Restoring, rebuilding and renewing...

 
These 3 words have been on my mind in the last year, but most importantly in the last 3 months. I just want to take some time to share with you about a recent trip I took to Puerto Rico. The trip originally was to go see my grandmother who is about to be 90 this week, and to have a little R&R with my younger sister and daughter. I had a great time, but the one thing I was dreading was seeing my father. I have not seen him in 12 yrs, and that was only for about 1/2 hours and before that was another 12 yrs. so when I spoke to him over the phone before the trip let's just say I was not too happy. My first thought as we landed in P.R. was okay we are here let's get this visit with him over and done with. Not the visit with my grandma, but my father was the one who had to take us there and that is the one I wanted out the way. Well came the dreaded day, but that morning I began to just seek God and as I was getting ready I was just asking God to guide me, I didn't want to leave my hotel room with a negative feeling. I wanted to really be happy, and well guess what I was. When I first saw him, he ran towards me and just kept hugging me I thought for one second awkward, but then I embraced it. He truly was happy to see me, he kept saying I can't believe you are here wow you have grown to be a beautiful woman. He wanted to know everything in those few seconds, but he knew that my sister and I came P.R. to see my grandmother. When he saw my sister, he was just as happy, I think we were both pleased that there was no drama. We did see our grandma, and then after my father took us to a secluded beach and we just spent time laughing, talking and then it happened.
He cried, told me how much he loves me and never stopped and hugged me. I hugged him back and said I know you do, but as I said it I really felt it. It was sincere on both parts. You see this entire time planning this trip I thought it was to see our grandma and though it was, it was much more than that. It was about how God is so awesome that He was able to restore a father-daughter relationship, because of this I am ready to start rebuilding what God has begun.

The definition of restore:

Bring back; reinstate. Return (someone or something) to a former condition, place, or position.

The defintion rebuilding:

1. To build again.

2. To make extensive structural repairs on.

3. To remodel or make extensive changes

 

The defintion of renew:

1. To make new or as if new again; restore

2. To take up again; resume

3. To repeat so as to reaffirm: renew a promise.

 

I will leave you with this Bible verse: 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

 

I am ready! Looking forward to the transformation. thanks for stopping by!!!

A New Chapter Blog Hop...SEM

We are so excited about a new chapter at Scrapping Everyday Miracles! We have recently added a few new design team members and we thought a blog hop would be the perfect way to introduce them. SEM has fabulous prizes and would love to see you all participate!
Each DT member had to create a layout or a mixed media project that represents a new chapter in your life. Scrap Twist: Use book pages or book text on your project...be creative!

I decided to create a canvas with a very special Bible verse to me. Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Renew being the keyword for me. Definition of Renew: to make like new : restore to freshness, vigor, or perfection
I want the Lord to make me like new, I want to be the clay and have Him mold me, restore me. Sometimes I forget and I hold on tight to those negative things that binds my heart. Anger, Fear, and even resentment begin to hover over my heart, but I want to be like David who knew he had faults and still asked our God to renew a right spirit within him. I want to be cleansed, and have my anger, my fears, and resentments washed away.
Romans 12:2          
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
So Lord I am asking that you clear my mind of the negative things and remove those that bind my heart.

Here is my project:
Thanks for stopping by!
next on the hop is
                                  Scrapping Everyday Miracles

Used my last bit of Carta Bella's Paris Girl line...

I really loved creating with this paper. The colors are just so me, I also loved the feel of the paper. I am really bummed that I ran out. I guess I will have to start using all of my other stash. lol. I have to admit when it comes to pattern paper, flowers, and bling I'm a hoarder. LOL. I also played with Copics for the first time my first thought was oh no, but I really love to color. I see more coloring in my future. Here are my latest projects. Thanks for stopping by.

My little ray of sunshine...

my grandson. This past weekend I was babysitting overnight and my first thought when I heard him crying at 1:52 am was noooooo. lol. I got up thinking he was going to be like my children and be wide awake, crying and cranky. Instead when I picked him up he first looked puzzled I'm pretty sure he thought where's my mom, then when I spoke to him those famous words I have been using since he was born. Hey Boo Boo, where's Yogi! He started smiling and cooing even while drinking his milk I can see his dimples clearly. The kid is truly adorable, and I didn't think I could love someone as much as my own kids, okay maybe just a little more. I created a layout for Scrapping Everyday Miracles using photos my daughter took of Chris and his little dimples and that smile that just melts my heart. Thanks for stopping by.

I loved creating this project using..

Clear Scraps Spring Mixables Album and Carta Bella's Paris Girl pattern paper. I have had the Mixables album for a year, but I finally opened up the package. I love the way it turned out. I do want to say thank you to my friends Marylou & Ralphy for asking Elisa to come out in the renewal of their wedding vows. I also want to say thanks to Kattya for giving me the small vintage pocket watch. Here's my album , thanks for stopping by. Muah.

It's been too long...

since I have posted. I have been taking some time to create, spent time with friends and learning how to color with Copic Markers, really where have I been. I am also starting a new venture, I signed up to be a Close to My Heart Consultant, I have always loved their stamps and now I can really play with stamping. Looking forward to getting my kit. Anyway here are 2 projects I have been working on, and today I am still working on a new project using Carta Bella's newest line Paris Girl. I loved using Carta Bella's Beautiful Moments line on this Chipboard book from Want 2 Scrap. I also created a layout using My Little Shoebox papers. Thanks for stopping by!!!

Happy Birthday to me!

I had the most relaxing birthday yesterday.I received an edible arrangement from my kids. I love Chocolate dipped Strawberries.  I was able to spend it with family, cuddle with my grandson and I even created a little. I finished this little mini book for a challenge over at Swirlydoos. 
 Pauline over at Swirlydoos created an adorable mini book inspired by Tim Holtz video titled Valentine's day mini book. Can I say wow, I just had to try it. Pauline gave us some rules: create a mini album using:

* the folding technique Tim shows in his video.
* use packaging, that came in one of your kits.
* Use left over strips of paper.
* use paint or Gesso
* use some sort of frame.
Here is my take on the challenge. 

 

I also created a layout for Scrapping Everyday Miracles sketch challenge, please make sure you check them out. It's a great sketch, here's my interpretation of it. 

the challenge twists was to incorporate a digi element. I used the TallyScrapper Badge in the right hand corner. I had the honor of meeting a group of fabulous online friends in person @ Texas Tally Rally. I miss these girls, and wished I had taken a photo with each lady there, we had about 30 women there and boy did we scrap, laugh, scrap. lol
As always thanks for stopping by. Muah!!!!

creating is so much fun...

when you are really into the project. I have been working on this wall hanging for the past 3 days, adding, taking away rearranging but in the end I just love it. I purchased the wall hanging from one of the booths at the Scrapbook Expo. The store is one of my favorites when I go to the Expo it's called Creek Bank Creations. They have all kinds of scrapbook supplies, but my favorite is always the original chipboard items they make. Oh and for the very first time I got my hands on some Authentique pattern paper love the feel of this pattern paper, I used the Loyal line for my wall hanging. I also got to use my Cricut Imagine along with the Baseball Cartridge love it. Here's my project, thanks for stopping by... Oh and I forgot to mention that my grandson was the star in my project.

Happy Monday!!!

 I am so glad it's Monday!! So funny so many people dread the beginning of the week and for me it's just that a new day a new week. So many events in the month of June, I had Elisa's recital, I went to Florida for my Goddaughter's Sweet 16, and the end of this month Emily graduates from High School. I have some photos to share with you and a few projects.




Elisa's ballet recital!

Elisa's Latin Dance you had to see her shimmy shimmy lol.















My Goddaughter and I at her Sweet 16 she was really surprised I made it. I actually booked my flight the day before, but the look on her face was priceless.

I created this layout of my sister and I at church it was one of those moments and I am just so happy that it was captured. I wrote a blog post about our relationship over at Scrapping Everyday Miracles. Above is the direct link to the heartfelt post.

 I also created this layout for Scrapping Everyday Miracles June sketch challenge using a Creative Scrappers sketch 163.
By completing a layout using this sketch and linking up to this post by Saturday June 30, you will be entered to win a series of Donna Downey PanPastel Workshops.  We can't wait to see what you come up with.

Created this using April's Swirlydoos kit and sketch. I used Kaisercrafts beyond the page wall clock and trimmed it 8x11 1/2 and covered opening for photo and repositioned clock. this is a surprise gift for a friend there is more to come on this item as it's going inside a frame with wine corks in it. I will show you all that later this week. Again thanks for stopping by. Muah!!!

Happy Father's Day!

It has been awhile since I have been able to share, so much has been going on. I am now babysitting my beautiful grandson. The funny thing is I have forgotten that a baby does not work around your schedule you have to work around the baby's schedule. I do love it though.
So today we celebrate Father's Day here in the States, and well I want to just say thank you first off to my Heavenly Father for giving me life,strength and encouragement. My husband I thank you for you truly are a great example of what a Father really is. Here are a few projects created in honor of Father's Day.

 this clock was created about 2 yrs. ago I had forgotten about it and found it yesterday and thought what a great way to honor my husband.

 this is my son in law with my beautiful grandson truly a Kodak moment. I also created this layout for a Telephone Scraplift with Scrapping Everyday Miracles.
I also used my Swirlydoos June kit! love the colors in this kit.

I absolutely love this card I created it with my youngest daughter and yes she really did help. She did all the distressing and glued it down and went through the Swirlydoos June kit saw the heart and key and said okay mom this is it. I love her little creativity.  As always thanks for stopping by.

SEM Birthday Celebration Blog Hop

 
I am so excited and honored to be part of SEM Birthday Celebration. I recently became part of the SEM Team, and I have to say it truly has been a blessing. To come to know this wonderful group of women, not only on the Design Team but also you the ones who play along with us and share your everyday miracles with us with your amazing creations. We thank you and  are so blessed to have you be a part of it. We have been asked to share our favorite layout created for SEM mine has to be the challenge titled She's Somebody's hero. I created a layout featuring my daughter and her newborn son.

I am also sharing a layout created for Celebration, I thought the photo of Elisa was perfect we were celebrating the New Year and her first time being a flower girl.

If you arrived from Lisa's blog you are in the right place. We have an exciting hop planned for you this weekend but that is not all will also have on the blog through out the weekend  tutorial and techniques from past designer from the last year and  5 fun and easy challenges that you can enter to win some amazing prizes. The celebration doesn't stop with the blog... on our Facebook group http://www.facebook.com/groups/200817343359030/ we will be offering games each day of the event that will have some fabulous prizes.  We will also be posting and discussing the challenges that we created for the Birthday Celebration.  We might even sneak in some fun random giveaways.

 So let the Hop begin....

Each of the Design Team members and our Guest Design Team members have created a project with the theme of celebration to show you on their blogs and they will be showing you their favorite project that they created over the past year here at Scrapping Everyday Miracles.  Make sure that you hop along to each blog because you never know where there might be more prizes hiding along the way!

Our hop Grand Prize has been provided by two wonderful sponsors...  Paper Loves Glue and Memorable Seasons...  Our grand prize winner will win both a gift certificate for $15 to Paper Loves Glue and a $20 gift Certificate to Memorable Seasons.  If that isn't enough both sponsors have provided a discount to their stores!!!!!

As a special offer to all the followers and participants of Scrapping Everyday Miracles, Paper Loves Glue, is offering a special discount of 30% off the entire store. Just enter code SAVE30 upon checkout at paperlovesglue.etsy.com. This offer is valid until June 13, 2012

 For a limited time (until June 30th), if you shop with us and use the code MIRACLES at checkout, you can save 15% off your purchase. This offer does not apply to items in the Pre-order section since they are already 25% off. Please place separate orders for Pre-order & In-stock merchandise if you’d like items from both. 

 So are you all ready?  It is time for some hopping!  Have fun and remember in order to qualify for the Grand Prize you must comment on all the blogs in the line-up. .  The hop will remain open until Sunday night, June 3rd at 11:59pm PST. 

Here is your hopping order

Scrapping Everyday Miracles
Nicole's blog
Sherri's blog  

Einat 's blog 

Cara's blog 
Jeannine's blog 

Elizabeth's blog
Lisa's blog 
Dolores' blog <----you are here
(GDT)Amanda's blog  <---next on the hop
(GDT)Linda's blog

Make sure you also stop by our Facebook page for games, challenges and even more prizes.  And don't forget, Monday, June 4th will be a new challenge and another chance at a prize!