Blog Hop and Jenni Bowlin Reveal

Happy National Scrapbooking Day and Welcome to the Croppin Paradise Blog Hop!
Visit the friendly forums, be inspired by the awesome projects in the gallery and check out the yummy supplies in the Croppin Paradise Store.


Be sure to check out the rest of the Croppin Paradise Design Team Members blogs for some fantastic reveals.  Make sure to leave a comment on each blog to be eligible for some great prizes!
The next blog is Nubia's

I simply adore all things vintage and when I saw the Jenni Bowlin Homespun Collection, the Banner Stickers, the Embellished Butterflies, the Bingo Cards and Vintage Style Sew-On Buttons I knew I had found some whimsy treasures to play with.



Here are two layouts I created using the Jenni Bowlin supplies available in the Croppin Paradise Store.

Faith

Vacation

NSD

Did you know?




The first National Scrapbooking Day was celebrated the first Saturday in May in 1994. Scrapbooking over the course of the last decade has become the nation’s fastest growing hobby.

For me scrapbooking is more than a hobby . . . it’s a passion!

Scrapbooking is a way for me to let my creative self out and I find it very therapeutic too.

So in honor of NSD Croppin Paradise is hosting a blog hop this Saturday and I hope you’ll join in the fun. Be sure to check out the message boards, visit the design teams blogs and view their new reveals, leave some comments for some awesome prizes and shop for all the latest and greatest supplies in the CP store.

The Tent

When we went to Florida two weeks ago (has it really been that long!?) I made my grandsons a hanging canopy for their bedroom. I saw the idea in a Family Fun magazine (don’t remember which month). Anyway, I thought it was such a cute idea . . . I just made an improved version. I covered the Hula Hoop with fabric and then made adjustable straps out of Grograin ribbon and some buckles. I found fabric shower curtains (on sale) that matched their bedroom decor perfectly and attached them with shower curtain rings. What a fascinating place to curl up with a book to look at, canopies are somehow magical and enchanting.
Of course Randy had to find a stud in the ceiling (no easy task) and do all the manly work. The little guys might need one of these for outside under the carport too :)

adjustable straps

returning to the daily grind

Our vacation in sunny Florida was wonderful!

Returning from a vacation is never easy for me . . . it seems like it takes forever to get back into the swing of things at work and this week was no exception!

Today I was thinking . . . How do people decide what career to pursue? For some it is a matter of a skill they possess, for some their families have decided for them, and for some people it is a desire in their heart. I use to dream of growing up and running a children’s orphanage so I could nurture and educate abandoned children. (Maybe I watched too many Shirley Temple movies.) Regardless, from my experiences I have learned that appropriate discipline, hard work and having fun are all a part of learning and teaching. To me, being in the early childhood field is not only a career, but it is a quality that is imprinted in my heart. I feel blessed and fortunate to have my job. Maybe by next week I’ll be back into the routine of the daily grind??



Have you put your “Woolies” away yet? Don’t! Well not your Basic Grey Woolies that is. Be inspired by these cards and some others posted on the CP blog.

Home Decor

If you’re a scrapbooker the use of your supplies needn’t be limited to album layouts. I’ve been busy using my scrapbooking supplies for some home décor projects. The result can be a unique design that matches your décor and style completely. My daughter is decorating the boy’s room in a navy, red and white baseball theme. I made each of them a personalized picture using my Cricut and the Baseball Cart.

I also altered a cookie sheet turning it into a magnetic message board using the BasicGrey Origins line which coordinates with her kitchen perfectly.

 Banners are in and the latest décor rage and oh so fun! They are inexpensive to make and can add a little swing of style any where. I had all the supplies so I also made her a matching banner. As soon as I get all of her items done . . . I’m starting on my projects!

Give Aways and A Deal a Day

Time is ticking . . . You need to head on over to the Croppin Paradise Blog and register as a follower. Make a comment and say hello and tell them “The Gov.” sent you. I can’t believe the Give Aways this week! Check out the details.




Everyone loves a great deal and I have found a few places that offer just that. Make sure to check out these sites for the deal of the day - a different one every day!

Crop Chocolate

Flowers to Flourishes

Scrapbook Steals

February Layouts

I had so much fun designing with the BoBunny Persuasion line from Croppin Paradise!

heart - wove pieces of ribbon together and taped to cardstock, cut a heart shape out of pp and sewed on top of ribbon and cardstock, cut around heart shape and attached to layout with pop dots

Sneek Peek

I'm so excited about the reveals coming at Croppin Paradie!  I thought I'd give you a Sneek Peek of my layouts.

Basic Grey Origins

BoBunny Persuasion

Challenge #8

What an exciting week it’s been at Croppin Paradise with the Conversation Heart Crop/Blog Hop going on . . . all of those inspiring challenges and fun games! There is still time to play along so I hope you will join us. On each of the CP Design Team Members’ blogs you will find a “LOVE” inspired challenge. Complete the challenge, upload your image to our gallery (or other photo sharing site) and then link it to the corresponding challenge thread in our forum. You will have a chance to win a GC to the Croppin Paradise store (so many new and yummy supplies).


If you missed the first game click here and give your guess for a chance to win that adorable cupcake.

For challenge #8 you will need to complete a layout and use a saying from a Conversation Heart in your journaling. Make sure to add your layout to the Croppin Paradise gallery and link it to this thread. I completed a layout of my daughter and one of her boys using the saying “love you” in the journaling.
Be sure to check out the Harwick Hubabaloo for the last challenge.

Make sure to check out all the fun games too.

For game #8 I’m posting a Bingo game. Play along for a chance to win this altered can and card.

Challenge #2

Wendi hosted challenge #2 at the CroppinParadise Blog Hop and this is my take on it.  Hope you will join us in Paradise for some great challenges and games this week!

Prayer Journal

Have you ever thought of keeping a prayer journal?  God wants us to Pray in the Sprit at all times and on every occasion.  Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
- Ephesians 6:18

Have you ever been praying and the next thing you know your thinking about something totally off topic -I think it's happened to everyone.  Writing down you're prayers helps you to stay focused on God's word.  What a great way to build you're faith too.  When you're going through a trial . . . read through your entries and be reminded of all the times God has answered your prayers.  I made this journal for a dear freind's mother who has cancer.  I'm hoping it will help her to gain insight into the love God has for her.

a few pages from the journal

Crop and Blog Hop

Join me at Croppin Paradise for the Conversation Hearts Crop which started today.   It will be a week full  of games and challenges and lot of prises!

Layouts  completed using the Basic Grey Sugar Rush collection.