Wednesday, December 31, 2014

There's an App for That




"Though my innocence was taken...not everything is lost...


NOT EVERYTHING IS LOST" (Brandon Heath~Your Love)


This very phrase could sum up 2014 for Marlena McDeavitt, mother of three sweet teens.


This world is a big, overwhelming place for the kids of today.


The whole world is at their fingertips, whether we are ready for it or not.

THE WHOLE WORLD...good and bad.

I. can't. even.

Anyways, I'm glad the Lord has my girlies in the palm of His hand and He's given me the privilege of being their friend.

I can't imagine them doing this growing up stuff emotionally alone.

That being said, I've become a little App savvy and have faithfully created in the cyber realm.

I've taken this week's free beautiful verse at

(hey there, ladies!!!)

and created this wallpaper for my twitter account.





As I've mentioned in my "catchup" post, my job is driving teens around right now, so I create constantly with smart phone apps.


If you are wondering how I did this, here are a few tips.


I saved this week's verse, and pulled it up in this app (I paid a few dollars for it).



Then I filtered it


saved it, and pulled it up again on top of a previously pixellated/filtered pic (add photo over a selected background)

(make sure you slide that lever to your left so the bottom layer gets some shoutout).

Now, you can get all fancy or you can leave that beautiful verse alone.

Here's the great thing about this app...you can use a "not so terrific" pic and do WHATEVER you want with it.

I wish I could remember what those gorgeous abstract colors used to be, but I've ran them through so many filters...your guess is as good as mine.

Back to this project...
save it, then pull it up in Instasize for the last step (app for cropping pics for perfect display on Instagram).

Now, I filtered AGAIN in the Instasize App...I am the filter queen...just like I say about Spoon Rests...you can't have enough!! (in this case, filters ;) ).



I love the way the Aspen filter gives the words a beautiful blue hue.

Make sure you save it to your photo album so you can pull it up filtered and cropped.

There you have it...a wallpaper to share on your Facebook or Instagram Wall.

Hope this inspires you crafty bloggers who are currently in a season of treading water to stay alive....

blessings~




Sunday, December 28, 2014

Season of Grieving











Unfortunately this has been a difficult season of grieving for our local church family.


Melissa's theme this week is the perfect motivation for me since I've been wanting to stamp a special card for at least one of these families.


When there are no words...I thank God for the stamping tools and sentiments to do,

well, at least something.


I know this has been a difficult, difficult season for friends of mine...deaths of people,
deaths of marriages, deaths of dreams.


I don't know about you, but much of my energy has been dedicated to prayer because there is just


so much pain going around right now.


I'm grateful I'm not alone and know that you aren't either.


blessings...



stamps: Papertrey Ink (Meadow Greens,Happy Trails,Rosie Posie)
inks: Papertrey Ink (Hawaiian Shores,Aqua Mist,New Leaf), Memento Dandelion
paper: Georgia Pacific White,Studio Calico Wanderlust
dies: My Favorite Things Sentiment Strips,Spellbinders Large Labels
other: Tonic Studios Paper Distresser

Where In the World Did I Disappear To?




I can't believe I haven't blogged since what....July? Seriously?


Good grief.


Forgive me.


In August we visited family in Hawaii....


graduated a daughter.... (my FIRST homeschool graduate!)...



threw her a shindig...(first party at this house EVER..we've lived here 6 years people)...

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threw a sweet 16 party for our middle girlie (and her bff) within a month of that

with customized table decor like these

 
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and treats like these...


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(these marshmallow pops were fun to make...find the recipe here)

and I've driven a 13,16 and 18 year old everywhere and anywhere they've needed to be since then.


I haven't stopped creating though!

I always have my phone..so 

I've been tweeting like mad at

@marlenaisms if you're interested in seeing my phone app creations and unending thoughts. ;)

I don't know how to add that official little diddly that tells you how to go there from my bloggy border...but I'm happy just to blog ANYTHING, SERIOUSLY, for now.


By the way, a SCREAMING shout out to dear Amy
who blessed me with a card this Christmas!


I was so touched, I could have cried. 

no joke.


I made ONE STAMPED CHRISTMAS CARD...

ONE, this year! 

WHO AM I???

The rest were bought...so when I opened my mailbox and I saw a beautiful creation from her...well, it made me want to stamp again.

It was SO SWEET Amy~thank you for thinking of me hon!


I have just stamped a card and will try to post ASAP before the challenge ends...

miss you blogger friends!

 
blessings....