12x12 scrapbooking of my 12 in 2012 with Faith =)

Where do I want to be in 2012 in my spiritual life?

I thought of 12 in 2012...

...because of this news article in our local paper...

The colors were what sparked my interest as well as the

symbolic number "12". Then I found this photograph I had

taken near I65. Perfect for my theme...Faith Journey. 

The paper took care of my layout idea...

I cannot do these flowers. and I can't

remember who made these and sent them to

me but they were in a swap I am sure...

I so love them and have hoarded them until now...

I purposely unraveled the lace and ribbons...

I loved the impression they give to the page...

I took this sentiment and ran with it on the page...

I tore some of the paper, I punched a piece, I layered it,

I stressed it...doors of opportunity indeed are everywhere...

so open them...

I loved the tiny punch from Stampin' Up!

that I used to create the edging...

The measuring tape ribbon symbolizes that

my faith can't be measures...or explained lol...

I recycled a packaging card and used it

as the journaling spot on this page.

Don't you love it!!

I layered the stickers here using pop-up dots...

I owe a big thank you to the paper company for having

"journey" already printed there for me =).

I added a tag behind the photograph so that

I could journal a bit about the photograph.

Faith is something that is personal and something I feel strongly about. 

Without it I am nothing and with it I am everything.

I believe simply and honestly that loving another person is where my faith is found and offering a hug and a smile is more important than anything I can possible do. Faith is a choice, not something that can be defined easily or with words. I know that I am happy and at peace and my soul finds comfort in knowing that there is a God and I feel His presence with me wherever I go and wherever I am. I believe in His Son and that His Spirit inspires me to create and to be positive every moment of everyday. That is all that matters to me. I really don't need to understand more than that...my faith is in Him, in my family, in my home, in my community and most of all...in me. For that I create...

Hugs, Rita

12x12 scrapbooking of my 12 in 2012 with Art =)

Let's get inspired! What better way than with Art...

12 in 2012 with Art...my list is simple and sweet!

I love this layout as it surrounds one of my favorite photographs...

This is the third layout I was inspired to create based on 

the news article from the Living Today section of our local

newspaper...who knew?!

The butterflies were from a swap...

the stickers from my stash...

the list totally inspired...

The flower from my friend Mitzi...

Also, I love love love using hymn pages and

book pages. I won't ever forget our friend,

Geoff Halbrooks walking in as I was scrapbooking

once and he asked, "Is that legal (to tear a page from a book)?"

I replied, "It is if you are me!" LOL

I added to tags behind the photograph.

One tells about the photograph, answering

the 5Ws/1H and the other tells more about

why I felt it important to make this page and how

the photograph represent the page and my art...

Just like my art the photograph says I volunteer to be happy in what I do. I chose to be in this place that may not be comfortable. I wish to blossom and bloom, to glow and be an encouragement to everything around me. I want to shine and grow. That is what I want to be as an artist too. It won't hurt to have some rustic elements surrounding me either as well as some green as well =). I am most happy when I am creating something for that is where I find my respite. 

Hugs, Rita

12x12 scrapbooking of my 12 in 2012 with Books =)

As I thought about what I wanted to accomplish this coming

year, I want to education, inspire and relax with books. So

I made a list of 12 books, both new and, of course, one

that will be read before the year's end, that will make a 

difference this year for me...

As I said, yesterday, little did I know that when I opened 

the newspaper, I would be inspired to create a

scrapbook page, but I was...

I used stickers and ABC/123s from my stash...

I made my lists using to-do post-it notes that I cut off

the headers from...perfect...

The photograph...Starbucks, where else?

Then I added a tag behind the photograph that tells about

the photograph, where and when...inspiration, that is what 

it's all about...

I loved how I was inspired to fit key words into this layout...

words like ~ happiness, inspired, books...

The leather flower still had the tag on it, marked $20, but

you know I didn't pay that...I got it for $.99 at one of my

favorite thrift stores...where I get a lot of my books.

Although these days, I get a lot of my books via ebooks, but I haven't gotten myself to go digital on scrapbooking. Why? Because there is something about playing with paper! =) As for reading, I never cared much for reading as a child or as a teenager but I did love to collect books. When, in elementary school, I would bring home the weekly readers, I returned it with all the boxes checked and money for the books. My parents weren't rich but they did encourage me to read. It wasn't until  I had Garrett that I really took the time to devote time to reading and began our book collection and our hearts fell in love with reading. Our interests are defined and our children love to read too. Starbucks is the perfect place to take a book, get a coffee or tea and sit for an hour or so just to read. Rockin' awesome inspiration...

Soothing just thinking about it...

Hugs, Rita

12x12 scrapbooking of my 12 for 2012 with Fitness =)

I have wanted to use my photography photographs in some of

my scrapbooking layouts and this was the perfect opportunity!

"12 for 2012 with Fitness" Scrapbooking Page

Little did I know that when I looked at the Living Today

section of the local newspaper, I would actually get some

inspiration for not one, but four scrpabook pages...

this is one of them...

The paper had the boarder imprinted on it so I enhanced it

using the banner punch from Stampin' Up!, some pop-up

dots and scrap paper...

The newspaper article had this quote that I thought was

perfect for this page's theme. 

I tool the list in the paper, agreeing with most of them and

wrote them in a journaling spot from Close to My Heart...

Also, I added a tag behind the photograph that holds a 

note about the photo and how I  felt it related to my 

goals for getting fit in 2012. I added a button for the pull.

I continued the banner down the side of

my photograph and even added some slivers

of paper trimmed from the side of the frame...

recycling, always =).

"Celebrate" indeed...that is what I want to do everyday

as I work out bringing fitness to my body, soul, spirit and

health...

Bring it on 2012, I am so ready...

Hugs, Rita

Blinging my Eye Glasses!! A Unique Creation...

I got really tired of my black rimmed glasses about

two years ago so...I "blingged" them!!

I get compliments on them everyday

and even have gotten commission work to

"bling" glasses...perscription, reading, sunglasses...

it is so much fun...I am coloring the world, on bling at a time! =)

Hugs, Rita

A 12x12 Shadowbox of Vintage Photographs in Black and White...

Adorable!! That is all I can say about this photograph!!

In this project, I used a 12x12 sheet of scrapbook paper, crochet lace (no, sorry, I didn't make it myself), flowers, bling, metal, charms, diecuts and a bit more here and there. This is the last in the 12x12 shadowboxes I created for holiday gifts this year BUT it won't be my last in these creations...I love making them...

I added the metal butterfly on the diecut,

it just begged to land on my page it seemed! =)

The charm peeking out from under the

flowers was perfect...The flowers are 

sprayed with Marshmallow Glimmer Mist...

I added a cute miniature black locket

charm to the popped up roses bling embellishments...

There are three layers of lace embellishments on this page!

I couldn't resist layering them...I love the crochet lace...

Such cute faces...

I wish all of you happy creating this year!

May your days be filled with happiness and love...

Hugs, Rita

New Year's Lunch with Us and a Recipe...

Our "Mamaw Hutty" checking her skillet chicken

and dressing to see if it is done...

Both were fabulous too! Moister than ever before...

Recipe? She never uses one but I watched this time...

Roasted garlic Brussels sprouts...delicious...

(recipe is on my blog...search for it...)

Black eyed peas with fatback and slab bacon...

Just note that we only add these seasonings on 

New Year's Day...lol...not an everyday pleasure...

Butter beans...

White kernel corn and seasoned turnip greens...

Mashed potatoes with melted butter...

Turkey roasted all night in the oven...

seasoned well

(recipe also on my blog...)

The turkey is always moist through and through...

placed homemade white sauce on the table and bbq sauce...

Although our two-legged family members aren't much into the dark meat,

our four-legged ones are...Beau and Chocolate are happy!!

You will see one of them in a moment...

The dressing of one pan...see...yummy...

eat your heart out friends...

My mother's dressing is amazing, only next to my

Crock Pot dressing of course...=)

Yes, Chocolate is napping nicely after

enjoying his meal...

Rita's Creamy Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes

5 lbs of Fresh Potatoes
6 qt Crock Pot
1 small can Fat Free Evaporated Milk
1 Tablespoons Real Butter
Salt

Peal the potatoes and dice them into small pieces. Rinse them well and place them in the Crock Pot. Cover them with water, sprinkle with salt and cook on low all night or 8 hours. Turn the Crock Pot off and allow them to sit for 1 hour to cool. Then drain the potatoes well. Spoon 1/3 of the potatoes into an electric mixer and pour 1/3 of the can of milk over the potatoes and add 1/3 of the butter. Mix well. Add another 1/3 each of the potatoes, milk and butter and mix well. Repeat this process until all is mixed well and creamy. Add spray butter to season. *A hand mixer will work well too.

~ This is less in calories too. "Fat Free" products bring good flavors to dishes but do watch the sodium content and sugar content in these items. Also, spray butter is a wonderful substitute for margarine and we have replaced all margarine with real butter and all oils with olive oil and cooking spray with olive oil in our home and the weight loss has continued. We don't use them often but when we need to these are our choices.  Finally, I don't add salt to the cooking time of my vegetables, instead I use a variety herbs. They are fragrant and add delicious flavors. Enjoy...

Happy New Year, Everyone...

Hugs, Rita

A 12x12 Shadowbox of Love From Days Gone By...

 
When I saw these photographs, I fell in love not only with the time period they represented. I had to create something with them. So, a shadow box as a gift seemed the perfect opportunity.

I wanted to show you this photograph even

though there is a glare from the camera so that

you could see the bright paper and elements

of the design...beautiful...not much was needed from

the artist...

I didn't cut the photographs down for this because I 

felt the area they were taken in were important. 

I layered the flower embellishments

and created the bling up the side to balance

the page...

The photograph had a blue smudge

on the side so I covered it with flowers...

perfect for the photograph...

More treasured elements to assent the

special moments and smiles in these photographs...

Hugs, Rita

Truly, Happy New Year...