Attepmting to Crochet

While at my parents Christmas Day I decided to try crocheting again. My mom taught me and my 2 younger sisters a simple stitch when we were little, but I never continued it. Every several years I pick up some yarn again and see if I can still do that simple stitch. Las time I tried my mom looked at it and said "Well, I am not sure what you are doing, but it looks good."
Ha!! 

So here I am giving it another go!

Late last night even attempted my very first granny square:

 It's so much fun!!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!
What a lovely few days I have had with family.
We didn't get the kids any gifts this year, but boy were they still blessed.
Blessed with lots of love and togetherness. They are the type of children who treasure love and time together. They find value in these things and that is their gift to me.
Me, Eric and our 6 Reasons...spent Christmas with my parents.
Again, no material gifts were given or exchanged, but those moments were gifted to us. Gifted by our Heavenly Father. The love my parents share was their gift to me. I remember being pregnant with Hannah and reading on the wall of the baby doctor's office..."The best gift a father can give his children is to love their mother".  This is truth and is a gift that keeps on giving. A gift I can appreciate and cherish even at 42.
We had a blast though...we talked, laughed, made sugar cookies, cooked together, watched Dolly Parton's "Coat of Many Colors" movie, crocheted, laughed some more...all those simple good good things that make love GRAND!

I pray over my community, over my country and over this world.  I pray over each of you and your families and ask God for His hand to be upon us! I hope that each of you keep your focus on our King and that you trust and praise Him for everything!

All my Love - Lori

It's Been Awhile

Happy Saturday Everyone!

I sure hope you all have been wonderfully blessed!

It's been awhile since I popped in to say Hello, so I thought I'd stop by and share a little!

Lots has gone on since I posted last. I'll try over the next little bit to post some highlights, but for now...I'll share the latest!

I am a Great Aunt!
This little cutie is a week and 1 day old.
:) 

After my husband, Eric lost his job of 15 years (due to Olan Mills closing several studios nationwide) I have been doing more photography.  I had the honor of photographing Lil' Liam on Monday.
I don't have any fancy gadgets, no paid for editing tools or software...just one adorable baby, a camera, his blankets and a window full of natural light.
He is as sweet as he is cute!

Lori Boyd

DS78 - Sweet Boy Layout

It's hard to believe we are on Challenge no.78 already at 

The Deconstructed Sketch, but we are and yes, time is flying by!

Here is my layout using this week's sketch by our awesome leader, Jen Shults:

That's my oldest son, Landon. 

He is growing up and such a sweet gentleman...but honestly, I miss my baby boy!

He will be 10 this coming March and it feels like just yesterday I was holding him 

for the first time...he was so little!  Thank you Father God for this amazing young man...who loves YOU so very much! 

Here is the sketch:

Click HERE to see what other DS Girls have created & to join in the challenge fun.

Have a beautiful day!!

♥LORi

Stuff & TPE

Good Monday my Friends!

We added a new lil' member to our family Saturday Night. My Mom and Dad's cat had kitten about 7 weeks ago and this Little Mister is one of the 5.

Eric and I said no to getting one at first...we sure didn't need anymore pets.

The kids keep asking...won me over this past week and then Thursday night I started working on Eric.

Saturday night I ended up telling him every little girl needs a kitten (Ella has never had a pet of her own and this litter was the first time Landon, Ella, McCoy and Jussie has ever seen kittens in real life...that is sad.)  I told him to be glad he had only one little girl wanting 1 kitten...my Daddy had 3 little girls and two times during my childhood he gave into 3 new kittens so that we could all 3 have one of our own.

We had names picked out:

Oliver...Elvis... Presley

even Elvis Presley

Elliott 

Oh can't forget Ella's pick...Honey Boo Boo...that was quickly shot down by Hannah and Landon. LOL!  Eric ended up saying I know, "Name it Grayson" He knows I like that name and since he was started to act ok about our new buddy and even went so far as to think of a name...I told the kids that we had to name him what Daddy suggested, so he feels connected to it...Hee heee!

Landon says he isn't giving up, he still wants to name him Oliver!!!

We will see...you never know! 

As of now, please meet Mr. Grayson Elliot...

The reason I said every little girl needs a kitten...

Ella loves him and I think he is starting to love her right back!

_________________________________________________________

The Pink Elephant has a new challenge today...it's a Halloween theme.

Here are a few of my By Lori Designs Halloween-y cards:

You can find the TPE post HERE.

 You still have a little time to enter the By LORi Designs Challenge HERE. 

Have a fabulous day!

♥LORi

TPE169-Photo Inspiration + Happy Marriages

Our challenge this week is a...

Photo Inspiration Challenge

All you have to do is look at the photo above and be 
inspired to create whatever you'd like.

I photographed a sweet, quickly planned and oh so sweet, country themed wedding on Saturday...I couldn't resist using one of the photographs for a digi scrap page!
Best Wishes and Many Blessings to the beautiful (inside & out couple).

Here are a few other shots I got:

You can find the other designer's creations & the challenge link up HERE.

Hope you all find time to be inspired and join in the TPE fun this week!

Blessings - LORi BOYD

DS72- Just a Swingin'

It's time for another sketch using the latest

The Deconstructed Sketch

I used a photo of my Ella swinging and designed a digital scrapbook layout.

Here is Jen's super sketch:

I love this one and will definitely use it again!

You can see what the other girls created at the TDS blog.

Sure hope you find time to join us!

Hugs - LORi BOYD

ART on the Porch - DS71

Oh how exciting!

I am completely honored to have the opportunity to design this week's sketch at 

The Deconstructed Sketch

Thank You Jen!

I used the sketch to create another scrap page.
I used a photo of my youngest daughter, Ella.
The kids and I decided to take our art project (using a bubble art technique) outside...it ended up "spilling" over onto the porch...literally!
I enjoyed watching them have so much fun!

Here is the sketch I designed:

I hope you all like it and that you will hop over and join the fun this week!

Here are a few more photos of our ART on the Porch adventure:

Hope your day is blessed and full of smile!

♥LORi BOYD


"Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 20 Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates, 21 so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth."
Deut. 11:18-21

Jamberry Nails - a review by Lori Boyd

UPDATE:  I loved them soooo much...I decided to sign up to be a consultant!! Yipppeeee YAY!!

Go HERE to order from my Launch Party!!!

My website is HERE!

So you've probably seen the new nail decor that everyone has been talking about
this summer & if you haven't, then get out from under that rock and take a peek...

I was recently offered a chance to use and review a set of Jamberry Nail Shields...
Hot Pink with White Polka Dots!!  I love Dots and now I love Jamberry Nails!
Jamberry Nails Consultant, Tammy Hoehler knows her stuff and is eager to help you make your purchase or even invite you to join her fast growing team.

I admit I was a bit scared to start the application process.  Afraid it would be too time consuming or difficult.  Nervous I would mess up and waste them, but not...much easier than I expected!

It's a pretty simple process.

Here are the steps:
1. Wash Hands or Feet
2. Push cuticles back
3. Rub a cotton ball of nail remover over your nails.
(This step is important as it gets rid of any oil on your nail and allows the shields to adhere stronger.)
4. Cut your shield in half.
5. Heat with hair dryer...aprrox. 10 seconds
6. Push the shield well against your nail.
7. Reheat if necessary, then push some more.
8. Trim excess shield.
9. Using a filer, file in a downward motion. to finish off the edges!
and
Voila!!

Here are my piggies:

Ignore the bone-y vein-y white feet. Hee hee!! I forgot to even apply lotion before the photos...Oh well, I wouldn't be me, if I didn't forget something! :o)

I took this photo, trying to camouflage the whiteness & those bones and veins.
It worked a little so I made a banner for Tammy using different colors of nails I found on her website.

There is honestly a color, a design for any and every occasion. No Joke!

If you love what you see and you want to order a pack for yourself let me know
and I can get Tammy hook you up!
I'd love to take up an order...so order away!
Here is my FACEBOOK PARTY EVENT

 Thank you Tammy for my fun dotted shields!
It was fun!

Have a wonderful day!

♥LORi BOYD

Deconstructed Sketch 70 - Donna

Our Sweet Leader, Jen Shults asked if any of us girls wanted to do a sketch. YAY!

Soooo our wonderful sketch hostess this week at The Deconstructed Sketch is...

the one and only, so kind and sweet, super talented, friend of mine

Donna Wardle

I had such fun incorporating her fabulous sketch into a scrap page.

See...

I snapped this photo of Hannah last weekend.  We were on our way to visit my Granny (who turns 95 on the 25th), Hannie picked Gran some wildflowers on the side of the road!

Here is Donna's fun sketch:

I hope you find time to join us this week!

You can see the other girls creations here.

Have a wonderful day!
♥LORi

TPE166 - Monochromatic

Howdy Y'all!

This week at The Pink Elephant the theme is Monochromatic. 

I used a photo of Eric and I taken by our precious daughter, Hannah, as we headed out on a date this weekend.  I used a mixture of digital scrapping elements and of course, My Memories software!

This weekend, Eric treated me to a concert by one of my favorites...DON WILLIAMS!!!

When I was in young we lived in Germany for 3.5 years.
My entire 4th grade year and all that summer long, I listened to my Daddy's Don Williams 8-track each night as I fell asleep.  Yep, I played it on my huge, over-sized stereo that took up the entire top on my tall dresser.  Aww, the memories! This weekend, new memories were made...my best friend held my hand and sang a couple of the Don Williams tunes he knew...it was wonderful!  Especially since, the would not be the concert of his choice, but he took me gladly and with a happy heart...kept looking over at me...smiling like he was Happy, because I was Happy...THAT is love!

Thank you Jesus for my loving husband, who isn't selfish, but selfless!

Big Hugs and Lots of Blessings- LORi BOYD 

Easy Canvas Prints Review by Lori Boyd

I must admit before going any further that this post is near and dear to my heart.  I am posting today about a new found love...putting my photos on canvas...LOL.  

I am CRAZY over my 6 kiddos.  Whether God blessed us with them via biological birth (our 3 oldest) or by growing them in our hearts and then placing them with us once they needed a safe home and a family to love them (our 3 little ones)...I'm head over heels for all of them!

We have recently been walking through one of the most worrisome situations we have ever faced.  Last Sept 15th, God placed a precious little one in our home and hearts.  Since, then we have faced fear I do not wish on anyone!  We have had moments of weakness, when fear and worry has consumed us, but prayer (our own and that of our loving, supportive family & friends) and giving the situation to God is what has held us during this time of lessons and growing!

We know without a doubt that God has great and mighty plans for each of our sweet children and the smallest little bundle is no exception!

I have ALWAYS treasured my photographs, I remember as a child traveling from one country to another with my Military family...we were allowed to take one special thing on the plane with us, my special thing was always my box of photos.  Not much has changed since then...the only difference is I treasure them even more because they are mainly of those 6 Little Blessings I spoke of above.

Going through the last 8+ months...I think I treasure them even more (if that is possible).

I treasure them more because there may come a day when that sweet, precious, innocent baby boy that God placed in our lives, may not be able to stay in our home.  There are lots of hands in this pot and not everyone allows themselves to be guided by our Heavenly Father.

You never know what is around the corner, the best thing we can do is trust

 our Lord and Savior as we walk.

- - - - - - -

Wow, to be honest I did not sit down here with the intention of writing this, quite this way, but since it poured out, I'm gonna leave it. I guess it can be the prologue (letting you know how important photos are to me and why this canvas means so much) to my more upbeat, intended post. 

I actually planned on writing a fun, yipppeee, happy, excited post to let you know how extremely pleased I am with my new Easy Canvas Prints Canvas.

I was contacted by Easy Print Canvas, offering me canvas in return I was expected to write a review here on my blog letting you all know what I thought.  Which after 5 years working for Olan Mills Portrait Studios and my husband still employed by them, purchasing canvases for ourselves and selling many, many, many...I "knew" in comparison, the ECP was not going to be anywhere near the quality of that I was used to at Olan Mills!!

BOY, WAS I WRONG!!!!

This kid crazy, picture takin', photo lovin' Momma of six will now be slathering Easy Canvas Print canvases ALL OVER our home!  I am AMAZED at the quality...far better than I even hoped it would be! Seriously, there is no way I would put my name on something if I wasn't thrilled with the quailty!!
I AM THRILLED!
 Not only was it super simple to order (the hardest part was picking the photo I wanted to use), but it shipped quickly too!
I will no doubt be ordering MORE (okay, I admit it...I already have...hee hee)!
Not only for our home, but these will make the BEST GIFTS - Christmas, Birthday...Oh my Goodness Father's Day is coming up soon...this would be PERFECT!!!

My photo does not do it justice, but I had to show it off...Eeecckkk, I love it!!

They even finish it off so nicely on the edges...you don't even need a frame.

It's gorgeous just the way it is...

I was so pleased and impressed, I signed up to be an affiliate...click the banner above (right under my blog header) there you will be taken to the website.  Take peek around, click on START YOUR CANVAS for pricing and details.
It is super easy!
If you have any questions feel free to email me at: byloridesigns@gmail.com


This is a special weekend for many...family, fun, togetherness and MEMORIES...let 
Easy Canvas Prints help make those memories into a treasured heirloom.

You are going to LOVE your canvas, so order away!!!

Have a blessed, safe and fun weekend!

♥LORi

Happy Scrapping Day

To celebrate National Scrapbooking Day, I decided to make a page in honor of 

my greatest jobs...being a wife and a Mommy!

My Mr. Boyd is one amazing and wonderfully made just for me Man of God.

It is an honor to be his wife.

For those of you who do not know, I have 6 wonderful babies, ages 15y to 8 months.

We are blessed by these 6 precious lives and we are thankful everything that each 

one of them brings to our family.

GOD is GREAT!

Hope you are enjoying all the NSD festivities, gathering lots of fun 

freebies/goodies and enjoying the fun games and challenges!

 Have a blessed Saturday!

♥LORi

Kit: The Sweetest Thing by Zoe Pearn at The Sweet Shoppe

Layout: from my head...hee hee

Photo: Me by Mr. Boyd

DS49 using My Memories

It's that time of the week, when we get to enjoy a brand new sketch

 from Jen Shults of...

The Deconstructed Sketch

I created a digital scrap page for my project.

I love that Jen's sketches can be used for scrap pages as well as cards.

I created my page using the My Memories Software.

I used a photo of my oldest child, my daughter, Hannah and the beautiful baby boy we have been blessed with!  We have been praying great things for this little guy's life.  God is awesome and amazing!  Thank you all who have been praying. Some of you have been praying for us, not knowing that this sweet bundle is who those prayers have been for...THANK YOU!!

For those of you who digi scrap or would like to...I have a treat for you...There is a brand new hangout to share and learn!! It's called
The Digi Scrap Clubhouse.
It's on Facebook and you can find it right HERE.

Blessings -LORi BOYD

TPE144 - Happy Ella

It's time for a Pink Elephant Challenge

This week's challenge is a

Color Inspiration Photo Challenge

 

I used a digital kit from My Memories 

You can find a discount code in my sidebar, if you'd like to try this software for yourself!!

Be sure to check out the other girls' creations:

Joni Wilson

Sheri Gilson

Kadie Ensley 

Arielle Gordon

Thanks so much for joining us!

Blessings - LORi BOYD

ADFD-Birds in my Hair

Tammy Thompson is such an amazing artist.

I'm pretty sure there is nothing she can't draw.

These newly released images are gorgeous.

You can see all the awesome cards designed by 

Tammy's Design Team HERE on the 

A Day For Daisies Blog

The Challenge theme is: Use a Feather

At first I thought...YIKES! A Feather??! I don't have a feather, but then I was 

reminded by darling daughter, Hannah that we have 4 birds...Hee hee...YAY!  

I actually used 5 sweet little feathers for my card and these 

are the lil guys who shared with me:

No Birds were Harmed for the making of this card!!

LOL!!

Have a wonderful and Blessed Day!

Hugs - LORi

Colored Saturated Canary

Ok, so if you frequent my blog then you know my favorite part of Paper Crafting/Card Making is COLORING

I LOVE to color!

I have had these sensational images by the AMAZING artist, Krista Smith for a bit now, but have been struggling to find time to get the card constructed, so I decided...

why not show you the colored images pre card application!!?!?!?

I mean the colored image is the BEST part of the card anyway!

Right?!?!!?

So here goes...

Please meet Pink Punkette,  Baby Jake,  Copica and Stroppy Beth (who to me...looks so so much like my Ella)

Not necessarily, the pose although she does pout, but the image itself, her hair, her eyes, her lips...that sweet lil' face...this little girl looks like my Ella!

See...

Be sure to head over to Krista's Etsy Shop for more Saturated Canary Images!

Hugs - LORi BOYD

Foto Friday 4

Ella Swings

I love Foto Fridays!