Hey yall! Happy Monday! Did you have a good Halloween?!!! Brandon and I did not do too much. We went to a local flea market and a few other stores. I tell ya, the flea market experience is so fun! Brandon bought a few things, but I was just grinning the whole time we were there. Yall know I'm a southern gal, but don't let anyone ever tell you that all the rednecks are down south! That's all I'm sayin'! ROFL! After the flea market, we went to the Auto Parts Store. Brandon was in the mood to look. Then he took me to The Christmas Tree Shoppe. I LOVE that place! I picked up 2 new lamps for my scrappy table for $20!!! Can't beat that! I also scored a Martha Stewart Halloween border punch for $4.99! I will definitely be going back.I saw several things that would make excellent Christmas gifts! Well anyways, we did have a good day and I hope you did too!
Well, it's a new month! Can you believe November is here?! I have a feeling that November is going to fly by for us! We have lots planned! But the first of the month is always my fave because that means there is a new kit being debuted at SFTIO (Scrapbooking From The Inside Out). If you are not familiar with SFTIO, it is a kit based site that focuses on scrapbooking emotion. Each month the kit is themed with a different emotion. This months topic....acceptance. This kit is stuffed full of all sorts of yummy scrappy goodness! Check it out:
Now, as a design team member for SFTIO, I am responsible for 5 layouts each month with the kit. I will share my first layout today and the next 4 over the next 4 days. So if you want, do hop on back to my blog to see more of this yummy kit in action!
My first layout is entitled 'Acceptance.' This layout was a very hard one for me to do. I wanted to reflect on 2010. This has not been the best year for me. I know it's not over yet, but so far, it has been so hard. There have been WAY more downs than ups and it has taken a toll on me. So that is what this layout is about.
I used 2.5" x 2.5" blocks of patterned paper to create my own patterned background. I also brought in a bit of stitching with the use of my sewing machine. I found this picture online and printed it out. Everything else you see, with the exception of the white lace and brown cardstock all were pulled from the kit. Of course, I pulled out my favorite Helmar Adhesives for this page, as always. I used the Quick Fix Adhesive Runner for the majority of the page. I used Helmar 450 Quick Dry for the ribbon and lace. I used Liquid Scrap Dots for adhering the flower. Yall know I love my Helmar! I could not create a scrappy project without it!
Here is my page:
Love the Prima flowers in the kit! And the trims!
I also was very fond of the adhesive bling in the kit! The blue and brown bling are both from the kit! Love the dimension they give. Also, love this picture I found online. It really conveyed what I wanted to say.
Of course SFTIO is about emotion and sharing yourself...not holding back. So I will share my journaling with you, although it is a bit on the private side. But I believe that sharing my story might help someone else out there. I hope it will. Although I would not wish the stuff I go through on anyone, I know we all have our ups and downs. It is comforting to know that someone else out there might be feeling the same way. So here is what my journaling reads:
"I have to accept that I need help! I can no longer sit back and stay quiet! It's not normal for me to feel the way I've felt the past year! I am down and depressed almost ALL of the time! There is not a week that goes by that I don't shed a tear! I know that the 'baby' thing is what causes the majority of my sadness! I just don't understand why it has to be so hard! Also, the fact that I am ALONE ALL of the time takes such a toll on my well being! I know Brandon has to work and I am so thankful! But what many don't realize is that I have NO ONE up here! I have finally accepted that I need help! I am going to see a counselor soon!"
Ahhh....breathing a sigh of relief! This one was a tough one to scrap and to share. I feel very vulnerable but empowered at the same time. If you would like to see more of this kit in action, check out the November 2010 gallery at SFTIO to see my fellow DT Sista's beautiful work! I promise you will be amazed! I always am! There are some really talented ladies over there!
I hope you will come back and discover more of this 'acceptance' kit with me. I had so much fun working with it and it really is therapeutic! I also hope to get back to my scrappy desk and start creating more this week so I can share that with you too. I took a mini break this past week. I apologize for not posting as much. I promise to do better! Tee Hee!
Also, I hope you won't mind but I have decided to get in the Christmas spirit a little early...hence the new blog look and the jolly tunes! I just can never get enough of Christmas music! So I hope yall will enjoy it with me! :)
As ALWAYS, thank you for stopping by my blog! I hope you have a fabulous day! Happy Scrappin'!
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4 comments:
Aymee,
I am so sorry you are having such a hard time:-( The baby thing is a difficult one. We went through three miscarriages and difficulty getting pregnant after the second miscarriage. The stress intensifies every month and I think that makes it even more difficult to conceive. Our faith in God helped us tremendously, knowing that he has a plan for our lives. We now have a 9 year old daughter, who is such a blessing to us. I have several friends who have adopted due to inability to conceive. One adopted Chinese twin girls and the other a boy from Russia. These children are such a gift and blessing to their families. I do hope it works out for you and Brandon. I mention the above stories so you will know there are other options.
I too am a transplant to PA. I am from VA and moved to western PA 13 years ago after I got married. It has been difficult adjusting to the the gray, gloomy days especially in the winter. I didn't know any one up here, but I do work part time so I have met some people that way. Also have met people my age through small groups at our church. I have also learned that I need to exercise on a regular basis to help me cope with feeling down. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins which make you feel good. So for me exercise is a happy drug. The exercise can be any thing that gets your heart rate elevated for 20-30 minutes. A brisk walk outside is great on a nice fall day. Just taking in the deep breaths can make you feel better. Sometimes I don't "feel" like exercising but I make myself and after the first 10 minutes I am glad I did.
I think counseling is a great idea and I have also benefited from it in the past. Recently when I am down I listen to klove.com. It is a contemporary Christian radio staion that plays very positive and encouraging music.
I hope some of these ideas will help you, Aymee.
This is soooo beautiful!!! I love it!!!
Glad you and DH had a great time; and yes thank you, the hubby and I did too.
BTW, I absolutely love flea markets too -- I always have such fun when we go!!! Such fun not knowing what to expect to see and buy!!!
This has been a very tough year for you!
This is a beautiful layout and thank you for sharing us your story. It can be hard sometimes to share, but it can help to open up to others.
Hugs to you girl!
oohhh Aymee this post made me cry ....I have been keeping you in my prayers.
I recently found this site:http://www.gossamerheart.com/home.html
I been going through soo much and found it has helped me...
beautiful Layout...you are sooo awesome!
hugs
Brenda
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