12 hour crop!

We have met the minimum to hold the crop this Saturday at Michaels, Flowood! Woohoo! I would still like to have a couple more croppers. If anyone is interested let me know!
9am-8:45pm, $10.00
Door prizes!

Downsizing sale . . .

Take a look at my Matildy Jane Designs Facebook page for lots of things I have for sale! Gotta clear out some product.

Another favorite and a little tutorial . . .

These layouts are from a DCWV sketch that we had for Scrap-IN at Michaels. The papers are all from the DCWV paper pad, Vintage Collector, which I absolutely LOVE! The only thing I added was the little chalkboard titles, 1st beach trip, 1st Disney trip, the 2 black mats and the mat under the zigzag on the second page. Those are Recollections chalkboard paper found in the open stock 12x12 paper at Michaels. I used a white chalk marker for those titles. You can find chalk markers in most Michaels over close to craft paint. They come in a set of 4. I can't remember right now what comes in the package, I think 2 white, a red, and a blue, maybe. You can also get colored chalk markers. I love these things! 

So a little info on the sketch. (I will try to post a picture later. Don't have one at home.)

Sometimes people look at a sketch and think they can't use it because their pictures are the wrong orientation, or too big, or too small, or whatever. Don't be afraid to alter the sketch! The first one was actually supposed to have been turned the other way. But that didn't work for the pictures I wanted to use. So I just flipped it on it's side. Simple!

I also changed up the title and embellishments a bit. The frames were all cut out of the paper, as were the hearts and the 'I Love U'. The zigzags (known by some as Chevrons) are from a whole page of, well, zig zags! I just cut them apart. Fun! And on the detail shots you can see that some of the hearts and zigzags are glittered around the edge, already done for you in the paper pad, as was the 'Make Good Things Happen'! No stickles or glitter needed! Woot! I did use a couple of circle punches to get those circles on the second page. Isn't it awesome when you can just take a paper pad, scissors, and glue and do an entire layout? 

Love it! 

There are 2 detail shots of the 'I Love You' for a reason. I used 2 different thicknesses of foam tape to pop that up. Don't have 2 thicknesses? Just use one behind your lowest embellie and double the foam dots to make the higher one. Yep, just pop one on top of the other. And see all that striped fun inside the brown frame? Well, keep reading and I'll show you the easiest way to make that!

Now for a little tutorial . . .
You know all those little paper pieces you end up with after crafting? Come on, you know you have them. And you horde them because ONE DAY you might need them? I really know nothing about that. I've only heard that some of my friends do this. Not me. Yeah, right. lolWell, here's an idea. You start with a piece of cardstock, any color, doesn't matter. Cut it to the size of your finished embellisment. Run it through a xyron. If you don't have a xyron, you could use any dry adhesive, even a glue stick. I just prefer the xyron. You do have to make sure that the entire piece is covered with sticky.Peel back a little of the plastic covering.Start placing your strips side by side over the sticky. (I inked first with Distress Ink.) Continue until you have the whole piece covered. Then trim the excess from the back. Viola! A beautiful embellishment from that stuff you thought you should have thrown away but just couldn't bring yourself to do it!

Have a creative Friday!

Well, as Porky says, 'Ehhh, th-th-th-that's all, folks!' 

Blessings, 

Renea

A few of my favorite things at Michaels right now . . .

Over the next few days/weeks, I will be posting pics of a few of my favorite things at Michaels right now. This is the first of numerous posts coming. Get ready to do some shopping!

DCWV Ultimate Sports 12x12 paper pad. Regular price $19.99. I rarely use sports related papers. Honestly, I don't usually like them. But these are just awesome. I love the baseball mitt and the stadium shot. Actually, I didn't find any papers in this stack that I didn't like! So now I just need more pics of the grandkids playing sports! I'm planning on working on a few layouts this weekend of little man, Freelyn. Gotta get some pics of big boy Gavin to work on. 

Hey, Andie, did you hear that? lol

Dear blog . . .

Dear blog,
I am so sorry for neglecting you. I'm afraid it will be a while longer before I faithfully check in with you. See, we moved into our RV. We thought we had things figured out for all the high tech gadgets we use. But, alas, as Mr. Murphy would have it, we still don't have internet. And typing from my phone with Mr. Autocorrect is just not fun.

Here is a picture of our new, very much smaller home sweet home. (We are adjusting. No murderous threats . . . Yet. Lol)

Hopefully I will be visiting you regularly soon. Thank you for understanding.

Your long lost friend,
Renea

We are moving . . .

Yes, we are moving. I would almost rather be water boarded than to move. I dislike the whole process. The packing. The deciding what to pack, what to get rid of, what to sell, what to give away. Then the moving itself. I really hate it.

But this move is different. We aren't moving because we found a nicer house or have a job transfer to another city. We are moving because of the crime in our area. After our home being broken into several (I think 7) times, our cars being broken into, even having the plants on our front porch stolen, we are leaving.  As you can imagine, this has been an emotional roller coaster for me. I can't tell you the number of people who have told us for years to get out. We kept thinking it was going to get better. We wanted to believe that it would. We love our house. We love our neighbors. We felt we would be betraying them to leave. About a year ago we knew we were going to have to look at moving. We hoped the economy would rebound and our house value would come back up. It hasn't in our area.

A couple of weeks ago at church I went to the altar to pray for peace, for guidance, for strength. My conclusion of that prayer was just, 'Lord, whatever we have to do, wherever we need to go, when I get up from here I need you to help me be ok with it.' The next day we made the tough decision to move, and have set a deadline for ourselves of before school starts in the fall. Since we haven't been able to find anything we feel comfortable with that we can afford, we are moving into our RV. Yep, hubby, me, and our college kid, in an RV. Can anyone say 'family bonding'? lol

I've been journaling some of the emotions and realizations I've had since we made this decision. (More on that later.) We will be renting a storage building so I'm not having to let go of everything I own. But I'm choosing to embrace the opportunity to make some adjustments in my lifestyle. One of these is as I'm getting ready to pack up my home, I'm asking myself this question:

Do I love this?

If I love it, for now I'm keeping it. If it don't love it, I'm letting it go. 

So let the purging begin! Huge yard sale coming up soon!

Blessings,

Renea

*As I was getting ready to post this, I was looked back at a few posts and saw this one. I had forgotten I'd even written it. It was a great reminder to me of how perspective matters. Hopefully I can remember to have a joyful heart through out this whole process. And, I'm sure my hubby will be right as usual, and things really will get better!

http://matildyjanedesigns.blogspot.com/2011/12/joyful-heart.html

Just keep smiling! Newest precious granddaughter.
Keeping this sweet face in front of me makes everything happier!

So excited to be having a 12 hour crop at Michaels, Flowood this Sat! Want to join us? Let me know if you plan to so I'll have enough tables!

May classes have been added to Google Calendar! Click the 'My Classes' tab. The link is at the bottom of the post!

April's classes are posted under 'My Classes' tab!

IT'S OFFICIAL!

I am moving to the Michaels Store in Flowood, MS!

As of April 1st, I will be teaching the PaperEd Classes in Flowood. Please come by and see me! We will have a Scrap-In (formerly called Crop Night) the first Saturday of each month, 3:00-9:00pm, only $5.00! It includes door prizes, a sketch handout, and lots of fun! Plus you get to use our classroom tools to play with!

I will be posting a list of classes for April next week.

Blessings!
Renea

I am posting the following email in it's entirety. Please take a few moments to read it. If you have been looking for an opportunity to bless someone this Christmas, well, here it is. My family and I have participated in this festival for about 20 years. The only one we missed was 2007 when one of our daughters went into labor prematurely, and we were all at the hospital. (Our daughter started crying during labor when she realized she was going to miss this party!)

The Wingards do amazing ministry with very little resources. They do the work that most of us would shudder at. This festival isn't about the presents. It's about the opportunity to physically, emotionally, and spiritually touch the lives of 283 children and their families with the love of Jesus!

I know it's been a tough year financially for many of us. And things aren't looking too great for next year either. But look around you, at your home, at your cars, at your . . . stuff. Then just think about your kids only getting 3, that's right, 3 presents for Christmas. Nothing else. Need I say more?

I will be glad to answer any questions. I will do the shopping for you if you want to give money instead of shopping. If you can provide one of the games or booths, that would be awesome. You can message me by this blog, email, facebook, twitter, or call/text me. And Charlotte's number is at the end of the email along with their website. They are a 501c3 charity.

God bless,
Renea

 EMAIL FROM CHARLOTTE:

UPDATE!!!! The Happy Birthday, Jesus, Festival is this Sunday on the Dec. 16th at the Trade Mart in Jackson. We have pre-qualified and interviewed 283 children for Christmas wishes and help for their family. WE HAVE ABOUT 73 CHILDREN NOT SPONSORED AT THE TIME OF THIS E-MAIL!

These children are "little lambs" because their Christmas wishes are listed on little lamb cards and are hanging on a Christmas tree at the Flowood Walmart. These children will show up at the festival on Sunday, because it is being given to honor Jesus....... and the needy and homeless children are HIS special invited guests. We do not want them to show up at the festival and have to watch the other children receiving gifts and they have nothing to receive.

Please help us spread the word. If you would like to help, but do NOT want to shop or go out to the Walmart in Flowood, then we would be glad for you to financially support the sponsoring of the child and we will do the shopping.

Just call me at 601-906-1976 and we will arrange to come to you!

To summarize, we need the following:
SPONSORS FOR THE NEEDY CHILDREN (lambs on the tree at Flowood WalMart)
BICYCLES....ALL SIZES
A SANTA SUIT IN XXL
DECORATION TEAM TO DECORATE THE FESTIVAL AREA ON SUNDAY MORNING
A CAKE WALK FOR THE FESTIVAL.....this is the Kid's favorite every year!
ACTION GAMES FOR THE OLDER KIDS AT THE FESTIVAL (football throw, basketball throw, ring toss, bean bag toss)
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS!!!
PHOTOGRAPHER FOR THE FESTIVAL (TWO HOURS)
SOMEONE TO VIDEO THE FESTIVAL (TWO HOURS)

Please spread the word and help us get these needs out. We know there are folks out there wanting to help someone for Christmas.....you may be the key to connect them to us ....social media! word of mouth! workplace! church tonight! e-mail! facebook! call the TV & radio station! ...........just please help us spread the word! There is an old Christian song that I remember! It says, "it only takes a spark to get a fire going, and then all those around can warm up to it's glowing....that's how it is with God's love once you've experienced it You want to spread His love around....you want to Pass It On."

You may be the spark that gets this thing wrapped up and the homeless and needy children will surely be warmed by your love and concern for their needs.

God bless you in a great big way,
Charlotte Wingard Festival Director
cell: 601-906-1976

 Charlotte A. Wingard
1279 N. West St. Jackson, MS 39202-2059
Women's Pastor Ministry Co-Director
cell # 601-906-1976
www.wingardhome.org

Creative Chaos and Martha Stewart Markers

This is an old post that I forgot to publish. A few months ago I got to play with some new, some not so new, products at Michaels for a demo. In case you didn't know, Michaels now has it's own line that is similar to SMASH. It's called Creative Chaos by Recollections, and I LUV it! Of course, I forgot to take pictures of the books. But one of them is all black, white, and kraft paper. No color at all. Sounds boring, huh? Well . . . not if you happen to have some Martha Stewart markers on hand! It's really hard to see all the sparkle. You'll just have to trust me. Here are a couple of the pages that had flowers on them that I 'colored' with these fun markers. As you can see in the second picture, the Creative Chaos books are 3 ring binders, which I really like better than the spiral binding on SMASH books. *Pictures are clickable for a better view.

These next two pictures are stamped. The first is a leaf on a wood mounted rubber stamp, I think by Inkadinkado, stamped with Peeled Paint Distress Ink. Then I went over the lines in the veins with a Martha Stewart glitter marker.

This last one has a wreath rubber cling stamp in the middle, I think by Recollections. (I should have written this stuff down.) I stamped with Peeled Paint then colored some of the image with the glitter markers. THEN the real fun began! I stamped around the wreath with the awesome Stamping Gear by Inkadinkado. I used Peeled Paint and Fired Brick. THEN I traced over the lines with the Martha glitter markers. Look at all that gorgeous sparkle! Its way better in real life. Fun stuff!

So, in case you didn't know this either, we are now teaching a Stamping Gear class and have several classes using distress inks and techniques. If you are in the Jackson, MS metro area, I'll be glad to send you a copy of our Flowood, MS calendar. We also have a monthly crop for only $5.00. I'd love for you to join us! Blessings, Renea

Enter to win . . .

Want to win a spot in Courtney Walsh's new class at Big Picture Scrapbooking? Check out the link to see how to win! http://courtneywalsh.typepad.com/telling_stories/2012/11/big-picture-home-blessings-enter-to-win.html#comment-6a00d8341c1a6753ef017c33cf937c970b

Come crop at Michaels in Madison today, 3-9pm. Only $5.00! Fun! Door prizes, too!

for one day only!

Come see me at Michaels in Madison tomorrow 11-3 for Classroom Open House. Meet our certified instructors and get great deals on class registration fees

Lessons in Grace

This post has been sitting in my drafts box for weeks. The title of it could have easily been phrased a thousand other ways. For example:
     Why I will Never Be a Manager;
     Motherly Instincts and Other Forms of Danger to Society;
     Stupid Things that Go Through My Head When I'm Angry;
     What NOT to Do;
     Let He Who Has No Sin Cast the First Stone;

But, I digress. I'll just stick with the original.

A few weeks ago, upon arriving at a small, local retail establishment, I walked by a car that was parked out front, right next to the sidewalk. The car was running. The windows were partially down in front. There was no one in the driver or passenger seat up front. But, to my shock and horror, there was a small child in a carseat in the back. There were actually two carseats, one with the sleeping child, the other empty.

As you can imagine, my mom/grammy instincts kicked into high gear. I stepped inside, saw the manager and promptly informed him about the situation. Fortunately, he was as concerned as I was. He went outside and immediately took ownership of with the situation. He told me later that the young mother's words were, "I was only going to be in there for 2 minutes. They're twins. I can't handle both of them in the store."

Had it been me who found said young mother, these are the immediate responses to that statement that went through my head:
   
     Calling her an idiot while ripping her hair out at the roots.
     Calling the police and accusing her of abandonment.
     Screaming something like, 'You can't handle them? Here's a word for you: ADOPTION!!!!!'
     Snatching the baby out of the car and the other out of the buggy and tucking one under each arm and  
     running for it.

I have no idea what I would have actually done had I gotten to her first. But, much to the manager's credit, and the safety of the young mother, cooler heads prevailed. His response was simple and direct.
   
     "Young lady, those 2 minutes could have you crying for the rest of your life."

Needless to say, I'm so thankful that he got to her first. How much more impact that must have had on her than all the angry, violent responses that went through my head. How much more gracious and kind his words were. How much more Christlike his compassionate answer was than my tirade would have been.

I was humbled. I was embarrassed. I saw her as a villain. But I was the one who wanted to act like one.

Yes, I'm still outraged that a mother would leave a sleeping baby in the car, with the car running, outside the door of a retail establishment. She should have known better. Maybe she did know better. But all that aside, it doesn't excuse what would have been my angry outburst toward her. Yes, I believe I needed to act, and quickly, when I saw the child in the car alone. No, my violent reaction would probably not have helped and certainly would not have represented Jesus well. Would I have actually played out my in-head scenarios in real life? I'm not sure. The 'mama lion' gene is a pretty strong one and not something to be messed with.

As I continued to think about this the rest of the day, I was heart-broken at how quickly I ran to judgement. She was young. Very young. She had twins. She may have been a single mom who has no one to help her with her children. She was still a kid herself. She could have chosen to abort those sweet babies. In my anger, offering her help or wisdom never entered my mind. All I saw was the danger to the child.

As Christ followers, we rub shoulders with the world on a different plane than those who don't know Him. We are called to be different, to react differently, to love unconditionally without condoning un-Christlike behavior. At my age, it's easy to forget how young and foolish I once was. This incident may have had more of an impact on me than it did on her. My prayer is that 'in real life' I would have been more loving, more instructive than destructive. I would like to believe that I would have. But I'm just not sure. The whole incident left me with the strong reminder of my loving Father's compassionate response to me. I did nothing to deserve his mercy or forgiveness. But He gave it. Willingly. And when I look at where I am and where I feel I should be, how self-centered and arrogant I can be, I still stand in amazement at His grace. May I grow to be more like Him. And, hopefully, the next time I see a young mother doing something foolish, I will step up and offer something more tangible that will make a difference in her life.

Blessings,
Renea

Wow. Have I really not posted in that long? Sigh.

Well, tonight I just wanted to pass along this info. I know we are all busy, especially around the holidays. But this is such a great event to get involved with. My family and I help every year and it has become one of the most precious highlights of our Christmas. The year my daughter gave birth to our 1st grand daughter, 3 1/2 weeks early, on the way to the hospital, my daughter said, "Oh, no, Mama! I won't be able to help with the festival now!" Yep. It's that important to us.

Date has been set for the 
Happy Birthday, Jesus Festival !!!!!!
Sunday, December 16 th 3 pm until 5 pm
Mississippi Trade Mart on the Jackson Fairgrounds
Evangelism at it's finest....bringing physical help and the gospel to the widows, children, the needy, and the homeless.
reserve your ministry booth today...
our "little lambs" will be available on November 1
"Gonna ba parrrrrtieeeee....whooop! whooop!"

For more info on their ministry, you can visit their website. http://www.wingardhome.org/
Or you can find Charlotte Wingard on Facebook.
Or you can ask me.

So I'll just leave you with this:

If Christmas is really all about Jesus . . .
If Christmas is really all about giving . . .
If Christmas is really about sharing the gospel . . .
And you always thought you might ought to be doing more . . .
Or you wondered how you could help, even if you don't have much money to give . . .
Or you want your children to see how blessed they are . . .
Or you want to teach your children to be more gracious . . .
Or you don't have one spare dime to spend but you still want to help . . .

I could go on and on. I certainly don't have all the answers on how Christmas should be practiced. But I can tell you that my kids have been to and been in lots of Christmas musicals, Christmas programs, done school lessons on Christmas, made gifts for neighbors, family, and friends. All of those are good things. But in all honesty, none of it, all put together, has ever had the impact on them that this festival has.

There are lots of ways to help.

I'd love to help any of you get involved. Feel free to ask questions!

Blessings!
Renea

Wow. This site has more amazing artistic stuff than I've seen in a long time. Or ever. Seriously.
http://www.visualnews.com/2012/07/07/scraps-of-denim-transformed-into-beautiful-portraits/

Time . . .

Lately, well, not just lately, but even more so lately, I've been feeling completely overwhelmed. Just so busy that my whole life seems to be spinning out of control. And I feel helpless to stop it. There was a quote I tweeted from the sermon Sunday that just hit me squarely between the eyes.

"That which we practice daily is what we really believe. All else is religious garbage."

What I practice daily is work. And more work. And still more work. Then I whine and complain about work. Then I feel guilty because all I do is work. Then I feel frustrated about all the things I want to do and don't have time - because of work. I've been praying about this and trying to figure out a reasonable answer. The simple answer is less work. But life isn't so simple.

Last night I found this note I had written recently.
A page from my journal
I edited it somewhat below. But I want to remember that every day I live is a gift from God. I didn't do anything to earn it. I certainly don't deserve it. Yet, He continues to give me another day. Time. A gift. I need to refocus my energy and thoughts to this end.


Time . . .
Occasionally seems to stand still.
But usually flies by.
Savor each hour, each minute.
Don't spend all your days looking so intently toward tomorrow that you miss what today has to offer.
Cherish the good times.
But don't assume that the hard times are of no value.
Each day holds 24 hours in which to grow. 
To learn. 
To perceive new opportunities.
To remind someone they are loved. 
Be not a slave to father time.
Life is but a moment in this world.
Before time began, God was.
Time will end.
He still will be.


Blessings,
Renea