still me

December Daily Photography Workshop...

In my effort to ENJOY the  holiday season…I just decided to join in a ‘daily’ photography class taught by Maggie Holmes that goes throughout the month of December!

I am super excited, because I feel like historically, I do a lousy job of documenting Christmas.  The class is designed to accompany “December Daily” the workshop on Ali Edward’s blog…

I LOVE Maggie… she took our family photo’s last year—

and I LOVE her point of view and her approach to taking photos. She was an instructor at Creative Escape 2 years ago, and is a mother of 5, so I really feel like she ‘gets’ the juggling part of getting good photos. I NEED a photography class! It’s been awhile, and I need an infusion of new, fresh ideas! Sounds like this class will be just the answer!

 

The class is $40. And it starts on Dec 1 and goes throughout the month of December!

Maggie even gave me a spot in her class to give away!

! SO… if you would like to WIN this fabulous class and get a little early CHRISTMAS gift !... head over to my facebook page and “like” my page… I’ll be choosing a winner from those who chime in!! so, leave me a message on my wall about the photography class, and I’ll randomly choose a winner!  WINNER will be chosen on WEDNESDAY night!  Read all about the class on Maggie’s blog or go HERE on her new website to check it out.

 

 

'MOvember'...

have you heard of it?

November is a special month of awareness for men's cancer, specifically Prostate Cancer... and to support and increase conversation, men all over are growing the MUSTACHE!! not a goatee, no attaching beards... just the 'stash'... in all it's glory... (as creepy, as it may seem!!) and a bit, may i submit...un-kissable! there you have it. 

my husband is a man capable of hearty facial hairgrowth, although i am NOT a fan of facial hair, and thus- he is pretty willing to stick w/ the clean shaven look pretty much everyday (in addition to the clean shaven head, which is quite a commitment!) I really think he has been secretly looking forward to the excuse that Movember brings! although, i will tell you that as his Mustache has come in, it's drawn a lot of laughs, some criticism and above all, has accomplished the goal of creating a conversation about Men's Heath...with those we know and don't know alike!  admitedly, it's tough to take the guy seriously!

don' t you just love it...? Eric has a page over at the Movember site, and there you can pledge/or donate a few bucks to the cause... this is the email that he sent out to friends, and i wanted to extend the invitation to you guys! i figure you guys know Eric pretty well! he's donated lots of time helping me with webshows, filming videos and other noble endeavors! this is a great way to show some appreciation! even just $10 would be fantastic!

FROM ERIC:

Hi family and friends,

For the last 20 days I have been working on something pretty cool (some say its a caterpillar, a skank stasche, a bro stache, hairy lip, slc motorcycle cop, mo) call it what you want but it is finally good enough to actually take a photo and have it look good (depending on who you ask).  In any event, I have not wanted to send this email out until there was sufficient growth and commitment on my part... now that it is at that point, please read the following 'canned' email and follow the link to donate to a really good cause.

Thanks,
eric


It’s Movember, the month formerly known as November, which is dedicated to growing moustaches and raising awareness and funds for men’s health. I have joined the movement and will be donating my upper lip to the cause for 30 days. My moustache (Mo) will spark conversations, and no doubt generate some laughs; all in the name of raising vital awareness and funds for cancers affecting men.

Why am I so passionate about men’s health?
*1 in 6 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime
*A man is diagnosed with prostate cancer every 2.2 minutes
*1 in 2 men will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime
*24% of men are less likely to go the doctor compared to women

Please support my efforts by making a donation at http://www.movember.com/m/2426852.
You can even write a check payable to “Movember Foundation”, reference my name and Registration Number 2426852 and send it to: Movember Foundation, PO Box 2726, Venice, CA 90294-2726

We only have a month to grow Mo's and raise awareness and funds, so please come along for the ride.

Funds raised will help make a tangible difference to the lives of others. Through the Movember Foundation and their men’s health partners, the Prostate Cancer Foundation and LIVESTRONG, Movember is funding world class awareness, research, educational and support programs which would otherwise not be possible.

For more details on how the funds raised from previous campaigns have been used and the impact Movember is having please click on the links below:

About Movember
Prostate Cancer Foundation research
LIVESTRONG
Global Action Plan

Thank you for donating at http://www.movember.com/m/2426852 and for helping me change the face of men's health. Go the Mo!

Eric Swapp

Movember is a registered 501 (c)(3) charity, donations are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.

of course... we love the men in our lives! dads, fathers, sons, brothers... this is an amazing cause, and one that deserves attention and support. i am asking for your support, and donations on his behalf, but really on behalf of the effort to fight these cancers... please take a minute, and give a little!  every little bit helps! thank you so much!... i know that there are many worthy causes which to donate. i truly believe this is one of them.

here's to all the mustaches out there this month!

time out...

i am sure you are with me when you have thought... someone, put me in "time out"... well, this weekend my mom and sister and i are going to Time OUT! (for women)... motivational/inspirational conference. excited.

calendar scrapbooks...

 

here are a few more shots of the caledar that i made in this weeks My Craft Channel episode! i really do love how it turned out! i used a super cheap calendar + an 11x14 double photo mat that i picked up from Michaels in the framing department...  when you watch the show, you can see how i took the calendar apart, adhered beautiful papers to the pages of the pre-printed calendar, and then bound the whole thing together with my Cinch by We R. 

i went a little crazy on the embellishment of the outside... have you seen or used these adorable hex tiles from Pink Paislee? SOO cute...  and these stamps come from the Nantucket stamp set that i sold last week on the featured buy at MCC if you were lucky enough to snag one of those kits!

once i start stamping, it's hard to stop... i got out my "soiree" and my "daily junque" stamp sets and just played! i have several colors of the Adirondak inks from Ranger (love the mountain rose colors a lot) and had fun mixing and layering as you can see here... i also added some misted ribbon, Nantucket ribbon and a fun Pink Paislee tassle.

i only added a couple scrapbook pages so far- this first one (JAN 2012) i used some mistable paper (unmisted, so cute..who knew?) and  then --if you spy that paper that is behind the photo on this page, it's the Coordinations cardstock that goes with the Pink Paislee Nantucket collection- just look at that yumminess! (sanded of course)-- here i also used some of the epherma from Nantucket and the little printed tin embellishment from the 'vintage vouge' collection.

here i have used more of the Coordinations Cardstock, as well as the Nantucket papers...and this time i embellished with more elements from the Vintage Vouge line: wood thread tops & the glossy, shiney chipboard clocks are Vintage Vouge as well (from Pink Paislee).

The rest of the pages from my calendar are black papers... just waiting for more scrapbooking!

here's a tiP: when you are looking for a calendar to use... make sure the bottom portion (where the days and calendar grid are)... is as plain as possible. you will see the funny calendar that i used (white tail bucks). Eric picked it out for me... but to his credit, he knew enough to make sure that the bottom was plain and didn't have 'bieber fever' or something like that! 

cute BOW aprons

a few weeks back, i spent a few hours playing YUDU fun!  i was needing a new apron, and a couple of gifts...so, i went to town dying, and then printing with both glitter and an outline in black.  i quite love them! so... i made a bunch, and thought maybe i'd sell a few!  if you have a special request, you could send a message... i have some white as well (not dyed).  and i have pretty much every color of glitter you can imagine! i'll be taking some special requests if they come before thanksgiving!

the aprons are available here for purchase ($20 +shipping) HERE

turkeys, 21, and tomorrow's show!

TUESDAY...it's been a good day. confession: today i had my house cleaned; and coming home to a clean house was so truly happy and rejuvinating. thanks TLC!

today was day 2 of the '21challenge' hosted by Rhonna Farrer, and also day 2 of the MPS GIVE class.. and today i shared a bunch of fun ideas that students can do with the amazing art they create! as i was contemplating my 21-day mission, of drawing closer to my Savior, today i kept thinking about how grateful i was feeling for my home; and for ALL the homes that i have been blessed with! see the project for the GIVE class was to make a 'subway art' piece that included addresses, and as i worked on my own, just seeing all the addresses from my past homes really tugged at my heart- i mean, it was really emotional to see all those addresses; it represented my (married) life! anyway, as i was sitting in my quiet, clean home while everyone was at school (i have 3 hours on Tues, Wed and Thurs of quiet) ...i was just overcome with graditude. and so for my '21challenge' i decided to create some little banners to hang, and display along with my Subway art.

"Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people." 1 Chron 16:8

of course... it's that time of the year that thinking about all the things we are thankful is a primary focus for everyone! which is awesome...today i felt overwhelmed, even just shopping around the grocery store with Capri and Connor collecting the items needed to create some little treats for Connor's pre-school snack! i got the idea here:

so.....we got the oreos, and the mini-nutterbutter cookies...some frosting, and candy corns (that we had to search around for)

so we are working away putting these together, and Eric and the boys walk in, and he says "pinterest?" ... and my reply, "is it that obvious!?" lol... even though these were just not as picture perfect as the original, the kids were SO excited! i mean, they thought these were so amazing! they loved making them! i got a LOT of help!! i am sure Connor's friends will love them for the 2 seconds before they devour them! and ...was feeling super grateful for Pinterest... (or as my mom calls it 'pinternet')

well,

it is Tuesday night, and tomorrow is Wednesday, which is the day that every week a new episode of my show "create to remember" airs on My Craft Channel... i love the project that will be featured tomorrow! so tune in tomorrow, and i'll show more photos! wait until you see what i made this out of!

 

 

ode to the "marathon" (tape) runner...

i filmed a few videos for the MPS Give class... and i thought that i'd cut some of the parts of me using my new fav adhesive and make a little clip, to share my love!  i get asked a lot about waht kind of adhesive i like to use- and i am picky- i use different adhesive for different things...but i have definately added this to my must-have list. i think it's really nice to hold when using- it's a really good level of sticky-ness... so here you go... and with it you get a little look at what we are doing in the MPS GIVE class...

 

21 days...

You may have noticed that the adorable Rhonna Farrer has started up another version of her famous 21-day challenge… it’s really fun and really easy to play along. The premise behind the idea is that it takes 21 days to form/or break a habit. (or get a really good start at one or the other).  For 3 weeks, Rhonna shares inspiring quotes and messages along with a good dose of encouragement on her blog. if you have something you want to change…it’s a fun and creative way to focus on that, and spend some time motivating yourself to improve, reach… grow!

I have followed along a couple times and have decided to join in again…this time with a bit more of a spiritual focus. For me, I just haven’t been taking the time I really need to focus on what REALLY matters, and be tune with my Savior. Especially as we approach the holiday season…it’s just something I want to work on. SO, i started TODAY!! i am feeling really good about it... i am going to use photos from my instagram, and couple them with favorite scriptures... here is today- it's a good start:

i can remember when i was pretty young...like 6-7 years old, i was at my friend's house.. Jackie and Jen (cute twins), and their mom had this picutre framed in their living room... one day, their mom pointed out to me that there is no doorknob on this door- that Christ can't just come in... He waits until we open our heart, and our life to Him! she told me that He would ALWAYS be there waiting for whenever i need Him, and wish to allow Him in.  i have always remembered that! while i don't feel like i have shut Him out by any means... i want to 'draw near'.

Rhonna mentioned that she is posting her 21-day challenge inspriation through Instagram. If you don't know what instagram is.. it's SO awesome. you can take a photo, and then add a filter, and a caption, and post it! you can follow people and stuff. the photos are unique and fabulous! but you can also follow her on twitter here. if you are tweeting it up be sure to hashtag #the21challenge

kicking off the holidays!

It’s Sunday night, and the kids are all in bed, and I have finally had a chance to sit down and evaluate the last week, and think/plan for a new week. I can NOT believe that November is ½ over! (gasp)...  i am not sure how I feel about that!, other than I just feel freaked out about how the time seems to be slipping by so quickly!

Today kicks off the first day of the newest Mouse Paper Scissors class: GIVE at www.jessicasprague.com.  In fact, THE Jessica Sprague was here in town for the weekend and I got to spend a little time with her—she is so amazing.

We had a great time. We even got to squeeze in a little inspiration shopping and some yummy restaurants! ( UGH, blew my diet).  Seeing all the amazing, GORGEOUS and sparkly Christmas décor was so fun…

got my little creative ideas buzzing! If you get a few minutes, and you can browse through a yummy smelling Christmas boutique…you’ll be glad you did!  It was great to have some ‘girl time’. The weather is definitely matching the season: chilly, flurries, leaves swirling.  The only redeeming quality of this cold weather is the fact that it warrants scarves.  I have quite a collection! But this one is my favorite:

So, tonight I was watching “Facing the Giants” on TV… have you ever seen this movie? I think I have seen bits of pieces of it… but I watched it twice tonight. It’s really inspiring, and so filled with truth, and wonderful insight.  And things, that I think that I needed to hear tonight:

1. make sure you know what your purpose is.
2. If you accept defeat, that is what you will get
3. Your actions will always follow your belief.
4. We are here on this earth to honor God. Give Him your best.
5. do not fear.

 

It’s definitely not my ‘thing’ to watch football movies… but there was one part in particular that is really sticking with me. There is a guy that tells a story of 2 farmers that both needed rain. Both decided to pray for rain, but only one of the farmers went out to prepare his fields to receive the rain.  He asked…which farmer had faith that God would hear his prayers? (of course the answer being the one that prepared for rain). And then the question: which farmer are you?

 

………………….and, in all things praise God. 

It’s a good movie to share with your family. This afternoon, we were all cuddled up on my bed watching, and it even opened up a chance to talk about some of the valuable lessons. I am thankful for those kinds of moments. Some good thoughts to carry with me into this week. (as I am mentally preparing for the holidays!)

 

Here’s to a great week… MAKE it great…

inspiring me now...