2011 Scrapbooking Goals

After thinking about this post for a few days, I think I have my scrapbooking goals for 2011 in order. Here goes ...

1. Finish the Organize Your Stuff Challenge over at 2Peas in a Bucket

2. Complete the "12 Weeks To Better Photos" on the General Photography board at 2Peas in a Bucket

3. Jump into Becky Higgin's "Project Life" (my 2009 kit is called Project 365, but it's the same concept)

4. Participate in Patter Cross's "ABC Scripture Challenge"

5. Monthly participation in Shimelle Laine's "4x6 Photo Love" workshop at 2Peas
6. Fully engage in BPC's "Embrace Imperfection" workshop during the actual class (starts 2/10/11)

7. Finish BPC's "52 Card Pick Up" class (tons of techniques still to learn)

8. 2011 Christmas cards

Project 365 makes me nervous. I guess that's why I've put it off for two years. But this seems to be the perfect project to pair with learning the ins-and-outs of my new camera. Between the 12 week photo course, P365 and Shimelle's class, I'll be forced to get comfortable with my Rebel.

Now I'm printing-off this list, hanging it right at eye level at my desk, then going to add some class reminders to my Blackberry. For all my crafty friends, most of the classes/challenges listed above are FREE (# 1, 2, 4, 5 & 6). Come join me!

This an extremely ambitious goal list for me. Especially since it's only my paper crafting goals, and doesn't include any knitting projects. But the knitting is easier to just pick up and go, where the scrapping stuff, at least for me, needs to be planned. Any one want to share their list?

Have a safe and happy New Year's Eve!

My new Rebel T2i

I have wanted to upgrade my Kodak bridge camera to a DSLR and have been researching models for months. It's been quite a while since I've used a SLR camera and I can't wait to get reacquainted. As my family and friends know, I am the Queen of Research. I choose the Canon EOS Rebel T2i and DH and I decided it would be my Christmas present. This is a camera I can grow into as I re-learn the basics of photography after using a point-and-shoot for so long.

I decided to purchase just the T2i body instead of a kit (lens included) since I wanted to choose lens I purchase based on my usage. I picked up the Canon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS zoom lens to start with and have been thrilled with my photos so far. Next up will be a prime lens, probably the Canon 50mm f/1.4.

I'm starting the 2Peas in a Bucket, "12 Weeks to Better Photos", FREE online workshop next week and am excited to refresh my photography skills, step out of auto-mode and get comfortable with my new camera. Now I need to find a cute camera bag ;)

Jeanette Lynton's FINAL Color Me Monday

I Love the Winter Weather

"... OK, so perhaps I don’t love being in the winter weather, but I do enjoy looking at it. When the world is covered in a blanket of glistening snow and everything is touched with silver, it’s a pretty beautiful thing. Today’s final installment of Color Me Monday celebrates that look with a color combination in Buttercup, Grey Flannel, Outdoor Denim, and Sky. You’ll note that all the colors here are soft, with the exception of punches of Denim, reminiscent of a December nightfall. The Buttercup and Sky stamping (the background of the Winter Cheer card and pennants) are all in second generation, to give just a hint of color.

And just like the outdoors, every piece of artwork today is brushed with silver—the sentiments and snowflakes on the card are created with glitter rub-ons, the One of a Kind card is brushed with pearl paint, and my Mix ‘n’ Mingle clear banner is lavished in Dimensional Elements snowflakes frosted in silver and embossed in silver as well. Makes me want to cozy up for the end of the year!


And speaking of “end,” I did indeed say that this would be the very last post on Color Me Monday. It’s been such fun to experiment with color, share color tricks, and show my artwork and artwork created by my friends and fellow stampers in our art studio. If you’ve enjoyed Color Me Monday each week, then I think you’ll like what I have planned for 2011, too! I’ll be sharing “52 Weeks of Wonder,” a stamping technique every single week. Can’t wait to see you then!"

Jeanette Lynton

Merry Christmas

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with judgment and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this."

Isaiah 9:6-7 (NIV)

Christmas: God Is For You

Christmas: God Is for You by Rick Warren

But the angel reassured them. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people."
Luke 2:10 (NLT)

Knowing God is for you will change your whole perspective on life. You'll stop thinking of God as someone looking down from heaven, ready to yell, "Gotcha!" anytime you mess up.

Instead, you'll realize God loves you; God is with you; and God is for you! God is for your success in life; he created you for a purpose and he wants you to succeed. It is God, your Creator, who will measure your success in life, and no one else.

This is extremely good news!

It means you don't need to be afraid of God because God is for you. Yet, some people are so afraid of God they get nervous just talking about him. Do you know why? They feel guilty, and then they start thinking, "If I get close to God, he's going to lecture me. He's going to remind me of all the things I've done wrong, and then I'll feel even worse!"

Nothing could be further from the truth of God. Jesus said, "I did not come into the world to condemn it, but to save it." In effect, Jesus is saying, "I didn't come to scold you, I came to save you."

And if God is for us, who can be against us?

Jesus came to save us, not to scare us. That's why when the angel was telling the shepherds about the birth of Jesus, the first thing he says is: "Don't be afraid!"

In fact, when God sends a message to people in the Bible, it's not unusual for the first words to be: "Don't be afraid." There are 365 messages from God in the Bible that begin with a phrase like, "Fear not!" In other words, every single day of the year you can read a message from God that says, in effect, "You don't need to be afraid. I am for you; I am with you; I love you."

We celebrate Christmas because of this good news from God!

Art & Soul®: Pulling It All Together

CTMH has put together another amazing Art & Soul webisode. "Pulling It All Together" features mixed media stamping techniques that take your stamping ... beyond paper. Watch and enjoy.

"It’s the most versatile mixed media album ever. Learn how to stamp with pizzazz on the My Creations® Mix & Mingle album’s clear plastic and chipboard pages. Then watch it transform from an album into a wall hanging, a banner, a card, or use pages from it on your scrapbook layouts. You’ll also learn how to create gorgeous B&T Duos® paper using a faux painting technique with Liquid Glass. Jeanette Lynton shares her fully compiled calendar she’s been creating page by page and showcasing on her blog each month this year. Truly inspirational!"

Jeanette Lynton's Color Me Monday

The Best Gifts ~

"Presents are on everyone’s mind this week. Did we choose the right one? Is it wrapped and ready? Did it arrive in the mail yet? While getting and giving gifts is definitely a fun part of the season, I have to admit that the best gift of all is time together—and of course, the scrapbooks we create to preserve it all.

Today’s color combination in New England Ivy, Garden Green, Cranberry, and Crème Brulee features a layout that really hits home with that idea. This adorable little girl is Abbie, daughter to Stacy, our Marketing Manager. She’s an only child and apple of mom and dad’s eye! Stacy is such a sweet and caring mom, and Abbie is a favorite around the office, always sharing little notes and colorful drawings with the marketing team. I love this layout, which showcases a dozen of the things Stacy loves about her daughter—each one concealed inside a fun peek-a-boo window that Abbie will enjoy opening again and again. What a great gift!"

Jeanette Lynton

Lovely Leaf Lace Scarf

I am currently working on the gorgeous Lovely Leaf Lace scarf I found over at The Purl Bee. It's the most intricate pattern I've attempted so far, and I love all the details. The stitches that create this beautiful and dimensional pattern are a simple combination of strategic yarn-overs and decreases. The lace pattern has a wonderful dimensionality, while the stockinette pattern curls around your neck like a big soft hug.

I choose a great 100% Peruvian Highland Merino Wool (The Heathers 220 - color 9407) from Cascade Yarns and I'm thrilled how the flecks of color accent the stitch pattern. Sharon Fogg, the owner of StillWater Fibers, helped guide my choice as I'm still learning the ins and outs of yarn selection. Her customer service is superb and I will definitely visit her shop again. Thanks Sharon!

Seasonal Wish from Lion Brand

Paper Christmas Trees by Jeanette Lynton

For those of you that noticed the paper Christmas trees in Monday's post, here are directions to make your own for the upcoming holiday. And if you post your work on a blog, please add a comment with your link here so I can see your creation. :)

"A couple of you posted comments that you’d love to re-create the trees shown in this week’s Color Me Monday. It takes a little time, but the project is a simple one and the results are totally worth it!

Start by making a 12” and a 10” cone out of topiary cardstock. You may use a protractor or use a long string attached to a pencil. Measure out 12 “on the string and mark it. Hold this mark exactly at one corner of the paper while you draw a line on the bottom curve of the paper with the pencil. Cut on the line and roll the sides together keeping the corner where you held the string at the top. You now have a 12 inch cone. Adhere the sides together lapping only slightly using hot glue (or sew with thread and needle to give it extra reinforcement). Repeat for the smaller tree using a 10 inch string.

To make the small, tree punch approximately 64 one-inch circles from Pear cardstock and punch about 60 one-inch circles from the Topiary leaf-print B&T paper taken from the Splendor Level 2 Paper Packet. (Or use any combination of green cardstock and B&T scrap paper that you may have from other projects—your trees will look a little more eclectic, but it’s a fabulous use for scraps!) For the large tree, punch 84 Pear cardstock one-inch circles and about 75 from the same Topiary leaf B&T paper.

Using a White Daisy Exclusive Inks Pad, direct distress one side of each circle. Allow ink to dry for several hours or set ink with a heat gun. Slightly curl each circle by wrapping it around a pencil loosely. Using a hot glue gun or glue dots start at the bottom of each cone with the pear cardstock circles. Overlap them slightly as you go around the entire bottom circle. Alternate the paper for the next row and also overlap each circle slightly as well as lapping over the bottom row slightly. Continue alternating rows until you reach the top. At the top of the large tree add two small bows of Blush gingham ribbon back to back using a glue gun. At the top of the small tree add two Dimensional Elements Stars back to back (using Glue Dots) that have been inked with Topiary ink.

On the large tree, for a little extra flair, embellish the “leaves” with pink Sparkles using large ones at the bottom and smaller ones at the top. On the small tree use the green Sparkles to embellish the tree. Put them in the center of your table with fluffy fake snow underneath and enjoy!"

Jeanette Lynton

I Saw Three Ships by Jon Schmidt

Color Me Monday

A Cozy Winter Party

"If you’re feeling a little “blah” this winter, then here’s a color combination sure to transform the drab days into a real party! Today’s color combination includes Pear, Topiary, Baby Pink and Smoothie and features everything you need for a great winter gathering. In addition to the great colors, the “All Decked Out” stamp set (D1308) is really the star of the show—I call it the “build-a-snowman set,” and it’s an adorable, easy way to create all things snowy."

Jeanette Lynton

Tag Advent Calendar

After registering for Karen Grunberg's FREE "Embrace Imperfection" workshop at BPC, I clicked-over to her personal blog and found some amazing stuff. Like the gorgeous advent calendar shown here. Twelve pocket tags, created with 5 different color schemes, each embellished differently and each with a simple 2x2 square message tag inside the pocket.

I love this project! I wish I had found it sooner, but will definitely making this next year. Karen's blog post includes a materials list, step-by-step instructions and a template for the 2x2 message tag. She evens shares her list of tag messages! There's a bunch of photos of her advent calendar and the individual tags to help jump-start your creativity. Thanks for the inspiration Karen.

FREE class at BPC

"Have no fear of perfection - you'll never reach it." Salvador Dali


I've discovered another FREE class, this time over at Big Picture Classes. Karen Grunberg's workshop, Embrace Imperfection, is all about different areas of imperfection that possibly get in the way of your crafting. Class starts on February 10th and I look forward to letting go of the need to achieve perfection on each layout and getting back to the business of preserving memories.

"Many people never create the layouts they dream of creating because they are paralyzed by the fear of imperfection. They think that if their photos aren't technically excellent, their words aren't just right, or they use the wrong colors, their layout will not be worth creating. A voice in their head tells them the page is not perfect, the photo is less than ideal, and the papers are not lined up properly. They cannot stop the feelings of inadequacy from creeping into their mind and so they stare at one embellishment as they try to decide where to place it…for hours…days. Sometimes they even walk away permanently." Karen Grunberg

Rolled Fabric Flowers tutorial

I found the greatest tutorial for making rolled fabric flowers over on the Our Best Bites blog. Who would have thought I'd find a craft tutorial on a cooking blog?! Sara's set-by-step tutorial is awesome ... as are her creations. I've pulled-over a few of her photos to entice you to visit their blog. Here's a link to the tutorial post: Rolled Fabric Flowers

~~~

Knitting Needle Knitting Bag from Knitting Daily

I found this super cute (and FREE) pattern by Pam Allen on Knitting Daily and can't wait to give it a try. I have a collection of needles from my grandmother that would be perfect for this project. I prefer circular needles over long straight needles and this particular bag would showcase a pair of my grandmother's beloved needles.

Although the bag will be functional for smaller projects on-the-go, the instant visual memory of my grandmother is the main reason for creating this bag. What better way to honor her love for knitting and crocheting than a bag meant to hold a yarn project that also incorporates a pair of her well-loved needles.

I've included a few photos of some finished bags by fellow Raverly knitters. Aren't they gorgeous! In order of the photos, projects are created by the following crafters: christiemarsh88, mma and knittybarb.

Thank you for this wonderful pattern Pam Allen!

Crafters Alert!

The Tuesday Morning ad that breaks today has Advantus Spinning Totes for $9.99. They are listed in the "Weekend Specials" section which runs Friday - Sunday, December 10 -12. Product description is listed as: "CRAFT SPINNING TOTES by ADVANTUS $9.99, ORIGINAL RETAIL $24.99. Magnetic carousel spins for easy use. Features 35 pockets. Accessories not included."

The Advantus Tote - Ally Cool Tote receives rave reviews. The two models shown in the ad are black with pink trim and a black/green combo. My enabling is complete ... ;)

Another CTMH Color me Monday

Home for the Holidays ... With Studio J!

"Today’s color combination is a holiday classic in Barn Red, Cocoa, Garden Green and Olive. The two Christmas-themed cards are elegant (check out the pearl Opaques, used as tree trimming and as ornament hangers—I tell you, these are just the most versatile accents of the season!), but I admit that the big story of today’s post is the layout. It features some great photos of Kristine Widtfeldt’s clan enjoying last year’s holiday activities, and it was created using one of my anytime favorite activities—scrapbooking in Studio J!"

Jeanette Lynton

Your Destiny has Eternal Significance

"All of us must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent me, because there is little time left before the night falls and all work comes to an end."
John 9:4 (NLT)

Your destiny has eternal significance. And it will impact the eternal destiny of other people, so it's more important than any job, achievement, or goal you will reach during your life on earth.

The consequences of your mission will last forever; the consequences of your job will not. Nothing else you do will ever matter as much as helping people establish an eternal relationship with God.

This is why you must be urgent about knowing your destiny and completing your mission. Jesus said, "All of us must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent me, because there is little time left before the night falls and all work comes to an end." (John 9:4 NLT)

The clock is ticking down on your life mission, so don't delay another day. Get started on your mission of reaching out to others now! We will have all of eternity to celebrate with those we have brought to Jesus, but we only have our lifetime in which to reach them.

This does not mean you should quit your job to become a full-time evangelist. God wants you to share the Good News where you are. As a student, mother, preschool teacher, salesman, or manager or whatever you do, you should continually look for people God places in your path with whom you can share the gospel.

by Rick Warren

HOLLERADO - AMERICANARAMA Video

Watch the 24 people in the background structure and you'll be amazed. From what I've read, this video was shot in just one take. Gives new meaning to the phrase ... "Timing is everything".

CTMH's "Plenty for Twenty" Promotion & SOTM

Spend $20 or more in December and receive a FREE D-size stamp set!

Place an order of $20 or more* on my CTMH website from December 1–31, 2010, and CTMH will reward you with a popular, retired D-size stamp set for FREE! Talk about getting more for your money—the free stamp set is valued at $22.95! I’m sure you’ll be thrilled with the set CTMH picks out for you.

CTMH is also giving you FREE shipping/handling and tax on your free stamp set. That’s a lot of Plenty for your Twenty! Grab Plenty for Twenty in December by visiting my CTMH website and making a qualifying purchase today!

*Excluding tax and shipping/handling. Qualifying purchases must include shippable products (Studio J® layout purchases excluded, Studio J memberships and 5-packs will count toward a qualifying order only if shippable items are also ordered).

And the December Stamp Of The Month, Amore, is gorgeous! Want to join an exclusive club? Every month CTMH offers you an exclusive My Acrylix® D-size stamp set FREE or at a large discount. The stamp set is available to qualifying customers for that month only. It’s our way of saying thank you, and your way of getting fantastic deals on our amazing stamps!

Win a FREE Jessica Sprague class!

Positive Psychology, Gratitude, Character Strengths (and Winning!)

"If you have some time this weekend, I recommend taking the VIA Character Strengths assessment. It’s a very interesting look at 24 different character strengths that have been identified by researchers in a field called Positive Psychology. The idea is that after you discover your strengths, you can work to improve ones you’re weaker at, but also play to the ones you’re stronger at. It’s been truly enlightening for me to have my top 5 strengths posted at my computer so I see them every day. One of the secrets to happiness - and I really believe this - is finding ways to be able to operate in areas of strength as much as possible.

Here is the link: http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/Default.aspx

You have to create an account so it will save your assessments. After you make your account, click on the test called “VIA Survey of Character Strengths” to take the test. It’s 240 questions long, but it goes fast, and I promise it’ll be worth it!

After you take the test, please share your strengths with me in the comments. I’ll pick a lucky commenter to win a FREE CLASS from JessicaSprague.com - your choice! I’ll pick the winner on Tuesday night, so you have until 6 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday to take the assessment and post at least one of your top 5 strengths here in the comments. :)"

I took the test myself, and found the questions and results quite intriguing. Make sure you post your results here (on Jessica's blog post) for your chance to win a FREE class. And in case you're interested, here are my results:

1. Spirituality, sense of purpose, and faith
2. Zest, enthusiasm, and energy
3. Citizenship, teamwork, and loyalty
4. Curiosity and interest in the world
5. Industry, diligence, and perseverance

Jeanette Lynton's Color Me Monday

Winter ... In Bloom?

"You probably think of Juniper and Tulip as great colors to use for cheery spring projects (and they are!). But they also make for fun and cheery WINTER projects, too, with just a little help and inspiration from great stamps! I’ve added Cocoa and Desert Sand to these two blooming, traditionally-springy colors for warm winter results.

~~~

The snowflake designs are stamped in Versamark and heat embossed in clear for a great resist pattern. Then, using a mix of pearl paint and Juniper reinker misted from a spritz bottle right onto Colonial White cardstock, you’ll get a magical, shimmery result. Beautiful! Where did we get the spritz bottle? You can choose: an emptied Spritz Cleaner bottle works great, and so, too, does our brand-new Spray Pen—it’s coming out in our new Spring/Summer 2011 Idea Book, so you don’t have long to wait!"

Jeanette Lynton

PSA - FREE Jessica Sprague class

"Every six months or so, as a way of giving back to the community that has given me so much, I like to offer a FREE CLASS. I've done scrapbooking, photo editing, cards, prompts, holidays. This time I wanted to call ALL CRAFTERS & CREATIVE SOULS to join me on a Journey of Inspiration.

In our 10-day class together, we'll make projects to help us gather and organize inspiration in five different categories. For each of the themes we'll have a project to make, and different crafty techniques to call your creative muse, no matter WHAT kind of art you make!"

Words
Music
Art

Tools
Play

Jessica Sprague

I've registered and will be following along with the class to learn some new techniques and get my inspiration flowing. Anyone joining me?

IKEA 2x2 Expedit

I finally took some photos of my new IKEA 2x2 Expedit bookcase. This has been a long time coming and I'm excited how well it's working in my scroffice. I needed additional lower-surface space to move my base-only Clip-It-Up from the 4x4 Expedit. Now that the CIU is more accessible, I've ordered the top-tier unit to expand my storage. The Cuttlebug lives on the bookcase and visually prompts me to use it more often.

The top 2 cubes hold my growing yarn stash, a few fiber art books and my pattern binder. I moved my set of storage drawers containing embossing supplies, specialty inks, Stickles and glitter, and paints to one bottom cube. The last cube now holds my albums and extra page protectors.

And yes, the box on the left is Becky Higgin's Project 365, released two years ago. Love the kit and the idea behind the inspiration, I've just been too overwhelmed to start a daily photo and journaling project. Maybe 2011 is the year since my scroffice is finally taking shape ;)

Out with the old, in with the new

Black Friday shopping is not for me. At least not in the past 10 years or so. I did partake years ago, when my oldest daughter was very young and my mom and I could shop ... childless. At some point, the crazy hours and mass of people just became more uncomfortable than paying a "really great sale price" over a Black Friday deal.

Instead of spending money shopping, I took an early morning loan closing to earn money (I'm a self-employed signing agent). I stopped in Staples on the way home to recycle some ink cartridges and I just had to take a look around. At 10:30 AM, the store looked normal. No hoards of people, no ridiculous lines and tons of helpful Staples employees just waiting to assist a customer.



Since my 8th-grader has declared our laptop "slow", I decided to search-out the new laptop deals of the day. Granted, our existing Dell laptop was purchased in 2004, but DH has upgraded it over time and it still serves its purpose. But oh my, the new laptops are light-weight, have huge screens and seem lightening fast. And, I admit, I'm not the computer person in our family. I leave that area to my DH. My computer skills are exactly what I need to run a successful closing business, maintain this blog and surf the net for all things fun or necessary. I don't know (and don't want to know) the inner workings of computers or the different processors, memory sizes and hard drive things. I've got enough on my plate.

That said, Ryan (helpful Staples guy) was patient and knowledgeable. And was willing to speak with DH on the phone to determine the best laptop purchase for us. I walked-out with the last Black Friday deal on an HP G72-B66US laptop. No, it's not the latest and greatest, or the fastest, but it is a huge step-up from our older Dell. It's more than what we need and will serve this family well.

And I didn't have to get up early to stand in line with a bunch of crazy shoppers!

Happy Thanksgiving

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts."

Colossians 3:15-16

Take a minute to watch this "Attitude of Gratitude" video.

Silhoutte Giveaway

Sara and Kate are having another great giveaway over at Our Best Bites. The Silhoutte Giveaway is valued at $299 and includes all of the following: the Silhouette SD machine, software for Windows XP/Vista or Mac, power cable and USB cable, 2 cutting mats (1 for thick media and one for thin media), 1 cutting blade and 1 $10 gift certificate to the Silhouette download store. WOW!

Important contest info:

~ due to customs and shipping, the Silhouette cutter and all the accompanying loot can only be shipped to addresses within the U.S.
~ one entry per person
~ contest will close on Sunday, November 28th, at 8:00 Mountain time
~ winner will be announced on Monday, November 29th

Here's hoping I win!

Color Me Monday: Rites of "Passages"

"Today’s artwork centers on using kit papers you know work well in one theme, but using them in a completely different way. The kit in question? Passages, one of my favorites. It’s a great paper collection with an old-world travel feel. Aged documents, maps, and weathered leather-look papers make you want to pack your bags to discover a new exotic locale.

~~~~~

Except today, where Passages has been completely reinterpreted for Thanksgiving artwork. Its Brown Bag, Crème Brulee, Garden Green, and Smoothie color palette make it ideal for the holiday, right down to a great recipe box perfect for holding Grandma’s secret roll recipe! (My favorite touch: the Opaque pearl accents used to dot the “i” in “recipes” and for the mantel accents on the “warm welcome” card. They’re a perfect match!) Add in a few other seasonal colors for the hearth and the cornucopia, and you’ve made Passages pass for Thanksgiving!"

Jeanette Lynton

FAITH

F - Foresaking
A - All
I - I
T - Trust
H - Him

As Nike would say ... JUST DO IT!

More from Jon Schmidt - Waterfall

I've added some Jon Schmidt CDs to my Christmas list. He has some "Holiday Highlights" posted on his website that would make wonderful gifts. Enjoy the YouTube video.

Art & Soul: Stencil, Sparkle, and Shine

Stamp stenciling is the featured technique on CTMH's latest Art & Soul webisode. Products shown be found, and purchased, at my CTMH website.

"Need a little inspiration this season? You’ll find it right here! Get amazing shading and dimension using the stamp stenciling technique. Save time and money making holiday creations using a circle punch and any one of a number of stamp sets. And trim the tree with beautiful Dimensional Elements Ornaments. It’s all right here on Art & Soul®!"

Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters by Meg Meeker, MD

I found this book at BJs and was intrigued enough to read the entire first chapter while standing in the book aisle. As the parent of three daughters, this book provides some powerful insights surrounding the importance of a strong father figure for every daughter. This will make a perfect Christmas gift for my husband.

"The most important person in a young girl’s life? Her father. That’s right-and teen health expert Dr. Meg Meeker has the data and clinical experience to prove it. After more than twenty years of counseling girls, she knows that fathers, more than anyone else, set the course for their daughters’ lives. Now Dr. Meeker, author of the critically acclaimed Epidemic: How Teen Sex Is Killing Our Kids, shows you how to strengthen-or rebuild-your bond with your daughter, and how to use it to shape her life, and yours, for the better. Directly challenging the feminist attack on traditional masculinity, Dr. Meeker demonstrates that the most important factor for girls growing up into confident, well-adjusted women is a strong father with conservative values. To have one, she shows, is the best protection against eating disorders, failure in school, STDs, unwed pregnancy, and drug or alcohol abuse; and the best predictor of academic achievement, successful marriage, and a satisfying emotional life."

Color Me Monday: A Perfect Sunset

A Perfect Sunset

"If you’re relatively new to the art and science of creating color combinations, let me suggest starting with neutrals. They’re easy to work with and tough to misapply. Then, you can select virtually ANY color as your 'pop' color to breathe life into a fun and functional combination. For today, my base color palette is all in browns—Bamboo, Desert Sand, and Cocoa. My pop of color? The perfect Sunset. It’s great for making the combo a delicious fall flavor, but this combo would look great if the pop were Hollyhock or Pear for spring, or Lagoon or Sunflower for summer, or even Cranberry for winter.

The layout features our Creative Marketing Manager Kristy and her four smart, great kids. One unique trick you might want to notice in the layout (and in the cards, too) are the great bracket shapes. In the layout, the bracket is used as a journaling box. For the 'Blessings' card, the bracket forms a dramatic card edge, and in the 'Thanks' card, the bracket is used to contain the sentiment. Where did these great shapes come from? Here’s the trick: They are all templates from the 'Magic' book! The templates come on an included DVD, and you can easily re-size them and print them to use smaller or larger than suggested for the layout patterns. By making the templates smaller, these bracket shapes became ideal templates used to create the journaling box, card front, and sentiment holder. Voila, it’s Magic!"

Jeanette Lynton

Movie Trailer for The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

Here's a recap of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader and the official movie trailer.

"Return to the magic and wonder of C.S. Lewis' beloved world - via the fantastic Narnian ship, the Dawn Treader. In this new installment of the blockbuster 'The Chronicles of Narnia' motion picture franchise, Edmund and Lucy Pevensie, along with their cousin Eustace, their royal friend King Caspian, and a warrior mouse named Reepicheep, find themselves swallowed into a painting and on to the Dawn Treader.

Their mission - on which rests the fate of Narnia itself - takes the courageous voyagers to mysterious islands and a river that turns to gold, to fateful confrontations with magical creatures and sinister enemies, and to a reunion with their friend and protector, the 'Great Lion', Aslan."

The Chronicles of Narnia ~ The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

I was thrilled to learn about the upcoming release of the third installment in The Chronicles of Narnia series. I am a huge Narnia fan! This will be a great holiday movie for the entire family. Having read the series multiple times as a child, and again just a few years ago, I'm going to invest in a hard cover set for my girls.

I'm also going to pick-up a copy of A Family Guide to Narnia by Christin Ditchfield.

"Do you read The Chronicles of Narnia sensing that the stories are full of biblical parallels, even if you're not always sure what they are or where to find them? This user-friendly companion to The Chronicles of Narnia is written for C. S. Lewis readers like you who want to discover the books' biblical and Christian roots. Read it, and you'll find that this chapter-by-chapter, book-by-book examination of The Chronicles will widen your spiritual vision."
Crossway

"Looking for a new direction for your family devotions? Why not visit Narnia---a land that will capture your kids' imaginations and help them understand the gospel! Brimming with Scripture references, Ditchfield's practical chapter-by-chapter guide helps you understand the rich biblical imagery in all seven chronicles so you can share these treasures with your children."

Family Christian Stores

Perfectly Placed ...

I'm speechless. And that hasn't happened often in my life!

Enabler Alert!

Celebrate this holiday season with friends and family 2010! Get 20% off your entire purchase during any one visit between November 9-16, 2010.

I love Christmas Tree Shops! Leave me a comment with your email address and I'll forward you the coupon link.

Don't you just love a bargain?

Jeanette Lynton's Color Me Monday

The Palette of Gratitude

"Today’s beautiful color palette is inspired by the brilliant Goldrush leaves (now falling on lawns everywhere), along with the shorter days and deepening blue skies of Lagoon, Outdoor Denim, and Pacifica. These are such perfectly seasonal colors; I’m surrounded by them when I look out any window. Every year, when these colors start invading the landscape, it triggers my “gratitude reflex” and I always become profoundly reflective on my blessings as we approach Thanksgiving.

Note, too, that the cards I’m sharing today focus on using cardstock—with a little distressing and some just-right stamping, cardstock really is all you need to make a simple but bold statement. I hope you enjoy playing with this color palette—and that you’re enjoying similar seasonal colors wherever you live!"

Jeanette Lynton

Only God Can Give You Financial Security

Only God Can Give You Financial Security by Rick Warren

But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.

Deuteronomy 8:18 (NIV)

"When I turn on the water, I don't really think the water comes from the faucet. In the same way, the source of my finances is God, not my job."

As you enter your Decade of Destiny, it is important that you trust God with your finances. If you want God to bless you financially, you must remain focused on the truth that he is the source of your finances and he is the one who supplies your needs.

What does that mean? It means I'm not looking to an employer for my security. I'm not looking to my savings for security. I'm not looking to anyone or anything other than God to supply my needs.

Let me illustrate it this way: When I turn on the water, I don't really think the water comes from the faucet. I know that the water really comes from a reservoir. It just comes to me through the faucet. In the same way, the income that God wants to give you may come through a job or through something else.

But the source is God.

If you trust in a bank account, the bank account can be taken away. If you trust in your savings, you can lose it. The only true security you can have is when you put your trust in God. He is the starting point of your finances. He is the one and only true source of your finances.

This means you don't need to worry about which faucet he uses to supply your needs. In a sense he says, 'If I turn off one faucet, I can just as easily turn on another. If you lose one job, I can give you another. I am your source, not your job. I am your source, not your bank account.'

A Little MORE Thanks from CTMH

FREE stamps to say Thank You in November ...

During November we're expressing our gratitude to you by helping you earn 2 fabulous CTMH My Acrylix® stamp sets for FREE! When you place a minimum order of $100, you will not only receive the November Stamp of the Month set, A Little Thanks, for FREE*, you will also receive one stamp set of your choosing from the 2010 Autumn/Winter Idea Book for FREE! This means you can increase the value of your purchase by up to $45.90—that’s almost 50 percent more in value! It’s just our way of imparting A Little MORE Thanks to you for being a great customer.

*Free stamp sets include A-D size sets. Stamps that are not available as the free set include Workshops on the Go,™ Stamp of the Month retail, E-size, and customizable K-size. Tax and shipping/handling may apply. Offer good November 1–30, 2010.

Color Me Monday: A Breath of Fresh Air!

"Today’s magic color in my combination is Sky—even though it’s November now, we can all use a breath of fresh air! I absolutely adore this palette, which feels like autumn, but is also bright, cheery, and inspiring. Cranberry, Sorbet, and Bamboo make a great backdrop for this November calendar page with its seasonal leaves (don’t you love the corner-rounded “petals” for each date? This is one of my favorite tool techniques; easy and impactful). But it’s the touch of Sky that really elevates the whole look."

Jeanette Lynton

Happy Halloween

Found this cute guy lurking on another blog. Thanks Anita!

CTMH's November SOTM

Want to join an exclusive club? Every month CTMH offers you an exclusive My Acrylix® D-size stamp set FREE or at a large discount. The stamp set is available to qualifying customers for that month only. It’s our way of saying thank you, and your way of getting fantastic deals on our amazing stamps!

November's set, "A Little Thanks", is adorable and a must-have for card makers and scrapbookers alike. The versatility of A Little Thanks will make this your go-to sentiment stamp set for a multitude of projects. Contact me to place your order and grab your own set!

Shopping at IKEA

I am plowing through another round of the Organize Your Stuff Challenge over at 2 Peas in a Bucket. Some of us "organizers" were summer drop-outs and our illustrious leader (thanks Crisann!) decided to host a third round. And since my knitting hobby has kicked into high gear since the first challenge started back in January, my space has taken-on an additional function. Yarn storage is quickly becoming an issue, and I want to incorporate my fiber stash in my scroffice. So off to IKEA we go ...

I'm lucky to have 3 IKEA stores just about an hour from my home. I grabbed a scrap buddy this morning and we hit the road. I picked-up a 2x2 Expedit unit and the shelf insert shown above. I wanted some lower storage space to move my Clip It Up from the 4x4 Expedit to a more accessible height. I will be adding the upper tier to my base CIU and it will no longer work on the higher Expedit unit.

The shelf insert should work perfectly to display some gorgeous fibers I've been acquiring. The top 2 cubes will be for my yarn stash and knitting books, while the bottom 2 will be utilized for scrap stuff. The top surface should hold the CIU and my Cuttlebug.

And I couldn't resist this cute plastic bag holder for only $1.99. We are half re-usable and half plastic bag user at the grocery store since the plastic bags are perfect for dog walks. This handy dispenser will work great out in the garage. Cheap bonus buy!

Off to build my new Expedit and organize my stuff. I'll post before and after photos, so check back often.