fun to watch a 3-year old try to blow out candles!  We thought the cake was going to burn down before she finally got them out.  Two big sisters helped her a little bit in the end!

The porcelain Tea Party Set was a hit, but we'll see how long it takes before a piece gets broken.  So far, she has served tea to every stuffed animal in the house.

Recently, Laura's favorite thing to do is cut paper with REAL scissors.  I just love the concentration on her face in this photo.  She makes quite a mess, but it keeps her busy!

Sunday School Program

This post is written for our family far away, who could not join us in person today.  I posted a couple of video  clips of Leah and Libby participating in our Sunday School Program this morning.  All of the kids did a wonderful job!




Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing






Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing