What's New at LDD + Graduation Gift Promo Code

My shop has been open for just over a year now! And I am so thankful for all of you who have encouraged and supported me through my first year running my own small business. You all mean so much to me! When I almost decided to give up, you kept checking in, requesting custom designs and sharing my work on social media. And it means so so much!!

Over the last few weeks as I became a little bit discouraged and just plain tired of juggling it all as a mom, employee and also a small business owner, this verse was shared with me:

It is the same with my Word.
    I send it out, and it always produces fruit.
It will accomplish all I want it to,
    and it will prosper everywhere I send it.

Isaiah 55:11

As I run my little shop of Scripture-based wall art, what a great promise that God's Word always produces fruit, or as other translations say it, "never returns void." It's fun to see this happen even as I post designs to Facebook. Sometimes it's just what someone needs to see at that moment. And that brings such joy!

Recently I've been working on lots of custom orders. While it takes way more time than I'd ever thought possible, what I love about it is how God speaks to each person in different ways and encourages each of us through his Word. Some of those custom orders I've added to my shop.

Take a look!

Another addition to my shop is that I have started ordering CANVASES. Most of my designs can be printed to canvas. If this is something you are interested in, please ask me about it!

And finally, it's GRADUATION SEASON! I'm heading to my brother's high school graduation next week and I'm beyond excited! What better gift to give a graduate than Scripture to take with them into the next season of life! This one is a favorite for both children and graduates.

>>Through May 22, receive 20% off your entire order of art prints
in my shop with promo code GRAD20. Shop for those gifts now! <<

Daffodil Photos With My Loves {Happy Spring!}

We had a quiet morning yesterday and the weather just about perfect (I LOVE spring weather!), so we embarked on an adventure to a favorite photoshoot spot, Laurel Ridge in Litchfield, just about 25 minutes from our house. It's such a pretty and quiet little spot to wander through the field of daffodils or sit by the pond.

This was our first visit to Laurel Ridge when Levi turned two.

It was a bit of a challenge this year with two munchkins to chase through mud and tall grass, plus we didn't wear the right footwear, but what fun pictures!! My husband and I just sat and laughed at the out-takes and the differences between our two handsome boys. Then I played in Photoshop. 

Here are some of my favorites.

 These are my boys!!

 Our Silas, aka Si-guy. {19 months}

 Levi {4 years} 

Picking "flowers" for me. At least he didn't touch the daffodils!

This one is kind of funny but I just love the tree and water in the background. He had a lollipop in his mouth and and wrapper in his hands, which I Photoshopped out! Haha!

Happy Spring everyone!!


~Erin

When Motherhood is Messy {Printable Card}

Confession. I yelled at my kids this morning. I mean, really lost it. Then I cried. And then we hugged and cried some more. My heart still hurts from it. If you know my boys, you are probably thinking, how could she yell at those sweet faces?!

It was less about the whining over crumbs on his Legos. Yes, people, crumbs. Or about playing in a sink full of dirty dishes, getting drenched in dirty dishwater. Or about hanging from the tray to my  printer. It was about me. Trying to do it all, be it all, and, yes, have it all. Trying to meet everyone's expectations, like the super mom that we all think our mom friends are. (The comparison trap again.)

I'm tired. And discouraged. And I took it out on them. I expected the unrealistic – to have an hour in the morning before heading out the door to get my list of two things done while my precious boys played quietly without creating a mess. Ha!

I somewhat pulled it together as we headed out to Taekwondo. I don't think I was fooling anyone, but thankfully every single one of those moms gets it. I was directed to this post by a mom friend — just what I needed, of course. Take a minute to let it sink in.

When I think about Mother's Day and that my mom had not two but three of us – two boys and a girl, all 15 months apart – to care for while my dad worked long hours, I am humbled and grateful. Every day as I muddle through parenting my boys, I gain a new appreciation for my mom, that that she successfully and gracefully got the three of us through our preschool years...and beyond. Our family wasn't perfect, but there was always lots of love.

Motherhood is a tough job. Maybe the the toughest. Certainly the longest hours. And I'm so thankful I don't have to be perfect. That I can fail and God can pick me back up and use me. Because I have a perfect Father by my side who offers grace.


God wants Prodigal Parents — not perfect parents.
Lavish in love, extravagant in truth, big spenders of grace.
~Ann Voskamp 

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Do you still need a  special Mother's Day card? Download this free 5x7 printable card.
Include your own special note of appreciation to mom on the inside. This design is lovely printed on linen card stock or matte photo paper.

The Holiday That Creeps Up {Easter Printable}

It happened again. Time flew by. I got busy. And all of a sudden Easter is upon is. It's not even early this year, but still, it happened. Didn't I blog about this last year??

I was talking with a friend the other night about my Easter downloads in my Etsy shop. She shared that Easter creeps up on her too each year and she rarely gets around to decorating for it. I agreed, thinking of my box labeled "Easter decorations" in the basement that I keep passing by and thinking that I'll get to it the next day.

So I got that box out today, and to my surprise, there wasn't much in there! So much for decorations! Mostly just baskets and plastic eggs. Someday I'll get around to purchasing or making real decorations...maybe. I did find our Resurrection Eggs, which I better start with my boys like now!

So here's the crazy thing.. I finally found time to print my own Easter prints for my home tonight! How lame is that?! But guess what....I love them even more now that they are in pretty frames!! So worth it, even at the last minute!

For some added incentive to do at least a little Easter decorating between now and next weekend, I'm giving you a free 5x7 printable in 4 colors. Enjoy!

Happy Easter | Black Stripes
Happy Easter | Tan Stripes

Even if you don't put up any decorations, this season please remember this hope we have in the Jesus' death and resurrection:

"But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed." Isaiah 53:5

Blessings!
~Erin

Homecoming Times Two {Adoption Update}

They're home!! When I wrote about it back in November, Bobby and Kyla had no idea they would have to wait 5 more months, but these precious girls finally arrived home today!  Aren't they beautiful?! We can't wait to meet them and make more Mitchell family memories! Welcome to the family Sadie & Eliza!!

A huge thank you to all of you who ordered shirts to support adoption!

Sadie & Eliza

 

When I wonder if He knows what I need {Be Still Art Print}

"Be still, and know that I am God. I will will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10

Yesterday I chased my 18-month-old son as he ran as fast as his little legs could take him down our driveway toward the road. I would have laughed if it wasn't so dangerous. He kept looking back over his shoulder and then turning and toddling faster. I just barely caught up to him and guided him back to to play with the riding toys. Instead, he found a large puddle and sat in it. He quickly got up and toddled off to the next thing.

Be still? Are mothers of young boys ever still?? My days at home are often chaotic. Don't misunderstand, I love my boys and love how much time I get to spend with them. But life is just busy. I'm often dealing with the crying over wanting the same toy, tripping over toys, cleaning up spills, trying to decipher toddler whines and screams, drying tears, preventing the younger brother from biting his older brother, reminding my almost 4-year-old not to jump on furniture, racing to shut the bathroom door before my toddler eats the toilet paper. Yes, eats it! Racing to the same child as he climbs on the table to stand on it or puts other foreign objects in his mouth. You get the picture.

But this verse has been coming to mind often over the last few weeks, ever since a friend called me up on a Monday night and requested this custom design that she needed by Thursday of the same week.  Forty-five of them. I had other things planned for my week, but of course I said yes!

And God used it. He knew I would need the reminder in the coming week, to stop and focus on who He is and how much He loves me. To be grateful for all He has done for me. To focus on the bigger picture and His purpose not only for me but for all people.

"Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life." Isaiah 43:4

 I could use my busyness as an excuse not to, but a good friend often reminds me that it only takes ONE SECOND to surrender. I can find the time  – even just for a minute.

So when you have a week when disappointment hits. Or when you aren't sure what God's plan is. When deadlines get moved up. When I'm angry at…. When my kids lose it and I can barely hold it together. When "quiet mornings at home" turn into chaos. When my plans fail. When I can't get it all done. When I'm tired. When my kids are sick…again. When I think, "God, don't you know what I need?" (Or, let's be  honest, what I want.) 

Be Still. And know that I am God. Of course He knows exactly what I need. I need to know Him more intimately. To trust Him more completely. To love. To forgive. To ask forgiveness. To obey. To find my strength in Him.

I'm still working on this, so this design of  Psalm 46:10 will be my reminder.

Entryway Revamp in Progress + {Serve the Lord Art Print}

First of all, I'm so thankful that this darling boy's bright eyes and happy smile are back! It's been a long week caring for and worrying about a very sick little boy with rsv/bronchiolitis. He's eating, drinking and playing for the first time since Sunday!

Since I've spent A LOT of time at home recently, I just couldn't help playing with one of my new designs to see what it looks like in our family room. (Yep, that's the room in the picture above!)

We're currently in the process of revamping our entryway into the family room. The lack of a coat closet, mud room or entry from our attached garage into the house has been the biggest downside to our lovely house, which we've owned for the last year and a half.

That means that our family room is in a constant state of of disarray — especially this time of year — with coats, gloves, hats, bags, socks, shoes, boots, snow, salt, dirt... everywhere. Yep, it drives me crazy. I'm constantly reminding my 3-year-old to take his shoes off before he gets too far into the house. Coats just get tossed into a big pile behind the door or over the back of the couch. They stay there until I collect them and bring them into another room where they are either hung on the back of a door, or my favorite…draped on the backs of all the chairs in our dining room!! Can anybody else relate??

Did I mention that every time I would set my diaper bag on the floor inside the door and walk away to take care of a child, our dog would find the food in it and have a 2nd or 3rd lunch? If only I had a place to hang the bag...

So...I spent some time looking for ideas on Pinterest and really wanted to "do it right" and have something built with wainscoting, hooks, shelves, cabinets that hide all the clutter, etc. But with a budget and so many other projects on the list – and mostly my urgency to just have somewhere to hang things – we opted for a nice looking coat tree from Home Decorators, which happened to be on sale with free shipping, and I love it! Although three hooks just aren't enough, so I picture adding board and batten wainscoting and hooks on the wall behind it at some point. (Maybe something the boys can reach too.)  Add to it a much needed new rug and a new boot tray on order — it's slowly starting to come together!

I love the little drawers, which work well now for little boots, gloves, hats, etc. We even stick our snow pants in there once they are dry. Some baskets are needed for the shelf and something pretty 

for the top...?? Hello Marshalls/HomeGoods!

Since there was already a nail on the wall in the perfect spot,  I decided to see what my new
{Serve the Lord} Art Print would look like in a larger size (11x14) next to the coat tree. I'm dying to get out to the store (5 days of going nowhere except the doctor's office is too much!) to find a new frame, but other than that, I'm kind of loving it! What better place for this verse than right inside your front door?!

Here it is without the glass so there isn't as much glare. 

(Oh yeah, my print did get a bit crumpled in the mayhem that is my house these days. 

I just didn't take the time to print a new one just yet.)

And yes, those are paint swatches below the frame. My lovely interior designer friend helped me pick some paint colors to try out in another room in my house, but I'm thinking I want to use one of them in this room too. (Benjamin Moore Alaskan Husky and Revere Pewter)

And just to compare, here's what it used to look like. Definitely an improvement over this!

Several of you have mentioned to me that they want Joshua 24:15 print, so it's been on my list, but, honestly, I designed this one for me! These are my colors – the ones that make me happy! But if you love it too, it's available here as an 8x10. (Want it larger? Let me know!) Or, if you know what colors make YOU happy, I'd love to customize one just for you!

Leave a comment and let me know what you think!

Erin

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**For every order placed by Friday, February 14, receive a promo code for 25% off your next order.