Scripture in Our Home (pt. 1)

I talked last time about the contest over at Doorpost that was helping me to get motivated and do some of the decorating I'd been wanting to do.  I thought the best way to do it would be to just do one or two rooms a post...that way you aren't overwhelmed (LOL I know! ;) and I have more time to work on more projects.  (ok, maybe that's the REAL reason, but I think the other sounds good too.)

We'll start with Ezekiel and Zane's room.  I've already shown you part of it, but since this post I've done a bit more decorating (and added a baby!) in this room.  

First off is probably my favorite piece of art in our home. 

 I had this print custom made for my son Ezekiel using   Ezekiel 36:26.  This verse is one of the reasons we named him Ezekiel.  It's such an awesome picture of how salvation is all about God and all BY God!  Jackie from Willow of Wonder was amazing to work with!  I showed her the quilt my mom had made and we talked about the map being in the artwork, as well as a treasure chest with a heart (of flesh).  She did an amazing job!  I framed the print and hung it above Zeke's bed to be a constant reminder of our need to be given new hearts.   (their room only has one tiny window and it's super hard to get a good picture.  *pout*  The reflective license plates don't help with the photographing any either, but I promise it all looks good IRL!  lol)

The other display of scripture in their room is a bit of a pun...um...ok, it's a big pun.  Taken totally out of context to fit my needs, but I think God has a sense of humor and I think he's probably snickering about this one too!  

I got a dresser from my sister-in-law and refinished it.  I painted it red first, then black and I still need to do some more sanding so you can see the red through better.  The dresser holds Zane's clothes and diapers.  The top has a changing pad, wipes, spray and is finished off with this fun little scripture (1 Cor. 15:51 - We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.  Most people believe the verse is actually referring to the rapture, but, hey, it's true here too!  lol.)

And just for kicks...

cute cloth diapered baby bum!!

If you'd like to join in the fun you can check out the contest rules here.  Thanks for stopping by!

Scripture as Art

Doorposts is having a fun contest running right now!  You can check out all the details here and the rules here.

Since we've moved into our new home I've had hundreds of decorating ideas running through my head and this should help me kick into gear and get some of them done!  :)

And the Winner is...

The winner of the My Mind's Eye paper pack on my blog was comment number 24...Ladydoc, who said,
"Darling tree!"


Contact me with mailing info and I'll get your prize right out!  :)

Blog Hop!

Welcome to A Walk Down Memory Lane’s first ever Blog Hop! 

Summer is here and so is our reveal of July’s featured manufacturer- My Mind’s Eye. We are so happy to have our 1st Blog Hop with MME and giving away a beautiful collection.

There are TWO ways you can win!
1. Leave a comment on all of the blogs included in the hop (including this one!).
2. “Like” our Facebook page and leave us a comment there telling us what’s your favorite line from My Mind’s Eye.

AWDML Blog
Tifany
Amy
Lisa
Gina
Cindy
Lucy
AWDML on Facebook  

You will be entered into the prize drawing for each of the blogs you comment on by random drawing. You will have until midnight on July 4th and winners will be posted on the DT and AWSML blogs and on our Facebook page on July 6th. 

The winner will receive My Mind’s Eye Life’s Story Collection

Just hop to each blog and check out some of the projects that our design team has put together for you. Now don’t forget to leave some loving’ so you have chance to win.

Thanks so much for playing along! 

Good luck!

Here are my projects that I created with some of MME’s line from AWDML Store (http://www.awdml.com):

A Boy and His Bear 

and to celebrate Christmas in July...how about a fun and funky Christmas tree?!

You'll need adhesive, three different patterned papers, your paper trimmer, scissors, an edge distresser and embellishments.

First cut out three circles.  Mine are 10", 7.5" and 4".

Next cut a straight line from the side to the middle of each circle and distress the edges of the circles.

place a strip of adhesive along the back side next to the slit you cut, then curl the circle in on itself.  Do this will all three circles.

Now stack them on top of each other.  You can use adhesive here if you want, but it's unnecessary.

Then, simply embellish as desired.  I used some MME stickers and cut outs and Kaiser Crafts Pearls.

 Enjoy your finished product!

Blog Hop!

Welcome to Just Imagine Crafts / Kreaxions Punches BLOG HOP

Date: Saturday June 11th 12:01am EST - Sunday June 12th 10pm EST ***all day Saturday and SundayWinner to be chosen by Monday PM

That gives you all weekend to join us, blog hop and play along with the amazing DT who are ready to inspire you especially now that we are well into June... kids almost done school, flowers popping, planning those special summer holidays... and our Theme: Summertime ( anything goes) will be so much FUN.

Just Imagine Crafts/Kreaxions Punches Site is offering 2 Kreaxions Punches of your choice as the Grand Prize.
Each DT will also offer a ballot for a random draw for a Kreaxions Punch for a prize.
And be sure to check some DT are hosting their own prize too.
Lots of ways to win.

****Be sure to have a scrap of paper while you hop to write down the number of your favourite Punch.. when you finish the hop and return to Just Imagine Crafts you get an additional ballot when you list it in the comments section. We would love to hear what you think! ****

My project for the hop is this fun LO of my DS using Kreaxions Punch #902.

Comment on my blog for a ballot to the random draw for a chance to win a 4 in 1 Kreaxions of your choice from my blog.....

donated by Just Imagine Crafts/Kreaxions Punches.

Also if you play along and follow our rules for the June Challenge and post your project this weekend during the blog hop time allotted ... you get an extra ballot to the main draw.

If you didn't start at the beginning of the blog hop be sure to because you don't want to miss out on any of the added fun surprises.



Order of hop:
1. Just Imagine Crafts
2. Angela
3. Barbara
4. Ginni
5. Jess
6. Linda
7. Lisa
8.Stephanie
9. Valerie
10. Wendy
11. Gina  (you are here)
12. Bev
13. finish at Just Imagine Crafts

Hope you had fun ... we sure enjoyed having all of you visit us. Thanks everyone and have a great weekend.

Now you should go and check out what Bev has in store for you!

Wedding Day 4.0

Yesterday my husband's sister got married.  Outside.  On the hottest day of the year (so far. ;)

This was what our dining room floor looked like on Friday night...four cute (and cool!) little outfits laid out and ready to go.  

I didn't take many pictures because I was busy nursing a baby, chasing toddlers, talking to cousins, calming fits and doing all the other things mommy's with four small children do!  lol.  However during the actual ceremony I did snag a few pictures of my girls (Tim and Zeke were sitting a few chairs away.)  

I'm not really sure when she started looking so grown up, but I do think getting her hair cut so much on Wednesday factors in.  She's going to be FIVE in two months.  FIVE!  Has it really only been five years since I had no children?  Sometimes I hardly remember those days!  lol.  Each time is good...the time before them with just Tim and I was good, and now the time with them is fabulous too.  Tiring...but fabulous!  

Don't they look adorable together?!  It's funny how different they look...but how similar their personalities are!

This is little Miss Spunk.  Vim and Vigor.  And most of all.  NO! I Do It Myself!!! ;)

(purely coinsidense that her dress and the cup match!  lol)

And that's it.  It was hot.  We all sweated a lot.  But the wedding was wonderful and Tim's sister is all married off.  

One Month

Wow, I'm not sure how it happened already, but on the 28th Zane turned one month old!  I'm a few days late posting the pictures, but here he is...in all his cuteness...on the one month mark!

And just to show you that cool really is in the genes...his hair did this naturally.  Love it!  lol

I know...cuteness overload.  ;)  

Just a Reminder

You need some free scrappy goodies right?  Because who doesn't?!  lol AND the best part...you can pick them out yourself!  All you need to do is enter the Spring is Here contest over at A Walk Down Memory Lane.  The winner will get a gift certificate to pick out anything they want from the shop!

Here are the details:
Basic Grey "Spring is Here" 

Create a layout using 60% of Basic Grey products - you can use any BG collection and products 

* Upload your layout to the Gallery by midnight on April 30th to contest category in gallery
* 1 Layout per person 
* Submit you creation by posting your creation in the gallery then link it back here
* To upload into the gallery you must register in the gallery first. 
* The entery must be new and not entered in other contests or challenges 
* Winner will be announced on May 5th
* Winner will recieve a GC from AWDML 

Zeke's Room (still a WIP)

So here are some "before" pictures...(as in RIGHT before.  My mom and MIL were getting ready to crack open the paint and start in when I snapped these.)

And the other side of the room...

here are some not very good pictures of what it looks like now.  

We left the ceiling white and painted the walls Silver Sword.  Zeke's bed is half of the bunk beds he and Kessa used to share.  I sanded it down and then painted it with a glossy black.  I LOVE the way it turned out!  

My mom made his quilt for him several years back.  I designed it based on an Elsie Flannigan print that's no longer available.    

Then, last December when I was looking through the Water4Christmas Etsy shop I stumbled across this designer.  She only had girl prints, but I loved her style and the idea and I'd been wanting some artwork with Ezekiel 36:26 on it for Zeke's room so I contacted her and she did a custom print for me, which turned out AMAZING!!!  

I sent her a picture of Ezekiel and a picture of his quilt and asked if she could come up with something.  The map on the print...just like the map on his quilt.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE what she came up with.  (and she is selling them in her shop now too if you think your little guy needs one.  ;)

Then about a month ago I found a free download for this great vintage style Cars 2 movie posters.  They were just what I was going for as far as getting some "Cars" style into his room without being too themey.  I printed them out at home and then framed them and hung them up with Command strips (those things are great!)

And next to his closet (which is the kids FAVORITE spot in our house!  lol, it's like a little cave and the perfect size for them to play in.) I hung up some licence plates.  I'm hoping to continue adding to this collection (if you've got any you'd be willing to donate I'm willing to pay shipping! lol )

and in the poor neglected corner by the door is Baby No Name's bed.  

Things that I'm still planning to do:

• Find a dresser that I can put a changing pad on top of
• Make curtains
• do a vinyl cutout on my Silhouette of either Proverbs 8:33 or Proverbs 19:20
• Find/make a laundry hamper

So that's it!  The pictures aren't great, but I really love the way it looks IRL.  

Basic Grey Kinda Month

Basic Grey is one of the featured manufactured this month at A Walk Down Memory Lane (which means everything by BG is 25% off!)

Here's one of the LOs I did using Basic Grey's Max and Whiskers line and also their Oliver line.

and if 25% off wasn't enough, how about a contest?!?!?

Create a layout using 60% of Basic Grey products - you can use any BG collection and products

* Upload your layout to the Gallery  at A Walk Down Memory Lane under Spring is Here contest category by midnight on April 30th
* 1 Layout per person
* Submit you creation by posting your creation in the gallery then link it back here
* To upload into the gallery you must register in the gallery first.
* The entery must be new and not entered in other contests or challenges
* Winner will be announced on May 5th

* Winner will receive a GC from AWDML 

Can't wait to see what you come up with!!!

Basic Grey Kinda Month

Basic Grey is one of the featured manufactured this month at A Walk Down Memory Lane (which means everything by BG is 25% off!)

Here's one of the LOs I did using Basic Grey's Max and Whiskers line and also their Oliver line.

and if 25% off wasn't enough, how about a contest?!?!?

Create a layout using 60% of Basic Grey products - you can use any BG collection and products

* Upload your layout to the Gallery  at A Walk Down Memory Lane under Spring is Here contest category by midnight on April 30th
* 1 Layout per person
* Submit you creation by posting your creation in the gallery then link it back here
* To upload into the gallery you must register in the gallery first.
* The entery must be new and not entered in other contests or challenges
* Winner will be announced on May 5th

Can't wait to see what you come up with!!!
* Winner will recieve a GC from AWDML 

Moving and More

Moving is always fun, right?  So having three kids and being pregnant with number four makes it four times as fun!  lol.  Really it's not bad at all...except I feel like a bad mom and like I'm neglecting them as they sit around and watch PBS and I pack.
But WHY do I feel guilty?

Is it really because watching a lot of tv for one or two days is going to ruin them for life?
Is it because they're learning things I don't want them to learn?
Is it because there are things they could be doing that are better for them?

Because those would all be good reasons...but I'm fairly certain I just feel guilty about it because somewhere along the way I've picked up the idea that "good" moms, "godly" moms, don't let their kids watch tv hardly ever. Now, don't get me wrong.  I think that TV should be VERY limited...because they could be playing, interacting with each other, using their imaginations, and so much more, but I also have to remind myself that sometimes, especially at this stage in life, I have to let go of the expectations of perfect, or even ideal for that matter.

God is gracious and I'm pretty sure that a few days like this every now and then aren't going to permanently hurt my children.  And if you think they will...well....please don't leave me a comment saying so!  lol ;)

Blessed Are the Peacemakers...

After reading Meg's post on fighting I was prompted to record some thoughts I had at Bible Study last night. 

(we're doing a Precept Upon Precept study of Matthew) God convicted me greatly over "Blessed are the peacemakers."

Because I am weary of being a peacemaker between my children. I don't want to do it. I often expect them to deal with...which is sinful on my part. 

Random thoughts I jotted down last night during the lecture:

• Don't just endure being their peacemaker...desire it.
• See it as an opportunity to be blessed (see Mat. 5)
• Use it to point them to Christ and their need of the cross 
• Be reminded myself of the True Peacemaker
• Don't expect them to know how to be peaceful, they're 1, 3, and 4 year old little sinners for pete's sake!
• Rejoice over the opportunity to teach them
• Remember that I WANT to be the one teaching them about being peaceful...because if I don't the world will be teaching them to think only of themselves.
• They aren't born knowing how, or WHY for that matter, to be peaceful. They're born with tiny selfish hearts and every fight, every outburst of anger, every fit, I should view as another opportunity to point them to Christ and their need of the cross. 
• To remind them (and myself!) that we do have hearts of stone and we can't be kind and loving on our own...BUT because of God's great love, he'll take away our hearts of stone and give us hearts of flesh.

Do I do this? No. Not often. My oldest is 4 and I'm due with # 4 in a few weeks and rarely do I see all the fights and fits in this light. I grow weary and lose sight of the cross...but God is faithful.

Trying out Copics

Our mid-month reveal is up at AWDML!  The featured manufacture is Copics...which I was am not at ALL comfortable with.  lol.  I kept trying to figure out ways I'd actually use them, because let's be honest, I'm not the type to sit down and color in lots of images with them...

So for this card I used them to color match my ribbon and stick pins to the patterned paper I was using (both the ribbon and the pins were originally white.)  I'm happy with the results!

And if you follow me on Tumblr or facebook you know that I've been doing some serious drooling over quilts lately and have plans (and fabric!) to start on some too.  Well...apparently all the quilt blog visiting is effecting my brain..and my scrapping!  lol.  This was a great way to use up some scraps though!

Here again I used the Copics to color match the lace and doily to the rest of the LO and I also used them to color the pearls green.  

Lily Bee Blast From the Past

I know I've proclaimed my undying love for Lily Bee before, but it's true.  I can't believe I'm going to share this, because I'm certainly not holding my breath about making it, but they're having a Design Team Call and I'm going to give it a go.  I ordered some new papers to play with because I had used up almost every last scrap that I had (plus, is that not a good reason to go buy new scrap goodies?!?  lol)  

So, while I'm not going to show you anything new yet, I thought it might be fun to go back and see some of the work I've done with Lily Bee papers in the past!

and a few minis...

This one won 3rd place in a Lily Bee contest...you can see the rest of the album here. 

And one I made for Zeke's golden birthday that you can see here.  

And hopefully I'll have some more fun stuff to share in the next few days!  :)

  

A Card Set

Just wanted to pop in and share a set of cards that made for the blog over at AWDML today.

You can see the post here (and if you're signed up for the newsletter from AWDML be watching for a step-by-step tutorial on the flowers!)

Just Popping In...

I just thought I'd pop in and share the LOs I did as examples for my challenges for the Birthday Bash Crop we had over the weekend at AWDML.

First I had this little number...about my baby girl's sassy spunky personality...

and another one with a picture of Grace and I (*gasp*  I know!  I'm IN a picture!  lol)

and now I'm off to get some DT work done and then see what I can get packed.  

Don't Forget...

A Walk Down Memory Lane is turning EIGHT and we're ready to celebrate!!!!!!!!  

and just for fun...how about some sneaks of my example LOs for my challenges?

I had a lot of fun with both these challenges and I you'll come over and crop with us!!!

DIY Flowers

Today was my day to cover the blog at A Walk Down Memory Lane and since we're talking flowers all month I thought I'd do a little video on making a few different types of paper flowers.




and here are a few projects using the same type of flowers I showed you how to make: