Mellette Berezoski Design

Yummy

2008-03-11T15:38:00.004-05:00

...is what I call the new idea book by Autumn Leaves. The Designing With Recipe Book includes 100 inspiring pages with a step by step 'recipe' to follow for creating each layout. Once again, Autumn Leaves delivers a beautifully photographed publication full of great tips and techniques to get your creative juices flowing.

As an added feature, the DW Recipe Book is spiral bound and lays flat, making it easier to follow the recipes without the pages turning while cooking up your creative masterpiece.Another bonus: the chapters are divided according to the number of photos on each layout. So it's simple to find just the right recipe you're looking for.

I have two copies of Autumn Leaves' new Designing With Recipe Book that I'd love to share with you! Just post a comment on the link below anytime from now until Sunday evening. I'll randomly draw two names and announce the winners here on my blog Monday morning.

Good luck everyone! Don't forget to post!

Sneak Peek

2008-03-14T11:41:00.005-05:00

I've received quite a few emails asking about the products I'll be selling on my Etsy shop. Thank you for being curious! Here's a little sneak peek. I should have everything up by Sunday. I've been having so much fun creating these ... the process is my favorite part, just digging in and getting my hands dirty; sketching, experimenting, refining. I love it! Hope you do too.

Don't forget to sign up below on the previous post for a chance to win the new Designing With Recipe Book by Autumn Leaves. Such a beautiful book loaded with inspiring ideas! And yes, I can ship anywhere so be sure to play.

Take good care and God bless.

Congratulations

2008-03-17T19:14:00.004-05:00

...to Heather

...and to Liza!

You are the winners of the Autumn Leaves idea book drawing! To receive your copy of the Designing With Recipe Book, please click on my profile and send me an email with your address and phone number. I'll ship the books out this week. Thanks for playing and congratulations!

New Products

2008-04-01T20:41:00.006-05:00

...I've been working on. Sorry I haven't posted in a while.

Creative Confetti, May Flowers Mix...

more Creative Confetti, Songbird Mix...

and Cute as a Button Flowers, Summer Mix...

So fun to play with...

Anyone catch American Idol tonight? Who do you think did well? I thought Michael Johns, Jason Castro, Carly, and David the rocker guy were fantastic. Funny, the guys did a great job of pulling off a Dolly Parton song!

The Graduate

2008-05-21T12:25:00.013-05:00

Hi there! It's been a while since I've posted. The end of the school year is always pretty crazy around our house. My parents are visiting for the summer and we are all so excited that they're here! I've been working on some projects for Autumn Leaves using their Clear Stamps, which I love. If you're new to stamping or just need some fun, clever ideas for your stamping projects, check out AL's Perfectly Clear book. It's full of inspiring and creative ways to make the most of your clear stamps.

On another note, we attended our nephew's graduation a few weeks ago. Nick is the younger brother of our niece, Becca, who passed away in February. Despite a very emotional and trying semester, Nick graduated Summa Cum Laude from Lamar University with a degree in Electrical Engineering. No doubt he has an incredibly promising future ahead, and we look forward to watching him discover and fulfill the great purpose God has for him.

And I do believe Becca was cheering the loudest as he walked across that stage and received his diploma.

Congratulations, Nick! We are so proud of you!

Meet Kellie

2008-06-07T12:48:00.005-05:00

This darling layout was created by Kellie Hirohata of her adorable son, Bradley at 3 months old. I love how the large pattern paper heart grounds the sweet photo. And being the flower fanatic that I am, I love that she wasn't afraid to use flower embellishments on a boy page. Awesome job, Kellie!

Materials used:
Cardstock: Bazzill; Pattern paper: BasicGrey (floral), Crate Paper (black), and 7 Gypsies (tape measure); All flower embellishments: Mellette Berezoski by Design; Metal photo corner: Maya Road; Metal label holder: Stampin' Up; Rub-on alphas: American Crafts; Clear plastic and small alphas: Heidi Swapp for Advantus; Acrylic paint and tag: Making Memories; Ribbon: BasicGrey; Epoxy letter sticker: Prima Marketing; Black pens: EK Success and Sharpie; Metallic gold dots: Crystaline; Other: thread and embroidery floss.

If you've created a layout that uses products from my Etsy store and would like to share, please email me a scan or digital photo. I will feature a new layout every few weeks, and if your page or project is chosen, you'll receive a little gift from me:)

Scrapbook Bakery

2008-06-30T22:37:00.007-05:00

I am so honored to be the July Guest Designer for Scrapbook Bakery . If you haven't seen their website, check it out...their kits are fantastic! The July kit I used is called "Firecracker" and I found it to be very versatile. Using only the products in the kit, I was able to create...
1) a 12x12 layout about my son's achievement in school:
2) a decorative box to store my little boy's ribbons, medals, and other keepsakes:
3) a 5x5 card to celebrate Independence Day:
While you're there, check out previous kits and guest designers. You're sure to find a huge helping of inspiring recipes! Thanks, Heather!

Meet Linda

2008-07-09T15:40:00.008-05:00

This adorable layout was created by Linda Auclair from beautiful New Hampshire. I'm loving the way she used one of my button flowers as a tag pull for the cute journaling pocket. Very clever idea, Linda! The sweet photo of her oldest daughter after getting her long hair cut into a darling bob is one of Linda's favorites. Linda is a mom to three kids (a son who is 21 and two girls ages 8 and 6) and has been scrapping for six and a half years. She has designed for several websites over the years, but makes her online "home" at A Peek Into Yesterday. She is also a proud member of the Creative Imaginations design team. Fabulous work, Linda!

Materials used: Patterned paper: Crate Paper (birdie) and Sassafras Lass (lollipop); Library pocket: Bazzill; Button flower embellishment: Mellette Berezoski by Design; Alpha stickers: Pink Paislee; Tiny alpha stickers and paper flower with brad: Making Memories; Bird stamp: Imaginisce; Glitter glue: Stickles, Ranger Ink.

Remember, if you've created a layout or project that uses products from my Etsy shop and would like to share, please email me a scan or digital photo. I will feature a new layout every few weeks, and if your page or project is chosen, you'll receive a little gift from me:)

Humbled and Honored

2008-07-23T14:22:00.002-05:00

Hello everyone! I hope everyone is having a great summer. Last week was hard for me...my parents left last Thursday to go back to the Philippines. They had been here since May. Doesn't matter how many times you have to go through it, good-byes are always so hard. I miss them already.

On another note, my daughter, Maysie, is in Washington DC this week attending Girls Nation. We are so proud of her. As well as learning about our government, she will also have the opportunity to meet President Bush this week. I can't imagine being a senior in high school and going on a trip like this! But it is well deserved...I love you, Lovebug.

Lastly, a bit of exciting news. In celebration of Scrapbooks etc. magazine's 10th anniversary in 2009, they have chosen an All-Star Creative Team: 12 scrapbookers picked from past creative teams to work with the publication in the upcoming year. I am truly, truly humbled and sincerely honored to have been chosen as one of them. The editors and staff of Scrapbooks etc. are just the nicest people, and I am so grateful to have another opportunity to work with them.

Here's the complete list of the 2009 Scrapbooks etc. All-Star Creative Team:
Cathy Blackstone
Vicki Boutin
Mellette Berezoski
Kim Crothers
Irma Gabbard
Sande Krieger
Amy Licht
Jennifer Perks
Erin Roe
Lisa Storms
Janna Wilson
Shannon Zickel

What an honor. Thank you, SBE!

New For Fall

2008-08-13T16:33:00.013-05:00

Hi there! Just finished up some products for my shop and thought I'd share some of the new items.

falling leaves confetti

halloween journaling spots

and shimmery harvest blossoms

I've also been watching the Olympics. How about that Michael Phelps? So incredible. And his mama sitting in the stands just as proud as can be totally warms my heart. Love that.

The next few weeks will be crazy around here. Kids are starting school soon and we have much more back-to-school shopping to do. For all of you in the same boat, good luck and have fun!

Here We Go...

2008-11-04T08:32:00.004-06:00

It's Election Day, America! Don't forget to vote.

Jeff Schreiber of America's Right wrote a fantastic, very inspiring article today. I encourage you to read it here: "America IS Right. Fight for Her Today."

Also, my prayers and sympathy go out to the Obama family. Barack Obama's grandmother passed away yesterday in Hawaii.

A Soldier's Words

2008-10-10T17:49:00.002-05:00

I am incredibly grateful for this young man, for Sen. John McCain, and for all of the men and women like them who unselfishly put themselves in harm's way to keep us safe. Freedom is never free, but those willing to pay the price should always be respected and regarded as the pride of our country.

Something Nice

2008-10-04T18:41:00.006-05:00

I've been really frustrated over the negative press surrounding Sarah Palin the past few weeks. From the moment she stepped into the political spotlight, she and her family have been scrutinized unlike anything I've ever seen. Sure, we as Americans have the right to know about presidential candidates and their running mates. After all, when deciding on the future leaders of our country, each and every vote should be an informed one. But in Palin's case, the media's intentions haven't been to inform the American people. Sadly, the branding of Sarah Palin by the main stream media and popular talk shows like The View and Real Time with Bill Maher has served only to humiliate and demoralize Palin and her family.

It is disheartening for me to see any part of our society act with such public disregard for another human being. Sarah Palin has been labeled "dumb", "a know-nothing", "a bimbo", and many other things I won't repeat here, by people who have never even met her. This is tolerated in our country because of the First Amendment to the Constitution. Make no mistake, I believe in our Constitution and I believe that everyone has the right to free speech. But I also believe that the First Amendment has too often been abused. Freedom of speech shouldn't give us the right to verbally attack or degrade someone, especially in such a public forum. Yes, every single American has the right to express themselves without the fear of censorship or limitation. But at what cost? Have we hid behind the shield of the First Amendment so long that we've forgotten the meaning of human decency and respect for others? I guess I'm a little old-fashioned. I still believe in that golden rule my teachers and parents relentlessly drilled into my core: If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all.

I was so happy for Sarah Palin on Thursday night that I almost cried. And the reason for my excitement had nothing to do with politics. For me, it was a little like watching my nephew learn to ride a bike.

He was staying with us one weekend when he was four. My daughter, who is 2 1/2 years older, wanted to go bike riding, but my nephew was hesitant. He didn't know how to ride a bike. So my husband suggested that we go to the high school football field and just "see what happens" (it was the summer and no one would be there). When we got to the field and he saw that we were alone, my nephew agreed to get on his bike - minus the training wheels. He had tried before but always fell, so his confidence level was nearing zero. My husband reassured him that it was okay if he fell because we were on the grass and it wouldn't hurt. So with my husband behind him and the rest of us cheering him on, my nephew attempted to ride his bike. And then he fell. And fell again. And again. For over an hour I watched my nephew fall and get back on his bike. He began to look defeated when it finally happened. By the time we all realized he was still on his bike, he was already half way across the field. And what I remember most was feeling so happy for him that it brought me to tears ... because that smile on his face was one of human triumph.

I felt the same way Thursday night as Sarah Palin gave her closing remarks. That smile on her face was the same one I saw on my nephew's. Regardless of party affiliation, I think we can all agree that watching someone stand tall after being knocked down over and over is truly inspiring.

I'm happy for Sarah Palin. No matter the outcome on November 4th, she has triumphed.

Crop For a Cause

2008-10-18T10:17:00.004-05:00

The third annual Crop For a Cause, an all-day scrapbook event to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, is being held today, Saturday October 18th at Elkhorn Hills United Methodist Church (20227 Veterans Drive, Elkhorn, NE 68022) WHAT FUN! If you are in the area, they are still accepting walk-ins on a first come, first serve basis. The cost is $50 and that includes the 12-hour crop fee, lunch, dinner, goodie bags & door prizes! And I hear the goodie bags are AWESOME! As part of the Crop, additional events include:

*A Scrapbook Garage Sale—find bargains on new & gently used scrapbook items like paper, rubber stamps, stickers, albums, embellishments, idea books & more!
*A Bake Sale—enjoy tasty homemade treats prepared by talented local artisans. Besides fresh-baked goods like cinnamon rolls, cookies, breads, brownies, pies & cakes you’ll also find candies, jams & jellies, salsa and snack mixes galore.
*Silent Auction items—local & regional artists have generously donated their original works to be auctioned, with all proceeds going to the JDRF. Be the proud winner of these one-of-a-kind pieces of art!
*Local Scrapbook Stores will have retail booths on-site—these companies have made monetary donations to the JDRF to be at this event. NEW this year: we will have consultants from various home-based businesses at our event. Please support them as they support us!

Here's a little something I made for their silent auction and/or eBay auction:

For more information, please visit the Crop For a Cause Website
Or contact Becca Sutton at paperedwife@cox.net, or call 402-289-3843

*All proceeds will benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.*
Because we’re dedicated to finding a cure!

For Becca

2008-03-05T23:12:00.001-06:00

Hello family and friends! Welcome to my blog. After years of resisting the power and popularity of the blogging movement, I have come to realize that at the core of this revolutionary advancement in technology is simply the ability to stay connected. And isn't that why we're here, after all? To connect, to move and inspire, to understand and care for each other. My niece, Becca, spent each and every day touching the lives of others, and it is because of her that this blog now exists.

Four weeks ago, Becca passed away at the young age of 25. When she was just 10 years old, she was diagnosed with Type I (Juvenile) Diabetes. Joe and I often expressed our sadness over the huge burden Becca had to carry during the majority of her life. Her death has been especially hard for my husband. Becca was the middle child of Joe's older sister, Maxine. He was still in college when Becca was born, and eagerly took on the role of the doting and playful Uncle Joe. He is pictured here with Jessi (Becca's older sister), Becca (center) and Missy (their cousin, holding on to Joe's neck) .

Becca was, and will forever be, one of the most kind-hearted and incredible human beings I've ever had the privilege of knowing. Despite all of the challenges that manifested because of her illness, she accomplished more than most people do in a lifetime. In a way, I think she knew her time here in this life would be limited. And I believe that motivated her to make the most of every single day. Regardless of the effects of her Diabetes; the bruises that covered her legs, the infection in her foot that never seemed to heal, the discoloration in her fingertips, and the countless trips to the hospital, she graduated from high school as the Valedictorian of her senior class, earned a college degree in education, and taught special ed classes in the elementary school setting. She was more concerned with the welfare of the children entrusted to her care, the stray pets that managed to find her, and all of the family members she made a point to stay in touch with. As her sister, Jessi, described, Becca was the glue that held everyone together. At any given time, Becca always knew what was happening in each of our lives. And no matter how you knew her, what you'd see in her was the same thing everyone else saw in her: goodness. Her constant was her love for others.

The title of my blog makes reference to the Biblical account of David before his well-known battle with Goliath. That is how I remember Becca. Even in her youth, she managed to face and conquer all of her giants, the struggles life constantly threw at her, with just a sling and a stone. Her funeral service was attended by a mass of people she touched, lives that she changed ... a true testament to the kind of person she was and to the way she chose to live her life. In the end, her frail little body just couldn't keep up with all her heart wanted to do.

So I've set up this blog with the hope of staying connected; to hold fast to the bonds of friendship and family, and to form new friendships with those who have similar interests. I'll leave you with a scripture reading from Becca's funeral service:

Lord, let me know my end, and what is the measure of my days, that I may learn how frail I am.

You have given my days a very short span; my life is as nothing before you. All mortals are but a breath.

Mere phantoms, we go our way; mere vapor, our restless pursuits; we heap up stores without knowing for whom.

And now, Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.

Deliver me from all my transgressions; let me not be the taunt of fools.

Psalm 39:5-9

For more information on Juvenile Diabetes, please go to http://www.jdrf.org/

What a Riot!

2008-09-07T15:52:00.004-05:00

I love toddlers. I know, the stage consists of tantrums, mood swings, and unexplainable outbursts. But toddlers are just so darn funny! My favorite home video recordings are of my kids at 1 1/2 to 3 1/2 years old. I could watch them over and over. Little people whose vocabulary cannot keep up with their rapidly expanding minds. Hence, the frustration. Yes, it's a very good thing they are so cute at this age.

Here are two adorable toddlers from YouTube who put a little sunshine and a whole lotta laughter in my otherwise quiet Sunday afternoon. May they do the same for yours. Enjoy!

Book Review: "The Shack"

2008-11-10T18:49:00.005-06:00

I just finished reading The Shack by William Paul Young and was really moved by it. The book, which essentially follows Mack Phillip's spiritual journey after the abduction and murder of his youngest daughter, Missy, presents the Trinity in a compelling and thought-provoking light. Although Young's story has caused some controversy among well-versed Christians and churches because of its questionable Biblical accuracy, I think what readers need to remember is that The Shack is a work of fiction. As a Christian and an avid reader of the Bible, I took in this story as I would any novel, with an open mind but with a grain of salt. Did it change any of my Christian beliefs or values? No. Do I think it is written in a blasphemous tone? No.

The Shack is a remarkable, creative, and beautiful story of one man's transformation, from a father lost in his grief and suffering to one healed by love, kindness, goodness and faith. It is a deeply emotional experience; sometimes painful yet incredibly uplifting. It is not, nor is it intended to be, an interpretation of the Bible, to be sure. But it is a powerful reminder of God's enduring love and grace in the gift of his only Son.

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
The Shack Website here

Perspective

2008-10-28T12:41:00.005-05:00

Within the covers of the Bible are the answers for all of the problems men face. ~Ronald Reagan

So here we are, exactly one week from what I believe will be the most important and most pivotal Presidential election in our lifetime. I've been following this election closely since the primaries, and although I am more conservative in my views, I have honestly tried to keep an open mind about each of the candidates running for the highest office in our country.

My husband and I believe in raising our children with the guidance of God. We teach them to use their manners, to respect themselves and others, and to be accountable for everything they say and do. We are a typical middle-class family living in small town America. We are struggling, as most Americans are. But unlike the majority of Americans, the economy is not the issue I am most concerned about in this election.

For the past month, I've listened to the candidates and political analysts assume they know what average Americans want to hear. In truth, I don't worry much about the economy. I realize that many people have lost stocks and 401-K's and homes due to the current state of our nation. But we are a nation of wasteful spenders; a country full of families living beyond our means. We all played a part in the economic downfall and housing crisis we're experiencing now; not just Republicans, but Democrats as well, citizens, banks, Wall Street, groups like ACORN.

Both candidates have laid out their plans to fix our economy, and both camps can produce a list of "experts" to verify that their candidate's plan would work. But let's not talk ourselves into believing that one candidate can single-handedly save the economy (nor can one man single-handedly destroy the economy, contrary to what most Bush-haters want to believe). The economy is complex, unpredictable, and may linger in a nosedive before it begins its uphill climb, regardless of who's in office. The only way we can survive any kind of economic crisis is to save more, spend less, and live on a budget. The government can't "fix" the economy unless we "fix" our spending habits. In other words, we must stop spending money that we don't even have.

I was talking to my dear and long-time friend, Denise, last week about the Presidential candidates. When I had brought up Obama's opposition to the Born Alive Bill, she had no idea what I was talking about. It dawned on me that most people, especially those who don't subscribe to cable television and who rely solely on the main stream media for political information, probably know very little about this topic. In all honesty, I believe that this is the single most important issue surrounding this election, both because of its disturbing nature and because it provides a very telling glimpse into the unexamined agenda of the man who may well be our next Commander in Chief.

Try to imagine, if you will, a tiny newborn baby, born alive due to an unsuccessful late term abortion, commonly known as "induced labor abortion" or "prostaglandin abortion". An unwanted baby with a beating heart and lungs that fill with each breath; human in every sense of the word. Now imagine this baby, struggling to live but refused any kind of medical intervention to sustain its life, covered in a blanket and left to die alone in a soiled linen closet at Christ Hospital in the southwestern suburbs of Chicago. Too horrific to be true? I'm afraid not.

Jill Stanek, a fairly new nurse at Christ Hospital who witnessed the procedure (which was performed ten to twenty times a year), began the fight to give these babies the medical attention all humans deserve. In March 2001, Senate Bill 1095, or the Born Alive Bill, was introduced in the Illinois State Senate.

Under this bill, babies born alive during an abortion would have to be treated just like every other baby that is born alive and prematurely. They would be given treatment according to the acting physician's medical judgement as to what is necessary and what is possible. The same laws and the same rules of medical ethics would apply to these born, living babies as to any other born, living human being. It's important to note that this bill WAS NOT an abortion law. It didn't confer any right or legal status upon any baby not yet born. This bill had no legal conflicts with Roe v. Wade and did not deny a woman's right to an abortion. It simply sought to mandate safeguards for such unwanted children. The bill was presented to the Senate three different times and each time, Barack Obama spoke against it on the Senate floor. In June 2001, three months after Obama's first speech against the Illinois bill, the United States Senate voted on the language of the Born Alive Infants Protection Act, which clarified that the bill did not apply to babies not yet born. On June 29, 2001 liberal senator Barbara Boxer of California spoke in favor of this bill and stated on the Senate floor that she hoped the vote to pass it would be unanimous. It was: 98-0. Two years later, in 2003, this same bill, The Born Alive Infants Protection Act, came before Barack Obama's health committee. As chairman, Obama bottled it up in committee and killed it.

I'd like to think of myself as the kind of person who can give people the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps Barack Obama could be a good leader, maybe I could turn a blind eye to all of his radical ties and not wonder why it's so hard for him to give a straight and honest answer. But I cannot in good conscience vote for a man who consistently supports infanticide and then refuses to be truthful about it to the American people. I have to ask myself what kind of man would do that? I have to wonder how a man's questionable moral compass is so easily hidden behind his rhetoric. I have to question Obama's lack of concern for the future and dignity of human life and quite frankly, we all should.

As a mother, I believe that God has entrusted me with the care of not only my own children, but with those most vulnerable in our society. I'm sure many parents feel the same way. Kathryn Lopez, editor of National Review Online wrote in a recent editorial concerning this topic, "Vote as if lives depend on you. They do." I couldn't agree more.

While our economy may eventually rebound, and Americans may slowly recoup some of their losses; while we wait and see what 'change' really means...who will save the little ones...whose voices can't be heard, and whose only fault is surviving?

Sources:
David Freddoso, The Case Against Barack Obama
Kathryn Lopez, National Review Online
Hannity & Colmes, FOX News

Be Happy

2008-11-09T22:30:00.003-06:00

My seven year-old-son lost both of his top front teeth last week. I look at those itty bitty, tiny little teeth and my heart aches. It doesn't seem that long ago that those baby teeth gnawed on teething biscuits and Cheerios followed by a never-ending stream of drool. Time truly does move much too quickly, and I find myself holding on to and trying to protect every little piece of innocence left.

Speaking of innocence, here's a little something that made me happy today...

Letters to God

Much Needed Humor

2008-10-19T14:20:00.003-05:00

The two presidential candidates let loose at the 63rd Annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner last week as they poke fun of politics, themselves, and each other. How nice to see this side of them. Perhaps this should have been one of the debates! Take a look, both very funny...

McCain and Obama bring down the house!

Under Construction

2008-11-17T23:34:00.002-06:00

Hi everyone! Please excuse the mess. I'm still formatting, adding, and trying to get everything to work on my new set-up. It's been fun playing around, but it takes up SO much time! Let me know what you think of it so far. I welcome your comments! Anyway, should be good to go by the end of this week (I'm hoping). Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!

Creativity at its Best

2008-11-21T13:07:00.006-06:00

My daughter found this clip and showed it to her brother, who is 7 and absolutely crazy about Star Wars. Both of them begged and begged me to watch it so when I finally did, I was more than impressed! This is Corey Vidal's tribute to world renown Oscar winning composer, John Williams. It's a medley of some of his most recognized musical scores, combined with lyrics referencing the Star Wars saga, in a four split a capella, no less. I thought this was so original, creative and fun to watch! It just makes me happy! Enjoy!

Musical scores in order:
1) Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
2) Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
3) Superman (1978)
4) E.T. the Extra-Terrestial (1982)
5) Jaws (1975)
6) Jurassic Park (1993)
7) Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

I love it!