WARM MY SPIRIT

I had a Spirit Warming weekend, I played hookie on friday so it was a 3 day weekend. I spent friday spring cleaning and preparing for my Warm Spirit Party/ Crop on Saturday. I wanted my crop area to look nice and organize so people can see how nice it is to have a crop area to scrapbook at so I reoraganized and bought some more storgage bins, lets see how long that last. Jason was nice enough to get someone to do the yard and we bought some new patio funiture.

On saturday things went pretty smoothly considering I had all 5 children home during the event I usually try to get rid of the kids but I have been away so much lately I felt guilty and decided they would be okay. Felica the Warm Spirit consultant was very nice and informative all the products her company offers are all natural and developed for African Americans they smell really nice my favorite is Mango, if you miss the party please go to www.warmspirit.com and check the site to see if there is anything you will like, you can still place an order through me I can be reached at memoriaspreciosa@yahoo.com. After the Warm Sprit presentation we spent the rest of the day scrapbooking, and eating. I have been telling my friend Cat that scrapbooking in a photo album is another technique that is good for those who want to preserve memories but may not want to do a traditional scrapbook. It turned out very nice she started a book for an up comming trip. My mom worked on her book about her, I am so proud of them. I continued my 2006 Moments Album. It was very relaxing and spirit warming.

Chela

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Simplicity

I went to the Lisa Lisa crop this weekend given by Lisa Sanford and Lisa Young it was more like a day with my girlfriends. I was one of the first there by default. I rode with one of the organizers of the event ( Lisa Young) .Thank you for the ride girl :-)



I have seen pics of Lisa S. crop studio but to see it in person was amazing. She has everything a scrapbooker needs. The thing I love most about going to crops is the fellowship with other scrapbookers and sharing memories. I get the opportunity to meet other scrapbookers and see what projects they are working on, get advice, and of course borough cool tools. I was so inspired by all the creative juices around me I was able to complete 4 (2) page spreads.

I have been reading "Real Women Scrap" www.realwomenscrap.com and Tasra talks about creating simple pages and not feeling that every page has to be a masterpiece. This message really spoke to me because I can not tell you how many unfinished projects I have because I want all my pages to be not just memories but a work of art. I decided that concept is nice in theory but not in real life. I am a mom with 5 kids and unfortunately my craft does not come with a paycheck so my time is limited, not to mention I have to get out and make memories. So my challenge to myself was to create "Simplicity" with out losing my creativity.

This is how I did that...

1. I printed (4 photo) collage photos no theme, no particular event, just special moments in 2006.

2. I chose my paper and card stock. (1 pack of paper and 1 pack of card stock). I chose Basicgrey Scarlet's Letter and Prism: Prismatics Multi Pack White/Gray/Black card stock.

3. Basicgrey, Fancy Pants, and Memory Makers rub ons.

4. Creative Memories journal stencils and corner rounder.

5. My favorite pens for journaling.

6. Plan black page scrapbook album.

7. I committed to using just the things I chose for this project. No digging for that great paper, stickers, embellishments, etc... that would be great for this page. I just kept it simple.

So that was it and the results were great, and the trade off of no embellishments was okay because I was able to feel that warm feeling of pride in my heart when I saw a finished page.

Thank you Lisa Lisa for a great crop I can't wait for the next one!!! :-)
You can find all the great products I use at http://memorias.memory-works.com

Chela

FREE CROP

The Laurel Scrapbook Club meet this weekend I had such a good time. We had nice inspiration around the room complements of the Brock Bridge Elementry school art projects, they really inspired me.

This crop was special because my daughter Shaquaya came with her friends. She is not really into scrapbooking although she appreciates seeing the fnish product especially when she is in the picture. Well I must say I was very suprise these young ladies were naturals, I called my self teaching a class and I learned from them. I gave the basic speech photo safe products, archival, acid free, etc... and they went to work.


Ashley (right side) created a layout about God and how much he means to her and then a layout about Omarion the singer, well that lady has her priorties straight, God first!!

Chanta(left side) did a layout with her baby pics using old pics no cropping, no scanning, no photo repairing.

My daughter Shaquaya (middle) did a page about her and page about me she was not concerned about choosing the right color paper, the theme of the book, the title, she just pick pics that meant alot to her and scrap them and everything else just worked it self out and the result was great pages and lots of fun. ( She didn't want me to take a pic until she is done)

So it made me think what is all the fuss about, have I gotten so caught up in the huppla that I have forgotten what this craft is all about, fun, sharing pics, and preserving great memories. If that wasn't enough of a message I read an artilce in my Scrapbook Etc. a lady who just started scrabooking ask the all important question where do I start? The answer was just start, JUST DO IT, get the most recent pics that mean something to you and start your scrapbook while the memories are still fresh in your head. So I say to you all JUST DO IT, Shaquaya is leaving for college soon, they grow up so fast and as I try to recreate the memories there are many blanks and I wish I had started scrapbooking sooner.

I also meet another mother daughter team with awesome pages and my scrapbook buddies Monique and Lisa came they keep me motivated. Thank you to all those who came to the crop I had a good time and I look forward to cropping with you all again soon.

JUST DO IT!!!!

Chela

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ETHNIC SCRAPBOOKING

Black history month is here as I remember my heritage I want to work hard to preserve my family history through journals, scrapbooks, and my blog :-).

I am so excited to be able to have a monthly free crop at the library, a place we can go preserve our memories and network. I was even more excited when Lisa Sanford from Ethnic Scrapbooking http://www.ethnicscrapbooking.typepad.com/ stop by to talk to us about Ethnic Scrapbooking.

Just when I thought I mastered my craft Lisa challenged me to add some Ethnic flaire to my pages. When Lisa ask who is using Ethnic elements on their pages we all looked at each other like WHAT!!! What is Ethnic Scrapbooking? Very simple think outside the box added some journaling with a ethnic flaire Kadisha added “Brown Sugar”, “ Sugar and Spice”. Use paper with a ethnic twist, I was working on a Love Album and my paper had the word love in different languages. Monique added computer generated graphics of black babies.

Lisa gave out some door prizes which we all enjoyed. But the message she left is better than any gift it is easy to get wrapped up in all the new scrapbook supplies and techniques but remember to add elements to teach your children and your grandchildren where they came from their Ethnic Heritage. Thank you Lisa.

2006 Recap

Its 2007 already I can't beleive it!! The year went so fast it wasn't the best but it wasn't the worst. I learned alot of valuable lesson, had some life changes, made some adjustments, and here I am ready for 2007. Lets recap...............






My babies...not babies any more
Shaquaya started the 12 grade ,is working part time, and is Laurel High Top Model!!!

Shaquaya got her first tatoo.

VJ turned twelveteen and improve in football. GO VJ!!!

Jaylon went to the 1st grade, MY BIG BOY.

Marques is badder and cuter!!!

Vania made the Step Team , was crowned Maryland City Football Princess and meet her first boyfriend Keaun :-0

I went to Vegas for the first time NO I DIDN'T GET MARRIED!!! I learned when life falls apart your friends will always pick you up :-)

I learned that love can hurt and is not easy but real love will last forever.....

So don't give up

Assembly Line Crop

Me and mom attend a assembly line crop by Club Scrap we had so much fun. We created 10 12x12 layout in no time at all. Dottie taught us great shortcuts and new techniques using Club Scrap papers, stickers, and emblishments. I have been looking for a club to join and I found it for $27.95 you get a box of cooridinated paper, stickers, eblishments and a guide to help you put your pages together in no time. They send you a different kit every month so I don't have to try to pull together color schemes and find supplies this is perfect for a busy mom when I do get a chance to scrapbook my supplies are ready. So I have joined Club Scrap check the website www.clubscrap.com.

Here is a pic of what my kit came with for $30.00 at the Assembly Line Crop.


Thank you Bonnie and Lisa for inviting me the food was good and I left with 10 12x12 completed pages and a I won a door prive what more can you ask for :-) Oh yeah and I got to see more cool tools I love finding out about new toys. Lisa has a 12x12 Epson printer, YOU go girl when I grow up I want to a crop room like yours.

Wedding Season

This is wedding season Love is in the air. Duty calls more pics to take and scrapbooks to make. When Missy a close friend of my cousin Placi, ask me to help at her wedding I was honored for many reasons. Your wedding represents one of those life milestones, you are no longer single you have chosen someone to share your life with and you want to share this very special event with friends and family. Preparing for this wonderful day can be stressful you want everything to be perfect because you want your marriage to start out perfect, and this day represents you and your new spouse and the love you have for one another. So what an honor it was to be chosen to help Missy prepare for her special day. I of course drafted my mother to help out too. Me and mom were responsible for getting the reception hall ready. I really enjoyed decorating the hall and making sure everything was as perfect as can be for Missy and her new husband Will.















The wedding was beautiful and so romantic. "Missy is a virtures woman" is what many said as they gave the couple thier well wishes and I agree. I don't think she understand how much she has help me without even knowing what is going on in my life. She is a true representation of "Be true to what you believe and always put GOD first". Of course I will be working on a wedding book for Missy and her husband.

Footprints

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand; one belonging to him, and the other to the Lord.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life, there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life. This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it.

"Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why, when I needed you most, you would leave me."

The Lord replied, "My precious, precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints in the sand, it was then that I carried you. "

Life can sometimes teach you hard lessons and the past month has been filled with hard lessons for me.

But through it all I know God is watching over me and my final destination will be the greatest blessing.

The hardest part of learning hard lessons is to actual learn from them and being able to accept change.

Life changes, people change, and we change.........

Chela