Something Pretty... and how it affected our homeschooling.

As some of you may know, I scrapbook and make cards for our troops. I have taken some custom orders in the past and created some shabby chic baby keepsakes. You can see all related posts HERE as well as check on the right side bar for my most visited posts.

Now how is that related to homeschooling? 

Please read to the end of the post to find out. 

Last summer, I finished something pretty. J. contacted me for the first time a few years back and I made her a keepsake box to hold photos of the baby she lost. Unfortunately she went on to lose another baby after Phillips. But thanks to God she found a wonderful doctor who helped her finally get pregnant and deliver a healthy baby this past August.

A couple of years back, she had a stillborn baby girl and wanted an album to hold 100+ photos she had been able to get of her baby before burial. It reminded me of the beautiful box and prayer book I made for Julia. 

Today I am sharing with you the treasure I made for her. It's a comfort to us mothers that lose babies to miscarriages or other circumstances that we will one day see them again.

I have lost 3 babies myself. The last one was this past spring. I didn't share about it here because it's just so hard. Most people don't understand when mothers say that their arms feel empty and they have a house full of children. I didn't...until I miscarried this last baby. He was due this November. There should have been a brand new baby in my home right now. :(

Here is the album cover.... The album is 12x12" and filled with page protectors that hold 4x6" photos. I can't remember now but I put about 13 of them in there. There's room for 130 photos.

I added lots of details to the cover with chipboard frames, Prima flowers, rub ons and doillies.

It turned out very mixed media because I gesso the fabric cover and then used acrylic paint to create the background. I adhered a huge doilly (12") to the center and then painted over it. 

The dots were created using modeling paste. I don't own any stencils, but still I was able to create texture and interest with bubble wrap and modeling paste.

I recycled old books and corrugated cardboard to create this side of the cover.

White paint always goes a long way to make anything look shabby. :)

Lots of my favorite stamps.












Below I added the baby's name using white chipboard letters that I stamped over with a script stamp I had. Again added some white paint for the shabby look.

Inside there are photo protectors, each side has a 4x6" card that has been embellished with stamps, and images from Iralamija etsy shop. There you can find the most beautiful digital images. The 4x6" card can be used as a journaling place or just decorating the page.

 

Some of the digital downloads I used were Sentiment and Banners,  Adore Tickets,  Songbird Cards, Bella Rose Background, and Old Tickets. 

There may be others because I really love Beatriz' stuff.

Now how is this related to homeschooling?

For a week, after I lost my baby, I was basically bedridden. We don't have any family close (my parents live in Brazil) and my children and husband had to fend for themselves and take care of me while I recuperated from the miscarriage.

During this time, I was able to see how homeschooling provides the perfect environment for maturing and testing the waters within protective boundaries. My DD11 was able to cook and serve her siblings. My DS8 was able to help around the house more and read/ teach his sisters. My 2 youngest got to take care of Mommy by fetching water and bringing other items in the bedroom.

Everyone learned about what happened. We were able to talk about the preciousness of life, Heaven, Jesus, the Bible, our loving Heavenly Father. The kids got concerned about Mom. It was a lesson for us all to appreciate one another and not take for granted what we have.

I believe homeschooling is one beautiful thing in our lives.

I had wonderful friends who went grocery shopping for me; who brought meals; who prayed for me; who sent me flowers and a card; who babysat my kids so I could go to the doctor. My parents live far away, but God has provided a generous support group right here where I live.

There wasn't much desk work done that week but there was a lot of learning.

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. - Romans 8:28

As I finished J's custom order this summer, my heart healed. I still long for my baby but I know where he is. I am full of hope. As I worked on this album, joy flooded my heart again.

Have you lost a baby? How did you cope?

Blessings,

Tereza

My latest Custom Order: Dominic's Album

Hey everyone,

today I would like to share with you my latest Custom album. This one was made for Dominic, Dom is his nickname. This album is made of MDF and stands at 8" tall. It is about 13" long and it so gorgeous.

You can see it HERE before I embellished it. On the video I talk about the first stage of creation and what all goes into making this artwork.

here are some of the details. I used Webster's Pages, Graphic45 and Prima papers. I used some 6x6" papers as mats for the boards.

I also used Webster's Pages flowers, stickers, buttons, ribbons and so much more.

I also used Papertrey Ink, Martha Steward, Ali Edward and other stamps.

Here is the feedback from my happy customer:

Hi Tereza,

OMG it came out amazingggg!! I absolutely love it :) Thank You sooooooooo much! It was well worth the wait.

Thanks again & I definitely will keep you in mind if I should/want anything custom made in the future. Your work is to die for :)

 

Toni

Blessings,

Tereza

Have you laughed today?

No, this is not the cheese commercial! And yes, I could have given this a complete different title like: "the Joy of Having Children!"

I have this video bookmarked on my favorites on my YouTube Channel and if I am having a bad day (looking at my circumstances and not at Jesus; being grumpy instead of grateful) then I watch this video.

Give it a try! You might like it!! :) Blessings, Tereza

Another custom album: Dominic

My latest custom order is a MDF album for a little boy named DOMINIC. His Mom uses DOM for short.

Would you like to see the first stage of this custom order? Below you can see my Youtube video showcasing the album.






If you would like a custom order please contact me HERE or check out some of my other creations on my Etsy shop.



Blessings,

Tereza

ANDREW 's Album

hi everyone,

I will be posting our Learning Log for the month of March this week. I am exhausted and you will see why!! The month of March was full!!! We did so many things, read so many books, went to so many places and I got to finish Andrew's scrapbook. Here are the photos:

Not all pages are pictured above, but you can get an overall feel for the album. There are 7 boards total and the album is massive and heavy. Certainly not a keepsake for you to carry around, but to be keep on a beautiful mantle or dresser for everyone to admire. It stands about 8" tall and over 14" long.

This album was made for a return customer. I previously custom made a MOM album and a DAD album for her to present to her parents on her Wedding Day. I guess the first albums were a success. I hope that the friend who is getting the Andrew album really enjoys it.

Would love to hear what you think of it. Now to bed to rest!!

PS: Supplies used on the album: Webster's Pages papers, chipboard buttons, ribbons and more; Prima flowers, papers and stamps, and a whole lot more.

Have a blessed week,

Tereza

Sneak Peek of ANDREW scrapbook album

ARe you tired of my homeschooling posts? Or maybe have no interest in my homemade cooking? Did you subscribe to see my scrapbook creations and you haven't in a while? Look up! Here is a sneak peek of my latest custom order.

The Andrew Scrapbook album... a return customer asked me to create this beautiful keepsake for the first baby of a family she knows... Here are some of the first pages...

I hope you enjoyed!

I will post more photos when I am finished with the album. If you have seen my BIKAS video tutorials on YoUTube you know there are many stages to this whole process. I am at the final stage. Embellishing and putting the finishing touches to the album: adding the bows, the buttons and other small details that make this a precious keepsake. So be sure to come back to see it all complete!

Blessings,
Tereza

What would you do?

last night, my DH and I watched the video below. It was very thought provoking and very timely important. Would you take 30 minutes of your day and watch this? It will change the way you think if not your life.



When you are done, share your thoughts or share the video in your blog. Don't just stand by and do nothing.

Be blessed,

Tereza

More Beatriz Jennings

Hi everybody,


I hope you are enjoying this last part of Summer.

Today I have some cards to share. As I shared HERE I bought some Digital collages created by Beatriz Jennings. She is a designer and has been published many times on various magazines. Recently she began creating her own digital sheets that you can use on cards and even scrapbook layouts. You can find a link to her Etsy shop on her blog.

  

Here is a close up of that darling label she made. I created the card with a birthday or encouragement in mind, but once I was done I realized that it could be a Christmas card too!!

 

This is a baby card that I made using her scrabble letter digital sheet. They are adorable. I am completely addicted to them!!

As a background Daisy D's baby scrapbook papers. They are old but I loooove them. I save every little piece of scrap to use them in my cards or even in mini albums.

This rose bud is made of cotton t-shirts. In my house, I use our old, torn clothes as rags. Sometimes they are kitchen rags, wash rags and sometimes I tear up some strips and transform them into roses.

Even the leaves are cut from the fabric and then I dye them with distressed ink pads. So easy!

Let me know if you would like to see a demonstration. I might make a video of them.


I hope you enjoyed my cards today. I have more coming soon. What have you been up to??

Blessings,
Tereza

Julia's Memory Box

AS promised here is the video where I share the latest custom work I have made. This is a memory box I made for a Mom of 4 living blessings who lost a 20 week old baby girl. Although already a Mom of many, the loss of this baby created a gap in her heart. Her hope is that she will one day meet her baby again, in heaven.

This was such a sweet project and there are so many details.

I used Melissa Frances pearls, Prima roses, buttons and stamps from PapertreyInk and sparkles from WEbster's pages.

I used old Daisy D's vintage papers, Graphic 45 and digital sheets from Beatriz Jennings.

The box measures about 7"x7 and it is 4" deep.

As a gift for this Mom, I made her a journaling notebook that I added chipboard tiles that spell the word PRAY. I thought she could use it to jot down Bible verses, or her thoughts or even hearfelt prayers. My experience is that when you write down your prayers you can at a later date see how God answered them in a marvelous way.

Here is another close up and some details from the other sides.

I would love to hear your comments. :) and if you are a Mom who has lost a baby to a miscarriage or abortion and would like a memory box or a keepsake journal book, or scrapbook, I would be honored to work with you to bring your vision to life. Just email me.

Blessings,
Tereza

Another keepsake to remember a baby girl...

A few months back, I had another request for a memory box. As you might remember, I made this one for Little Phillip. The one I just finished is for Julia. Her Mom told me that she lost her precious baby and wanted to have a box to keep and treasure her sonograms and other keepsakes, until she meets her again in Heaven.

I will be posting more photos with more details this coming week and hopefully make a video for my Youtube channel soon.

Off to enjoy my Blessings, :)

Tereza

Expecting Matron of Honor

A few weeks back I had a request to create a "Will you be my Matron of Honor?" card for a bride's friend that would be 7 months pregnant at the time of the wedding.


How fun!! I had a couple of images and the bride got to pick her favorite!

She picked the image on the right and I got to color the baby shoes in baby blue since her friend is expecting a baby boy!

The other fun and personal touch is that inside there is a poem that says something like "I hope we are both able to fit into our dresses on the wedding day."

Would you like a custom card made? Can't find what you are looking for anywhere? Please email me... I work hard toward customizing and personalizing handmade creations for weddings, showers or keepsake treasures. Browse my Custom Work, Bridal Cards, Altered Albums categories to see some of my work.

Be blessed,

Tereza

Video, photos and more on Little Phillip.

Jennifer had a miscarriage at 12 weeks. Little Phillip's spirit never made into this world but he is in Heaven with His Heavenly Father.

His Mom wanted to remember him and asked me to create a chipboard baby album and a keepsake box for him. This was the first time I received such a request. But I didn't think it strange because Phillips was a baby boy just born too early who wasn't able to live on this earth.

Unfortunately many women are told that at 12 weeks, when they have an abortion, that their baby is not a baby at all, it's just a blob of tissue. It's not so. You can see HERE the video of the album and box and photos of Little Phillip.

Whenever I receive a request for a custom order I spend as much time on my studio working on it as I do thinking, praying and brainstorming about it.

I view my custom orders as a ministry. It's a privilege to create something unique for someone. Something they can't find anywhere else.

I always pray asking God to bless my hands, to show what to use, how to go about it. Many times I browse the web for inspiration. Sometimes, I ask God to show me creative ways to make something new and amazing. I, especially ask that He will help to create this customer's vision.

Every detail is important.

Jessica asked me for a box that would hold the 6"x6" album and other items that she will add to the box. This was the first time I covered and altered a box this big.

The box is about 8"x8"x4.5"

These sweet angels are from Rhea's blog. They are free and she has so many beautiful vintage images. Go check them out!!

The frame is a Prima Stamp. Pearls are Melissa Frances. Trim is Webster's Pages.

Papers are some really old Daisy D's collections that I love and I just bought duplicates of it and held on to it until the right time came to use them. :)

Bird nest can be found HERE. Chipboard letters are Tattered Angels and the chipboard hearts I cut them out myself with a pair of scissors and used glitter glue to embellish them.

I hope you were inspired by Little Phillip and His Mom's courage and grace to share him with the world.

Be blessed today,

Tereza

12 weeks pregnant....

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. " Hosea 4:6

Do you know what is a pregnant woman carrying in her womb at 12 weeks?

Some people think that it is just a blob of tissue. Some people are told that it is just a blob of tissue. But that is not true.

I just finished creating a chipboard album and a keepsake box to hold photos of a 12 week old baby and I can tell you he is not a blob of tissue. His name is Phillip.

I never thought I carried a blob of tissue when I was 12 weeks pregnant but I was told by a doctor that it was so. I have sonograms of my DD8 at 12 weeks sucking her thumb and she was not a blob of tissue.

What do you think? Why do you think people want us to believe that a 12 week old baby is a blob of tissue?

Would you share Phillip's story with someone that does not know that a 12 week old baby is a BABY? Would you share this truth with someone today? 

Blessings,
Tereza

PS More photos and a video coming of the album and box on a later post. :)