Still,.....you know.....sick.....so...

Sincerely,
Sonja

Sorry ..no artwork until this little lady gets better.

For the small amount of people that actually read my blog.....I'm sick. I thought it was just alittle dizzy spell this afternoon, but after a little medicinal help, along with a little nap. I feel no recharge. I have a little headache along with some aches, pains and chills, and probably a slight fever. I'll spare you the rest. LOL.
It seems I have been a little too busy lately. Too busy to get onto the bulletin boards, or read other blogs. I am thrilled if I can keep this blog of mine up. So to my delight tonight, I came across this from Pammie (note to self: update my blogging list). She has nomminated me for an award called the Art de Pico.

Thing is, I don't know what to say. No big head here, I just know how much inpiration can flow from her too. There are some real talented crafters out there. I would love to actually meet some of them. Like Julia, and Korin, yes Pam too. To sit and chat with them would be amazing I think. Not just because they are crafters, but because of their faith too. I would love to hear their testamonies.
So if they will take it, I will pass the award onto Julia Stainton, and Korin Sutherland.

I'm going to go crawl back under my covers,

Sincerely,
Sonja

Digital Dilema

OH, I have such a big digital dilemma every time I go to do a page now. I love how far our technology has come, on the other hand, when I have sooooooooo many shots of an even it can be hard to narrow it down. Case in point- My daughter just had her birthday, so we got her a new bike. I don't know how many shots I took, but I had a lot that I especially liked, and it was difficult to choose. So I printed all that I really liked and was determined to get them all on a two page layout. There are times when I like to be careful how much of the photo I crop off. I like to zoom in a lot, but that leaves you no cropping options. And with this particular layout, I wanted my children to remember what the street looked like when they look back. Those are important things to remember.
I have had this layout sitting on my table for a little while. Just wanted to get it done. I thought I might do something to the chipboard letters, then thought,"they're fine white". Love that about the chipboard from Close to My Heart.
So I glued it down. I was going to print off my journaling, then looked over at my tags that I used last night, and said, "that will work!". Used my "Spot on Backgrounds" from Close to My Heart for my journaling lines, and tucked it behind the picture to pull out. Voila!! (like I created anything magical,LOL!!)
There are a few reasons why I chose the pictures I did. I love how this is really such a big bike for my youngest. I really wanted to remember how he is sitting on the seat and learning to balance. I love the two shots of D and E pushing their shoulders down and assuming the "really fast" position. That gets me. Of course the one of all four of them is so cute! I wanted a picture of them first getting onto their new bikes, and I even love how (this wasn't planned) I am in the layout. And as you scrapbookers know. That doesn't happen very often as we are the ones holding the camera. But I am in there, even if in shadows,LOL.





Have a scrappy week!!
Sincerely,
Sonja

Our Unsung, Real, Everyday Hero

Last year for Father's Day we made Hero sandwiches. This year we are doing the same. And as I have grown and seen my Husband in a new light (being a Father), I have come to appreciate him more and more everyday. He balances me out, makes be better and is a wonderful father to our four children. (IE playing Monopoly with the kids until the game was done last night. And having all four of them help clean the van this afternoon, while I went out for coffee with my dad.) He is our unsung Hero. The battles our men have to face these days are great. (I can be one of those battles some days, LOL!) He works so hard!!! Just so we can have it a little easier, and a little nicer. I doubt I appreciate him enough!
It doesn't always work this way, but I am pleasantly surprised with his card this year. It says exactly what I would like to say. Took me longer than maybe selecting a Hallmark card, but that's not the point,LOL!!
I might put something in the inside like this:


Fathers are wonderful people

Fathers are wonderful people
Too little understood,
And we do not sing their praises
As often as we should...

For, somehow, Father seems to be
The man who pays the bills,
While Mother binds up little hurts
And nurses all our ills...

And Father struggles daily
To live up to "his image"
As protector and provider
And "hero or the scrimmage"...

And perhaps that is the reason
We sometimes get the notion,
That Fathers are not subject
To the thing we call emotion,
But if you look inside Dad's heart,
Where no one else can see
You'll find he's sentimental
And as "soft" as he can be...

But he's so busy every day
In the grueling race of life,
He leaves the sentimental stuff
To his partner and his wife...

But Fathers are just wonderful
In a million different ways,
And they merit loving compliments
And accolade of praise,

For the only reason Dad aspires
To fortune and success
Is to make the family proud of him
And to bring them happiness...

And like Our Heavenly Father,
He's a guardian and a guide,
Someone that we can count on
To be always on our side.


Heros are not perfect people, but they sure know the meaning of sacrifice. Today I feel encredibly blessed.



Sincerely,
Sonja

I believe...

I promised a little while ago to post this card I made. I made two versions. One was for fun, and while I was at it I thought I would make a male version (for Father's Day). I used one of my favorite new stamp sets from Close To My Heart, called Spot on Backgrounds. I am going to have so much fun with this set I think. And I am finding this card layout so easy and so versatile.




Hopefully I can be back soon, I've been playing around with a layout.

Sincerely,
Sonja

What I have been up to this evening......

another card, for another special occasion. I am anticipating that some people close to us will be able to bring home their new little one after a little detour. The baby was premature. Has been in the hospital for quiet awhile now, had one operation, and we hope that all is good now for this little guy to finally come home. This little one has done well, all things considered, and it is God who receives all the glory for that. So with hopefully his homecoming this next week, Lord willing, I NEEDED to make a very special card.
(The card uses a full 12x12, but folds up to make a nice 4x4 card.)
I have inked up the paisley background alot from Cornish Heritage Farms. I love the size of them, and the detail. One of the other stamps of mine that has seen a lot of ink these days is, "Make It Count" from Close to My Heart. I love this set. I love the fact that I can stamp the 'hands' to make the clock read whatever time I want. In my last post, I made the clock stamp (about) the time it was when I was washing dishes and snapping the picture, moments before heading out the door. I was at first a little worried about the "hands" being small, but I have quickly come to appreciate the flexibility and what it adds to the art. Thanks ever so much for stopping in again.

Sincerely,
Sonja

I made myself.....

play tonight. With the help of some goodies from a dear friend, I had everything I needed to play tonight. I really needed to take a break from the constant go-go-go! and force myself to slow down and play a little.

Last Sunday morning was a beautiful morning. My DD had the table all set for breakfast, and we had time to spare before piling in the van and heading off to church. I wish ever morning was like this. The kids were out in the glorious sunshine playing while I washed up dishes. I love moments like these that touch my heart,make me stop, grab my camera and record it. It was a timeless Sunday morning. Divine in all the sense of the word. And I managed to scrap it. Yeah!!

Enjoy!



Journaling reads: It's moments before we all pile in the van and head off to church.This is the view through my kitchen window doing dishes. It's a beautiful, timeless Sunday morning. June 2008.

Sincerely,
Sonja