Evans Photography: End of Summer

When my husband, Dave, explained that he wanted to go for a walk and take pictures I took off running into my closet! He called after me but I reassured him that I wouldn't be long... I knew a photo opportunity when I heard one! I rushed into the bathroom brushed my hair, threw makeup on, and ran to grab my new vintage parasol that I got at Molly Mo's Antique Faire.

Dave shook his head at me and we all hopped into the car to go a few blocks away to some hiking trails along the river. It was the perfect time in the evening... the light was glowing between the trees. I love when my husband gets excited about his camera all over again. It makes for beautiful memories and photos.

Create Well: Being spontaneous can be fun! Try bringing a prop you wouldn't normally bring along for even more fun!

Guest Designer: Rebekah Williams

Please help me welcome this week's guest designer, Rebekah Williams. This mixed media artist has it all together! Lately, papercrafting has a new friend called fabric. Rebekah's first love is fabric and her designs bridge that gap between fabric and paper, creating in a way that inspires me to speak more lovingly, than harshly, at my sewing machine. Not only does Rebekah create to bring joy to friends and family, she writes about her life journey on her blog, Yee Bird. You will be tickled at her posts and occasionally laugh out loud. Sit back and be ready to be inspired...

My creative manifesto . . . Sew it. ‘Shop it. Spend it wisely.

Sew it:

Fabric. I love it. A LOT. My sewing machine gets major action. Sewing is my first love, so I just naturally gravitate toward sewing and using fabric on all my paper crafts, when I’m not just sewing, period. Fabrics have so many colors, styles, patterns—the options are infinite.

[For the non-seamstress: let me take this moment to urge you to learn to sew. Don’t walk. RUN to grandma’s house or your nearest sewing class and get stitchin’. And don’t give up. You will forever love it, I promise!]

‘Shop it:

Photoshop, that is. Never underestimate the power of adding simple text to a picture in Photoshop! When it’s 11 p.m. and we captured a rockin’ photo that day but know we’ll forget its story if we wait to scrapbook the perfect layout, Photoshop is our friend. Tons of digital scrapbooking goodies are out there, and I love them, but sometimes, I like to keep it simple and remember it’s more about the story than the style.

Spend it wisely:

And by “it,” I mean our time. As wife to Nathan and mama to two sweet little ones, my time/life is about my family. Time is short and responsibilities are many, so most often I spend my crafting energy on have-to-do projects. Examples include creating a fun, out-of-the-box birthday invite for Lilly, making a book Ian can “read”, or designing an "I love our life" book so Nathan receives a handmade Father’s Day gift. Lilly needs invitations, Ian needs to learn to read, Nathan needs to be appreciated on Father’s Day, and I need my craft-it fix. Voila! Spending time wisely.

Whatever your stage of life, I wish you many hours of sewing, Photoshopping, and spending time wisely. Whatever you do, enjoy every moment.

Rebekah also designs for Triple the Sketch. You can follow her creative manifesto at her blog, Yee Bird.

Create Well: Sew it. ‘Shop it. Spend it wisely.

Triple the Sketch: Be Kind

Today's Triple the Sketch #71 was a lot of fun! Not only did we have a great design by Patter Cross, but we were able to use Shimmerz paint. I used two of their paints on this layout. One was a beautiful spritz and the other was a paint that has shimmer and is also translucent. Since paint is my favorite medium to work with I couldn't wait to get started!

The journaling is hard to read... "Love is patient, Love is kind..."

To get this painted look, take Shimmerz and dab onto a cosmetic sponge. Use a piece of paper that has holes punched in it and lay it where you want the paint to be on your layout. Dab paint over the paper lightly. Lift carefully and let dry.

More journaling: Things I love about you... 1. You are kind; 2. Loving; 3. Sweet; and 4. Just like Mom!

Go over to Triple the Sketch for a chance to win a set of paint from Shimmerz! You can see all of their amazing product here. How do you enter? Create a layout, card, tag, or altered item using Sketch 71, and post a link to it in Triple the Sketch's comment thread by Thursday, Sept. 3rd, by 11:59 p.m. Central Time. Go and check it out!

Create Well: Use recycled elements with paint to create a new look on your pages.

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Don't forget to check out today's amazing Thinking Outside the Box Challenge! You won't want to miss the amazing collection from other artist's using antique finds on your work. It really is inspirational.

Evans Photography: Molly Mo's Summer Antique Faire

Well, I promised more photos of Molly Mo's Antique Faire, so here they are! I have over 200 photos of the event and I had to pick just a few to post... so here are a few more of my favorites. Diane was an amazing host. Her husband, Matt, played his guitar during the event while her girls and friends helped run her booth, which happens to be a renovated barn on the property.

The beautiful Diane, herself.

Working in the barn!

Diane's dog has some seriously funny facial expressions. Whenever I tried to get a photo I would get a look like, "What-ever!" ;)

Matt playing.

"Kindred Roses"

Joy from "Aunties."

"Vintage Triffles"

I wish I could feature every photo and vendor that was there! It really was an awesome event! If you want to visit these vendors, most of them will be at the Coburg Antique Faire, September 13th.

Create Well: Be inspired by beautiful people and beautiful things.

Guest Designer: Danielle Wycough

You are in for a treat with this week's Guest Designer, Danielle Wycough. This heartfelt papercrafter will move you with today's feature! When you read her blog and get to know this sweetheart you will know that she has a passion for her family and for those who are in need. She is a prayer warrior, a princess of the King, and she followed the calling placed on her life. Read on to find out what that calling was...

My name is Danielle Wycough, and my name means so much to me. Danielle is a Hebrew name taken from Daniel which means God is my judge! First and foremost in my life, I am a child of God. A sinner saved grace. I am a Christian! I am a wife to The Prince Charming for nearly 10 years. Thank goodness that glass slipper fit. He is my heart, and nothing is complete without him here. I am a mother to 5 amazing, wonderful, blessings. Each of our children are completely different and I love that. They are 5 of the most important reasons to get up everyday. Their ages are 12, 9, 7, 6, and 4. There are quite a few arguments in our home; but it's our home and it's perfect for us. It is our heaven on earth.

I am a paper crafter, a scrapbooker, a card maker, an altered artist, and most importantly when it comes to paper crafts, I am the story keeper. Scrapbooking was not something that I was interested in. Honestly, I never thought I would do anything like that. It seemed almost silly to me. One year for Christmas, we decided to make Prince Charming's grandmother a scrapbook and each family had to do two pages. I froze with pure panic. I had no idea what to do! I knew that I would only embarrass myself. At the time, we had a local scrapbook store that was run by two of the most generous Christian women. They would take time and explain to me how to make a layout. They explained what a brad was and what the difference between textured cardstock and regular cardstock was. I slowly began to get very excited and started to stop into the store every few days. I worked on the album and I gradually gained enough confidence to show Prince Charming, who was surprised that I could even do that with paper!

After the gift was given, I felt God really working on my heart. He was telling me to keep pursuing the craft of scrapbooking. I didn't understand it, but I knew that it was from Him and I said, "Yes, Lord!" For the next two years, I continued to feel the same feeling and I had shared with many friends what I felt God was doing in my life. Sometimes I received little snickers, or someone patting me on the back, kind of like, "Ok, we get ya!" But, I was confident in my hope in Him, not people.

Then, one day a friend approached me about beginning a Scrapbook Bible Study Ministry at our church. After 3 years of waiting patiently, I felt God was finally starting to show me His Will for me. But, that wasn't it. Eventually, I began to become Internet savvy and learned so much about scrapbooking and about how to make a ministry out of it. So, I set out on a mission. I began a blog, www.scrapbookbiblestudy.blogspot.com. I wasn't sure if anyone would come, but I knew God's hand was in it. I made a small post on a blank blog announcing that in a couple of short weeks, we would begin a Scrapbook Bible Study. By the time the first lesson was posted, we had over 50 followers! Scripture Scrappers is growing and I am so thankful that God brought the opportunity.

I have also been completely blessed to be the Design Team Coordinator at Shimmerz Paints, a Design Team Member at Triple The Sketch, a Creative Team Member at EAD Designs, and an author for Inspirational Craft Blogs. To God be the glory, because without Him, it's only paint and glue!

Right now, I am on a vintage kick, so I am finding lots of inspiration at thrift stores. Girls - Go!!! You don't know what you are missing! But, my family inspires me the most creativly. I am not just inspired by their smiles but I am inspired in those moments when I see a single tear rolling down a cheek. I am inspired by the hugs, the kisses, and the I love yous. I am inspired by a warm breeze blowing on a summer day or a single snowflake glistening on the frozen ground. It is amazing how anything can inspire you if you look for the beauty in it.

To read more about Danielle and her ministries go to her blog, Life, One Layout at a Time. You can also visit Scripture Scrappers for Danielle's scrapbooking Bible study on The Fruits of the Spirit.

Create Well: Remember, no matter what people may say or do to you, you have a calling on your life! Keep running the race! Be confident in your hope in Him, not people.