tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74855606429840247422024-03-13T23:47:24.474-05:00Simply SarahSarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06598193324355872833noreply@blogger.comBlogger180125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7485560642984024742.post-16435382897049833802012-11-05T16:06:00.000-05:002012-11-05T16:06:08.860-05:00RetiringIf only I could say I was truly retiring at 37! :)<br />
<br />
Instead, I do have to say I'm retiring from digital scrapping. I'm sure it's no surprise, seeing that my last post is a year ago.<br />
<br />
I had a couple people reach out to ask about the annual calendars I typicaly design at about this point. Truth be told. I'm still on 2009 trying to catch up. I've decided that my 2010-2012 photos are going to just be bundled into a photo book (i.e. no scrapping included), and then MAYBE I can keep current. But that's a long shot.<br />
<br />
I still love digital scrapping, and one day I really hope to return. However, I work full time, have 2 kids whose school and sports schedules are only going to be getting busier, and I've got a wonderful husband and life that need my attention too. Digital scrapping has been the thing that had to give for a long time -- this is simply making it official.<br />
<br />
I'm not going to take down my site or the freebies that are currently there. I will say though that I don't check the emails too often, so those tend to get lost in the black hole of cyber space.<br />
<br />
Thank you to everyone for the continued support you've shown me. I want you to know everything is fine - wonderful in fact! And I do hope to one day be back!Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06598193324355872833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7485560642984024742.post-40353891549750987942011-10-29T15:15:00.002-05:002011-10-29T21:47:18.234-05:002012 Calendars<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: left;">Long time no scrap!</div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: left;">I wish I was saying that just to be cute.... but truly, it has been a LONG time since I've scrapped. I do miss it, and I'm about 2 years behind. But I figure it's more important to MAKE the memories than to hole myself away scrapping the memories. I assure you the photos have been taken and I'll catch up one day....</div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: left;">In the meantime, I've had a few people ask about the calendars. I always debate whether or not I'll do them. Truth be told though, they're also what I give for Christmas gifts, so I NEED to make them for my own list to be completed!</div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: left;">So.... here they are!</div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: left;">Here's a little example of what they look like with my family tucked into January. We've since moved completely out of snow country -- if it snows where we've moved, they may just kick us out of town!!!</div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDPvc5pJD7rknYfHbfzSOgrrWagvuSDOBYxfq9Og6tukLJl1d0Z0UtOTYRD8eaFIisdBQMRAi61ZtPiFjxz86Vd_zIF2vgSRBnN5Nx1_yWpGZp5dyuByGlWe5SyGfBdaGsM2OYowp619_X/s1600/01-JANUARY-sarah.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDPvc5pJD7rknYfHbfzSOgrrWagvuSDOBYxfq9Og6tukLJl1d0Z0UtOTYRD8eaFIisdBQMRAi61ZtPiFjxz86Vd_zIF2vgSRBnN5Nx1_yWpGZp5dyuByGlWe5SyGfBdaGsM2OYowp619_X/s400/01-JANUARY-sarah.jpg" /></a> </div><div><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">I've given you a couple different options from which to choose. The first is a 12x12 option (at 300dpi). Obviously these can easily be shrunk down to 8x8 or maybe even smaller to make CD case calendars if you'd like. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">To get your 12x12 download, please <a href="http://www.4shared.com/file/0yPHCwnA/SS_2012Calendar_12x12.html">CLICK HERE</a>.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe0ApvjJhjkiNCcawNVff1vIXQUjUfcYM1yfEPfT1VFLXXHuxByOkLcnb6fuYlSrzO9DHoN9leZSOghVl40WpIq02ocflv0wG0PA9ecIr8t8Oa-v4Te8FwNiRMSqw304YKpSHXPDd4fXzS/s1600/CALENDAR.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe0ApvjJhjkiNCcawNVff1vIXQUjUfcYM1yfEPfT1VFLXXHuxByOkLcnb6fuYlSrzO9DHoN9leZSOghVl40WpIq02ocflv0wG0PA9ecIr8t8Oa-v4Te8FwNiRMSqw304YKpSHXPDd4fXzS/s400/CALENDAR.jpg" /></a> </div><div><br />
</div><div>The second option is an 8.5x11 option. This is the option I use, and I typically have had them printed at ArtsCow.com -- they're reasonable, the printing is good, and while the transit is a LITTLE LONG, I'll take the cost savings. If memory serves, shipping was exorbitant, so look for a free shipping code. The 8.5x11 option has a little bit more detail. I've added the "memo boxes" with interchangable titles -- memory verse, to do, special days, birthdays, memo, etc. Use one I've provided, or make up your own.</div><div><br />
</div><div>I've also included a Bible Verse for each month, which is standard on my calendars. It's removable should you choose. This year, I've also included quotes by various Christian authors, and these are on the "date block" pages. </div><div><br />
</div><div>To get your 8.5x11 version, please <a href="http://www.4shared.com/file/r83D7A8H/SS_2012Calendar_85x11.html">CLICK HERE</a>.</div><br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf33VPy_WOleHoLvcC9QzMqaglsdIsrQx7SB2lf66W6D4od3gELIMlV9zkIksLMZtHtOrDRpmNQzG0pZkPUsJKcHBOrEosaUWzU5GKW7Z_jbu-KE9TFrWswRtYUWRMV6K_MO-lPpaxXIx5/s1600/81.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf33VPy_WOleHoLvcC9QzMqaglsdIsrQx7SB2lf66W6D4od3gELIMlV9zkIksLMZtHtOrDRpmNQzG0pZkPUsJKcHBOrEosaUWzU5GKW7Z_jbu-KE9TFrWswRtYUWRMV6K_MO-lPpaxXIx5/s400/81.jpg" /></a> </div><div><br />
</div>I hope you enjoy! As we pass Halloween and enter into the holiday season, may God's richest blessings go with you!<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>Sarah</div><div><br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_JBktnEKfLVvgO-u8padzWEng0oD5G9OuDLt7uZdJT9iebUKHbtkh4eeuOeuOGGh9wV8HJqMUoGQdiIBH6sBR4JBGS5zbBVv186BSZeufjwBBoF2x2P630z5qMJaiHAe8VYO7um6Rmi1h/s1600/8.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_JBktnEKfLVvgO-u8padzWEng0oD5G9OuDLt7uZdJT9iebUKHbtkh4eeuOeuOGGh9wV8HJqMUoGQdiIBH6sBR4JBGS5zbBVv186BSZeufjwBBoF2x2P630z5qMJaiHAe8VYO7um6Rmi1h/s400/8.jpg" /></a> </div></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: CENTER;"><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
</div></div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06598193324355872833noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7485560642984024742.post-80789575700777459412010-12-24T19:10:00.001-05:002010-12-24T19:11:49.725-05:00Quick Page - I Love You<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs1HO-8vmJQZKKsItlUjXFcbDXeZsktmHQcdCWg4Q-VPGcPKzrmeBcyA-Nt3k8G1HnhzMvRgGT7w1l5qnQFGOfNO7IIXc5I7xYXp0E7iZWeBHdans31ksMYadsMLGf5D3yiTj3SEx_9Q9n/s1600/Simply+Sarah1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs1HO-8vmJQZKKsItlUjXFcbDXeZsktmHQcdCWg4Q-VPGcPKzrmeBcyA-Nt3k8G1HnhzMvRgGT7w1l5qnQFGOfNO7IIXc5I7xYXp0E7iZWeBHdans31ksMYadsMLGf5D3yiTj3SEx_9Q9n/s400/Simply+Sarah1.jpg" /></a> </div>Merry Christmas!<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>I sit here in my family room. Christmas Eve church service thoroughly enjoyed. New tradition of Christmas Eve pizza filling our bellies. New Christmas pajamas keeping us cozy. "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" playing on the DVD player. Kiddos snuggling in our lap.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Aaahhhh... I love Christmas.</div><div><br />
</div><div>I pray you all are enjoying it as well!</div><div><br />
</div><div>Tonight I'm sharing with you a quick page I made a couple months ago. I didn't have any journaling with this picture -- just the kids messing around making "I Love You" in sign language. So I thought it would be cute to find multiple translations of "I Love You" and add it to the page. I couldn't begin to tell you which languages they are -- but so long as the translater page I used was correct, the words should be too! :)</div><div><br />
</div><div>I will give the heads up that this is an 8x8 template at 300dpi. It will print fine at 12x12, or you could do some fun layered papers under it, if you'd rather. </div><div><br />
</div><div>The Quick Page can be downloaded from 4Shared by <a href="http://www.4shared.com/photo/fJn9wc3E/SS_QP_8x8_LoveYou.html">CLICKING HERE</a>.</div><div><br />
</div><div>MERRY CHRISTMAS!</div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06598193324355872833noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7485560642984024742.post-53437998176635025692010-12-23T01:42:00.001-05:002010-12-23T01:43:00.759-05:00Word Art - 4 Bible Verses<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ9KfuFZyJHCuFn7B32e-TM2oaqL2GGsQK72LL5q9fF0I-950EikTVCWzhL8yOpK05G0o8Z2Xte1G9CkjJC2ysYU2gW4aCZDUMNR-yWIzdVNOiKt8jjmpwcpKao7-FA7-nrVtA8i9zj1Qq/s1600/4x6+Layouts1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ9KfuFZyJHCuFn7B32e-TM2oaqL2GGsQK72LL5q9fF0I-950EikTVCWzhL8yOpK05G0o8Z2Xte1G9CkjJC2ysYU2gW4aCZDUMNR-yWIzdVNOiKt8jjmpwcpKao7-FA7-nrVtA8i9zj1Qq/s400/4x6+Layouts1.jpg" /></a><br />
<i>(Please click image for larger preview)</i></div>This is the final collection of Word Art pulled from my 2010 monthly photo gifts. I hope you're able find a place to implement these verses into your designs!<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>The final 4 verses are also contained within one zip file. The verses are as follows:</div><div><br />
</div><div>Top Left: Surely there is a future and your hope will not be cut off. Proverbs 23:18</div><div><br />
</div><div>Top Right: When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. Isaiah 43:2</div><div><br />
</div><div>Bottom Left: But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31</div><div><br />
</div><div>Bottom Right: He made the moon to mark the seasons, and the sun knows when to go down. Psalm 104:19</div><div><br />
</div><div>To download this 4 verse collection, please <a href="http://www.4shared.com/file/ioLWBufa/SS_WordArt2_x4.html">GO TO 4SHARED</a>. Enjoy!</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: CENTER;"><br />
</div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06598193324355872833noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7485560642984024742.post-74235020678030206412010-12-23T01:23:00.002-05:002010-12-23T01:25:03.418-05:00Word Art - 4 Bible Verses<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTXkRunTcbYtujHT9KnIrihRXVJPtMFWYzZ0NA80J3FET2nE7CcFSfUfr6AkB8MNCdXj7xo4wdnN8yEb520SXE7KKOAN0FbnRLp83NxhpWNutCTeiP7J2KyXb_81CuiD9njb_Kfdeo70Pf/s1600/4x6+Layouts.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTXkRunTcbYtujHT9KnIrihRXVJPtMFWYzZ0NA80J3FET2nE7CcFSfUfr6AkB8MNCdXj7xo4wdnN8yEb520SXE7KKOAN0FbnRLp83NxhpWNutCTeiP7J2KyXb_81CuiD9njb_Kfdeo70Pf/s400/4x6+Layouts.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br />
<i>(Please click image to view larger)</i></div>I should probably be much more strategic about how I share these.... uploading one per day, creating a kit. I don't know -- there are probably a million better ways to share it. But that takes strategy and planning... and that's just not me! :)<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>My side of the family held an early Christmas about 2 weeks ago. I burned through and finished these gifts -- they're my favorite gifts to give. I do believe they were well received as well. </div><div><br />
</div><div>I kind of fell off the wagon in sharing these Word Arts. But I've hopped back on the wagon... so I'll keep sharing.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Included in this zip file are 4 different Bible Verse word arts, represented in the photos above. The verses are:</div><div><br />
</div><div>Top Left: The flowers appear on the earth. The time of singing has come. Song of Solomon 2:2</div><div><br />
</div><div>Top Right: Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Matthew 6:28-29</div><div><br />
</div><div>Bottom Left: The will will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat... and a little child will lead them. Isaiah 11:6</div><div><br />
</div><div>Bottom Right: Your beauty should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. 1 Peter 3:4</div><div><br />
</div><div>You can head over to 4Shared to download all 4 in <a href="http://www.4shared.com/file/R2xGWrrv/SS_WordArt_x4.html">ONE ZIP FILE</a>. Enjoy!</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: CENTER;"><br />
</div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06598193324355872833noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7485560642984024742.post-70829994432150248552010-12-21T15:11:00.001-05:002010-12-21T15:13:27.707-05:00Project 365 Templates<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: left;">By show of hands, how many of you participated in Project 365 last year? Raise those hands high!</div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: left;">My hand... not up.</div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: left;">I wanted to participate, really I did. I blame it on not having an iPhone. I also blame it on not having a plan. </div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: left;">I still don't have an iPhone, but for 2010, I do have a plan. I hope that by sharing this Project 365 freebie with you, you'll also be able to document your year!</div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: left;">The inspiration for this design was from the monthly photos of my kids that I make each year for my parents. I love the 4x6 format, because it's so easy to just print them off as photos and add to a standard album. I also kinda dig the little date stamps I created for my kids and have converted them for this purpose.</div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: left;">I hope that my take on Project 365 is versatile enough to fit your needs, yet provides a standard and cohesive look for your album, however you choose to use them. Included in the 25MB kit are the following:</div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: left;"><br />
<ul><li>365 Black Date Stamps -- Each month has its own PNG file, and there is a stamp for all 365 days of the year. I've consecutively numbered them -- and double checked my dates / numbers to make sure that I didn't miss any. The text around each stamp reads "January 1 Project 365" -- obviously each stamp will have its own date and corresponding number of the year.</li>
<li>365 White Date Stamps -- After creating the white background with black overlay, I thought the inverse might also look nice. If you would like a different color, simply open the PNG file, choose "Layer Styles" then "Color" and choose the color of your choice for the date stamp.</li>
<li>2 Black Lined 4x6 PNG Overlays -- one for the left side, one for the right side</li>
<li>2 Black Unlined 4x6 PNG Overlays -- one for the left side, one for the right side</li>
<li>2 White Lined 4x6 PNG Overlays -- one for the left side, one for the right side</li>
<li>2 White Unlined 4x6 PNG Overlays -- one for the left side, one for the right side</li>
</ul></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: left;">Below you'll see examples of each of the 8 overlays. Under the samples, you can see exactly what it is you'll be downloading.</div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: left;">Please <a href="http://www.4shared.com/file/CvSm6D9x/SS_Project365.html">CLICK HERE</a> to visit 4shared and download Project 365. Enjoy!</div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUZx1td6KnD7EVQKOFaumEm27ucoK-u22Xbfa2a_uWy7ARgWD6ctAQSj0J85l6_enP9Lfji51dUmK9mnXy88X9ij00QBaYawBaN1K6DCcadgrXaPb83FbyIEzozW4mb5A1nu1PFcKDBMC9/s1600/Recently+Updated3.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUZx1td6KnD7EVQKOFaumEm27ucoK-u22Xbfa2a_uWy7ARgWD6ctAQSj0J85l6_enP9Lfji51dUmK9mnXy88X9ij00QBaYawBaN1K6DCcadgrXaPb83FbyIEzozW4mb5A1nu1PFcKDBMC9/s400/Recently+Updated3.jpg" /></a> </div><br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnLywBa4v3zDojqELxxr7SUeKmQ9iAbxnL5NmQb_8UQ3Cb9FcFtt3WWIx00EVY5YGoIUNy63K2TxHz9fBk_FuSF17zlrYvUKpKm4GXozeRxR4CUd19fegdB6Lv8d26EEBU8o1KGCM5Ojnn/s1600/Recently+Updated2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnLywBa4v3zDojqELxxr7SUeKmQ9iAbxnL5NmQb_8UQ3Cb9FcFtt3WWIx00EVY5YGoIUNy63K2TxHz9fBk_FuSF17zlrYvUKpKm4GXozeRxR4CUd19fegdB6Lv8d26EEBU8o1KGCM5Ojnn/s400/Recently+Updated2.jpg" /></a> </div><br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGyzKO4yPIComDZbbhjgl8f8VH61gD_ydC5YjzYF06pRq3xzxNQAq1XNgJXEjCq6aDFEw1VJOKzS1VkURuR-L1jqpyl3EzAmNNwGao4fxrmWaQXM9oEpIcWD_4vOyBAwbBWuur7g0uEV8v/s1600/SimplySarah_Project365.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGyzKO4yPIComDZbbhjgl8f8VH61gD_ydC5YjzYF06pRq3xzxNQAq1XNgJXEjCq6aDFEw1VJOKzS1VkURuR-L1jqpyl3EzAmNNwGao4fxrmWaQXM9oEpIcWD_4vOyBAwbBWuur7g0uEV8v/s400/SimplySarah_Project365.jpg" /></a></div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06598193324355872833noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7485560642984024742.post-23383847359181988712010-11-25T00:37:00.000-05:002010-11-25T00:37:40.683-05:00Word Art - Psalm 34:5<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: left;">Last one for today! :) I hope you've enjoyed my little spurt of scrapping energy. I believe I've got 3 months of 12 down -- so 9 more to go. Where applicable, I'll continue to share the word art with you.</div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: left;">For now, enjoy a grin from my boy, who was 3 when this photo was taken.</div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://localhost:58298/7a8fbce0e76740e218d050e62a018376/image/c38e0024ace1157f.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://localhost:58298/7a8fbce0e76740e218d050e62a018376/image/c38e0024ace1157f.jpg?size=400" /></a> </div><div><br />
</div>To download the PNG file, <a href="http://www.4shared.com/photo/gP4p5ofO/SS_Psalm34_5.html">PLEASE CLICK HERE</a> or on the word art itself.<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>ENJOY!<br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdWaMiI5iNfAURjg_o5D6r4Tqnxtp3_uRfCiYdB3OGaLuUyxvUq0KgJUi8zh1yt1e69Kse_XB5XKuTE1rbeZkzeoz25L2pvmskzGoSxOBT0CNr3yGvTp08-Gn2gS7qhArScyp-3W9xIuIm/s320/SS_Psalm34_5.png" width="213" /></div><br />
</div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06598193324355872833noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7485560642984024742.post-69467760567658184992010-11-25T00:14:00.000-05:002010-11-25T00:14:58.062-05:00Word Art - Matthew 13:16I wish I could say I was on a roll today... and to a degree I am. However, one more layout, and I'm out of layouts to which I'm adding verses. That simply means I must put together more layouts if I'm going to finish a year's worth of photos in time for Christmas gifts!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.4shared.com/photo/bXi01to3/SS_Mt13_16.html"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIt9LgCeM4FH0PCq5wiNF9Q4BjBxvorhF3Fdoli_1XJKO73JVpttskUbAVygZNllP45pfYpXaCkV9Wx7MRG-RGKmXZApsv61nfeUfpbVZHJr2spheULQvT05laRO0JDuYm76izCnHaQ4tO/s320/SS_Mt13_16.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I hope you enjoy this one and have some beautiful eyes in layouts so that you can find great uses for it! You can download by clicking the word art, or <a href="http://www.4shared.com/photo/bXi01to3/SS_Mt13_16.html">CLICKING HERE TO GO TO 4SHARED.</a>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06598193324355872833noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7485560642984024742.post-62462160115951209002010-11-24T18:28:00.002-05:002010-11-24T21:09:26.040-05:00Word Art - Psalm 91:11 - Angels<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: left;">I'm on a roll! Two freebies in one day! :) Watch out world. I used this word art for 2 pictures of the kids doing basically the same thing. The beauty of it is in the book they will be no where near each other (20 pages apart!), so hopefully no one will realize immediately that they're complete duplicates. </div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiViVFgCovFWmq09wa0lP8RVkQvTyr5Zgt6k6l9Yz1rdElnNDQg_ykDOo_10ZDAnSbh20ec65C6on42CKaUwgPWx5VeLhMgktvjA8Lz0CA73Pa-q2RXxqsA26iYulyF3ziBF3vg9Fe8cYH6/s1600/Dominic-43.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiViVFgCovFWmq09wa0lP8RVkQvTyr5Zgt6k6l9Yz1rdElnNDQg_ykDOo_10ZDAnSbh20ec65C6on42CKaUwgPWx5VeLhMgktvjA8Lz0CA73Pa-q2RXxqsA26iYulyF3ziBF3vg9Fe8cYH6/s400/Dominic-43.jpg" /></a> </div><br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaXDDvbZdWzoVjUEFLoB2eP5wO3RhTbfEOFd__k0SkEkOgRJfJMttixkeJbt-oF-3aehKuq5gbc4IkZQpHJ7JSZkO7jULJ2Fk4a5p9q6QIYWkD6rMXdSPfM9pcqKNbaL0Wwo8pV1YLqK1c/s1600/Amara-65.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaXDDvbZdWzoVjUEFLoB2eP5wO3RhTbfEOFd__k0SkEkOgRJfJMttixkeJbt-oF-3aehKuq5gbc4IkZQpHJ7JSZkO7jULJ2Fk4a5p9q6QIYWkD6rMXdSPfM9pcqKNbaL0Wwo8pV1YLqK1c/s400/Amara-65.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">I thought Psalm 91:11 was the perfect verse for snow angels; I hope you do too!</div></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">You can <a href="http://www.4shared.com/photo/4uSKDGkb/SS_Psalm91_11.html">DOWNLOAD FROM 4SHARED HERE</a>. You can also click on the word art to get the link.</div></div><br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.4shared.com/photo/4uSKDGkb/SS_Psalm91_11.html"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjOgEOeZWkZT-ryq0UR7w_zp6fw87FpbVIfsv-3yWbNUZwIfnfs8I-jDAXWVbvKWz-F5rHNHSDzQ09q5JL-BM8M5VI6w3BjqQpRorIeyeZxaIIq9_38wUVAccUTajQ0BAWVRevY0jF1P2W/s400/SS_Psalm91_11.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="clear: both; text-align: CENTER;"><br />
</div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06598193324355872833noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7485560642984024742.post-20722951862649732592010-11-24T11:30:00.004-05:002010-11-24T11:50:46.698-05:00Word Art - Proverbs 12:10 - Animals<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Every year I give 4x6 photos to my family -- one for each month of each child. I've been compiling them in a 2-up photo album that allows us to look at each child's 1st month, 2nd month.... 40th month side by side to see the similarities in each one at each stage. It's really quite a fun book to see the comparison!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">One of the things that I add to each page is a Bible Verse that I try to apply to the theme of the page or the look on their face. As I work through them, I'm likely to end up with some word art, which I plan to share with you.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Here's the first page I'm working on, and the corresponding Word Art.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmQIDKyB5avmXBR7ihiExoSWAKf16SeyOOvcK6WjCCQgZ6Zm5nJIWDmXNBxTyzDRN4szN4LC4qbjG1YAzSZ5JuBiHn_NM62V4HbL3QEev0X9SXtD3Ljs81Jb-_NarbBCmf4e5f2cbdikZw/s400/Amara-64.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543156206367521042" /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">To download the PNG Word Art file, please <a href="http://www.4shared.com/photo/e5yOH1ls/SS_Prov12_10.html">DOWNLOAD HERE</a> from 4shared.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">As with all of my freebies, they are for personal use only. Please don't add them to a quick page or something similar and distribute them as part of your work. If there's ever a question, please just ask (make sure to include your email in the comment, as I'm unable to respond without one).</span></span></div><div> </div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgE77YjPkWjtB4zWKPmnjW4S0z9AeTzEQTDWrDy6U0pQLgBCUm_B-Jpt2pk1DjVTNdJQ6iQ-YQK3PzYY3LL25q-hL0kCjRFkzaoat9PgCAiywNewx71q5otF-jRnw-j44YU-iPLOql4NMb/s400/SS_Prov12_10.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543156165702494242" /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><br /></div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06598193324355872833noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7485560642984024742.post-15511784123886387742010-10-25T20:14:00.003-05:002010-10-25T20:33:15.227-05:002011 Calendar<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Wel... Another year is upon me. And another year where I'm going through the internal debate about whether or not I'll do a calendar. I'm over a year behind on my scrapbooking, so the idea of a calendar seemed kind of daunting.<div><br /></div><div>However....</div><div>1) They're my standard Christmas presents. Without them, what would I do?</div><div>2) Someone asked. :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>So I got to work. I wanted to do them different than year's past. The result, and I'll apologize in advance, is ridiculously large file sizes that require you to download 4 separate files to get them all -- and each file is between 100-150MB. SO SORRY!</div><div><br /></div><div>However, I do hope that they've provided you some flexibility as well. Here's a preview of what you'll be getting. I really love the style of a large background photo with a textured / washed out overlay -- it's kind of my "go to" scrapbooking style, if you will. So that's what I've tried to create for you.</div><div><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiENm1BPEc8s3ZkPU3d-DTy0JPZHTcu3wtfeedeRPu1BI16X6bOxAjE5qCG3uawuYZoG6j5Ot8Orszg5uc0hf1RjbHWMnD4oLxoUtgHRsgIqu2u-XOkeYNaEa4cPajKUo3z8Bbe7RSHhAcU/s400/SS_2011+Calendar+Pages.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532157945918679314" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpdaH9yAcEkHeTmawuMISDUsEb9rAOvfbrLBxYatqwOmIQX8fiegASk7OjrZhKxXHGxoKCASvedbWzlp6wRmIsUgWsBLwCkXhxM1gSYQbzjufkeS0NoiYpokk2i1vArV6Aft_HT9TyqiFx/s400/SS_2011+Calendar+Pages1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532157949047000386" /></div><div><br /></div><div>Let me give you an idea of some of the features of these calendar pages (which may explain the reason the files are so big!)</div><div><br /></div><div>- You can customize your colors. The background colors are their own layer, so you can choose the layer that best speaks to you the color of the month, or the color that best coordinates with your chosen photos.</div><div><br /></div><div>- The texture layer is already set to "overlay" -- so you just have to drag your favorite photo into the layer between the background and the texture layers (marked in each file), and the effect will be applied for you.</div><div><br /></div><div>- In years past, I've had requests for things other than Bible Verses. I personally want Bible Verses, and since I'm creating this for my own gifts, that's what I've included. However, I've made them their own layer, so should you prefer to remove them, that's easy for you to do.</div><div><br /></div><div>- The "Frame" layers are movable and interchangeable. I've included a separate download just for the frame clusters if you'd like them. However, they're on each of the pages as well -- both ways work.</div><div><br /></div><div>This approach almost is more of a quick page than a template -- not typically the direction I go. But I do hope that you enjoy it. Included in the downloads are some instructions for how to manipulate your large photos to make it work well with the texture overlay.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've had people request in the past if they can use my calendars for gifts or church / school fundraisers. The answer is yes. However, I do request that you don't sell them as your own, and that you don't sell them to make a profit for yourself. That permission is granted for the printed calendar only -- not individual bits and pieces of the kits.</div><div><br /></div><div>I hope that you enjoy it, and those who you're giving the calendars do too! I'd love to say I'll be back with some templates...but I can't promise anything. I do have a few scrapbook pages that I could probably convert to templates.... but honestly, I'm hunting for templates and quick pages right now, too, simply to catch myself up! My goal is to complete 2009 in time for Christmas gifts.... but I'm still on June. Who else needs life to slow down just a touch!?</div><div><br /></div><div>Alright, so here are the download files. Again, my apologies for the large file sizes.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.4shared.com/file/BOQrJZ7Y/SS_JanFebMar.html">January February & March</a> 143MB</div><div><a href="http://www.4shared.com/file/81cNijbm/SS_AprMayJun.html">April May & June</a> 135MB</div><div><a href="http://www.4shared.com/file/gjrwC4mb/SS_JulAugSept.html">July August & September</a> 136MB</div><div><a href="http://www.4shared.com/file/Vc5TiYcC/SS_OctNovDec.html">October November & December</a> 110MB</div><div><br /></div><div>If you'd like the elements only, those can be found <a href="http://www.4shared.com/file/DrLJknGm/SS_2011_Calendar_Elements.html">HERE</a>. They are only 3MB. Go figure! :)</div><div><br /></div><div>Enjoy!</div><div><br /></div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06598193324355872833noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7485560642984024742.post-12427727066704290852009-11-17T11:52:00.000-05:002009-11-17T11:53:00.484-05:00Advent Calendar Hybrid ProjectI’m so excited about the Advent Calendar the kids and I have been working on. I grew up with an Advent Calendar as a part of our Christmas celebration. We eagerly opened each door to find the candy behind it. We’d read the Advent devotionals, light the advent wreath/candles each Sunday, excitedly anticipating Christmas Day and Jesus Birth.<br /><br />This year I wanted to find a way to combine all of those traditions and point to the Savior each day. I didn’t care so much about the chocolate – I wanted something else to be “hidden” behind each door. I wanted the kids to seek Jesus. He is, after all, the reason for the season.<br /><br />So this is the result of my quest to create the “perfect” Advent calendar. I hope you enjoy it! And I’d LOVE to hear about your Advent traditions.<br /><br />To create the “scene” for my Advent calendar, I purchased a miniature Christmas tree (or will purchase one).<br /><br />Under the Christmas tree, I placed 25 folded paper boxes <i>(directions for how to make these are listed below).</i> I numbered each box 1 through 25. So box 1 would be open on December 1st, and so on. Now I do realize that Advent traditionally begins on the 4th Sunday before Christmas, but for simplicity sake, and so that we can reuse this from year to year, we’re doing it 25 days of December.<br /><br />Within each box is a phrase, a Bible verse, and a symbol. I put the phrase and Bible verse for each day on the inside of the box top (i.e. Day 1 says, “We anticipate Jesus birth, just as they did many years ago.” The Bible verse, “Isaiah 11:1 Psalm 27:14” will immediately follow it.) I’m only putting the Bible verse reference on the box top – my purpose, especially as the kids grow up, is to have them look up and read each verse.<br /><br />Within the inside of the box on the bottom is what the symbol for the day is (i.e. Day 1 says, “Branch.”) This reference corresponds to the symbol that will be inside. The symbol will be in the form of an ornament, which will be hung on the tree. For right now, I used clip art to make all the symbols. I cut them out in circles, laminated them, punched holes, and they will be ornaments. Moving forward, the kids and I will be on an ornament quest to find all of the proper symbols for each day in miniature to be made into an ornament.<br /><br />Beginning on Day 18, we’ll build a Nativity Scene in front of the tree. So rather than ornaments, I’ll find a miniature nativity and put one piece in each box. The culmination, of course, will be Baby Jesus lying in a manger on Christmas Day.<br /><br />I’m very eager to begin this tradition with my kids! We’re building and stuffing the boxes over Thanksgiving weekend. I welcome you to join me in this quest to point your children towards Jesus. Below I’ve listed each day, the phrase, the Bible verse, and the symbol. I’ve also included pictorial step-by-step directions for how to make the paper boxes. Please let me know if you decide to join me!<br /><br /><br /><strong>DAY 1: We anticipate Jesus’ birth, just as they did many years ago.</strong><br />Isaiah 11:1 - A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.<br />Psalm 27:14 - Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.<br />Symbol: Branch<br /><br /><strong>DAY 2: The Bible teaches us about God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.<br /></strong>John 1:1-2 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.<br />2 Timothy 3:16-17 - All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.<br />Symbol: Bible<br /><br /><strong>DAY 3: Jesus came because we are sinners.<br /></strong>Genesis 3:6-7 - When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.<br />1Timothy 1:15 - Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.<br />Symbol: Apple<br /><br /><strong>DAY 4: Jesus paid the price for our sins.<br /></strong>Romans 5:8 - But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.<br />Hebrews 12:2 - Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.<br />Symbol: Cross<br /><br /><strong>DAY 5: Jesus came because God loves us.<br /></strong>John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.<br />Symbol: Heart<br /><br /><strong>DAY 6: Because of Jesus, we can have eternal life.<br /></strong>John 3:36 - He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.<br />Symbol: Ring (eternal)<br /><br /><strong>DAY 7: Jesus came so that we could join God’s family.<br /></strong>John 1:12 - But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.<br />Symbol: Family Photo<br /><br /><strong>DAY 8: Our joy comes from the Lord.<br /></strong>Psalm 126:3 - The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.<br />Psalm 16:11 - You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.<br />Symbol: JOY Ornament<br /><br /><strong>DAY 9: Jesus wanted to show us the way to the Father.<br /></strong>John 14:6-7 - Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."<br />Symbol: Compass<br /><br /><strong>DAY 10: He is the Alpha and the Omega.<br /></strong>Revelation 1:8 - I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God," who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."<br />Revelation 21:6 - And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.<br />Revelation 22:13 - I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.<br />Symbol: Alpha and Omega Ornament<br /><br /><strong>DAY 11: He is the Lamb of God.<br /></strong>John 1:36 - When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!"<br />Symbol: Lamb<br /><br /><strong>DAY 12: He is the Door.<br /></strong>John 10:9 - I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.<br />Symbol: Door<br /><br /><strong>DAY 13: He is the Good Shepherd.<br /></strong>John 10:14-15 - I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.<br />Symbol: Candy Cane<br /><br /><strong>DAY 14: He is the Light of the World.<br /></strong>John 8:12 - When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."<br />Symbol: Candle<br /><br /><strong>DAY 15: He is the Bread of Life.<br /></strong>John 6:35 - Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.<br />John 6:51 - I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."<br />Symbol: Bread<br /><br /><strong>DAY 16: He is the King of Kings.<br /></strong>Revelation 19:16 - On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.<br />Symbol: Crown<br /><br /><strong>DAY 17: Jesus Christ is the greatest gift.<br /></strong>Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.<br />James 1:17 - Every good and perfect gift is from above.<br />2 Corinthians 9:15 - Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!<br />Symbol: Present<br /><br /><strong>DAY 18: Jesus was born in a humble stable. (Begin to set Nativity Scene.)<br /></strong>Luke 2:12 - This will be a sign to you: “You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."<br />Symbol: Manger<br /><br /><strong>DAY 19: Angels told the good news that the Savior was born.<br /></strong>Luke 2:8-14 - And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."<br />Symbol: Angel<br /><br /><strong>DAY 20: Shepherds came to worship Jesus.<br /></strong>Luke 2:15-20 - When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.<br />Symbol: Shepherds<br /><br /><strong>DAY 21: A star lit the way to Jesus.<br /></strong>Matthew 2:9-10 - The star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.<br />Symbol: Star<br /><br /><strong>DAY 22: Wise men came to worship Jesus.<br /></strong>Matthew 2:11 - And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.<br />Symbol: Wise Men<br /><br /><strong>DAY 23: Jesus’ mother was Mary.<br /></strong>Isaiah 7:14 - Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.<br />Luke 1:30-33 - The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”<br />Symbol: Mary<br /><br /><strong>DAY 24: Mary was to be married to Joseph.<br /></strong>Matthew 1:20-23 - An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us.<br />Symbol: Joseph<br /><br /><strong>DAY 25: Jesus, the Savior, is born!<br /></strong>Isaiah 9:6 - For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.<br />Revelation 22:16 - I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.<br />Symbol: Baby Jesus<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/XSCT1YsqhHY1nowA6XuX8w?authkey=Gv1sRgCPLe-v-Mtfiu1QE&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_IqbICBsHJdE/SvetgPTlxrI/AAAAAAAABIk/22yqcwngzBw/s400/IMG_5620.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/j182hkmUMoWqB4KcdUwwNQ?authkey=Gv1sRgCPLe-v-Mtfiu1QE&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_IqbICBsHJdE/SvetgaFgPzI/AAAAAAAABIs/E4bvZh1YWNs/s400/IMG_5621.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/uyD1VoY4vCr95yfxdZSMqA?authkey=Gv1sRgCPLe-v-Mtfiu1QE&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_IqbICBsHJdE/Svetg7TvKgI/AAAAAAAABIw/YztSNLQqaMU/s400/IMG_5622.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/-KLB9XP4hi_MmtWK6oOGag?authkey=Gv1sRgCPLe-v-Mtfiu1QE&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_IqbICBsHJdE/SvethHl3JaI/AAAAAAAABI0/bwUzy142Hg8/s400/IMG_5623.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/yT__jQRJk7o44xk_cdoSng?authkey=Gv1sRgCPLe-v-Mtfiu1QE&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_IqbICBsHJdE/Svethhs0DpI/AAAAAAAABI4/KO9wy7MPIvM/s400/IMG_5624.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/WxgOSh966JEqoCkrUuTeJQ?authkey=Gv1sRgCPLe-v-Mtfiu1QE&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_IqbICBsHJdE/SvetiNQhqzI/AAAAAAAABI8/xRcyxBd2dbs/s400/IMG_5625.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/H6S39TzMpvS4h1wNm9fhnQ?authkey=Gv1sRgCPLe-v-Mtfiu1QE&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_IqbICBsHJdE/SvetiaQo22I/AAAAAAAABJA/kmVp1oahU-U/s400/IMG_5626.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Pnn-q3jyQIHkIy23gRjD2g?authkey=Gv1sRgCPLe-v-Mtfiu1QE&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_IqbICBsHJdE/Sveti1MhIrI/AAAAAAAABJE/-nTIVTtCe-U/s400/IMG_5627.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/EdoxLqUTsgBtDWdHwV91bg?authkey=Gv1sRgCPLe-v-Mtfiu1QE&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_IqbICBsHJdE/SvetjMbtnII/AAAAAAAABJI/p6ZhfgnazD8/s400/IMG_5628.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Z4pWqqwckdCFkwfMtd-o3w?authkey=Gv1sRgCPLe-v-Mtfiu1QE&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_IqbICBsHJdE/SvetjibwFeI/AAAAAAAABJM/yfERWQ1gwjQ/s400/IMG_5629.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/3TZ57TDs9jNzEK41043rcw?authkey=Gv1sRgCPLe-v-Mtfiu1QE&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_IqbICBsHJdE/SvetkLaNbkI/AAAAAAAABJQ/o2QeY_0LE4c/s400/IMG_5630.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/X1wPqCfoWQ9Tm8Zlh7KF5A?authkey=Gv1sRgCPLe-v-Mtfiu1QE&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_IqbICBsHJdE/SvetkdICgzI/AAAAAAAABJU/tLaDvo43lWg/s400/IMG_5631.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/N1hvF4vRc3S4gweHt7CFdA?authkey=Gv1sRgCPLe-v-Mtfiu1QE&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_IqbICBsHJdE/SvetklX9u0I/AAAAAAAABJY/DC15RTJLYQc/s400/IMG_5632.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/RzoIX43z85cKtLUWnteEBw?authkey=Gv1sRgCPLe-v-Mtfiu1QE&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_IqbICBsHJdE/SvetlO8vKUI/AAAAAAAABJc/NJsxRPaTvtw/s400/IMG_5633.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/zjrrlWgurmefIIxBYBT5qg?authkey=Gv1sRgCPLe-v-Mtfiu1QE&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_IqbICBsHJdE/Svetlt4jgoI/AAAAAAAABJg/sFlb7Kqy6C4/s400/IMG_5634.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/eJimWiNc6fCMxvwQCp14ww?authkey=Gv1sRgCPLe-v-Mtfiu1QE&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_IqbICBsHJdE/SvetmFZNKyI/AAAAAAAABJk/gID0nxUjHOA/s400/IMG_5635.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/dDNWsCDjeJscuSlz_pS90w?authkey=Gv1sRgCPLe-v-Mtfiu1QE&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_IqbICBsHJdE/SvetmpHKojI/AAAAAAAABJo/hpCxXBk0k_c/s400/IMG_5636.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Dm-C-EMAyNxRQUWb3MRx3A?authkey=Gv1sRgCPLe-v-Mtfiu1QE&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_IqbICBsHJdE/SvetnFk-TcI/AAAAAAAABJs/F9Kq3QnnAqo/s400/IMG_5637.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/szvOFU8_IbbLrXwsNliGTA?authkey=Gv1sRgCPLe-v-Mtfiu1QE&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_IqbICBsHJdE/SvetnXd-GPI/AAAAAAAABJw/0a6L_cH0nHE/s400/IMG_5638.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/enr7nWU-TpKvn57bAGTUQg?authkey=Gv1sRgCPLe-v-Mtfiu1QE&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_IqbICBsHJdE/Svetn1pwCMI/AAAAAAAABJ0/ucIK_X35Qkk/s400/IMG_5639.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/0IQDY0OV_PBC_q-j9SVfTQ?authkey=Gv1sRgCPLe-v-Mtfiu1QE&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_IqbICBsHJdE/SvetoZ47FKI/AAAAAAAABJ4/6eO5__nGiaM/s400/IMG_5641.JPG" /></a>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06598193324355872833noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7485560642984024742.post-1782968591148411082009-11-14T09:18:00.001-05:002009-11-14T09:20:13.907-05:002010 Calendar Version 2 - Bible Verses<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgdmVuApP7WF0iTwSK7rvxUJMvjhlAVUqj697jmyTxz-yuoA8yETVfJiVIuBLI03AtLuRD54HoC6i9ICc6dsoX_ZChk3nCnoAN7gvRTC8mCqakc-CRnnEWpzsXTKAVoAxeUyzqatCJHTA7/s1600-h/2010+Calendar.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgdmVuApP7WF0iTwSK7rvxUJMvjhlAVUqj697jmyTxz-yuoA8yETVfJiVIuBLI03AtLuRD54HoC6i9ICc6dsoX_ZChk3nCnoAN7gvRTC8mCqakc-CRnnEWpzsXTKAVoAxeUyzqatCJHTA7/s400/2010+Calendar.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br />Ask, and ye shall receive.<br /><br />This is actually the version I had in my mind to do from the start... it just took a bit longer to pull together than the month one I shared last weekend.<br /><br />My primary goal with this calendar is to point to Christ. I want everyone who reads it to see Him in the words. To find hope. To find peace. To find light. To find purpose. To find freedom. For as the bottom middle verse (Acts 4:12) states: There is no other name by which we must be saved.<br /><br />The style of this calendar is identical to the one I shared last week; the primary difference being the verses. The size (8.5x11), quality (300dpi), and file type (PSD) are all the same.<br /><br />A couple people have asked where to print this. I used Lulu.com last year and honestly, I swore I'd never use them again because they printed it backwards (i.e. printed the calendar grid on the TOP and the pictures on the BOTTOM). <em>(The reason for this is that they don't have a horizontal book option that's 8.5x11 and LANDSCAPE, so I chose an 8.5x11 PORTRAIT style book and rotated accordingly. The just rotated it 180 degrees from where I placed it.) </em>However, I simply haven't found another place to print it as cheaply, so I'll probably go back there.<br /><br />Lulu.com DOES have an option to print a calendar -- I haven't explored that option myself, but I believe you upload the photo side and use their grid. If you chose to use my templates to create that, you'd simply leave off the grid. That should work just fine.<br /><br />Other people have gone to Kinkos, Staples, Office Depot and had them double side printed. I've also heard people laminate them and use a claw binding. You could also use page protectors and 3-ring binders if you desire. Lots of options!<br /><br /><strong>Lastly, I have had a couple people ask if they can use these templates to create freebies. My answer is YES with the following 2 qualifiers:<br />1) Please give credit to Simply Sarah Designs and link back to this site.<br />2) Please email me to share that you've created a quick page/freebie so that I can show it here and link back to you.<br /><br /></strong>And without further ado, go download the file <a href="http://www.4shared.com/file/152000582/3cfd82d1/SimplySarah_2010_Cal_Bible_Vrs_Templates.html">HERE</a>.<br /><br />Enjoy! <div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"></a></div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06598193324355872833noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7485560642984024742.post-40129017326523480982009-11-08T01:16:00.001-05:002009-11-08T01:18:42.139-05:002010 Calendar Templates / Version 1<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5IkPrqO7bqVCFkuD74zBWsvH7pxvQVN7_XdIAUHdXdpSDVu13Z8CU0Mw_V-Z1Ums69MDSrGTmCpE6bzqpIET9aKQyDqChqrTIk4Y0-ZZCC29FvojMQZtifQScAHg1y3mo0mMNNblU48Wm/s1600-h/Recently+Updated.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5IkPrqO7bqVCFkuD74zBWsvH7pxvQVN7_XdIAUHdXdpSDVu13Z8CU0Mw_V-Z1Ums69MDSrGTmCpE6bzqpIET9aKQyDqChqrTIk4Y0-ZZCC29FvojMQZtifQScAHg1y3mo0mMNNblU48Wm/s400/Recently+Updated.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYJ5jjJtf7NcffqxAgZHCUUxIoMjb9D7NPPnjqpjbeh5bzVMnugSiVAxwuWASB64eQnMS0AqCxCiSsBBrg7JNAZXPeTxOq7VGvS6PSlExF0OMRwqYAswguEbyYolbZn3MmEVwMuklCDJ7O/s1600-h/Recently+Updated2.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYJ5jjJtf7NcffqxAgZHCUUxIoMjb9D7NPPnjqpjbeh5bzVMnugSiVAxwuWASB64eQnMS0AqCxCiSsBBrg7JNAZXPeTxOq7VGvS6PSlExF0OMRwqYAswguEbyYolbZn3MmEVwMuklCDJ7O/s400/Recently+Updated2.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><p><br />Wow! It has been SO long since I've scrapped or been in the scrapping loop that I didn't even realize it was National Digital Scrapbooking Day! Hope you all had a good one and found many wonderful treasures!<br /><br />A few weeks ago, a lovely lady asked me if I was planning to do a calendar again. At that point, I hadn't even given it a thought. Then it hit me just how quickly 2010 was coming, not to mention Christmas 2009, and I hadn't even begun thinking of gifts.<br /><br />So I told her that one would be coming.<br /><br />Here it is!<br /><br />However, it's only the first one.<br /><br />I really wanted to do one with Bible verses each month, as I've done in the past. However, because I've been out of the scrapping loop, I just couldn't make the designs gel... at all. It was SO frustrating, and I was getting no where fast.<br /><br />So I took a different approach to it.<br /><br />One night as I was falling asleep, and idea came to me. I thought of wordle.net (go visit it, if you haven't already). I have Wordle to thank for the basic design of the pages. I did make a few minor tweaks, and I did redo all the fonts, but the credit for the font blocks goes to Wordle. What a fun program!<br /><br />So anyway... here's where you get to have some fun...<br /><br />I know you all went on a download frenzy today. And I just bet you got some amazing templates and/or quick pages. You see that "square" in the center of each page? That's for your favorite layout of each month. Or if you don't want to go that route, you can put your favorite picture of the month there. Don't like that either? Take out the block altogether and put in a large picture or design of your own. The possibilities are endless with this one! I hope you will to.<br /><br />As I mentioned, this is version 1. Version 2 is coming. I was going to wait and provide them both together, but since it is National Scrapbook Day and all, I thought I'd play my part! :)<br /><br />Version 2 will have the same basic design, but instead of the month blocks, there will be Bible Verse word art for each month. Bear with me. I've got 8 months left to go. Hopefully I'll have that done within the week, but I'll make no promises!<br /><br />Hope you all had a blessed day, and found some wonderful scrapbook treasures... or more importantly, created some!<br /><br />Oh yeah -- the templates. You can find them <a href="http://www.4shared.com/file/148262770/56b4e8ac/SimplySarah_2010_Calendar_Templates.html">HERE</a>. There are 24 pages (top and bottom for each month) zipped into one file. Each page is 8.5x11 and 300dpi. Oh -- and the olive color background is just that -- a background for display. It's not on the file itself.</p><p>Enjoy! </p>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06598193324355872833noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7485560642984024742.post-26214108600700183822009-08-01T01:48:00.002-05:002009-08-01T01:49:23.937-05:00Layered Template 46I had such sweet comments with my last post. THANK YOU! I'm absolutely shocked that anyone stuck around because I was MIA so long. I literally longed for road trips, because I'd bring my laptop and scrap as my husband drove. That was the only time I had for scrapping. I love those car plug-in adapters!<br /><br />I wish I could say I'm officially back. However, the pace of life hasn't slowed, so I'm not. However, I also have come to realize just how essential my scrap outlet is to my stress relief. So I'm going to make an attempt to get in a little bit of scrapping each week. When the layout is conducive to a template, then I'll have an update to share.<br /><br />Even if it's 1:30 in the morning. Ugh! I'm going to pay for this one! :)<br /><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAe55quZyo0ADBGKea5j1Xzx9-VVuKwXDRAYQ5FNJm9JIpJHFKpZhN11G7NptETGNqwt58V4ZN0skH5Tx6ArdQsi3L9QLyhzl3mus8L4jvVG8hi0gSt0UvR_Luywhyphenhyphenwp6h9gvx6QUpZAmL/s1600-h/LOs1.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAe55quZyo0ADBGKea5j1Xzx9-VVuKwXDRAYQ5FNJm9JIpJHFKpZhN11G7NptETGNqwt58V4ZN0skH5Tx6ArdQsi3L9QLyhzl3mus8L4jvVG8hi0gSt0UvR_Luywhyphenhyphenwp6h9gvx6QUpZAmL/s400/LOs1.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br />"Rexy" is the product of my late night desire to scrap a bit. Guess it was a stressful week. :) OK, it wasn't so bad, but sometimes scrapping late on a Friday night just feels good. Since everyone's asleep, I don't feel guilty... but in the morning, I better get my tail out of bed, so the guilties don't catch up with me!<br /><br />I'm on a kick lately of using the photos as the background (as I mentioned with my last post). So I'm looking for new or different ways to do that. And my other priority is always journaling, so I've got to make room for that. Sometimes that's VERY challenging to do when the background is a photo.<br /><br />I hope that you find this template to be very versatile. While I did put the title on the left, you could easily move it. And even though I journaled in the lower right box, it certainly could be a photo instead. I can also picture a really cool screened background photo in the top right. Maybe the journaling could go there, too. Like I said, I hope you're able to tweak this template so that it suits your style and photos!<br /><br />You can download the template <a href="http://www.4shared.com/file/122121123/b5f91ca8/SimplySarah_LayeredTemplate46.html">HERE</a>. <div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: center"> </div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06598193324355872833noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7485560642984024742.post-32431259713014786982009-07-30T20:56:00.001-05:002009-07-30T21:08:28.349-05:00Layered Template 45a and 45bWow!<br /><br />It has been AN ETERNITY!<br /><br />Life has been a whirlwind for the past year and a half. It hasn't changed -- it's still a whirlwind. However, I recently carved out some time to scrap. And when I carve out time to scrap, I usually end up with a couple templates out of the deal.<br /><br />So I have a couple templates for you!<br /><br />Now I'm going to warn you about two things in advance...<br />1) They're all going to be 8x8 (300dpi) because that's how I scrap. And when my templates come as a result of the pages I'm creating, then that's the output.<br />2) I'm in the "hurry up and scrap" mode, because I dread getting one year behind! I was a month away from doing that, so I had to boogie! Now I'm caught up through November 1 -- so I've got just a tiny bit of breathing room. Not much though! Where I'm going with this -- the templates are a little bit "simple" -- which will provide you with a solid base to which you can add all sorts of fun elements and really twist it to make it your own!<br /><br />These particular LOs are my favorite kind...<br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuXsGWAHr_3RItNi9-3Vy_Ffn66fS1yXgmzGU9NVAvJPg18PP246U_vpW_9Pud7gky2hikFx-JL6_mt3n7jN3owASIYj1cLTWlf2WhNkWgFHHawNXdQ5l8rZ3OgJj-OYjhxfGwVbwBzmov/s1600-h/LOs.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuXsGWAHr_3RItNi9-3Vy_Ffn66fS1yXgmzGU9NVAvJPg18PP246U_vpW_9Pud7gky2hikFx-JL6_mt3n7jN3owASIYj1cLTWlf2WhNkWgFHHawNXdQ5l8rZ3OgJj-OYjhxfGwVbwBzmov/s400/LOs.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br />I love to use a big main photo as the background image, then position smaller photos around it to accent it. It's my favorite way to catch up! :) It's also my favorite way to not skimp on sharing pictures or focus on paper and elements more than the photo.<br /><br />So the resulting template allows you to do the same. I'm even including the overlay I used (a photo of concrete with layer styles added to it) -- feel free to use it yourself to "tone down" the outer edges of your main photo. The overlay is a layer within each template and not a file of it's own.<br /><br />So... you know the drill. Here's the pages. They're available in ONE zip file (about 35MB total) at 4Shared.<br /><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPjFcVfROnGY-PagieFIT2uqQH8QzP8RE23CX10A4GoP47Wg8oYpshM8jxmy9yf-u6VcPYpdWwY5aa-vx2gzP49TVDd9rBdU_llZsSOZpkM61TIDwJ2QcWdoZM9rWMQsCnzDCF7lB_gTPL/s1600-h/Simply+Sarah.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPjFcVfROnGY-PagieFIT2uqQH8QzP8RE23CX10A4GoP47Wg8oYpshM8jxmy9yf-u6VcPYpdWwY5aa-vx2gzP49TVDd9rBdU_llZsSOZpkM61TIDwJ2QcWdoZM9rWMQsCnzDCF7lB_gTPL/s400/Simply+Sarah.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br />You can download Templates 45a-b <a href="http://www.4shared.com/file/121844012/46685b0d/SimplySarah_LayeredTemplate45a-b.html">HERE</a>. <div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"></a></div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06598193324355872833noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7485560642984024742.post-29984879095235884772009-01-11T15:01:00.001-05:002009-01-11T15:03:42.734-05:00Layered Template #44 (5 Photo)<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWSp4IyI40GEgu4NB2Xrs3oxxbzLCapmpLmYglp3UNFb070vncb9zPhubc9TprnpHW6OJwm9TibvgvP4yyysO10YYKoG04OiEXt_CGJszQhAK39gy_OTGu86cwaxT_zo-u9vj0Ye8l6mz-/s1600-h/052408+Boys+will+be+Boys.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWSp4IyI40GEgu4NB2Xrs3oxxbzLCapmpLmYglp3UNFb070vncb9zPhubc9TprnpHW6OJwm9TibvgvP4yyysO10YYKoG04OiEXt_CGJszQhAK39gy_OTGu86cwaxT_zo-u9vj0Ye8l6mz-/s320/052408+Boys+will+be+Boys.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbNKH7gGUnwHCU8EpaqXG-jBo1o2WfsB_pNEyYAEnCPnASg_nKGnBC9lmiKSZ5iKt_RyPNkQ4dDLk9Vp2pBCni_plo69kUPllGmtZuEzVt2W7x_Ngc6Z1-zHWpFBIeofObZ4vK6U2ut3Fb/s1600-h/SimplySarah_LayeredTemplate44.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbNKH7gGUnwHCU8EpaqXG-jBo1o2WfsB_pNEyYAEnCPnASg_nKGnBC9lmiKSZ5iKt_RyPNkQ4dDLk9Vp2pBCni_plo69kUPllGmtZuEzVt2W7x_Ngc6Z1-zHWpFBIeofObZ4vK6U2ut3Fb/s320/SimplySarah_LayeredTemplate44.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br />Wow! It has been a LONG time since I've done a template. I've been using too many templates and quick pages myself, just to get caught up. But I had an afternoon where the rest of my family is sleeping, so I'm sitting in front of the football game and scrapping a little bit. Talk about the perfect Sunday afternoon! :)<br /><br />Unfortunately, I must also add, "Don't get used to it." I'd love to tell you that my schedule has let up and that I have more time for scrapping. That would be completely untrue! I do have a lot of catching up to do though, so as the opportunities present themselves, I'll share the templates that come as a result of my own page designs.<br /><br />So about this template... it is designed at 8x8 and 300 dpi. It will print just fine at 12x12, but I worried about enlarging it to 12x12 after I had created it at 8x8. Sometimes the upsizing digitally doesn't work as well as I'd like. So here you have it.... you may go <strong><a href="http://www.4shared.com/file/80135429/75deb27d/SimplySarah_LayeredTemplate44.html">HERE</a></strong> to download it. Enjoy! ;)Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06598193324355872833noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7485560642984024742.post-48164125246573982382008-12-07T14:47:00.001-05:002008-12-07T14:50:59.205-05:00FREEBIE: Christmas Cards<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Did you think I had fallen off the face of the earth? :) No fear, I am here. I appreciate those of you have reached out in concern to ask about me. It has been quite a crazy year! I really can't complain, because it has been a GOOD year. I just haven't had any time to myself to do any hobbies. And what little time I did have, I'll admit, I was selfish and created for myself, but didn't get to the freebies.<br /><br />The background, for those who don't know. In January we moved. In my real job, I'm a sales rep. In the past, I've always had an office in my home, because I was the only one of me in a given region. Well, the move we took in January put me in an office instead of home based. So now I've got a 20 minute commute each morning and evening, which isn't too horrible. But... what it really means working out of an office is that I've got basically 2-3 hours each night to play with the kids, cook dinner, and keep the house reasonable. I'll admit, I struggle to keep the house reasonable, and we've eaten a LOT more processed food than I would like to (and my waistline is paying the price for that). I definitely LOVE my job, LOVE my company, and have no desire to change either of those... but hopefully the next move/position will put me back in a home-based office! We shall see what He has in store for us.<br /><br />Anyway, so I just finished up and ordered my Christmas cards for this year. And I thought I'd wish you all a Merry Christmas by sharing with you some of the cards I've used in years past. The top 3 versions are the actual cards I sent out. The collage is how I've tweaked them for you. Because the '07 and '08 cards used someone else's papers, I obviously couldn't share them with you like that.<br /><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Uh84YGsNOlDtYs6p1plnNNtLSEHPzankShzUPqsf5HYjWoX-_S10z3XI2PFWJ5Lyhtd9q40R0MgbUX8JpruiOQqo0d1V6v0Jyej5ydvnSg7vAB_9LVnRTqSM-jyKvqTopkQGPBBY2Yyh/s1600-h/Christmas+Card3.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Uh84YGsNOlDtYs6p1plnNNtLSEHPzankShzUPqsf5HYjWoX-_S10z3XI2PFWJ5Lyhtd9q40R0MgbUX8JpruiOQqo0d1V6v0Jyej5ydvnSg7vAB_9LVnRTqSM-jyKvqTopkQGPBBY2Yyh/s320/Christmas+Card3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: left">This is our Christmas card for 2006. My son was 6 months old and my daughter was 28 months old. She needed to be bribed with a sucker to smile, which I Photoshopped out in that center photo! These photos were taken at the top of our stairs with a white bedsheet draped over the railing. I used Virtual Photographer to "glow" them a bit. I also bolded the "Christ" in Christmas, as a subtle reminder of just why we're celebrating. There are 4 PNG files available in the download: black, green, red, and red/green polka dot. I have taken the year out, so you won't be stuck in 2006. </div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2MFf2k_AvZsQcrn4vQHL2mYcQBt_0op_F5uXjdVpN7xg3-VQ1ziK7niVr-TuqMvqRV_povk3UeOFzkBFRbKmh9wpGvAthxy-fOqFihCbqlXx1RL0yNWydI4W-nr0-M9JXMAcYO7Fn8ZrG/s1600-h/Christmas+Card+2007-1.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2MFf2k_AvZsQcrn4vQHL2mYcQBt_0op_F5uXjdVpN7xg3-VQ1ziK7niVr-TuqMvqRV_povk3UeOFzkBFRbKmh9wpGvAthxy-fOqFihCbqlXx1RL0yNWydI4W-nr0-M9JXMAcYO7Fn8ZrG/s320/Christmas+Card+2007-1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: left">This is the card we used last year. I couldn't seem to get a good photo of all of us at the same time, so I used a picture of each of us throughout the year. Again, I made "Christ" slightly larger to give it some emphasis on the card. The verse I chose is, "May the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace." I provided for you a PNG file as well as a layered template so you can choose your own background. I obviously took our names and year off of there. The font I used is Arriere Garde, which is a free download.</div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgESweoVjWY-6O2BqmcTFPbED6k0LRSbd7QhxpshxJzv_w_WoW88PwXCL6KOIGRRO1fVT1V1bzag15QvTm0Vj7lYw86uzGB-D4OXuLPITtPN_gNatIOXL9VwtSyGY74hFHBTTec6M7eF2cl/s1600-h/Christmas+Card+2008+copy.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgESweoVjWY-6O2BqmcTFPbED6k0LRSbd7QhxpshxJzv_w_WoW88PwXCL6KOIGRRO1fVT1V1bzag15QvTm0Vj7lYw86uzGB-D4OXuLPITtPN_gNatIOXL9VwtSyGY74hFHBTTec6M7eF2cl/s320/Christmas+Card+2008+copy.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: left">And this is the card I ordered for this year. I used <a href="http://www.vistaprint.com/">Vista Print</a> to print them. I got 250 cards for under $50!!! And that's with envelopes, too. AND they print on the back in B&W for free, so we added our address and contact info on the back. They printed our cards last year too, and they did a really great job. I did get the idea for the love, joy, peace, and the verse from someone who I saw on Two Peas a few years ago (it's been in my inspiration folder ever since). However, I couldn't find it again to give proper credit. If anyone recognizes the theme and can tell me who did it, I'd love to give her thanks for inspiring this years card. Hers is a 4x6 and includes another greeting/verse, so is different, but the theme idea came from her. Anyway... I've provided you with 3 PNG files for this card -- one with a black background, white background, or red background.<br /><br /><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Gj78ZVuaMGTjSyONMn46u50OVTnog_ALXKyzma9OlrCoz8YZciYNoC6VD6OsA4RfM9iybOQ6nnKzxdMsPODOoIau6wmrZF4OWBlGW3fe5SZtLZX5s9vlbp_wi9AM8XeZwB5qSZb-lwCU/s1600-h/SS_Christmas_Cards_QP.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Gj78ZVuaMGTjSyONMn46u50OVTnog_ALXKyzma9OlrCoz8YZciYNoC6VD6OsA4RfM9iybOQ6nnKzxdMsPODOoIau6wmrZF4OWBlGW3fe5SZtLZX5s9vlbp_wi9AM8XeZwB5qSZb-lwCU/s320/SS_Christmas_Cards_QP.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />You can download all of these <a href="http://www.4shared.com/file/74907873/cdf350cb/SS_Christmas_Cards_QP.html">HERE.</a><br /><br />Enjoy the cards, and have a blessed Christmas!</div></div></div><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"></a></div></div></div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06598193324355872833noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7485560642984024742.post-7911487881775087932008-09-15T09:24:00.006-05:002008-09-15T09:37:26.313-05:00"Hold On To Jesus" LyricsI'm sorry I haven't had scrapping time to get some more freebies posted. I know that lyrics don't replace that, but I do hope they provide you some inspiration.<br /><br />I discovered this song, by Erin O'Donnell, about a year and a half ago when I was working on putting all my layouts to video. It so beautifully puts to words and music the prayer I have for my kids. I heard it again on the radio this morning as I drove my kids do Day Care, and I actually had to choke back tears. I just love it! If you have a chance to listen to it, please do. (Here's a <a href="http://music.yahoo.com/track/1978943">sample</a>.)<BR><br /><div align="center">"Hold On To Jesus" by Erin O'Donnell</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><br><div align="center">You're a little piece of heaven </div><div align="center">You're a golden ray of light </div><div align="center">And I wish I could protect you </div><div align="center">From the worries of this life </div><div align="center">But if there's one thing I could tell you </div><div align="center">It's no matter what you do </div><div align="center">Hold to Jesus; He's holding on to you </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br>The world will try to tell you </div><div align="center">That might is more than right </div><div align="center">That beauty's on the outside </div><div align="center">And being good's a losing fight </div><div align="center">But remember what I've told you </div><div align="center">Because the world will make you choose </div><div align="center">Hold to Jesus; He's holding on to you </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">CHORUS:</div><div align="center">Hold on to Jesus </div><div align="center">Cling to His love </div><div align="center">Rest deep in His mercy </div><div align="center">Whenever things get rough </div><div align="center">Don't lose sight of His goodness </div><div align="center">And don't ever doubt this truth </div><div align="center">That when you hold on to Jesus </div><div align="center">He's holding on to you </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br>Hear me dear Jesus </div><div align="center">Rock this little one to sleep </div><div align="center">Keep her close when she's scared </div><div align="center">And give her grace when she is weak </div><div align="center">I know she'll stumble </div><div align="center">But I know she'll make it through </div><div align="center">If you hold on to her </div><div align="center">Just like You said You'd do </div><div align="center">Hold her Jesus</div><div align="center">And she'll hold on tight to You</div><br />Give your kids an extra hug for me. I'll give mine some extra squeezes, too. They're precious miracles from God, and I'm sure you feel the same way I do -- completely humbled by the blessings and gifts that they are.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06598193324355872833noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7485560642984024742.post-23071413095228308062008-09-11T08:24:00.004-05:002008-09-15T09:37:50.057-05:00One Life to LoveAs I was driving into work this morning, a song touched my heart. I always listen to the lyrics to see if scrapbook inspiration can be taken from, and this song this morning definitely would fit the bill. The song is called "One Life to Love" by 33 Miles (from their <em>One Life</em> CD). The chorus is the part that I think would be a great addition to a scrapbook page:<br /><br /><div align="center">"You only get just one time around,</div><div align="center">you only get one shot at this</div><div align="center">One chance to find out the </div><div align="center">one thing that you don’t wanna miss</div><div align="center">One day when it’s all said and done </div><div align="center">I hope you see that it was enough</div><div align="center">This one ride, one try, one life to love."</div><div align="center"><em>~ "One Life to Love" - 33 Miles</em></div><br />An important lesson to remember -- we do only have one life to LIVE and one life to LOVE -- so make each moment count.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.klove.com/lyrics/lyrics.asp?2844">HERE</a> are the full lyrics for anyone interested.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06598193324355872833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7485560642984024742.post-47991682429162911152008-09-05T15:47:00.003-05:002008-09-05T15:49:54.184-05:00Follow This BlogSo I was reading <a href="http://blog.hummiesworld.com/2008/09/followers-in-blogger101-goals-in-1001.html">Hummie's Blog</a> today, which actually explains this a LOT better than I'm about to....<br /><br />Anyway, she introduced me to this cool new feature called "Follow This Blog" -- so I decided to try and add it to my page. If you like to visit my site and come back from time to time, please consider adding yourself to the "Come Scrap With Me" link on the left hand side. I'm just curious what the little gadget does and how it looks in action. I promise I won't put you on a SPAM list or anything like that! :)Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06598193324355872833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7485560642984024742.post-3631149374845924502008-09-05T15:38:00.003-05:002008-09-05T15:44:27.951-05:00ABC Book TemplateI'm just moving this to an actual post rather than having it permanently stuck to the top of my website.<br /><br />In a <a href="http://simplysarahdesigns.blogspot.com/2008/07/layered-template-43-2-pager-11-photo.html">previous post </a>I mentioned that I was doing an ABC book using animals and bible verses as a fundraiser for our local homeless center. I've made TWO template books: one with the animals listed, one without the animals listed. They are designed to print full-bleed at 6x9 (300dpi) -- I used <a href="http://www.lulu.com/">http://www.lulu.com/</a> to print these.To get these templates, click on the DONATE link on my left hand side panel. Donate $5 and put in the memo, "ABC Book, please." Easy as that!<br /><br /><br /><p style="VISIBILITY: visible"><object style="WIDTH: 284px; HEIGHT: 213px" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="213" width="284" data="http://widget-32.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf"></object><p style="WHITE-SPACE: nowrap"><a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=ms&at=un&id=360287970207461682&map=1" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-32.slide.com/p1/360287970207461682/ms_t000_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide1.gif" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=ms&at=un&id=360287970207461682&map=2" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-32.slide.com/p2/360287970207461682/ms_t000_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide2.gif" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=ms&at=un&id=360287970207461682&map=F" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-32.slide.com/p4/360287970207461682/ms_t000_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide42.gif" border="0" /></a></p><p></p>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06598193324355872833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7485560642984024742.post-12376045922463432222008-08-17T14:06:00.006-05:002008-08-22T10:44:29.171-05:002009 Calendar - Layered Templates - Limited Time OnlyWell, I thought I'd work on another fundraiser for the Homeless Center. My goal would be to have people be able to add their own photos to this, but I haven't quite figured out how to do that yet! Perhaps if I just simplify a couple of the pages....<br /><div><br /></div><div></div><div>Anyway, for a couple days, I'll have this calendar available for free. Then it will move to the donation basis, similar to some of my other designs. </div><br /><div>Here is an example of how I've done the month of January. The "spirals" are in there just to illustrate what they'll look like together -- they're actually two different pages.</div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235566807139574210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWCb4Ox523lA4wgQKqDyzvsB2o7xS0x2QYzsO7cnDcunVCzrltih9TBEJMEjAeXp05YVR3XlIv_U1OWJ8WwojNJXtujOXm47xRQZJlSu289yC5MAL4ALheSF22QfroDkh4RN5FB51aTaaa/s320/CalendarExample.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><div></div><div>Included in the download are 24 different 8.5x11 files (actually 8.75x11.25 for printers' trim margins). They're created at 300dpi. I created them using <a href="http://www.lulu.com/">http://www.lulu.com/</a> 's dimentions and trim requirements. My intention for my personal calendars is to have them spiral bound using lulu. Certainly you could choose other methods. Each page also has a Bible verse on it along the bottom of the frame. The "outline" is done in two layers, so if you choose to remove the Bible verses, you can fill in the holes left where the words were.</div><br /><div></div><p>For a limited time only, you can download the layered templates (sorry, link removed). The templates are now available for a donation of $5 or more using the link on the left.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235567201041364386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgICk0h8fE4vjmLbww1TkFzuyFT4isukmCWAJiDtdAulm55ZWW8KNN0zUkD2G42pl33N0X5B9KYoY9ELdGyo06FNeySU9mRD6Oyak0e4WwcF6ke5CQOny8evynxhJ2Y1WES86BOC0HrVbKm/s320/collage2.jpg" border="0" />Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06598193324355872833noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7485560642984024742.post-46267935083637651012008-07-23T22:54:00.001-05:002008-07-23T22:56:33.562-05:00Layered Template #43: 2 Pager, 11 Photo<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqELX_REl6kFhCMxICgoVmP6k4XXeZQVbrZz1E5Y6lCf2mP3VlWensyDIaYvO4UDJwwZOivX_DY8GFc5O5QWuNguwiRTUxYgtT77YugJ40Fgzmjw7ywcLQTRL0k3dSAf-qNQVu8qaAZhny/s1600-h/SS_LayeredTemplate43a-b.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqELX_REl6kFhCMxICgoVmP6k4XXeZQVbrZz1E5Y6lCf2mP3VlWensyDIaYvO4UDJwwZOivX_DY8GFc5O5QWuNguwiRTUxYgtT77YugJ40Fgzmjw7ywcLQTRL0k3dSAf-qNQVu8qaAZhny/s320/SS_LayeredTemplate43a-b.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><br />I just realized I had a 2-page template waiting to be uploaded! It's been sitting in a folder for about 3 weeks just waiting. Oops! You can tell how busy it's been at our house this summer!<br /><br />Let's see... other things going on (other than being nuts busy).<br /><br />I finished my family's 2007 scrapbook album! Now to wait for a coupon for printing it. I filled up all 100 allowed pages at Shutterfly! Definitely can't afford to pay for it until there's a sale!<br /><br />I also just finished an "ABC: Jesus Loves Me" 6x9 book for a fundraiser for the Homeless Center. I put A-Z animals and A-Z bible verses together into this little booklet. I got news today that it has shipped (the first sample) -- so we'll see how it looks!<br /><br />The other project I'm in the midst of is making a book out of the blog I have about my kids. Since February 2007, I've been trying to document all the silly things they say and do during our daily life. So I'm basically "writing a book" with a picture here or there to fill the space. I know that blogs won't be around forever, but hopefully the Blog Book will be around for the next generations. It's been a fun trip down memory lane. Also some of the quickest/easiest scrapping I've ever done, because I can just cut/paste!<br /><br />Alright, that's it for me. I got sucked into "Project Runway" and am up much later than I intended as a result. But it's nearly over, so definitely time for bed!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.4shared.com/file/56355774/4e03f09c/SimplySarah_LayeredTemplate43a.html">HERE</a> is today's template download link. <div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"></a></div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06598193324355872833noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7485560642984024742.post-40945932318470695942008-07-14T11:03:00.000-05:002008-07-14T11:03:09.533-05:00A Little Vacation - but I'm back!<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfVZNbiu9CnMbfPtZ3VQLVrcGDaf0nKCGm4w9c0ZK_Hd7YK-aqGjkNK73BeaBOm7MytjEz_dhmyFpydnBrnLBodQCYXpPL0SB1sEAm7aSg6nx60zwmiHR-Wp8_unUyq_eKzesAc5zfYAcD/s1600-h/Barb+July+078.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfVZNbiu9CnMbfPtZ3VQLVrcGDaf0nKCGm4w9c0ZK_Hd7YK-aqGjkNK73BeaBOm7MytjEz_dhmyFpydnBrnLBodQCYXpPL0SB1sEAm7aSg6nx60zwmiHR-Wp8_unUyq_eKzesAc5zfYAcD/s320/Barb+July+078.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br />I've been M.I.A. lately... sorry!<br /><br />Actually... no I'm not! I took the kids to my parents' house (see photo above), left them there, then spent a week at meetings (Mon-Wed), then in Chicago with my husband to celebrate our 10th Anniversary.<br /><br />It was a wonderful weekend away -- wish we could do it more often! I certainly missed the kids a TON (it was the longest they've been away from both of us at the same time). But spending alone time with my husband was a blessing.<br /><br />We were able to take in Cirque de Soleil, a Cubs game (go, Cubs, go...), and "Wicked" while we were there. In some ways too short, in other ways, it's good to be home.<br /><br />However, now I've got a backlog of work to do... so we'll see when we can catch up on some scrapping! :)<div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06598193324355872833noreply@blogger.com4