Scrappy: These are the days...

I hope you all had a relaxing Thanksgiving- mine was quite full- lots of traveling and family to see, a football game, and a busy church day!


This layout was created with the November kit from The Nook, using Lily Bee Papers and their fabulous rubons. I used acrylic paint to create the dots across the top and bottom, using the round end of my paintbrush. I think it added a neat boarder and I'm looking for other ways to blend my hobbies. Any suggestions?

The picture was taken at my friend's wedding in October where I caught (was handed) the bouquet and Ryan caught (once again- was handed) the garter. How's that for a not so subtle hint?

Scrappy: Opposites Attract

Happy Appy Saturday!

Today is the one year anniversary (of sorts) of Ryan asking me out on a date. We had season tickets next to each other for the whole season and had chatted here and there. Towards the end of the first playoff game against South Carolina State University Ryan asked me to come with him to the next game. We ended up losing the next week to Richmond on our FIRST DATE the following week and began the joke that we couldn't date at football games.

This layout was for a challenge about opposites. I had wanted to scrap about Ryan and I being opposites and complimenting each other at the same time for a while now. I think the relationship works because we respect the differences we have and we agree to disagree on a few topics!



We're off to the Appalachian State/South Carolina Sate game this afternoon and hoping for a win! Go Mountaineers!

Giving Thanks

Over the river and through the woods...I'm headed to my Grandma's house today. I love this day because it means seeing my family that I don't see regularly, giving thanks for my many blessings, and overeating without being judged. I try to give thanks for my blessings everyday, but I think the spirit of Thanksgiving is inspiring. I have SO MUCH to be thankful for- my family, my faith, my friends, my opportunity to further my education, the roof over my head, and food in the cabinets, and SO MUCH MORE.

Rather than my rambling on, I thought I'd share some thoughts on gratitude from others...

Giving thanks for abundance is sweeter than the abundance itself.
~Rumi

For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Wherever you are, I hope you are enjoying your family and friends. Happy Thanksgiving!

See ya on Saturday!

Scrappy and Artsy: Create Joy

Last weekend one of the VC challenges was to 'multitask' and use another artistic hobby while scrapping. I paint the paper with acrylic paint, collaged some tissue paper for texture, and then painted on top of the collage with more acrylic paint. I've recently been making ATC's for my classes and I used that technique to create two sets of ATC's. I like the outcome so I created a layout about my recent artistic endeavors.




How do you create joy in your life?

Scrappy: A Day in My Life

My daily life has been greatly changed since August. I've been driving back and forth to school and working two assistantships while taking a full course load of work. I really have a blast doing everything that I'm involved in, however there has been little time for scrapping and relaxing.

This layout was created for the Virtual Crop last weekend at The Nook and it was supposed to document a 24 hour period in my life.




I used the October Kit from The Nook for this with Graphic 45 papers and gorgeous


What does a day in your life look like? What do you try to make time for every day?

Scrappy: Family Traditions

I feel like I'm six months behind on scrapping. I have a whole bunch of pictures and some FABULOUS kits just waiting to be put together. Last weekend I had the pleasure of playing along with my fellow Nookers with a virtual crop! The crop was filled with great challenges and wonderful inspiration!

This layout was created for the challenge to use a shaped paper. I have such a hard time using shaped paper as a background because I never know how to orient the page. This picture is from when we went to Sewanee to visit Caleb. I can't wait for family to get together during the upcoming holidays- this is truly my favorite time of year! I used the September kit from My Scrapbook Nook for this page (see how far behind I am!??!?).



What are some family traditions that you are looking forward to this season?

I'm finding that as I am getting older it is about keeping some traditions and then making new ones. I don't know if I have a favorite- but opening one present on Christmas Eve before the Midnight Service has to be on the top of my list.

Artsy: And we're back...

After a brief hiatus from blogging and scrapping, I'm back and ready to rock!

This semester has been a very exciting exploration of myself and I'd like to share some of the results with you. I've begun painting and exploring art journaling, writing, and various other forms of creative expression and have really embraced the artist within.

In the journal that I made in my Therapeutic Writing course I have started Soul Journaling with the prompts by Sarah Whitmire. I've also been following her tweet a day and stashing away those ideas for the future.

The first prompt was to write how you were feeling that day and the gesso over it. The first page is my "claiming" page saying that it was MY journal, the second shows my Soul Armor that protects me from my critics.


These pages show inchies, which were fun to find and even more fun to see the finished product. It's very neat to see what can emerge with just small photos.


I'm off to see the final regular season game for ASU and then to GLOW where my journal and one of my paintings are being exhibited!

I will be back tomorrow with a scrappy post!