Mini Book "Love Through the Years"

It feels so good to be back in blogging land again.  These past few weeks have been a bumpy ride  on the health front.  My husband was in the hospital once again for a week due to fluid accumulation in his lungs and abdomen. But now he is feeling better than ever and I consider myself to be one happy and lucky girl to have such a strong trooper like him by my side. The very first time I met my husband, he had mentioned to me that he had been a two time cancer survivor. And right then I knew that any man who could kick cancer in the butt  was a man that I needed by my side. I still admire his spirit and positivity through cancer. I have never once seen him feel sorry for himself. He continues to get up each morning and go to work. He jokes a lot, laughs a lot, and never worries. Inspirational, that is what he is to me and always will be.

 While I was driving home from the grocery store one day. I began to think of my relationship with my husband over the three years that we have been married. I realized that each year of marriage has taught me so much about love, life, and my own being. I wanted a way to document the lessons that I have learned along the way and that is how this idea for a mini book got started.   

I decided that I would choose 5 pictures from each year that we were married to include in the album. 

I also decided that I would place the more personal journaling inside of these Kraft envelopes and I would pick words that to me really encompassed our marriage and lessons learned for that year on my journaling block.

 I placed the corresponding year at the top of my page next to the photo collage.

Half way through this project my ADD self got tired of working with the same papers and embellishments. (I tend to start projects and then have a hard time finishing them) Not quite sure why that is? But I pushed through it anyways.

I also realized that I have done a terrible job of documenting our lives till this point. I must make a more concentrated effort to take more pictures and scrapbook more.

Year three was the biggest challenge for me to push through because, quite frankly, it has been a year that has revolved around cancer. Sometimes I find myself only wanting to focus on the good memories and ignore the memories that hurt a little. I guess this is a natural tendency. But ironically, the adjectives that I found to describe this year of marriage were far more profound and meaningful than the other two years: challenges, sacrifice, love, commitment, faith, and hope.  I guess adversity helps our souls grow. The mountain tops feels good but it is in the valleys that our character is being built. This gives me the push I need to document our lives authentically, good times and the not so good times.

And that my friends, is my completed album. I have included some links to the supplies I used at the bottom of this post just in case you might like to create something similar for yourselves.  

Till next time

Elizabeth

      

Bouquet 12"X 12" Portrait Collection

Books Emma's Shop Collection Paper

HoneyMoon 12"X 12" Portrait Collection

    

Maya Road Rectangular Kraft Envelopes

Portrait Collection Chipboard Accent Stickers

Restoration 6"X 6" Paper Pad

Accent Cuts Portrait Collection

Urban Chic Cling Mounted Tim Holtz Stamp

One of Those Days

Today is just one of those days.......you know the kind where everything that could go wrong does.
Mounting doctor bills, husband sick at home, housework piling up, emotions out of whack, dishwasher broken, rain pouring down outside..............

Then I come across this photo.......

photo courtesy of Lauren Alane

And a smile comes across my face. Funny how someone else's craft and artwork can inspire and uplift. There is just something about this cute little owl stuck outside on a rainy afternoon that makes me smile. It's the little things I tell you, that make life happy. Now I wish I knew how to needle felt one of these cute little guys for myself :)

I had fun on this card using up some of my "Crate Paper, Restoration" line that I have been hoarding for the past couple of months. I also used stamps from "Paper Trey Ink" and "October Afternoon" on this one.  And that gorgeous flower is from "Prima". 

Thanks for taking the time out of your day to visit my blog. I hope that we can all learn to get through this thing called life together. Until next time "Hugs" to all of you :)

Elizabeth

Life Lessons

                                       photo courtesy of Please don't talk to me I fall in love so easily

Falling apart.....most of the time my life feels this way. I believe it is not until you are tested in the furnace of life that you begin to see your flaws and weaknesses. My husband's cancer has taught me I am weak...I need to grow stronger. I am selfish....I need to think of others. I am tired.....I need to endure. I am a pessimist...I need optimism. I worry....I need to trust God. I am incomplete.....I need God to make me whole.

I am still a work in progress. I only hope I don't waste this opportunity that I have to grow.....

I finally got around to using this "Friendship Jar" stamp from "Paper Trey Ink" I have been wanting to play around with it for a while but wasn't sure what to fill it up with until I remembered that I have several buttons waiting for a perfect home :) 

I also used scrunched seam binding from one of my favorite Etsy shops, Prairie Bird Boutique . Patsy is the shop owner and she sells tons of ribbon for a very reasonable price.  I also have to say that her customer service is OUTSTANDING. 

Well thanks for stopping by my little blog today. I wish you all a very happy week.

Love

Elizabeth

5 Everyday Things I Love

1. I love to cuddle with my husband at the end of the day

2. I love the feel of a soft, warm sweater on a cold winter's day

3. I love sitting down and surfing the internet with a cup of coffee in hand

4. I love a warm embrace

5. I love a good laugh (usually from a silly joke my husband tells me)

These are the little things in life that helps to make everyday to feel worthwhile......

Vintage image from  a wonderful Etsy shop called Over the Rainebeau.

This shop has a delightful amount of vintage collages for $2.50. 

Flower is from "Prima", Stamp and distress ink is from "Tim Holtz", and pattern paper is from "My Mind's Eye" and "Crate Paper". 

I hope you will be able to spend some time today doing the things that you love most in life....

Love

Elizabeth

A Challenge

Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.

-Hellen Keller

A beautiful quote from a beautiful woman who faced more suffering than I could even imagine. Yet she finds hope in overcoming her physical challenges....Just something to reflect on and chew over in my mind.....

This gorgeous photo is the Tuesday Trigger over at Moxie Fab World Blog. After I saw this photo, I knew that I had to play along this week.  The photo speaks of a fresh spring day. I love the bright beautiful yellow color on that shabby looking door and the small bright pop of pink from the flowers. And just off to the side, a pair of rain boots, a necessary accessory for a rainy spring time day.....

                                    And here is my interpretation of the photo:

A beautifully shabby card to usher in spring...... I used the color scheme of pink from the flowers, yellow from the door, and black from the rain boots in the photo.

It also gave me the opportunity to use some stamps that I had bought a year ago and was just waiting for the perfect opportunity to use.  

Thanks for dropping by my little blog today. 

Elizabeth

P.S.  Just found a perfect recipe for Broccoli Cheese Soup. I cooked it up this week and it was delicious, it tastes just like Panera's Soup. Loved it....hope you will give it a try too :)

Gratitude

I just want to start this post off by saying thank you to all of you for your sweet and uplifting comments. My heart needed to hear that I am not alone. That others are facing or have faced what I am going through. The kindness of the crafting and blogging community has uplifted my spirits.  I thank each and every one of you who have kept my husband and I in your prayers. Words cannot express my gratitude. And please know that I keep each one of you also in my heart and prayers.....

Since I mentioned in my last post that I am not a big purple user and many of you agreed with me. I decided to challenge myself with yet another set of cards packaged in a soft lavendery purple dotted with light yellow roses and tea stained twill tape.  I am pleasantly happy with this cream, lavender, and light yellow color scheme.  It is a perfect color scheme for a beautiful easter greeting card.

Pattern paper is from "Little Yellow Bicycle".  

Flowers are from "Recollections" found at your local Michael's store.

Stamp set is from "Paper Trey Ink" 

I hope I have inspired you to pull out those purple papers and put them to use, especially, since spring time will be rolling around.  This lovely set of cards and tag will be up later on today in my newly reopened Etsy shop. 

Have a beautiful day

Love

Elizabeth

Peace after the Storm

The calm after the storm......This is where we are, I don't know how long it will last but I am cherishing every moment of peace that we have.  My husband came home this weekend from receiving treatments in New Mexico. Now he is more energetic, more strong, and the color has come back to his cheeks.  We took advantage of his good health and spent the day walking along the beach.  It felt as if we had been released from a prison that cancer has created for us for the past couple of months. My heart needed this vacation. I can feel my hope returning and somberness disappearing.  I only pray that God will restore his health completely....... 

I used some older Basic Grey paper on this one. I rarely use shades of purple so I decided to give it a try here. I also used some "Prima" flowers and stamp from "Hero" arts.

I had fun with this one using up some "My Mind's Eye" embellishments and papers that I have had lying around my craft room for a while. Strawberries seemed like good inspiration to me since spring is right around the corner :)

I wish you all a fantastic week.  Remember to cherish your loved ones and give them an extra big hug. 

Love

Elizabeth

P.S.  I just saw the movie "My Sister's Keeper"  it does a pretty good job of portraying the emotions that families go through when a loved one is diagnosed with cancer. Note: May be difficult to watch if you know someone who has cancer.