I think I know what one of my first classes will be about. I dragged out this old book I have had for years. I started working on it, but at the time I really didn't think I understood who "Cyndi" really was. So I put the book away after only doing one page. I pulled it out for the first time today and it was as if a lightbulb came on inside this old head. The name of the book is 'the Illustrated Discovery Journal.....Creating a Visual Autobiography of Your Authentic Self". It's written by Sarah Ban Breathnach... the author of Simple Gratitude ( another book I have had just sitting and collecting dust ). So much has changed since then , including my passion for album making/scrapbooking. I feel that I am now at a point where I can do this album and the journaling justice. So, time will tell if I have the guts to step outside my box and pull it all together. I started this weekend by handing out some of my new business cards, and my girlfriend Cass has me working on her Disney album from our trip last May. So if I believe what I have been saying this month, then I need to just step out on faith and trust in God.

Godparents......... layout. I finally got this picture up ! Blogger was giving me a fit. If you click on the picture you can even see the journaling which explains the layout very well.

This past weekend I started taking apart a bunch of flowers. At first I was not sure what I would store them in. Then I remembered the tins from the dollar spot at Target I brought a few months ago. So now I have a good little supply of flowers for my layouts ( still need some pink flowers ). Right now they are stored in my cabinet drawer. Hopefully I will have them on a shelf in the near future.

Newest Layouts........yes, I actually hit the scraproom today. This picture is my girlfriends daughter who won Miss. Cotillian-2006 ( she also recieved an acadamic award). We recieved the picture in the mail as a thank you for supporting her. She graduated this past June and will soon be off to college to study Fashion Design. I used a frame , ribbon, and brads from a kit I brought at the dollar store, along with flowers from the flower section of a local discount store ( I had a ball collecting all of the parts from the flowers...way cheaper then the prima ones....that I still want, but just can't afford right now). I think it turned out pretty good considering I used a lot of low cost products. The one expensive item on the page ( besides the picture is the MM sticker which I chalked with my pebbles inc kit ).

I updated with my 2nd page of the day ( the one on top ). This is my neice, isn't she beautiful ? This was after her piano recital. I used my favorite paper ( DCWV ), buttons, flowers and for the first time I actually doodled on a page !

Scrapbook GOALS FOR 2007

I figure if I say them out loud they may actually happen.

1) Attend a Scrapbook Industry event ( these are my choices depending on cost and where they will be ).

CKU ( I want to take Ali's class, Cathy Z class, and a Heidi Swapp class if she is there next year ).

Scrap Etc ( heard it was great last year, and I would be able to hang out with my bestfriend Cass ).

* Note to self : found a blog with some great pictures from this event ( now I am wondering if this is where I need to be next year ). Ash you don't know me , but you have inspired me to make my dream come true...somehow!

Scrapshare Retreat ( I went to one two years ago, it was my first crop and it was a blast ).

CKU Convention ( if I can't go to CKU ).

Get Croppin Event ( so that I can meet Ali Edwards )

or GASC ( I really need more info on this one ).

Personal Scrapbook Goals:

1) To have Treasured Creations up and running.

2) To have a business blog or website.

3) Have a scrapbook resume on-line ( or at least have submitted some of my pages on Scrap Submit ).

4) Have a Cafepress Shop

5) Sign up with Memory Works

6) Become a Design Team member ( wherever someone will take me ).

7) Take a couple of scrapbook classes ( how can I teach others if I don't understand how most instructors conduct a class ).

Well, there you go...I said it out LOUD AND CLEAR ! Now let's see what life brings about.

* Bonus: One Day I will go to CHA ( now that really would be a wish come true, since its not open to the public ). And these pictures have convinced me I need to be there. Thanks Miss. Tiffany, something else for me to dream about!

A couple more things to drool over before I hit the sack. This will make for a great Christmas Wish List:

Memory Dock Planner that was on Cathy Z's website.

Wall Text from Making Memories.

I saw this colander a few months ago and I wanted it for my kitchen, but can't afford it right now. This week I saw a set of three at Sam's Club for $15.00. The set is smaller but will still work for my kitchen.

The new Heidi Swapp bling and stickers are cute also.

And I can't forget the Prima Flowers !

One last Sam's club find : This Spicerack was on twopeas. I saw it a few days ago myself and its at the top of my list along with the colandar.

Why are they torturing me with all of these great products from CHA ? I have a wish list as long as my childrens christmas list use to be. Ali Edwards posted about a computer bag that I just have to have now! And Monique on Scrapetc has been posting some great stuff also. Not to mention the pictures from Lifetimemoments and Scraptalk . I either need to get a job, hold a huge garage sale or start creating some custom albums to sell.

For Future Reference ................You never know where you will get inspiration from. I spent the afternoon checking out and reading lots of scrapbook blogs. I have a whole list of favorites on my Disney site. Anyway, I came across this really neat project by Katherine Brooks, and I am keeping it for future reference. I have tons of coasters waiting to be altered but I can't seem to bring myself to start. So my goal this week is to scraplift the coasters Katherine did ( with a little modification to reflect me ). So lets see how well I do. I will post pictures of the finished project by Friday. Otherwise I really need to stop buying stuff to alter if I can't seem to follow through !

Today brought back fond memories of my wedding coordinating days. Hand me some tulle, flowers and some ribbon and I can go to town. I helped my cousin set up for a wedding shower. My contribution to the event was decorating her home for the party. We decided to do a traditional setting using the brides wedding colors. We crowned her "princess for the day" and gave her a garter "corsage. We played games, ate lots of good food, handed out a few gifts, opened some presents and ate cake before toasting the bride to be and sending her on her way. They asked me to help with the decorations at the reception the day of the wedding. I will post more pictures then. Well its been a long day ( one part I don't miss about doing weddings ) and this girl plans to hit the bed. Hoping blogger will cooperate and let me post my pictures. Goodnight, I have church in the morning.

I love my HP Photosmart 945 camera , but I am still learning all the ends and outs of it. So please excuse the blurry photos. The mini album and tin is from the kit I won during National Scrapbook Day at LoveisIntheDetails. My friend "V" made up the kit as part of a crop that she was teaching. She is also a design team member at Love is In the Details. You have to check out her work. Its one of a kind and the girls layouts rock !

Target/Dollar Store Finds

It may not be something to jump up and down about but I got to go bargain shopping again. This time I only spent $8.00 ( Marc got a job, so I can celebrate ). I saw on twopeas that someone had found mini lunch boxes at Target along with document boxes ( I love these for MM Foam stamps ) so Marc and I hit the road this evening just to see what was out there. I found the lunch box and some MM stickers, and some primary colored paper clips ( these will look great on my 4th of July pages ). My total came to less then $3.00. When we got to the Dollar Store I was suppose to be buying nails and hooks to hang up my other great find ....... a magnetic board that Marc had laying around that is suppose to go on the side of a shelf, but is now on my wall for magnets and hopefully some of those round magnetic boxes for little stuff...like left over ribbon pieces, clips , etc. They has some in Target but they were the wrong color. Anyway, after getting the nail kit I found some flash cards which reminded me of the play cards I had seen people do from a Heidi Swapp class recently. Then I went over to the scrapbook aisle ( once I found it...The Dollar store in our area was a mess and they have changed their aisles around ) and found some cool epoxy travel stickers and jewel stickers. So into the cart they went . Needless to say $8.00 later I am as happy as a pig in mud. I'll be back at the scrapbook drawing board tomorrow planning another layout to add to my resume. Now, I just need to figure out how to add a slide show presentation to my blog and upload some of my layouts. Well, enough blogging for today. I think I have "blooged" on two of my websites today and even updated our church website. Time for this gal to call it a night.

Has anyone seen this pillow ? I need 1 more for my bedroom make-over. It was purchased at Fred's in Alabama. My friend has been looking but know such luck. I'm kicking myself for not getting two. Lesson learned...go with your gut feeling and buy two or more when you see something.............especially while on vacation !

Hide and Seek

The pictures are from the 4th of July. The person trying to hide from the camera is my aunt. I snapped pictures of her anyway. Gotcha Auntie !!

Mini Projects....This is a mini album I did after I went to my first overnight scrap retreat. I met up with some great scrapshare gals last year. Had a blast ( just didn't get much scrapping done ). Anyway I used lots of scraps from my stash and a mini album from walmart a friend gave me. It's the cutest thing if I do say so myself. Sorry about the picture, there was too much light coming through the window at the time. I'm still learning all of the settings on my HP camera.

Well, the scraproom is starting to feel like a real scraproom. Of course now I am dreaming about paint, curtains and lamps. I must say I am pleased with it so far. Now if I could just keep the rest of the family out ! I can't wait to finish up the re-vamping of the diningroom ( My poor room is filled with boxes of stuff from the livingroom ) and my bedroom. Then I can even invite a friend or two over to do some scrapbooking !

My little sister on 4th of July. We surprised her the day after her birthday when the family got together for the 4th. Happy Birthday Sis.

I found a scripture today that speaks volumes........."Where your treasure is, your heart will be also. Mathew 6:21

I also found this great article on scrapjazz that talks about faithbooking. In many ways I think this is what I am trying to get across in my albums. Whether it is by sharing my daily life or sharing my faith. Even if you are not a religious person I hope that in some small way I have shown you that I am a real person, with real feelings who lives a real life just as you have. I have good days and bad days. I spend most of my time caring for my family and friends ( and they for me ). The internet has introduced me to many people and many things. My scrapbooks ( and especially my love of Disney ) has bonded me with ladies all around the world. I now call women and men my friend from as far as Canada to California ( maybe not that far away geographically, but still amazing to me the bond we have formed ). If nothing else I hope I have touched someone in a lasting way, who may not have ever thought to become friends with the crazy disney-fanatic, scrap-aholic ministers wife from the internet. I also hope that in some small way by me scrapbooking ( and blogging ) about my faith I have honored God and shown what my true treasure in life is.

Just to prove how serious I am about this thing....I am back at my desk scrapping away. Here are a few new layouts ( from my disney album of course ) to share. Plus, Donna Downey had these really cool mini albums on her blog that she picked up from Michaels $1. spot. And since its been such a bad couple of days ......... Did I mention I broke my glasses yesterday and had to get new ones ? Of course our insurance was no help at all ( plus the vision portion expires on Friday ). I can truly say that is the one thing I will not miss from Marc's old job. Needless to say with my prescription they were not cheap ! But I am blind as a bat without them. Thankfully my mom came to the rescue ( Thanks Mom! ) After we left Lens Crafters Marc said I could splurge at Michaels and buy a few of the mini albums . I spent $3.00 whole dollars !!! When it comes to scrapbook stuff it doesn't take much to make this old girl happy. Can't wait to put them to use. They are the cutest things . The good news today was that Marc had his first job interview, and a few more leads are in the works. So here's hoping he will be back in the saddle real soon.

For Such a Time as This.......It seems as if I have been preparing for this day like forever. For many years now I have had people ask me about doing albums for them, or to teach a class. I have even had people tell me to submit my work to magazines for publication . I just have not had the confidence to step out there and give it a try. But now there are circumstances beyond my control that are urging me to move forward with a few goals. It may take me a while, and I may not succeed. But I keep recalling how many times I have told my children that if at first you don't succeed to just try and try again. So here I am Lord, stepping out in faith believing ( and speaking it out loud ) that you do have a plan and purpose for my life. I am also believing that you have a plan and purpose for Marc's life now that he has lost his job. Many months ago you placed on my heart to share my testimony with others through my scrapbooks. At first I thought that meant just share my scrapbooks and show others how to do it for themselves. From that emerged the desire to learn more about this love of mine. Which had become more of a obsession ( even more so at times then my love for Disney ). From this emerged "Treasured Creations" ( which happened to be a name that was placed in my heart a while ago....as far back as my beginning days as a CMC). Then once I started TC I started thinking of ways to apply the principles I believed in ( spiritually ) as it related to scrapping. I know first hand how important it is to create a visual image of my family's life. The problem I found is that a large number of African American women especially dismiss this craft in part because they think of it as only something our Caucasian sisters "dabble" in. Thankfully that is one thing I see changing in this industry called scrapbooking. There are many women of color who are embracing this special art and it is starting to show in the magazines. Secondly I think we tend to forget the importance of our family legacy in the midst of our daily hustle and bustle. I am just now starting to realize how important it is to know about your ancestors and to pass that legacy on to your children. So many of my relatives have passed on and we missed the opportunity to hear their stories. Scrapbooks offer a way to document the everyday extra ordinary events in your life so that they can be passed down through the generations. Thirdly if I am to believe that God placed me here on earth for a purpose then I must also believe that if I keep my mind stayed on him and what His true purpose for my life is then when I step out on that faith ...even in the world of scrapbooks, that he will provide what I need , when I need it in the way that I need it. So having said all of this...I am stepping out and my goal is to share my love of scrapping with those around me through teaching ( classes ), sharing ( by submitting my work ), and making ( handcrafted albums for hire ). So remember this saying :

Passion= Purpose=Opportunity !

I can't say what it will mean to you , but for me it means my Passion for Christ=a Purpose for my life=an Opportunity to share my testimony. And who knows, maybe one day you might be sitting in my class and hear it ( or see it on a t-shirt ). That's just how much faith I have in God !

Still in the decorating mode....

My pillows arrived today from shop- at - home which is going out of business. I got the comforter set months ago ( it came with sheets, comforter, shams, curtains and valance ) , but I didn't want to pay 60.00 for the accent pillows. Last week while I was on vacation they marked them down to twelve dollars for the 3 big ones. I jumped on them. The runner in the background is from Kirklands ( I love that store ) for dressing up the curtains or the pillows ...I have not decided yet ( the valance are not up because I need to find gold rods ) and I plan on changing the lampshades from my now dismantled livingroom to gold. I also need to find a gold throw and shams. Cass is going to pick me up a second gold pillow ( I am kicking myself for not getting two from my shopping spree in Alabama ) and bring it with her when she comes to visit next month. The picture above the bed is from the livingroom also. Now if I could just get Marc to pick up his shoes !!! He has promised to take me to Lowes to pick out woode blinds for the windows.

These pictures are really for my sister and my bestfriend Cass who are helping me re-design my bedroom ( once I declutter it all the way ). So Cass and Cori start sending me your imput ...now! I also need to paint, now that I have taken the old stuff off of the wall I can see what the paint use to look like over ten years ago. Man, have we been in this house that long ?