SDK's Scraptuary

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Thankful Thursday~God's Fine Needlework

Good morning from the Scraptuary @>--%-----

Welcome to another Thankful Thursday.
If you have a cup of tea handy or some good ole joe, bring it on over and sit a spell. Today my heart,my mind, and my spirit are overflowing with thankfulness. The subject that I am thankful for on this day may surprise you... depression. Yes you read right, I said depression and here is why...

In my mind at this current time in order to be thankful, you need to experience something hurtful. Those who know me are aware that I have and continue to struggle with health issues. Now I realize that health is something we can take care of on our own to an extent. And it's also something we can take for granted and let go to the wayside just as quickly.

  A very dear Divine Sister in Christ noticed that I kept repeating patterns and was stuck in a rut. The kind of rut that no matter how hard you try it just got deeper and deeper...yep you guessed it the rut of depression. It overtakes even the simplest task, or thoughts and turns them into an irrationality of not being worth accomplishing. The thought life of a depressed forty year old female is something that I would not wish on even the most disliked person on earth. To give a visual, remember in the Charlie Brown cartoons when the characters would get angry, that black scribbly cloud would appear above there heads, that's my thought life. Everything looping in and out of each other and no clarity what so ever, just one big jumbled mess with no pause, constantly running.
To help me with this mess, the first thing I am thankful for is God's written word.
In 2 Corinthians 10:5 it reads
5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. NIV. 

5 We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.  NLT

3-6The world is unprincipled. It's dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn't fight fair. But we don't live or fight our battles that way—never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren't for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity. MSG

Depression itself is full of arguments and pretension against our Father's knowledge. It has convinced me many times to miss church and fellowship, to avoid phone calls from very dear friends that are just simply making sure I'm still breathing. Depression takes the place of living the life God has intended for me to have. One of the sight effects of the big D is anxiety that can rear it's ugly head in many different forms. For me I get very impatient and snappy, (even as I write this the font keeps changing and I get frustrated...UGH!!)

But chew on this, who gave us our health in the first place? Where did it originate? Remember that DSC I mentioned earlier, she blessed me with a book that is bringing me some much needed clarity in all this mess. The title is Calm My Anxious Heart , A Woman's Guide to Contentment by Linda Dillow. When racing thoughts keep me from settling into bed at night, I have started reading this book til my eyes cannot read no more and finally shut. I would like to share with you by paraphasing an excerpt  from 
Chapter 3~ Content to be Me pages 43-44...God Created Your Body... 
  
In  Psalm 139 God created not just our personality but gave us our bodies. Verse 15 in the NASB reads "My frame was not hidden from Thee, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth" The Hebrew translation of wrought means "embroidered". It is the same Hebrew word that is used to refer to the skillful and artistic needlework in the curtains of the OT tabernacle. When God fashioned me in my mother's womb, He wove each chosen thread intricately to create a beautiful one of a kind pattern, and knit together every vein, muscle, nerve, every curve, and indentation that is uniquely me. What tapestry can begin to equal the human fabric? 

Amazing image...our Father sitting in the most beautiful place, picking out each piece of "thread", putting it thru the eye of the needle of "life", wrapping each hook carefully and precisely, and embroidering every detail of us...I am learning to be thankful for depression, for it's  ironic reflection is content, that no matter what my emotions may be today or in the days to come, I was woven together by the One who loves me most. However the depressive thread trys to unravel God's pattern for my life, I am thankful that He won't let it, and that He is my strength, hope, and future. 

-----%<@ Until We Visit Again, Thanks for Droppin' In@>---%-----

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Wordless Wednesday




 My Father in heaven inspires me daily thru my beautiful family <3
-----%--<@ Until we visit again, thanks for droppin' in @>---%-----


Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Useday Tuesday~Shabby Chic Memo Block

Hello from the Scraptuary :) Hope everyone is having a great evening. 
Welcome to Useday Tuesday's where the goal is to use the scraps of paper and embellishments that are just laying around my creative space. 
Being that invitations and cards are what I make most, I have a TON of scraps. 
It wasn't easy to narrow the choices of what to use out of the abundance of lovely leftovers...
It was very tough but I finally picked a few choice pieces and fav tools out...
would you like to see what I made? drumroll PLEASE...
 I came up with a Shabby Chic Memo Block &lt;3 
You can clip pics of the kiddos, forget me not notes, or any small message you would like.
Hope my lil' project stirs your creative spirit to use your  scraps. Please leave a comment with the link to your blog I would love to see what you come up with. Have a blessed evening my friend.
-----%---&lt;@ Until we visit again, thanks for droppin' in @&gt;---%-----








Monday, August 8, 2011

Funday Monday

Good Afternoon from the Scraptuary :) 
Today is Funday Monday where I journey down memory lane, and travel waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
back in the craft files of creative days gone by. Five years ago I used to make lapel pins out of fun foam. I would create them either by the variety of shape buckets or punch out basic shapes with handpunches and hot glue them together to make whatever character or figure I wanted.The most requested were for the major seasons and holidays during the year. I sold them for a $1 each to friends and family.

Why fun foam you ask? Well it was affordable, usually always on sale, easy to work with, and you can make alot of them for very little cost. They also turned out more lightweight than your typical brooch. The most fun of making them for me was adding the detail...can you guess what I used? ok because i know it's just between us, I'll let you in on one of my secrets... The dimensional  Tulip Fabric Paint. It is perfect for projects like this, comes in every color imaginable, has a very small tip which allows awesome control for detailing, drys quickly without flaking or rubbing off. One of the amazing things is I still get asked about them to this day. Some of my friends still wear them occasionally which makes me smile everytime I think about it..to me it's the greatest compliment anyone can give a crafter when they hang on to your art for years.
 
I am so looking forward to our visit tomorrow for Useday Tuesday...some of the scraps and embellishments in the Scraptuary that have not been touched in awhile will be put to good use to encourage family or friends...hmmmm will it be a card or decor piece? 
Please drop in to find out.
 
Hope you enjoyed this Funday Monday post :) 
-----%--<@ Until we visit again, thanks for droppin' in@>--%-----

Sunday, August 7, 2011

A Beautiful Blessed Weekend

Good Morning my fabulous followers :) 
Love was abundant this weekend for my family & I :) Not only have we spent some fabulous quality time with our family...we also witnessed the beautiful union and blessed marriage of our handsome distinguished bro & beautiful radiant sis in Christ.....
Mr. & Mrs. Darron Williams

Whoooo hoo CONGRATULATIONS Darron & Twanda!!! A beautiful ceremony for and incredible beautiful couple!! So grateful we witnessed the untiy of two soulmates. 
 This weekend has been awesome! I'm feeling incredibly blessed.  
 
As I posted Friday we are visiting family that I wish I could see more often. The distance and busyness of life keeps us from doing so. I am sooooooo grateful for the hospitality, love, and warmth that was given to us for these two and half days... not to mention the story swaps of our childhood and learning what an incredible man my lil bro has become. Let's not forget the real reason for the weekend was to meet my beautiful lil' baby niece Ava Irene for the first time. Yes I spoiled her as much as I possibly could by holding her every available second that I could. She is without a doubt the most beautiful precious lil' angel and I'm proud to be her auntie.
Hope each of you has a blessed day. 
----%--<@Until we visit again, thank you for droppin' in@>--%---- 


Friday, August 5, 2011

Friendship Friday

How are my fabulous friends doing on this Friendship Friday?
Hope everyone has had an awesome day and enjoying time off with family and friends. 
Today's post is short and sweet...short because I'm visiting with family I have not been with in a LONG time and sweet ......

well I'll let you be the judge for yourself...


I love the way distressing can be such an easy element to add to any paper project. This project will be going to a very lucky friend who follows my blog and leaves a lovely comment with an additional surprise....hmmm who will it be? Sign in and let me know whatcha think, and I'll draw a name on Monday morning 8.8.11.
@>--%--- Until we visit again, God bless & good evening-----%--<@

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Thankful Thursdays

Good Morning faithful followers from the Scraptuary :)

Today is Thankful Thursday where I share about the parts of life that I am thankful for. 
My family was blessed with a new addition this year in June. To understand how important this addition is you need a lil' history first. I come from a family of five and so does my husband. My hubbie's father is one of 9 siblings who have multiplied fruitfully and have constructed a incredible family that i am proud to be a part of. There are sooooooo many nieces and nephews on the Kalinec side sometimes it's hard to keep up. Which leads me to why I am incredibly thankful this Thursday...for the first time since 1997 on my side of the family, a beautiful baby has arrived.....
Introducing the most gorgeous niece in the world, Ava Irene. I am respecting the privacy of my brother and will not share intimate details of dates and such or her mommy and daddy's names....
but I couldn't resist sharing my love for them and how proud I am to be a first time AUNTIE!!!

So indulge me with what you are Thankful for on this Thursday and leave me a comment with a link to your blog so that we can rejoice and give thanks together. 
Thanks for droppin' in :) Until we visit again, have a blessed day :)

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Wordless Wednesday's




-----%--<@Inspiration from God's glorious canvas @>--%-----

Life's Summer Storms

Good Afternoon from the Scraptuary,

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning how to dance in the rain.

Wow 5 months since my last post and not much to show for it. I am very grateful to you my followers for sticking with me and not giving up... thank you from the bottom of my heart. The storms of my absence were not very entertaining so I won't bore you with them today. What I will tell you though is the SDK's Scraptuary has a new plan and purpose to encourage and inspire creativity all week long. Would you like to know the plan? Ok but first I have to give kudos to my creative twin Kris for challenging me to use the talent I have been given by God to the best of my ability oxoxoxo <3 ya sis.  And to my Divine Sisters who inspire each and everyday through the Word of Christ <3ox<3ox<3

The Scraptuary will have a topic for each day of the week beginning today......
FunDay Monday's
~~featuring various examples of fun ideas that I have done in my 20+ years of crafting 
UseDay Tuesday's
~~the challenge will be to use scraps, embellishments, crafting supplies, etc. that have been collecting dust just sitting around the Scraptuary
Wordless Wednesday's
~~a pic only of what inspires me to create either from the net or my personal collection of photos
Thankful Thursday's
~~a day to share my thankfulness with you for my family, my friends, my life, my talent etc.
Friendship Friday's
~~everyone's fav day of the week and my fav place to share how to encourage friendship thru cardmaking

There you have it folks my ambitious plan to encourage and inspire creativity with the 10's of you who follow my blog.  If you would like to participate in one of the days please email me and let me know, I love to listen and learn from others creativity as well. Until we visit again, have a blessed day :)

@>--%----God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts
Use them well to serve one another. 1 Peter 4:10 NLT----%--<@




Friday, April 29, 2011

Love is in the Air....

Good afternoon from the Scraptuary everyone :) 
Wow what a beautiful way to start off the day by witnessing 
the most romantic wedding of William and Kate, ahhhhh true love :)
Congratulations to the beautiful happy couple:) 
Today I'm dropping in for a quick update and to share my love inspired creations with you.  I have fallen in love with making these flowers out of novelty yarns of all types and now I discovered another version...ribbon!! As most crafter's I do not limit myself to being creative in one category of this blissful world of imagination. My Scraptuary's inventory is eclectic, decorative paper, glitter, buttons, ribbon, wreaths, paint, silk flowers, stamps, ink, the list goes on and on. One of my true loves is paper, but these flowers are running a close second ;) Enough words, here are a few pics, please leave comments and let me know what you think?




Thanks for droppin' in and takin' a look :) Hope everyone is having a blessed day <3
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Wednesday, April 20, 2011

While I've Been Away...

Hello Everyone :) I have missed communicating with you, have you missed me? Life the past couple of months has been a complicated jumbled mess...health issues, loosing loved ones, and dealing with the hand God has dealt me mentally, physically, and spiritually...it's time for me to call and join the game again and not loose sight of the eternal jackpot He has in store for me. Please forgive my non communication. Instead of keeping it to myself I need to be sharing with you what life for me is like. Please pray for me as I try to get better about posting my thoughts and goings on of my simply complicated life as a daughter of Christ, wife, mom, sister, sister in Christ, soon to be Aunt, and friend...Deal me in JC, it's time to live the hand you continue to give me on a daily basis :)

During my blog absence, a new dear friend introduced me to knitting. She tried to teach me how to knit via Skype and it didn't go very well. I ended up using my fingers instead of the hook to do my first chain :S Well I was determined to figure this craft skill out so while at the store one day I came across a small round loom. The loom instructions said anyone could make knitted flowers quickly and easily. At first I had my doubts but I brought it home and played with it. Before I knew it I was knitting flowers and falling head over heels for any kind of unique and novelty yarn.  I was making the flowers everywhere, before church service, after church service, in the car waiting for my girls after school, even at Starbucks. Don't get me wrong I still love all things paper, but now I have found another fiber outlet that I enjoy very much. 


This past Saturday was the main reason for me knitting the over abundance of blooms. My oldest daughter Chelsea had the honor of attending her first Masquerade Church Prom. She was sooooooo excited and had dreams of a beautiful dress,shoes, the perfect up do for her hair, mani & pedi, accessories, the masqurade mask to match the dress, and even the after party outfit for the lock-in before she purchased the ticket. She had it all figured out except for one lil' thing.....where would the funds for this memorable event come from?  The first plan she tried was babysitting and that raised a small portion to get her started. Then the thought bulb bloomed when she saw the flowers I had been making. She asked if I could make her some headbands with them and she wore them to school, church, and out and about. The reactions she got from friends were awesome so we decided thru prayer to sell as many of them as we could to raise all the money she needed.



We knew it was going to take work getting them out there. I was encouraged to open an online store on Artfire.com and posted them there. Then God blessed our plan even more when the manager at my local Family Dollar invited us to sell them in front of the store one Saturday morning. Our faith kept blooming faster than I could make the flowers. But the overwhelming encouragement came from our brothers and sisters at church. To make a long story short she earned enough for her ticket and everything she hoped and dreamed for :) Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to all those who donated to her dream <3 Thank you Sonya for taking this beautiful pic of her <3
 

My daughter is beautiful on the outside but nothing can compare to the inner beauty of faith, trust, and love she has for our Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you God for blessing me with the honor of being her temporary parent to such a beautiful soul :) 
Thanks be to God for making her dreams come true, Amen :) Please come back to check out the pics I will post tomorrow. For tonight it's time to turn in and give my body a rest so that I may enjoy every blessing God has in store for me tomorrow @>---%-------

Friday, February 25, 2011

Addicted to Swapping on Swap-Bot


Hi everyone :)
Today is a gorgeous day here in beautiful SA, Tx. What made it even more so was receiving some fantabulous swap from some very creative partners <3 I have several I will be mailing out in the morning. It honestly is so joyful to make new friends by getting to know them through swapping. So get ready strap yourself in for an OVERLOADED Swap themed post...ok got your sweet tea, your fav snack (well hurry up plz that's get this show on the road)...

1. Ultimate Year of Happy Mail #23 Ribbon Swap
Love the cupcake one thank you KatlynAva

2. Teabag & Letter Swap
thank you to bonni56 & theonewhoknits

3. Newbie FB's (Friendship books)

thank you Aprilk these are very cute :)

4. Ultimate Year of Happy Mail #34 Sparkles

xmasbaby83 sent me some bling, the heart paper will be on a project very soon :)

5. Ultimate Year of Happy Mail #35 Patterned Paper

This one made me very happy, feed my addiction as well as my collection,
especially love the Ooo La La paper, thank you ayates

6. Ultimate Year of Happy Mail #36 Homemade Spa

how yummie is this, a Mocha Facial Mask, thank you aviahz

7. Ultimate Year of Happy Mail #37 Websites

This was totally SAWEET :) Love the creativeness of the envie too :)thank you tifffoster :)

8. Ultimate Year of Happy Mail #40 Joyce Meyer

I received this awesome piece of art from mrsnewbill today(thank you!) For this swap we had to make something that featured a Joyce Meyer quote. I love this idea of a small framed chalkboard, it will have a special place in my Scraptuary :) Below is what I sent out to my partner...


9. Ultimate Year of Happy Mail #38 Inchies

thank you Dixiediane for sending me these adorable inches:)

Here is the first set of inchies I've ever made (didn't know art could be so small)



10. Punch Art #8 ATC's

Part of my happy mail today was the Punch Art ATC and awesome inspirational and yummie chocolate images from purplestamper...thank you soooooo much I really appreciate your talent :)
These are the ATC's I sent to my partners, I enjoyed making these 2.5x3.5 works of art :)

11. Handmade Greeting Cards for Newbies

This awesome handmade card was made by paperlover. I love Tim Holtz products and everything he designs, thank you soooooo much, you are very talented paperlover :)

this is the card I made for this swap, my partner loves butterflies
and I try to use this sentiment stamp every chance I get :)
 
Well so far I'm still awaiting many more Happy Mail Days...at the request of a friend I will give you a sneak peek at another swap I will be sending out tomorrow...
 
Decorated Christian Swap Round 2
 




We are supposed to make 3x5 in size cards with scripture and embellish them anyway we chose. I wanted to share a taste of my home by making them out of fiesta colored cardstock. I printed the scriptures on linen paper, tore, and distressed the edges with Ranger's Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink.
Stamped some faith images in Tea Dye DS Ink and added bling.
I'm really pleased with how these turned out, but wait there's more...I'm hoping to finish them off by...
WAIT A MINUTE, I can't tell you.... my partner for this swap might be reading this right now....You'll just have to drop by my store to see the finished product :)

Have a blessed evening everyone, until we blog again, thanks for droppin' in <3
@>-------%---------------