One little word

"Let me pray not to be sheltered from dangers, but to be fearless in facing them." -- Rabindranath Tagore



A few years ago, Ali Edwards (the scrapbooking/memory keeper guru) started a tradition of choosing one word each January to focus on over the course of the year. One word to keep in mind as she went about her daily life.


This idea really appeals to me and the word that popped into my head today was "fearless". Just the thought of living for a year with that one little word as my guide scares me. Which makes me think it is the right choice.

Here's a video by the Buddhist author, Susan Piver, describes exactly what "fearless" means to me.


I plan to create two scrapbook layouts --one at the beginning of the year to express my intention and the second one at the end to reflect on the process and the influence that living with purposeful fearlessness has on my life.

As you consider making resolutions at the start of the new year, I challenge you to join me in this twist on tradition. Choose one word -- or as Ali says, let it choose you. Live by this word and at the end of 2010, reflect on what kind of impact it had on your life. I'd love to know which words speak to you. Please share your choice in the comments...................or keep it close to your heart.



I wish you all a very happy New Year!

Oh, I have sadly neglected my blog. The last post was for Halloween and now it's almost Thanksgiving.

I'm headed out on a scrapbooking retreat weekend tomorrow. When I return I should have lots of new things to show you. In the meantime, here is a photo of the cards we'll be making at my holiday workshop on December 3.

All of these cards were made with Jingle Creative Basics paper and ribbon by Close to My Heart. the ideas were adapted from other consultants and our how-to book, Wishes. It's hard to see from the photo, but there's glitter and "snow" and pearls -- lots of bling!

In addition to the cards, we'll make a little embellished box that can be used for storage or to turn the cards into a really cute gift set.


All for just $15! And you'll have lots of paper left over so you can make multiples after you learn the techniques. Join us!

Trick or Treat!

I love Halloween! It's right up there with Christmas for me. In some ways it's even better because there's less pressure. Some years I go all out and some years I make minimal effort. This year has been somewhere in between.

I taught several groups of women how to make these little treat bags and made at least 25 myself. After being filled with candy, the bags went out in the mail to Santa Barbara, Chicago and Durham (you know who you are!) and have been handed out all over town.

The directions can be found on the Scor-Pal website. The only change I made was to cut the paper 4.25 x 11 so I could get two out of each sheet of paper. All of my Halloween paper scraps and stickers were called into action. I used a variety of Martha Stewart ribbons and although I didn't take a picture, the bat from Beware, a Close to My Heart stamp set that's on special right now, was featured on most of the bags.

Have fun but beware of ghoulies and ghosties and things that go bump in the night!

BOO!

Thursday Thirteen

"He who does not thank for little will not thank for much." - Estonian proverb

Not the big ones like family, friends and health, but 13 little things I'm grateful for:

1. Lululemon workout pants
2. Advil
3. DVR
4. E-mail
5. A good sermon
6. A good book
7. My Knitpicks interchangeable circular knitting needles
8. Rain (but enough, already!)
9. Prepared meals in the freezer
10. Glue dots
11. Birthday cards
12. Zinnias
13. Friday nights

For the stylish witch

How cute is this?!

I'm going to fill this little witch shoe with Halloween candy and bring it to my hairdresser on Friday. Then I need to make at least one more to give to an unnamed friend who looooves shoes. You can download the pattern here: http://www.skiptomylou.org/2008/10/28/paper-witch-shoes/

Tips: Use double-sided paper and you won't have to line the shoe.

Paper clips or mini clothespins work well to hold the shoe together while the glue dries.

I used Beacon 3 in 1 glue. It worked great and holds quickly.

Wouldn't these make adorable favors at a princess birthday party or a bridal shower?

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things I Love About October:

1. Halloween

2. A hint of fall in the air -- no more 90-degree days

3. Sweaters

4. Mini Milky Way bars

5. Pumpkins at the farm stand and grocery store

6. Witches

7. Bats

8. Black cats

9. Red and yellow leaves

10. Shopping for winter clothes

11. Being able to work on my pink afghan without sweating to death

12. Taco Soup

13. My birthday

Digi-scrapping

I've been dabbling with digital scrapbooking for a couple of years now ever since Creative Memories came out with their Storybook Creator software. I find it more user-friendly than Photoshop Elements. There isn't the same tactile satisfaction of playing with paper and glue that you get with traditional scrapbooking, but I like having an alternative.

I was struggling with how to do our family album for 2008. I haven't kept up with my scrapbooking the way I used to and we also don't have as many pictures as we used to now that we are empty-nesters. So, I created a "year in review" photo book using the information from my daily planner as an integral part of the layouts. These are the pages from February and September:

Early next year, Close to My Heart will introduce their free online design software called Studio J™. There is no software to purchase and install; instead, you'll simply log in to Studio J from my CTMH website and start designing your layouts! All Studio J patterns are two-page layouts, chosen from Cherish™ and Imagine™, with additional combinations forthcoming from Reflections®. The initial launch of Studio J will include 25 layout patterns that can be swapped and rotated for even more variety. The paper and embellishments will be digital versions of the CTMH products we all love! I'm looking forward to trying it out!