"Faith"-Booking Layouts

Here are a few samples of "faith"-booking layouts I've created with the purpose of sharing my Christian faith and values with family members and friends who enjoy seeing my memory albums.

After being hit by a tractor-trailer on Interstate 69 near Indianapolis, I decided to journal about the happening, and share not only what happened, but also how the accident was a BLESSING in our lives. God's angels protected us from something so much worse that happened two miles further on the snowy, ice-covered road! Remember to add the negative life-happenings to your albums, not just the positive, and write how God brought you through them, provided care or protection, and how He worked in your life.

(Click on the photos to enlarge them.)

Ella and I love to giggle and sing and make up songs. Since she was a baby, I've sung "Jesus songs" to her and she has a large repertoire of favorites. She also loves musicals and memorizes all those favorite songs. I just had to document this photo from us at a Fox Theater musical. Someday, Ella may be IN a musical!

Sometimes it works well to hide journaling, as in the layout below. The title and the 8x 10 inch photo are enough to catch the eye on this page. So instead of cluttering the layout with writing, I measured the space to the right of the photo where I wanted to insert a pull-out journaling card (see the flower sticking out), and then cut the Memory Page Protector with an x-acto knife to that specific length.

I tucked the journaled card through the memory page protector, behind Ella's photo, and now, whenever we want to read my thoughts about her and my message to her, we simply pull it out.

More about faithbooking ... 

Recently a few friends came over for a faith-booking workshop. 

I pre-cut papers in a variety of colors and patterns to keep this a simple activity.

My Giggles & Grins layout was the sample with the simple elements--
title, photo mat, and journaling space.

Each one brought a totally different style of photo to feature on a one-page layout. 

One was a simple silhouette someone had cut of her from looking at a photo. 

Each person's layout turned out so unique and different. 

Each chose special Scripture verses and/or a hymn verse to emphasize the Christian witness she wanted to add to her page. 

It was a truly blessed afternoon together, and we plan to continue this! 

(I had cut "Truly blessed" from the Artbooking Cricut Cartridge 

for each person to use as a title if she wished.)

Here are a few of the works in progress below.

1)  This friend wants to use her layout as a 12 x 12 inch framed wall art, and may use her extra decor items that are placed off the page in a second layout.

Update: She used her decorative elements and finished her wall art! See the beautiful finished product below. 

Now for the next layout ...

2) This friend jotted quite a few notes and Scripture verses, and wanted to finish her journaling at home in a quiet place. I can relate to that! It's hard to focus and write while the rest of us are chatting! I know she'll finish this page in a great way as she tells about being twin sisters and the blessings that come with that!

And another ...

3) This friend is completely new to scrap-booking, and I was so happy she joined us and dived right in with her family photo and Scripture verses that convey her message of being so truly blessed by the Lord. I hope she continues to create, because she has great ideas and I love being with her too!

Have you tried faith-booking?

As I get older, interjecting my faith statements into memory albums becomes more and more intentional and important to me. I want those who read the pages to know what I believe and what my values are. I want to tell my story, but even more important, HIS story and how God is present in my life.

Use the key word "faithbooking" (all one word) in the search bar at the top of my blog to see a few more posts about this subject. 

If you faith-book, or if you want more information and resources about faith-booking, leave a comment or send me an email. I'm compiling resources to share with others. I'll be happy to include you on the list!

Blessings, and happy faith-booking/scrap-booking!

Autumn Harvest with Apple Pickers

Faithbooking Layout:  Psalm 145 selected verses

The Artbooking Cricut Cartridge, an exclusive product from Close To My Heart,

made this layout a simple task and a pretty autumn-themed story.

I cut the 10 inch tree overlay so I would have extra room 

for the additional gold strip across the top of page 2,

where the words of selected verses of Psalm 145 continue from page 1.

A variety of Fall colored cardstock

along with the die cut leaves, apples, and pumpkins

made this clean and simple layout perfect

for showcasing the grandgirls while apple picking and giggling together.

Because I have more vertical and horizontal photos,

I'll add a few layers of Flip Flaps

once the Memory Protectors are on these pages.

I like to "faithbook" these special times together,

and add Scripture verses to remind us all

how good God is, how abundantly He blesses us,

and how He is always with us, day in and day out,

even as we pick apples and make apple crisps--

gifts from His beautiful world.

We can simply give Him our praise and thanks 

from morning until night!

My Mentor Ruth

Last week Ruth and her family and friends celebrated her 91st birthday!

I'm so thankful for the mentoring role she has played in my life. She never fails to witness to Jesus' love and care.

Ruth hostesses our small group Bible study, and each one of us women enjoy our time with her. She's an avid reader, and always sends a great book home with me from her library. I love that her favorite book is her well-worn Bible. She amazes us all with her sharp memory and recall of Scripture verses and facts. But most of all, she loves to tell us about her large family, and always wants to hear about each of ours too.

Friends of Faith Blog Hop

Welcome to Scrapbook News and Review Magazine's A Faith Perspective: “Thankful for Friends of Faith Blog Hop”!

Today we're on the Internet showing our faith expressions and giving all the glory to God. United we stand as Christian paper crafters and blog owners to make a presence on the Internet for all to see. We're celebrating the theme of friends and we're happy to share our projects with you focused on this Old Testament verse:

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10a).

If you're just joining the fun, you can find the start of the blog hop here: http://www.scrapbooknewsandreview.com/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=100783

Thanks to our generous co-sponsors: Layers of Color Stamps, Gina K Designs Stamps and Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps. Together with Scrapbook News and Review Magazine, these companies have donated three grand prizes for today's blog hop.

To enter, simply hop to the blogs of all of the participating staff members of Scrapbook News and Review Magazine, take note of the staff member's name, and leave a comment on her post. Then send us an email at
games@scrapbooknewsandreview.com listing each of the staff members who participated in today's hop. It's that easy. All entries must be received by Monday, November 16, 2009 at 12 noon EST, and three winners will be randomly chosen to win.

What are the prizes?

One $100 gift certificate from Layers of Color Stamps and a 6 month subscription to Scrapbook News and Review Magazine.

One basket of goodies -- four stamp sets from Gina K Designs and a 6 month subscription to Scrapbook News and Review Magazine.

One set of digital stamps from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps and a 3 month subscription to Scrapbook News and Review Magazine.

In addition, every participating staff member of Scrapbook News and Review Magazine will offer a free one-month subscription to the magazine to one of their lucky visitors by simply leaving a comment on their blog. That's a lot of chances to win, so let's get to the hop!

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My project is a 12 x 12 inch dimensional layout that I intend to frame for wall art.

I chose to feature the "friends in Christian faith" that my parents are for one another and have been through their 63 years of marriage. An additional pertinent Scripture verse is from Proverbs 17:17... A friend loves at all times. This is so true! Sometimes it's the hardest to show love during the most difficult life situations. Mom and Dad have helped one another up through grave illnesses, literal falls, life decisions, and serious surgeries, always remembering Jesus' promise to be with us and giving thanks in all circumstances. That's what Christian helpmates are and do.

With strong Christian faith and helping hands, my parents have
* worked side by side
* raised a family in a Christ-centered home
* worshiped faithfully
* prayed and trusted in the Lord through low valleys and mountaintop highs
* rejoiced to welcome 9 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren into the family circle ...
* and into their retirement, they continue to praise the Lord and rely on His mercy and love. I thank the Lord for them!

On the right side of the dimensional circle, I added a braided cord in three colors. The significance is that "a cord of three strands is not quickly broken" (Ecclesiastes 4:12), a favorite Scripture from marriage services, signifying that Jesus Christ is one of the strands in a couple's marriage.

The dimensional scalloped circle, paper flowers,
and window charms are all pop-dotted to add interest.

I used all Close To My Heart products for this project:

Let's Get Together paper packet

Dimensional Element scalloped circle

Summer Celebrations Sassy Strands

Tulip marker

Twinkle Jolly brads

Vellum paper

Thanks for looking!

The next stop on this blog hop is: Karry Weaver
http://www.karryweaver.blogspot.com

God bless your blog hopping with Friends of Faith today!

Remembering Herb & God's Promises

One month ago we made a roadtrip to the Thumb of Michigan to say goodbyes to DH's oldest brother, Herb, who died suddenly when the three brothers were on a vacation together.

We are so grateful we got to spend some time with Herb before they left, and were able to celebrate his birthday.

We are so thankful that three of the brothers were able to travel and sightsee together and make wonderful memories. Herb loved to travel and hike in the mountains and see God's beautiful creation.

Before the guys left, I had used "Everyday Celebration" to create a two-page layout to document the brothers' time together, hoping to add flip flaps showing their scenic photos. I'll do that on different pages now.

Instead, I've used the layout to remember Herb, all God's blessings to him, and His promises to us.

The first page of the layout has a hidden journaling section behind the photo. The second page shows the surviving siblings--DH (third from left) with his brothers and sister.

Thank You, God, for making Herb Your child through Baptism, and for keeping him in Your everlasting arms. We trust we'll see him in heaven someday.

The Good News:

God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes and is baptized will be saved. John 3:16

If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

Christmas Sunset

Our Missouri winter skies have been so gorgeous! These are views from our deck.

It was an awesome sight and I thought of the glory of the angels that the shepherds saw and heard when they saw the sky bright with the singing messengers on the night Jesus was born.

I took these fotos of the Christmas sunset with my new Canon Rebel xsi camera--just love it!

Now I'm working hard to catch up on Christmas layouts--"stuck on Christmas" is a good thing! While at the Sauder Village Saturday crop, I accomplished 20 pages of our family Christmas memories all on Evensong papers. The Aspen papers will have to stay "on top" so I can document our snow and ice storms next. Maybe then winter will stay away? We loved the 70 degrees these past few days (thank you, Coloradoans, for pushing the warm front our way)!

CTMH products used:

Aspen Level 1 papers and Stickease

Cranberry waxy flax (to accent the cranberry hues in the sky)

Big brads

Twilight marker

Reflections template "Sidebar Photo Focus"