Plowing A Straight Line

Usually, I am scrapbooking pages all of the time.  Whether it is a project for Craft Warehouse or making cards for gifts, I am usually working on something.  This past month, I have been distracted.  I have always wanted to do some quilting and so I put my paper and pictures away for a bit to try my hand at it.  While doing so, I learned a good lesson.  Most things in life are learned best from a teacher.  I often times try to do things on my own accord and pat myself on the back for how well I think it is going.  But really, in the end, the result equals to crooked lines and uneven borders.

On Sunday, Pastor Erickson told a story about a farmer and his three sons.  The farm was to be left to the son who could plow the straightest line.  The eldest son kept looking over his shoulder at his brothers to check their progress and in doing so, his plow veered to the left and the right.   The middle son’s plow started to rattle and his horse was showing signs of problems which caused him to look down and worry about his circumstances.  His plow began to veer off course.  The youngest son instead, looked straight ahead, keeping the view of his father  (who was standing at the other end of the field) right in front of him.  In keeping his focus on the Father, he plowed the straightest line and won the farm.

I think I can do it on my own but it’s often when I hit rock bottom I reach out and up.  I have been listening to Matthew West's CD, The Story of Your Life and his song "Strong Enough" has really spoken some truth into my life.  Link on over and check it out.

So here are some of my most recent paper projects...

Fancy by Rebecca Grinder

Made for CW Scrap Club

Loved using some lace I got from a dear friend.

I love to make card set for gifts.  This was a card that was gifted back to me.  I was so happy to get it for my birthday card last year.  It was one of my favorite designs - one  I never took a picture of.  I thought I would add it to this page so it would stay safe in an album and it worked perfectly with this design.  I added my title right on top of the card.





So In Love, Seattle You and Me by Rebecca Grinder







My favorite part of making this layout was eating the Hershey's Kiss for the wrapper.

Blog | Ella Publishing Co.

Loved Ella's segment on sketches this week. If you are new to scrapbooking or have been scrapbooking for years, sketches can help take the "work" out of creating a layout.
This week's segment shows many different layouts using just one sketch. Check it out!

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I have been distracted lately…haven’t scrapped for several weeks!  Jen’s passion for anything artistic rubs off on me in a variety of ways.  While shopping a few weeks ago, Sarah and I saw a magnet that read, “I Make Things”.  If it wasn’t so expensive, I would have bought it for Jen.  In response to looking at something she likes, I don’t think I have ever heard her say,  “I can’t.”  Instead, she tells herself, “Why not?”  She is my biggest inspiration to trying new things.  My other inspiration comes from my friend (and cousin by marriage) Laura. She researches and learns to do many things. 

Why couldn’t I try and teach myself something I’ve always wanted to do?  I have always wanted to learn to quilt.  Jen recently started to make handbags, dresses, wallets, etc.  All with my little sewing machine Josh bought me a few years ago (which has lived at Jen and Dave’s for over a year).  When Jen got herself a new sewing machine for Christmas, mine came back home with me and I was determined it wasn’t going to collect dust.  In my younger days, I tried new hobbies (including quilting) and failed many times but I have to admit that was before You-Tube.  You can find tutorials galore on You-Tube.   One obstacle, I have had with sewing, was I couldn’t  thread a bobbin.  Jen would have to thread it for me.  A couple of weeks ago I taught myself using a “how to” video on You-Tube.  Remembering some sewing shows my mom watched when we were kids, I found episodes online and I am NOW quilting!  Ok…so I have a way to go to be a “quilter” but I am slowly learning… and seeing results. 

Yet, my first love will always be paper crafting and I am getting the itch to pull out my papers and make some cards or a layout or two.