OLW

Word Up # 62: GRATITUDE

it's funny...when i chose this word,  i was thinking of thanksgiving. knowing that my word was falling around the canadian thanksgiving...i thought...perfect!! fitting!! i had chosen this word about a month or more ago as my next word up and when it came down to actually scrapping with the word...i went a completely different route. our lives change so fast...our directions go differently. it brings a new appreciation...gratitude...for our previous journey and a sense of awe for the new one.

i found myself here...in a new journey. a journey of self growth and change. something that i completely embrace. for me these journeys always bring a new sense of awareness and gratitude for all that surrounds me. and it is about this that i chose to scrap. to document all that i am grateful for, all that i show gratitude for in my current self travels. it allows me to find peace and balance. it makes me stop...re-evaluate. and REALLY take a moment to find a gratefulness in my life in all things big and small.

Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude. ~denis waitley

what do find gratitude in?? we would love to have you share the things you are grateful for!!! and for sharing with with us this word up....you will have the chance to win a fabulous prize pack from our sponsor...cosmo cricket!!! i know!!! cool, huh??

so get scrapping!!! have a fabulous day everyone!!! ~jessi :)

Jessi

Denise

Gigi

Gudrun

Karla

Lynn

Revlie

Ronda

Don't forget to link up your creations to this post by Midnight Mountain time (-7 GMT), October 16th.  If it is your first time playing with us....welcome.  We encourage you to check out the F.A.Q for frequently asked questions.

Word Up # 61: OPEN

I feel like miracles have been happening all around me. Some smack me in the face and some are subtle and when I look back on them I am amazed. Like my two month old boys. They are miracles. They are lucky to be here. I'm lucky to be here. With all the events that were trying to get in the way; somehow a miracle happened and now we are all here safe and sound. Be open to all possibilities. Be open to good no matter how low you are. I mean just being here typing on this blog is crazy. I would have never thought ALL this would be happening. My family, my online family. This place where I am making a difference in peoples lives. Thinking back to times when I thought I would never get out of bed again. My shyness...almost crippling in the past and now I reach out. I just called one of my sons good friends' mother to meet for coffee sometime. Yeah that may seem like normal to some but I was all freaky about that kind of thing. Always a worry wart for no reason. But I've grown so much and I love where I am at right now. I can honestly say that I am happy. Who woulda thought? I'm open to miracles alright. Two sets of twins back-to-back? Yeah...I'm open to miracles indeed. My Word Up is OPEN. Join in and share how this word holds power in your life!

This word up is sponsored by The Paper Niche.  They are offering up their beautiful September kit, School Rocks, for the selected winner.  Just look at all those goodies! AND...they will receive a free invite to my online workshop: Journals 3 ways!!!

Happy Scrappin,

❤ Karla

Denise

Gigi

Gudrun

Jessi

Lynn

Revlie

Ronda

Don't forget to link up your creations to this post by Midnight Mountain time (-7 GMT), October 2nd.  If it is your first time playing with us....welcome.  We encourage you to check out the F.A.Q for frequently asked questions.

Word Up # 60: INVINCIBLE

Invincible: incapable of being conquered, defeated, or subdued.

WARNING!
anyone who has small children, sweet little boys..... and haven't yet been introduced to the wonderful world of older teenaged boys...... (18 and up, although there may be a few exceptions!)

reading this may be hazardous to your health......

This is my oldest son in a nutshell...INVINCIBLE..... wild.....willing to try almost anything!
and......of course nothing will happen to him! I know that I nag and complain to him that he should be more careful. I say to him "would you please not do catwalks down the street behind our house?" his response..... Mom, don't worry......it's all good....
It is a good thing that I don't know the half of it....on a lighter note, the motorbike has been sold!!! But in place of the bike there is a 15 foot truck sitting in my driveway! (not sure if it really is that big but it is waaaaay bigger than I am! lol) He really is a good, sweet boy but he does think he is INVINCIBLE......

This week we are being sponsored by Becky Fleck & Page Maps.  We have for you an autographed copy of Becky Fleck's latest book Scrapbook Page Maps!!!!  As Becky puts it...This Book contains 60 never-before-seen sketches in five popular sizes (12 x 12 & 8 1/2 x 11) along with more than 140 pieces of beautiful artwork.

Not only did Becky offer up her incredible book but she build OLW our very own Page Map.  We had fun using it in creating our invincible projects.  As you can see, one page map, so  many interpretations.  Feel free to use this Page Map to create your INVINCIBLE creations but please know it isn't necessary.

Lynn

Denise

gigi

gudrun

she's sick...send her some love

jessi

karla

Revlie

Ronda

Don't forget to link up your creations to this post by Midnight Mountain time (-7 GMT), September 18th.  If it is your first time playing with us....welcome.  We encourage you to check out the F.A.Q for frequently asked questions.

Word Up #59: BEAUTY

Beauty. the quality present in a thing or person that gives intense pleasure or deep satisfaction to the mind.  It is often said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  I understand this but i think there is something more.  I think that everything in life can be beautiful.  We just have to look for it, to find it.  And then most importantly we have to appreciate it. Even in our ordinary, day to day lives.  It can be a simple smile, a lovely dress, a hug from a child, a comfortable home, sweet words, and so on.  All this can just be so beautiful.  Life is beautiful if we just see it for all its potential. 

The longer I live the more beautiful life becomes. If you foolishly ignore beauty, you will soon find yourself without it. Your life will be impoverished. But if you invest in beauty, it will remain with you all the days of your life. Frank Lloyd Wright

So what is beautiful to you today?

We have a fabulous Label Tulip Kit up for grabs this go around.  One lucky winner will get this awesome, jam packed kit, Over the Rainbow!

In addition to the kit, the wonderful Michelle Filo has offered up a $10 gift certificate to her digital shop, with love by Mushy.   She has some adorable digital kits as well as some fantastic hybrid kits!  So that's two prizes in one!!

Ronda

Denise

Gigi

gudrun

Jessi

Karla

 

 

Lynn

Revlie

and once again the talented Michelle Filo is joining us for another word up!

and here is her awesome creation:

 

Don't forget to link up your creations to this post by Midnight Mountain time (-7 GMT), September 4th.  If it is your first time playing with us....welcome.  We encourage you to check out the F.A.Q for frequently asked questions.

Word UP #58: PLAY

Hi all. gudrun here. I'm SO excited to PLAY with you all wordsters this time around. It's still a tiny little week left of summer vacation and days off from school here in Norway - still one little week to relax, to have fun, enjoy and PLAY. So I wanted to use this week, and my opportunity to pick this word up #58 to share one of my favourite words with you:

PLAY!

I'm lucky to have 4 kids here in my household - you can imagine it is lots of playing around here. Wish it never stops! The kids have taught me and reminded me how important it is to play. I love to play, to just let go, have fun. I love to be a part of my kids little imaginary world, play with their dolls and cars and little LEGO creatures with them. I also love to play on my own - My scrapbooking and my scrapbooking-table is my playground, I love colors, patterns, embellishments and glue. This little creative outlet of mine gives me so much joy, so much energy to keep going, to do all the other things I need to do as a wife, a mother and a working girl. I also love to share my paper-playground with other people - so I really hope you want to PLAY with me this word up. Can't wait to see what you all create.

This weeks sponsor is Blue Moon Scrapbooking kits.  Here is a peek at the fabulous prize up for grabs this word up. So many goodies in there for one lucky selected winner!

Gudrun

 

Denise

Gigi

Jessi

Karla

Lynn

Revlie

Ronda

We are very pleased to announce our guest designer this month is Michelle Filo, a long time wordster with OLW.

 

I am a lucky Brazilian girl who lives in Australia. I live with my two little boys Mateus (5) and Lucas (2) and with my hubby, Alex. We enjoy going to the park and spending time together. I am the crazy one snapping photos all the time. Once everyone goes to sleep I like to work some scrapbooking magic and I love to blog about it. I love digital and traditional scrapbooking, and I LOVE to mix them up into hybrid projects.

and here is her beautiful creation this word up:

Don't forget to link up your creations to this post by Midnight Mountain time (-7 GMT), august 21st.  If it is your first time playing with us....welcome.  We encourage you to check out the F.A.Q for frequently asked questions.

Word Up # 57: SWEET

The sweetness of summer.  Deep breath.  Isn't it grand?  I am super busy.  I have two jobs, a large family including children, step-children and grandchildren.  None of that changes in the summer time, the schedule doesn't slow down much but there is something about my very being that just winds down.  I seem to notice more.  Food tastes better.  I am up later because the sun doesn't set until way past my normal bed time.  There is more time for walks, bike rides, and swimming in the river.  No homework to worry about, clean clothes, or packed lunches. I feel more relaxed and alive.

I do love all the seasons but there is something fleeting and therefore sweet about summer time.  From the moment it starts, there is the knowledge that it will be gone in a twinkling so one should enjoy every moment. 

This is a list of my favorite SWEET things of summer:

• homemade strawberry rhubarb pie
• farmers market
• riding bikes
• huckleberry picking
• good books
• camp fires
• floating the river
• grilled vegetables and aioli
• star gazing
• the sound of the sea
• sleeping outside

I hope you are savoring the sweetness of life this summer and will share your ideas and inspirations with us. 

this weeks sponsor is evalicious...she has the cutest etsy shop and not only is going to sponsor the a fab prize pkg for the winner but sponsored the DT....cute stuff!!! thanks evalicious.

denise

gigi

 

gudrun

jessi

karla

lynn

revlie

ronda

 

Don't forget to link up your creations to this post by Midnight Mountain time (-7 GMT), august 7th.  If it is your first time playing with us....welcome.  We encourage you to check out the F.A.Q for frequently asked questions.

Word Up # 56: WHY

we all have our WHY's. if you take a minute and write down a few, you have a base for a beautiful mini-album. WHY is such a strong word. WHY do things happen. WHY is the world the way it is. WHY are we the way we are? think about it. i teach my kids that there is a solution for everything. no matter how difficult or hard the problem is (in their eyes). and not only for everything is a solution, also for everything is a reason. but i'm not sure about WHAT the reasons might be. for some things i'm certain though. WHY i am the way i am. and it was about time to document that. mostly for myself. scrapbooking is a form of therapy for me when i scrap about me. but also for my kids to understand how i role. and of course for Arjan, but he doens't need the mini-album. he figured it out by himself :D.

to keep you thinking about the WHY'S in your life, i leave you with this gorgeous gorgeous song from Norah Jones. join us and tell us about the WHY'S in your life!  

This word up sponsor brings a lot of shine & fun to our layouts....ZVA Creative!  They generously allowed us to play with their awesome products and have offered up a prize pack filled with goodies! 

Revlie

i've created the mini from fabric, felt & cardstock and used the gorgeous embellishments from ZVA Creations. for more detailed pictures please visit my blog

denise

gigi

gudrun

jessi

karla

lynn

ronda

Don't forget to link up your creations to this post by Midnight Mountain time (-7 GMT), July 24th.  If it is your first time playing with us....welcome.  We encourage you to check out the F.A.Q for frequently asked questions.

Word Up # 55: JOY

a couple of weeks ago i saw these amazing kids from Staten Island's P.S. 22 perform on a morning news show...it was spectacular and i sat there in tears, SO completely inspired (my littlest was too...& kept begging me "put the singers back on mommy!!!)...besides their gorgeous voices, i think its the absolute and unmistakable joy on their faces...they are just singing and loving every minute of it...their joy is visible, it radiates...like i could reach out and touch it...how cool is that???   i mean really...with true JOY like they have...they really CAN rule the world, don't you think? 

and i got to thinking...even though i'm not 11 years old and i can't carry a tune, how can i infuse that exact kind of joy into my every day? how can i truly be present IN my day and soak up the joy that is offered to me?  i think i often get sidetracked by those tiny annoyances and frustrations that inevitably pop up...that line from the indigo girls' "closer to fine" often comes to mind "darkness has a hunger that's insatiable...and lightness has a call that's hard to hear"...and i think that is SO true...if i give an inch to that negativity, it'll sink me...i've got to reach and search for the lightness...the joy...so i will :)

so who or what is your joy?  or who or what gives you joy?  we'd love it if you would share it with us this round!

This week's sponsor is Memorable Seasons!  They are back for another round and Jill is offering a $30 Gift Certificate to the store.  How awesome, the lucky winner gets to select their own prize!  Be sure to check out the store for some great new products & some awesome deals. 

Gigi

Denise

Gudrun

Jessi

Karla

Lynn

Rev

Ronda

Don't forget to link up your creations to this post by Midnight Mountain time (-7 GMT), July 10th.  If it is your first time playing with us....welcome.  We encourage you to check out the F.A.Q for frequently asked questions.

Word Up # 54: GOOD

if you could define me by a phrase, it would..."it's all good!" i am easy going....quick to smile...and think life is too short to get hung up on the small annoyances. this phrase i say in regards to just about everything....when things get tough, i smile and know that it will work out somehow...it's all good! when i am being sarcastic and cheeky....dude! it's all good!! when my kids start bickering....and i explain to them they are being silly and that they need to let it go. i usually end it with...it's all good, life is too short! i probably say it too much...but if i didn't say it...it wouldn't be me. and those who know me would miss it if they didn't hear it at least 5...10 times a day!! so this week, i figured, it was a fitting word choice!! GOOD. what's GOOD in your life? what GOOD came out of bad?? what GOOD do you look for when things go wrong?? let's celebrate the GOOD, right here, right now...what does GOOD mean to you???

show us your GOOD and we'll show you our goods, lol!! this week ronda decided she needed to spread some love on her wordsters and is generously donating a $30.00 gift certificate to the tattered angels store.....glimmer mist heaven! mind you, you do not need to get carried away with your mists like some people i know ;)...they do have other FAB products!! so yeah, go create! it's all good!!!

~jessi

Jessi

Denise

Gigi

 

Gudrun

Karla

Lynn

 

Revlie

Ronda

Don't forget to link up your creations to this post by Midnight Mountain time (-7 GMT), June 26th.  If it is your first time playing with us....welcome.  We encourage you to check out the F.A.Q for frequently asked questions.

Word Up # 53: YES

The mushiness of YES.

Me: "Do you love me?"

Kody: "Yes."

Me: "Am I a good mommy?"

Kody "Yes."

Me: "How do you know?"

Kody: "Because you always tell me I'm handsome and you give me all the toys I want."

Me: "Really?"

Kody: "Yes."

Me: "Well then handsome...I love you."

Kody: "I love you too."

- It's nice to here the word YES when that's the answer you're looking for. Yes, you may. Yes, I understand. Yes, you got the part. Yes, i love you. How has the word YES impacted your life lately? Turn it into art and send it out way ^_^ We'll be waiting to see all the scrap goodness from your Wordsters!  Cocoa Daisy is generously donating this word up prize.  Do your thang and the beautiful, warm "Strawberry Lemonade Kit" could be yours!

-Karla

Denise

Gigi

Gudrun

Jessi

Lynn

Revlie

Ronda

 

and back with us again this week is the talented Jennifer Larson

 

and here is the beautiful mini she created

 

Don't forget to link up your creations to this post by Midnight Mountain time (-7 GMT), June 12th.  If it is your first time playing with us....welcome.  We encourage you to check out the F.A.Q for frequently asked questions.