Gratefulness

This weekend we are celebrating Thanksgiving in the United States, and I know our friends abroad have a similar day in their countries. For me, Thanksgiving is a time to slow down, reflect on my life and give thanks for the blessings that God has given me.

I feel so incredibly blessed to have such a strong family unit. My kids and husband are the BEST! We are all so close. Do we argue and fuss? Absolutely, we are "Real, but we also laugh and play together. My husband Kenny and I have been together since high school. We married 21 years ago, and have two AMAZING children, Brittany 17 and Brighton 15.

I wanted to create a layout that shows my gratitude to them and reflect how blessed I feel. Webster's Pages' Sweet Cherry Pie Fly A Kite Paper was the perfect setting for this layout.



Scattered around the paper are quotes that depict family. Like "The Secret Ingredient to good living is Family", "Fine Feathers Make Fine Birds" and "Embrace Time with the People That You Love"



I accented the photo with layers of lace and trims from some of my favorite companys, Prima and Maya Road. I scattered lots of mulberry flowers in Sunflowers, Roses and some fabric roses too. I aslo included some Prima packaging for a photo matt, Doilees, Antique book pages, Tim Holtz caged bird die from Sizzix, felt birds, and Maya Road Chipboard pieces.

I hope you have an amazing weekend and you find time to be with the people you love!

Thanks for stopping in today,

Tonya Gibbs
http://www.psychomoms.com

December Daily

Ali Edwards started this holiday journaling concept a few years ago called a December Daily. The idea is to create a journal documenting every day in December. You don't have to write a lot, a simple quote is enough. Just jot down things that represent the holiday season to you. I have been wanting to join in for a few years, but the holidays always get here before I can blink. This year I got my game plan started early, and made my December Daily in Nov. so that I would be armed and ready for action.

I decided to use the Webster's Pages Wonderfall, Waiting for Santa and Sweet Seasons collections for my Journal pages. I used my bind it all to bind it, and printed some digital images on transparencies that I created from digital brushes available at Webster's Pages Website.

I wanted my book to start with the Thanksgiving and run through New Years.



Are you planning to do a December Daily. If so comment below with a link to your journal. I would love to see it.

Thanks for stopping in,
Tonya Gibbs
http://www.psychomoms.com

Grunge Canvas

I took these photos of my son a few weeks ago for football, and I wanted to use them in a scrapboooking project. However, I didn't want "typical" football imagery. I felt that was too 'generic'.




The images make a statement on their own, so I wanted them to be center stage. I decided instead of a traditional scrapbook page, I wanted to make a wall canvas.



His school colors are royal blue and red, these colors inspired the color of the canvas. I added some dictionary pages for words like Athlete, Jock, Boy, and sports. Then painted over them lightly with the royal so they are there, but not completely in focus.



I used a transparency from Creative Imaginations and cut it into two parts. I didn't want clean lines, so I distressed the edges and then used my heat tool to melt the plastic and give the transparency a more warped and tattered look. I painted in the saying on the canvas with red marker. It says "stop searching and create yourself." I feel at 15 years old that is what he is doing, "creating" himself.

I also used a screen to represent the grid iron. The screen was painted black so it would also fall into the background, then I curled the edges up to give more dimension and to hide the sharp edges.



His name is made with letter block grunge board from Tim Holtz. Each letter is sitting at a different height, so that there is more dimension.

I hope you enjoyed this share. Thanks for stopping in today,
Tonya Gibbs
http://www.psychomoms.com

PaperBag Album Swap: Flora Garcia-Alvarez

A few weeks ago I hosted a paperbag album swap. Each person who signed up was paired with a partner and they swapped albums. My partner was Flora and she made this gorgeous album to commemorate my recent nuptials. I'm so excited to get it. It might be sitting in my mailbox right now. I'll send the hubby out to go check.

I've already posted sneaks of my album for Flora on the facebook page. Here it is again. I'm using mostly Studio Calico products from their kit club kits for the last couple months. Love them. 

The album is gorgeous and I can't wait to start filling it up with all the pictures from my big day.

Thanks so much Flora.

Happy Crafting. 

Mrs. ABC

Wonderland Hybrid kit!

Altered Cigar Boxes - Shabby Chic

This year I started participating in a monthly Altered Cigar box Swap, and I would like to share with you a few of the boxes that I have created in the Shabby Chic Style. All of these boxes started out as “naked” boxes. They are unfinished 8x8 wooden boxes that can be found in the wood section at your craft department stores. They are usually less than $5.

Dressing Room
For this box I used Prima's Annalee paper to cover the box and the dress form. I distressed the edges to make it look more Shabby. The sides of the box are painted a very soft blue, with White Crackle around the corners. I added gold rub and buff to the edges and on top of the crackle to make the box appear dirty and weathered.


Timeless Bliss
Again this box uses the Webster's Pages Hollywood Vogue paper. I made a spray of Prima Roses and used some of the Tim Holtz film strip as filler in the spray. This box is so elegant; it was really hard to part with it.




1920's Fashion Couture
I wanted this box to be sexy and rich. I used Webster's Pages Hollywood Vogue paper collection, since the 20's were about Glamour, Hollywood, and sex appeal.



Pretty in Pink
This box was designed around Pink Paislee's Sweetness collection. I replaced the glass of an ornate frame with a wedding dress applique then nested a hand painted cameo in the center. Add a spray of Prima Roses and trimmed the box in lace, velvet ribbon, and half back pearls.


These boxes are gorgeous keepsakes. They are perfect for storing mini albums, or fill them with goodies for a friend’s birthday or Christmas present. Christmas will be here before you know it. Start planning now to alter one of these cute boxes for a special someone this holiday season.

Thanks for stopping in today,
Tonya Gibbs
http://www.psychomoms.com