Scrapbooking Ideas From The Memory Zone Scrapbook Store

Advent Starts Today….My HOPE for you!

Today marks the first week of Advent. Advent definition: the season including the four Sundays preceding Christmas. I have for many years had an advent calendar for my children to count down the days to Christmas. My husband’s Grandmother made if for us when our second child was born. This year however, with all that is going on in the world…I mean come on…if we (the people in our world) are willing to trample an individual to death over a VCR, TV or video game system, something is wrong, I decided to purchase a book I ran across one day while I was shopping, “A Family Advent: Keeping the Savior in the Season”, we read the introduction and Sunday segment this evening after dinner.

The point for today was HOPE. “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God: trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a plce for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” John 14:1 -3. This scripture gives us HOPE. Hope for the return of our savior, hope for a heavenly destination, hope for more.

We spent a few minutes and each one went around expressing what it was that each of us HOPE for. While some things were as simple as a safe drive to and from school, and others good grades, it made me realize that HOPE is very precious. Hope definition: To wish for something with expectation of its fulfillment. I have so many HOPES for my family, my friends and for you.

In today’s economic battle…I HOPE that you remember the importance of family, memories and togetherness. I have heard many, point out that things are tough, and so scrapbooking is being pushed to the back burner. On one hand I understand…and then, I remember the first scrapbook page I ever completed, and I remember what joy it gave me and the HOPE I had that someday, my children, will look back at what I have created for them and remember. If I do not do this, will they ever really know what I was thinking the moment they were placed in my arms?

My HOPE for you…I hope that no matter where you are spiritually, financially or simply in your life, you will remember what it is like when loved ones look at your scrapbooks, the feeling they get when they read what you have journaled, and how much love you have left for them there to find.

Rhonda

Papercrafting Pattern ~The Thanksgiving Table

What better way to decorate your table for Thanksgiving dinner then to spruce it up with your creativity!
Why not make a few table decorations from your scrap stash? All you need is your scrap supplies, and a few objects from your home or the ever reasonable Dollar Store!

Here’s what you will need:

**Creative Cafe paper bag & accenting buttons
**Queen & Co. Felt Fusion
**your favorite Thanksgiving paper
matching cardstock
**Cricut & your favorite shape from one of your cartridges
**water goblet
**and your imagination

{{Now if you don’t have a Cricut you can get some pretty cool shapes cut at TMZ on their AccuCut machine for a very reasonable cost. Or you can use whatever die cutting machine you do own, or buy a shaped paper.}}

I picked up a reasonable water goblet at the dollar store and pulled out my handy dandy Cricut machine to make a small centerpiece for my Thanksgiving table. Some of those basic shapes on the Cricut carts are always a good way to make place mats for any given holiday or everyday place settings. I found a very cool template in a Paper Crafts magazine, “cards, gifts & more papercrafting three ways.” It allowed you to create a lampshade with any paper of your choosing by using a PATTERN. You take your pattern and enlarge it to the size of your project. And then you trace the pattern out on your paper.

With a few special embellishments you can add a place card and a goody bag to the setting without pinching your pocketbook during the holiday season. I hope your Thanksgiving is an art filled one!
charity

Scrapbooking…..Stress Relief?

According to Everyday Health there are a number of strategies used for DE-STRESSING.  The one I want to focus on is….Find like-minded people through intriguing classes, organizations, and your community newspaper.  Intriguing Classes…..we offer a number of Intriguing Classes at The Memory Zone Scrapbook Store, LLC.  Be sure to check out our schedule of events, pick a class and call to register.  As an individual that is always looking for ways to De-Stress, I can tell you scrapbooking and card making help.  When I need to just escape I find it very relaxing to put a page or two together.  I realize there are those of you out there that think scrapbooking appears to be a stressful challenge…that is why I recommend a class.  In addition to introducing you to a new fun pass time, you will be introduced to others who are looking for friendly relationships.  Some of my best friends I have found through scrapbooking.  So give it a try…you have nothing to lose and a whole lot to gain.

Rhonda