A Picture Worth A Thousand Words?

It's a well used saying: A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words.
Sometimes it's true.
And often it's not.
One of the reasons I scrapbook is because a picture cannot always tell the story.  It's been seven years since a tumor was discovered in our youngest child's skull.  We were told it was aggressive bone cancer. We had people around the world praying for her and God chose to answer in a miraculous way: turns out she didn't have cancer but a very, very rare disease that mimics cancer and would still require radiation and chemo.  Again folks prayed and once again God allowed a joyful answer to the prayers: our daughter responded so well to steroids and chemo that no radiation was necessary.  Two years later she was given a clean bill of health by her oncologist.
Sure we have photos.
But it's not until I go back and read journal entries and thoughts that were scrapbooked at the time that the full picture emerges.  It's so easy to "forget" little moments and even to forget emotions and thoughts during "big" moments.
That is why I scrapbook.
So I can pass the "full story," the "stones of remembrance" as the Bible calls them, onto my children. And their children.  And their children...
(Besides, it's just plain fun!)

Really, does this photo speak a thousand words?  What about when Elizabeth's children see it....will they know what happened? They will if they read the journaling and information that was scrapbooked!

This page is entirely journaling...copied directly from a journal I was keeping at the time.

A lot of my scrapbooking is just everyday moments...kids' sports events, game nights, hiking, etc.  But I've also created a scrapbook all about me - my strengths and weaknesses - and I've also done scrapbook pages about job losses and growing faith.  Because some things a picture just can't show! (And it's not about how well a person writes, but the willingness to share the heart.  THAT is what future generations will appreciate.)

How about you?  Ready to get started on Scrapbooking?  If you live in my area, contact me!  If you are in Vermont, Contact my sister Samantha of Samies Sentiments. Anywhere else? You might want to consider becoming a Close To My Heart Consultant yourself! (And there's always Archivers...) 

Happy Scrapping!

Marie with a :)

To My Doubting Thomases...

"My craft room is totally organized!"  I grinned at my friend and upline, Theda.
"I'll have to see a picture!" She responded.  Translation?  Gotta see it to believe it.  I could hear my sister Samantha chuckling in the background, though she's miles away.
Here's the proof that I'm starting the year out a little more organized in my humble, much loved craft room:

The most amazing aspect of this photo is the fact there are no scraps of paper on the table. It took all of my will power but I tossed anything smaller than 2" that I was saving for "just in case."  Hey, I won't be known as the crazy cat lady in my old(er) age...but perhaps the "crazy paper lady..."
My craft room also serves as a study (when it's clean enough, lol!) and most of my Bible study and Counselor Training books are in the bookcase and skinny "wardrobe."

 My reinkers sit on top of an old dresser.

 My CTMH stamps are stored by size (A-D) and then alphabetically in dollar store crates. This makes it easy to flip through the (cough cough 217 sets) that I have.

 I do have non CTMH stamps as well.

 This desk top holds JUST sentiment stamps!

 This is a taller "fold-n-store" type table from Sam's Club.  I use it as my stamp station and keep a piece of foam out for stamping with my acryllics.  One of my sweet friends gave me the old cassette holders for keeping my most used inks close by.  Another sweet friend gifted me with the metal organizer hanging above the table. Yes, I have some awesome friends!

 Theda showed me how to use shoe organizers for storing many of my embellishments and dies.

 What craft room is complete without speakers?  My sweet husband bought these for me a couple of years ago.  Now I can listen to some of my favorite music or some inspirational Bible messages while crafting. I also keep  a note pad and handmade scripture memory book handy.

 I've seen some stunning storage systems in other bloggers craftrooms.  As for me?  CTMH boxes hold my paper upright for quick flipping through just fine :)

This is the picture-printing-circle-cutting-cricut corner.  See the wall hanging in the background?  About five years ago my family members were the cast of characters in a Christmas Play called "The Richest Family in Town." What sweet memories!  A member of  our church had someone in Haiti create the wall hanging for us.   

Been Playing...

I've been playing with some of the fabulous new CTMH products!
Although I was anticipating a bigger Idea Book, I'm VERY happy with all of the new papers, stamps and Workshop on The Go Kits.  Here's a few recently made cards:

Products: Biss paper pack (X7312B)

Stamp Sets: Find Your Style (D1452), Card Chatter Sympathy (D1476)

Natural Hemp (Z280)

Chocolate Ink (Z2111)

Wooden Designer Buttons (Z1387)

The sentiment for this one is from Verve but the gorgeous paper is from the new CTMH  Wings paper line!

this also showcases the Wings paper and the Find Your Style stamp set. The sentiments are from older CTMH SS.  I've posted a few other cards that I've created using the Find Your Style SS...if you click the link "handmade greeting cards" you'll see them :)

I can't wait to do more playing this weekend!

Thanks for stopping by,

Marie with a :)

Wedding Guest Book

These photos are sideways...I can't get them to flip!

Happy 2011!!

It's a brand new year.  I kinda liked the old one, despite all of the FBTSOMP moments and the "gripping my faith like a toddler hangs on to his momma in a crowded room" moments.  Yes, it was a good year and I sold a lot of cards.  2011 begins with me trying to determine if I am going to work the card business or let it go.  While I sold more cards than I ever dreamed over the last year and a half, I think that unless I expand to a web based business, I may just stick with the CTMH consulting. As I wrestle with that decisions, here's a few cards I created for my MIL who wanted some Scripture cards for folks who were terminally ill.  (I love almost everything about CTMH, the company I work with/for...but one complaint is that they do not carry many Scripture stamps.)

Wishing all of you a wonderful 2011!

Marie with a :)