Sketches

I know I've posted about this before but it bears repeating. I like to use sketches when laying out my scrapbook pages. Its a nice base to start from and then you can customize to make it fit your own style along the way.Here is a recent page I did for my friend Sniz's challenge. She chose the layout and a few of us are all competing to see who's page is the best. We'll see. I do think I had creative use of the M&M's logo from an ice cream treat carton. I like using things like that from around the house.
Some of my favorite places to get sketches are:

Page Maps

Scrapbooks Etc.

Ally Scraps Design Team

Creating Keepsakes Sketches PDF

If you have favorite places that you like to get sketches let me know! If you want to check out other paper crafters check out Sunday Scrappin'!!

Rewarding Experience

Have you ever heard of Sheltering Wings? It is a shelter that provides emergency housing for women and children suffering from any form of domestic abuse. They help to build stable and independent lives through essential programs offered in a supportive and Christ-centered environment.
My church has been supporting them for years and I've given to the clothes drives, etc. But recently God put it on my heart to use my talent for photography for His purpose and I thought of them. I got in contact with Sheltering Wings awhile back and arranged to spend a day at the park taking pictures.
I spent nearly eight hours at the park that day. The weather was beautiful, thank you God! I was blessed to have another photographer join me and together we met some very special women and their families.
I did not ask alot of questions because I know some of their situations are particularly sensitive, but in the short time we spent together I felt much hope and appreciation. I feel honored to have been able to give them this small gift.
I would like to ask that you take a look at Sheltering Wings website and consider getting involved in this vital ministry by supporting them. It might be a gift of supplies or food or clothing. It might be your time volunteering at the shelter. Organize a fundraiser at your church or organization. The possibilities are endless. Maybe you do not have the time but you do have money. Please pray and consider in what way you might be able to help.

Bad Mommy...

My son is exhausting me. He is in the "why" phase and literally questions EVERYthing I say. But that isn't the primary frustration. Nate is about to turn four years old and he is very, very resistant to potty training. We have tried lots of methods of motivation: charts, treats, stickers, prizes... the list goes on. We have seen minimal progress over time.
I have only tried underwear once or twice because why give myself the extra work of having to clean them out when he clearly has no interest in keeping them clean?He still throws fits when told to go potty on the toilet. He still refuses to even tell me after he's pooped in his diaper or pull-up. He is very intelligent and we have every reason believe that he is fully capable of being potty trained.
I've resorted to (somewhat) desperate measures. When he was little Nate had a reaction to anything red: tomato sauce, strawberries, watermelon, etc. He would get serious diaper rashes. Some were pretty ugly. So we proceeded to avoid giving him anything red to avoid the skin irritations that followed. But no more. I am no longer protecting his behind. He is eating spaghetti sauce, strawberries... all the things that we used to keep from him he is now eating. I am hoping that the bottom discomfort that follows will help motivate him to do his business where it belongs. Wish me luck. Or just pray for me because I'm sick and tired of changing a kid's diaper who knows better but is too lazy to actually do anything about it.

Artscow!!

Ok, so I've blogged about this before but it bears repeating! Artscow.com has an even better promotion going on now than they did when I joined! 1200 Free Prints for joining!! Ah! Plus 3 8x8 photo books! Seriously. I have been using them for over a year now and have been very happy with the quality of the prints and other photo products that I have bought. And when your free prints run out their prices are really great too. Check them out HERE. Don't forget to check out other Works For Me Wednesday posts too!!

Father's Day Crafting

Here are the cards that I made to match the gifts for my DH and both our dads. Nothin' too fancy... but they're guys... its not like they want fancy anyway. Check out other Father's Day crafts at Sunday Scrappin'.

Love Quotes

I love my husband. Sometimes its hard to find words to describe it. So if you ever need help finding the words here are a few suggestions. ;-)

"Love, like a river, will cut a new path whenever it meets an obstacle." -Crystal Middlemas

"How blessed I am that I can walk beside you, lean upon you, and live within the warmth of your love." -Roy Lessin

"Love is like a mountain, hard to climb, but once you get to the top the view is beautiful." -Daniel Monroe Tuttle

"Love is friendship set on fire." -Jeremy Taylor

"Love is a decision, not an emotion or feeling, that if made from the heart will outlast anything..." -Raul and Samantha Juarez

"Love is the most abiding power of the world". -Martin Luther King

"Love does not dominate; it cultivates". -Goethe

"You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving." -Amy Carmichael

"Life is a journey from one point to another. You know where you will end up, but you don't know what route will get you there." -Jennifer Robinson

"The greatest happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved, loved for ourselves, or rather loved in spite of ourselves". -Victor Hugo

"Only love lets us see normal things in an extraordinary way." -Anonymous

"A house is made with walls and beams; a home is built with love and dreams." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

If you want more Love Quotes check out The Intimate Couple.

Sunday Scrappin' Page of the Week

I didn't get around to doing much scrapbooking this week. Once Lehi's Challenge was over (I didn't win... but that is ok because Toni did and totally deserved it!) I fizzled out. I'm running out of photos that I want to scrap. I'm going to have to put in an order soon. Anyway, I did get this page done of some of the many pictures of us at the museum.
Check out other crafters' work at Sunday Scrappin'.