While I was writing the newsletter at the beginning of the month, I asked the Garden Girls to tell me what they were Thankful for. Because we had been talking about November, the fact that Thanksgiving was coming up. I am I received a wide variety of things they are thankful for--I think you will enjoy reading all of these:

Marie Cox: I'm thankful for my children, my husband who lets me scrap my nights away and never complains, my job that allows me to help provide for my family finacially, my friends who make me smile and allow me to be me, I am thankful that I've been given another day to be alive, to share my art, to make new friends...just to live a full life.

Lisa Russo: I'm thankful that my family is now complete. :)

Joy Uzarraga: I'm thankful that every day there is always so much to be thankful for. :)

Leslie Lightfoot: i am thankful for all that i have and all the joy that fills my heart day to day... the simple stuff. family, friends, health and happiness.

Carrie Owens: I'm thankful that even on the crappiest days, days when I feel like nothing is going right...all I have to do is look around me, pick up the phone, or check my email and I realize how loved I am and how lucky I am to have so many caring friends and family members. For their love and support, I am grateful.

Jennifer Harrison: I'm thankful for love AND cake!

Carrie Colbert: 1. Faith – My God is good and gracious and loving. Always there. Always teaching me and maturing me. For that, I am eternally grateful.

2. Bradley — My best friend. He keeps me smiling and laughing. For that, I am eternally grateful.

3. The ring! Well, the proposal. So grateful that I’ll be spending the rest of my life with that best friend I mentioned in item 2.

4. Family –– For the bond of family, I am grateful.

5. friends --- "in real life" friends and internet friends. I so appreciate those authentic friendships that cause me to look at things from a different perspective and then push me to become a better person.

Shelley Laming: I thankful for my family's good health ... I am thankful for Tivo ... I am thankful for giggly girls who sometimes actually get along ... I am thankful for a sweet husband who spoiled me on our 1st anniversary by getting me the diamond band that matches my engagement ring ... I am thankful for our sweet Gosta {our German Shepherd} ... I am thankful for Target ... I am thankful for having a warm home and thankful for people who make me laugh.

Amy Grendell: I am thankful for my family - for a supportive husband and 3 healthy and happy children. I am thankful to be a homeowner for the first time thisyear. I am thankful for my faith and the peace it brings me. I am grateful to have the things that I need to take care of my children. Also on my list - ice cream made with Splenda, email, new friends in a new city and so much more.

Shannon Montez: I'm thankful for the abundance of good in my life. And even the bad teaches me, helps me grow, and ends up being good eventually.

Maria Grace Abuzman: My family for putting up with me
My friends for not judging me.
My faith for guiding me.
My mind for being strong.

Lisa McGarvey: I'm thankful for my family.

Margie Scherschligt: my family of six

my desire for change and growth

meaningful conversation with people I care about
(added later: paper towels)

Anne Heyen: I am thankful for the life changing experience I had this year -- it has made me into a more positve, happy and content person. I am thankful from my children, my husband and my Mom -- couldnt do anything without them -- they make it all worth it.

I am thankful for coffee light with cream, mexican food, music that makes you sing out loud and scrapbooking supplies.

Tara Whitney: i am thankful for my kids, my jeff, our health, my friends, my family, UCI burn center, online photo developing, drive thru pharmacies, zappos.com, and chapstick.

Rachel Ludwig: I am thankful to be pregnant, for my two guys, for a hobby i love, that the sun is shining today, that we're in our new house, for friends, for happiness and for all the little things that make life the wonderful thing that it is.

Ali Edwards: I am thankful for being able to take a deep breath in the middle of all the chaos and see Chris and Simon happy and healthy.

Stacey Sattler: I am grateful for the spots of magic in everyday life.
A sunrise. A song. A giggle. For these things, I am thankful.

Jennifer Johner: I am thankful for my family.
I am thankful that even though my husband works away and is gone for long periods of time, we still connect as a family each and every day.
I am thankful for all of those little things that fill our lives with smiles and laughter.

Jamie Waters: i am thankful for it all. everyday.

Cathy Blackstone: After all of the natural disasters this year and some other random tragic events in the lives of friends of mine - I am thanksful that I have perspecctive and can quickly reevaluate what a bad day really is.

Miley Johnson: I am thankful for my family, and the gift of laughter..that gets us all the mundane, sometimes stressful, sometimes frustrating parts of life.

Kim Heffington: i'm thankful for healthy kids, a strong marriage, a happy home, turning my life around...deciding to get healthy, drive thru atms, rechargeable batteries, best buy warranties, 1 point fudge bars from weight watchers and online banking.

Rhonna Farrer: I'm thankful for my Fs!
family :healthy, supportive, happy.
faith: strength, love & foundation to be at peace.
friends: fun, supportive & help!
food: who isn't thankful for good food!
&
FGGs! **wonderful year here!**

Joy Bohon: A husband who loves me despite my many faults, two girls with the sweetest hearts and the best hugs ever. Thankful for my family, my home, my life-and all the little things I too often take for granted.

Tracy Miller: I am thankful for the biggies, of course. My family. My friends. For a roof over my head and enough to eat (too much, often). For my health and for the health of those I love.

I am also thankful for the little things: the internet. Starbucks Peppermint Mocha. My ipod. NPR. Downloadable books. The Photo Center at Costco . TV Commercials that make me cry. Picture frames. My camera, when it isn't dead. Chocolate chip cookie dough. And the fireplace in my basement.

Tina Barriscale: For hope, for joy, for possibility, for courage, for love and for peace.

Elsie Flannigan: i am thankful for fluffy pillows and smoothies.

Shannon Tidwell: I am thankful for...
my daily rationing of Diet Coke.
a house I love.
a family I love.
the internet.
Sunday night TV.
my camera.
health.
normalcy.
my boys.
31 weeks down, 9 to go.
Tivo.

Lisa Brown-Caveney: I thankful that after a year of turmoil Derek and I are settling into our new lives in the place we were meant to be.

and me.... I am thankful for my husband, my kids, my parents, my friends, my dog, the garden girls, chai, running shoes, ipods, jeans, flip flops, the scarves jamie made me, and books.

The art form of stamping has been adopted into the world of scrapbooking. really, what craft has not made its way into the world of scrapbooking in one form or another? everyone brings their love of craft into scrapbooking, and the edges blur.
This month, we focused on stamping in the Creating Garden. The girls have done an amazing job with this bringing the art of stamping into the garden. Each person with their own individual style, working with stamps in their own way.

I have to admit..it's my favorite room in the house. I absolutely love to be in this room..even when I don't feel like scrapping. So much in this room. I will freely admit now..that the insides of drawers and cabinets are not perfectly organized, and some might find my method of storing things hard to keep track of..but it works for me. I love opening a box of embellishments and finding something I forgot I had. It makes it fresh and new...always fun. I will try and describe each photo. here we go...:)

photo 1:this is the view as you walk into my room. I scrap in the lower level of our house..ie the basement. My room has "lovingly" been labeled as the scrap lair..or hole by the family..hee.

photo 2 and 3:this is a view of my desk area, where I spend most of my time. My desk is from Pottery Barn, as is the stool. (Big thanks to Kristina Pea, who shared this stool in her space, and I had to get it..and LOVE it!)The 9 cube storage is from Target..but I believe they discontinued the set a few years ago..which is a shame..because it is perfect for scrapbook storage.

Photo 4:This is a view of where I keep my embellishments. A few weeks ago, I still stored everything in rubbermaid plastic pull drawers. For a few years now, I have wanted to buy more polished looking storage..and this was a perfect solution. The wicker boxes hold product by manufacturer, which I find to be the easiest way to store product. I made labels just with cardstock scraps..nothing fancy.
The magazine holders hold magazines..and idea books...and a few of them hold sheets of embellishments..like KI memories tags, and sticker sheets.
This is also where I have my completed albums..although..you can see, under the cubes,I have a few boxes. Those boxes are full of layouts that really need to get into albums...some rainy day I will tackle that!

Photo 5: This is the other side of the cubes, and where I store my papers. I also store paper by manufacturer. Yes..those are the infamous Target cubes you see...they slide right into the shelving unit..perfect storage for my papers. I would love to have a set of the clear plastic trays..but alas..I have not splurged on them YET. :) To the left of the cube, you see a freestanding wicker basket unit. Picked these up at Hobby Lobby..they are perfect for holding more embellishments..and stamps. I have a unit on both sides of the shelving. This is where I store my rub-ons, punches, stamps, and other product lines.

Photo 6:This is the view under my desk. I like to utilize every inch of space..lol The green and black boxes hold photos...from the pre digital days. I would love to say that they are organized by year, or child or something, but they are not. Add that to another rainy day.
One red leather tote has all my alphabet stickers, I used to use a binder, but honestly, for me..it was easier to have them out and I kind of enjoy digging around in the bucket when I need something. If I have stickers that end up seperated from their sheets...I store them in a ziplock bag that is in the tote.
The other red tote is the scrapjunk yard. This is what my kids dig around in and use when they want to create with me while I scrap. I have found that the best way to keep them occupied while I scrap is to let them create too. I throw scraps and odds and ends in there pretty regularly..and they love to play. It's fun to watch them get excited over finding something new that I add.

Photo 7: This is my sewing area. Pretty self explainatory. The ugly box under the sewing machine is full of negatives and odds and ends.

Photo 8: This little cabinet is one of my favorite parts of my room. It was a craft show find..and I just love it. This is where I store all my foam stamps, art supplies, paints..blank albums, and odds and ends that won't fit on the shelves.
To the right of the cabinet is my bucket O flowers...I stick all the floral stems I pick up to use on projects in the bucket...it's not always pretty..but it adds a splash of color, and keeps them all in one spot. I am fairly certain that the bottom is full of loose flowers. lol

Photo 9:This is one of my ribbon storage areas. I also have a couple boxes on my shelves..(Ribbon addict) I loved this little red ladder..I store my loose ribbon in jars, I added scraps of pattern paper to the lids..and ont he ladder they go. Simple..and an easy way to make a decorative piece for your room.

Photo 10:I have a strong affection for boxes. I picked these up at a craft fair a few years ago...The bottom two have fabric, and the top one has my Prima Flowers.

Photo 11:This is another spot I keep my fabrics. I have quite the love of all things textile. I "enjoy" them..ha! (I could have bought the simplify sign..but really..does my room say simplify to you?..lol)

Photo 12:Ok, this is my all time favorite part of my room. I love love this chair. It makes me happy. This sits right inside the door of my room..my tv and dvd player are straight across from it. SOmetimes if I am totally in a slump..I will curl up in the chair and read, or look at idea books. And the pattern..the pattern tempts me to cut it up and use it..lol

photo 13:My bulletin board. I made this out of a porch door from Lowe's. The left side is cork and fabric..holds memos, notes, photos. The middle section is a magnet board..and the pockets..well they are wee pockets..lol...mostly there for the cuteness factor. The right side is a layout display area. There are velcro tabs on the base pieces..so that I can change out the layouts if I want to.

photo 14:This is my window in my room..complete with custom window topper made especially for me by my dear friend Kelly Lautenbach. The shutters are closet doors that Kelly helped me cut down, and add shelves.(she is the friend good with a drill) I then painted them, and distressed them, and added 7 gypsies tissue paper to the panels..and accessorized them.
The window topper was made with old man ties, (we went to goodwill..lol) and they have frames hanging from them...which I really need to update with new photos.

photo 15:Another of my favorites. This Art quilt was another gift from Kelly, (don't you wish she was your best friend?) and just totally makes me happy when I see it. Love this so much!

Photo 16:This is another piece of wall art. This hangs on the wall next to my sewing machine. It is an old window..(that friend Kelly found..are you seeing a trend?..lol)..that I painted and created a photo collage.

photo 17: This is a tiny sketch holder that sits on top of my cubes. I made it out of a vintage photo holder. It has library pockets that flip up, that I tuck sketches, tiny bits that I don't want to forget...and other things that I want to remember for inspiration.

photo 18:This is my idea jar...otherwise known as where I store the M&M's. As you can see...I am out of M&M's. This is a bad thing. Must get more.

photo 19:This is the shutter shelf above my sewing machine. I made these clipboards long ago..but just love them. The shelf holds photography books, and a few bins of odds and end trinkets.

photo 20:just another random shot of my desk area

photo 21: a close up of the shutter shelves on my windows

photo 22: this little tuffet area is where the kids like to sit and color. They will pull out the hat boxes and use them as desks. The tuffet is perfect for them to sit on and watch movies. The big M is something I am really hankering to alter..must add that to the list.