Three Cups Of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin

Finished this book last weekend but did not get a chance to tell you about it. This book recounts the TRUE story of climber Greg Mortenson. After local villagers in Pakistan save his life he promises to return to build them a classroom. That promise grew and grew! One school has turned into 55+ schools. Despite terrorist threats, kidnapping and 9-11 Mortesnson still continues to build classrooms for girls in the middle east. Sometime I got bogged down by the author attempts at describe the landscapes and environments, but the teacher in me LOVED the heart warming results of this mans efforts.

Another great book!

Julia

Laura Sketch # 5: 2 Sketches 4 You

This week's sketch on 2 Sketches 4 You was provided by Laura. Here is her sketch:
Here is what I came up with. I do not know who made the cute stripe paper. (If you do, please leave a comment so I can give proper credit)
The chipboard is from Love, Elsie. It is sooo hard to keep track of where the buttons and bling are from...sorry!

The stamp is from CTMH: Say it With Style


Thanks for looking,
Julia

Design Team Wanna Be: Part Two

This is the 2nd card I submitted for the 2 Sketches 4 you design team call. I wish the 1st picture showed the true colors of the card. I have got to get better of taking those pictures. The second shot show the detail work.

Papers: CTMH baby pink, colonial white and sweet leaf cardstock. I also used CTMH ribbon and colonial white brads. Not sure where the mini safety pic came from...but I LOVE that detail :).

Stampsets: CTMH: Baby Steps and Card Commentary

You can check out the designers that did win over on the 2 Sketches 4 You BLOG.

Thanks for looking,
Julia

Design Team Wanna Be: Part One

First and foremost I consider myself a scrapbooker. Recently , however I have tried to hone my skills in card making. I even challenged myself to try out for a design team. I knew that many FANTASTIC card makers were going to apply kind of took the pressure OFF. Check out the designer that did win at 2 Sketches 4 You.

It is a lesson I try to teach my kids. You may never be THE best, but if you do YOUR best...you should be proud. ( How sappy is that???)

So, here is card #1 I submitted to the 2 sketches 4 you design team. This one is my favorite of the two that I submitted.





Papers used: CTMH Silhouette, Crystal Blue Cardstock,

Love those BITTY brads that CTMH released last year!

Thanks for looking,
Julia

Kazan's Sketch 5: Shine

Here is another great sketch from 2 Sketches 4 U...

As usual, my card looks a bit different from Kazan's sketch, but I am happy with it.

Thanks for looking,
Julia

Paper: CTMH: Free Spirit

She did it!

She is very co-ordinated this little girl! After only about 45 minutes (real time) of practice...15 minutes over 3 days...K learned how to ride her bike!!!

She was very excited!

Off she goes!

Thanks for looking,
Julia

Dude You're Awesome

I made this card for the teenage boy that was my assistant for VBS. I used Basic Grey paper.

Thank for looking,
Julia

pages 85- 86: Easter

You know there are just sometimes when I am DONE with a LO. I keep looking at this LO and I know it is not "right". But I can't figure it out. So I gave up LOLOL.

The base of the LO is from a LO swap . Thanks Dorie.

Thanks for looking.
Julia

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

Finished reading "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" by Lisa See.

It is the story of 2 women in 19th century China. Paired to be friends for life they used a secret language for women, nu shu, to communicate. Nu shu was written on fans, and embroidered onto handkerchief and provided the connection for women kept in isolation. It is amazing to read about a society that binds women's feet and places a women's value on her ability to produce a male heir.

These 2 friends start out together, but end up on 2 different paths, with nu shu their main way of communication. It is powerful story of friendship and misunderstanding.

Great book !

Julia

pages 83 and 84: Father's Day

Becky D is getting a lot of play on my BLOG recently:)

This is a swap page kit ( all the pieces to the LO are included but not assembled). We had a great time this Father's day weekend and I have the pictures to prove it :)

thanks for looking,
Julia

pages 81 and 82: KinderBeach

Another FABULOUS swap LO from Becky D.

I LOVE the pictures I got of the potato sack races...FUN FUN FUN

Thanks for looking,
Julia

pages 81 and 82: VBS

I created this LO from scratch... no swap LO's surprise surprise surprise!!!
I had the pleasure of being a shepard at Vacation Bible School this summer. One of the highlights was watching the kids raise over $700 for an orphanage in Africa. Yeah Kids!!!

Thanks for looking,
Julia

Papers: CTMH Rough and Tumble.

pages 79-80: Gingerbread Houses

This is a swap LO dine by Becky D. Kindergarten is such a BUSY year. With so much to accomplish.

Thanks for looking,
Julia

page 76-78 : Grunion Run

This is another AWESOME swap page from Amanda.

Journaling reads: 11:30 at night...1000's of people...4 fish??? What happened to all the fish? Good thing Chris and Katelyn enjoyed the evening anyway.

Thanks for looking,
Julia

The Host by Stephenie Meyer

I usually stick to romance novels. ( Danielle Steele, Nicholas Sparks ect) But on the recommendation of my local librarian, I read the Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyers. I am not one for vampire books...but honest to goodness they were GREAT reads and I am eager to read the 4th installment due in August.

In the meantime, I thought I give another book by Stephenie Meyer a try. It is another Science Fiction book called "The Host". The plot is difficult to describe so here is a blurb from the cover:

"Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away.

Our world has been invaded by an unseen enemy. Humans become hosts for these invaders, their minds taken over while their bodies remain intact and continue their lives apparently unchanged. Most of humanity has succumbed.

When Melanie, one of the few remaining "wild" humans is captured, she is certain it is her end. Wanderer, the invading "soul" who has been given Melanie's body, was warned about the challenges of living inside a human: the overwhelming emotions, the glut of senses, the too vivid memories. But there was one difficulty Wanderer didn't expect: the former tenant of her body refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.

Wanderer probes Melanie's thoughts, hoping to discover the whereabouts of the remaining human resistance. Instead, Melanie fills Wanderer's mind with visions of the man Melanie loves—Jared, a human who still lives in hiding. Unable to separate herself from her body's desires, Wanderer begins to yearn for a man she has been tasked with exposing. When outside forces make Wanderer and Melanie unwilling allies, they set off on a dangerous and uncertain search for the man they both love."

I really liked the book and actually had a hard time putting it down. It gives you lots of room to think about what makes us human. What makes us humane? What are you willing to do to save those you love? All very interestingly explored in this book.

Can't wait for the 4th Twilight book. What about you?
Have you read any good books lately?

Julia

page 76: A sunset on Earth.....

I guess I couldn't wait 'til Saturday to scrap this picture.

I used CTMH "It's a Guy Thing" paper along with some buttons and some hemp.

I really like the way this LO turned out.

Thanks for looking,
Julia

Blank Card

I left this card blank for the time being. To me it is a sweet little card for a new baby or something along that line. I don't think you can see the detail on the white ribbon, so you should know that there are embossed flowers that add so much to this card.

I was inspired to start this card with a sketch found on 2 sketches for you. I did not follow the sketch completely...but it was my start.

Colors: CTMH White Daisy and Pattern paper from CTMH "Let's Get Together"
Yes, I used the lace punch again. I think I am in love with it :)

Thanks for looking,
Julia

Chino Crop Swap July ( part 2)

Here is the other swap LO that I created for the Chino Crop Swap. I made 5 of them...and they all look the same. I followed a LO called "Safe and Secure" from my Imagine book ( page 78). I even used the same pattern paper shown in the sample LO. The best part of the whole LO is the little photo hanger details. I LOVE it :)

Thanks for looking,
Julia

Geek is Chic

Yes...that is EXACTLY how thin I am. Yes, that is EXACTLY how well dressed I am. Yes, that is EXACTLY how.... Who am I kidding. I only wish I looked that good on my computer!

This is one of my new Bella stamps. She is called "Clickabella". I made another one of those folding cards using Life Delights paper from CTMH. I have a few more Bellas to play with and will share them with you as I get to them!

Thanks for looking,
Julia

A Sunset on Earth is a Sunrise in Heaven

I lost my father a year ago today to Alzheimer's.

Someone sent me a card with the sentiment that read "A sunset on earth is a sunrise in Heaven". It is so PERFECT for one of my favorite pictures of my dad...he was doing what he loved: fishing.

I have not scrapped this picture yet. Maybe this coming crop will be a good time to do it.

Thank you for letting me share with you.

Julia

Chino Crop Swap July ( part 1)

I know I said that I was not going to participate in any swaps for a while, but I needed to ANGEL 2 spots in my Chino Crop Swap. I did not have a lot of time to get this done, so "cheated" a bit...

Remember when I was messing with a sketch in May? I had 2 LO's already done, so I completed 3 others to make my 5. Here are 2 that are different from the others. ( I made a 2nd Christmas one) I really like this sketch and think I will use it again in the future.

I will share what I did for the 2nd spot in a day or two.

Thanks for looking,
Julia

Birthday Card

I took advantage of CTMH's buy 2 get 1 free stamp sale ( WHOO-hooo).

I have been wanting these 2 stamp sets (Spot On and Baby's Steps). I used them to create this card!


Colors used: CTMH Hollyhock and White Daisy)

I also used a bit of Crystal Stickles on the cupcake for a little something something :)

Thanks for looking,
Julia