Hummie's World

Sneak Peek GRAND OPENING collab and chat and freebies!

2012-02-09T07:23:00.004-06:00

Here is where the action is happening during our grand opening!
If you loose the link, just look for it in the sidebar.

Please note, I am working on a server move to a faster server! Yes, it is bad timing, but please be patient if the site goes away temporarily as it will be right back up.

Here's the scoop!

COLLAB ALERT! Here is a sneak peek at this fabulous collab that Jodiann and Janet worked very hard on! It is just fabulously fun and my first thought was how diverse it really was to fit all scrapping styles.

It contains 17 patterned and textured papers, 16 textured solids, and 45 unique elements! You'll be able to use this for any occasion, and all year round!

Expect another e-mail from me tomorrow sharing a preview of the whole kit and a reminder to join our events.

The whole store is 20% off through Sunday!

CHALLENGE ALERT! What the first post in our grand opening thread to change as we reveal the above free download.

You are to create a page, upload it to the and then post it in the thread. You'll have until Sunday evening at 10 pm EST to get your page posted. Everyone who posts a page gets one entry into a drawing to win the first store collab kit! We'll let random.org choose the winner.

CHAT ALERT! We are kicking off our grand opening with a chat right in the "Friday Scrap and Chat" chatbox.
You cannot see the chatbox until you are logged into the forum, but you only have to log in once. It will be activated tomorrow right after lunch, as always, so you can come play and hang out.

The official chat will begin at 9 PM EST (8 CST, 7 MST, 6 PST).

We will be giving away this great freebie during the chat! You can use it in your challenge too if you want.

Psssttt: If you live on the other side of the globe, you can always find the link in the chat archive as we are leaving the chatbox open for you through Saturday morning!

(IMAGE COMING SOON!)

SURPRISES! Oh, just wait until you see our very own "warm fuzzie" stalking the forum. He will be handing out random acts of kindness through private message (see this great quick page and template)! You must be active in the forum or he won't see you! We look forward to chatting with you the entire weekend. Do come and introduce yourself in the welcome area of the forum if you have not done so.

To love a person is to . . .

2012-02-09T07:14:00.000-06:00

To love a person is to learn the song that is in their heart, and to sing it to them when they have forgotten. - Unknown

Worship Wednesday

2012-02-08T07:51:00.000-06:00

To see more music, visit this category.

Gifts that Differ

2012-02-07T09:35:00.000-06:00

"And since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let each exercise them..." (Romans 12:6).

Here is a hypothetical illustration: A small child enters a room carrying a glass of water. The glass slips out of the child's hand, falls to the floor and shatters.

The prophet's response to the accident is, "That's what happens when you are not careful."

The servant's response is, "Let me help you clean it up."

The teacher's response is, "The reason you dropped the glass was because you were only holding it with one hand, and the outside of the glass was slippery and wet."

The exhorter says, "Next time be just a little more careful. Carry it a little more cautiously, remembering what just happened so that it does not happen again."

The gift-giver says, "You know, I was downtown yesterday and bought glasses just like that. Let me replace the one you broke."

The mercy-extender response, "don't feel too badly. It could happen to anyone. It's alright."

The leader knows, depending on the child's response, whom to call in to minister to the child.

How would you respond?

Author Unknown

American Idol fan here!

2012-02-07T09:28:00.000-06:00

I am a big American Idol fan! I recently learned that Ethan Jones is a member of the Well Hungarians in St. Louis. When I watched the show, the mentioned they mentioned his Dad helping to found the biggest bands in St. Louis, but not the names of the band(s). When I read that he was a part of the Well Hungarian, I immediately knew that this band played often in Cape Girardeau, although I had never gone to see them.

Ethan made the cut and is advancing to the Hollywood competition of American Idol. Now I have someone to root for and that makes it even more fun. Here's the audition video.

Calling: Pie Girls for SkyPie!

2012-02-07T06:48:00.000-06:00

Jodiann's Sky Pie is having a creative team call! She was the very first person to sell in The Boomerang and I can tell you she is a F-U-N person to hang around! She's got wonderful things for you to create with too!

Visit her post here for more information.

25 Rules for Mother's of Sons

2012-02-06T07:11:00.000-06:00

Janet passed onto me this great post regarding 25 Rules for Mothers with Sons.

I can say that as I read this list, I thought about whether or not I had done these things with my sons. I believe I did, but still wonder if I was a good enough mom.

Cooking for two

2012-02-05T23:08:00.000-06:00

Since we have become empty nesters, we have found ourselves trying to eat up the reserves in the house as there is no more reason to stockpile extra food. This is leaving us with items of food that I am having to come up with creative ways to use of the item.

I found a box of orzo and I must have seen it on the shelf at the store and wondered what it was and how to cook it, so I bought it. I think I'd heard of it on cooking shows. So I set out Saturday to find a way to make it.

Here are the ingredients I put in the orzo, which I found to be a noodle shaped like rice. I boiled it for a while and drained it. Then I added some butter, salt, pepper, garlic, feta cheese, and Parmesan cheese.

We cooked some gourmet meatballs (from the inexpensive grocery store!) and some frozen green beans (which I have to get again -- I'm addicted to them now I think--have to figure out where I bought them and what brand). It turned out to be a really nice meal.

It was more food than I usually eat and was stuffed. Uggg... have to start coking smaller portions -- seriously -- I could have made four meals with that small box of orzo (we used half a box).

The question is "what do I do with the other half of the box of orzo?"

The First Valentine

2012-02-05T10:19:00.000-06:00

We all want to hear that phrase. It simply means "you are loved." I am here to tell you that you are loved. God loves you and wants you to be His Valentine. The love that God gives us is not like the world's love. The World's love is as sturdy as the paper that most Valentine cards are made of. God's Love is not a flimsy cheap imitation. It is the real thing. It is an all giving love that was and is willing to suffer and die for our deliverance.

Will you be God's Valentine? It is your choice. Say "yes" and return in kind the love that God first gave you. And when you do, remember the first Valentine and the way he gave everything, including his life, to the God he loved.

"Be My Valentine." This is a phrase that conjures up a lot of different images associated with the celebration of Valentine's Day. Cards with hearts and little poems on them. Candy and flowers given to someone you love. And images of cupids flying around shooting their arrows of love into unsuspecting youths. Young and old alike expressing their affection for their sweethearts. February 14th for many means cards, candy, flowers, and cupids.

Our Mothers and Fathers in the Christian Faith would be surprised at what has become of Valentine's Day. What we call Valentine's Day was at one time the Feast of St. Valentine. It was a religious holiday. They would be especially shocked at the use of cupid since he was a character from pagan mythology. For Christians in the past this holiday was a day to remember and celebrate the life and death of a Christian martyr. According to church tradition St. Valentine was a priest near Rome in about the year 270 A.D. At that time the Roman Emperor was imprisoning Christians for not worshipping the Roman gods. During this persecution Valentine was arrested. Some say he was arrested because he was performing Christian marriages, but others say it was for helping Christians escape prison. During the trial they asked Valentine what he thought of the Roman gods Jupiter and Mercury. Of course Valentine said they were false gods and that the God that Jesus called Father was the only true God. So the Romans threw him in prison for insulting the gods.

While in prison Valentine continued to minister. He witnessed to the guards. One of the guards was a good man who had adopted a blind girl. He asked Valentine if his God could help his daughter. Valentine prayed and the girl was given her sight. The guard and his whole family, 46 people, believed in Jesus and were baptized. Because these people had come to know Jesus, Valentine praised God right there in his prison cell. When the emperor heard about this he was furious that Valentine was still making converts even in prison, so he had Valentine beheaded.

Valentine knew that he might get caught in his Christian activities. He knew that if he told the court the truth about the Roman gods that he would be thrown in prison. And he knew that if he continued to witness to Christ in the prison he would make his captors angry. But he continued, because he loved the Lord and his fellow humans. He was willing to risk his life to free the prisoners and spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to those who needed to hear it.

Unknown

Throw your heart out and . .

2012-02-05T08:23:00.000-06:00

Throw your heart out in front of you. And run ahead to catch it. Unknown

A Little Romance Cluster and Paper Freebie

2012-02-03T11:26:00.000-06:00

Janet has offered for our newsletter freebie this AWESOME cluster and BEAUTIFUL gingham paper sample! Odio-oh! I think I can think of some uses for these in my layouts!

The samples are from her "A Little Romance" kit -- perfect for not only Valentine's Day layouts, but any time you want to shout out about the love in this world.

This went out in yesterday's newsletter -- so if you want the freebie, please click here to read the newsletter.

You can buy it in the store here --- and it's on sale right now too! I really love this kit myself! Yep! It's true!

You can also see layouts using the kit in the store or you can see more layouts here. If you use this download, PLEASE do use the gallery to upload your layout and post in the special thread to share with us. We want to see what you do with it!

Waiting for others to come to you . . .

2012-02-03T08:41:00.002-06:00

You can't stay in your corner of the forest, waiting for others to come to you; you have to go to them sometimes.

Winnie the Pooh

The River

2012-02-03T08:30:00.001-06:00

Walking through the forest, a seasoned hiker came upon a broad, slowly moving river. He stopped to gaze over the waters, appreciating the beauty, when suddenly he heard a faint cry coming from upstream.

Looking in the direction of the noise, he saw an obviously drowning man floundering in the river and drifting slowly toward him.

The hiker was stunned momentarily, but he sprang into action when he saw the man disappear beneath the waters. Throwing off all of his cumbersome gear, he dove into the river and swam like a madman toward the spot where the man went under.

Upon reaching the spot he plunged below the surface and frantically hauled up the helpless man. He then laboriously towed the victim to shore. Heaving the lifeless body up on the riverbank, the hiker attempted to revive the man, who eventually spit up water and began to breathe.

Relieved, the hiker paused to catch his breath. But no sooner had he done so than he heard another voice out on the water. Another drowning person!

Once again he swam out and pulled the person to shore, a little more slowly this time. As the hiker-turned- lifeguard revived the second victim, he heard yet another cry for help.

All day long the hiker worked, rescuing one person after another as they came drifting down the river. There seemed to be no end of drowning victims, and the hiker didn't think he could keep it up.

Just when he was about to collapse from exhaustion, he spotted another man walking rapidly beside the river, headed upstream. "Hey mister!" he cried out. "Please help me! These poor people are drowning!"

Amazingly, the man kept walking upstream. The astonished hiker called out again. Without even acknowledging the cry, the man kept going. Indignant and angry, the hiker leapt to his feet, ran toward the uncompassionate man, stood directly in his path, and in a loud voice demanded, "Sir! How can you possibly walk past all these drowning people? Have you no conscience? Must I force you to help me save these people?"

The stranger stopped, looked at him for the first time and said with a calm, focused voice, "Sir, please get out of my way. I am headed upstream to stop the guy who is pushing all these people in."

Each of us has a role to play in rescuing those who are drowning in sin. Some of us pull people from the water and resuscitate them with counseling, food and shelter, a rehabilitation program, a support group, or financial aid. Affirm those doing these important ministries.

Others of us find our place of ministry upstream, opposing the one pushing people into the river. We do this by introducing those people to Jesus Christ. Knowing Christ sets a person free from sin and releases them from Satan's power over them.

By itself, pulling people from the water isn't enough.

We need to help people deal with the problem of sin at its source.

Author Unknown

Happy Birthday Elmo! Let's scrap and think primary!

2012-02-03T07:32:00.001-06:00

I created a thread for us to celebrate Elmo's birthday today and scrap and think in primary! Join us here. Just upload your layouts to the gallery using any products and share in that thread or just come and banter with us.

This is the newest one on the sesame street channel... maybe we should scrap in primary!

We have a lesson in Course 1, learning digital scrapbooking in Photoshop Elements, on colors and color schemes. It really brings life to all those things I learned in elementary school about color.

Quote: Engineer means to design and build something!

Who knew that Elmo would teach us today about scrapbooking layouts!

Are you a digi engineer?

Come hang out with me in person!

2012-02-02T14:02:00.001-06:00

Yes! I am still planning on attending this retreat! I do believe I will be doing one of the classes too, but we are still working on those plans. I have to get my creative nogg'n working! Dawn and I are going to be roomies! Maybe you could come by our room and hang out with us "after hours."

Be sure to bring your camera because I think we are doing a photo walk! Just don't take and photos of me please! I think it's time to diet. Oh my! I don't trust your camera aim!

You can purchase entry to the retreat here.

Come meet other digital scrappers face to face, learn new tricks of the trade, scrapbook your memories, and earn prizes through challenges, games, and drawings.

Retreat ticket includes:
All Friday and Saturday classes
Friday evening social
Saturday luncheon
Scrapalicious Digi-Retreat Swag Bag
Scrapalicious Digi-Retreat 2012 T-Shirt
Raffle Tickets for door prizes
Freebies through challenges, games and drawings
and more!

Cost of the retreat is $125. There is a $25 payment plan option. Click HERE for details.

Visit forum HERE for more retreat information/FAQs, chatter, what there is to do in the Chicago area, to find a roomie and to visit our Sponsors. Or visit our website Scrapalicious Digi-Retreat.

Hotel Information: We have a great deal lined up with Comfort Suites. Our room rates are only $79/night (+tax). This price is good for 3 days before and 3 days after the retreat date. Rates are based on both single or double occupancy. So get a roomie and save even more! A credit card is required at the time of booking. Cancellations must be made 30 days before your arrival date.

You must book your reservation by calling (847) 330-0133 and make sure you tell them you are with Stuff To Scrap.

The deadline to book a room at the discounted rate is March 31, 2012. After that date, the rooms are subject to availability.

Hope to see you all there!

Just in case you miss the big game . . .

2012-02-02T09:53:00.000-06:00

I blogged about 13 ounces or less, but before before I could send the Frisbee, I came up with another idea more appropriate for the time to send to our soon at bootcamp.

Here is a photo of one side of the plastic water bottle we are sending him with a note that I squeezed inside. It took longer to drink the water and get the bottle to dry than anything else! Ah. Even putting up to a warm fan it took forever to dry. We made one for our son and our nephew at boot camp, so I was drying two of them. It reads "Just in case you miss the big game" . . . the the game details.

Here is the other side of the note in the bottle which reads "Here's a little football game you can play yourself!" As you can see, we then folded up paper into those little footballs that you can set up on a table and flick with your finger.

The footballs were a little difficult to get back out, but it could be done as we tested it. I was so excited anticipated his reaction when he gets this in the mail! I didn't want to send anything that would embarrass him and get him teased, but I thought that any guy would think this was a cool idea.

I printed his address and cut it so there was excess on the strip of paper to wrap around the bottle and then used clear packing tape to secure it. I left one area of the strip blank and without tape where I put the stamp.

I learned that indeed these can go first class, but since it is not a flat envelope within a certain dimension, there is an extra charge for handling (since it does it not go through the automated sorters and has to be hand sorted). It cost $1.95 to mail each of them, but it still goes first class which is faster than parcel post.

I cannot wait to see if these actually arrive and their condition when they arrive and the reaction to it. I'm going to guess they do not get to watch tv or the game during boot camp. Maybe they can have a little game of their own for a short few minutes.

Punxsutawney Phil Phoohey! I'll go by my first Spring Robin!

2012-02-02T09:05:00.001-06:00

Punxsutawney Phil comes out every groundhog day (February 2) to see if he can see his shadow to predict whether winter will go on another six month.

A shadow has everything to do with the sun! Is it sunny where you are today? If so, you can see your shadow. It is a beautiful bright wonderful sunny day here in Cape Girardeau! I guess that means I can see my shadow. Isn't that great! Oh, wait! No.... um.... if I can see my shadow, that means six more weeks of winter, right? And that's What Punx said today too. Hmmmm.... so why should I feel so bad about a sunny day?

I don't! I actually opened my window today and say my first Spring robin! I take more credit in when the birds decide to return than in whether the sun is out on a certain day or not. This is early to see my first Spring robin too! (although I understand some robins stay through the winter, but then why don't I see them?)

Come chat and tell us whether it is sunny where you live in the forum here.

It has been a really mild winter here so far. I actually do hope for a good winter storm with snow and real cold before Spring is officially here, otherwise the bugs may be bad this year.

Official Announcement of our First Designers!

2012-02-01T17:09:00.004-06:00

I cannot tell you how excited I am to officially announce our first digital scrapbooking designers to The Boomerang here at Hummie's World. I have been working with these two for some weeks now and I cannot express how much I think of them in words. They are truly a blessing to work with. They will be a great addition to Hummie's World in more ways than I can count.

Please leave them a warm welcome in this thread.

P.S. Janet's introduction is a "boomerang" story! It touched my heart!

Howdy! Jodiann here! When I am not doing DIY projects with my two nearly grown boys and dear husband, Jack, I am found on the internet building digitally. I enjoy creating CU items, but this year I decided to break into kit building. I enjoy anything old, words like vintage, shabby, old world, retro and renaissance come to mind when I think of my design style. I also enjoy animals, we have quite a collection. Gardening, Golf, Yoga, and Blogging catch my attention as well. I also have a "little" thing about Pie!

Love It!

I am a frequent visitor... (see)

Thank you Janet for starting The Pie Thread!

WHOo HOo!

{Jodiann's Sky Pie} {Email} {Twitter} {Facebook} {Pinterest} {Jodiann's Boomerang Store}

My family lives all over the country, and in October 2008, the extended family met in Albuquerque, NM for the Balloon Fiesta, the largest in the world with over 700 hot air balloons! It was a trip from my "bucket list"! So with all the photos, and the cute ones of my two grand daughters, I decided to make a photo book telling the story of the trip from their point of view -- never mind that I don't paper scrap, and I had never done anything digitally either.

I started with freebie pieces that were the right colors (didn't know how to recolor then), found some tutorials (here at Hummies World), finishing and printing the book for Christmas that year. And starting an addiction that continues!

Shortly after that I started to work on several designers' CTs, and as a store CT, and in November 2009 opened my first shop where I had been the store CT. It has been an adventure in learning every day since. I have a fabulous group of ladies on my creative team -- scattered across the U.S., Europe and Australia. Every few months I get to have lunch with a couple of them, and the two in Europe have met and spent time together. We keep talking about invading Australia to visit Jody!

In a way, opening the store here at Hummie's World feels a bit like coming full circle!

JanetB Designs store | Email | Blog | Facebook | Pinterest | Twitter

Now why didn't they continue to put this on all cars?

2012-02-01T12:30:00.000-06:00

I am imagining doing wheelies around and around!

Oh, the concepts that were great, but never became reality.

Super Bowl 2012/A Guide for Woman

2012-02-01T12:03:00.000-06:00

Read last year's post about Football 101 --

I know I am! I need a refresher coarse so I can be prepared for this weekend's big game.

THE 2012 BASICS
New York Giants vs. New England Patriots
Sunday, February 5, 2012
6:30 PM EST
Played at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.

New England Patriots are NFC team
New York Giants are AFC team

Airing on NCB (and online)

Half-time: Madonna

More info

Giants: 9–7 record during the regular season
Patriots: 13–3 record during the regular season

This is Super Bowl XLVI. The roman number XLVI is 46.

NEW YORK GIANTS
Eli Manning is the quarterback.

Victor Cruz is the receiver.

Coach Tom Coughlin

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
The quarterback is Tom Brady

Receiver is Wes Welker

Coach Bill Belichick

Worship Wednesday

2012-02-01T06:48:00.004-06:00

To see more songs, view this category.

Creative Mailings to Send a Smile

2012-01-31T22:32:00.001-06:00

As the readers here know, my son is at boot camp and I have been trying to think of creative mailings to send to him to make him smile. There is just only so much you can say in letters, so some creativity is in the making in my head.

We can send "care packages," no bigger than a shoebox size, but it cannot contain food or clothes. So what in the world do you send someone at boot camp? My mind is boggled. He doesn't have much time as they regiment most of his time, so it has to be something creative that will make him smile, but not get him teased.

This son of mine is extremely frugal. If he could get his parents to buy him anything, even a haircut, he would do so just to save money. Oh, the things I could share you about his need to not spend money! However, there was one weakness that always prevailed and that was the Dairy Queen Blizzard. He would buy one every day and eat it; oh, not just one, but the largest one available! So as a fun mailing, I ate (a small size because I cannot get a big one down!) Blizzard, washed out the container, and cut it so it would lay flat.

On the reverse side I wrote "Sniff it! Imagine the smell. Imagine the taste. It's almost like the real thing!" In my note to him in the letter I told him that anytime he felt discouraged, to pull this out for yet another smile to get him through.

Yes, I'm a mean mom, huh!

I'm trying to think of the next creative thing when I recalled a website for "13 Ounces of Less." Anything that ways that weighs 13 oz or less (368 grams) can have an address label and stamp applied right to it and it will go first class! First class costs less than postage for heaver mail, regardless of size.

(image source)

So I found on the site mentioned that I can send him a Frisbee and the idea immediately clicked! He loved to play ultimate Frisbee and Frisbee golf with his friends. So I'm headed out next to buy him an inexpensive Frisbee to see if that works!

Head over to the site for other ideas! Even a rubber ball was mailed! I like the idea of putting small items inside a plastic water bottle, but what could I put inside?

There is a Flickr group with ideas also.

Who are you going to make smile for the price of a stamp or two?

Do you have any ideas for me to try? If I try it, I will certainly share it on my blog. Leave a comment! I would love to hear from you.

. . . the best happiness

2012-01-31T19:18:00.002-06:00

Is not making others happy the best happiness?

Henri Frederic Amiel

Get Service

2012-01-31T12:29:00.000-06:00

I really like this video. It reminds me of the Brandon Heath video and song which I just love and have blogged about before.

It is good to always remember that you never know what is going on in someone's life when they rub you the wrong way. They may be needing you.

Painting Fabric

2012-01-30T10:31:00.000-06:00

(image source)

Click on the image source link to see a before and after photo of this chair and to read details on how to paint upholstery.

I was so surprised that this could be done! I remember a pink chair of ours that was perfectly fine except the fabric had worn so much and I think a simple painting would have revived it. It's too late now!

This project requires latex satin paint mixed 1:1 ratio with a fabric medium (Ocean Soul by Valspar) to keep the fabric from becoming too hard. This is watered down with 1/2 as much water. A spray bottle of water moistens the fabric even more before starting. Paint two coats. Dry and sand. Mix acrylic craft paint (matches latex) with the same medium and paint generously.

Of course, read that blog post linked above for step by step photos and more details. But isn't that a cool idea rather than reupholstering?