"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!

from summer sunrise to sunset

I love summers, and wish that summer would BE endless!

Though we're in the dog days of summer now with 

the thermometer reading near 100 degrees F each day,

I'd much rather be warm than cold!

And we always find a pool or a clean Missouri lake

where we can be refreshed.

I'm going to have to do a layout just showing our little "Goggles Girl."

She does everything in her hot pink goggles--eat breakfast, ride in the van,

play with her dolls, and even color and craft with me.

(I combined Surf's Up with Dream Pop papers

because of the great pops of color in the pinks and sorbets!)

These are my first attempts using the NEW CTMH Cricut Artbooking cartridge

for the layout title and overlays.

This new product provides 700 different patterns for titles, page overlays,

memory book page patterns, borders, and icons!

You can find it in the new Autumn/Winter Idea Book HERE.

 Journaling across the top in black marker reads:

"from summer sunrise to sunset, 

we're so happy to be playing in the lake or pool water together" 

I like to write memories by hand so that those browsing memory books in the future

will see my handwriting and read my impromptu thoughts.

Layout Left Side

Layout Right Side

I used:

Surf's Up! paper packet

Surf's Up wooden button embellishments

Dream Pop paper packet

CTMH Cricut Artbooking cartridge for title & overlays

"My Sunshine" -- April Stamp of the Month 
(for the sunshine words on the sun overlay and for the sunset)
Sorbet Ink

Hahahahahaha! My Laughing Lola Layout!

What's purple, green, turquoise, and paisley,

and makes you feel happy?

Laughing Lola!

(It's one of the NEW paper packets from Close To My Heart!)

Hahahahahahahahaha!  

You truly have to see these papers in person 

to appreciate the gorgeous colors and patterns.

The laugh is on me!  Until I saw them IRL,

I didn't think they'd be for me.

Hahahahahahahahaha!

Look how great they look with my photos!

Is this little satin bow clip cute, or what?!

Just a little girly touch for the photo corner.

Hahahahahahaha!

Can you tell where my pull-out journaling is on this second page?

Look closely!

I like to hide journaling to keep the layout very simple,

and then cut a slit into the memory page protector

to be able to pull out a piece of cardstock

on which I've written something special.

On this page, I've written how much I love these grand-girls,

and also how much Jesus loves them--

so much that He died on the cross to take away all our sins--

so much that He came alive on the first Easter,

so that someday we who believe in Him can live with Him in heaven!

This journaling is part of my "faithbooking" habit--

to share my faith, Scripture verses, inspirations,

encouraging words from The Word,

and to tell generations after me what I believe and why.

Telling HIS-story is vitally important to me!

How do you tell your story?

I used:

Close To My Heart's NEW My Reflections Laughing Lola paper packet

Laughing Lola Assortment of Embellishments (satin bow clip; multicolor gems)

Sparkles

Shimmer Trim
Washi tape

Dazzling Die Cuts in Spring Harmony & White

The "Backstage" pattern from the book Magic by Jeanette Lynton (CTMH CEO)

Have some GREAT laughs and get yourself creating with Laughing Lola!