ANNOUNCEMENT & JAN.2012 BLOG TRAIN!

Welcome to by the Shore designs. And Happy New Year!


If you have arrived as part of the January 2012 Blog Train, you are in the right place! 2012 brings many new and exciting changes. I am closing my store at Faith Sisters AND I am truly pleased to announce my new affiliation with (and digi store at) Natural Designs in Scrapbooking. (More on both of these announcements below.)


But first… what would the new year be without a freebie. Welcome to the January 2012 Blog Train! The theme is REFRESH – a great way to start 2012.

(As you ride along the train, please be sure to leave some “love” and positive comments for each of these designers. There is a real person behind each of these digital kits and they each spend their personal time creating these free digital goodies for you.) Here is my contribution to this great collection of digital goodness. You can download my mini kit here (or simply click on the preview below)

The blog train started here

The designer before me on this blog train is: STARGAZY CREATIONS

Your next stop is: CINNAMON SCRAPS

And the stop after that is here

If you get lost along the way – the full list of designers and blogs can be found at blog train central here.

Back to my announcements! I have been truly blessed to spend the last 16 months at FaithSisters. The designers, creative team and membership have always been uplifting and positive. It was a great place to call home. I thoroughly enjoyed co-hosting Providence 365 with Barbara at Precepts and Promises as well as hosting the monthly 1,2,3 Scrap! Challenge. I thank each of you at Faith Sisters for a wonderful experience.

I am embarking on a new adventure and am tickled to announce my new home (and store) at Natural Designs in Scrapbooking (NDISB). I am impressed with the great group of designers at this site, the quality products that are offered, the supportive forum and the inspiration that can be found in the gallery. I encourage you to stop by and visit! I am in the process of transferring many of my digital kits over to NDISB and have many more in the works.
Make sure to subscribe to this blog and “like” by the Shore designs on Facebook for more fun announcements in the next few weeks! The year will be filled with freebies, challenges, new products, inspiration and fun! 2012 is going to be a fabulous year and you won’t want to miss it.

Enjoy the rest of your journey on the January 2012 REFRESH Blog Train! And I look forward to seeing you again….by the Shore!

Looking for some inspiration. Strathmore Artist Papers is offering 3 workshops in 2012...they are free and self placed. The workshops include videos and downloadable instructions. While I have not taken their workshops in the past, I am looking forward to the classes - I love to learn. While not scrapbook related, we can find inspiration everywhere, including and especially in other artistic arenas. Won't you join me? The first workshop is title "Doodles Unleashed, Mixed Media Techniques" and begins January 1. (Did I mention they are free!)

Having a wonderful winter break...but sure am wishing I were....by the Shore.

Providence 365 - Week 52

Luke 2:10-16
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
I love hearing the story of Baby Jesus from the book of Luke. And it doesn’t matter if I hear it during worship, during a children’s Christmas program…or when Linus shares the Word during Charlie Browns Christmas – it is a story that never gets old, brings a smile to my face and warms my heart.

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

As we bring Providence 365 to a close, I pray that you have been blessed through our year long journey. Barbara (Precepts and Promises) and I (Pam of by the Shore designs) have enjoyed sharing His word and pray that you have found words for reflection that have been timely and inspiration for your scrapbooking layouts using our word-art.

Please take a moment to share with us in the forum at Faith Sisters how our Providence 365 journey impacted you. Thank you for joining us in 2011. Please make sure to visit us on our blogs for more inspiration in 2012 – God Bless and give Glory to God in the Highest!.

(Click on the image above or here for your word art for week 52)

AND.....MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Shout Out! (and Merry Christmas)

Tis the season! Our Christmas cards are in the mail (well, most of them)

Shannon, Georgie and I had a fun photoshoot in November with ShannonNeill Photography at Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. The primary purpose of the photoshoot was to surprise my husband Dave with pics of "the girls" - but I was able to select some super pictures of my daughters to use on our Christmas cards. I then went to my favorite online printing place - Persnickety Prints - and designed our cards from their awesome selection of templates. I ordered them on December 3rd, they shipped on the 4th and were received a few days later. Persnickety Prints NEVER lets me down. The quality of their printing is beyond compare and their customer service is exceptional.

If you are in the Colorado Springs area and are looking for a great local photographer, please consider Shannon Neill Photography. (She also was the photographer for my daughters Senior Pictures)

If you are "online" and looking for a fabulous printer - head on over to Persnickety Prints!

Have a blessed week...by the Shore

Upcoming Workshop & A Great Sale

I am excited to be able to attend this 2 day workshop in Utah in February. Carina Gardner is a fabulous instructor and the small class size offers a great opportunity for one on one guidance. You can check it out here ---- http://www.carinagardner.com/workshops/ There are still a few openings for those designers that are interested!

And over at jessicasprague.com, there is a super sale going on - check out the online classes and the scrumptious digi products - up to 35% off! I have signed up for their new Photoshop Fridays Series for 2012. Merry Christmas to me! I love being able to get a quick refresher on photoshop techniques and I especially love adding another layout to my "to be printed" folder. (I am still exploring a few of the other classes available as well as some of the digital goodness in the store. Decisions,decisions!) The sale is only through December so head over to www.jessicasprague.com now!

Wishing you a 'calm' week...by the Shore.

Providence 365 - Week 50

REJOICE!

Light one candle for Hope. One bright candle for Hope. He brings hope to every heart, He comes He comes.
Light one candle for Peace. One bright candle for Peace. He brings peace to every heart, He comes, He comes.
Light one candle for Joy. One bright candle for Joy. Every nation, shall find salvation in Bethlehem’s Baby Boy.
Light one candle for Love. One bright candle for Love, He brings love to every heart, He comes, He comes

Several years ago when my daughter was in our church Christmas Pageant, they sang this song. (And I wish I could give it proper credit, but I am unable to find the author) During the season of advent, it is a song that plays through my head and brings a smile to my face. Not only does it bring happy memories of a little girl in a velvety red dress , it reminds me that during Advent we wait and prepare.

Today is the third Sunday of Advent. It is often known as Gaudete Sunday. In Latin, Gaudete means REJOICE. On this third Sunday of Advent, we rejoice that our Good Lord is coming.

Today’s Bible verse comes from Philippians 4:4-7


Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

REJOICE!
During this season of Advent – how do you prepare? How do you rejoice?

Here is the word art for this week. (click on the image to download)

Can’t wait to see what you share with us in our Providence 365 Forum and Gallery at Faith Sisters.

And join me this week as I continue to ‘buck the trend’ and say MERRY CHRISTMAS to everyone I meet.