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Mother’s Day | A Social ShareIt

May 11, 2013 By Laura 2 Comments

One night a week or two ago (have I told you how bad I am with time frames, yet?, lol) . . . Michael and I were having a casual conversation. So very casual in fact, that we were both in the bathroom, getting ready for bed, come to think of it. Anyway, I don’t remember (either) exactly what the conversation was originally about, but it was on the topic of Mother’s Day being around the bend. And the course of that conversation led me to state how “Mother’s Day was a way bigger deal to me, than my birthday”.

For some reason, that statement seemed to get Michael’s attention in such a way, that it got my attention, because it got his, so much. It was the surprise in his voice, and the tone of his sudden and very real curiosity, of how he said, “It does? WHY?!”.
Like he really didn’t get how Mother’s Day could trump my birthday. Which, to me, was just silly to wonder. I couldn’t believe I had to explain that.
But it was such an easy explanation. And so the answer flowed like honey, from my heart and soul:

“Mother’s Day means more to me than my birthday. Because while my birthday is a celebration of the day I was born, Mother’s Day, to me, feels like a celebration of the reason why.”

And then, after I said it so matter of factly, and maybe because it was late and I was tired, all of the power behind the sincerity of those words, that came so easily from the most sacred part of my heart, hit me. So I actually had to go into the other room for a minute, to just have a a little quiet cry with myself.
It was not a sad cry. It was a cry that just came from that overwhelming sense of love in the sincerity of the words I had just spoken, and knowing how truly blessed I am, with my children.
Truly.

I know we all are. All of us who are mothers, however we came to be one, and to whatever children God placed in our care.
We are all blessed to have this role, whether we know it or not. I know many really do.
I know I really do.

Someday, maybe I will share with you all the story of my children, and how God really did grant me their earthly lives, in a very special understanding between me and Him. Especially with the triplets; and the part their big sister played in their lives before we were even expecting them. It’s a quite deep and emotional story; so much so that it would take a lot for me to tell it all. And I know it would be a long post, and an emotional event to type. It’s another reason I’ve yet to tell it. But I can tell you this; Despite the hopeless odds and statistics, in one situation after another from the moment we learned of their conception, through the weeks following their birth, our trio are still here on earth because God heard my daily, sometimes hour-long prayers, from the 6+ month bed-rest I was prescribed to. He is the Ultimate Physician. Scientific odds and statistics are completely irrelevant, where His hand is involved. These children I have, are all here on His Creation of this earth, because it was HIS will for them to be.
And for as long as He intends them to be, He has named me; their mother.

Blessed, am I.

He gave them to me to care for, and raise, according to His will. As He did any mother who has been given a child or children, in any way they’ve been given to them. There are days I feel so very unworthy of His trust. But there are never days I don’t know what a gift it is. And so I count these 4 blessings daily, and do the best I can, with all of the love and gratitude I have, to fulfill my promises and His trust in me. I know there are days He is more pleased with me, than others. I know there are days much easier, for me, than others.
But if I pay attention, there are also days I feel Him right beside me; and the power of my role spills from a place beyond my comprehension.
We parents, we are not alone in this sometimes daunting, but always rewarding, task. Our Heavenly Father; the Father of us all, is with us every step of the way.

The journey that led to the day I held my first child in my arms, and the next chapters that led to our trio coming into this world, has shown me a conviction, of which no one can convince me otherwise:

Motherhood, is meant to be a vocation.

And it is surely mine.

Blessed, am I.
Blessed are you, mothers.
Happy Mother’s Day.

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On Facebook, you can share this creation, if you feel the same about “Motherhood”, or any other ShareIts we have so far, from our Facebook Page’s ‘Social ShareIt’ Album.
On Pinterest, you can repin from our ‘House Of Joyful Noise Social ShareIts’ Board, or you’re welcome to just pin it right from this post.

Let us know what you think of this new ‘Social ShareIt’ below, and thanks so much for swinging by!

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Our Spring Mantels | Home Decorating Ideas

April 4, 2013 By Laura 15 Comments

So if you’ve been following along with us here, you’ll know that earlier this week we revealed my new double mantels in our sun room, which Michael custom built for me, and I finished in my own style, to give them the look that I was going for.

As promised, today I am sharing lots of overall and detail photos of how I decorated those mantels (for the very first time) for the spring season, as well as some home decorating ideas, and tid-bits of other information you may find interesting. I can tell you that I had way too much fun, both decorating and photographing my new mantels, but I truly don’t mind! Mind you, I’m not a professional decorator, but I do feel comfortable relying on my artistic eye and education, and just what looks good to me. My ‘mantel envy’ that I spoke of, was as real as I thought it was, too, and my appeasing it is already as fulfilling as I knew it would be. More than ever, I am looking forward to all of the seasons and holidays I can spend being creative in home decor, with these mantels. Even if it does mean more to dust!

So let me show you what I did:

This is the view straight ahead, when you walk in through our front door, into the sun room.
There you see our mantels corner, over our wood stove. We spend a lot of time in this room year round; and it’s a favorite of guests too.

Viewing left to right, here is the first and longest of the two mantels, I’ve decorated, measuring 4 feet long.

As I was gathering items I had hoped to use for this spring theme, from other places throughout our house, I realized I had two wonderful groupings for both mantels, where I could have a featured color for each mantel, but where also there were common colors that tied the two mantels all together. So I immediately started working off of that kind of color theory in my head. Also, I added some pieces of burlap as texture-accents with both mantels, but were used in different ways for each. For this mantel, I simply took a long piece, and strewn it along he back of the mantel as a backdrop.

So if you refer to the entire first mantel above), I thought of the greens as much featured color, and then the browns as the common color, because it would be a part of both mantels.
You’ll see that in a moment. But first I’d like to share with you a little more about the details of this one.

Here we just have a simple couple of glass decorative bottles I had, and a cute set of little dishes, that I picked up at TJ Maxx. There is a fourth dish, the color of teal, which I actually bought the set for, because that one went well with the decor I was putting together for my bathroom cubby shelf, which can be seen in the first few photos of this post.

Here are the next few things I grouped sort of together.

This was one of my mother’s personal journals.
The colors and the spring theme went well. And seeing it of course also reminds me of my mother, and makes me smile.

A really good pair of binoculars, in a very weathered leather case. I thought they were once Michael’s parents, but, Michael just called and while I had him on the phone, I double checked with him. He says they were actually my grandmother’s. (We call her Nana.) Hmmm. I’m not sure how we got them, but I’ll guess my father brought them down. He’s always bringing us all kinds of things when he comes.

These items are all new little things I had just picked up, specifically for my spring decor. There is an new, awesome, huge 3-floor place in town that is loaded with the most gorgeous inventory! From large furniture of all kinds, much clearly hand-crafted, to a wide array of small home-decor accent pieces, as well as signs, fashion accessories, etc. One could spend hours in this place, and this one has! My kiddos enjoy tagging along with me too. Honestly, I should do a whole post on it for another day. But in this photo above, notice the super rustic little chalkboard easel. The surface is merely wood painted with chalkboard paint, so it’s not the easiest to write on, but I love it anyway. I think it’ll be a versatile piece, and I’ll be using it a lot, on these mantels.

Also there, I picked up this adorable little ceramic clay bunny, and tiny potted Grape Hyacinth bulb plant.

It was a tiny bit limp and dehydrated when I bought it that day, but I knew with some water and sunlight, it would quickly recover, and it has.

And that wraps up the first mantel.

On to the next . . . .

The second mantel is shorter, measuring just short of 3 feet long. I think it’s so cute!

The colors for this one are just a bit different, with a teal being the focus colors, and the green and brown being 2 common colors found in the first mantel as well, where the green was the featured color in that one.

Dressing the cake dish from my kitchen in burlap and jute string, I placed a beautiful bird’s nest, which I also finally found at the same big retail space I spoke of a minute ago. I’ll give you a closer look at the next in a moment. But notice the mail against the back wall: As I was looking pieces in my house that fit into my color theory, I spotted this mail that was so thoughtfully sent by our fan-friend Julie! The envelopes to the kids’ Easter cards from her, happened to be teal. And then I had some mail for me that she had sent, for which she had made the envelope from a mao (LOVE!), that was made up of some of the warm browns I was working with too. So see…..anything can be used as decor. And it’s always nice to use the little things that give us warm fuzzies inside, and I think such things also add an element of really personal touch and warmth to your home setting.

I really had been looking for the supplies to make one of my own for weeks, but was having little success. I was even considering making one of my own, if I found the right materials. While I did find a little next at Michael’s Arts & Crafts, I wasn’t crazy about the way it was made, and the (blue) eggs I found were also not quite real enough for me. I’m really particular about that kind of thing. So when I spotted this bird nest, with much more realistic eggs already in it, I grabbed it.

A closer look at the base of the cake dish, wrapped purposely haphazardly, in burlap, and tied secure with jute.

This teal colored canister-jar was the first piece chosen for this mantel, and sort of kicked off the feature of the teal color. So I purchased some faux apple blossom branches to go in it. Then I Googled for a little about arranging such things, and learned more than I knew I had to learn! I had no idea so many parts were meant to bend, and things could be moved around from one part to another, etc. Lots of little tips I found helpful, to help make the bloomed branches look more life-like, and compositionally pleasing and balanced to the eye.

The wagon wheel was elsewhere in our sun room, and I noticed it also fit in with the common color for this mantel, so I threw that in as well.

Taking a look at both mantels together, from a different angle, you can see how they are really different enough, and yet compliment each other well, in both theme of spring, as well as textures/materials with wood, glass, burlap, clays, and plants.

As well as in color theory, which is always fun to work with, no matter what the artistic project at hand is.

I really hope you enjoyed this in-depth discussion of decorating mantels, because there will be a lot more of it in the future, all throughout the year!
GOSH IT’S FUN!!
I’m happy you’re here! I’d be happy to continue this chat with you all, in a more two-way manner, in the comments!

Home Improvement Reveal; A Dream Come True; Part 1

January 15, 2013 By Laura 9 Comments

I have had a childhood dream, that has never faded away. Not even with the passing of decades of years, this dream has lived through.
Well, that childhood dream, is about to come true for me.

♥ I am getting a completely customized art studio! ♥

It’s in-home, and already in the works. I thought I would take photos of the progress, in case some of you might enjoy watching it come to life along the way.

I was in kindergarten, when I decided I was going to be an artist when I grew up.
That plan never waivered all through my schooling years. As a kid, I used to see little empty shops with real estate signs around town, and dream of what it would be like, to have my own studio space in there. When I graduated from high school, I went on to commercial art school for the next 3 years. In the past 22 years since then, I have been a freelance artist and photographer. Following art school, in my early 20’s and back home, my parents were kind enough to give me an extra room in the house for my drawing table and such. I probably did 100 commissioned, illustrated large portraits out of that little room. And I’ve had a cozy little in-home photography studio in our finished lower level here, for many years, until a year ago. But never….anything like this, that I’ve got coming.

Between Michael and I, we always have (all kinds of) projects going on. All over the house. And because I haven’t had a dedicated space, I have craft supplies stored all-over-the-house too. It is a wild-goose-chase to ever find what I need, when I need it. Let me show you just a glimpse of what I mean.
But before I do, TAKE NOTE: *In these photos below, I had already started pulling stuff out, sorting, throwing away, and packing stuff up – for the new studio in development. So these areas have never looked like this big mess, unless you looked behind the curtain into the closet or in the cabinets.

But anyhoo, this is one end of my former photography studio in the lower level of our home. You can see, one closet that’s been chock full. Those shelves were packed. So frustrating finding anything, or getting anything out. Much is already pulled out of the closet you see here, and on the floor and in bins now, not visible in the photo. Across from that closet, is 2 floor cabinets, with drawers, which have stored more craft supplies.

Another cabinet upstairs in in the corner of the school room by the back door, holds yet more supplies.

But wait…..there’s more….
Our cramped little laundry room on the mid-floor, has still-more-supplies.

And, there are various other little places around the house, where there are tools and whatnot.
So as I’m sure you have gathered with just this much observation, that there is great need, for ONE LARGE STUDIO, that is organized, functional, and inspiring, to do our thing.
Art is a huge and active part of our lives and work fields.

This space in the upper level of our home, is where the new art studio will be. There is mega natural-light, and it is 12′ x 22′. The ceilings are 8′ high. That’s great space!
So this is the view walking into the room.

It’s funny how this came to be. We have been trying to work on our unfinished house for the past 6 years. It’s been held up many times, due to finances, or lack of time. And then it was held up for a bit more, while we re-pondered our original plans, and the intent of each room in our home. The girls’ rooms have been done for quite some time, and I do plan on sharing those. But we realized that this one great big space that we had planned on making the boys’ room to share, would be of much wiser use, as the art studio that we desperately need. It would be much more appreciated and well-used, on a daily basis. Although it’ll be my studio, and I’ll be spending the most time in it, it will actually be a great space for all of us. It is such a grand space, that even Michael will be able to do his sign work in here as well. The boys will still get awesome rooms, but of their own. But much of this space, will be a new art studio. We’re back on track to finishing it now until it’s done. And it’s well on it’s way, as you can see.

The opposite end; which will actually be used for another purpose, and I will tell you more about that at another time.
I know none of these photos are pretty or exciting now – but they will be. Right now, it’s a matter of imagination. : )

The other side of the room, the long way.
On the left is the entry door.

Viewing from the end we first saw, back towards the entrance.

This wall, seen when you first come into the studio, is going to be great. The single window on the far right, is actually going to be replaced with a picture window, which we are removing from a side of the school room downstairs (which will become a wall.) We have regretted putting that window there downstairs. It looks out at nothing, gives us no natural light, and would be of more use and more attractive as a wall. Deciding we need one of these windows to be larger up here in the studio-to-be, gave us the perfect way to make use of the one we take out downstairs. However, even with the windows, it is going to be a very functional area to work, as well as have a whole lot of storage and work space

We are still in the planning stages as far as design and layout.
But here’s what I can tell you for sure:

It will be all white: walls, ceiling, table tops, shelving, cabinets, etc.
- There will be splashes of color everywhere, from the supplies, materials stored and organized, much out and accessible, as well as the artwork we create.
- It will have natural pine floors.
- It will have specialty lighting installed, for dark days, night-time work, and photography.

There will be:

A lot of flat working areas everywhere, for various needs.
An island block on wheels, with a large flat surface, cubby shelves on the sides, and additional storage inside.
Custom built storage spaces in various areas for specific supply-organization needs (paper, ribbon-spools, etc.)
An area specifically set up for photographing anything I need to.
A large, old drawing table.
Dedicated seating for the kids, to do their crafting, and sometimes, possibly their school work, too.

In this studio, designed correctly, here are some of the creative projects we’ll be able to do in here, and store all of the supplies/machinery to do them:

all illustration work
designing
crafting
scrapbooking and card-making
small furniture refinishing
sewing
sign-making
vinyl-work (large cutter/plotter
photography

. . . and more.

And here’s my man, who is making it all happen . . . . . .

If you follow us, you’ve seen he’s capable of some amazing carpentry work. One of his greatest builds I haven’t even shown you all yet. But I will in time. Nonetheless, he is capable of making this space into absolutely anything I want it to be. I couldn’t be more grateful. We’re a pretty good team too, and have a lot of fun bringing our little brainstorms to life. He works about 50-60 hours a week, so he works on our house when he has time. Usually the weekends. But it should move along now, I think.

I plan to document the progress of this studio, to share with you all. if you’d like to follow along. Not every little boring step, but a quick update here and there on how things have come along. We would love your input and ideas along the way! We know some of you have creative spaces of your own, as well, and we’re sure you have opinions and advice, that you could share with us.
I have already started a Pin board, just gathering some bits of ideas, options, and inspiration for storage and such. And my brainstorming is on over-drive. As always.

We’re all too excited! It’s not every day a childhood dream comes true.
And by the way, the re-pondering of our home and the rooms/space it offers, will be resulting in ‘Musical Rooms’ of sorts (like Musical Chairs, but Rooms), and some fun redecorating too.
So there is more room make-overs, besides this one, coming as well.
We hope you’ll enjoy following along with us, as we go.
Got any tips or ideas for us already? Let us know anything you’d like to say, in the comments!
And as always, thanks for coming by. : )

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The House Of Joyful Noise Top 10 Projects of 2012 Countdown!

December 29, 2012 By Laura 1 Comment

The year of 2012 is coming to a close, and my-my-my, what an amazing and unpredictable year it has been for us! It truly taught us to have faith, and hold on for the ride! We are way excited for the coming new year of 2013, because we have some big (huge!) and exciting projects that we will be doing, documenting, and sharing, with you! In fact, many. But before we get to all of that, we thought it would be fun to just reflect on this past year, for which we are so grateful for. Both in regards to the blog, and ‘The Big Picture’ of our day to day family life. And THEN, have a little countdown of our most popular projects of the past year. Won’t that be fun? We think so. : )

But you are quite free to skip right down to Top 10 Countdown if it’s what you are most interested in!

Bloggin’-So what a year it has been, for our little (teeny-tiny) corner of the internet world, here! With my putting my photography business on hiatus, to focus more on my kiddos and their schooling, and having just that bit more of time to put into the blog with a bit more business approach too, it has grown more than ever. My goal this year has really been to just make any bit of income I could, to help out Michael, while putting what comes first in our life, first. While blogging hasn’t exactly raked in the piles of cash that my photography business did, it hasn’t been too bad. And it also hasn’t taken the huge amount of time away from my kids, their schooling. and our family as a whole either, the way my photography business really did. It was just very time-consuming, and took more people-skills than I truly had some days. I just wanted to keep doing what we do anyway, and blog a little more of it, and then put a little more into the marketing end of it, and see what happens. We’re happy with what has happened, and God-willing, it’ll keep growing. But we wouldn’t have gotten to this point this year, without you all. Your visits, interest, comments, sharing, and general support of our projects, have made it a joyful journey. It’s meant a whole lot to us. Yes, every once in awhile I do start talking about throwing in the blogging towel. There are just some difficult personal aspects of it that can be hard on the heart, at times. But whenever I start talking such smack about quitting, my husband and oldest daughter throw a little fit, and demand I keep it going. Not only is it our family blog, but inside, they know how much I enjoy the whole creative process of not only the projects that we do, but the photography and blogging of it all. And the connections we have built, with you. So, it’s been wonderful in that way.

Family-Life– Our year has really transformed over the course from beginning to end! In really wonderful ways. Michael has made the biggest changes, professionally, that has ultimately been the best thing for our whole family. It’s given us stability that we haven’t known, for many years. In all of our married years, Michael has pretty much soley focused on his truck lettering and sign-making business, as our main source of income. It’s a work field he has loved, and as a second-generation track letterer/sign-maker, it has meant a lot to him, to follow in his father’s footsteps. More than ever, since losing his father a couple of years ago. He wanted to be sure to keep his father’s trade alive. But the economy and the struggling businesses of many companies, really effected the business enough, that we were very much financially struggling. He toughed it out as long as he could. I never wanted to take that away from him. But it came to a point where he needed to put the fight for income aside, and do something else, to best provide for our family. To skip the details and make a long story short, he transitioned to working a full time salary job. WHAT’S MORE . . . Michael’s own business is still there! His clients, have remained loyal to him, and patient. They understand he has another full-time job now, and are willing to wait the few extra days, to get their trucks lettered and what-not. So all-around, Michael is very content. The financial stress is gone (because are needs are not that great, anyway), and the enjoyment of what he is doing, keeps him going. He is working more than ever, but to see him so relieved of the financial stress and worry, makes me feel a whole lot better, and gives him the drive of feeling so good about what he is doing.

Our children have really thrived this year. too. They have had some beautiful and amazing accomplishments, and it has been a true blessing and joy to watch them grow.
BUT, this post is long enough, with too much more to go. I know I never shut-up when it comes to my kiddos, so we’ll save some of that for another time. Shall we?

Let’s just get down to the projects that all of YOU, our readers and visitors, loved most! This countdown is based on the most page views. Not the most comments, or anything like that. Just sheer traffic that the project drew, from out there on the net. We’ll start with the 10th most popular, and count down to #1 project that drew the most hits this year!
Y’all ready for this?
(And if y’all have a song playin’ in your head now, you’re a lot like me! ; )

Here we go!

(*TIP- To see full posts, click on highlighted titles; not photos.)

10.
My Custom Built Farmhouse Home Office Desk
For sure, this is THE project I was most excited to share with you all, this year. Personally. It was nothing short of a little dream for me. And to be blessed with a husband who is so talented to whip out my greatest desires, is something I am thankful for every day. I think the fact that so many like me love anything farmish, and maybe some envy, is what made this such a popular project to be drawn to. But it’s the details, and the story behind all of it’s parts, that makes it so meaningful to me. Come to think of it, I still need to take a photo of it ‘in use’ now, for you all. *Note to Self: Do that.

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9.
Pinwheel Wreath / Tutorial and Decor
This was flat-out fun to create, and proved to be fun & cheery home decor in our sun room, through the spring and summer months.
You can make this too, with my easy to follow instructions, photos and tips.

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8.
Recipe for Apple Pie Pops
As I said in the post, this wasn’t even my recipe! I just needed to make them. I think it’s their cuteness that made this a popular visit.
But I did pretty much show you how to make them and give you the recipe.

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7.
A Snowman Christmas Tree Ornament Tutorial
Now this is a fairly new project on the blog. And yet it’s #7! Again, cuteness is a powerful thing.
I had way too much fun making this. Like a kid, building a snowman! Minus the miserable cold.

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6.
Our Antique School Desks and Books

Well this wasn’t even a project, or anything we did! But as it turns out, old school desks are pretty heavily researched! Still, one of the desks we discussed was one of Michael’s when he was little, and it got pretty hilarious. One visit to the post and a quick scroll through the photos, will show you why. ; ) Goodness. It still makes me laugh.

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5.
Decorating with Autumn Leaves / Door Garland and Candle Jars
Not much to say, except that people loved it.
And that I’m beginning to feel like Casey Kasem.

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4.
Heart String’s / A Valentine’s Craft
I can tell you right now, how this one made the list. And it probably just made it the other day! It seemed to be shared by someone on some popular Slovakian Facebook Page, and that was it! It was fun reading the translations of the comments. But anyhoo, it was a whole lot of fun to make with the kiddos. Anything with melting crayons, is going to be fun. Taking photos of crayon shavings was also fun. We’ve saved this craft project and hung it up 2 years in a row, too! Hoping it’s still in good enough shape to give a 3rd.

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3.
Boys’ Hardware Accessories
This project was just playing around, and seeing what I could make for accessories, for my boys’. (Who do love accessories.) It seems I’m always making their little sister something, so it was their turn. I just brainstormed what might be boyish, and came up with hardware. I made them both jewelry and belts. Half the fun was photographing my little men, wearing what I made. Like a magazine shoot. Planning and setting up photo-shoots, and photographing such a wide range of things, is huge part of the thrill of blogging for me. Throw my kids in, and I’m a Mama having more than her share of fun! 😀 (You really need to visit the post, and see how handsome and boyish they were. ; )

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2.
Glass Tile Handmade Gifts / Necklace Pendants and Magnet Sets
I’ve gotten great traffic on this one, ever since I blogged it. Such a fun project. The key really is working with high quality white glass tiles. I have a great supplier, who I’m about to use again. I tried another, only because she had some kits I wanted to try. It was a huge mistake. The quality of the materials I was working with, didn’t come close. So if you do this, use my supplier, mentioned in the post. Check out the gorgeous pendants and magnet sets I made.

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and FINALLY…..OUR TOP MOST POPULAR PROJECT POST OF 2012 IS . . . . . .
. . . . . . just the craziest thing . . . . . . I mean, I loved the project and had a great time doing it but . . .
. . . . . .I don’t know that it’s the best thing we’ve done this whole year! Actually . . . . . .
this is a project I did all by myself. I DID put a whole lot of love into it. The funniest thing about it being #1 is . . . . .
the idea to blog it was not even a plan at first! It was just a special gift I wanted to make, and taking photos to blog it was an after-thought.
And POOF!! It’s a HOT ONE!!
The top-traffic project of the year IS . . .
.

.
1.
A Doodle Journal; Made with Love
This was a personal and customized gift, that I made for my God-Daughter. I happened to submit the blog post project to a (very popular) craft site, and the photo apparently intrigued people TO NO END. I still get traffic every day, from this baby. Who knew? I think deep inside, everyone loves doodling. Even if they say they don’t know how, WHICH is impossible. I promise you, everyone can doodle. Just pick up a pencil or pen, and let your tool of choice go crazy on paper. Frankly, it’s therapeutic. My mother was a chronic doodler. She even doodled on the cards and school projects us kids made for her. She truly couldn’t help herself. I find it great fun, and it really exercises the artist in us all. That’s why I wanted my God-Daughter to have this journal, to get her own DOODLE ON! And to express the beautiful little chickadee that she is. I hope she’s using it and enjoying it.

And THAT my friends, concludes this year’s countdown. Join us again next year, for another, if we’re still here. (Just going to roll with God’s plan, as always.) And if I do this countdown again. This was my first time ever. HOLY….that was a lot of work! I sure hope you enjoyed it! It took me just about all day! I think I’ll take the rest of the year off. ; )
Incidentally, I wanted to mention that the actual #2 spot, was our home page! That means just plain old visits to our blog, to check in if you know us, or see who we are if they don’t, and see what nonsense we’re all about. That’s good to know!

Thank you all so much! For being there for us, and digging what we do.
Now….who’s up for another year of this?

******

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A Small Gift of Thanks | Thanksgiving Printable

November 5, 2012 By Laura 3 Comments

(2012) We’ve had this blog going for over four and a half years now. Some of you have been following from the beginning, some of you joined us somewhere in the middle along the way, and some of you are new friends. It’s been slow-growing! The number of our readers have probably grown more than ever this year, and that’s likely because I (Laura) have put more time into it.

No matter when you happened to join us, we want you to know we truly appreciate every one of you. For your friendships, your visits, your comments, your sharing, and your encouragement. We just love creating, all kinds of things as you know. It’s in our blood. But being able to share it with you all, adds a whole new element of joy to it, for us. Especially when any one of you find your own self inspired, and get doing some creating of your own!

With the Thanksgiving season upon us, we just thought it was another fine opportunity to say thank you. And to offer you just a little token of our thanks. It really is just a little thing, today. Still, we hope you love it. I designed this printable with my photography, and a Scripture quite fitting for the season of gratitude. There are two sizes, and many ways you are welcome to use it. I’ll share some ideas below.

*Please note that to PRINT these, either with your high quality printer or at your photo printer’s, you’ll need to download the full resolution file from the links I provide you with below. To use the images for any web purposes, you can simply save the images below, right from the post. The image IN this post cannot be printed, as they are not sized accordingly. (In other words, they would be very poor quality printed.) And if you don’t know these things and didn’t read this, you’ll be wondering why it came out so bad, and probably blame your printer. ; )

To Use on Web: You can save the image above to your computer, for use on your Facebook to share, as your computer screen saver, to send to others as a Thanksgiving Card wish, or any other web use you can think of.
To PRINT or have printed as a 5×7 photo, download the high-quality image at the following link, and be sure to print at best quality as well: 5×7 Link for Full Resolution Image
(Use Download Button there, after clicking through the link.)
You can have it printed as 5×7 photo, frame, and place on your Thanksgiving table, or around your home as a Thanksgiving decor accent. You can also use the photos to mount onto 5×7 blank cards, and send them as beautiful custom Thanksgiving cards in the mail, with your message written inside. Or get crafty with it!

To Use on Web: You can save the small image above to your computer, for use as your phone background, to put in the sidebar of your blog as a Thanksgiving greeting/decor, or any other web use as this small image that you can think of.
To PRINT or have printed as a 3″ x 2.143″ photo, download the high-quality image at the following link, and be sure to print at best quality as well: 3 x 2.143 Link for Full Resolution Image
(Use Download Button there, after clicking through the link.)
You can have several of these small versions printed on one sheet, if you’d like. Or print as a single small image, to create a magnet, or make tags to attach to Thanksgiving (host?) gifts such as baskets, or a bottle of wine. Just punch a hole in the corner, and tie on with ribbon. Or come up with something crafty and creative with this small version.

Again, please go to the links provided to use the image for any printing purposes.
For web uses, you are welcome to save the images above to your computer.

They are all yours! Hope they help you spread the love and thankfulness in your hearts, this Thanksgiving season.

. . . . . .

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