Attitude of Gratitude Day 30!!!

GRATITUDE

Have you kept up with the 30 days of this blog?

Yes, I DID IT!!

Do you have a complete or nearly complete journal?

My journal is complete except for the cover.
Stayed tuned....!

Will you continue to keep a gratitude journal?

I hope to be more deliberate about jotting

down the things I am grateful for in my

prayer/sermon note journal.

Do you feel you have a different attitude now from when we started?

Yes, I am looking for things for which to say thanks

& I definitely feel more joyful!

I will give thanks to you, Lord,

with all my heart; I will tell of all

 your wonderful deeds.     

Psalm 9:1

Today's technique was to do

shadow stamping, I think I've also

seen it referred to as stamping off;

when you stamp again without reinking the stamp.

I love how this turned out, may just be one

of my favorite pages of the whole 30 days!

And here is the last 2 days together:

This 30 days of gratitude has been a great

experience!  Thanks to Bernice for

putting this amazing challenge together!

An Attitude of Gratitude

Attitude of Gratitude Day 29 & FWF

APPRECIATION
What do you most appreciate in life?

Day 29.....one more day & I

will complete the 30 days of

focusing on gratitude & the

art journal I made along with some

others at the Attitude of Gratitude blog.

This has been a great exercise &

I am eager to be finished.

This is also my Unity Friends

With Flair post!  Used

Harvest of Memories & Simple Blessings sets

on this page.

The challenge was to use one ply of

a napkin on my page.  This is the

only style of napkin I had in the house

but I think it is especially fitting

since we just celebrated Thanksgiving

& appreciating everything we've been given.

Thanks for stopping by &

have a great weekend!

Attitude of Gratitude Day 28

SEASONS

And let us not grow weary of

doing good, for in due season we

will reap, if we do not give up.

Galatians 6:9

Looking back at the seasons of your

life which were the hardest and the easiest?

Which season of your life are

you most thankful for?

The challenge was to use household

items.  I used my silicone hotpad

and my empty tape roll.

I used symbols of each season

to represent the seasons of life.

No matter what season, we need

to keep looking to God for our

strength, we cannot "do good"

without Him indwelling us!

The last 3 day spread!!

Attitude of Gratitude Day 27

TRAVEL

Do you like to travel?

DH & I love to travel!

Which places on are on wishlist to visit?

I'd like to go to New Zealand, Australia, Hawaii,

Great Britain, Europe, southeastern U.S.....on & on.

Which places have you already visited?

We mostly visit family, we have had great times

going to The Black Hills of South Dakota

(for our honeymoon & many family trips). We went

back for our 30th anniversary and did some

4-wheeling on the back roads....off the

beaten path like it says on my page!

Some of the places we have been:

Washington state & D.C., Duluth & Mpls./St. Paul in MN,

Maryland, Virginia, Texas, California, & Arizona. 

 I've been to Canada, Mexico & Haiti.

What things are you most thankful

for when you are travelling?

My smartphone with GPS, restuarants

& Hampton Inns!!

Your Word is a lamp unto

my feet and a light to my path.

Psalm 119:105

I completely forgot the challenge to use

something I don't usually use.  Does

map paper count?  Or these travel

stamps that I've never used before?

Attitude of Gratitude Day 26

DREAMS

What dreams or wishes do

you have for the future?

What dreams or wishes have you

had in the past that have come

to fruition? Which of these are

you most thankful for?

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.

 His love endures forever.  Psalm 136: 1

I started with book paper and

added some gesso and then red

paint, trying to get out of my

usual color schemes.  I sprayed

blue color wash over a letter

stencil and added lettuce color

wash as well.  I wasn't crazy about

the red so toned it down with

black stamping.  The inks all smeared

around so there isn't much definition. I added

my homemade washi tape.

I didn't have what I need to do it

the way the video recommended

so I (lol) ModPodged stamped

tissue paper onto some washi tape

that I had on hand!  I added the

verse and some off white paint.

 Maybe tomorrow will be a better day! :)

Attitude of Gratitude Day 25

Creation

God saw all that he had made,

and it was very good.   

Genesis 1:31

Challenge is glue stick resist. 

 I was quite pleased that it worked with my

flower and butterfly stamps!

I added the same images with inks & also

added some flora & swirls.

Added some birds & the verse, some doodles

& chicken wire around the edges.  I added

Exodus 20:11 where God wrote with His own

finger that He created the world in six days.

I see I forgot to continue the banner doodles!

But I did remember to add the buttons

on the first section of this spread!

Thanks to Bernice for all her work

putting these verses, videos, challenges, etc.

together to help me accomplish this journal!

Attitude of Gratitude Day 24

PHOTOGRAPHY

How important are photographs to you?

Very important.  My dad has always had

his camera close by and has photo albums that

cover years and years of our lives.

Do you take lots of photographs?

What do you do with them all?

I do take lots of pictures and most of

them are on our computer...I know

not the best place to store them.

Which photographs are you most thankful for?

I really value the pictures of when

my sisters and I were young and the

ones from when our children were young.

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,

for his steadfast love endures forever!

Psalm 107:1

The challenge today was to do gesso transfer.

I had done a gel medium transfer yesterday

so thought I would try the gesso one on top of that.

I tore a picture out of a magazine.

Also decided to use a blue butterfly left over from yesterday.

I painted the gesso right onto the pictures as I didn't want

to cover up any more of the butterflies than necessary.

Here they are, stuck down to my page.

I scuffed them with sand paper after they were dry

to allow the water to break them up a bit easier.

Here is my page with the paper rubbed off.

 

I added cranberry & blue ink around the edges

and green color wash all over.

A cranberry banner, some black around the edges.

Inked the verse with Worn Lipstick DI

and here is the final product with some off white

paint "carded" around the verse sections.

And the two page spread:



Attitude of Gratitude Day 23 & FWF

FAMILY & FRIENDS

Welcome to Unity's FWF Hop!
Check out all the details HERE.
I'm on day 23 of my
Attitude of Gratitude art journal.
My Unity stamps are so great for this project!!

Who are the people you are the

most thankful to have in your life?

Hands down, my dear husband of 31

years and then our 3 children, dil &

3 grandchildren!  After that

I would say our 4 parents as they

have all walked with the Lord

all their lives and have been a

great example to our family

& to others around them.  From

them we have received a godly heritage.

Today I remembered to take pictures

as I went through the process of

making my page.  I finally got the

courage to take this page of butterflies
(freebie from Donna Downey's blog
quite some time ago)

that I printed out on my ink jet printer

and using get medium, I transferred it

to today and tomorrow's pages.

I could have used a  little more gel

and maybe not burnished it quite so

much.  It was REALLY stuck down!

BUT I am happy with how it worked out.

 I needed some color down on the botton

where the transfer didn't work properly so I

used green ColorWash and Smooches. I used

the Memento ink around the edges and stamped

family & friends onto the page.

I threaded some floss around the edges of my

diecut as the challenge was to use some kind

of stitching. I felt like it still needed more color

so I printed the verse out onto pink tissue paper

and added that and some green circles to the page.

I felt like I was losing my butterflies behind all these

layers but still wasn't happy with the page so I diecut

a frame for the verse and added my faux stitching.

The last thing I added were the two hearts. 

I was going to add some tiny buttons

to the hearts but forgot about it till right now!

The heart is from Stitched Greetings,
Family stamp is from Generations set,
Friends stamp is from an old KOTM,
and Love is the Tie is an Itty Bitty.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!

Attitude of Gratitude Day 22

THANKSGIVING

DH, DD and I celebrated Thanksgiving

with a big meal shared with my parents

and a young family from our church.

I made a big turkey and most of the

trimmings with DD's help.  The others

brought parts of the meal.  We had

a good time together. 

We have so much to be grateful

 for in our lives!

Let us come before him with

thanksgiving and extol him

with music and song.

Psalm 95:2

I stamped into gesso and let it dry. 

I used DI over top and there wasn't

much contrast so I went over it with

colored pencils.  I added some extra

pumpkins and leaves (Thanksgiving theme!) 

with ink and paint.  Inked burlap for more texture.

The page seemed too plain so I stamped

music onto white tissue paper, crumpled

it and ModPodged it onto my page.

Added some pink & turquoise ink around

the edges.  Cut out some musical notes

and DI'd the words to add more color.

Also used a dauber to add some green ink spots.

Attitude of Gratitude Day 21

CELEBRATIONS

Do you have family traditions

for birthdays and Christmas?

Yes, we do. When the kids were home

I made them a birthday cake for many years.

We would have the grandparents over for a party.

We light our Christmas lights on the evening

of Thanksgiving.  I put lights along the roofline

and an electric candle in every window...

I LOVE how it looks!

We go to church on Christmas Eve

& open our gifts afterwards.

My mom & dad have us over for Christmas brunch

and she has made a tea ring decorated like

a wreath for as long as I can remember.

We go to DH's parents later in the day.

In what ways do you like to celebrate?

DH & I like to go out to eat.  I like

sweets & flowers so that is always a great

way to celebrate!

What things in your life

will you celebrate today?

I will celebrate being able to exercise

and be active, having family nearby so

we can spend holidays together and

having free time every day to create!

They rejoice in your name all day long;

 they celebrate your righteousness.

Psalm 89:16

I used some pieces of Bella Blvd paper,

some gesso and some DIs.

The balloons are to represent

celebrating!  The challenge was to

use wrapping paper, so I cut the fairy,

 flower and butterfly from some.

Attitude of Gratitude Day 20

HEALTH

 I am so thankful for good

health.  7 years ago last week

DH fell, broke ribs and then

they found out his kidney was

enlarged.  We waited 2 weeks for

surgery and were so, so thankful

to God that the growth on his kidney

was benign.  He had lots of struggles

getting better but we are grateful

for every day God gives us together.

11 years ago I had successful back surgery.

I am happy that I can do most everything now.

DD and I have started a 10K training app,

I really want to be healthy and in shape.

God is always near, through good times

and the hard times.

This page makes me feel happy!

Gesso'd the page, Evergreen Bough &

Scattered Straw painted on. Gesso on

my honeycomb silicone hotpad and the stamped

the black grid.  I added some doodles &

outlines with black ZIG pen.  The stamps

 are Unity's Bella Fiori & the paper is Bella Blvd.

Here is the stamp I made, DMC floss

wrapped around cardboard.



Attitude of Gratitude Day 19

BOOKS

Our challenge was to use book paper,  I used

it on the background and to make my little

"God's Word" book.

I got this book idea from Junelle Jacobsen's sketches.

Attitude of Gratitude Day 18

Memories

Challenge was to use packaging material.

I used 2 different kinds of coffee cuffs.

Attitude of Gratitude Day 17

LAUGHTER

What makes you laugh most?

DH and I have the best times

together.  We have such fun

stories and odd things that happen

to us that often times we just laugh!

When our kids were home we

laughed even more because we just

had so much fun talking and

teasing together.  Sometimes we'd

end up laughing during prayers

before meals but I think God laughs

with us, don't you?!

I've had these stamps for years &

I don't think I've used them before, they

are from Unity Stamp Co. & are

perfect for today's theme!

Our challenge today was to use something as a

mask, since I don't have any except for snowflakes,

I grabbed a piece of burlap.  It is behind the jar

and the words "heart is good".  Then I turned it over

& used the orange burlap on my page.

Also used old book page, craft paint, & color wash.



Attitude of Gratitude Day 16

R.A.K.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love,
 joy, peace, forbearance, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness
and self-control. Galatians 5:22

 

The challenge was to use a mask to stamp.
I didn't have one so I grabbed this dove
I had cut off a card and sprayed the back
with color wash.  When I pressed it onto my
page, it only made a mess!  I
was able to wipe it off and tried gluing the
blue bird to my page but the glittery side
wouldn't adhere!  I ended up gluing the blue
side down and then cut a heart from the
paper towel that I had behind the bird
when I sprayed it the first time.

11.16.12 FWF

Time for a Unity FWF Hop.

Check out the list of

everyone playing along HERE.

November has been crazy busy,

I took the Holiday Card Workshop

and also dove in to the 30-day 

An Attitude of Gratitude

art journal project.

Here is the page I made for

Day 13 when we were to think

about what we are thankful for

from our childhood.

I used three Itty Bitty's on this page

It's A Good Day, Life is a Verb,

and You are my Main Squeeze.

Also used 2 stamps from the 

Througout All Generations set.

Thanks for stopping by and

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Attitude of Gratitude Day 15

MUSIC
What kinds of music do you like?

I like lots of types of music.  My mom is a
musician and so she taught us girls about
music.  I love hymns, contemporary Chr.,
Classical, Classic Rock, Gospel, and
Christmas music to name a few.

Are there times when you use
 music to alter your mood?
Yes, I know that if I listen to
Christian music, I begin to feel happier
and more peaceful!

What is it about music that
you are most thankful for?
God created music and has
given it to us as a great gift, I am thankful
that it is such a powerful way to
express ourselves and our
praise to Him.  I am also thankful
that it is a great way to relax.

The base of these pages is tissue paper from an old pattern.  I mixed both green & cinnamon latex paint with gesso before scraping it onto the dried pattern. I covered it with a thin layer of watered gesso and then added the molding paste leaves and some Memento ink (turquoise).  Used thinned gesso through an alpahbet and letter stencil. The music is an online freebie digi that I printed out and tore the edges off. I used matte gel medium to adhere it to my page and then used a stencil brush and the same blue Memento ink to add some color. The stamps are from Unity's Ippity line, the Sing A New Song set.  The little bird is from anothe Ippity set,
What Matters Most.



Attitude of Gratitude Day 14

EDUCATION

What important things did

 you learn at school?

I was blessed to be able to attend

Protestant Christian schools all my life.

I got to have Bible class every day and

the older I get the more I understand what

a priviledge it was.  My parents sacrificed

financially so that my sisters & I could do this.

What have you learned of value

since leaving school?

All of the life lessons that

can't be taught!  How to have a

great marriange, how to rear

children who honor God and respect others.

Many gardening & farming skills,

With the rise of online courses have

you continued to learn new things?

DH and I love to study things online

on our own.  I've learned many

things about card-making and

art journaling and love to keep learning.

What new techniques have you

learned that you are thankful for?

How to art journal.  I didn't think

I was an artist because I can't draw,

but I've found out I really enjoy

expressing myself creatively.

Heat embossing, coloring with Copics,

and using Distress Inks are just

3 fun techniques that are easy yet

look like they took lots of time.

Learn to do right; seek justice.

Defend the oppressed.

Take up the cause of the fatherless;

plead the case of the widow.

Isaiah 1:17

I didn't have any liquid pearls so I mixed

molding paste, green latex paint and

Perfect Pearls powder.  The paste had a tiny bit of

shine to it before I ModPodged over top.

I had some paste left and didn't want to waste

it so I smoothed it over my snowflake mask

& I love how that turned out, I love it more than

my journal page! :)

You can't see the depth, unless you enlarge it a bunch!

Attitude of Gratitude Day 13

CHILDHOOD

What good memories do you have

of your own childhood that

you are thankful for?

I have tons of great memories.  I had fun

being the youngest of 4 girls.  We sang,

we rode bikes, we went swimming.

We worked on our farm with our dad.

We read through the Bible together.  We

played lots of games and usually had

visitors over for holidays. Just a few of

the memories!

Jesus said, “Let the little children

come to me, and do not hinder them,

for the kingdom of heaven

belongs to such as these.”

Matthew 19:14

Days 11, 12, 13

Stamps are 3 different Unity Itty Bittys

Lots of Distress Inks

Attitude of Gratitude Day 12

My Neighborhood

What sort of neighborhood do you live in?

DH & I live in a rural area, we farm.

Our nearest town has a population

of a little over 12,000.

What things do you like about the

area in which you live?

I love living in the country, we

have a very independent lifestyle.

I have a garden and preserve a lot

of our own food.  We've always raised

our own beef until the last few years.

What particular things are you

most thankful for where you live?

That we live in a rural area, we know

most of our neighbors and have long-term

relationships with them.  There is a joke/saying

about being "Minnesota nice".  It's true, people

will help you when you need help!

The second is this:

‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’

 There is no commandment greater than these.”

Mark 12:31

I found a map that had the right colors on it

and ModPodged it to my page.  Cut a heart out

of a map of the area where we live.

Attitude of Gratitude Day 11

Day 11 What I have learned

What important things have you

learned in your life?

Too many to list here but for starters

That God is in charge, He is truth, His Word

is truth.  He loves me and I am created for

His glory.  That Jesus paid the price for my sins

and has saved my soul. That my role in marriage is

to be a helper and sidekick for my DH.

That if I submit to authority, so will my kids.

That authority begins with DH, changed my life!

That peanut butter on toast is better with

a layer of butter in between.  That you

really should have a little coffee and chocolate every day....

enough.

What are you most thankful

to have learned?

"That I with body and soul, both in life and death,

 am not my own, but belong unto my faithful

Saviour Jesus Christ; who, with his precious blood,

has fully satisfied for all my sins, and delivered me

 from all the power of the devil; and so preserves

 me that without the will of my heavenly Father,

 not a hair can fall from my head; yea,

 that all things must be subservient to my salvation,

 and therefore, by his Holy Spirit, He also assures me

of eternal life, and makes me sincerely willing and

 ready, henceforth, to live unto him."

(I learned this in catechism class as a child,

just realized how very thankful I am that I was

taught these truths at a young age!)

(Yes, it is from the Heidelberg Catechism.)

I applied my heart to what I observed and

 learned a lesson from what I saw.  

 Proverbs 24:32

The cross is from Spellbinders Crosses Two set, cut from

and old book page and DI'd, Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearls.
Distress Inks, misted to blend.  Emboss resist and rub-ons.

I tried using Vick's VapoRub and it does work (see photos

below) but it smelled!  So I heat embossed and did the resist

with Distress Inks along the left side instead.  Smells better! :)

Stamped watercolor paper with a

screen stamp first. Added Vick's over

 snowflake mask and red paint on top.

Wiped it off to get this:

I should have tried coconut oil instead!

Attitude of Gratitude Day 10

Day 10 Emotions

I actually had to go to

Wikipedia to focus in on

some positive emotions!

Do you consider yourself and

emotional person?

No, I am pretty low-key

and stable, but I DO have emotions.

Which three emotions are you thankful

are part of your personality?

Interest, joy, and hope are the three

I chose to describe myself.  I am

an optimist, I think I was born

that way.  My dad is an optimist.

I believe it is a blessing. I think

being an optimist makes it

easier to have faith in God.

Do you agree?

Bring joy to your servant, Lord,

 for I put my trust in you.

Psalm 86:4

Days 8-10

 

Attitude of Gratitude-Day 9

Day 9-Strengths

What do other people think

are your strengths?

Resilient, creative, hard worker,

loving people.

(smartest woman in the world 

 DH said when I asked him!)

Do you agree with them?

Well, not with ALL of them.

We were to use fabric on our page today.

I cut these circles with my Big Shot.

Which of your strengths are

you most thankful for?

My top 4 strengths from Bernice's

website survey are adaptable,

creative, determined, and conscientious.

I agree with these and am thankful for

creativity because it is an asset

 in so many situations.

I can do all things through him

who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:13