Visiting Teaching Message & Idea for Feb., 2010

The February Visiting Teaching Lesson was challenging for me. For some reason, after reading many related articles, I was left with a feeling of guilt. I've always been a clever shopper, but the operative word is "shopper."

I have never been one to covet the possessions of another. I have, admittedly, coveted the figures of other gals! LOL When it comes to possessions, I've not wanted something just because someone else has it. OK, I just thought of what I actually am envious of - the gals who have managed to create at home businesses to supplement their income! Since we moved to Utah, I am awed with the talents and creativity gals have utilized to create income. I have had absolutely NO inspiration! I've tried. I sometimes lay awake at night pondering what I could do. I tried selling scrapbook layouts via this blog and on ebay and it just didn't catch on. I had one absolutely precious person who bought all but one that I posted on this blog. I was basically giving them away, LOL, at prices that were dirt cheap. I don't think my scrapbook layouts are that bad! LOL. Sadly, another lesson learned was that when I posted them on ebay, I was totally demoralized! I wound up having to pay $7.00 plus in ebay fees for NOT selling any layouts! YIKES! So, it was back to square one and that is where I remain!

Because we were a family of three, we didn't really need to stretch our salaries extremely thinly. We'd certainly watch what we spent, but didn't have a huge family to provide for. It was just easier to a degree. Now, there is just the two of us. It doesn't seem useful to shop using coupons since what we do get already lasts a long time. I think it would be a totally different game plan if we were providing for a large gaggle of kiddies! LOL I am NOT an expert on the lesson's objectives this month. I felt the lesson was extremely useful and a help to me (as I sit here with this week's grocery store ads making a list of bargains, LOL!

Here are some visuals for the February Visiting Teaching Lesson. The first one is based on Elder Joseph B. Worthlin's talk on Earthly Debts, Heavenly Debts, Liahona, 2004, May. This discussion is so rich with supportive helps which, in today's world, really have importance. I chose to take the five key steps to financial freedom and convert them into a visual that is perfect for the month of February!

I used scrapbook paper and cardstock to construct the hearts. I added machine stitching to add some texture. Then, I printed out a vintage lock and added each concept Elder Wirthlin provided to a key which has been printed on grey cardstock.



Here are the keys. Because of the blog's limitations, I had to set the width at 390 pixels; however, when printed, the size was set to 450 pixels in width. I hope that helps.





The next set of visuals has a coupon theme. Oh, how I wish I were better at utilizing coupons! It just seems like so much work to go to this store or that store. When I was working, I just didn't have the time or energy to do that. Hats off to those of you who can.

I'd love to begin with a photo of a little coupon holder. Each section has a label at the top to determine coupons for that specific pocket. Some that I included are: meats, vegetables, dairy, canned goods, etc.



Now, for what I hope will be the best idea I'm sharing. Some coupons related to February's Visiting Teaching Lesson. I've created and printed each of the three texted coupons to give to my girls. I've provided a blank coupon in case you would like to use it as well.






I hope there is something here that you may be able to use in your February Visiting Teaching Lesson. Let me know if I may help you in some way! I absolutely love creating things to share. Most of all, I hope you are a better example of this lesson than I have been. It's never too late. I know that I'm going to try to do a better job!

Thank you so much for taking the time to visit my blog. I love your visits and cherish each of you.

XO,
Chris

It's a Grey and Showery Friday!

It's an Oregon day! I love, love, love days like this! I love to see clouds and rain, but only as "treat" days! It just makes scrapping more fun!

I will be back later the Feb. VT ideas I have to share. I've been working on them and haven't taken the photos. As soon as I get that done, I'll post everything to share. Please come back!

There was a challenge to do a scrapbook LO about what is on our music playlist. That gave me an opportunity to do a LO using girly colors! Woo Hoo! For this LO, I used three sheets of BG along w/ the matching chipboard, sticker, and 3-D embellishments. When I placed the strip of flowers down, it looked blah. So, I decided to place the strip on black and cut leaving a border. I think it really helped accentuate the flowers. I also added rhinestones to the centers of some flowers, but not all. I made a transparency of the music to "All I Ask of You" from Phantom and placed that on the LO. I thought it looked great and since DH and I love that song, it was a perfect choice! I painted the chipboard notes in black and then added some tiny crystal flowers to the triple note. It was just a fun LO to do.


My Ipod Favorites

Thank you so much for stopping by. If you came to view the Feb. VT message and idea, please come back as I'm in the process of getting it posted. Love you guys!

XO,
Chris

Soups On!

I have a nice slow cooker simmering with bean soup and ham. The house smells so delish! I started it yesterday and got the base done. Then, today, I used the immersion blender to puree the base (veggies and some of the beans) so that it will be a natural thickener. I've added the ham and have more beans soaking just waiting to get dumped into the slow cooker. I invested in an All-Clad slow cooker and am glad I did. It works like a dream and cleans up in a second. My only complaint would be that the handles get hot as does the stainless lid. Oh well, that's minor, right?

I managed to get a layout done this week. The challenge was to use blue and two photos. I had these two photos in an old album. They were under a clear page cover (the old kind) and still had scratching and other "noise" on them. I had to do repairs again. I guess it is a good thing that I'm using these older photos in LOs because I get to make new ones that are much better than the originals. Here it is:


PURE YUM

I loved the PP and chose yellow as my accent color. There are some elements (circles, leaves, clouds) that are elevated using pop dots. I added buttons to the center of each circle along the bottom. Then, I filled each button center with Stickles. It looks so cute! The sun is a rub on, but rub as I may, it wouldn't release! So, I just added a backing and glued the whole thing to the LO. I guess the rub on was too old. Can that happen?

Wasn't DS a cutie pie? I wish I could have a clone of him between this age and four. Children are just so cute then! I hated seeing him grow up. Time just passes so quickly and we have such little time with them when tiny. I should have tied a brick to his head, I guess! Think that would have slowed down the growing process? LOL

I hope you are well. Thank you so much for stopping by! I know you are busy. Your visits are treasured!

XO,
Chris

Family Pastimes

There was a challenge this week to do a layout or two utilizing the topic of family pastimes when growing up and/or family pastimes with our family. I loved both ideas and did a LO regarding both.

For the first LO, I chose to document our personal family favorite pasttime - day/road trips! If we drove too far in a day, we just stopped and would spend the night! We never knew where we were headed. We'd just get in the car and decide if we wanted to head north, south, east, or west. We called these our family "adventures." We had so much fun. I think the spontaneity of it all was what made it so much fun! One time, we drove to Phoenix to have dinner! Phoenix is 300 miles away, LOL! We did this all the time! I think that DS loved it, too, as he has continued the tradition with his sweet spouse. Here is my LO documenting it.


Road Trips

I wanted the LO to have a whimsical look to it. I used some felt, buttons, adorable punch outs from October Afternoon (I think) and paper from the set. I elevated the clouds using pop dots and elevated the tree as well.

The second LO documents what was probably my favorite pastime as a little girl. This photo is close to 60 years old! It was a tiny little photo that was so aged. I guess it was good that I redid it. It took about two hours using Photoshop to recover what you see. It was so damaged just from being in a box for years and years. When I got the photo, I placed it in an album right away. The thing is, back then, there was no photosafe glue. I used ELMERS!!!! Now, the photos will never come out! Yikes!


All Dolled Up

This LO shows all the dolls I had at this age. I am on the bed with them, LOL. I placed a rhinestone circle around my head so I can be located in the collection! The tall doll beside me was named Rita. My mom kept her in the box so I wouldn't touch her. She covered the front of the box w/ Saran Wrap and then taped it into place. I had a habit of cutting the dolls' hair! I was about five or six when this was taken. As an only child, I often would play school with the dolls. I had a little chalkboard, too. I was a teacher even then! There is machine stitching around the edge of the scrolled layers. I put alpha stickers on a transparency, added a frame, and elevated it so that the pretty paper would show through. I also used a pretty punch along the border of the white and the green polka dot. There is hidden journaling behind the photo mat.

Thank you for stopping by! I so appreciate your visits and hope that you will return! If you have any questions, just ask!

XO,
Chris

Pretty in Pink Tilda Card

Hello from a grey St. George! We've had several grey days in a row. Some even came with rain! Woo hoo! I love what I call, "Oregon Days." We surely could use the water! I love El Nino years, but I know others that wish it would go elsewhere! It's especially hard in southern California where there are burn scars. The water can cause the barren hillsides to slide.

There is a Blog Hop at Magnolia-licious. You should see what the DT created using Tilda stamps! They did amazing work! Listen up, girls, there is also some pink blog candy available. In order to qualify, you must create something pink using at least one Tilda stamp. Below is the card I created. I thought I'd give it to my DH for Valentine's Day! I'm sure it isn't as good as others, but it's mine! I did the best I could!

For this card, I used Bazzill CS, Doodlebug PP, Making Memories PP, Nestibilities, Copics, teeny tiny pearls around the circle, punches, glittered CS (which almost feels like vinyl), ribbon, and a hand quilled rose. Since it is for my DH, I didn't want to make to too girly.



I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I might get lucky! Pink is good, right?

Thanks for stopping by! Leave a comment if you have time!

XO,
Chris

I'm in a Snit!

Don't you just hate it when there is an issue between you and an on line company that ignores your efforts to address the problem? I feel so disempowered! Case in point - On November 13, I ordered Tilda stamps from Magnolia in Sweden. I had been ordering directly from them because they have a greater inventory. I never got the stamps. I wrote. I wrote in English. I wrote in Swedish. I wrote in English and Swedish! Nothing - not a peep! Today, I finally resorted to calling VISA and filing a dispute regarding the nonreceipt of the stamps. I hate doing that! Magnolia sends the stamps in flimsy 4 x 6 plastic bags which would be easy to lose, get stuck, or get torn. I guess I won't be getting any more from them now. The thing I keep telling myself is that in the grand scope of things, these stamps don't mean squat! There are people in Haiti that have real, life-threatening issues. My lost stamps are nothing compared to the losses felt in Haiti! So, despite being ignored (the real thing that bothers me), I am grateful for all of my blessings.

I wish I could do more to help those in Haiti. I feel so helpless. There is nothing left in the zone that was hit the hardest. I hope my prayers are helping in some way, too.

I have some goodies to share with you. I can only work for a little bit at a time. My knees swell and the pain gets really bad.

First of all, there is some blog candy being offered at ABC Toys and Crafts. I love punches and there are three sets up for grabs. The set I chose is called Scallop Three Dot. A girl can never have enough pretty punches, right?

Maybe I'll get lucky and win a set!

The first thing I want to share is the album I made for two friends. I had shown you the cover in the Visiting Teaching post below, Here are the interior pages.

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I made sure that every other page had some white Doodlebug sugar coated cardstock so that the page would sparkle. The little cards with the related VT messages are removable so that the album can be used to showcase photographs. I used lots of MS punches to make it look more interesting. I wish I could make the photos larger, but 390 is the max for width. Sorry.

Now, for some cards. Sympathy cards are so hard to make. You don't want them too fancy. You don't want them too colorful. There is such a fine line. I had the need to make two such cards. I wanted them to be completely different in appearance. Here is what I did:




It's hard to see, but on the center panels on the front, as well as the interior background PP, I chose a cream colored dry embossed paper by K & Co. It has vines and flowers. I thought they were peaceful looking. The yellow barely shows. Somehow, Photoshop just loves yellow and makes it look dark and garish. The card is very pastel. Even the PP is so pastel that you can barely see the stripe. However, in the photos above, the paper is really obvious. Weird how that happens.




This card gave me F-I-T-S!!! It is my version of one done by Becca. Her's looks like mine should look, LOL! Becca, if you read this, I wish I had your skill! I did the center frame no less than nine times! I tried Copics, EK Success, pastels, Le Plume markers, paint, and pencils to color the leaves and swirls. They looked horrible (they still look nasty)! Finally, I flipped the template, colored it w/ the EK Success markers. THEN, I flipped it back and ran it through the Cuttlebug to cut and dry emboss it. It worked so much better. I still wasn't happy, so I chose to add some teeny tiny pearls and then rub microfine crystal glitter over that nasty bugger of a frame - just a smidge - to add the tiniest bit of sparkle that worked when the light caught it just right. It looked better. I don't like the card, though. I think I just got so worked up over that frame that nothing about the card seems appealing to me, LOL. I punched the sentiment border/corners and that turned out well, LOL. I love that punch set sooooooo much. It looks so delicate.

Thank you for stopping by. It is so nice to know that you keep returning to see what's what. I love you guys!

XO,
Chris

Visiting Teaching Message & Idea for Jan, 2010

For those of you who are in the cold, please stay warm! Oh, how I wish it were a bit colder here. For those of you who look out your windows and see a blanket of white, please send some to me! I love, love, love, the snow (but probably wouldn't if I lived in it)!

Did you ever do something and no matter where you were along the path to completion, you kept hitting walls? I sure did on this project! My goodness, if it could go wrong, it did! But, I was self-reliant (and quite determined) and persisted until it was just the way I wanted it and completed. I think there was a lesson in there for me regarding being self-reliant, LOL! I typed the text in blue. Every time I saved it to a .jpg, it turned green! Then the font decided to be fuzzy and blurry. I bet I spent no less than eight hours trying to get the image, from the graphic to the text the way it was in my mind! It was so frustrating because I didn't know what was changing the font color. I ran out of white cardstock for printing. DH was kind - actually, he took pity on me - and went to the store and got more CS. It wasn't white. DH got close and that was all that mattered.

Here is the accordion album I made for my gals. I made it so that they could use it as a photo album if they wish. I used some glittery white cardstock as well as white cardstock. I also used Nesties, punches, buttons, and whatever else I thought would go well. I chose the title, "Believe," because we should believe in our abilities. Sometimes that is so hard! At least it is for me. Also, each gal will receive a little hourglass. I found these on eBay. Hopefully, the gals will like these two tangibles.

If you would like to use anything, feel free to do so. If you would like me to send a photo of something, just ask! I can send you a .jpg of whatever you may like to see closer.

I decided to use a timer as my example to help support the theme of self-reliance. All of our life choices are contained within the hourglass. How we approach those choices will either allow the sand to flow freely or clog the neck, not allowing any of the sand to pass through. It's up to us.



The next photo is of the three inside pages of the album. There are two cards and a photo mat showing. The pages on the left and the right both have glittery white cardstock to add some sparkle. The center photo mat has an center that has been dry embossed with a snowflake pattern.



In the photo below, are the three outside pages of the album. The cards are removable and a photo can slip under the two bands on the left page and under the flap on the center page.



Below are the cards that carry the messages for this month. Yes, the print is blue - finally!









I hope there is something contained within this post that you may find helpful as you do this month's Visiting Teaching.

Have a wonderful weekend! Leave a comment if you wish! They are like a lovely piece of rich, dark chocolate that melts on your tongue! Your comments are welcomed and appreciated treats!

XO,
Chris