Our Hope Endures

I am often inspired by music when I am creating my art journal pages. For this particular page I was listening to a song by Natalie Grant called Our Hope Endures as the art washed over my journal page. If you have never journaled to music, it is a very moving experience. I can't imagine creating *without* music rushing through my mind, body, spirit, and soul. It makes the entire process a song...the movements my hands make, the colors, the stamps, the paints. It is a deeply moving process.

Layout created by me using my new Follow Your Art - Explore in my Digitals shop 4/2/12

Journaling reads-

You would think only so much can go wrong
 Calamity only strikes once
 And you assume this one has suffered her share
 Life will be kinder from here
How do we comprehend peace within pain?
 Or joy at a good man's wake?
 Walk a mile with the woman whose body is torn
 With illness but she marches on
 Oh, 'cause sometimes the sun stays hidden for years
 Sometimes the sky rains night after night
 When will it clear?
 But our Hope endures the worst of conditions
 It's more than our optimism
 Let the earth quake
 Our Hope is unchanged
Emmanuel, God is with us
 El Shaddai, all sufficient
 We never walk alone
 And this is our hope

~Natalie Grant

Fly With Me

Credits: layout created by me with my Follow Your Art - Explore available at Digitals 4/2/12

There is magic everywhere

 In the air you breathe

 It's true for every living thing

 Why flowers bloom and all birds sing

 It's in the voice that guides you on

The light that leads you home

 It's in the moment your wings grow

 And you'll let go

When you fly with me
 Let your heart believe
Dreams can take you anywhere
 If you just set them free
 When you're true to who you are
 You will always find your star
 All the wonders you will see
 When you fly with me

Paint a rainbow in the sky
 Dance on every cloud
 The world below is beautiful
 Keep it like a precious jewel
 Put a smile upon the sun
 it shines for everyone
 Sing the moon a lullabye every night

When you fly with me
 Let your heart believe
Dreams can take you anywhere
 If you just set them free
 When you're true to who you are
 You will always find your star
 All the wonders you will see
 When you fly with me

You'll find your place
 Just take a leap of faith

When you fly with me
 Let your heart believe
Dreams can take you anywhere
 If you just set them free
 When you're true to who you are
 You will always find your star
 All the wonders you will see
 When you fly with me
 Wonders will never cease
when you fly with me

Art Journal Bits

I have a new series called Art Journal Bits and the first five packages are in my shop today. I am always using random bits and pieces to accent my journal pages, and love the artistic look these designs give my layouts!

I hope all of you have a wonderful weekend! The weather here in Iowa kind of went from fall to summer. Ugh. I'm a huge fan of winter, but not such a big fan of summer heat and humidity. I'm a strange one and in the minority, I know lol! :)



5x7 Printable Cards

I created two 5x7 greeting cards, and thought I would share the images with all of you here on my blog! These can be used as a hybrid card project, or they also look great printed out and framed.

I hope you enjoy them!

Created with Somewhere Someday

Created with Just Breathe

Click Here To Download



March Create A Kit Event

It's that time again for our new Create a Kit Event (CAKE as we call it). We have some pastel nostalgic colors this round that fit many layout themes including babies, spring, vintage, and more. From March 24-27 you will be able to buy them for only $1.50 a slice.

Here are some layouts for inspiration! They were all created using my contribution to the March Create A Kit, Nostalgia-Blessings.



Layout created by Me using Nostalgia-Blessings

Layout created by mystampin using Nostalgia-Blessings

Layout created by Me using Nostalgia-Blessings

Layout created by judyinsd using Nostalgia-Blessings

Layout created by Toucan Scraps using Nostalgia-Blessings

Layout created by Me using Nostalgia-Blessings

Unwritten

Where you begin does not have to be where you end. No matter what has happened to you, what you have been through, what you have done, how other people have treated you...none of that has to define who you are. Every story is divided up into chapters, and one chapter isn’t the whole story. One chapter doesn’t define the book. One chapter is just that, one chapter. It is a part of the story, but it is not the story. When we are a child, we don’t have complete control over who is writing a page or maybe even an entire chapter of our book. But no matter what they write, no matter what they think, no matter what they say or do, they only get to write for a season. There will come a day when it is your turn to write. And even though what has already been written will always be a part of your book, you can take the pen, flip the page, and let chapter 18 be a start of something new and amazing. You are now writing your own story, and you have up to 82 more chapters that are still unwritten. Where do you want the story to go? What characters will you choose? What direction is your story going to take? It’s all up to you! 

Layout created with my new Nostalgia-Blessings kit available at Digitals tomorrow.



Love Is Like A Seed

Sometimes when I look around at all of the hurt and suffering in our world, it makes me feel so very small and helpless. I stop for a moment and wonder if there is anything I could possibly do that would actually make a difference...if I could ever create enough change that it would really matter. I guess I often tend to look at the big picture, and looking at the big picture can be frightening and so overwhelming. There is so much hunger, so much abuse, so much homelessness, so much sickness, so much poverty, so much war, so much hate, so much depression, so much pain...it would take a miracle to make a difference.

What I have to remind myself, is that one person *can* make a difference. I can, you can, we all can together...one life at a time, one heart at a time. If each one of us did some random act of kindness every single day, think of all of the love that would be pouring out. Love is like a seed. If we are all out in the world planting seeds of love, it is going to be growing and spreading out of control all over the place.

I am right when I feel small and think that I can't change everything alone, but I *can* be a part of something bigger. Something amazing. Something that matters. I can be a part of making the world a better place just by being a blessing, reaching out to those in need, and planting a seed of love and hope everywhere I go.

 Created with my new kit Nostalgia-Blessings available tomorrow at Digitals.

Serenity

Cilenia, Aria, and I have created a second set of designs for our March series. The three of us decided to take the idea of balance and move deeper into it. When life feels balanced, I think that most people feel a sense of calm and peace...serenity.

Serenity: the state or quality of being serene, calm, or tranquil; sereneness.

What does serenity mean to you? When I close my eyes and focus on the word serenity, the word begins to change into something that I can see, feel, hear, and smell. I begin to see swirls and splashes of color...lots and lots of color. The colors are bright and calm as I watch them move around in my mind. I picture them dancing very smoothly, then leaping, as if they are about to take flight. They do this over and over again. There is no pattern or reason...they are simply this free sense of being.

As I continue to focus on the word serenity, the way that my body feels begins to change. My breathing becomes deeper and calmer, my head begins to fall to the side as if there was nothing holding it up, and I notice a release in my arms and legs. By focusing on the word serenity, this peacefulness washes over my mind, body, and spirit.

If I pay attention to smells and sounds, I can begin to identify how serenity connects with those senses. As I take a deep breath, I can smell a fresh, clean, soft smell. And when I quiet my mind and listen, I can hear a quiet flow of water in the distance and wind that is blowing very softly. The wind doesn't really sound like wind to me, it sounds more like dancing whispers soaring through the air. Serenity isn't just not worrying or feeling calmer than usual, it is so much more than that. Serenity is a complete sense of peacefulness that emerges from your soul and washes over your entire being.

I would like for you to find a quiet place, close your eyes, and reflect on the word serenity. As you reflect, what do you see? How does your body change? Can you notice any difference in your breathing? Do you notice any smells or sounds? When you take time to connect in this way, are you able to find a place of peace and calm? Are there other times you have felt this way? If you'd like, journal about it. What does serenity mean to you? How does it feel, what does it smell, sound, and look like? Are there people, places, and things that make you feel the same way?

These are all layouts that I created with some of the new art in the shop that will be released tomorrow, March 19. All of the art was designed by Cilenia, Aria, and me.

Journaling reads:

when i am feeling
a serenity of soul
my mind body and being
feel almost
as if i am floating
and when i begin to move
it feels as if i have wings
and am going to fly
there is this peace
this sense of calm
that feels almost magical
there is for a moment
no worry
no stress
no sadness
no longing
just this place
of contentment
of freedom
of serenity
of peace

Depression Sucks

If you look around at the people who are in your life, it is not always easy to tell who is secretly struggling with depression. I spent several years in that struggle, and many people I know have struggled with it at some point in their lives. Depression brings with it an intense darkness, and I truly believe that the most important thing is to not have to go through it alone.

 Credits: Just Breathe by Angie Young

Journaling reads:

i know that
sometimes it feels
like your whole world
is falling apart
and like you are all alone
and there is no one out there
who can hear you
who can understand you
and you cry out but it is
as if you are crying out
to emptiness and to
nothingness
and you feel like the
pain is just too much
and you can't stand it
any longer
it feels as if
the pain is going
to kill you
and your entire body
feels like it is
going to explode
and it feels like no one
could possibly understand
your sadness
your pain
your hopelessness
the empty shell of a woman
you have become
but i am here to tell you
that there will be
a better tomorrow
and that you and your life
do matter
your heart matters
your pain matters
you matter
i am here for you
to listen
to care
to love you
to sit with you
to breathe with you
to hold your tears
to just be

March Art Blessing

I have created two 12x12 art journaling pages and am sharing them with you today as a little art blessing. I hope you enjoy using them as a part of your scrapbooking and art journal creations! These are for personal use only and were created with my bundle Somewhere Someday.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Download the journal pages here.

Weight Loss Wednesday

Weight loss. Ugh. Those are words that I don't want to think about, yet they scream out to me each and every day. I am going to be 39 years old this year. You might think that 39 is not old, but it feels very old to me. Why? My dad had his first stroke in his young 20's and died when he was 37, my mom had cancer in her 30's and had her first heart attack at 39, and several of my family members have died in their 40's or young 50's. With the family health history that I have, 39 is old age.

When I turned the big 38 and had officially outlived my dad, I started noticing this knot in my stomach. Actually, it was more like a huge boulder. I knew that I was so blessed to have lived as long as I had without having to face any major physical health issues. On the other hand, I knew the odds were not on my side and I needed to step it up and start taking better care of myself. Not tomorrow. Not next week. Not in a couple more hours. NOW.

In January I set a goal for myself to lose weight, stop drinking pop, and change my entire lifestyle. I want to be healthy. I want to be able to wear the clothes I like, not just whatever fits. I want to be able to walk up the stairs without losing my breath. I want to be able to feel comfortable in my own skin again. I want to do everything in my power to not have to suffer at the hands of diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and all of the other diseases and health issues that have haunted my parents. I might not be able to change genetics, but I can sure take control of my eating and exercise habits so that maybe I will have a better chance at a longer and healthier life.

It is now March 7, and I have done sort of okay at working toward my goals. Sort of okay is NOT good enough. I have to give 110% to this. I need to do better. I am very proud of myself for giving up my 64-100 ounce/day Dr. Pepper habit. I have been drinking that much pop since I was a teenager, so it was not easy, but I DID IT! I am going on five weeks with NO Dr. Pepper!

So how about the exercising? I haven't even really started. Eating habits? I have done better, but still need to make a lot more changes. Drinking more water? YES! I find it so much easier to drink water now that I'm not drinking pop! Weight Loss? I've lost only 6 pounds so far and need to lose 100. Going forward, but slowly. I have a loooong way to go.

Why am I sharing all of this? Well, I've decided that I need to blog my journey to a healthier me. So, one Wednesday each month I am going to log how I'm doing, what I've done the month before, and what I need to do better the next month. I think it will help me feel accountable, it will keep me honest, and it might inspire someone else who is also struggling. If that someone is you, I invite you to join me on this journey!

Credits: Kit is my Follow Your Art - Balance, and the Stitches were created by Cilenia Curtis

Journaling reads:

My goals: Lose 100 pounds,
eat healthier, get more
exercise, drink more water.
I want to be able to run,
to dance, to breathe...
I want to be healthy and
not be sick, suffer, and die
young like so many people
in my family. I want to live
to have grandchildren
and I want to watch my girls
as they live out their
dreams. I have to do this
for them. For me.

What You Have

Created with my new Follow Your Art kit to be released later in the month...

Journaling reads:

sometimes when you

look out at

all of the things

that other people

have that you don’t

you might

wish that things

could be different

that you could have more

that you could be someone

else and do something

different

but ...

what you might not realize
is that they might be looking
at you and thinking
the very same thing
because even though
they might have material things
they might be longing
for the love peace and serenity
that radiate
from your soul

Stand In The Rain

There have been many times in my life when I have had to face intense emotional pain. Sometimes it hurt so much I felt like I couldn't take another breath. During those times when everything was crashing down on top of me, I felt like the only way to survive was to run away. I thought that if I could just run as fast as I could in the opposite direction, the pain would all go away and I wouldn't have to hurt anymore.

What I realized over time, was that no matter where I ran, the pain was right there beside me. It was exhausting to spend so much time and energy trying to run, so eventually I just gave up. At least I thought I was giving up, because I wasn't running anymore. I was standing in the pain, and to me that felt like quitting because it felt like the pain was going to kill me. The thing is, standing in the pain didn't kill me, it gave me new life...it made me stronger.  When I tried to run from the pain, I only found fear. When I walked through the pain, I found strength, compassion, and healing.

Credits: SNEAK PEAK of my new Follow Your Art kit to be released later in the month!

Journaling reads:

When things
are hard and
you feel like
giving up, just
take some time to
be still.

You can’t always make
the pain go away, and
you can’t always make
things easier. But if
you just stand in the pain and
not try to run away
from it, you will not only
make it through, but you will

be stronger than
you ever imagined
possible. It is
in times of struggle
we grow the very
most.

Submarine

Good morning!  Sherry here for my Monday Layout Spotlight!  Today we're going to look at a layout created with Angie's newest kit, her Follow Your Art March 2012 - Balance bundle.  It's called Submarine, and it's by mystampin:

This is such a fun layout, and this little guy is definitely all boy!  I love the way Beth has placed the photo, with the Boy banners underneath.  Her layering, and the use of the keys, keyholes and brads, gives it even more of the masculine touch.  The quote is so whimsical, and the way she has arranged
the titling is very clever - when you look at the title, then see the text for Boy, it's easy for your eye to stop right on this funny picture and take a moment to giggle!

Here's where you can get Angie's Follow Your Art March bundle:

As usual, so lovely for art journaling, as well as more traditional layouts - be sure to check it out today!

Finding Balance

I don't know about you, but I am ALWAYS trying to find balance in my life. I constantly have to remind myself that it's time for a balance check so that I don't tip too far to one side and not give enough attention to the other. It is always a work in progress and never perfect! Never perfect LOL. Since the March theme for our journaling series is balance, I created some layouts and journal pages as I reflected on the simple but complex act of keeping balance in life. All of these were created by me using our new Follow Your Art kits.

No matter how hard I try
Why can't I seem to find
Balance

"Be aware of wonder. Live a balanced life- learn some and
think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play
and work every day some.”
Grace & Lexie - 2011

Sometimes I just need to sit, be still, and breathe...

"So divinely is the world organized

                                                 that every one of us, in our place and time,
                                                        is in balance with everything else."

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
The courage to change the things
I can; And the wisdom to know
The difference...

i never had

a harder time balancing

all of the different pieces

of my life

until i became a mom

in the beginning

everything was about

my daughters

because my childhood

was overflowing

with neglect and abuse

it was so important to me

to make sure my girls

did not have to experience

so many of the feelings

that i experienced as a child

so i put everything i had

everything

into raising them

but as time went on

i started to realize

that it was just as important

to take care of my needs

as it was to take care of theirs

and so i began to find

a place of balance

and it is not always perfect

its something i have to always

work on

but it is good

balance