Do you ever notice how it seems that when there have been several days of rainy, dreary weather outside that we tend to feel somewhat tired and just plain blah? I wonder why that is. We've been getting a lot of rain lately, though off and on (not a constant rain) and I wonder from time to time if another ark will need to be built...hehehe.
But seriously, I've been feeling a little tired lately and I'm sure it is in part to this wet weather we are having. I'm sure part of the tiredness is from starting back to work this summer (I go to university from September to April for the past three years as a mature student) and that might be the cause of some of the tiredness...not being used to the early hours. I am also a "night owl or night hawk" as they say but I've been like that since I was little so I don't know if that is playing a factor in all of this.
Anyway, I am just curious as to why and how the weather plays a factor in whether or not we feel tired and dreary when there are several rainy days in a row...
Thursday, May 19, 2005
Saturday, May 14, 2005
Creator's Block
Well, it has happened again. I have had a bout of creator's block! You see, I sat down to work at a scrapbooking page for one of my two new scrap books. I have all these ideas running through my mind about how I want the pages to look, and they look great (at least in my mind they do). But, I sat down and pulled out all of my supplies and looked at them, sifted through the different colours of paper, trying to decide what colours to use. Finally I chose the mauves and purple colours to use (which is typical for me since purple is my favourite colour!). I figured I would start on the scrapbook that I want to have as a family tree sort of document. The first page I was going to do would be on myself. This is where the creativity failed me.
I am basically a beginner at the art of scrapbooking, so I have purchased a few magazines and checked out some websites to get some ideas of ways to put my pages together so that they would look attractive and not put together in a haphazzard way. I think part of my problem is that I have a lot of various cardstock papers (both plain and patterned) which I use in making cards (using rubber stamps). I am trying to work with what I have on hand so that I don't have to go out and spend a lot of money that I need to be saving.
What I am finding, is that I need the "extras" to make the pages look more attractive and put together. By extras, I am referring to the stickers, brads, the word transfers, tags, etc. These items help add to the page. I think the best idea is to have your pictures together in a theme and then work from there. Figure out what colour scheme you want to use and what accessories you want to add to the page and then go get them...unless you happen to have some on hand from other projects (things like brads come in little containers with several in them and can be used on several projects).
Part of my problem is also fear. No, I'm not afraid of cutting myself with the scissors or anything like that. What I fear is that I will get the page all completed with what I have in my mind of how I want it to look, and then once completed it will look utterly horrible. What if the colours I use don't look right because they aren't in the same category (such as pastels)? What if the layout I thought would look great looks stupid? I suppose with craft projects like this it is more of a learn from your mistakes...or use layouts that others have done. You could also, I suppose, use the same layout for several pages and just use a different colour scheme to get a different look/effect. The possibilities are endless.
My perfectionism is getting in the way of this, and it holds me back from many things. I know that I can overcome this problem. Perfectionism is wrong because I will never be perfect (until I am with the Lord). Only the Lord Jesus Christ can help me to overcome this sin. It is something which I need to pray about. However, until this is removed from me, I will just have to work on my scrapbooks and learn from my mistakes.
I am basically a beginner at the art of scrapbooking, so I have purchased a few magazines and checked out some websites to get some ideas of ways to put my pages together so that they would look attractive and not put together in a haphazzard way. I think part of my problem is that I have a lot of various cardstock papers (both plain and patterned) which I use in making cards (using rubber stamps). I am trying to work with what I have on hand so that I don't have to go out and spend a lot of money that I need to be saving.
What I am finding, is that I need the "extras" to make the pages look more attractive and put together. By extras, I am referring to the stickers, brads, the word transfers, tags, etc. These items help add to the page. I think the best idea is to have your pictures together in a theme and then work from there. Figure out what colour scheme you want to use and what accessories you want to add to the page and then go get them...unless you happen to have some on hand from other projects (things like brads come in little containers with several in them and can be used on several projects).
Part of my problem is also fear. No, I'm not afraid of cutting myself with the scissors or anything like that. What I fear is that I will get the page all completed with what I have in my mind of how I want it to look, and then once completed it will look utterly horrible. What if the colours I use don't look right because they aren't in the same category (such as pastels)? What if the layout I thought would look great looks stupid? I suppose with craft projects like this it is more of a learn from your mistakes...or use layouts that others have done. You could also, I suppose, use the same layout for several pages and just use a different colour scheme to get a different look/effect. The possibilities are endless.
My perfectionism is getting in the way of this, and it holds me back from many things. I know that I can overcome this problem. Perfectionism is wrong because I will never be perfect (until I am with the Lord). Only the Lord Jesus Christ can help me to overcome this sin. It is something which I need to pray about. However, until this is removed from me, I will just have to work on my scrapbooks and learn from my mistakes.
Thursday, May 12, 2005
Scrapbooking
I've been interested in scrapbooking for a little while now and have gotten 3 pages done so far. I know, it's not much. However, lately I've been wanting to get into it more and have purchased a few scrapbooking magazine to get some ideas.
I'm not too good at combining colours (a few basic ones yes, but I do have trouble matching sometimes LOL) so tonight I purchased a colour wheel that helps you locate contrasting, complimentary, etc. colours...I do hope this will help me! I want my pages to be coordinated and look good!
I also had the idea to do up a scrapbook for my mom. You see, she has been into gardening for the last several years and has flowerbed all over the yard. There are the typical ones in the front along the house, one entire side of the house has a flower bed, as well she has two along the back of the back yard, separated by a rose arbour. There is a small bed along one portion of the back of the house, as well she had a large elevated round bed that is not quite in the middle of the yard. I say not quite in the middle, because there is a tree growing at the other end of the yard opposite to this bed and it would provide too much shade and not enough sunlight for the flowers.
My idea for my mom's scrapbook is to devote it entirely to her and her garden. I would like to have pictures of her plants at various stages of growth showing how long it took for them to grow and bloom; pictures of the flowers after they bloom with information about they type of flower; pictures of her and my dad working in the garden; pictures of my little nephew helping out in the garden. She and dad belong to the local horticultural club and also take part in the club's yearly garden show in which they enter several of their flowers for judging. They have won several prizes and ribbons in the past, and I thought pictures of this would be great as well. I am also thinking of asking my dad to help out and get pictures of the show, as well as her friends in the club to put in the book as well.
I plan on giving her this for Christmas, and I think it is something she would love. It would also be a reference for her to know what each particular flower looked like should she want to get more in the future, as well as having details of her garden for this year.
I just hope that I don't get discouraged, or lose my motivation half way through and not get this done up on time. Once I start back to university in the fall, I won't have a lot of time to dedicate to this (as well as the other several projects I have on the go during the summer).
I'm not too good at combining colours (a few basic ones yes, but I do have trouble matching sometimes LOL) so tonight I purchased a colour wheel that helps you locate contrasting, complimentary, etc. colours...I do hope this will help me! I want my pages to be coordinated and look good!
I also had the idea to do up a scrapbook for my mom. You see, she has been into gardening for the last several years and has flowerbed all over the yard. There are the typical ones in the front along the house, one entire side of the house has a flower bed, as well she has two along the back of the back yard, separated by a rose arbour. There is a small bed along one portion of the back of the house, as well she had a large elevated round bed that is not quite in the middle of the yard. I say not quite in the middle, because there is a tree growing at the other end of the yard opposite to this bed and it would provide too much shade and not enough sunlight for the flowers.
My idea for my mom's scrapbook is to devote it entirely to her and her garden. I would like to have pictures of her plants at various stages of growth showing how long it took for them to grow and bloom; pictures of the flowers after they bloom with information about they type of flower; pictures of her and my dad working in the garden; pictures of my little nephew helping out in the garden. She and dad belong to the local horticultural club and also take part in the club's yearly garden show in which they enter several of their flowers for judging. They have won several prizes and ribbons in the past, and I thought pictures of this would be great as well. I am also thinking of asking my dad to help out and get pictures of the show, as well as her friends in the club to put in the book as well.
I plan on giving her this for Christmas, and I think it is something she would love. It would also be a reference for her to know what each particular flower looked like should she want to get more in the future, as well as having details of her garden for this year.
I just hope that I don't get discouraged, or lose my motivation half way through and not get this done up on time. Once I start back to university in the fall, I won't have a lot of time to dedicate to this (as well as the other several projects I have on the go during the summer).
Thinking Of Christmas
I would like to use this post to encourage those of you "out there" who are knitters and crocheters. I am already thinking of Christmas, and it is only the middle of May! My encouragement is that you would use your craft to make items for those less fortunate.
Does your church have a mitten tree? If so, I encourage you to knit some mittens/gloves or socks or scarves and hats, sweaters or other items to decorate the branches or place under the tree. What great gifts those items will be to someone who can't afford these things!
Other items you can knit and crochet would include afghans and/or shawls for seniors. You could make several or get together as a group with other ladies and make them and donate them to seniors in hospitals or nursing homes.
Baby items are also a good to donate to hospitals, shelters, or your local crisis pregnancy center. They can use booties, mitts, hats, sweaters, blankets, etc. With these items, donating the typical baby items would more than likely be appreciated...items such as diapers, clothing, toys, lotions and powders, etc. Check with your local crisis pregnancy center to see if they have a list of needed items that you could donate.
God has given us talents and gifts, and if yours includes knitting and crocheting...or even sewing, the above mentioned ministry is a great way to glorify the Lord with the gift/talent He has given you. I encourage you to take part in this kind of ministry! You might not see the result of your work, but the Lord does. Besides, we shouldn't be doing this (or anything) to receive the praise or glory from others, or to even see the results. We should be doing this to bring praise and glory to the Lord.
If your church does not have any of these ministries, why not approach the pastor or other church leaders and see if this ministry can be started in your church, and then let others know so that they too can take part in this.
May the Lord bless you greatly as you use your talents and gifts to further His kingdom and bring Him glory and honour and praise!
Does your church have a mitten tree? If so, I encourage you to knit some mittens/gloves or socks or scarves and hats, sweaters or other items to decorate the branches or place under the tree. What great gifts those items will be to someone who can't afford these things!
Other items you can knit and crochet would include afghans and/or shawls for seniors. You could make several or get together as a group with other ladies and make them and donate them to seniors in hospitals or nursing homes.
Baby items are also a good to donate to hospitals, shelters, or your local crisis pregnancy center. They can use booties, mitts, hats, sweaters, blankets, etc. With these items, donating the typical baby items would more than likely be appreciated...items such as diapers, clothing, toys, lotions and powders, etc. Check with your local crisis pregnancy center to see if they have a list of needed items that you could donate.
God has given us talents and gifts, and if yours includes knitting and crocheting...or even sewing, the above mentioned ministry is a great way to glorify the Lord with the gift/talent He has given you. I encourage you to take part in this kind of ministry! You might not see the result of your work, but the Lord does. Besides, we shouldn't be doing this (or anything) to receive the praise or glory from others, or to even see the results. We should be doing this to bring praise and glory to the Lord.
If your church does not have any of these ministries, why not approach the pastor or other church leaders and see if this ministry can be started in your church, and then let others know so that they too can take part in this.
May the Lord bless you greatly as you use your talents and gifts to further His kingdom and bring Him glory and honour and praise!
Monday, May 09, 2005
First Time Blogger
Well, this is my first post in my blog. I admit I had no idea what a blog was to begin with, and had to ask others what they are and what one puts in a blog. I am afraid that I am going to sound boring, or I won't make sense or that I won't know what to say. However, I suppose I can learn as I go and maybe read other blogs to get a better understanding of how to do this or what to say.
As of yet, I don't know what to write so I'll just keep this pretty basic for now and just post this as my first post. I am looking forward to doing this and hope that it is something I will enjoy doing.
God bless, and may you have a Christ filled and Christ centered day!
As of yet, I don't know what to write so I'll just keep this pretty basic for now and just post this as my first post. I am looking forward to doing this and hope that it is something I will enjoy doing.
God bless, and may you have a Christ filled and Christ centered day!
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