Sketch Support Blog Hop + Giveaway

If you are just starting at my blog, make sure you begin at the Sketch Support blog to begin the hop!

Each member of the Creative Team was given this sketch to work with that can be found in the new Sketches for Scrapbooking: One Page Sketches - Vol. 2.

Here is what I came up with using the sketch. I had a lot of fun scrapping a recent trip that my sister and I took to Jamba Juice together. We tried out some mystery flavors that we have never tried before: Sour Patch Kids & Skittles. Both were pretty yummy!

Supplies - Patterned paper: Doodlebug, Echo Park, BoBunny; Cardstock: Bazzill; Chipboard alphabet (Jamba): Bella Blvd.; Sticker alphabet (taking a chance @)): American Crafts; Chalk Ink: ColorBox Fluid Chalk Ink; Embellishments: Jamba Juice Menu

And now a little about me...

How long have you been scrapbooking? I have been scrapbooking since I was 11 years old! My mom came home from a Creative Memories party and I was hooked!

Why did you start scrapbooking? It was a fun creative outlet for me and I also liked that it got the pictures out of the boxes and into scrapbook albums.

What is your favorite time of day to scrapbook? I can scrapbook anytime during the day but I probably scrapbook at night the most. I seem to be inspired the most then.

How often do you scrapbook? It really depends on what is going on in my life. For instance this is the first scrapbook page I've created since October I think! Typically I like to get some scrapbooking in every week.

Where do you scrapbook/what does your space look like? Oh boy! My scrapbooking supplies have taken over my second bedroom. It really is my crafting space. I usually scrapbook on the floor, the kitchen table, the coffee table or all three if I have multiple projects going on. It seems like there is always creative chaos going on in my apartment.

When I'm not scrapbooking you can find me...hanging out with friends, watching "Lark Rise to Candleford", reading, taking walks, etc.

What is your favorite thing about using sketches? That I know the dimensions of everything! It really takes a lot of the guess work out which I love.

What is your favorite sketch from Sketch Support? How could I honestly choose just one! My favorite ones tend to be the ones that isnpire me the most and I end up with great looking scrapbook pages. I think that would cover every single sketch I've used!

And now for the giveaway! I have one Sketches for Scrapbooking: One Page Sketches - Vol. 2 to give to one lucky reader. All you have to do is leave a comment telling me what is your favorite thing about using sketches. I will pick a winner on Wednesday and announce the winner on Thursday. Good luck!

Now head over to Jennifer Larson's awesome blog! She always comes up with amazing scrapbook layouts! You won't be disappointed!

The Depths of Hell

Now the title of this blog post may offend some of you but to me it is the best way to describe depression. Especially when it is at its very depths. In the Doctrine & Covenants 122:9 we read:

"...and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth after thee..."

At my very lowest points I felt that the very mouth of hell was open wide and ready to swallow me whole. Family, friends, medication (that is another whole blog post in itself), therapy, spending ten days in the psychiatric unit and of course Heavenly Father's help have all helped me to start to climb out of that pit. I have begun to join the world once again. Many of you have seen me or have interacted with me, and I have to be honest that I'm pretty good at acting like I'm a lot farther along on my journey than I am. Have I reached the top of my mountain that is in my path? No. I still have a long ways to go (at least it feels that way).

One of my favorite poems is by Robert Frost and is titled:

"The Road Not Taken"

"Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth,

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim

Because it was grassy and wanted wear,

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black

Oh, I marked the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads to way

I doubted if I should ever come back

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Some where ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference."

I often ask myself which road I would take or will take in the future. For each of us come to turning points in our lives. Will I have the courage to take the road less traveled? Knowing myself as I do I probably would take the path more trodden down. Would I then miss out? I don't believe so. Even if we take the path that seems to be more traveled we are each different individuals and find different mountains and hills that block our path that we must climb.

Depression is a lonely road but one that many have traveled, are traveling or will travel. My heart goes out to all who know what it feels like to reach the depths of hell. It is most definitely not a pleasant place to find yourself. But there is hope and there is help. The Doctrine and Covenants 122:9 continues:

"...know thou, my son [daughter], that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good."

That is what I am holding onto. That is what helps me to get up in the morning and start climbing my treacherous mountain one more day. That when I reach the top of my mountain I will be able to look back and see my own personal beautiful heartbreak. That I will be a stronger individual because of my own personal struggle. That I will gain experience that is for my own personal growth.

There are still days, even hours and even moments where it would be so much easier to let "the very jaws of hell" swallow me up. But I am doing my best to stick it out and see where my personal road takes me and what difference it makes not only in my life but also in lives of those around me. As easy as that sounds in words it will be a continued battle. A battle that I hope with Heavenly Father's help I can win. That I can continue to have the courage to breathe one more day.

You Take the Cake

Last week was card week at Sketch Support. Lucky for me I was able to find time at the last minute to throw a card together. Loved working with this sketch.

I followed the sketch pretty closely except that I didn't add any embellishments. I felt that the paper added enough interest. Oh and I took a black pen and used it to do the stitching. :o) Oh and I guess I rounded the corners too.

"You Take the Cake" card

Supplies - Patterned Paper: DCWV; Ink: Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink; Corner RounderMemory Keepers; Black Pen: Sharpie; Other: Pop dots