Collage Press Reveal and a Give-away!

I'm so excited about these two new lines from Collage Press (Knave of Hearts and Sweet Shoppe.) I know you will get sick and tired of me talking about how much fun they are to work with but it's so very true. They are the most fun lines of paper EVAH!! It was especially fun to have the new Die Cut Rings to work with. Check them out here!
So, I wanted to share with you my layout and let you know that today is the day that the rest of the DT shared their layouts as well. You can check them all out on the Collage Press Blog. If you leave a comment on their blog before Friday you will be entered to win some 'sweet' Collage Press products. How awesome is that?

There will be a give-away coming up later this week on my blog and some of what you see here on this layout will be included. Fun stuff!!






















The moment I layed my eyes on ‘Sweet Shoppe’ by Collage Press, I knew exactly which photos I wanted scrap with it first. It the photos I had just taken of my daughter getting ready to perform the Nutcracker. She loves ballet but when it got closer to the performance, she became very uncertain about getting up on the ‘big stage.’ I wanted to get some shots of her in the dressing room before the big debut so that she would remember those excited and nervous feelings and also how much she ended up absolutely loving it.

















Thanks so much for stopping by!!

Gutted Out

You would never believe that I went to church this morning in this building.














Don't get me wrong!! It didn't look a thing like this when we met together this morning. That's why I'm so stunned!

Today was monumental in the life of our church. It was such a fun, and exciting morning. Then it became emotional and a bit nerve-racking. You see, today was the last day that we will be meeting in our church and having a ceiling that drips. Seriously!! What I have always loved about this church since we came 4 1/2 years ago is that it doesn't matter to them that they've had to meet in a run down building. They were just there to worship and meet God. It's so awesome to see how God has blessed our church through a time of transition and provision, allowing for the purchase of the building and now...finally, the reconstruction!!! The much needed reconstruction!!

It was mentioned this morning how ironic that this building used to be a mortuary. Yup....you heard me correct. A mortuary! It was called Batemen's funeral home. But that was what God had provided for them and for 17 years before we had come this church, they rented it on Sunday mornings. Now, that is obedience. I don't know how I would have felt about meeting in a mortuary! LOL!! But seriously, it's so exciting to hear them talk about how God was able to bring new life to people and how it didn't matter to them. They were alive in Jesus and that's all that mattered! I believe that this church is now reaping what they sowed in their obedience. I believe that God is up to something bit and I don't just mean in our building. There was an energy and an annointing and an excitement in the room this morning like I've never felt before.

We will be meeting at the grade school for the summer time and so many of us feel the prompting of the Lord that 'this is the time.' We are going to take back His territory. This congergation is so hungry and on fire to reach our community for His glory and it just feels like the gate has just been opened. I feel so blessed to be apart of this great move.

You would not believe that I came home from church to feed the kids and then came back after doing a few things, four hours later and found the building striped (there are endless sermon illustrations swirling through my head!) I can't tell you how full my heart is to know how willing these people are to give up their summers and devote themselves to this project. How is it that we've been blessed with such a beautiful flock of people. You should have heard them as they shared during the service this morning, about how they have felt other's reach out to one another. About, how the love spread amongst one another is really what the church is...not a building. I could have fell to the ground in a heap of tears. I was so touched.
'Oh Lord, please poor out your blessing on this devoted congeration. Give us strength to endure the tasks ahead and wisdom to make the many decisions. Bless the church with the provision needed for it to come to pass. And mostly, may you be glorified in each service that we have and among every conversation spoken. Bind us together with cords that cannot be broken and not our will, Lord, but may your will be done.'

Okay, so I've never prayed in my blog before but my heart is full of gratitude and I often pray when I journal. Arte and I covet any of your prayers this summer as this can be such a stretching time for Pastors and for the volunteer contractor and for the many people who are giving up their summer to see it through.

It feels so strange to be Pastors of a church and not to have a building. Wow, talk about trust. God is good and He is faithful. We are amazed at how every time we hit a roadblock financially, He just dropped the amount we needed. There have been many confirmations along the way. Knowing that we are in His will is all that we need right now. He will provide the rest. The finances, the workers, the right color paint. LOL!

So, if I disappear for a bit, you will know where to find me....it's here.....

Happy Mail!!

I got happy mail in my mailbox and my in box today!! My email was from Scrapbook Trends asking for two of my cards that I have used a ton of Spellbinders product on. That's very good for me. ;) They are cards that I haven't even shared yet. I'm sooo excited!!

The other happy mail was a cool new Loop Handle Bypass pruner from Fiskars. I was the lucky winner when I posted a comment about how much I love Fiskars gardening tools. I LOVE this new one because you can just clip it on to your jeans when you're not using it. No excuses now! I MUST get out there and start on my gardening!!

I have a few cards to share. Whenever I pull out my Collage Press papers I am just at ease with my project and I have so much fun. I love it when paper just makes it easy! Do you have a manufacturer that you feel that way about? I created this card with the new line, Knave of Hearts.





















Cardstock – Collage Press,Pattern Paper – Collage Press, Stamp – Fancy Pants (Delight), Stickers – My Little Shoebox, Die Cut – Spellbinders: S4-144 Deckled Mega Rectangles SM, S4-072 Flower Creations, Die Cut Machine – Spellbinders Wizard, Flower – Maya Road,Waxy Flax – Close To My Heart

And this is another that I did. I'm trying to get a bit more into stamping on my cards. It's a stretch but I'm comin' along!





















Cardstock – Bazzill, Pattern Paper – Scenic Route, Stickers – Making Memories, Flowers – Prima, Die cut machine – Spellbinders Wizard, Die – Spellbinders Scalloped Edge Frame, Stamp – Close To My Heart, Bling – Prima Marketing, Ribbon – American Crafts, Ink – Memento

Today was the kids last day of school. I can hardly believe. It really doesn't feel like summer at all. I'm looking forward to some slow days where we can just enjoy being together.

Hope you're having a fabulous week!
Hugs,
Julie

Spellbinders Layout 'Baby Face'

Spellbinders Products: S7-014 Classic Lace Border Grand, S5-004 Sunflower Garden, S4-072 Flower Creations, S4-189 Labels Three, Delight Stamps: Fancy Pants Designs, Delight buttons: Fancy Pants Designs, Color Box Chestnut Roan Chalk Ink: Clear Snap, Cardstock: Core’dinations, Bazzill, Pattern Paper: Scenic Route, Stickers: American Crafts

This is one of my favorite photos of that I took of this sweet baby. Her name is Lucy and she is just a doll face. I think I could snap away for hours. It was such a delight to work with this photo as I created this layout for Spellbinders. Can you tell how much I love this Classic Lace Borer Grand Die??

Hope you're having a super Tuesday!
Blessings,
Julie

Locks of Love

Still getting used to this:






















































































I'm so proud of her for giving up her hair to a worthy cause. Okay, the truth is, she just wanted it shorter so it would be easier for her to manage. And, she's loving it! It is really cool though, that she wanted to donate her hair as well.

My girl is growin' up!

Spellbinders Labels and Just Rite Stamps

Spellbinders has quite a few terrific labels out that are perfect for cardmaking. This is just one of my favorites. It is called Labels Three. LOVE it! I'm also excited to say that the stamping company called Just Rite has an amazing set of stamps the fit right into the nestabilities. A perfect combination!























Supplies: Spellbinders Wizard, S4-114 Standard Circles Large, S4-191 Dahlia, S4-198Flourish Accent, S4-189 Labels Three, S4-143 Long Classic Scalloped Rectangles Large, Cardstock: White Wash Collection Core’dinations, Deena’s Penny Lane (Tiny Dancer and Feeling Groovy,) My Mind’s Eye Designer Paper (Fabulous Blooms and Fabulous Buttons,) Chatterbox, Special Occasion Monogram Stamper Kit: Just Rite, Colorbox: Chestnut Roan Chalk Ink Clear Snap.

Since creating this card, I have learned a fabulous trick. It was actually just posted on the Spellbinders blog and you can read about here. The sentiment on my card isn't exactly centered in my circle how I would want. That is because I tried to stamp it after I cut it out. I figured it would slip around while I ran it through the wizard if I did it before. I'm so happy to have discovered that all you have to do is tape your die down to your paper so that you can your stamped image coming through and then it won't slip around. I'm so inspired!! Okay, off to create just a wee bit more!

Spellbinders

I wanted to share my very first altered Spellbinders assignment. It was probably one of the most fun projects I've done yet. After painting it and adding paper that had been inked, I was able to embellish it with one of my most favorite dies from Spellbinders; the Classic Lace Border Grand. That is the trim that you see around the rim of the top. I think it just pulls the project all together.






















Supplies: Spellbinders Wizard Die Cut machine, Spellbinders Paper Arts Dies: S4-167 Victorian,S7-014 Classic Lace Border Grand, S4-198 Flourish Accent,S3-038 Butterflies, S4-123 Flying Beauties, Classic Paper: Designs Crafty Secrets,Radiant Paper Designs: Crafty Secrets, Creative Impression: Bits of Bling

I made it through the big hair cut for Ashley yesterday. Phew! She looks darling. I'll post photos tomorrow.

I have some fun news. The Newport hospital has chosen one of my photographs to use as their advertisement photo and it will have my name on it. I'm pretty excited about that. My hunger to learn more and get more involved in photography is growing at a rapid pace! LOL! This afternoon I have a photo shoot to do of a family, graduate and engagement photos. I'm looking forward to that as well.

Thanks for stopping by! I'll have more Spellbinders goodness to share tomorrow. Have a fantastic day!

Finally home and the winner announced!!

We're back!!





















It feels like we've been gone for months and months and it seems so strange that the kids have one more week of school before they are out for summer vacation. I had to mail out a last minute assignment that got picked up and a few other last minute things that kept me from posting the RAK winner. Then I thought I'd just do it from my phone but as much as I tried, it would not let me sign on to my blog. So strange. So.....I'm very sorry you had to wait so long. Hopefully, it'll have been worth the wait for Em...she is the winner! CONGRATS Em!!! Random generator picked 26 for the number.

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Send me your address (julieoverby@peak.org) and I'll get your RAK mailed out to you.

As you can only imagine, I have so much to share about our trip. The first 5 days was our Pastor's conference. It was fabulous! The worship was so inspiring and the messages were so pertenant. I felt so encouraged to be in touch with the changes and the needs of the world around us. It seems as though we are entering a fast paced world of complicated lifestyle and extreme technology but it's interesting to step back and observe that what people seem to long for most is simplicity.

One of the great things about Convention being in Anaheim this year, was that it was so close to where I went to collage in San Dimas. As a result, there were a lot of my old friends and room mates who may not normally come to convention but because it was local, got to come this year. I met up with many great friends lived with over the years whom I haven't seen for 10 or more years. It was a great, great reunion. I can't tell you how encouraging it is to see so many of my friends that I went to school with who are still in the ministry. I saw at least 8 of my closest friends who finished off their schooling on the teaching track but are still also in ministry just as I am. Awesome.

They also had the most outstanding children's program with Greg Johnson. I know the kids loved it and have created life long memories. Their program was full of bounce houses, obstacle courses, games, music concerts, field trips and inspirational teachings. Aahhhh..........to be a kid again.

But wait! We did get to feel like kids again as finished off our time at Disneyland and California Adventure park. And as exhausted as the kids were from all the late nights, they did fantastic at the park. They were patient in the lines and kind to each other.

It was truly a dream come true and the most amazing family time we have ever had. The very last night, Kelsey got a bit braver and she wanted to ride this one roller coaster (a smaller one but FAST none the less...)she had tried the day before and found a bit too scary. So, I can't remember how it quite happened but somehow she ended on the ride (quite by accident) with just A.J. in her "car." Being that he is now TEN, we decided it was okay and we were yelling at him to wait with her at the end of the ride. There were barely any people in line and she was so excited that she watched us as we finished out the ride and then she took off with A.J. and ran back in line to do it again. I think she must have ridden it 5 or 6 times, most of the time with A.J. It became the sweetest, most bonding time between them. The whole entire next morning, she held A.J.'s hand where ever they went and when we are on the bus or at the restaurant, she kept putting her head on his shoulder. Too precious. He just went with it. What a guy. Because I had easy access to video on my new blackberry (which I'm LOVING!!!) I of course got some really cute videos of it that probably on a mother and Grandma would care to see over and over again. Once I get it on Youtube, I'll definitely be posting it.

I have two other great stories to share about Disneyland. Besides what I just shared, they stand out as the best moments. I'll be sharing later in the week because I can see that this post is getting WAY to long already.

Today is a very MONUMENTAL day for Ashley. She is getting her very long, curly, hair cut off and giving it to Locks of Love. This has been her hearts desire for awhile. As you can tell, I'll have a lot to share in the next coming days.

Also, for all you Spellbinders lovers, I have lots of great projects to share with you! Tomorrow I will be doing a spellbinders post with some of April assignments.

Too much to share, too little time. I know you can believe that I took a zillion photos and as much as I'd like to explain each one and share them all, I'll leave you with a few to tell the rest of our story. One thing I want to add is that it was surprisingly quite cold there. There were no pretty blue skies to have for the background in my photos...LOL!! But then again, that was probably for the best. Don't know how well the kiddos would have enjoyed 90 degree weather. So, it was a blessing in disquise I suppose!






















This is a photo of us with our good friends Susie and Robert and their family. They are the ones who graciously gave me a place to stay when I came to CHA-W. It was so great to see them again!

As much as I wish I could take the time to eloquently express all that is in my heart right now, the reality is that I have mounds of laundry and suitcases still calling my name. I will say though, that if there is one thing that has been solidified in my heart it is this: May everything I say, do, scrap, photograph, and share be honoring to Jesus. To Him be the glory; great things He has done.