Wednesday, June 03, 2009

God is so Amazing

Last friday was meet the teachers day. I couldn't help it, my eyes welled up when R's teacher told us how he has blossomed since she last taught him two years ago, that he talks a lot more, has many friends, and is so well-liked, that when he is called up for presentation in class, everyone cheers ("roaring" is the word she used) whether he did well or not. What a complete turnabout from how he started school years ago! Considering his early difficulties, the years of speech therapy, and how painfully shy he was, this is just WoW.
We had gotten used to his recent fantastic progress, and once again as we look back, we see how God is really the Potter and we the Clay. How wonderfully the Potter can make something beautiful out of His clay, fashioned for His Glory, and for our blessing! Jeremiah 29:11 " For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Now let me share with you my latest Shutterfly book. I wanted to try Viovio this time, but was not confident about how to do the double pages, and then shutterfly came with a discount code, so I gave in to them again. This time I chose their new 8X8 soft cover. Because I only had 20 pages, it came really thin, but the color and texture are the same good quality stuff. I do like the soft cover for its more casual, modern, magazine feel, but for durability and for passing down to next generations :) definitely go for the hard cover.
Here's the front and back, I had to rush to make the shutterfly offer, so I simply chose two photos and use them as the cover, with a digiscrapping background paper for the 'binding'. Just remember to follow their cover dimension guides!
For the double pages in 8X8, I gave the same allowance adjustment down the middle as I did for the 12X12 pages, 3/8th of an inch, see more details in this post. They turn out quite right!
Now some more pages from my Japan trip, this album is coming along really slowly, I just work on it whenever I have time, it is really nice to relive the trip with my family as I go along. Here we are at this Volcanic Park on Hakone, freezing cold yet with hot spewing sulphuric fumes all over! Quite an experience, we must say, we wanted to go nearer, but there were all these warnings for asthma patients (of which 3 of us are) that we finally turned back, not before a few photos!
Credits: Background paper is from project 365 by Brandy Designs painted over by painted mat from Miss Mint's Painted Season . Paper leaves by Jessica Bolton , twine is from Gooddaysunshine by Megan Turnidge and flower is from project 365 by L Riches both from the SYTYCD at Digiscrapaddict! Finally paint brush for title is by Michelle Coleman .
This was the night where we decided to skip Tokyo Tower (too expensive!) for the Tokyo Government Buildings Observatory (free!) for great views of Tokyo at night.
Credits: Background is from layering purple dotted paper by Nina Scrap designs over black painted paper from 'Digital Designs by lisA'. Sparkly waves is also from 'Digital Designs by lisA'. Starry sparkly circle art is by Vera Lim, and alpha is by Brittish Designs
And here's a 12X12 page of our trip back from Hakone on the Lake Ashi.
Credits: Background paper by Heralds! Overlaid with paper from sampler 3 by Jennifer Howland , rope is by Erica Zane and star is by Gina Cabrera of Digital Design Essentials.
This template is now available as a set in the store HERE

35 comments:

  1. that is such an awesome book! what an inspiration! so cool!

    thanks for the freebie template. I absolutely love your templates!

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  2. God IS amazing; He answers so many prayers quietly, we sometimes forget He's at work! Thanks for the template.

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  3. Your templates are lovely; thanks for sharing.

    I love the faith-focus of your blog, too. Thanks!

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  4. Thank you once again for sharing your terrific templates with us! Also, thanks for sharing views of your Shutterfly books - you are such an inspiration!

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  5. AnonymousJune 04, 2009

    Thank you so much for this Freebie. I want to let you know that I posted a link to your blog in Creative Busy Hands Scrapbook Freebies Search List, under the Template(s), Overlay(s), Photo Mask(s) post on Jun. 04, 2009. Thanks again.

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  6. Your LO look great in the books - it's such an inspiration. Thanks for sharing!

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  7. Wow, your shutterfly book is stunning. Thank you for sharing the template.

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  8. Thank you for the freebie!

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  9. God is so good!! What a blessing for you to see Him molding your sweet son.

    Thank you for sharing the fabulous template. Your 8x8 Shutterfly book turned out great.

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  10. God *is* mighty and great indeed! Thanks for publicly praising Him. I celebrate with you for your son's progress and thank you for the template!

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  11. Wow, Beautiful work! I've made books for my Mother but not me, you've got me thinking maybe it's time for me to do some for me!! Thank you so much!!

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  12. I appreciate your sharing how God is at work in your son. The Lord is truly awesome!

    Gorgeous pages! Thank you very much for the fun template! :)

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  13. Thanks so much for sharing! Wonderful job with your Shutterfly book! Our God is an awesome God!

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  14. AnonymousJune 05, 2009

    Your book is so beautiful and you have such an amazing talent for making beautiful pages!

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  15. Thanks so much for this great template.

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  16. I got so excited when I saw your newest template on digi-free. Actually, that was before I really looked at the template! Then I was ECSTATIC! Thanks so much for sharing!

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  17. Thanks for the great template! I love putting lotsa pics on a layout.

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  18. I love this template! Thanks... I'm really trying to get myself to scrap more than a single photo at a time, so this will help quite a bit. Thanks again!

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  19. Thank you for sharing your wonderful template, can't wait to use it.
    Darla

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  20. indeed His plans for us are so much more powerful than our choices (right or wrong) that He makes everything like New (even broken pieces of clay - like me!)

    PS _ Thanks for the template!

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  21. Thank you for the template. I love getting so many pictures on a page and have it look this nice.

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  22. Beautiful book! Thanks so much for showing that, I think I'll try one. You really have the spacing for the two page spreads perfect, I'm going to have to set up a template for that. Thanks for the freebie, too!

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  23. Thank you for another fantastic template! Your photo book turned out great. Also, I'm really enjoying your Japan layouts.

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  24. Love it, love it.
    Thank you, thank you.

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  25. thank you so much!! you are so inspiring.

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  26. AnonymousJune 09, 2009

    Thank you for the lovely template. I just love seeing all of the places you have been. ~Robin

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  27. AnonymousJune 13, 2009

    Beautiful cover and lovely pages. You've inspired me to think double-pages instead of one at a time... Thanks for another great template!
    /anna

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  28. AnonymousJune 13, 2009

    Amen! Sometimes we forget or don't realize the little things God does for us.
    Thanks for the templates.

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  29. More awesome layouts. I really liked how you used just a picture for the front and back of your new album. Looks so professional.

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  30. thanks for sharing this template

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  31. I'm so happy to hear that your son is doing so well. What a blessing for all of you.
    I am always drawn to your layouts. The focus on the photos is so pleasing. First I'd like to thank you for all the information you've shared on getting our layouts into a photobook. Second I am so very grateful that you share your wonderful templates with us.

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  32. AnonymousJuly 10, 2009

    Thanks a lot for the template

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  33. AnonymousJuly 14, 2009

    Amazing template! Thank you!

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  34. Yin, I love your photo album by Shutterfly and am so glad you shared it. Thanks. I keep trying to decide how to do my grandchildren's albums....to print myself or do some hybrid or have a book printed. It's so hard to decide. Maybe I'll do one of each type as I will have too many layouts for one album. I plan to give them as part of their graduation gifts. The first one will be in 4 years.

    Thank you for sharing another wonderful template.

    So happy to read how blessed you as parents and Ryan are and what progress he has made. Nothing could make a parent happier.

    Big Hugs!

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  35. Awesome template! Your photos and the book are just stunning!! God indeed is amazing! I really enjoy when you post about Him. I definitely need reminders every now and then.

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