NEW!!! Creative Hearts Event

So we're trying something NEW!!! 

I've had this concept for many years actually... I recognize that not all creative people are "crafters" (ie. think paper crafters, scrapbookers, carmakers, etc.),

 but I do believe all people are creative.

I believe that God created us in His image and because He is THE CREATOR,

it makes sense that we are also Creators then as well. I believe when we create, we are reflecting God's very nature... 

Some do it through gardening or woodworking while others create music or knit or crochet and sew. I do photography, home decor and paper crafting and am dabbling in makeup and fashion as well and recently became aware of Bible Art Journaling... creatively portraying lessons from the Bible right inside my Bible (recognize the logo now?). 

And I'm still passionate about Haiti and helping others so we are presenting an event that celebrates all things CREATIVE and supports some great causes (Haiti, Christy Riopel ART scholarship and Grace Youth summer Missions Trip)!! We have partnered with Grace Baptist Women's Ministry and the Grace Youth for a full day of opportunity for you to exercise your creative side... and classes to teach and guide you along in a variety of creative outlets!! 

At our Creative Hearts event on Sat. Feb. 11, we have:

Paper Crafting

Jewelry Making

Bible Art Journaling

Photography

Card Making

and more!!

DROP-IN throughout the day to CREATE!!

or STAY and CREATE all day!!

Register HERE

I've Joined a Secret Club

I feel like I have joined a secret club... a club I didn't realize existed.

I joined the day I lost my soul sista Christy Riopel... young moms are not supposed to suddenly pass away out of our lives forever...

I was sitting in church when I found out and it decimated me. I've never lost anyone before that was this close, this important, this young and I've been learning ever since just how GRIEF works it's way into your life and forces you to join this secret club... 

the GRIEF club.

Everyone who has lost someone near and dear knows of this secret club... everyone understands that there is nothing you can do about it either... you suddenly join one day and GRIEF has it's way with you... however it wants, whenever it wants and for as long as it wants. 

This is what I wrote that day...

My heart is decimated...I'm not done doing life with you yet... I'm not done laughing with you till it hurts and tears are running down my legs and I'm not done crying with you till the tears dry up and the laughter returns...I'm not done learning all you still had to teach me...I'm not done being soul sistas who truly know and love one another through good and bad times...I'm not done eating your amazing cooking (who knew you can BBQ a turkey?!?)...
I'm not done watching you create masterpieces of art out of thin air...
I'm not done with the dreams we had once we had the time and money and opportunity...
I'm not done travelling to hot tropical locations with you...
I'm not done having our long life perspective talks (who am I going to call now?!?)...
I'm simply not done and I don't know what to do...
My heart is not ready to be done...
I sat in church this morning before I knew... the Bible passage was Psalm 23 and specifically talking about walking through the valley and shadow of death... I had no idea that was coming into my life within hours...
I'm not ready to do that yet... but God is and always will be my comfort and my rock so I trust in Him to get me through and pray the same for all who knew and loved you... I love you my friend and forever soul sista...

I created the above art in her honour for the Bible Art Journaling article in the Winter 2016 issue of Creative Scrapbooker Magazine... be sure to buy that issue as we have several amazing tributes to Christy within the pages...

Meanwhile, I'm still learning what it means to be a member of the GRIEF club... but this I know... I have a new appreciation for life. I always thought I already had good perspective on what is truly important, but the loss of Christy has taken it all to a whole new level yet again. I'm not exactly certain what it will all mean... but I'm open and ready to learn. I'm 50 years old and still trying to figure out what I want to do with my life... this I know... it's going to have to be meaningful.

PS. I am sooooo thankful I forced Christy to pose for a few portraits in my studio recently... I always say that one day your photos will be your most valuable possession... and there are never enough of them. Truth.

Bible Art Journaling - How to get started!!

Christy: (while chatting on the phone) I keep forgetting to tell you about Bible Art Journaling!
Allison: What's that?? Sounds interesting!!
Christy: People are doing art journaling right inside their Bibles. Google it.
Allison: (Googling) This is soooo cool!! This is so me!!
Christy: I thought you'd like it! And I thought we could do it together... you know the Bible and I know art!!

And that's how it began.

We (Christy Riopel and I) bought journaling Bibles from Amazon (ESV Journaling Bible published by Crossway) and did our very first pages together (above)... Proverbs 3:5... "Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart and do NOT lean on your own understanding." I can't begin to explain how many times this verse has helped me through my life.

(Prima Bloom Girl stamp designed by Jaime Dougherty who is also an avid Bible Art journaler!!!)

And I can't begin to explain how my heart is captivated by this new obsession!! Imagine... I can combine my faith with my art and recording my thoughts and life lessons all within the pages of one precious Bible!!! And I can even add photos!!!

It's like my entire heart all in one place!!!

And Bible Art Journaling is growing around the world!! Some call it "illustrated faith" or "documented faith" or "creating in faith" (google those!!) and they can't seem to keep the Journaling Bibles in stock!! I think it's because so many of us are finding ourselves driven back into our Bibles in a new and creative way with this!!

So tons of you are asking a TON of questions so I thought I'd answer a few here :)

Q&A about Bible Art Journaling

Q. What sort of Bible do you use for Bible Art Journaling?

Ideally you want a Bible that has "margins" down the side of each page (mine are 2") and slightly thicker pages. The translation is up to you. I bought an ESV Journaling Bible published by Crossway from Amazon. You can also order direct from Crossway or other online Christian book stores. Here is the one I use...

Q. What supplies do you need to get started?

Once you have your Bible, you can honestly begin with just a pencil!! Most also use pencil crayons and gel highlighters and journaling pens that don't bleed through (I like Faber Castell Pitt Pens best and bought a set at Michaels). For this page I took a photo of myself, changed it into a drawing on the computer then replicated it in my Bible using pencils, added the tears (and fake eyelashes cuz I can!) and then journaled. I LOVE it!!!!

For scrapbookers like me, I'm finding a TON of use from my scrapbooking supplies (stamps, inks, gelatos, stickers, rub-ons, stickles, glitter, stencils, etc.) and have developed a new fetish for stamps!! Because I can't usually draw super well, I find stamps are puurrrrfect!!!! Some companies are now even creating stamps just for Bible Art Journaling or illustrating your faith like Stephanie Ackerman's from Unity Stamps :)

Q. Don't paints, inks, colours and pens bleed through to the other side of the thin pages?

Depending on what you are wanting to do with your page, you might want to prep the page with gesso or a clear matte gel first (buy at any art store). This not only seals the page and prevents bleed, but it also allows certain mediums to be better applied, blended and worked with.

I did a video of Christy demonstrating how to use gesso to prepare a page so I will be sure to post that real soon!! It's always better to be able to watch someone else do it and learn that way especially someone as talented as Christy :)

Well I think that's enough for today, but you HAVE TO get the Fall 2015 issue of Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine where Christy and I wrote an entire article that has 20 different page samples and explains in even more details how to get started with Bible Art Journaling and illustrating your faith right inside your Bibles!!! You can also follow me on Facebook and Instagram (click button on top of page) to see more work!!

And if you have any more questions, please don't hesitate to ask!!!

Save the Date - Sat. May 9

I am excited to announce that I will be involved in an ART SHOW AND SALE on 

Saturday, May 9th!!

"Art from the Heart" will feature several local artists with a wide variety of products that will be perfect additions to your home or gifts for Mother's Day!!! These include:

• Mixed Media
• Glass Fusion Jewelry
• Oil Paintings
• Metal Art
• Photography
• and more!!

AND... you will have the opportunity to support a great cause... Hope for Haiti ART ROOM Building Project through a Silent Auction of items and the purchase of ART made by the actual students attending the school in Haiti! Come to the show to pick your own custom piece of ART!!!

Mixed Media for Photography?!?!?!

So suffice it to say… I am just having WAY TOO MUCH FUN!!!

Not only am I LOVE LOVE LOVING playing in my new studio with beautiful everyday women (like Carlyn seen above who is expecting her first baby soon!!)… but I am also LOVING learning and playing with computer editing on my portraits!!!

As an artist who has been active in the scrapbooking world for decades and a photographer for even longer, it pleases me to no end to be able to create art with my photography!!!  Starting with beautiful props, gorgeous fabrics and a plethora of flowers and creative photo sessions with hair and makeup perfect for portraits and posing women just right to look their best and editing with artistic filters and colours and effects on the computer and finally presentation of professionally printed images in a beautiful frame or folio box.

And it IS ALL ART!!!  

In the crafting world, we call combining artistic methods "Mixed Media" (and may I just say that my soul sista Christy Riopel is the Queen of Mixed Media?!?!?!  Check out this piece she did recently… I am in love… and she's going to help me do my own art canvas for my home!!!  Be sure to watch for that reveal!!!)

Anyways, I'm not sure what the equivalent of "Mixed Media" would be in the world of photography, but I am having fun exploring it and pushing the boundaries… 

all while helping everyday women get to experience something fun where they get to look and feel gorgeous and have a beautiful artistic portrait of themselves that they can be proud of…

Like Sammi (below) who bravely shaved her head for a friend going through cancer…
who is graduating this year…
and deserves to have a beautiful portrait in her stunning grad dress.

Crop For Haiti this Saturday, Feb. 1!!!!!

Woooo hooooo!!!  This Saturday, February 1, 2014 is the BEST event EVER for a great cause!!!  And I can hardly wait!!!  We still have about 5 spots left should you still wish to join us for the entire day, but note:

EVERYONE IS WELCOME 

to come shop our onsite Crafting Garage Sale 

(from 10am-4pm) 

or even sign up for one of the below classes.  

And once you see these amazing classes, you might want to rearrange your schedule!!!

"Enjoy the Journey" layout by Christy Riopel (10:30am - $30)  Let Christy guide you through the creation of a lusciously layered layout designed to showcase a special photo of someone enjoying this journey called "life" (hopefully it's YOU!!)

"Flutterbies and Friendship" cards designed by Jennifer Reynard and taught by Sharon Reinhart (1:30pm - $20)  Any day is a great day to give a special card, but with Valentine's Day just around the corner these beauties will give you 4 great reasons to share some loving words with someone special!!

"Creative Canvas Play" mixed media canvas with Christy Riopel (4pm - $30)  We don't call her the "Queen of Mixed Media" for nothing!!!  Learn how to play with sprays, stencils and simple drawing to create your very own unique masterpiece!!

Now that you've seen the awesome classes, let me introduce our talented instructors...

Sharon Reinhart

Sharon is a multi-media designer, teacher, consultant and author who has been widely published and has taught at countless events including CHA.  We are so very fortunate to have this local Calgary girl join us for this event for a cause.

Christy Riopel

Christy is our local "Queen of Mixed Media" and teaches us great new techniques each and every time she blesses us with her projects!!  She writes for Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine and has also taught around the world including at CHA and Crop and Cruise and at countless other events.

I cannot wait for Saturday!!!  And most importantly, I cannot wait for May when I will get to go to Haiti to help build a school and a home in Dominican for some very deserving families and children!!!  I couldn't do it without you!!!!

HUGE Garage Sale this Saturday!!! Come shop and craft!!!

This Saturday, May 4 is National Scrapbooking Day and we are celebrating in a HUGE way!!!

Come shop and craft with us for a great cause... we are building 3 homes in Mexico this summer for 3 very deserving families!!!  Each home costs $6000 so we are looking to raise $18000!!  It's a HUGE number, but when many come together, HUGE things are possible!!!!

Join us for... 

HUGE CRAFTING GARAGE SALE

and CRAFT PROJECTS

Grace Baptist Church

2670 Radcliffe Dr SE Calgary

All day (from 10am - 6pm) we are holding a HUGE Garage Sale of crafting and scrapbooking supplies along with back to back craft projects YOU can make!!!

And 100% of ALL money spent goes towards the fundraiser!!!  ALL OF IT!!!

Here are just a few projects you can make to get you excited...

And if you can't make it out to shop and craft, but still wish to contribute to our fundraiser, you can buy any of the above kits (based on availability) or you can simply donate to the cause (right now until Saturday, for every $5 you donate, we will enter your name to win this (over $500+ worth of gift cards) as our way of saying THANK YOU for caring :)  

My personal faith goal for this weekend is $12000 which would cover the building of 2 of the 3 homes... how cool would THAT be?!?!?!?  And YOU can be part of it... every single $1 matters and will help change lives in a way we can't even imagine...

More info and ALL classes are HERE.

Seriously?!?!?

I just noticed that I have not blogged for over a month!!!!!!!  SHOCKING as I have so much to say and share and tell and show!!!  Where does one begin?????

Let's start with MEXICO!!!!  I'm leaving in just a few days to drive on a bus (yes a bus) to Mexico with about 30 of us to go build houses for 2 needy families!!!  The above layout was in my latest Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine article and tells of how I had a full circle moment during last year's trip to build in Mexico... so very powerful.  And here are the families whose lives will be forever changed this year...

FAMILY#1: Single mom, Lourdes (30) and her three boys, Reynaldo (17), Fransico (3) and Antonio (2). Lourdes works when she can, whenever she can get someone to look after Fransico and Antonio. In the afternoons she goes to school to finish her education. Lourdes works hard to keep her oldest son, Reynaldo in school and he is in the process of finishing up high school

FAMILY #2:  Bulmaro (24) and Isabel (19) and their son, Cristian (3). Bulmaro works 5-6 days per week in the fields and when childcare is available Isabel also works 2-3 days per week in the fields. Isabel comes from a very large family (we're talking 29 kids!!), many of whom live in the same area.  Their current house is made of sticks, cardboard and plastic. Somewhere you would not even keep your lawn care tools in! 

What's really cool is that the moms are sisters and live right next door so we will get to be VERY CLOSE to both families as we build their new homes right beside each other :)  And we will get to go back and visit the family we built for last year!!!!  HOW FUN IS THAT?!?!?!

And I am excited as this year, instead of going with my entire family, I'm taking my 15 year old son and 3 of his friends with me... yup... I'm going to be "Momma Orthner" for this adventure to 4 teen boys!!!  Can NOT wait!!!  If you'd like to follow along on the adventure (especially if you'd like to join me on something like this in the future!!), I'll likely post a fair bit on Facebook while in Mexico and here is a link you can also go to:

http://livedifferent.com/blog

Next... GRADUATION!!!  Well, sort of... Lindsey attends a middle school so graduation comes at the end of Grade 8 and next year she is in the High School (YIKES!!!)  But we had tremendous fun taking some grad photos with her and a couple of friends...

And one final topic for today... CROP AND CRUISE!!!!  Things are getting super exciting as we are planning all the fun details for this November in Hawaii!!!  Great sponsors are already coming on board...

And this is only the beginning!!!  Our featured instructors Christy Riopel, Jill Hildebrand and myself are cooking up some delicious treats for all our attendees!!!  We are capping both the LAND event and CRUISE event at 50 scrapbookers each and currently only have 10-15 spots left at each so if you were thinking of joining us for this ultimate vacation, REGISTER SOON!!!!

You had me at Aloha!!!

That will have to do for today as I am off to Banff for my 3 month check up with my knee surgeon!!  I am hoping that I will be given the OK to do most (if not all) of the activities while in Mexico!!!

AND... I still need to chat about the AMAZING Scrapbook Your Heart retreat we had this past June!!!  We were abundantly blessed in so many ways and by so many wonderful ladies... I will share soon, but here is a layout (yeah for Bo Bunny!!!) that shows just a small glimpse from our "Lessons from the Garden of Life" theme...

Crop For Mexico Results!!!

So it was a most splendiferous day I must say!!! In March we did our second "Crop For Mexico" at Grace Baptist and the support for this fundraiser still brings tears to my eyes :)  Take a look at this BEAUTIFUL group of women who came out to give their generous support to help build a home for a needy family in Mexico this summer!!!  Want to know how much we raised??????  I'll tell you, but first this...

The talented Christy Riopel designed and taught this stunning canvas class for us... what I absolutely LOVE about Christy (besides the fact that she is simply a beautiful person with a beautiful heart), is that she can guide EVERYONE from beginner through expert into creating their OWN version of art with enough guidance to clearly show you the steps and techniques, but enough freedom to let you make it your own!!!  So needless to say, I'm loving my new canvas!!!

Kay, back to how much money we raised...  but first one more quick thing... while at the Crop For Mexico event, I was working on a layout for my "Life's BIG Little Lessons" article for the summer issue in Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine (simply the BEST magazine evah!!!) with my story from last year's trip to build a home in Mexico so here's a sneak peek of the layout that is now one of my most favourite (so watch for it in the next issue!)...

Okay, back to the Crop For Mexico Fundraising results... it's actually a neat "God Story"... so last year we raised exactly $7001 and I absolutely loved that extra $1 that put us there as it represented how important each and every $1 is!!!  So this year when all was said and done and my family was helping me count the $, the total came to $8997!!!!  I was ecstatic at the amount but kept thinking, if only we had a few more dollars to put us over $9000!!!  I even debated throwing in an extra $5 of my own money, but decided that I wanted to be true to the actual amount as we had last year and so I left it but for some reason didn't feel like I should announce it yet so I didn't.  No reason why, just felt that way.

So the next week I went to get the mail and lo and behold there was a card from Jennifer Reynard who had volunteered her time to help with the garage sale part of the event and inside was a $5 bill!!!  She had helped take a few extra supplies to the thrift store after the event and inside a binder her son had found the money!!!  She felt strongly that it needed to go towards the event as someone had donated the binder and so here is now our final total...

$9002

So that means not only did we raise enough to build one complete home ($6000), but half of the second one!!!!!  I am so overwhelmed with gratitude and am so anxious to introduce you to BOTH the families that will receive a new life because of the generosity of these women!!!  And it will be sheer joy for me to introduce the families to you as I will for sure take the top photo of all of you with me to show them!!!

So from the bottom of my heart... thank you, thank you, thank you!!!! 

Shopping can change lives!!!

Who doesn't love to shop???!!!  Did you know that this Saturday, March 10, your shopping can change the life of an entire family?  Before I get into that... check THIS out...

See this beautiful mixed media canvas designed by the talented Christy Riopel????  YOU can create it along with this "Family" layout sponsored by Quick Quotes...

AND a card AND some of my best photo tips ALL in ONE fantastic class this Saturday, March 10 from 1-3pm!!!!  And the best part????  100% of your $45 class fee goes towards building a new home for a needy family in Mexico!!!!  

PLUS... check this out...

Here is just a sneak peek at some of the yummy goodies you can win or buy on Saturday too which brings me back to SHOPPING!!!!  We are hosting a "Garage Sale" of crafting goodies from 1pm - 4pm and 100% of your spending goes towards building a home for a needy family in Mexico!!!  How FUN is that???!!!  Bring your friend, your children, your neighbours!!  Your shopping and crafting will change a family's life FOREVER!!  We did it last year and we want to do it again!!!

And if you can come crop, create, play and shop the entire day away, with 3 homemade meals, make & takes and helpful guys to carry all your stuff... we still have 5 spots left...

To register or for more information, please click HERE or send an email to gbcscrappers@hotmail.com.