New Year, New Word

Hello, friends! Happy New Year! As I reviewed my online presence in 2016, I realized that my creative project-sharing shifted to Facebook and Instagram posts in the last several months. While I LOVE connecting with others on those platforms, I miss sharing the details and the background story in a larger space. This space. So, with the new year comes a new devotion to blogging.

Also, the new year brings a new word.

I chose the word "thrive" as 2016 was coming to a close. I felt it out for a week, and even started a Pinterest board. However, when I was adding quotes to my Pinterest board, this one - without the word "thrive" - made its way into the search results:

As soon as I read it, I knew my word was RISE. Positive. Literally uplifting. I know this word will carry me through 2017, and that I will be a better, stronger person because of it.

I signed up for Ali Edwards' One Little Word workshop (again). I'm excited to devote time each month to reconnecting, evaluating, and moving forward with my word.

Also, without infringing on any of Ali's intellectual property, I am sharing the general concept of a yearly word with the women at church. I'm teaching a mini workshop about taking a word and applying it to personal spiritual development. Several years into this practice, I have learned that my approach to One Little Word has a spiritual component at the core. While Ali's prompts are incredibly valuable and helpful, I needed something more, to speak to that spiritual core. I created worksheets specific to my faith that detail monthly prompts for 1) keeping your word visible, 2) reconnecting with your word, and 3) documenting your progress. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If any of my LDS readers/followers would like to join me, send me an email (precociouspaper@yahoo.com) and I will share the worksheets I have prepared.

Do you do One Little Word or something like it? I'd love to know your word. Watch this space - there's more to come, including a fun announcement tomorrow!

Tessa

Keep Going - The Studio

There is a new challenge up at The Studio today :). The challenge is to choose a design team member's layout and scraplift it. I enjoy a good scraplift, and I adored a recent layout done by fellow design team member, Leslie, so this was a great challenge. Here's my take, using Basic Grey's Persimmon line and a bit of Studio Calico vellum:

This is Leslie's fabulous layout, created for our tic-tac-toe challenge last month:

I love the diagonal strips of patterned papers that Leslie created. Quilt-inspired patterns are really trendy right now, and I thought this was a great take on that idea. Leslie's arrow embellishments inspired the theme of my page:

I am preparing for the world-wide conference of my church (the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) that will be held and broadcast this coming weekend. One of the ways I like to get myself ready to receive the messages that will be shared is to go back to previous conferences, as well as talks given in other venues, and review them. In my study I came across this quote and it became the journaling for my layout:

source

These words are from this message by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. If you need some encouragement, I highly recommend that you follow the link and watch the beautiful video, or even read the whole talk.

I loved every bit of Leslie's layout, but my process did take me in a direction of my own in some aspects. Journaling to the left of the photo as well as under my title...

A chipboard title (although I would have loved to use my Silhouette Cameo for a die-cut title - the baby was sleeping, though)...

Patterned paper at the bottom, but not both the bottom and the side...

If you'd like to play along the with us, or even just check out the rest of the design team's scraplifts (such good stuff!), please visit The Studio Challenges blog. I hope you enjoy your day and thank you for stopping by! Tessa

This and That...

I know that for most of you it already Tuesday, but I thought I would squeeze a post in before Monday was over. I want to say thank you to all of those who left comments on this giveaway post. I asked you to share your tips for cultivating a good life, and the things you said were all so wonderful! I highly suggest you read through the comments. Every single one is a great idea that needs instant implementing :). The randomly selected winner of the giveaway is Debbie Butcher! We've already chatted via email and I can't wait to see what she does with the September kit from Scrapbook Circle :).

Speaking of wonderful words, I have to share something from this past weekend that pierced by heart and filled me with peace and comfort that I can't even begin to express with words. If you are a woman that has ever doubted her self-worth, felt invisible or like she couldn't do enough, or looked around at her daily life and wondered "why?", then you need to hear this. Scroll down to the bottom of the blog to pause the music player.

On a business note, I am a bit late in releasing the October Samplers. I should be up and running very soon :). I'm in the middle of planning a big event for the young women at church, so my priorities are a little different this month than the usual. Thanks for your patience :).

Have a wonderful night! Tessa