Gratitude for an Incredible Gift

A few months ago, I taught a class at Big Picture Classes called Finding Your Way. I had created this class because, last year May, I found my way of scrapbooking and it has changed my hobby so much that I wanted to share that feeling and possibility with others. I figured if I could help a few people experience the joy of creating in a way that felt completely authentic to them, it would be worth the world to me.

So I wrote a proposal. I wrote the class. And I taught the class.

It was a wonderful experience to teach it. The class was incredibly supportive and the students were so kind and helpful to each other. It was one of the best experiences of my life. I felt grateful to be a part of it. To get to experience it.

As if that wasn’t amazing enough, last week I received this present in the mail:

it was a minibook made of thank you cards from several of my students. The very best part was that each card had a photo of the creator. I love putting faces to the people whom I only knew by username.

Every single one of these cards was unique and amazing and touching and lifted my soul so much. I tried to only take photos of the outside to preserve the privacy of each person but some of them have photos on top so I am posting as is. If you’re one of the ladies and would prefer I take your photo down just let me know and I will do it immediately.

Aren’t they amazing?

I have never, ever received such a thoughtful gift from any student or any friend. I felt so touched, so grateful, so full of genuine awe.

I wanted to share the book because Cindy told me not all the ladies who were in it got to see the full thing and I wanted to make sure everyone saw this wonderful, generous, amazing gift. Thank you Cindy for organizing it. Thank you to everyone who took the time to contribute. You have made me feel eternally grateful.

I cannot even put it into words. I am truly grateful.

Thank you.

Nothing Gold Can Stay

This layout is for Write.Click.Scrapbook’s July Gallery. The theme is to scrap with no photos.

Journaling Reads:
when I was a little girl i thought this poem was so sad. As a teenager i copied it from diary to diary. always feeling a pull to it. But i always thought it was depressing that good things didn’t last and that the beauty of life is so very ephemeral. but now that i am much much older I feel so differently. This is a reminder that everything is ephemeral so I try to enjoy each and every moment.

Poem Reads:
Nature’s first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf’s a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.

Big Idea Festival Kit Recipient!!

I am so sorry for the delay. I wish one of you would have reminded me that I dropped the ball. I absolutely get irked when people say they will announce a recipient on a particular day and then the day comes and goes without a mention. So I am truly, deeply sorry for messing up.

According to the random integer generator, the recipient was commenter #9. Which is: Lisa S. (the one who has an anniversary on the 23rd)

Lisa, if you see this before I email you, feel free to email me, otherwise I will make sure to email you ASAP.

thank you to everyone for your kind comments. I hope you will join us in the festival, it is sure to be a lot lot lot of fun.

Our Favorite Halloween Tradition

This is one of the projects I did for Authentique Paper for CHA Summer.

Journaling Reads:
in 2006, almost a year after we moved to the bay area we started going to Lemo’s Farm for halloween. They have a little train, a lot of pumpkins, and a petting zoo. It has now become our yearly tradition. We go early just as they open and it’s not so crowded so we have a ton of fun playing!

Trying to Sneak a Peek

This is a project I did for My Mind’s Eye for CHA Summer. It uses the beautiful Lost and Found 2 collection.

Journaling Reads:
I absolutely adore this picture of you my son. it’s one of those stories that is at the core of why i scrap. you are sitting at your high chair t eat and you make sure to turn around and sneak a look through the small hole in your chair and see what the rest of us are up to. now you do this all the time but soon it will be gone forever. but this page will help us remember this moment forever.

Details:

I want to give you hugs even when you drive me crazy

This is one of the projects I did for Pink Paislee for CHA Summer. It uses their brand new Nantucket line. This line is absolutely stunning!

Journaling Reads:
Little boy, there are many times in the day when you drive me absolutely crazy but i still love you so much and cannot resist the urge to scoop you in my arms and hug you all day long. I am just overwhelmed with gratitude and joy that you are in my life. i love you so so much.

Details:

Big Picture Classes – Big Idea Festival 2011 – Giveaway

Many of you must know by now that I have been a teacher for Big Picture Classes for a long time. I am a big fan of Stacy and Kayce and Wendy and love the community there so very very much.

Another thing I love about BPC is that every August, they do a special class that’s completely free. I was a part of the summer special for the last two years and I am delighted to be a part of it again this year.

This year’s theme is “Words to Live By”. 12 of BPC’s instructors will be participating. Here’s a little blurb:

Each instructor will be giving you a word of the day, which we hope will inspire you, along with a downloadable template (in both printable and digital format) so that you can create a mini layout about that day’s word and how you applied it in your life. Finally, each teacher will leave you with an inspirational video message and a preview of the page they created with their word.

It’s now open for registration. You can register either by clicking here or the photo below. (Btw, I’m scheduled to share on August 23.)

While the workshop is completely free, the BPC ladies put together an exclusive kit for it as well. It’s completely optional but you can find the contents here.

BPC has generously decided to give away a kit to one of my blog readers. Here’s a photo of the kit:

So if you’d like the kit, just leave a comment here and I will announce a recipient on Tuesday the 26th.

Sounds good?

Catalyst 133 – The Only Recipe you need is to fill your life with Love and Laughter

Catalyst One Hundred and Thirty-Three is: Do you have a favorite or important family recipe?

My thoughts:
I thought a lot about this catalyst. My first hunch was to make it on mousse chocolat or gateaux salami, both of which my grandmother made for me each time I came to visit. It was her way of showing me how much she loved me and how much she missed me. But as the weeks passed, I decided I wanted to make this one about my family and the recipe of laughter and joy that these family photos have brought to me. I don’t cook so I will not be leaving my two sons any recipes for them to continue to pass down. But if I can pass down the power of laughter and joy as my recipe for a fulfilled and happy life and family, I will consider it a success..

This layout uses the new Vintage Vogue line from Pink Paislee. Since it’s a brand new line, I thought it might be fun to show more details than usual.

Details:

I like the posed photos but I love tickle time

In June, I had the honor of guest designing with Little Yellow Bicycle’s Sweet Summertime collection. Here is one of my layouts:

Journaling Reads:
In the beginning of 2011 I decided we would take full family photos weekly. I know that even if they were posed and in the same spot, I would love having them What i didn’t know then was how we would invent tickle time at the end of each session and how i would cherish those photos even more!

And some details:

Choose Joy

This layout uses the new Mistables collection from Pink Paislee. It was just meant to be a reminder to myself. Didn’t really need any journaling.

Mistables are awesome. Especially for someone like me who loves Mixed Media products. On this page, I used pan pastels, distress inks, stamps, and copics. The options are truly unlimited with these amazing products.

Details:

But what i love the most is your sunny disposition

In June, I had the honor of guest designing with Little Yellow Bicycle’s Sweet Summertime collection. Here is one of my layouts:

Journaling Reads:
There are so many things I love about you David. You’re so kind and giving and generous and you’re funny and sweet. You always listen to me and do what I ask without complaining, You take walks with me and give me hugs and curl up with me. But What i love the most is how happy you are. How you don’t have my sad demeanor. and how you can lift me up with just one smile and you smile a lot! I love you David.

And some details:

You Are Proof that Two is so much Better Than One

Journaling Reads:
A few weeks ago we went on a vacation to Santa Cruz. The two of you immediately started playing together. David read books to Nathaniel. Nathaniel gave hugs to David, You both played with silly putty and you laughed and laughed together. Seeing the two of you like that was another proof that having two kids was a great decision. We love watching the way you two play together and love each other.

This layout was for the Pink Paislee blog from June.