The Creative Season

This time of year is crazy busy for me.    Almost every waking hour that I am at home is spent painting and making things for custom orders and gifts. I don’t do any photography after mid November.  Here is a sneak peak of one little thing I’ve painted. (Sorry I can’t post projects here before Christmas).  My little Granddaughter Kendall loves the color purple and recently discovered owls.   I thought she might like this little ornament.

I also made about 10 of these frames for family and passed them out on Thanksgiving so they could get some use out of them this year.   I used various background papers and cut out the verse with vinyl.   Isn’t it fun?

The first Saturday in December is a big girls out day.  We get up at the crack of dawn and head out to the local Holiday bazaars, vintage shops and Christmas show.   It’s usually my Sister, Mom, Daughter in Law and a few friends and lasts ALL DAY!  (I really need to convince my daughters to go with us.)   We usually have a list of about 15 places we want to go but end up at about half of them.   We’re in no hurry.  We just want to enjoy each other’s company, hopefully find a couple of gifts and just have fun. 

I found this silly black boa at one of the vintage shops and had to show it off.   My sister forced me to wear the hat.

Last week I gave a talk at church.  It was good for me to take a couple of hours of my time to sit down, study, ponder and prepare.   It was a comfort to me.   My young women at church did a service project last week for someone in need.   This week we will be going caroling throughout the neighborhood and will be passing out goodies.  It is the Season of Peace and Love.

I haven’t made any Christmas cards.  I haven’t even bought any to send out.  That doesn’t mean I don’t care.  I can’t do it all and that’s OK.    I will spend the next week with Family and just enjoy the Christmas season. We will gather, eat, play games, sing Christmas songs and just enjoy each other’s company. My Family means the world to me and being with them is the best thing ever!

I hope the Spirit of Christmas is with your Family.  If you don’t have any family near, go out and serve others.   I guarantee it is the best feeling ever and you will be blessed. 

 

 

 

Merry Christmas!

 

2012 Faves

This morning I realized that I haven’t created a digital page all year!  GASP!    I created this page with some of my favorite songs for 2012.  No particular order..  just songs that I like listening to.

Products used:  The Sweet Shoppe. Designer Digitals. PSE10. Misc Fonts.

 

Be Creative!

 

Musicians

My Family has a lot of musical talent.   Everything from the piano, to trombone, to drums, to guitars.. 

My Niece just turned Sweet 16 a couple of days ago.  She plays the guitar and got a drum set for her Birthday.  Don’t you feel sorry for her parents?  I thought this card fit her perfectly.

I found the digital image on line.  

Products used:   CTMH – Goldrush, Sunset, Indian Corn Blue. X7122B – You Rock. D1346 – You Rock.  Copic Markers. Digital image. Glitter. Seam binding ribbon.

My middle child,  Rockstar Chick  aka Janelle has been writing music for years.  

Turn off the music player above and listen to her.

 

 

Here is one she wrote for her sister.. about their childhood. Princess and Purry were their favorite stuffed kitties.



Be Creative!

Many Blessings

I love this new CTMH paper pack – X7127B – Magnifique.   The colors are so rich and vibrant!

It’s that time of year we tend to count our blessings.  We should be counting them every day.

Count Your Many Blessings

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Refrain

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.

Refrain

When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings. Wealth can never buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

Refrain

So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be disheartened, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

Refrain

Products Used:

CTMH – Ivory, Sky, Pacifica, Lagoon, X7127B- Magnifique. Verve – Dream Big. SU – Champaign mist ink. Seam binding ribbon. Pink Hedge Hog – Sea Blue baubles. Circle punch. Button. Twine. Distress ink – Vintage photo.

Music Man

Turn off the music above to listen to the Kazoo Quartet

Simplify!

Up and Running

I've taken several classes from Jessica Sprague. Sunday I created a few pages from her Up and Running class. Simple and basic layouts. Its nice to be simple at times. I think that's going to be my word for 2010. SIMPLIFY








EnJOY!

Overlays

I found some pictures of my Rockstar Chick , did a Coffeeshop Urban adjustment layer then added a film overlay.

EnJOY!

ESTERLYN

ESTERLYN is a local band from Boise.. They're on tour right now with Kutless and StellarKart. Luke Caldwell is the lead singer, his dad is Paster Bob at Calvary Chapel.

His sister, Sarah, and her husband felt that God was leading them to adopt a child from China. They couldn't afford it. Plus, they felt strongly that they wanted to adopt a special needs child. He watched their obedience to God -- moving to an unfamiliar city to take a job that would allow them to afford the adoption process. He saw God move in their circumstances and their lives in powerful ways to confirm their every step. They had so much joy in the process. God brought them a little girl. Their whole family celebrated with them. Luke was so impacted -- watching them actually live out their faith. There is legitimacy to that. It's genuine. He wanted his band to be like that. This little girl, the gift that she is, how her story touched so many people -- that's what he wants their band to be. Her name is Esterlyn.




This is the song - I couldn't find a good video of them.

Sweet Love

EnJOY!

Give

In today's all about ME society.. I think its really important to remember the importance of Charity... We can all find time to help others. It doesn't have to be monetary. It can be our time. Its so easy to stay in the safety zone. Don't you think its time to make a difference in someone's life.

(turn off my music player above and listen to this fabulous Relient K song!)

Give

No one told me
The right way
The right way to go about this
So I’ll figure it out for myself

Cuz how much
Is too much
To give you
Well I may never know
So I’ll just give until there’s nothing else

Yeah I’ll give give give (until there’s nothing else)
Give my life (until it all runs out)
Give give (and I’ll have no regrets)
I’ll give until there’s nothing left
I’ll give

No one told me
How bad I need you
But I somehow arrived
To that conclusion all by myself

And I want
All you have to offer
So I offer myself and I’ll just give until there’s nothing else
And I’ll give give give (until there’s nothing else)
Give my life (until it all runs out)
Give give (and I’ll have no regrets)
I’ll give until there’s nothing left

Sometimes I think
Like all I ever do
Is ask for things
Until I ask too much of you
But that’s not the way
I wanna live
I need to change
But something’s got to give
Yeah something’s got to
Give give give (until there’s nothing left)
Give my life (until it all runs out)
Give give (and I’ll have no regrets)
I’ll give until there’s nothing left to give
Give give give (until there’s nothing left)
Give my life (until it all runs out)
Give give
Give until there’s nothing left
I’ll give

Just Be One

I went to a Woman's Conference last night with Scissorbella. The speaker was Christine Caine from Hillsong church in Australia. It was awesome. She taught me that Many of us make great efforts to act like a "Christian", but how many of us actually realize what it means to be one? Too many times we see faith as an external behavior modification program. If we just stop (fill in the blank), then we'll be good Christians. Instead, we need to see faith and our witness to those around us stemming from an internal heart transformation, living from the inside out and not the outside in.

Christine has written a book 'Stop Acting Like a Christian and Just Be One. '

We are to serve our generation. We do what we want out of passion. We are Christ's GPS system.

Matthew 22 37-39
³⁷Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

³⁸This is the first and great commandment.

³⁹And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Last night was the Dove awards. Awards for Christian Music. One of my favorite Artists, Brandon Heath recieved the Male volcalist award and Song of the Year award.

Its one of my favorites. Give me Your Eyes. Click on the link to watch the video!

EnJOY!
Michelle

Dream On

The challenge over at Scrapping the Music is the song Dream on - By Aerosmith.



Products used - PSE7 - Font - Georgia, Marcella, Marcella Swishes, Pea Kristine. Digital products from Jen Wilson Designs and Designer Digitals.

Turn off my music play above to listen to the song....



EnJOY!
Michelle

Matchless

This is another one of my favorite songs. Sung by Aaron Shust.


Turn of music player above to list to the song...



Products: Little Dreamer Designs. PSE7,

EnJOY!
Michelle

People Say I......

There is a challenge over at After Five Designs... They'll post a kit and instructions each week.. I'm not sure I'll have time to post for every week... but I'll try making a few...

This week is..... People say I.......
My friends know I love music and we talked about our favorite artists and the inspiration they add to our day... We'll call or email and say... Are you listing to this song??? Do you have Air1 on? Who sings this?? Etc....

So I created this page using the It's So Me kit....
I chose to make a list of my favorite Christian artists...



Products: AfterFiveDesigns. PSE7. Font- MichelleDurheim. Font - Michele
2Peas - organic brushes. DesignerDigital - Postal Brushes. Little Dreamer Designs - Definition brushes.

EnJOY!
Michelle

Music Touches My Soul

If you know me, and know me well... then you know that music touches my soul... I love almost all kinds of music. I was fortunate as a child to be able to learn to play the piano.. I don't play it often enough but I love it! I decided to created my own scrap pages of my favorite songs and will be sharing them with you as I create them.. The lyrics along with the artists touch my soul.

This song , Beautiful Lord is by the band Leeland



Turn off the music at the bottom of my blog and enjoy!



Products used: Little Dreamer Designs - paper and brushes. 2Peas brushes. Font- Pea Christy. PSE7

Tonight is the Rockin Worship Roadshow with MercyME, Jeremy Camp, Hawk Nelson, Tenth Avenue North and Addison Road! I am so excited!!!

EnJOY!

Michelle

Rock and Worship

The concert last night was fabulous! WOW! It was four hours long. RockStar Chick and My Handman really loved Desciple. They're a real heavy metal head bangers bands. My favorite of course was Kutless. They have some really hard stuff but also some mellower stuff. Stellar Kart reminded me alot of Green Day and Esterlyn was really good. They're a local band that just recorded their second album. I highly recommend seeing them if you get a chance.

AND........

Look what else I found out last night!!!




Guess who will be there???!!!

EnJOY!
Michelle

Kutless

Look what I picked up a couple of days ago!

I'm so excited!!!!



Turn off the music below to listen to one of the Kutless songs! They will be here with
Stellar Kart, Disciple, and Esterlyn. Esterlyn is the son of Paster Bob at Calvary Chapels!

It's going to be fabulous! Its sponsored by my favorite radio station. Air1




Stellar Kart



Disciple



Esterlyn



Enjoy!

Man in the Mirror

I know he's a freak... but he had his day.. I think he was a brilliant talented artist and knows how to write music. This one was one of them... watch the video HERE

Michael Jackson
Album: Bad

I'm gonna make a change for once in my life
It's gonna feel real good
Gonna make a difference
Gonna make it right
As I turn up the collar on
My favorite winter coat
This wind is blowin' my mind
I see the kids in the street
Without enough to eat
Who am I to be blind
Pretending not to see their needs?
A summer's disregard
A broken bottle top
And a one man's soul
They follow each other on the wind ya' know
'Cause they got nowhere to go
That's why I want ya' to know

I'm starting with the man in the mirror
I'm asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make a change

I've been a victim of a selfish kind of love
It's time that I realize
There's a some with no home
Not a nickel to loan
Could it be really me
Pretending that they're not alone?
A willow deeply scarred
Somebody's broken heart and a washed out dream
They follow the pattern of the wind ya' see
'Cause they got no place to be
That's why I'm starting with me

I'm starting with the man in the mirror
I'm asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make a change
I'm starting with the man in the mirror
I'm asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make that change

I'm starting with the man in the mirror
I'm asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make a change
You gotta get it right while you got the time
'Cause when you close your heart
Then you close your mind
That man, with that man in the mirror,oh, yeah
I'm asking him to change his ways
Better change, no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make a change
Oh, no, I'm gonna make a change
It's gonna feel real good
Come on, change
Just lift yourself
You know you've got to stop it yourself
Make that change
I've got to make that change today
Man in the mirror
You got to, you got to not let yourself
Brother, ya' knowI've gotta get that man, that man
You've got to, you've got to move
Come on, come on, you've got to
Stand up, stand up, stand up
Stand up and lift yourself now
You know it, you know it, you know it
You know, changeMake that change

Positive Alternative

I like almost every genre of music. The last couple of years my main radio station is Air 1. I love it. All the music is positive by Christian Artists. They broadcast all over the country. You can find your local stations on their site. The following are blogs or sites of some of my favorite artists.

Mercy Me ** Phil Wickham ** Shawn McDonald ** Third Day ** Jeremy Camp ** David Crowder Band ** Casting Crowns ** Brandon Heath ** Fireflight ** Flyleaf ** Jars of Clay ** Jimmy Robeson ** John Waller ** Kutless ** Lifehouse ** TobyMac ** Natalie Grant **
Need To Breathe ** Paul Alan ** Paul Wright ** Plumb ** Relient K ** Sanctus Real **
Seventh Day Slumber ** Skillet ** Story Side B ** Superchick ** Switchfoot ** Tenth Avenue North ** Todd Agnew **

Enjoy!

Girls Just Want to Have Fun!

This weeks challenge on Scrapping the Music is the song

'Girls Just Want To Have Fun' .

Scissorbella was out on a bike ride on the greenbelt and they came to this field. An elk came down from the hills this spring and has been living with the cows.

Girls Just Want to Have Fun
I come home in the morning light

My mother says when you gonna live your life right

Oh mother dear we're not the fortunate ones

And girls they want to have fun

Oh girls just want to have fun

The phone rings in the middle of the night

My father yells what you gonna do with your life

Oh daddy dear you know you're still number one

But girls they want to have fun

Oh girls just want to have -

That's all they really want Some fun

When the working day is done

Girls - they want to have fun

Oh girls just want to have fun

Some boys take a beautiful girl

And hide her away from the rest of the world

I want to be the one to walk in the sun

Oh girls they want to have fun

Oh girls just want to have

That's all they really want

Some fun When the working day is done

Girls - they want to have fun

Oh girls just want to have fun,

They want to have fun,

They want to have fun....

Karma... Let the sun shine in......

Amazing Grace

I was driving to work this morning and this version of Amazing Grace by Chris Tomlin was playing on Air 1. I love it! Have you seen the movie? Amazing Grace, the William Wilberforce story. He's a member of the 19th century Parliament trying to stop the slave trade. Did you realize the song was a poem written by a Ship Captain that transported African Slaves? The movie is very good.

Turn off the music at the bottom of my blog so that you can listen to this fabulous song!