Hope for a Better Tomorrow...and some New Releases!

You ever have one of those weeks that NOTHING goes right? Well, I am having one of those years. Seems like everything in my life is falling apart. It started with the heat pump leaking water all over the carpet, then went to the kitchen wall collapsing due to termite, heat and water damage and ended with the bathroom toilet springing a leak and flooding the ENTIRE hallway. Then, just when I thought NOTHING else could possibly happen, my youngest daughter's beloved pet bird and our second car.....died.  Now, the death of the bird has effected us all pretty bad, but the death of the car is DEVASTATING!! Trying to get three working people to their assorted jobs by 8:00 in the morning when we all work in different directions...well, it isn't so easy. Needless to say, I had one of those weeks that makes you want to throw in the towel and just say "I quit!"

I was talking to a friend of mine when I was reminded that as bad as it seems right now, there are others that have it worse than I do. We are all relatively healthy, we have a house and food to eat...we still have one car and are at least, not having to LIVE in it, and I have HOPE that all things will get better. 

Hope doesn't always come easy for every one. It's so easy to look at the bad things in your life that you sometimes forget that there ARE some good things. When times like these occur, I have people in my life that I know were planted here by God himself, to remind me that there ARE some good things happening; that God DOES give us hope; and that all I have to do is let go of my self pity long enough to look around and recognize it. 

This week, I decided to focus on the GOOD things. The things that make me want to live instead of give up. My family and friends are just two on the long list of things I have to be thankful for. God did not promise me that there would be no bad days in my life, or that I would never hurt for money or want for anything, but he DID promise that if I turned my life over to him, HE would give me the strength to get through the bad days and that is something that I can count on...even in my weakest moments.

My hope for YOU this week is that you find the strength you need. When things seem out of control and you feel like giving up; when the weight of raising a family and paying the bills gets overwhelming; or when our earthly body is weak and in need of rest, remember that even when everything things seems lost, that GOD has control and it is through Him that you can find the peace and the calm that you need to get through it,,,, whether it is one day or what seems like forever! Jesus says "Come unto me all ye that are laden and I will give you rest." I, for one, am going to be taking him up on that promise! I need the rest.

Since I had such a hard time last week(I will be the first to tell you that I just curled up every night in bed and lost myself in a book so I wouldn't have to think about it) I am a little behind on this weeks new releases from my some of my favorite designers! I would be remiss however, if I didn't show them to you today since you can still pick most of these up at the sale price!

First off, if you missed September's SOUL webinar on the 12th, then you missed a fabulous interview with Amanda Heimann! We found out we lived only three hours apart..AND that she supports a football team that, although I could really care less if she supports them, my family does, so we are no longer aloud to talk to each other! LOL. I am teasing. I will talk to her behind their backs because I really like her!!  She seems very grounded, a good ole' Texas girl..tough on the outside and tender on the inside...and she has a good sense of humor...especially when it comes to cows. 

I also did a demo on some of my very favorite title techniques! I MIGHT have gotten a little long winded, but gosh..there was a LOT to share with you, so much so that I think I might have to put together another class...just about Titles..so be looking for that in the near future! 

If you joined us in the webinar, you got Amanda's fabulous new alpha for FREE!! However, if you want this excellent alpha for your own collection and you were not able to attend, then you can pick it up at Scrap Orchard for 20% off this week! 

Essentially: Everyday by Amanda Heimann

 

and here is my layout using Amanda's kit Carefree and the alpha (recolored)

Also this week , Bella Gypsy released THREE new kits! I only had time to scrap with two of them...but they really are some of my favorite layouts...EVER!!!

Perfectly Imperfect

Perfect To Me by Bella Gypsy Designs 

 Gimme Layers 31 by Cluster Queen Creations

Enjoy the moment

 Slow Down by Bella Gypsy
Gimme Layers 14 by Cluster Queen Creations

Little Green Frog Designs also had a new releases this week! I loved them so much, I scrapped with TWO of the templates!

Genuinely You! 

 Genuine by Jennifer Labre
Gooseberry Fool by Little Green Frog Designs

Lazy Days

 Indian Summer by Chelle's Creations
Indian Summer Plaids by Chelle's Creations
Gooseberry Fool by Little Green Frog Designs

The Pursuit of Happiness

The Pursuit of Happiness by Amy Stoffel
Half Pack 58: Photo Focus 20 by Cindy Schneider 

Also at Sweet Shoppe Designs, Jady Day Studio had a few more re-releases just in time for all of the fall fun! 

Give Thanks

 Autumn Fun - Give Thanks by Jady Day Studio
Technobabble by Little Green Frog Designs

Our First Halloween

All Treats No Tricks Template Pack by Cindy Schneider
Autumn Fun-Ghoul Night by Jady Day Studios

 

and finally, although it isn't a NEW release, it IS still new...I just didn't get to work on it because of all the stuff going on at home! BUT..I LOVE this new kit!

 

Got Cache?

Adventure Awaits by Crisdam Designs
Adventure Awaits Labels by Crisdam Designs
Adventure Awaits Alpha by Crisdam Designs
Cindy's Layered Templates - Set 126 by Cindy Schneider 

That is it for my new releases this week! There are so many GORGEOUS new goodies at Scrap Orchard...make sure you stop by and check them out!

Keep an eye out for THIS weeks new release cause I am going to have something that has been weeks in the making! Something that I am SUPER excited about, and will give YOU, the scrapper, some hands-on instruction!! This is one you DON"T want to miss!!! 

Have a great week! 

Fabulous Fall! Inspiration, New Releases and a Freebie!

Fall is one of me VERY favorite times of the year. The colors are gorgeous, the weather is cooler and all my fall shows start back up! Not only is it one of my very favorite times to be and FEEL alive, but it is also one of my vary favorite seasons to scrap! It really must be though since I tend to want to scrap with every single fall kit that graces the digital scrapbooking stores!

Today, I thought I would round up some of my favorite fall layouts from some of my favorite designers! These have all released in the past several weeks and they are fabulous to work with if you are looking for some fall kits!  There are quite a few, so let's get started! 

Autumn Days

 Indian Summer Patterned Papers by Mye De Leon
Indian Summer Cardstock by Mye De Leon
Indian Summer Embellishments by Mye De Leon
Burlap Alpha by Mye De Leon
Stitches from Simply Me by Mye De Leon
Tag from Color Change by Mye de Leon
"days" Alpha from August Mega at Scrap Orchard
Cindy's Layered Templates - Half Pack 56 by Cindy Schneider

 Autumn Afternoon

Autumn Afternoon-part one by Mye De Leon
Fuss Free:Masquerade 2 by Fiddle Dee Dee designs

 Fall Fun

 Fallen: Mish Mash by Amy Stoffel
Fallen: Geometric by Amy Stoffel
butterfly from Madeline kit by Amy Stoffel
"Fun" alpha from Sweet Serenity by Amy Stoffel
Fuss Free: Sweet Days Templates by Fiddle Dee Dee Designs

 It's the Little Things

Serenity by Happy Scrap Girl
Fuss Free: Masquerade by Fiddle Dee Dee Design

Autumn Wish- releasing TODAY!

 Beautifall by Amy Stoffel 

template by Little Green Frog Designs

Don't you just LOVE the colors of fall? the oranges and browns and yellows and purples are really what make a layout come to life! This week, take a moment to scrap some of your fall memories. I love the bounty of fall, so I always like to include a ton of stuff! Take a moment to step outside your box this weekend. Scrap with several different patterns or use lots of pretty elements. Make sure to include a fall quote or journal about your fall traditions! Whatever you do, enjoy the colors of autumn! I know I do! 

Don't forget that this week, on the Scrap Orchard blog, I added a new freebie template from Little Green Frog Designs! If you haven't stopped by the blog, head on over and pick up your free template today! 

and here is my layout with it! 

 Flora by Jennifer Labre Designs

With that, I will wish you all a peaceful weekend! We are hoping for some rain around here, so I am keeping my fingers crossed for a weekend at HOME! Something that doesn't happen very often here since we always have some kind of game going on!

New Releases at Scrap Orchard!

I love new release day! All the pretty kits come out and all the layouts I have spent scrapping the past week are finally able to be uploaded! I get so excited about them, I just can't wait to share! You are going to LOVE what the designers at Scrap Orchard are putting out this week! Open up your pocket books because there are some that you will absolutely not want to pass up on! 

This week, Captivated Visions teamed up with another favorite designer of mine, Ju Kneipp, to create one of THE MOST beautiful kits I have seen in a long time! 

Love is All You Need 

Love is All You Need by Captivated Visions and Ju Kneipp
Serenity Template by Fiddle Dee Dee Designs included in the September Mystery Mega at SO

Love is All You Need is packed full of gorgeous shabby chic papers and elements that will help you scrap all about the love or loves of your life! 

We have quite a few new designers this month at Scrap Orchard and it has been a blast working with all their new goodies! New designers=a TON of new stuff! I have been looking for a soft kit to scrap my Leah's senior pictures and this was just the one! I LOVE the color purple!

Bloom

Lilacs in Bloom by Jennifer Labre Designs 

 Fuss Free: Hello Doily by Fiddle-Dee-Dee Designs

Tracie Stroud teamed up with another new designer to SO who is also opening her store this week! Becca of Tickled Pink Studio will be a great addition to the SO family!If you stayed home this summer instead of traveling for a vacation..then this kit is for YOU!

I paired this great kit with a fun set of templates by Little Green Frog Designs! This is a Second Shot series of templates which means if you didn't get them as a "freebie" they are now up for purchase!

 Take It Easy

Staycation by Tracie Stroud and Tickled Pink Studios
Second Shot Vol. 4 by Little Green Frog Designs

I used the same set of templates to scrap a few other fun layouts as well! That is the great thing about this set! you will want to use them ALL!!

 Grow Wings

Spread Your Wings by Laura Banasiak
Second Shot | Vol.4 by Little Green Frog Designs

and check out this sneak peak of the fabulous September Mystery Mega....the colors are gorgeous this month! 

 

Lucky In Love

Second Shot Vol. 4 by Little Green Frog Designs

September 2012: Mystery Mega by Scrap Orchard Designers

and finally, I have two this week from Bella Gypsy! They have been churning out some fabulous kits lately! I can't NOT scrap with them! 

 Livin' the Sweet Life

It's All Good by Bella Gypsy
September Mega Template part of the September Mystery Mega by Fiddle Dee Dee Designs

I paired this cutey kit up with Fiddle Dee Dee's new template set!

 Tooth Tales

Looth Tooth by Bella Gypsy
Fuss Free Pennants 3 by Fiddle Dee Dee Designs

and that is it for this weeks reveals at Scrap Orchard! I have some more reveals coming later this week with a few of my other designers!  I can tell school is back in session because the new kits are coming out like crazy! Love it! Make sure you stop by and pick up some of these goodies while they are on sale! You won't want to miss them! 

Happy Scrapping!