Come Join My "Follow The Prophet" Challenge - FREE DOWNLOADS

Our prophet is turning 100 soon! So I created a challenge leading up to his birthday to celebrate him better in my heart. About the challenge... 

I woke up yesterday with an idea of something I wanted to do and because I'm a nerd I spent the day making a chart to help me track my progress. The idea expanded more today and I created a calendar to keep up with it day to day and a little notes table to write up my thoughts as I go. Whenever I have this much fun I can't help but want to share it. So here it all is- for free! I'll have the downloadable link at the bottom.

Are you like me and have to have something on in the background while working or creating art? I like to listen to music, audiobooks and podcasts or have shows on a side screen nearby that I can listen to and glance at periodically. It actually helps my ADHD brain stay on task with what I'm doing. Some of you can relate, I'm sure. Lately, as I've been working on my art, I have felt a little more down- like I give up more easily when I get stuck or just don't feel the same amount of joy working on it as usual. I thought through it and realized I've been having a few shows on that don't exactly uplift. They are exciting, but dark, and overall I was just getting more and more down- it was affecting my ability to make art. So I began throwing in some conference talks at the start of my day. As I listened to those I felt inspired in lots of areas of my life and began to be less attracted to things that were dark. I didn't listen to them all day long. Just a little burst at the beginning of the day and it sets things in a good space for making better media decisions. Anyway, yesterday, I woke with the idea that it would be fun to listen to every General Conference talk that President Nelson has given before his 100th birthday on September 9th. 

I looked at my calendar and the talks he has given and realized that's 112 talks in 55 days (starting July 17th)- about 2 talks a day (with an extra talk on Aug 13th and Aug 26th). Totally doable for me when I listen to stuff for 4-6 hours a day while I create and have been listening to 1-2 talks a day at the start anyway. 

I felt a burst of excitement thinking about how much I would get to know him better and how it would bless my life. A few years ago, I was able to give him a piece of art I had made of paper cut layers building the scene of Joseph Smith's first vision. He had my piece placed in the Conference Center and he wrote me the sweetest thank you letter expressing how much he loved my art, my heart, my testimony, and expressing God's love for me and my family. It came at such an important time in my life and made a huge impact on me. I have been blessed to feel his goodness and have a testimony of him as a prophet, but that experience made him my friend. :) Just for fun, here is the picture that he sent me of him with my paper cut piece. If you want to see it in person, it's just in the main lobby of the LDS Conference Center in Salt Lake City. 

Back to the idea though- This download packet has a coloring chart to fill in as you listen to or read all 112 talks. I make these kinds of things all the time and it's so fun to see me progressing. There is also a breakdown of each day going from July 17 - Sept 9th and which talks to study each day in order to finish in time to celebrate his 100th birthday. When I study talks I like to have a journal near me to write the following: Talk Name, Speaker, Teachings, Insights, Promptings, Promised Blessings, Warnings, etc. and then a section at the bottom of how I can apply this talk to my life. It's something I've done since I was a teenager. Anyway, I've also added a printable to the end that follows that order if you'd like to take notes that way too. I get it, that might be too over the top, or maybe just over the top enough if you are a nerd like me. :) 

So... come join me! It's free! Please note, that just because I'm giving this out for free doesn't mean that you can use it to sell it. I want to offer this to anyone and I put in a lot of work making it. Thank you! Click on the download button to get your sheets. 

For reference if it helps to find the talks later I will make a list of them right here with the links to each of them when you click on the talk name. :)

1. Call to the Holy Apostleship (Apr 1984)

2. Protect the Spiritual Power Line (Oct 1984)

3. Reverence for Life (Apr 1985)

4. Self-Mastery (Oct 1985)

5. In the Lord’s Own Way (Apr 1986)

6. “Joy Cometh in the Morning” (Oct 1986)

7. Life after Life (April 1987)

8. Lessons from Eve (Oct 1987)

9. Keys of the Priesthood (Oct 1987)

10. “With God Nothing Shall Be Impossible” (Apr 1988)

11. Addiction or Freedom (Oct 1988)

12. The Canker of Contention (Apr 1989)

13. Woman - Of Infinite Worth (Oct 1989)

14. “Thus Shall My Church Be Called” (Apr 1990)

15. Choices (Oct 1990)

16. Listen to Learn (Apr 1991) 

17. “These... Were Our Examples” (Oct 1991)

18. Doors of Death (Apr 1992)

19. Where Is Wisdom? (Oct 1992)

20. Honoring the Priesthood (Apr 1993)

21. Combating Spiritual Drift - Our Global Pandemic (Oct 1993)

22. Constancy Amid Change (Oct 1993)

23. “Teach Us Tolerance and Love” (Apr 1994)

24. The Spirit of Elijah (Oct 1994)

25. Children of the Covenant (Apr 1995)

26. Perfection Pending (Oct 1995)

27. “Thou Shalt Have No Other Gods” (Apr 1996)

28. The Atonement (Oct 1996)

29. Endure and Be Lifted Up (Apr 1997)

30. Spiritual Capacity (Oct 1997)

31. A New Harvest Time (Apr 1998)

32. We Are Children of God (Oct 1998)

33. Our Sacred Duty to Honor Women (Apr 1999)

34. A Testimony of the Book of Mormon (Oct 1999)

35. The Creation (Apr 2000)

36. Living by Scriptural Guidance (Oct 2000)

37. Personal Preparation for Temple Blessings (Apr 2001)

38. “Set in Order Thy House” (Oct 2001)

39. How Firm Our Foundation (Apr 2002)

40. “Blessed Are the Peacemakers” (Oct 2002)

41. Sweet Power of Prayer (Apr 2003)

42. Personal Priesthood Responsibility (Oct 2003)

43. Roots and Branches (Apr 2004)

44. Senior Missionaries and the Gospel (Oct 2004)

45. Now Is the Time to Prepare (Apr 2005)

46. Jesus Christ - The Master Healer (Oct 2005)

47. Nurturing Marriage (Apr 2006)

48. The Gathering of Scattered Israel (Oct 2006) 

49. Repentance and Conversion (Apr 2007)

50. Scriptural Witness (Oct 2007)

51. Salvation and Exaltation (Apr 2008)

52. Celestial Marriage (Oct 2008)

53. Lessons From the Lord’s Prayer (Apr 2009) 

54. Ask, Seek, Knock (Oct 2009)

55. Generations Linked in Love (Apr 2010)

56. Be Thou An Example of the Believers (Oct 2010)

57. Face the Future With Faith (Apr 2011)

58. Covenants (Oct 2011)

59. Thanks Be to God (Apr 2012)

60. Ask the Missionaries! They Can Help You! (Oct 2012)

61. Catch the Wave (Apr 2013)

62. Decisions for Eternity (Oct 2013)

63. Let Your Faith Show (Apr 2014)

64. Sustaining the Prophets (Oct 2014)

65. The Sabbath Is a Delight (Apr 2015)

66. A Plea to My Sisters (Oct 2015)

67. The Price of Priesthood Power (Apr 2016)

68. Joy and Spiritual Survival (Oct 2016)

69. Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ Into Our Lives (Apr 2017)

70. The Book of Mormon: What Would You Life Be Like Without It (Oct 2017)

71. Introductory Remarks (Apr 2018)

72. Ministering with the Power and Authority of God (Apr 2018)

73. Revelation For the Church, Revelation for Our Lives (Apr 2018)

74. Ministering (Apr 2018)

75. Let Us All Press On (Apr 2018)

76. Opening Remarks (Oct 2018)

77. Sisters’ Participation in the Gathering of Israel (Oct 2018)

78. The Correct Name of the Church (Oct 2018)

79. Becoming Exemplary Latter-day Saints (Oct 2018)

80. We Can Do Better and Be Better (Apr 2019)

81. “Come, Follow Me” (Apr 2019)

82. Closing Remarks (Apr 2019)

83. Witnesses, Aaronic Priesthood Quorums, & Young Women Classes (Oct 2019)

84. Spiritual Treasures (Oct 2019)

85. The Second Great Commandment (Oct 2019)

86. Closing Remarks (Oct 2019)

87. Opening Message (Apr 2020)

88. Opening the Heavens for Help (Apr 2020)

89. Hear Him (Apr 2020)

90. Hosanna Shout (Apr 2020)

91. Go Forward in Faith (Apr 2020)

92. Moving Forward (Oct 2020)

93. Embrace the Future with Faith (Oct 2020)

94. Let God Prevail (Oct 2020)

95. A New Normal (Oct 2020)

96. Welcome Message (Apr 2021)

97. What We Are Learning and Will Never Forget (Apr 2021)

98. Christ Is Risen; Faith in Him Will Move Mountains (Apr 2021)

99. COVID-19 and Temples (Apr 2021)

100. Pure Truth, Pure Doctrine, and Pure Revelation (Oct 2021)

101. The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation (Oct 2021)

102. Make Time for the Lord (Oct 2021)

103. Preaching the Gospel of Peace (Apr 2022)

104. The Power of Spiritual Momentum (Apr 2022)

105. Now Is the Time (Apr 2022)

106. What Is True? (Oct 2022)

107. Overcome the World and Find Rest (Oct 2022)

108. Focus on the Temple (Oct 2022)

109. Peacemakers Needed (Apr 2023)

110. The Answer Is Always Jesus Christ (Apr 2023)

111. Think Celestial! (Oct 2023)

112. Rejoice in the Gift of Priesthood Keys (Apr 2024)

Habit Tracker Bundle

My most popular habit tracker digitized and made into a bundle. A GREAT VALUE! GO check it out here in my Etsy Shop - The Lost Button

This bundle contains: 

*365 and 366 Day Calendars (Leap and Non Leap Years) in 3 sizes (US Letter, A4, A5, and Poster 12"x18").  

*Individual Months (2 for Feb- leap and non leap years) enlarged to color in as you go in 3 sizes (US Letter, A4, and A5). Each month contains it's own unique motivational quote to help keep you inspired in the ways you are working to grow.

These are perfect for putting on your wall or in your favorite planner or journal. It gives just the right encouragement for helping you reach your goals. I developed this calendar design back in 2014 and my little family of 5 has really enjoyed using it over the years to keep track of our goals and cheer each other on. It's a fun and easy way to keep track of your year on just one page. It allows you to fill in the days and can be adaptable to any goal for the year or one goal to focus on each month. I created this because I am the type of person that has a hard time picking only one. This made it so that I could choose one intention each month and commit fully to it for that month instead of losing steam half way through the year. It is a printable PDF.  

This is a digital product. It will be ready to download right away! Purchase once and its yours forever!

Book of Mormon Reading Coloring Chart Printable

 

Do you have a goal to read the Book of Mormon this year? Just in time for 2024 Come Follow Me reading. It's encouraging and fun to track your progress with this simple reading coloring chart that I designed for my family and the kids in the primary that I teach. It is perfect for all ages and can be tracked as an individual or as a group, like a family. It's a great youth, seminary, or primary hand out. It's in my Etsy shop - The Lost Button (here) for digital download and is super cheap.

This chart comes in 4 sizes- US Letter, A4, A5, and 12"x18" (Poster) - that way you can print it and put it in the place you'd like (regular paper size, journal, poster to hang on the wall, etc.) 

The picture above was of the prototype before I had added finishing touches and President Nelson's quote at the bottom, but my daughter has enjoyed using it. You will too!

2024 Habit Trackers (Leap Year) and 2,000 SALE CELEBRATION SALE

YAY! I reached a really great mile stone in the last week in my Etsy shop (The Lost Button) of 2,000 sales! To celebrate I have put all my habit trackers 25% off (here). 

This has been an important year of growth! I began my shop in 2009 to sell my Halloween advent calendars, but hadn't done much with it since then until this last year when I realized I could be selling the little things for little prices. At first, I was really shocked and sad that someone had taken my stuff that I had put out there for free and was selling it without my permission. I was even more disappointed when I reached out and they wouldn't take it down. Instead of being angry I decided to look at the situation and say, "this is happening FOR me, not TO me." I got to learn from it instead of feeling like a victim. What a great gift to learn that I could sell my small stuff for small prices and not just the large stuff that took weeks to make for large prices. It filled me with confidence and happiness to know that I had good ideas- great and small. :) So thank you for all the support and love!

As an update, I wanted to share...

My most downloaded habit tracker is back, but updated for the 2024 Leap Year (here)

I've also updated the design (here) for those that asked for me to make it with digital numbers instead of the hand-written ones. The numbers are slightly larger for ease in reading as well. 

Both of these come in 4 sizes (US Letter, A4, A5, and Hobonichi Weeks Journal) and they can be found in my etsy shop https://thelostbutton.etsy.com

If you want to break it up into months, I also created these bundles for a year of months (2 different Februrary months so you could use it for leap and non leap years). These bundles are sold in the 4 sizes as well- US Letter, A4, A5, and Hobonichi Weeks Journal. They are in the shop on sale too. 

They are fun to color in. You can keep track of up to 6 goals- perfect for groups like your family, work, teams, to keep track of goals or for an individual working on a few things at once, like in the 75 Hard Challenge.

Whatever you are wanting to grown in this year, I have a few different types of options according to what fits you best. Even though these sell for really cheap, you can grab them now for even cheaper. :) 

I hope you have a wonderful 2024 filled with growth and happiness!

First Vision Art Piece Christmas Sale

I have made more of these unique pieces of art in time for Christmas sales and have them up in my Etsy Shop - The Lost Button. They are on sale until December 13th at midnight (the last day to order them to guarantee delivery before Christmas) marked down 18%. They make wonderful, one-of-a-kind, meaningful Christmas gifts. Order soon, before the sale and current supplies end!

I sold of bunch of these 2 years ago when my sister and I took apart one of my personal lightbox designs and created a pattern for replicating them. From those sold I was able to get my own laser cutter and now I can make them here instead of my sister cutting them out and sending me kits to build of my design. :)

Here is the background behind this piece:

Testimonies come in layers of light. This representation of Joseph Smith's First Vision came to me a few years ago before I knew how to create it. The process came one layer at a time, drawing backwards and cutting each layer out by hand according to the piece I had cut just before. I didn't know how to make it work in the end, I just knew one step at a time and moved forward that way- just as we do with our lives and testimonies. 

We lived in Palmyra, NY one summer near The Grove where this vision took place 200(ish) years ago. I used to wander it with my family. We'd stop to paint, sketch, journal, read, and ponder/play. I based this particular section of my favorite little corner of the grove. This sacred event means everything to me and I am so happy to be able to share my heart with others this way. The original that this smaller piece is based off of is much bigger (3 feet tall) and has been in a bunch of art shows over the past 3 years. This smaller design is 11x9x4 inches. 

It has been such a special experience to have this piece lit and in my front room. The beautiful flow that plays off the layers of paper brings a quiet loveliness to my heart and home (simply stunning in the lower lights of the evening). I am not often bold in declaring my testimony, so I have loved how this has given me the opportunity to share an inner piece of myself with all who enter my home and see it.

With building them each individually it can take up to 2 weeks to make and send off to you. Often it's a one week turn around, but with the holidays it can extend the time. Each box comes with a safe led light/plug for longevity and plexiglass in the frame to protect the delicate paper layers. The light clips into the back where there is an engraved account of Joseph Smith's vision in the scriptures. 

Black Sketchbook Drawings and Happy Thoughts

In the past 5-6 years, I've kept track of my art more on my Instagram page, The Lost Button. Recently, my middle daughter mentioned how much she loved reading my blog when I used to post more here and asked if I would pick it up again. I'm not sure how much blogs are used anymore, but I miss having this as a gathering place of art and happy moments too. So, I think I'll catch up on a few little happy thought drawings that I have created the last year or two in my black sketchbook. These drawings are almost always made while wandering in the mountains and so naturally become organic mandalas of some sort or another. 

Here's one I began on a beautiful Sunday afternoon in the late summer next to a river my youngest daughter played in the entire time. 

I came home and finished it at my desk and it turned out like this.

Here's one I made for my husband's sketch club prompt last fall. I added more to the design later, but didn't like it as much so I'll only share this part of it. hahaha

This is one I began on a hike in the mountains while in a field of wild flowers.

I brought it with me on a vacation later that week and finished it while sitting on a large rock structure above a koi pond at a train depot. This particular spot was a favorite place to sit and play the guitar in my teen years and so special to share with my family while visiting in August. 

This is one I made for my cousin's daughter. I had started it while at a family gathering and she liked it so much I decided to give it to her when I finished. I created it in her favorite colors.

Here's a few random ones I made while out and about with my youngest daughter (she's my usual mountain exploring buddy). She's got a secret power of attracting little flying creatures to visit her and land on her fingers and head. They've found her since she was just a toddler. We've decided they are fairies in disguise and visiting her for being a kindred spirit.  

Here is a series of pictures of a little green flying insect meeting her and her surprise when he flew off. So fun to have captured that moment.

Here's another lucky shot. If you look closely at this photo of her sitting on a rock in the middle of a river, you can see that a little butterfly had landed on her finger. 

The last sketch/happy thought to share is from my most favorite time in the mountains. One this day in July, while in the mountains and working on this sketch that I had started at church, we witnessed a group of Greek women dancing in a circle. They were singing/praying in a ritual for their grieving friend who cried in the center of the circle on the ground. They invited me to join them. I didn't know their language or what they were saying. They were all singing different words and even in different tunes, but it was apparent that they were singing in replies to each other and they were there for their grieving friend and wailing with her. They changed their tune part way through and it built speed and became lighter until they were stomping and clapping and reaching down to their friend and lifting her up. It was beautiful. Our hearts were connected and I was crying with them. I gave them my unfinished sketch and hugged them. In broken English they told me that it was a special prayer for women and to be done outdoors. As my new friends left, the grove seemed to explode with butterflies and many flew to my daughter and landed on her. It is one of the most sacred experiences of my life. I knew it would have been extremely inappropriate to take pictures while they were dancing (even though it was so beautiful and I wanted to remember it forever), but I'm so glad I got a picture of the sketch before giving it away and of Pip with one of her butterflies/fairies.