LOC One Moment in Time Layout

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! As I type this 2011 has passed and it is now 2012, I hope for each of you it is a wonderful year!!

It is such a pleasure to capture special moments with your camera and yet another to be able to add to the story it tells with a layout

This is one of those times - this photo was taken when the family gathered together when my beautiful Nana went 'home'  It was taken at her house with my Mother, her younger sister, my auntie Jacqui and my aunt and Uncle Rhondda and Tony.  Little did we know that Jacqui would also be gone in the next six months - making this photo even more special

- fitting the title - 'One Moment in Time', that has been popped up on the Spellbinders Elegant Posts Die.  This and all Dies have been cut with the Spellbinders Grand Calibur Cutting Machine

These flowers are from the Layers of Color Floweret cling art stamp set

and the Merci Bouquet clear art stamp set

The Flower is from the Spellbinders Blossom Spiral One Die - such beautiful flowers to create.  The centre is a recycled button.  Both the Clock and the Silhouette are both from RAKS I have received from friends

Finished off with some beautiful red pearls.

You can see more of my projects in my Layers of Color Gallery, while you are there make sure Make sure you check out the other Design Team galleries there is so much inspiration waiting to be discovered, we are thrilled that Layers of Color is a Spellbinders Preferred Product Partner.

You can also check out Layers of Color Art Stamps on our FACEBOOK GROUP and have a look at the Layers of Color Art Stamps FLICKR GROUP where you can upload your LOC artwork and be inspired by hundreds of fabulous LOC creations! You are going to LOVE it!!

Making your creative world more colorful with Layers of Color!

Thank you for your comments and all of the support you give me - you make blogging such an amazing place to be!! Your encouragement is such a blessing for me - it makes my day! God bless you!
{{{hugs}}}

Charlie - To Know Him is to Love Him

Hello and thank you for visiting with me today, I have a quick post to share with you, I have been enjoying some scrapbooking, something I love to do but seems to get very low on the list at times.

I printed twenty photos and sorted the papers to go with them and haven't touched them since - until now.  This layout is of one of our dogs - how could I resist this face?

I used the Spellbinders Banner Basic One as a feature for his name - and am loving the way it turned out.  The Dies have been used as masks, with Distressing Inks before popping the card out of them...and there is sponging...as always!  It goes without saying that I have used the Spellbinders Grand Calibur for Die Cutting - but I have said it anyway! LOL!

The sentiment is a RubOn from Kaiser and seemed so perfect - especially if you knew this dog - to 'know him is to love him!

I also used some divine Websters Pages DP, along with Stampin' Up DP from my stash, cutting out the dogs and popping them up on foam tape, slipping in some corrugated cardboard for texture.

I am working on another layout, that is very special to me and will be sharing it in the next few days!

This layout is for the following challenges:

Anything Goes Challenge - The Colour Blue + 1 other colour

Bearly Mine - Anything Goes 

Everybody-Art-Challenge - Anything Goes

Partytime Tuesdays - Anything Goes

Top Tip Tuesday - Anything Goes

Make it Monday - always Anything Goes

Ooh La La Creations - Anything BUT a Card

Creative Inspirations Paint - Anything Goes

Sparkles Forum - Anything BUT a Christmas Card

Allsorts - Brown and Blue

Marks Finest Papers - Anything goes

Wee memories - Anything Goes

Thank you for stopping by today - I hope you have had a wonderful Christmas, we are enjoying the company of my BIG BROTHER who rode his motorbike across Australia to see us - the journey was EPIC and not without it's challenges - the excitement was  HUGE when he arrived, we have not seen him for eleven years and I am soaking up every minute.  Laurie is a talented musician and his music is filling our home and our hearts - it is wonderful, even moreso when I see him and our youngest sitting there jamming on their guitars or keyboard, their singing is music to my ears - moving me to tears at times - my kids laugh and say that I cry at everything! LOL!  At least these are tears of JOY!

{{{hugs}}}

LOC Sweet Girl

When asked how you can you love your children the same, not loving more one than another, my DH always says that children are like ice cream - we all love ice cream - it comes in different flavours.  In our house we have three different flavours - and this girl - my youngest daughter - is a flavour all of her own!! LOL!

As soon as I was given this gorgeous DP I know what I was going to use it for - a layout of my DD2 - it is so her - she is my 'Girly Girl' who loves all things pretty and feminine

So naturally I had to use my Layers of Color Flowering Gems art stamp set to enhance this layout. 

Bling - a must - she adores the blingiest bling - this divine swirl was part of a RAK from my dear friend Priscilla - thank you Priscilla, as you can see I am savouring every piece of it!!

Sweet - says it all and just had to add a touch more bling!!

This layout is for the following challenges:

Creative Card Crew - April Showers

Freshly Brewed - Flowers

Simon Says Stamp - Spring Colours/Easter
Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes

Creative Craft Friends - Swirls

Kadoodle Doodles - Lets Get Girly

Make It Monday - Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp and Show - Anything But a Card

There's Magic in the Air - Lets Use Flowers

Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes

I Did It Creations - Anything Goes

Scrap n Doodle - Shabby Chic or Vintage

Paper Playtime - Anything Goes

Paper Take Weekly - Anything Goes - Optional - Something New

ABC Challenge - R is for Ribbon

You can see more of my projects in my Layers of Color Gallery, while you are there make sure you check out the other Design Team galleries there is so much inspiration waiting to be discovered, we are thrilled that Layers of Color is a Spellbinders Preferred Product Partner. 

You can also check out Layers of Color Art Stamps on our FACEBOOK GROUP  and  have a look at the Layers of Color Art Stamps FLICKR GROUP where you can upload your LOC artwork and be inspired by hundreds of fabulous LOC creations! You are going to LOVE it!!

Making your creative world more colorful with Layers of Color!

Thank you for your comments and all of the support you give me - you make blogging such an amazing place to be!!  Your encouragement is such a blessing for me  - it makes my day!  God bless you!

{{{hugs}}}

SSIC LOC Everlasting Love

It is my pleasure to be hosting the Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge this week - it has been wonderful seeing all of your projects already this year - we love to visit your blogs and be so inspired by you!

This week I have chosen the scripture

The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. Jeremiah 31:3

My challenge to you this week is to create a card or a project in a Vintage style - not hard is it!?

As you can see I have created a layout for this challenge.  I am working my way through a box of framed photographs that we have sitting there as we have changed things around - you know how it is - and these have been gathering dust 'so to speak'....so I have dusted them off and this is what I have come up with 

I have used the divine Fleur Heart art stamp set from Layers of Color, I have just inked this - I usually like to colour it in but felt that this was a case of 'less is more' - if it can be that way with vintage!  LOL!

I used these fabulous new sentiments from the Layers of Color new release Sent with Love art stamp set

and added the Floweret cling art stamp - it is amazing what a difference one image can make on a project.

Those gorgeous Hydrangeas are from my dear friend Pam aka pam124, I have saved from from a RAK Pam so kindly sent me last year!  The gorgeous bling swirl was won at a Party over at CDAC by Priscilla - thanks Priscilla - I am loving using these!

and if you hadn't already guessed - the photos are of my DH and I - awwww!!!  LOL!

The whole concept of being loved with an everlasting love is one that reaches far beyond our comprehension - everlasting - to me that implies that it always was and never ends - that would make sense wouldn't it!? Can you image being loved that way and for that long! as much as we love people, especially our families, there is no way that our love can compare with the love of God

I love how the Message says it

'GOD told them, "I've never quit loving you and never will. Expect love, love, and more love!  Jer 31:3

'I will never quit loving you' - what a balm for our hearts - many people have experienced relationships at some level, whether it be Mother, Father, brother sister, friend or partner, and have heard those crushing works 'I don't love you anymore' at some point!  Oh how the heart breaks.  What a relief that Gods love is not limited by the boundaries of human love - it is exempt from conditions and loves unconditionally.  Even more than this, God's love is a LONG TERM commitment!!

In God's Love there is no fear, there is a new tomorrow waiting for us, just beyond today. God's love is eternal,  His steadfast love never ceases and His mercies never come to an end.  The Love of God is a place where we can all find love and acceptance, it is a place where we can come and hide away from all those things that overwhelm our hearts - we can be safe in the knowledge that God is Love and in Him there is no darkness at all!

Many of us find this kind of love so hard to comprehend and can be cautious, even suspicious -

wondering what the catch is!  That is the wonderful thing - there is no catch - Gods word clearly tells us

that God's love is there for us - because He first loved us, it is not a matter of us deciding to love God, but He has drawn us with His everlasting kindness!!  It amazes me each time I think of it - God, reached down to me and first loved me - that is indeed AWESOME!!

I pray that you will know His everlasting Love not just in word but as a reality on your life!!

I am linking this to the following Challenges:
Southern Girls - Totally Loved Up
Craft Your Days Away - love
Crafty Catz - use a forgotten stamp - Fleur Hearts has not seen ink for a while
Phindy’s Place - lace & pearls
Totally Papercrafts - add a heart
Crafty Sentiments - vintage
Stamp Insanity - use your favourite colour and go monochrome
Crafts and Me - monochrome
Creative Belli - anything beginning with "P" (peachy pink)
Freshly Brewed - love or Valentine's themed
Tuesday Throwdown - Valentine
Corrosive Challenges - Lace and Pearls
Aud's Sentimental - Love Theme

 Make sure you stop by the Design Team Blogs and see that gorgeous 'works of the heart' they have created for you!!

*Lisa * Chris * Grace * Patti J * Peggysue * Randi  (on break)* Miejse * Rebekka *

Want to know when Layers of Color are having another giveaway? Subscribe to the LOC Blog and join us on Facebook!

I have some insider information for you!  Laura from Layers of Color has generously donated a prize for the

and I am excited to be giving the Art Stamp Set here on my Blog - so make sure you come back and play on the day!

and there is more

You’re invited to a

The excitement is building as MANY Designers are cooking up something DELICIOUS and inspiring - you are not going to want to miss this 'feat for the eyes' - keep your eyes peeled for some Sneak Peeks while you are waiting for the BIG EVENT

There will be YUMBLY stamped and stenciled cakes - no calorie counting here - they are SUGAR FREE and SWEET as SWEET can be!!  Lot’s of tasty ideas!

You can see more of my projects in my Layers of Color Gallery, while you are there make sure you check out the other Design Team galleries there is so much inspiration waiting to be discovered, we are thrilled that Layers of Color is a Spellbinders Preferred Stamp Company. 

You can also check out Layers of Color Art Stamps on our FACEBOOK GROUP  and  have a look at the Layers of Color Art Stamps FLICKR GROUP where you can upload your LOC artwork and be inspired by hundreds of fabulous LOC creations! You are going to LOVE it!!

Making your creative world more colorful with Layers of Color!

Thank you for your comments and all of the support you give me - you make blogging such an amazing place to be!!  Your encouragement is such a blessing for me  - it makes my day!  God bless you!

{{{hugs}}}

LOC FAF Love Is....

For Faith Art Friday at Layers of Color I wanted to share this layout - yes, that is my Wedding Photo and it is special to me as Monday is our Wedding Anniversary and it got me thinking about marriage.

....but for Adam there was not found a help meet for him.

And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;

And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. 

 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

Gen 2:20(b) - 25

'You are flesh of my flesh and bone of my bone' so often we hear this read at Weddings and love all that it conjours up in our minds - how romantic it is to our ears.  I cannot help but be amazed when I see that

God knew when He looked around the garden that although it was filled with beauty, of all the things He created and blessed, there was not one good enough for man.  He then took from close to Adams heart, a rib and created woman.  How amazing is this - it just 'blows my mind' to think of God being so detailed and so concerned about every detail for Adam - including who is to be his partner.  God is a God of excellence and created woman for man - and even went one step further, He presented her to Adam - she was something special and He wasn't about to let him stumble upon her - He wanted to make sure he saw her straight away!

I have heard many theories about why God used a rib and people have questioned whether it really was a literal rib - it is a fact that men have one less rib than women - surely this goes a long way in backing up the truth!! 

And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

This verse is saying more than just the physical side of things - such an important key to marriage is to be transparent/naked before one another, not to have any hidden agenda's and secrets but to have a marriage based on honesty and integrity!  As 'idealistic' as this sounds it is the only basis for a marriage that is going to last!  After all it is a holy union before God and union means undivided!

On our wedding day we stand with the one we love, surrounded by our family and friends making promises and vows to one another with every intention of keeping them.  Our hearts are overflowing with love and emotion and it is wonderful!  We are about to celebrate our nineteenth wedding anniversary and as I think about the vows we made on our wedding day, I understand more, that yes, I meant every word but in reality I had no idea what each vow and promise meant.  Now, in hindsight I know what for 'better or worse' really means and am grateful to God for the 'transparency  we have in our marriage!

I am  forever grateful for the understanding that we have, that Love is more than emotion - it is a commitment and a state of the heart' which far surpasses any emotion known to man but one that is not new to God - for after all, HE is Love!! 

This layout is for the following challenges:

Just Inspirational Challenge - Stamped Project

ABC Challenge - F is for Flowers

Little Red Wagon - Something Old/Something New - I am old!  LOL!  The photo is old and the LOC cling art stamps are new!

Dezinaworld Challenge - Feminine PLUS Masculine

Simon Says Stamp and Show - some Metal - buttons on the flowers

Allsorts Challenge - Inspiration from a Song - 'Love Story'

Papertake Weekly - 3 of a kind - white flowers

Secret Crafter - Distressing

I have created this layout using Layers of Color Belle Brocade art stencil, Cottage Rose and  Floral Frame cling art stamp and Butterfly Collector art stamp set.  The Floral Frame cling art stamp is used in conjunction with the Nestiblities Labels 16 - it is exciting now that LOC is a Spellbinders preferred Company!

You can see more of my projects in my Layers of Color Gallery, while you are there make sure you check out the other Design Team galleries there is so much inspiration waiting to be discovered.  You are invited to join us on our SNR Group where there is lots of fun and chatter (No surprises there I know! LOL)  There are also discounts and previews that are exclusive for the Group Members - come and join us!!

Thank you for taking the time to visit with me today, I love know you have been and appreciate the comments and encouragement you leave me - it makes my day!  God bless you!

{{{hugs}}}

SSIC Let Heaven and Nature Sing

It is Sunday and time for this weeks Stampin Sisters in Christ Challenge.  This week our very own Rebekka is taking us back to the very beginning with this wonderful scripture from Genesis - we are going back to the very beginning!

'In The Beginning GOD Created The Heavens and The Earth'  Gen. 1:1

Rebekka has challenged us to create a nature card or project, using anything pertaining to nature,birds,trees, flowers, mts. the sky is the limit.

What a perfect challenge to do a layout of this gorgeous rose, my DH took this photo this rose 'Double Delight'.  It is growing on one side on an archway that goes into our 'Tuscany' area and the perfume as you walk past is just divine.

You just have to know I am going to use the Layers of Color Butterfly Collector Clear Art Stamps.

We only have to look around us to see evidence of God the Creator.  I am sure we all know the feeling of looking at the garden and the amazing variety and intricacies of flora and fauna to know that it all didn't come together by chance - there had to be a Creator - the evidence is stacked in his defence! LOL!

My youngest daughter came home from school in her first year and told me with such awe, that some people believe we came from monkeys and other believe it started with a big bang - and then she shook her head and said, 'it takes more faith to believe that than it does to believe in god - doesn't it Mum!  What an amazing revelation to come from a 5 years old.  She continues to astound us with her knowledge of the truth and the eyes she sees it through!

As artists ourselves, I think we would have more of an understanding of what it means to create - it is evident to me that God did not just throw things together and leave it at that - we would be none the wiser, but no, He is a God of excellence and created it all perfectly - infact when He stood back and looked he said 'it is good!'  As beautiful as our gardens may look - it is nothing compared with the beauty that God created in the beginning - amazingly enough any deterioration is not on God's part, but is due to what man has done with it all!!

I thought I would show you some of Gods creation I enjoy as I wander out into our garden

Weeping Cherry Tree

Our Tuscany area - this outdoor room is a favourite place for us to enjoy the garden, under the shade of a sail!

A special thank you to Nina Brackett who is our sponsor this week.

One blessed player will be winning this gorgeous set of stamps designed by Nina - I wish I was playing this week! LOL!

I am linking this layout to the following Challenges:

Alphabet Challenge - W for Wings

Create with Connie and Mary - Anything But a Card

Paper Pretties - Animal or Animal Print

Flutterby Wednesday - Butterfly, fairy or angle - with sparkle

Creative Card Crew - Flowers

Karbers Weekly Challenges - Hobby and Leisure - garden

 

For more inspiration make sure you visit each of the Design Team:

*Lisa * Chris * Cindy * Grace * Patti J * Peggysue * Randi * Miejse * Rebekka *

You can see more of my projects in my Layers of Color Gallery, while you are there make sure you check out the other Design Team galleries there is so much inspiration waiting to be discovered.  You are invited to join us on our SNR Group where there is lots of fun and chatter (No surprises there I know! LOL)  There are also discounts and previews that are exclusive for the Group Members - come and join us!!

Thank you for your comments and all of the encouragement you leave me here, it is appreciated!!!  I love seeing that you have visited - it makes my day!  God bless you!

{{{hugs}}}

A Bit of Me

As I looked through my Layouts I realised that I have done pages for all of the family but there is not one of me, apart from the family ones...so I have put together this page with the help of my Layers of Color images. I love using stamping with my pages and the Layers of Colors stamps feel like they were made just for me - I love that!




I have also used the Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge, which worked so well with the look I was wanting to achieve....this is the first Layout I have done for the MMSC, so am hoping that it is okay!!! It is also for the Ways to Use it Challenge on SCS which is 'Very Vintage' and I would say that this more than fits that challenge with all of the sponging and aging - AND I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT ME with the aging!! LOL!


I embossed a panel of creme CS with the Textiles Embossing Folder, tearing one edge and sponging it with distressing ink, then layered in onto black CS. The edges of the photo have been distressed and layered onto distressed black CS. A lace border has been added to the bottom edge of the photo. I have also sponged and added 2 lots of CS behind the photo, one bing flocked and the other embossed....I love the different textures.
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The flourish at the top of the photo is from the Layers of Color Nature Walk set, this has quickly become one of my favourite sets, it is so versitile, I love the way it looks with this gorgeous flower which is part of a RAK from the lovely Sabrina (aka ok1mom2girlz) along with the stunning pin - thank you Sabrina for your gorgeous gift...I am loving everything in it... The flowers have been sponged on the ends of the petals, the pearl button is part of a heap of buttons I was given - these are perfect for flower centres and these qualify me for the Pile it On Challenge where we are to use 3 of anything...buttons, layers and flowers - I am in with this one!!




The flourish on the bottom left is from the Layer of Color set Old World Flourishes. The flower centre and that gorgeous heart and both 'vintage' buttons that my friend (and SU Demo) Ann brought me back from the USA - they are perfect for this page - thanks Ann! The Fancy Corners are also from Ann, part of her SU purchases - yes she got a BIG SHOT and everything that could possibly go through it - we were able to play with it on Wednesday night at Scrapbooking!! The Squares on the top of the embossed panel are from the Layers of Colour set Gothic Crosses, I have added half pearls to these and to one of the flowers....so this would qualify this layout for the Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge!!





Oh and I must add that the sentiment is from ISC, I won 2 sheets of stamps on their Blog Hop a little while back - this one is from the 'All About Me' set and is fitting for this page, because it is - 'A Bit of Me!'


Thank you for looking and for your lovely comments - you are so encouraging and it makes my day seeing that you have stopped by! God bless you!!

My Beautiful Girl

Here is another project that I started last night and only had a flower center to add..but just ran out of steam...so put it aside until today....I have found that it is just not worth proceeding when you feel like that - you can ruin things BIG TIME!!! I am constantly amazed at how much I love scrapbooking...something that I thought I would never do...but as each page comes together I feel such a sense of achievement, as I do when I make cards...but this is something that will remain in our family, something that I am doing just for us...and will always leave my 'signature' in each album. I have not written up the journalling on this page and some of the other ones I have done, that is usually something I will do after photographing....these writings will be expressions of the heart and something that will remain between the pages of the albums. for those who sit and open them. I am going to write underneath the photo and torn paper on this page - that is why there is a gap there - it will be balanced once I have journalled!

I have made this page with the Crafty Creations Challenge and Die Cut Design Challenges as my inspiration - both of these are based on the garden....and this is taken in our garden....9 years ago now. I just love this photo, it is so very much 'Bronte'...she was born ready to party and with such a big heart, her loyalty and empathy are so rare at such a young age! As a baby when the World Vision advertisements would come on TV and the chilren would be on the screen crying, she would come over the the TV and try and give the crying child her dummy/pacifier! Always such a BIG heart!!

I tore the paper strips and then inked them with distressing ink. A length of crotched lace was added along the lower strip and then the chipboard embellishments which had been covered in SU DP, distressed were added and finished off with a layered flower. The lettering is from a Sizzix Alphabet - Boxed Brush, which has been lent to me from my friend Melinda80, who has always been so generous with her supplies and her time!! Thanks Melinda - I appreciate you girl!! For something that doesn't look that involved...it took forever...but that is okay with me as I am not one to rush these things - it is all about the finished page, I want each one to be unique and reflect the person it is about.....I am sure it become easier in time!

Thank you for stopping in, I would love you to leave a comment so I know you have been! Don't forget to call back!! God bless you!