It's Snowing!!!

Major excitement! Mainly because my family is all safe & sound :) and it won't last long....but it's snowing!!!!! and I love how beautiful everything looks. It's so peaceful & quiet, and I swear I can even *smell* snow coming :) What a blessing for me :) I pray that the new year will indeed be a happy one for everyone- and if possible- choose JOY! <><

This Baby Made The Angels Sing :)

This baby made a new star shine in the sky ( thank you Steven Curtis Chapmann for an awesome song!) My prayer is that everyone who reads this is blessed with the peace that passes all human understanding, and that you would be able to take time this Christmas, no matter what your circumstance, belief, or 'state of the heart' - and worship the Newborn King! Happy Birthday Jesus <><

Advent Sanctuary Decorations

So one of the fun things we do at my church is this big round spinning mobile in the center of the sanctuary. It started as a Pentecost themed design, and we usually do it for Lent & Advent too. When the ceiling fans are turned on, it rotates slightly with the air current. It's really pretty in person- this year's is a little 'busier' than some years, but it's nice just the same (*IMHO* :) We have an ongoing 'friendly debate' about the colors of Advent- I always lean toward purple, and some lean toward blue ( which is what our paraments are) So when I make the mobile, there's a lot more purple involved :) Happy Advent <><

Scrap Blocks

I *found* these wood blocks in the bottom of a box of (hoarded) craft goodies in my closet. Who knows why/what/when I got them for. Probably on sale somewhere :) So I covered them with more scraps, sanded all the edges for a distressed look, then added the letters- some are stickers, some are chipboard that I painted & resanded. I added some snowflake shineyness here and there. I had enough left over to spell out LOVE :) which is really....what Christmas is all about <><

Last One :)

Well this 'wraps up' the batch of cards I scrapped together- well , the pics anyway and the rest of the cards are all in the mail :) This one's simple too: fun design paper, paint chip, 3D vellum flower and snowflake bling. I must have made 50 of those flowers- I even stuck 2 of them back to back and made some pretty ornaments out of them. No snow yet- still teasing us with it in the forecast tho'. Have an awesome day- because The Lord Made It! :) <><

Upcycling :)

This card is a little bit of everything- a paint chip strip, some background scraps, a glittery piece from a card I received last year :) and more stickers....random hodgepodge that works for me :)

Speaking of hodgepodge- our newspaper reported that Goodwill stores are seeing a 25% jump in sales- I think I've contributed about 23% of it myself :) I LOVE the *thrill of the hunt* as it were...and I usually wind up making a "double donation" ( take some in...bring more home!) It amazes me what people donate. We have about 5 stores in our area. Lots of treasure hunting!

Keeping warm- today is even colder than yesterday and it 'smells like snow' to me! <><

Still Scrapping

I love the background paper on this one- it's hard to see by my *delightful* photograph but it is embossed with a real pearlescent shimmer to it. I added another 3D vellum flower ( I forgot to tell you I used Dina's 'trick' of running a stylus on foam under the vellum along the middle leaf line- it gives it more dimension- then I 'pinched' the ends of the flower together- makes it stand out more :) The letters are from a sticker set I've hoarded for years...a little red bling and ta da. You may have noticed by now that most of my cards are quick ones... <><

This morning is our coldest so far this season- 25* :) Everything looks so beautiful with a shimmer of frost!

Fairly Pleased :)

So I've been following Kelly's blog for awhile now and she makes the most gorgeous banners. Today I just decided I was going to go for it and make one :) While it pales in comparison to Kelly's, I am 'fairly pleased' with the results- and I can appreciate how much time goes into making one! ( there are SO MANY other things I should be doing today! heheheh) So thanks, Kelly, for the inspiration- I'm totally hooked and will be doing more in the future! <><

Scrap Happy :)

I really dug deep in the drawer for this one :) Nice background paper from one of those big 'blocks' and the dove image is a left over from some cards I mass produced for a business years ago- I just cropped it and attached with white photo corners. A little 3D snowflake bling and off it goes! I think someone ( maybe the Holy Spirit?) flipped a switch in my brain and now it's ok for me to stop 'hoarding' all of my paper goods and put them to good use! Hahahaha. And yes, I believe He's interested in every aspect of my life- even stamping :) God Bless you as you stamp/scrap/blog for Him <><

PS- the weatherman is predicting snow for us next week :)

More Recycled Fun :)

This card uses the same 3D flower image, scraps from a strip I punched snowflakes out of ( and couldn't bear to throw away! heheheh.) There's some red sparklies in the center of the flakes. I'm feeling rather empowered by using up some of my paper stash :) <><

Countdown to Christmas :)

This year, in my continuing effort to 'use stuff up' I have lots of different designs for our family Christmas cards. This one, that I'm the most happy with, unfortunatley is the worst picture. I need a new camera or better skills. The background paper is actually a piece of a worship folder from our church last January- I knew as soon as I saw it that it would be part of my Christmas cards. My awesome friend/church secretary gave me a whole bunch of them- I kept them out of the recycle bin :) I Cuttlebugged the strip of green paper ( left over from a huge card project I did for a logging company) and made the three dimensional flower by stamping with white staz-on on scraps of vellum. I attached it all with a gold brad. The flower stamps are from Smartworks & the 'Merry Christmas' is a Heart & Soul stamp. I'll be back tomorrow with another one :) <><

So Very Thankful...

My prayer is that everyone reading this has a blessed Thanksgiving in whatever way you celebrate it: in quiet reflection of all that God has graciously done for us, or in joyful chaos with family and friends :) I'm thankful for: Grace, hope, love, health, God's Mighty Right Hand of protection, safe travel, eyes to see the beauty and wonder of His creation, and the ability to recognize that it all comes from my Heavenly Father :) <><

More wood fun!

Well I loved the pumpkins I made earlier so much I was excited to see that Craft Warehouse had snowmen too! ( and santas, etc. ) so I had to make a coupla more :) They came with the blue/black plaid ribbon so I just chose scraps from the drawer again that matched the ribbon- added a little silver snowflake button on the littlest guy. Too much fun! <><

Giving Thanks....

I love this time of year- I probably already mentioned that a dozen times! lol....but I love to give out Thanksgiving cards to people. This year my 'goal' has been to use up what I have on hand ( which means that- in about 20 years I'll need to go buy some more!!! :) This card is made with scraps from my scrap drawer- bits & pieces- and I ran the one strip through the CB. The image is from SU. I added a shiny Class-a-peels sticker to the top- hard to see in this pic, some ribbon and a leaf brad. And now it's time to tell my friends that I'm thankful for them! <><

Thank You Veterans!

For those who have sacrificed so much for the freedom and safety in our country- that I pray we never ever take for granted. God Bless you all for your Servant Hearts :)

Happy Belated Reformation Day :)

But the desire to be 'reformed' in the image of Christ is an everyday event :) Also a day of 'Lutheran excitement' - the issue of the brand new Lutheran Study Bible (ESV) with lots of teachings and footnotes that help us understand what it means to be Lutheran Christians :) I read a preview and knew right away that I wanted one :)
Have a great week! Sola Gratia! - by Grace alone <><

Quilts of Love....

So we have an amazing group of quilters at my church- they call themselves 'The Dorcas Sewers" , after Dorcas from the Bible ( but we kid them sometimes and call them 'dorky sewers'- all in fun :) And they make the most amazing quilts that are sent around the world thru Lutheran World Relief. Twice a year they painstakingly spread them over all of the pews, and on Sunday we have a 'blanket blessing' for them before they get packed up and shipped in a container to their new homes- in the farthest corners of the world! It is such a beautiful sight that I just had to share it with you :) <><

'Upcycling' ....

I just love that new 'buzzword' - well, new to me anyway...As stampers, haven't we been doing that already for years with our penchant for keeping every single thing that we could possible use someday ?? I love Goodwill ( altho' I must protest that they too have raised the prices on everything :( and I found this empty 'do-it-yourself' snowglobe there a long time ago ( and put it away to be 'upcycled' someday :) I had to pop the stopper out and add a little more water to it...probably why someone else gave up on it!) and while I was at it I added some gold glitter for a more fall-like look. I used a technique I learned from Mama Dina about cutting a stamped image apart and rearranging it- the sentiment is from Heart & Soul- then I just added a little color with an orange pencil. The leaf stamp is from Northwoods, again colored with pencils and a little gold gel ink pen. The words are handwritten in my own chicken scratch :)

I got the picture frame at Goodwill too- framed a fun little picture from a calendar page and added a leaf embellishment. I LOVE FALL :)

Finally!

I promised some new stamps at Heart & Soul....over a month ago.....well they're finally here.....actually my awesome webwoman Cyndy posted them for me a couple of weeks ago....then I had this great card idea in mind, and of course my printer ran dry....blah blah blah...but here is one of the newest verses:

As soon as I saw this photo (taken from my back porch!) I knew I had the perfect fit for this verse in Habakkuk! It doesn't get much more brilliant or splenderous than this! More to come.....<><

More Autumn Fun......

Seriously - I think I could have 1000 fall decoraty-things and still find room for one more ! I picked up this unfinished wood pumpkin set at Joann's awhile back and just glued on some scraps of background paper out of the *Monsterous Stash* :) then sanded the edges down and added a little orange star button in the corner- the green fabric ribbon came with the set! My kinda easy! <><

Fall friendship.....

So this is a card I made for some of my best buds - it kinda bothers some of the 'non-stamping' ones that I make them cards- they seem to feel guilty that they didn't 'get' me anything in return....and I say 'pish & tosh' to that idea - because, like most of you, I LOVE making cards!!! and you can only make SO MANY CARDS before you need to give them away :)

I LOVE using paint samples....altho' I haven't come to terms with the idea of just getting them to use on cards. Perhaps that's unethical, since I don't really plan to choose paint based on them....I'll have to think this through a little more...hmmmm....but the fact is that I have enough packratted away to last me for awhile. The image is an Inkadinkadoo clear stamp, and the paper is from the newer 'Indian Summer fall stack'- I used some more of the mustard card stock I have a ton of, and ran it through the Cuttlebug. Top if off with a leaf button and some twine...
...inside I used another Inkadinkadoo swirl, and a 'CTMH' happy fall from the 'season of color' set...

....and for the 'piece of resistance' (which is English for "I can't spell it in French :) I gathered up a bunch of old & new doilies and dyed them orange with Rit dye - just a little something fun to spread the Fall love <><

New things.....Artful Blogging...

...so normally I would NEVER EVER spend $14.99 for a magazine. Rarely will I spend that for a BOOK ( thanks to the Goodwill :).....BUT.....potentially desperate times call for desperate measures...and I did break down and buy this magazine on my recent roadtrip to College Drop Off Land ! I was drawn immediately to the cover ( isn't that how it's supposed to work ?) and I just loved the whole thing. I even found some new blogs that I'm going to follow. Just goes to show you that when you step out of your 'comfort zone box' that something good can come from it :)

Check out these lovely blogs :

www.lifelovepaper.typepad.com
www.onepearlbutton.blogspot.com
www.rebeccasower.typepad.com
www.carolynpeeler.typepad.com

happy wednesday :)

Ah....the Autumnal Equinox....

....my favorite time of year. I love the crispness of the mornings- the fresh air - the changing leaves - it just reminds me that God makes everything beautiful in it's time...<><

Rod Run to the End of the World

So....every year we go to Long Beach (WA, not CA) for this awesome car show...yes, I am blessed to be only 2 hours away from the Pacific Ocean :) that has probably over 1000 entries- plus all of the sweet cars NOT entered into the show (must be pre-1973 vintage - I think ) driving around town. Personally I enjoy HEARING the vroom vroom of a built V-8 engine - tires burning and the whole kaboodle - so after the show my DH & I, and thousands of other 'gear heads' set up our lawn chairs along the main road and, well, watch the traffic go by! Ya gotta love it! Good times- good folks - amazing craftsmanship on the vehicles. This is one of my faves from this year- mainly because it closely resembles my own first car - now WHY DID I GET RID OF THAT ???? Seriously- it's time for me to stop 'playing' and get back to business- new stamps coming soon at Heart & Soul :) Blessings & varoooommmmmm <><

Ginormous thanks.....

.....to the AMAZING Mama Dini :) for rescuing me from the pit of HTML DESPAIR :) You're the bestest CSSC I could ever have :) and here's a long distance hug & a gift:

oh dear....

Well THAT wasn't what I meant to do! I thought I was just deleting my background image and it seems I deleted all of the old posts too. Anyone got the time to help me out ? I would be much obliged <><

One of those cards you wish you didn't need to make....

One of my dear friends was just diagnosed with lung cancer. He is the 'Uber Epitome' of health and this just came way out of left field. He's still undergoing tests to see how much/where/what to do next....So I wanted to make something that might give him a little encouragement along the way. Thankfully He serves a God Who is bigger than cancer or anything else the world may throw at him. And if you'd like to rattle Heaven's gates on his behalf along with the rest of us, his name is Ken :)

I used a mustard colored cardstock for the card ( you may recognize this from ALOT of earlier posts :) then layered it with some shiny black scrap, then stamped the new Stampin' Up medallion with mustard ink, then the verse ( I don't know the Co. as I got it UM, but I would venture a guess at Wordsworth..I've had it for years!) and added a ribbon & gold charm. Thanks for looking & praying <><

College Road Trip

Just got home from a family vacation/college freshman delivery/road trip :) I had never been across the states, that far, and we had a wonderful time. My daughter is settling in great at CSP, and my hubby and I are adjusting to being 'empty nesters'...So the thought that kept going through my head as we drove through Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota, Wyoming & Washington was this: If Creation is this beautiful, even now, after the Fall and our sin has messed it up- how much more stunningly beautiful WAS it before we messed up ? And how amazing will it be when God creates it all again in the new Heaven and Earth? My mind is fully boggled :) <><

Ugggghhh.....

We are in the midst of some brutally hot weather here in the Northwest- 105*....Too hot for this old lady :) Thank God for air conditioning! Normally when it's hot here it at least cools off in the evenings, and it doesn't last for too long...but this time we're setting some new records- highs and lows...I'll be glad when it's over :) and just as an FYI- Heart & Soul Rubber Stamp Co. is going to be closed for most of the month of August...but the good news is- that when it 'starts up' again in September there will be some new images to show. It's time for a vacation- and to take my 'baby girl' off to college...she's raring to go :) God Bless & Stay Cool <><

Birthday Journal

So I have the sweetest niece who is just crazy over lime green. anything. lime green. So for her upcoming birthday I made her this fun notebook/journal/whatever. I 'cheated' a little by buying one already made at Michaels ( for $1.00!!! ) then I just added my own background papers and stamps. That's a SU circle stamp, and I also stamped it on all of the inside lower corner pages. I think she'll like it- along with her lime green beach chair & beach towel! happy birthday (soon) miss megan :)
<><

God Bless America ?

One of my favorite scriptures is : "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14....and one of my favorite Heart & Soul stamps is: "God has already blessed America...how about if America blesses God?" Strangely NOT one of my best sellers :) I guess it's hard to think about how to bless God- He already has everything He needs! This concept was foreign to me until a few years back when one of my former pastors explained it like this: "we bless God by living in His will, by loving our neighbors as ourselves, and by loving Him with our whole heart, soul & mind." Sounds right to me! So thank you, Lord, for all the awesome blessings You shower on the United States of America- let us never grow Independent from You! <><

Happy Birthday America!

....where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. II Corinthians 3:17

My Sweet Valedictorian :)

She's a little embarrassed by all the 'hoopla' and mom's pride...but she'll get over it :) I am honored that God chose us as her parents. She is such a blessing...

NOW I can share....

....what I've been doing instead of stamping :) I made a quilt for my lovely daughter's 'blanket blessing' at church- a little ceremony we have for the graduating seniors. They receive a blanket to signify wrapping themselves in the love of their families & God- wherever the future takes them. This was so much fun for me because it was a total surprise to her! I 'fibbed' and let her think I was way too busy to make her a quilt...then I went ahead and made one in her future college school colors ( Yay Concordia St. Paul!) plus the color orange, which is kind of her favorite. A purple heart for mom, and one with kitty paws to remind her of home... so much fun! Oh yeah- I 'cheated' and had it machine quilted- I REALLY was too busy to quilt it by hand :) and they used a heart shaped pattern. I just love it, and I think she does too! <><

This morning.....

It's a beautiful sunny day here in the Pacific NW- as I'm checking my email I hear the unmistakable sound I know is followed by something awesome.....so I grab my camera and head out side and sure enough, here it comes:


This could easily be one of my 'bucket list' thingys :)

Hope you have an awesome day- mine is sure off to a great start <><

Special Grad Cards

Every year I try to make a 'keepsake' card for the kids who send us graduation announcements- by completely tearing their announcement apart!!! :) Then I rearrange the pieces back into some 'collagey' style- some I sponge around the edges, others I mount on background paper..etc. You get the drift. So far- no one has protested ( maybe the check that comes with the card helps to ease the blow...heheheh) If I don't have to mail it, I add their initials or the year in Scrabble tiles. Each one turns out a little differently because, well, each announcement is different in it's own way.



Inside is some kind of verse I've printed on the computer in color-coordinated paper, and I tie the pages together with some of that super metallic embroidery floss- it kinda looks like a tassel when it unwinds.

This one's for one of my sweet nieces that I don't get to see often enough. Hi Miss Whitney <3

Graduation Thank You's

So I made some thank you notes for my daughter's upcoming graduation....in her school colors- a little hard to see but they are maroon and gold. I printed 'thank you' on the computer, then stamped the "2009" (Heart & Soul) then masked it and stamped the school mascot stamp (which is one of the perks of having your own stamp company- you can make just about anything as long as it's legal :) Super quick (x 30) ! Next time I'll post some graduation cards I make with the kid's announcements. <><

All Gave Some...Some Gave All

The first time I heard that saying it took a minute to really 'sink in'...I hope that I never take for granted all the people who have given their lives for my freedom. And Jesus is at the head of that list :)




May you have a 'thankful' Memorial Day :)

<><

Some of what I've been working on......

....most of my 'creative energy' (if you could call it that !) these days has been centered around my youngest's high school graduation....working on the Grad Nite Party and such...(now ya went and got me started....I take 'issue' with the "Drug & Alcohol Free" idea- because I'm naive enough to choose to believe that most if not all of the kids who will be coming to the party choose not to be under those influences.....yes, my other life motto is "blissfully ignorant & hopelessly optimistic" for a good reason :) but at least they'll all be in one safe place having a blast - away from those other kids who aren't making wise choices... sorry...went down a rabbit trail there....ANYWAY....in an effort to stay under budget- I decided to make some key chains (150!) for everyone which will go in their 'goodie bag's they'll each get. And it's highly doubtful that any of them read my blog, so here's a pic:

I cut the computer generated words("I survived my grad nite party" & "PHS Class of 2009")with a tag punch, then glued them on each side of a scrap piece- in the school colors- I have lotsa scraps since this is my second PHS grad :) Then I added eyelets (yay for crop-a-dile!) and bought a 100 foot roll of beaded chain & connectors at my local hardware store. All in all they came in around .25 each. Just point me to the top and I'll go over :) <><

Blessed Mom's Day.....

(Doesn't God do amazing work????)



I am the mother of two blessings (thanks, Third Day, for the name idea...:) the DIL of a wonderful lady, the STIL of another wonderful lady ( my 'own' mom passed away almost 30 years ago...but I believe I'll get to hug her again someday:) and today looks to be a beautiful day- weather wise- in the NW.

I'm praying that you all are blessed today- either as moms,daughters,wives,aunts, nieces....or daughters of the Risen King :) and that DOES make you a princess :)

my 'babies' -


<><

An Awesome Night :)

I am so blessed to be able to go experience amazing worship events like this with my daughter :) These guys absolutely rocked the Rolling Hills last night!!!

It's Cool in the Furnace, Man....

So.....I have the extreme honor of being in 'the band' with my lovely daughter and others in my church family- for this super cute musical event- with 14 of the sweetest children of God you would ever hope to meet! What a fun way to tell the story of Shadrach, Meschach & Ebednego...and I KNOW that God's word is planted deep in these kid's hearts- they will carry these little songs with them all through their lives....and the other fun thing for me personally is that my son was an actor in this play the first time we did it- years ago! Kinda a 'deja vu' moment for me, only this time I'm behind the scene ( literally...the drum set is behind the scenery) Some days I think God couldn't possibly bless me any more than He already has :) and He just says...YES I CAN! Just watch Me :) <><

Boyoboyoboy!!!

I'm so excited! I received my very first blog award today :) from a very kind lady indeed.....and here's a little explanation about it....

"The Exalting Christ blog award is given to bloggers who consistently exalt the name of Christ on their blogs. What a joy to see crafters blend their passion for Christ and papercrafting. This award is given to bloggers who share Christ through their posts or through the design of their artwork. We are commanded in Scripture to be "salt and light" sharing the Good News of Jesus no matter where we are (Matthew 5:13-16). This award is just a way members of Women to Women: Sharing Jesus can say thanks for exalting Christ with us!"

So thank you very much Edith! Now I'm charged to pass the award along to 5 other sisters in Christ ( I'm guessing they'll all be CSSC's :) ....so I'm off! <><

Even the Bugs Praise His Holy Name......

So someone sent me this picture and I think it's awesome...I call it a "Praising Mantis" !

I apologize for not posting any stamping projects lately....I've been working on a few other huge things that are NOT stamping related ( I KNOW!!! ) and I'll post some pics when the timing is right for those....but for now I'm enjoying checking out all of your blogs & posts! My stuff pales in comparison.....God definitely gives to each of us His different gifts & talents :)

We are enjoying some wonderful sunny Spring days here in the Beautiful Pacific "Northwet"....I think we natives appreciate the sun MORE than anyone else when it does peek through :).....oh yeah....and we're experiencing a revival of RIP CITY !!!!!! GO BLAZERS!!!!! :) <><

He is Risen...He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!

Awesome <><

Thank you Jesus....

Ever wonder why it's called "Good" Friday ? It certainly wasn't 'good' for Jesus...