scrapologie

The Love of A Child

 

Despite the morning rush, which often includes me in a harried and impatient state, participating in the daily circus of getting everyone off to school and work, God sends me little messages to humble me; to remind me to be patient. To be loving. To be kind. To see the world through the eyes of a child. I was in the shower when Bob and Alekha left for school and work. And yes, I had done my usual share of corralling, harping, and threatening to get everyone moving out the door. This morning was no different than any other.

Many mornings Alekha comes to me and asks me to write her a note that she will carry around with her during the day, a reminder of how much I love her which she will proudly share with her other little girlfriends, (whose own mommies do their fair share of note writing as well). This morning I received this sweet, simple, selfless gift from my child; she asked for nothing in return. A note scribbled in crayon on the back of a used sheet of stickers, left on the kitchen counter for me to see in hopes that it would bring a smile to my face and warm my heart. In fact, it brought tears to my eyes. Children are the closest thing to God we will ever know.

If I Had My Child to Raise Over Again, by Diane Loomans

If I had my child to raise all over again,
I'd finger-paint more, and point the fingers less.
I would do less correcting and more connecting.
I'd take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.

I would care to know less and know to care more.
I'd take more hikes and fly more kites.
I'd stop playing serious, and seriously play.
I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars.

I'd do more hugging and less tugging.
I'd build self-esteem first, and the house later.
I would be firm less often, and affirm much more.
I'd teach less about the love of power, And more about the power of love.

 

Here is a quick card I created last night. The damask stamp is from Melissa Frances, as is the morning glory soap label. Flowers are from Making Memories, and the scalloped notebook sheet is also from Making Memories. Lots of ink and stitching. Rubon from Melissa Frances. More to share later this evening! Enjoy the rest of your day!

 

Blowing bubbles...

We've had a sudden cold spell accompanied by rain and thunderstorms, bah! So I've been at home dreaming of warm summer nights, running barefoot through the grass, blowing bubbles and catching fireflies in glass jars. I know those lemonade days are not too far away -- I can hardly wait for summer to get here!

Here are a few recent cards I created for Melissa Frances and a gift set for Alekha's kindergarten teacher:

The first card features Melissa Frances patterned paper. The onesie, crown and Little Princess phrase are all from Melissa Frances' Celebrate Baby stamp set, I also added a sticker from Melissa Frances Designer Stickers and an MF rubon. I also added MF crocheted trim, some bling, flowers and Tim Holtz ink (Vintage Photo).

This card features lovely floral images from Melissa Frances' Summer Breeze stamp set, plus more Melissa Frances patterned papers. I added May Arts polka dotted ribbon, a paper flower from Making Memories, and a chipboard butterfly from K & Co. Lots and lots of ink - I like to use Versa Magic Multi Surface Chalk Ink. It goes on so pretty - I layered some colors right onto the stamp to give the flowers a bit more color and dimension. When you layer color, always apply your light color to the stamp first, then dab on the darker color around the edges and in spots.

Another tip for you stampers --- I love to apply ink with a foam brush. I pick them up by the bagful when they go on sale at Michaels. I have lots of other tools to apply ink but the foam seems to work the best for me. I just rub the foam across the stamp pad, test a small portion, then apply it directly to the paper.

This last project was made with Imaginisce Teacher's Pet papers and embellishments. I made a card, altered notepad and a treat holder for Alekha's kindergarten teacher, a parting gift to thank her for her work this year. Alekha wrote a message on the inside of the card and got to give it to her teacher. I bought the yellow M&Ms at Michael's and filled it in altered blister packaging from an EK Success punch also purchased at Michael'sOn the notepad, I did add the gorgeous lime lace trim from my Jenni Bowlin Studio June kit, along with the lime scalloped border also from the same kit. The "One in a million" sentiment is also a Melissa Frances rubon.

 

That's it for today... I'm off to bed, good night, or good morning, depending on where you are!

A reluctant little model

It's getting tougher and tougher to get this one to let me take her photo. I am having to resort to cookie bribery (like Keisha with her girls!) This is her look of barely concealed exasperation after only four or five shots! Sigh. You SEE why it's hard for me to routinely get new pics for scrapping. I am going to have to be a bit more creative about getting her picture.

I have a few card projects to share today. The first one features all Melissa Frances paper, Melissa Frances transfers, Melissa Frances sticker and the flourish chipboard is also an MF Product.  Ribbon from May Arts, flowers from my stash and a brad from Making Memories, plus a fair sprinkling of glitter from Martha Stewart.

I know fall is months away but I couldn't help but do up a couple of quick Halloween cards. The first card features mostly Melissa Frances product. The clouds are a Quickutz diecut. I used my Fiskars border punch to imitate a fence in the background. The tree and moon chipboard are both Melissa Frances products, as is all the patterned paper. The ribbon is from May Arts and the sticker is also from Melissa Frances.

This second one features all Jenni Bowlin product, excepting the orange dot paper which is from My Mind's Eye and the mini alpha stickers from Making Memories. The hat is fashioned from one of Jenni's mini scalloped chipboard banner panels.

More to come tomorrow. I'll leave you with this sweet vintage image. It's almost FRIDAY, hurrah!

A lesson from the little one

We had a perfect sun-filled weekend. It was so nice yesterday that I managed to tear my little one away from her little girlfriends in the neighborhood for some wonderful one-on-one time. We packed a picnic lunch and headed to a nearby park to spend the morning. She was so excited to get on the monkey bars. She made it across three rungs and then dropped to the ground. She then told me - Mommy, I am going to keep doing this until I get all the way across. I replied, "Well honey - keep practicing, we may not be able to get all the way across today - but if you keep practicing you will, eventually." Undaunted, she kept trying and twenty minutes later -- she made it all the way across. I delightedly gave her plenty of hugs and smooches. On the way home in the car, she said "Mommy - next time you should believe in me." Touche. Wise words from the mouths of a babe.

Completed a few more cards over the weekend. This one is a combination of Making Memories & Melissa Frances paper, Bazzill cardstock. The accents are Marcella by K (Target). The ribbon is from May Arts.

Then I had to do a couple of baby cards. I love Melissa Frances stickers - they're so vintage and shabby and soft. The first one uses new Attic Treasures paper, Fesh Twist paper, Making Memories Spring Fling paper, Melissa Frances stickers and rubons, Bazzill Cardstock. The button is from Autumn Leaves. The paperbag card is courtesy of World Win Papers. Danielle also created some GORGEOUS cards with this paperbag card --- check out her creations here.

Finally, for this baby card, I used another World Win card base (kraft tag card), an Autumn leaves button, coral colored twine and mint seam binding, mint lace from Prima, the ribbon pull on the side of the card is from trim by Autumn Leaves, Melissa Frances rubons,  Melissa Frances patterned paper, Melissa Frances sticker, glitter brads from Doodlebug and the little charm is from K & Co. The leafy stick pin is from Maya Road (Thanks Caroline!)

That's it for today. A busy week lies ahead. My mom and Dad are coming in for a nice two week stay to visit with us, my sister and her little boy arrive Wednesday. I have Thursday and Friday off since Alekha is on spring break this week. Looking forward to some time with family and my little one!

A couple more cards...

Mornings are tough. I am constantly playing the role of cheerleader, policewoman, logistics coordinator, comforter, life coach, psychologist, and cook all in one. Alekha has been prone to lots of tears these days -- about anything and everything. This morning it was the fact that we wouldn't permit her to watch tv while eating breakfast, a practice I am ashamed to say I had allowed on prior occasions and then we'd all be dashing madly to get out of the house when 8 am rolled around. Then it was the fact that we wouldn't let her take a shower in the morning (I had popped her in the shower the night before versus the usual bath and she found it to be a great novelty which naturally, she expected we'd let her repeat at 7:45 am). When I got her to calm herself finally, the tears began because "everyone else's Mommies pick them up early and I always have to be picked up late" (not true - but trying to rationalize with her at 7:50 am in a calm manner was a huge challenge!) This, followed by the fact that I wouldn't take the time to find the jacket she wanted to wear instead of the one she had on. By the time I finally got her and Bobby out of the door, my nerves were a frazzled mess but I can honestly say I got through the morning rush without hollering, which I hate doing. I really, really, hate raising my voice to her.

I have been reading a book on parenting called Parking Lot Rules: 75 Other Ideas for Raising Amazing Children by Tom Sturges, and though I have found some really wonderful insights and advice, I noted the author has two boys - and I can't help but think that boys are completely different, aren't they? Correct me if it's not true, but I just haven't seen the boys I know (my sisters' kids) launch into the bouts of long crying that my baby girl does. Sigh. I am praying for patience. Lots more of it. Nonetheless, I recommend the book. It has some great ideas - like whispering - instead of yelling, to get your child's attention. Getting close to their face and telling them in a whisper that their behavior disappointed you, instead of hollering at the top of your lungs. (Tried that one, and it worked!)

We tried something new this evening. I made a chart and told her that I would be watching and expecting her to make good choices, and that when she does err - she'll have a chance to rectify it, if she doesn't then we'll mark an X on the chart; after a certain number of X's, she will lose a privilege or have something she loves taken away for a while. The idea seemed to work because shortly after her bath this evening, she started crying about something and when I reminded her that if she was going to continue, I'd have to place an X on the chart, she stopped on her own volition, to my relief! The book actually says not to be so hasty to stop them from crying - and certainly, I think we all need a good cry now and then, but it doesn't say anything about constant crying, for (what I perceive to be) the most inconsequential things!

Anyway, thanks for listening to me pour my heart out - I love her so and want to be the best parent I can possibly be -- I am not always as patient as I should be -- and I constantly wish for the patience my mother has and had with us as children - she was always truly gentle and loving to us.

I had a chance to work on a few cards last night after bundling her into bed. These are all mostly new Melissa Frances product - from the Attic Treasures and Fresh Twist Collections. Love the new pink polka dotty diecut paper. I also used a new Fresh Twist sticker, a ticket from the Girl Stuff Ticket Book, This card is a Mother's Day Card and it would be neat I thought to use the front part as a pocket - you can tuck a gift card or a photo into the front pocket for Mom and then write a message on the inside of the card. The green polka dotty ribbon is from the Fresh Twist Page Kit. The rubons and chipboard star are also from MF.

 

This second one is a baby boy card, using again the Fresh Twist and Attic Treasures papers, plus Melissa Frances stickers. The mint green lace is from Prima. And check out the gorgeous gems on these cards - they are from Melissa's new Vintage Attic Treasures. I added some mint seam binding and a vintage button and crystal stick pin. And the diecut star is from the new Fresh Twist Label Diecuts. Thanks for stopping by, and hang in there, it's almost Friday!

Oh, and here are a few vintage images for you: