Frog of Faith

Cornish Heritage Farms is back and I'm a winner :)

2011-11-22T20:11:00.000-05:00

Hello Frog Faithfuls ;) Happy Thanksgiving week!

It is a week of blessings and thankgiving to a mighty God who loves and blesses His children daily! I have been doubly blessed by happenings of late, including the return of Cornish Heritage Farms Rubber stamps! Yay! Those who know me and my crafting habits know that CHF images are my favorite...I think I have more of them than any other. When Liz and Richard opened a different business, CHF closed its doors...and "dyed-in-the-wool-there-from-the-beginning" groupies like me were super sad! But the latest news? CHF Stamps has a new owner! Tanya, has reopened the website this week, at www.cornishheritagefarms.com! At this time, the CHF images are all digital, but she has grand plans to include rubber images in the new year, including THOMAS KINKADE images! Exciting! Not only am I happy about THAT development, but this week, CHF held a blog hop for commenting and I AM A WINNER :) YAY! I won a $10 gift certificate from Dawn Lusk's blog! Wow! Is God good or WHAT?! :)

In honor of their grand reopening (and winning!), I am posting a card that I made using CHF images for a swap I was involved in this summer. The swap theme was FALL, SCHOOL and EMBOSSING. Here it is! Forgive the slight blurriness of the photo...it was taken by my cell phone and looked fine in a 2x2 image, LOL :)

May God bless you and your family richly on this week of Thanksgiving and always. You are loved!

Sometimes it is about the candy :)

2011-07-01T12:58:00.000-04:00

Frog Faithfuls!

I'm among the living! Really! If you're still out there in blogland, Hello! In spite of all my best intention several times this year, l haven't been in the zone when it comes to blogging my crafts or my life...I blame it a little on the "microwave" mentality of Facebook, where it only takes a second to connect with others and poof! You are done! but FB doesn't give me quite the same connection as blogging and connecting with those who love crafting with stamps, so my heart remains here, albeit dormant! So...THANK YOU CHERYL, one of my SBS29 sistahs, who has blog candy up on her blog which requires posting on my blog! If you are interested in GREAT candy, check out her blog here:

http://shestamps.blogspot.com/

I am on summer vacation now, although my plate is FULL of things to do and places to be, l do plan to blog as much as I'm able...it will inspire me to stamp more and visit more with all of your blogs too! Heck, I may even post my posts to my Facebook page. Why not?!
Love to you all and be blessed this weekend!

Thank you, CHF!!

2010-07-17T10:26:00.000-04:00

Sadly, I have learned that one of my first and favorite stamp companies OF ALL TIME is shutting it's doors (at least for the Pomeroy family, the business is for sale). Cornish Heritage Farms has continually blessed me as a company and as a family! The Pomeroys have shared their lives with those who followed their farm and family blog. We have been through their adventures raising an ever growing family on a Montana Farm. We have voted for names for the newborn animals, guessed at how many goose/chicken/duck eggs would hatch successfully, and shared the joys and heartaches of raising teenagers and babies! Their company has shown EXCELLENCE in their images, their customer service and, goodness sakes, their faithful and FAST shipping!! But alas, they are moving their farm and decided that the stamping chapter of their lives is done.....AND WE ARE SO SAD

But all things change and we must change with them. God has a plan for us all and I am proud of this family for seeking His face and following what they feel God is leading them to do next. So really this is a GOOD thing and I wish them all the best in their new venture. To bless us, they have begun to discount their stamps and stuff, now at 20-40% off. Their images are--bar none--the best of their kind. Keep checking in...I'm hoping their Thomas Kinkade line will show up on the sale shelf soon...til then I will leave you will a few CHF cards and project (above) I'd done with some of my favorite images of theirs...aren't they just SO GREAT??

They ROCK! Congratulations CHF! We will miss you!

and

Babies everywhere!

2010-07-08T13:33:00.007-04:00

There seems to be babies being born at a wonderful rate all around me! I love it! I sit in church waiting to begin our preschool ministry class and look around at all the moms and dads holding their little ones :) I think we shall be busy in the 3 and 4 year old room for years to come, it seems!! :) I love babies!!

My friend has asked me to make a few of my 6x6 albums for some special events in her family. I thought I'd share a few of my favorite images from the baby book. Keep in mind that these are scrapbooks waiting to happen. I don't deal with the pictures (thankfully...the pressure would be too much! lol!) but I create the background. Most pages have some kind of stamped image or sentiment, but not all! Each book takes between 10-15 hours to complete (slow creative process!), so it is a labor of love to be sure ;) I don't really scrapbook, but whenI consider these pages as twenty cardfronts, life is good!

How fun are these? Once I "deliver" the next one--haha, I'll post pictures :)

Thanks for stopping in!

Summer!!! Woo hoo!! So sweet!

2010-06-25T09:59:00.006-04:00

Hey there! Did you think I had fallen into the pond and sunk??

No, just been too too crazy busy living to stop, even for a moment, to post or blog hop. Life is like that, isn't it? I have been crafting all along, but not recreationally really. More like, "Oh no! I need a card/gift/little something, like, NOW. Quickly, I must whip one up!!!" Am I speaking to the right crowd, here? Or does this not happen to you?! I know, right.

But good news looms! I am now officially on summer break! I hesitate to call it a vacation, as I have a LIST of things to do this summer, but I look forward to doing them on my time (translation: after having my morning coffee and breakfast actually SITTING DOWN in the living room and not while driving in the car!) In the list, which includes rewriting my lecture packet for the fall grad course I teach, restructuring our preschool ministry with new curriculum and learning a new communication device inside and out, I also WILL BE ORGANIZING MY HOUSE BETTER. There, I said it, now it will be true. Any volunteers?! You are welcome to help!! LOL!

And, by His grace I will also find time to stamp. I am working on some projects there too....a swap or two, a few special "albums" for a friend and reorganizing my stamping area. So for now, I will leave you with a pic of one of my "whip it up" cards.

Here's to great summer weather and sweet days of joy for you!!! Love you all! So sweet of you to stop in!

Happy Easter everyone!

2010-04-04T14:47:00.004-04:00

Happy Easter my friends! Today is a beautiful day here in NY...sunny and delightful!

More importantly, it is a day to celebrate the resurrection of the King!! Rejoice!!

Oh! And enjoy a chocolate bunny ear...or two!!

Happy 98th Birthday, Gram!

2010-04-01T09:08:00.005-04:00

Happy April Fool's day! The sun is finally matching the warmth here and it's supposed to get to the 80's by tomorrow!!! No foolin'! Today also marks my grandmother Arietta Lucinda's birthday. She went to be with Jesus many years ago on April 16, which happens to be my birthday. That was hard at first, but not anymore....because we were always "birthday buddies" and that connection between the two of us has always been a joy and comfort to me! So since she always wanted me to be a writer, I always write about her on her birthday! If you follow my blog you'll remember the stories, so today I will just suffice it to say, Happy birthday Gram! You ride in the pocket of my heart! (an inside joke...she will get it! LOL!)

Remarkable

2010-03-24T21:23:00.004-04:00

This post is dedicated to all the remarkable women in my life....you are all there always encouraging, lifting spirits, correcting (!) and sharing your joy of life with me! Thanks to my mom and my aunts, my wonderful sisters, my best girlfriends, my next to best girlfriends, my women friends at church and all my SBS sisters! We truly are remarkable women!

I actually made these cards a while back for my friend Erin's birthday...I also want to thank my girlfriend Roxy, who loaned me this stamp!! I adore it and she let me borrow it for, like, a million years! I will give it back, Rox....really soon!!! :)

Don't you love how you can represent so many women in so many different ways!? Praise God we are all different. I think that's why we become so close....don't you think!?

Blessings!

Real Inspiration!

2010-03-22T19:52:00.001-04:00

Please take 4 minutes of your day to be inspired!

March on!

2010-03-20T23:21:00.004-04:00

Life is pretty busy isn't it? Things come and go at the speed of a freight train at times and all we can do is hold on! Times that are most important seems to go by way too fast and those times where we are bored or scared, way too slowly. It's hard to believe I haven't been blogging since February and harder still to believe March is more than half over. But God has been good and the sun has been shining and I haven't had much time to just sit and BE.

Lots of fun and busy things happening all around and it's been nice to be able to be a part of it--it's what LIVING is all about. We've had friends for dinner and family visiting and of course March Madness brackets to fill in (yes, I am a college basketball fiend....GO SYRACUSE!!!) I've made a few swaps and even a challenge card (here below) for our SBS 29 sister challenge! It's a green challenge and my Mellow Moss cardstock just about makes it. I'm posting it before midnight, but not by much!! Just wanted you all to know, I'm thinking of you and thanking my God you are in my life!
I've also been working on going to Kenya this summer for a mission trip and if you'd be willing, I'd appreciate your prayers as I work on raising the $2000-3000 just for the ticket!! It's all in God's hands, but not without sacrifice...I am going through my stamp collection to see what I can live without to help fund my trip....eek, it's harder than I thought, but not as painful!! I'd post again soon....be blessed my friends!! Enjoy my card! Enjoy SPRING!

Love ya!

Sketch Challenge Winners!

2010-02-28T09:00:00.005-05:00

Earlier this month I introduced a sketch challenge for my SBS 29 sisters and any non-SBS crafter that was interested in joining in the fun. (1 SBS29 prize and 1 non-SBS prize was available). Here are the entries that I received. Hope I didn't miss anyone! Thanks for playing along ladies!! The winners are announced at the end of this post!!

First SBS29 Challenge winner: Rhonda!!
Non-SBS challenge winner: Cheryl's daughter!

CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU BOTH!

LOOK FOR A PACKAGE COMING YOUR WAY!! ;)

Ryan and His Mom

2010-02-27T10:12:00.007-05:00

Hello, Frog Faithfuls!

I have missed you! Please forgive my absence! I had an event that rocked my world just a bit last week! It's a sad event, unfortunately. :( A friend of mine called and told me that one of the "children of my heart" had passed away. He was 16!

You see, I work with children who have many many physical and communication needs...the more needs that they have, the more I love working with them! I do love them all, please note, but every once in a while God places special children on my heart and my love for these children is unimaginably deeper than I can really express. They become "my children" in a different way than all the others. Ryan was just such a boy. I was his speech pathologist when he was just 2-1/2 years old. He could not verbally talk or physically walk, but he had eyes that were chocolate brown, a 10,000 watt smile and a mischievious glint in his eyes that you knew held great humor and love of life. He was wonderful to work with, but challenging too...his amazing mom always said he knew so much, but had no way to tell us. Ryan was very patient with me as we explored different ways to find a voice for him.

The only physical control that Ryan had consistently was head and neck control...after many trials and many errors, he finally let me try something crazy! I used velcro to strap a little flashlight to his temple, taped pictures up in our small speech room and turned off the lights. Then I asked him to point his "head light" to different pictures on the wall....he got them right 100%!!! From there it was all uphill! I could prove that he knew what he knew....within 6 months, we had a dynamic communication device for him (Dynavox) and the rest is HISTORY! He became an avid communicator, writer, poet and all around kid, who could keep up with the best of them. He was also a gold medalist in the special olympics for racing his electric wheelchair, controlled with several switches mounted behind and beside his head. His amazing mom continued to be Ryan's greatest advocate, his greatest asset and his greatest champion. When Ryan stopped breathing in the middle of the night last weekend, all efforts were made to revive him. But the Lord called him home.

As sad as it is to lose Ryan on this earth, when I went to the services and saw and heard from all those whose lives were touched by Ryan's life, I realize that he fulfilled his purpose here while we had him with us. He made us all better people, all around. Ryan's dad said, "God wanted Ryan the day he was born, but then He changed His mind and kept him here so we could all experience him in our lives." Nothing more true could be said.

I made this card for Ryan's mom, because I believe God gives these children just the right parents and I knew that more than any other identity or "character" trait she had, being Ryan's mom was the most important identity to her. When God places these children in my heart, he also gives me a special relationship with their mothers. And I cherish that relationship as much as the connection I have with their children. And I keep in contact with them throughout their children's lives. So I dedicate this post to all special children and their moms. Love ya!

Bless you all!

Valentine Hugs

2010-02-10T11:44:00.009-05:00

Hi all! Hope your day is bright! Just wanted to share this with you! I sent a Valentine's Day package to my daughter at college. These little conversational heart sayings are from Pam at Fire Cracker Designs blog...aren't they darling? I used my friend Kathy's classic and scalloped heart Nestability sets and I think they turned out precious! This card is a little 3x3. I included the inside view too so you could see more sayings. Pam from FCD actually designed the page so there are something like 20 different sayings and they could be punched out or cut out easily.

Now, I'm sure many of you probably think that I would put cholocoate in this package...but you don't know my girl! Since she was little, she always preferred sugary candy over chocolate...she only gets one chocolate bunny in her Easter basket (my idea!) the rest of her candy is things like Skittles, Nerds, Ring Pops, etc....So for this package, I bought a few "movie theater" type boxes of sour Skittles and Lemonheads and covered them in SU Designer Paper.

Also, when she was little, my DD had this way with fluffy animals in the store...You know how the big dept stores have a "deal" at Christmas...buy $50. worth of their stuff and get this big Christmas bear/moose/bunny/etc for only $10.? And how they would have a million of them scattered throughout the store?? Well, Kelsey NEVER missed the opportunity to hug

EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM!!

It took hours to shop every Christmas. So I saw this guy with the saying "Hug me" and I couldn't resist!! Tee hee!! Every college girl needs a teddy in her bed at college, right? Aw c'mon, it'll match that big fluffy duck she took when she went! :) Love our girl!

Have a wonderful Valentine's weekend my friends! God Bless you all!

A Simple Challenge

2010-02-06T16:17:00.003-05:00

Happy Day, all! I am so grateful for a little bit of snow today, instead of what the rest of the northeast is getting! Yippee!!
This simple little sketch is the first challenge for my sisters of the SBS29 Group! I kept it simple 'cause it's our first and we are all very busy women! We are going to have a little prize chosen to a randomly chosen sister who makes a card and posts it on her blog by February 20. There are no color specifications as part of the challenge; I only included color in the sketch to give it contrast! And as you can see with my sample card, taken from my archives, the sketch can be creatively changed--as in changing shapes or orientation :) Just have fun!

Although this challenge is specific to the SBS29 sisters, I'd like to offer a little prize for a randomly chosen NON-SBS29 sister who wants to make a card following the sketch, too. If you would like to enter, comment in this post with a link to your card. How's that for a thrill!
Have a fabulous weekend! If I can, I'm going to post a WishRAK I received that brightened my entire week! Be blessed, my friends!

Hoppy Day! {because the snow isn't!}

2010-01-28T21:40:00.007-05:00

This is yet another Thank-you card I made for my friend, Becky, who gave me the most adorable frog set of stamps :) That was so very nice of Becky, who bought the set just because she thought of me! :) I have loved frogs forever, with Kermit being my first :) I've tried to outgrow it, but people keep buying them for me and I have to admit.....I STILL LOVE THEM! And I even love the real thing....the "uglier" the world sees them, the more I think they are beautiful! I used a shimmer paper to stamp this little guy on...you can probably see it better if you click on the picture. I just thought I'd send a little bit of brightness your way, 'cause I've had quite a blizzard-y day, let me tell you!! Did I mention that the snow can stop now?! God bless us :) Have a wonderful weekend...and if you don't have a lot going on, would you stop in and visit my SBS29 sister's blogs...they are some amazing artists! Go see for yourself! The links are over here----> on the right column...Scroll down a bit!

Be blessed!

So sweet and so happy!!

2010-01-24T08:00:00.005-05:00

My SBS9 sister, Lyzzy, gave me this award yesterday. Although I don't hear from many of my original SBS group sisters very often, I still love them like crazy!! And it was SO SO sweet of her to bless me! Click on the award to visit her blog. She's crazy creative! And like Lyzzy, I want to share some things I hold dear:
1. My faith
2. My Hubby and kids
3. All my family and friends (they are the same! They are YOU!)
4. My students
5. My Mission work
6. My crafting
7. My kitties
8. My health
9. Music
10. My gifts from God that inspire me to do whatever He asks!

I want to send this award onto some of my new blogging sisters, chosen randomly from my SBS29 sister list as every one of them is an inspiration to me...Here are the rules:

1. Copy and paste the award on your blog.
2. List who gave the award to you and use a link to her blog (or hyperlink).
3. List 10 things that make you happy.
4. Pass the award on to other bloggers and visit their blog to let them know!

So, post this award on your blog and pass it on, ladies! :)
1. Joanne
2. Shelly
3. Julie
4. Kathy
5. Cheryl

Happy Weekend! And a prayer for our country!

2010-01-23T10:09:00.005-05:00

This card is a thank you to my friend Kathy, who was so sweet and generous to stamp TONS of Magnolia Tilda images for her friends as a gift for Christmas this year! She followed up with even more images a week or so later, so I can be coloring copiously with my copics and having a blast! Her cards are always so full of texture and small details, so I did my best to honor her gift by coloring one of these sweet images to thank her! The glittery back ground is an old Stampin' up holly background stamped in Versamark and "blinged" with SU's Dazzling Diamonds. The CB embossing folder is Christmas Ribbons.

Also, I want to share this link that I received in an email. It only takes 5 minutes to watch, but it's a small bit of time for a big deal. I believe we are blogging for just such a time as this:

Praying for our Nation

Be blessed my friends! Thanks for all your comments! I am blessed by every one!
The tree comes down today! :)

So faux, so good ;)

2010-01-20T21:15:00.002-05:00

A new technique in this project, another Thank-you card to a friend who gave me an unexpected surprise a few weeks ago at church. My friend Mary gifted me with a beautiful Kermit green leather bible cover (you don't think it CAME from Kermit do you?!? Tee hee!!) that she saw and thought of me! It was such a wonderful surprise gift, made even more special as it was a big cover, which it had to be because I have a bilingual Spanish-English bible and it's HUGE. I have been blessed to be a missionary to Mexico on many occasions and need to have both languages available for services and ministry. It's hard to find the perfect size cover and it even has handles to carry it easily...even better!

Once I thought about the TY, though, I knew I had to use the "faux leather" technique showcased over at Splitcoaststampers a few weeks ago. I just adapted it to a card, rather than a wallet. You'll need a cuttlebug, Versamark ink and clear embossing powder, along with the rest of the supplies, all of which I had on hand. It was so easy, I plan to make more of these cards, and maybe even teach the technique in a class. How fun! Check out the tutorial HERE and try it for yourself!

Have a blessed week!!

So many thanks!

2010-01-18T15:01:00.002-05:00

This card was created as a Thank-you to all my DH's postal cutomers who blessed him with Christmas thank you gifts for his continued good service! Not too many people think to tip the mail man these days, but a faithful few do, and we are so blessed. Many give him coffee shop gift cards and homemade goodies. The first time I made cards for his work TY's he was hooked and now I made 20-30 cards just for his mail route. (He has 457 deliveries!) I wanted to use up some of my scraps from our Christmas cards, which is why I ended up with such a clean geometric design. I struggle to keep cards simple sometimes, but I just love how this turned out! (The green strips are from our cards....I made over 75!) As I noted in the previous post, this stamp and sentiment are from Cornish Heritage Farms, one of the best rubber stamp companies IN THE WORLD!!! If you've never seen their images, do check out their website! Beautiful!

I am spending the day chilling out, preparing for my grad class lecture tomorrow night and organizing the house post Christmas....all lofty goals, left until the last minute. I love holidays!

Please continue to pray for Haiti! Our missions team is still planning on leaving the first week in February. I am not going on this trip, as it is mid school year; I wish I was, though! Pray for our preparations and that our team will have what they need to help to the people as easily as possible! Bless you all!

Oh my! Mid January....what?!

2010-01-13T20:43:00.003-05:00

Hard to believe, but it is almost mid-January! I mean, I know my tree is still up (it's so GREEN still, I can't bear to put it out to pasture yet!!) and I know it's still winter (snow can go now, you know!) and I know we've already had two snowdays from school, but I just can't believe it's gone by so fast! Can't this next week last for a few weeks?! {I have to start teaching college next week! I'm not ready!!!}

This card is a thank you to some friends of mine, but I didn't design it, Julie Stanton designed it at CHF! It was a Stamp of the Month set from Cornish Heritage Farms a few years ago and this is the card that was on the cover of the stamp set. Well, almost. I didn't have the same fabric background stamp so I used what I had. And I embossed the pine bough with clear embossing powder and old olive ink because I wanted it glossy. As she did, I used a white gel pen for the snow. I liked how it turned out!

In the next few posts, you will see a few more creations I made with this set, as I borrowed it from my generous friend Ann, and I thought I'd make good use of the images while I have a chance! :) Thank you Ann!

Have a blessed end of week!! I'll be blog hopping soon!!

PS PLEASE PRAY FOR HAITI AND ITS PEOPLE...we have missionary friends there....they are safe but it is a tremendous disaster and they need help! So many lost. Thank you!

Love it!

2010-01-02T17:29:00.008-05:00

My first post of 2010 is about love :) And it's not because I am joining in the after Christmas rush to do all things Valentine's Day...I'm against rushing every holiday! Instead it's a CELEBRATION! of Love itself! We've just shared a day celebrating LOVE itself coming to earth as a baby sent by a loving Father who wanted to share love with his children. And as we begin this new year, I plan on sharing the LOVE I have for my family, my friends and my God with all of them! This is not a resolution either but rather a declaration that LOVE will be my focus and my goal for all I come in contact with! The love that Jesus gives to me...that's what I want to share with others! So in the vein of LOVE, here is my creation that I will be giving to my DH when he gets home...just to tell him I love him! My images are from Hand in Hand, Melanie Muenchinger's set by Gina K. I received this set from my DH for Christmas...and I'm entering this card into a Blog Hop Challenge by Melanie, too. Click here to enter into it! I've been wanting this beautiful set for SO LONG! And so I also thank him with this love note :) FYI....I'm the pale one...blame the red hair!! I also want to introduce you to my son and his girlfriend Kelly. They have just moved to Texas this week and I miss him already! Kelly is such a sweet nice girl and I thought a post about LOVE would be a nice place to show them off :) Isn't my boy handsome?! Looks like his dad, of course!! Well, friends! Have a wonderful Sunday! We've got snow here, but Life is Good! Yes?! Blessings!

Welcome SBS Sisters group 29!

2010-01-02T15:25:00.005-05:00

Happy New Year!
Happy New Adventures!

Hi all! I'm so thrilled to begin another new year of life and with new years come new excitement! I have joined a new Stamping sisters group and this is my introduction post ;) Those of you who know my blog, including my precious SBS9 sisters, this is history for you, but hey! If you are patient enough to have followed my blog for so long, I know you are forgiving of my quirky ways!
So welcome to my new SBS29 Sisterhood group! I've now been blogging about 2 1/2 years and I still love it! Here is a revisit of what I call

The Kim Marie Tutorial ;)

I am a 46 year old wife, mom, speech pathologist, missionary stamper :) I have a million interests and obsessions (all healthy and clean, I promise!) and I love to laugh with my family and friends. I have two children who would argue whether they are still-indeed-children at 18 and 23 and two cats, Ollie and Grace. I don't cook much (my hubby is an AMAZING cook, but this is about me, tee hee!) but I DO love to chat and stamp! Card making is my real hobby...I've made a few small 6x6 albums without pictures, but I consider that making 20 card fronts and all is well. :) I've been married almost 26 years and plan on at least 40 more! We live in a rural part of NY near where my hubby and I grew up and, aside from the winter driving, love it! Our families are nearby, although my son just moved to TEXAS! I work in a public school and for a local university teaching just one class a semester. I am very involved in our church and have taken mission groups to Mexico and Mozambique, and look forward to whatever else God sets before us on our path! Given all that, we are very busy people. Stamping has allowed me to slow down a bit when the 'stuff' is overwhelming! That's me in a nutshell! For further info, follow my blog! I am going to make a great effort to post once a week....there, I said it!!! Now, to keep my promise... :) Oh, and, PS....I am NOT a KimBERLY....I am a Kim Marie....thus, my use of my middle name....so much better for me, as I am rarely "burly"! Tee hee :)

Off to make a Gina K card!

Profound Season's Greeting

2009-12-24T09:41:00.005-05:00

Blessed Thanksgiving!

2009-11-26T01:09:00.007-05:00

These are a few projects highlighted last month on Clear Artistic Stamps Guest Designer Spot! One is a Thankful Journal that the guests at my house this year will write about whatever they are most thankful for! The other picture shows some napkin holders I made. So easy!

Thought I'd share them today and say THANK YOU for hanging in there and hanging out with me this last year! You are a blessing and I THANK MY GOD FOR YOU! You make me so
May God's light shine upon you and may the warmth of His peace fill your hearts and homes! Love ya!

Doesn't everybody love a sale? How 'bout CHF and Unity??

2009-11-07T08:02:00.010-05:00

Do you love Unity like I do? Cornish Heritage Farms, too? Today and Monday, my good friend Betty is running a 50% off sale at her store Ye Olde Outhouse! She sells lots of different stamps from many different companies, and she is having an inventory clearance sale. Her website isn't functional right now, but if you know of a set you've been wanting, give her a call....she is also giving free shipping and will send out your order to you within two days of your call! It's today and Monday only! If there's a set you've been waiting to get, here's your chance! So what are you waiting for?!?! {I'm heading out to her store today, myself! }

Here's the 411:

Ye Olde Outhouse

7899 Mount Morris Nunda Rd

Mount Morris, NY 14510

585-355-7489

To whet your whistle, here is a card set I made for my student teacher's birthday present :) I used Unity stamps!

Blessings to you today!!

Fall JUGS ;)

2009-10-28T19:52:00.004-04:00

Here's a card I made for a swap with some of my cruise friends...a pretty neat swap, too....each one of the 8 sent only the supplies for eight cards to one of the other swappers and then each of us made a card with whatever items we received, so really the card is a collaborative effort! And more of a challenge, as we had to use all of the supplies! This is the card I made with the items I received from Mary Lu. The card stock and the ink are from my stash, but all the rest came from one of my buds :) The card also fits the Just Us Girls (or JUGS) challenge to use a dimensional flower! ;) Check out the other entries....these ladies are TALENTED!! Click on the blinkie on the side bar ----------------->

This last pic is my wonderful family celebrating my DD's 18th bday. Aren't we cute?! Another milestone!

Are you having a FABULOUS week?! Me too....God is just so sweet and kind right now. Is life easy-peasy?? Honestly, no, not really. But is God good to hang out with anyhow? You betcha!! We are SO SO blessed. Thanks for being around and hanging in there with me!
You bless me!

Honestly!

2009-10-18T18:11:00.009-04:00

Awww....so nice! My friend Wendy gave me this award! How sweet of her!

I have to list 10 things about me and then grant this award to 5 other creative people! I haven't done this is awhile, hmmmm.....

1. I love olives. Green, black, greek...doesn't matter! In fact my sisters used to give me cans and jars of olives for Christmas! Yummy!

2. I love mindless trivia...I will read ANYTHING I can get my hands on and love to learn little things about everything! Whether it's a book about something I like, or a hunting magazine, I will pick it up and read it.

3. I learned to weave cloth on a 12 harness floor loom in college and I have always wanted one of my own. They sell them for BIG BUCKS so I've never gotten one, but someday I would love to sit and weave for fun!

4. I love bags....tote bags, purses, wallets, big, small, adorable....I'm not a fashionista at all; most of my bags are bought at the thrift store or garage sales, but it's hard not to get them...many brand new!

5. I miss my grandmother. She was so special to me and she is the first person I want to see when I get to heaven.

6. I have 3 sisters and a brother and I am the oldest. I was the "boss of them" growing up because my parents were busy running a business to keep us in school clothes. I was often "baby sitting" for long periods of time and was responsible for them. I always wished I was not....I wish we could have just been playmates. It still makes me sad to have missed out on that.

7. I hate to shop at the mall or stores. I love flea markets and rummage sales. I grew up working the flea markets with my dad. I can walk around a flea market for 8 hours and not be tired. I'm ready to scream after walking through the mall for 15 minutes!

8. I love beauty and can find it everywhere. Frogs. Trees. Rocks. People. Words. Carpets. Purses. Everywhere. :)

9. I don't like driving. To me it is a mean to an end and if I could have a chauffer the rest of my life, I'd take it!

10. I love languages. I thank my God every day for His Word which is so rich and complex, yet so simple and honest. The bible is one big giant language lesson and a tremendous gift to all of us. God created mankind with the capacity to learn and use languages. It's like He gave to us a rich tapestry of "paints" to create all kinds of masterpieces. Without it, where would we bloggers be? ;)

And those creative stampers? Definitely these are a sample of some of my favorites:

Kathy Kathy uses her stamps to encourage more than anyone I know!

Roxanne Roxy is an amazing card designer!

Etha Etha is one of the first internet stampers I "met"! She has always been a creative inspiration to me!

Lisa I've gotten to know Lisa from the Clear Artistic Stamp forum. She has such a variety of "styles" in her cardmaking, she makes me feel better about my eclectic collection of styles! and she always has an encouraging word!

Heather Heather is also a friend from the CAS forum...she is also an encourager to me and I love her fun and colorful projects. I am always inspired by her and along with her creativity, she is also a generous person :)

Thanks for hanging out with me today! Have a tremendous week!!

Go Ahead, wish!

2009-10-16T18:09:00.000-04:00

This is a card I made for a friend's birthday....she is battling an awful disease....depression. She has even tried to hurt herself several times, but by the grace of God has been unsuccessful. I want her to know that she doesn't have to worry about tomorrow or the next day or the next day...that God is with her everyday and she doesn't have to be afraid to go ahead and make a wish....God will be faithful to make it happen and she will be around for the blessing!

Below the card pic is a close up of the flowers....I used Versamark, ink and clear embossing powder on all of it....first I inked the images on the stamp with Versamark, and without stamping it yet, I added the color to the stamp with a dye ink (yes, on top of the versamark that was on the stamp already!) Then I stamped it, covered it in clear embossing powder, then used the heat tool until the powder was entirely melted! Voila! Images are from Unity Stamp Co. Kit of the Month. Love it!

Here's to wishing you all a wonderful day!! ;)

Coffee and toast, anyone?!

2009-10-13T06:08:00.000-04:00

Here is another card using the paper piecing technique. When I use the Basic Grey Euphoria designer paper on my last card, a scrap piece fell out of the folder with one of my fav designs in the series and I thought....coffee cup! So I used the Unity stamp Co. September Kit of the Month from and made this card....the layer color is actually SU's most beautiful plum purple color in their in color set this year, as it the bright pink I used for the table cloth. The colors are all muted in the picture, though, for some reason.

Also my DH was so impressed that I put my breakfast he created last week on my blog, he insisted I take a pic of my apple-french toast from this week. He loves to cook and while card making is my gift, food is his....so I am DOUBLY BLESSED! and no.....he is NOT for rent! Sorry ladies!

Enjoy your week everyone!

Piece, Baby :)

2009-10-12T17:59:00.007-04:00

I love language :) Don't you?!

In case you're wondering, though, my post title refers to Paper piecing...a fun technique and a personal favorite of mine because it always looks so cool ;) My friend Pam and friends have started a new Just Us Girls challenge blog and this is my 1st entry into it. I was glad the first challenge involved a technique I love! One of the little extras in the challenge was to include the color pink in honor of Breast Cancer awareness month. I am honored to do so and this card is for my friend Wendy....she is battling this evil disease for the second time. So for Wendy and all those of you affected by breast cancer in one way or another...tada!

Image and sentiment from Gina K Design Little Tees Stamp set, DP is Basic Grey Euphoria and CS: SU In colors 09

May God bless you today and always!

Friends with Flair Friday :) or FFF with Unity Stamp Company, of course!

2009-10-09T09:00:00.002-04:00

Welcome to my first official post for Friends with Flair Fridays at Unity Stamps!

Those who have never heard of this weekly fun: on Angela's Unity Stamp Co blog, she lists blogs of some of her customers, having hidden a "blinkie" in the FFF posts on one of the blogs....if you leave a comment, you may be chosen to win a prize! If this post doesn't have a blinkie, you move on through the list til you stumble upon it!

I became a Unity Stamp Co. junkie from the first minute I saw their images...but since talking with them in person and selling their stamps in Ye Olde Outhouse at the summer CHA Supershow, I am now a diehard fan! I have joined their Kit of the Month and look forward to every package! I so love their fun, beautiful, and sometimes funky, images! And their WONDERFUL and AMAZING quote images have graced a card or few on this blog! The bike in this card is one of my favorite images. I colored it sparkly green, 'cause you KNOW it is my favorite color!! And if you have a green bike....well you must have an orange seat!! I think I will send this one to my son, the Downhill Mountain Biking Maniac! I kid you not...he rides down SKI SLOPES! {{Yes we bought him a helmet WITH A FULL FACE MASK!! No kidding! I paid A LOT for those beautiful straight teeth!}}

Here's the sparkly bike up close!! Isn't it SO fun??

If you are here blog hopping, be sure to go back to Angela's blog for the list and keep on going!! You could be on the road to a prize!! And please join my list of followers! I'd love to see you again! Blessings to you, my newest Unity friends!

Crisp and Windy fall days are here!

2009-10-08T06:39:00.003-04:00

I don't know how the weather is for you all, but here the days are crisp and the winds are filling our yards with leaves GALORE! I love fall and fall colors so that saves the day for me even if my hat blows off!! This is a Gina K card using her Whimsical Autumn set. These beauties look like the ones sitting on my front stoop :) Enjoy your day!!

Happy Thoughts :)

2009-10-06T21:57:00.008-04:00

Here's a WAY better picture of the card I made for WCMD (the one in the breakfast post) The challenge was to make a card showing what girlfriends do and also to have an 80's flair...so I went for big hair and striped pants and of course the times I get together with friends where work talk is forbidden and only fun and happy things are thought by all :) Oh and the background REALLY made me think of the dance floor on Saturday Night Fever! But from the start, I intended it for my friend Mary Angela for her birthday!And these are the cards I made using Gina K images that I put together for a gift card set for Mary Angela as well! ;) I just added envelopes to the cards and put them in one of PTI's acrylic card cases....very professional looking when it's all put together! She liked them :)
Well, I don't know about you, but today seemed like a Monday. Could be the full moon...the kids were all off a bit...or maybe I was?! Nah!

Oh, don't forget to check out the next project in the By Invitation Only Designer spot for Clear Artistic Stamps!
Blessings, dear friends!

This is how much my Hubby loves me ;)

2009-10-04T21:54:00.004-04:00

As I was getting ready for church this morning I said to my darling husband, "I wish we could have pumpkin waffles with apple cider syrup for breakfast...I saw that in a recipe book once and it sounds so good today."

This was my breakfast an hour later...my request with a twist. You see, we didn't have pumpkin (we did have yams) and we didn't have cider (we did have frozen concentrate apple juice). So here are my MOST DELICIOUS Yam waffles with YUMMO apple juice syrup. Oh, and he made the coffee, too! The card you see in the photo is one I made yesterday for the StampingBella challenge for World Cardmaking Day, but it was sitting on the table already and it matched so I set it up for the picture! LOL!

Also on the table was another card I had made for the Splitcoaststampers challenge for WCMD...so I wrote a thank you note inside it and gave this card to my hubby. He so totally rocks!

Hope your Sunday was as blessed! Have a tremendously wonderful week, my friends!

Thrilled in October!! A Guest Designer spot :)

2009-10-03T14:18:00.011-04:00

I have been asked to be a Guest Designer for Clear Artistic Stamps for the entire month of October! I know, right!! This is so exciting for me! I have always loved Belinda's style of artwork and whimsical designs, which remind me so much of my beloved story books as a child. I'd love for you to pop over and see my projects (click below)! A different one will be highlighted each week. What a blessing to share my craft with you!

By Invitation Only

Here is a card using some Clear Artistic stamps and felt flowers. The Rumble challenge on Clear Artistic's In the Cottage Studio blog is called "Inside out". You need to show both the inside design of the card as well as the outside! The images come from the Whispers of Dreams and the Sympathy Garden sets. Pop on over to the blog....there are prizes to win today if your comment is chosen! Also my card is in one of the World Cardmaking Day challenges over at Splitcoaststampers.com. There are prizes there for posting cards as well!

Blessings!

Happy World Cardmaking Day!! :)

2009-10-03T00:01:00.001-04:00

Happy World Cardmaking Day!! Everyone! :)

I was inspired by a card similar to this on Splitcoast Stampers.com. I used the SU punch with three little flowers....I just fell in love with the idea of making a "Snoball" flower with the tiny ones all bunched together....I got a bit carried away (it just kept growing and growing!)

I've been making a good number of cards and hope to be posting more soon!

Hope your World Card Making Day is full of creative mojo and warm cocoa!

It's in the 50's here in WNY!!

Blessings!

Remembering 9/11

2009-09-11T00:01:00.000-04:00

My heart breaks everytime I think of that day.....

Immediately after 9/11, we NY'ers were wont to say, "On this day, everyone is a New Yorker", but really everyday, everyone here is an American. And proud to say so.

God bless every one the families and friends affected by this horrendous act of evil. Which is every one of us. Please pray today for our country, our president, our fellow men and women and our military. Thank you for visiting my blog.
Red, white and blue all the way,

Oh, you've got to see....

2009-09-10T20:27:00.004-04:00

The beautiful posts on my friend Roxanne's blog! She used Clear Artistic stamps on two GORGEOUS cards! Check them out here! Bless her with a comment, won't you?! It's free!

By the way, only 5 people responded to my blog candy post and no one seemed to see that I had posted a question...so I put the numbers in a hat and pulled out post #5! Suzann, look out for a prize package! ;) thanks for your comments!
Blessings!

Wood you like to Rumble? Blog candy too?

2009-09-05T11:21:00.020-04:00

Happiest of Saturdays everyone! I just wanted to share my card for the Clear Artistic Stamps Rumble #15. The Clear Artistic Stamp blog, In The Cottage Studio, announces these Rumble challenges that you can participate in and even win a prize ;) This week's challenge is to use wood in a project...or in this case "faux wood". Any wood, real or imaginged, is perfectly acceptable, even DP! And of course you can use any stamp set in your card to enter, but you get more entries by using a Clear Artistic set! I also used the shimmer paper that Belinda sells at the Clear Artistic stamp store. This card has both Midnight Starlight and Sunset Pearls shimmer paper.
Now I also have a confession to make! I STRUGGLE to stick with one stamp set/company when creating cards....thus, this card actually uses stamps from THREE different Clear Artistic sets! Two of them are from retired sets....the sentiment and the Clear Artistic stamp logo come from Lighting the Sea and an older version of Sparkles Christmas set. Can you name the third set? If you can, you will be entered into a blog candy drawing for some ribbon and embellishments, shimmer paper and Clear Artistic stamped images, and whatever else I can fit in the envelope!! If you mention the name of another set or images that you like from the CAS collection, you will get another entry! Drawing for the candy will be the end of my first day of school, September 8th!

I noticed that the sentiment on the card is hard to read because the shimmer paper I used reflects the light in a way that masks the words in the photo...on the card it's easy to read. For you, here is a close up. It says, "In the dark of night, one can always see the light".

Isn't that so true of the way Jesus comes into the dark places in our lives and shines a healing and joyful light of peace? If you invite Him into those dark places, He is faithful to bring His light with Him and you will feel the "peace that passes all understanding." Go ahead, give Him a chance to meet you today!

PS I know the dragonflies are big compared to the barn...they make them big here in Western NY :) tee hee!

Vacation is almost over...and a new year begun...

2009-09-03T11:01:00.009-04:00

Good morning!

Well, back to school...the educators have gone in two days this week for training and preparing for the new year and I guess I'm ready....it's always hard to give up these last days of vacation...I always say I need "two more weeks, please" but even given that time, I'd still need "two more weeks, please"...I love my work, but I also love my time off :) Kids return the day after Labor Day, and my university teaching begins soon too! Here we go!

Here are two cards I made this summer for special events...

This first one is a wedding card for a dear sweet young friend who was happily married in August. I am always blessed by a wedding because as I sit there during the ceremony, I begin to "see" the future for them through the eyes of my own marriage , praying that God will always be a part of the their union and that His perfect plans are revealed to them as they go through the adventure of learning to REALLY love one another. It's a roller coaster of joy and sorrow, better and worse, richer and poorer! I'm so happy I stuck with the journey through thick and thin and I wish the best for them!

And I love the couple image from Gina K's Greatest Hits I set for this card...the colors of the wedding were black and white (very elegant!) and so the card reflects that...I also used the ribbon from the wedding invitation on the card for them...I wonder if they recognized it?! I also made an acrylic window in the card, sandwiching the acrylic between the cuttlebugged panel and the card front, both made with Gina K's Pure Luxury cardstock!

This second card is for a young man who completed his Eagle Scout badge in Boy Scouts. He was also one of my Tiger Cubs eons ago and we recently attended his big ceremony and celebration once his Eagle Scout community project was completed. I remember well when he was a cute little 6 year old and now he is all grown up! He graduated with my daughter this year and leaves for the Marines this fall. I thought this card appropriate for his big day.

I used Cornish Heritage Farm's America the Beautiful set, and the ripping technique with Core'dination paper...they were both perfect for this card, don't you think?

I am so excited to see young people grabbing onto the JOY of life. It is such a blessing!

May God bless your every day this holiday weekend! Celebrate liberty and celebrate LIFE!

A fun blog hop to join!

2009-09-01T17:12:00.006-04:00

Today is Clear Artistic Stamps first blog hop with all the designers of Clear Artistic stamp using new sets in their projects...while I am not part of the hop, per se, I love this company and their images, so I'm inviting you to join in! {I will be doing something special with this company soon, though! Tee hee!} There are only 10 places to visit and comment, and you can win prizes!! :)

So click on the image or here---> to link to Belinda's blog first...it will lead you through all ten blogs...and HAVE FUN!!

Gone!

2009-08-26T12:33:00.004-04:00

The title of this post seems so final...but it's not! It's just announcing that my girl is now gone away to college :) We took her up on Monday after a ton of shopping, packing, shopping and last minute goodbyes and now SHE'S ALL GROWN UP :_( Well, almost, anyhow :)

She is very busy as she has decided to play in the marching band at school and so she is at Band camp working 10 hours a day to be able to perform Friday at a Welcome picnic and through the season at all the home football games! Her room (a space about 12' x 5') is all set and squared away...funny thing is she had to call me the next morning to find where I had put her flat iron to straighten her hair!! I decided that's the best way to get your college kid to call you....hide stuff when you go to visit ;)

Here's a card I made using my copics and some Basic Grey Euphoria paper. This image is a froggy Ketto image from Stamping Bella. I don't have the image, it came with a WISH RAK but I certainly think I need it, don't you?! The colors of the card came out a bit differently in the picture than IRL...they are much more rich and dynamic, but I wanted to share it anyway :) I made one for my sister Kelly's birthday and one for a graduation card :) I also made a card for my sister Kristy's birthday, but it was ALL GLITTERY and the card would not photograph right, boo hoo...too much shininess!! Happy August birthdays to them though!!

This is a picture that my DH took on his week long SOLO canoe trip in the Adirondacks. Isn't it beautiful. He came home safe and sound with only a big long rip in his leg. He's recovering though, poor thing!! :)

That's it for me today :) Be blessed! God is here with you! Everyday!

Oh? Did I forget to mention....

2009-08-15T22:48:00.006-04:00

...that I was COPIC CERTIFIED while I was away at CHA?! I know, right? Yes, I met Marianne Walker of ilikemarkers.blogspot.com fame and I took the 6 hour class with her to officially become a Copic Certified Designer. (OOOoooOOOO). I can't believe it took me this long to mention it, can you? Well, with recovering from the long trip, the computer being on vacation itself for several days and the camera going bye bye everytime my girl leaves the house, it took this long to get the dang picture on the camera, then my laptop and jump drive and now the desk computer! Who says it's all fun and games ?!

And now you are wondering what the heck one does once one is Copic certified, aren't you....well....you color, of course!! LOL!! Oh, but wait...you don't JUST color, but you color really really well! You color and you blend and you color and you blend....all for the good of mankind ;) Well, more like for the good of crafterkind. Anyhow....you may remember that my journey with Copic markers began in the post where I won a Copic Set B of 36 markers from Gina K. To be honest, that is still the only set I own...and I thought that was the only set I would ever need. HA! Now that I know more than just how to put alcohol ink to paper, I definitely NEED more Copic markers! So I think that is all I will be getting at Christmas this year. Sigh. I'm so glad God gave me talents to use Copic markers with; He is so good, isn't He?

More projects from CHA's show

2009-08-10T08:00:00.002-04:00

Here are some more projects we made for the CHA Supershow classes sponsered by Ye Olde Outhouse. This is the alcohol ink vase we made using a clear glass lidded jar. We used three of my fav Ranger alcohol ink colors, Ginger, Red Pepper and Copper Mixative, covered the vase and added CHF's Silhouette Blooms and sentiments to the sides. In the final project, we completed it with brown gingham ribbon tied around the top of the jar. Also, although I don't have pictures of them, we made two double sided, Cricut cut, 6-layer, Cuttlebugged, sanded, textured flowers on floral sticks to add to the vase. Chock full of technique, I tell ya!!

There is always more to teach! I love techniques! The next card is an adapted card from Gina K's Stamp TV gallery. With permission from the woman who designed the Gina K card and using CHF stamps, I put together this project to teach the wood graining technique using a Scor Pal. This little guy from Cornish Heritage Farm's Kim Hughes U R A Hoot set was VERY popular with the class! Remember the post with the grad card I made using the same idea several weeks before CHA? (in my summer of pictures post!)

And finally for today, this set of projects was called County Blues. Deby and I again taught use of alcohol inks on this (originally white) candle holder and on a CASED card from an SCS'er (also with permission) used Nesties for the circles and Core'dination paper to rip layers to make a Mountain and Sea card. The "mountains" were more mountain-y on the actual class model card with a different CHF image! This heat embossed flower image is actually a retired CHF stamp. We used CHF's Nature's Silhouette II stamp set with the Boxwood and Bayleaf stamps on the actual workshop card!

See, frog faithfuls...I HAVE been BUSY!
Whew....more excitement to come....stay tuned!

Off to shop today for college stuff at Target! Stay cool!

Yes, I'm back! And yes, I've been back since Tuesday night...

2009-08-09T21:30:00.009-04:00

...but I'm just now feeling alive again :) I wish I could share pics of the Ye Olde Outhouse booth right this minute, but the truth is they are in Betty's camera and I am waiting patiently to see them! My friend Deby, who was my faithful right hand co teacher has a few on her blog, The Sofa Lady...check it out!
I can however share the pictures of the projects that we taught in our CHA Supershow classes....they were well attended for the most part and it was a BLAST teaching the "students" techniques. All of our projects used Cornish Heritage Farm stamps, because I adore them and they worked perfectly to complement my projects to reflect Betty's arts and craft store.

This first one, Country Home, was originally a scrapbook page, then a card, then finally, CHA ok'd it as a picture on a plaque. We mounted this 8.5 x 5.5" scene onto a wooden board painted black, and put curled wire through holes on the top of both sides to hang it up. We used woodgraining, masking, Scor pal-ing, and paper tearing techniques....lots of fun!

Cornish Heritage set: Primitive Beginnings

This next card, we called the "Secret card". It was originally "rejected"....we actually made it as a second project to the vase we altered using alcohol inks. This card uses the technique I used to make this blue card in a previous post. I just love the technique and wanted to show the alcohol ink process on photo paper so I threw it into the class as a "bonus" project.

Cornish Heritage Set: Vintage Wings

This next project is a post it noteholder that I learned to make on Splitcoast Stampers. I wanted to show off the Core'dinations paper and how you can sand the core color to the surface after cuttlebugging it....it was a very popular project!

Cornish Heritage set: Vintage Wings

I'll share more tomorrow! I pray you are well and blessed! God is faithful to meet your needs today! I have missed all of you! Especially my SBS sisters! Love ya!

We made it to Orlando...outhouse and all :)

2009-07-27T23:35:00.003-04:00

Hey all! A quick check in from CHA :) Betty and I arrived on Sunday having driven with an outhouse on the roof of the van for over 3 days and 1200 miles! I know, right. The van is packed to the gills with the store supplies and set up, all our classroom projects' parts and pieces, inks and rubber, glass, to brads, bottle caps to coasters....we are getting ready for a plethora of techniques and teaching fun. First was the COPIC certification class...good way to begin, don't you think? I know, you all thought I was going to grace Tim Holtz with another handshake, didn't you?! Sorry, but COPIC's called me away...this time.... ;)

Drumroll........Tada! I am officially COPIC certified, frog faithfuls! Wow, huh? We were in class all day, playing and learning what to do with these wonderful markers....I even learned to use the airbrush system with them....and blending lots of different ways as well as how to put a shadow under your image in the right way! Betty and I are having a great time, but we are anxious to set up the booth and begin classes for the Supershow after the trade show ends....the rest of the team will come Wednesday, so pray for travelling mercies and for it all to come together. So exciting!

I let my daughter use my camera for her vacation, so I don't think you'll see any pictures of me with Cuttlebug or Cricket this year, but I'm hoping to snap a few pictures of some of the projects using lots of the fun new techniques and tools I learn this year.....and when I get back, I'll share a paper piecing card I made for a swap with some ladies from the stamping cruise last fall. I have to wait until all of us receive our swap cards. Isn't it amazing how many friends one can make in stamping and papercrafting?! A community, i tell you!! If you haven't done so already, you may want to consider hopping over to join the Papercrafting Planet forum. Friends come in all shapes and ink colors you know! ;) Have a wonderful week!

Summer in pictures

2009-07-23T09:17:00.023-04:00

Where have I been? What have I been doing?? Well......

There's marching..........

And rafting.......

And crafting..........

Snapping....

And riding.........

And crafting....

Celebrating and celebrating and Celebrating.....

And saying goodbye :( .....for now...... And then, more celebrating and celebrating....

And thanking God for a Blessed day for ANOTHER grad party!
And smiling with my Aunt Judy and Mom.....

And getting ready for my baby girl to go to college.......

But first...........I leave for CHA's crafting trade show and convention in Florida tomorrow!!! WOW!!

See you when I get back! :)
Lots of love!

Kim Marie aka

BUSY LADY!

I'll be back....

2009-06-28T22:20:00.004-04:00

Hey, Frog Faithfuls! {Sorry, I couldn't resist AHNODE at the top of the post! }
I'm here, really I am....but EXTREMELY involved in all that is going in, on and under my life right now--what with adventures and graduations and such! I have a TON of pictures to share, too! Don't worry...I'll be back in a day or two to post....honestly...I haven't even really BEEN on the computer in weeks {no duh, right!?}....but I've missed you all! Don't froget me!
Trusting God is blessing each and every one of you!!!
Love ya!

Marching on

2009-05-31T07:43:00.002-04:00

Here's our annual Memorial Day parade in town. We personally have had a part in this parade for 17 years, as scouts and scout leaders and marching band members. I always joke that if it's a beautiful, warm and sunny day, we must have the parade dates mixed up! We hate to have to wear a rain poncho over uniforms and we were blessed this year with a gorgeous day! Hurrah! It is the last year we will have a "marcher", so it was bittersweet....of course we have two more parades to go, so I'm not teary eyed yet! And aren't the band uniforms beautiful? As are the band members of course! :)

Also, here's a snapshot of our lilac tree blooming....so so pretty! I wonder at God's creations...most especially in the spring time!

Blessed Sunday!!

Keeping track :)

2009-05-30T09:50:00.017-04:00

I told you we've been to some track meets lately. Kels has several events including a 100 meter race (lane 3 in the pic), a 4x100 meter relay, high jump and triple jump. These pictures were actually at a meet on a beautiful sunny day...one of the few meets where we were not drenched and freezing! All the kids did well, and Kelsey had her highest high jump EVER! (4' 8" I believe!)

Her triple jump at this meet was also the longest she's done this season...her personal best is 34 feet, but I think this meet was like 32 or 33 feet plus some inches, I can't remember the exact measurements....it just amazing me that they can hop, skip, jump and then land successfully! Way way beyond my skills let me tell YOU! BTW, she jumps 28 FEET before she even lands in the pit! Wow, right? Well, here we see her waiting while some kids cross the track and then she FLIES!! Her "landing" in this clip isn't quite that pretty, but the jump was GOOD!!

And finally, here is one of my recent creations sent as a thank you card to Dani dear who is coordinating a card swap this month with some ladies from the cruise I went on last fall. I had some "scraps" sitting around and I put them together to make this card. Love that Cornish Heritage Farms Vintage Butterfly Set...I used the images in quite a few of my CHA projects!

Always a project....

2009-05-29T21:33:00.002-04:00

Hi all! I haven't been online much, but I have been very busy!! Along with the crazy life I lead, including lots of marching band parades and track sectionals and summer soccer for Kels, getting two girls ready to graduate, one girl packed to go around the world, paperwork done for all my school kids and missionary director and preschool ministry duties....I have also been creating stuff like a wild woman!!

I don't know if you all remember my trip last summer to Chicago with my friend Betty who owns a LSS, but we went to CHA, the biggest craft trade show in the USA! This year I am again going with Betty to the trade show as a "creative" consultant/assistant retailer to Betty THE Retailer; and THEN I am helping Betty by designing projects and coteaching workshops in a new and exciting CHA Supershow for CONSUMERS (read that as YOU AND ME!). It has been quite an experience so far in designing....we submitted my first 15 project designs, to have 4 of them accepted fully, 6 of them rejected completely and 5 of them accepted contingently. I reworked the projects, only to have the 5 contingent projects rejected after all, and a request for something new and different. Sigh. I designed new projects and all of those were accepted! Whew. So now comes the material gathering and prepping and "bagging" for each project. When we are done, assuming our classes of 50 people per class are filled, we will have completed 1, 050 projects!! OMGracious! It is an exciting enterprise and I am so happy to give Betty the exposure she needs to go BIG! I've included here a video clip advertising the show! Check it out! Wouldn't it be fun to come see me there? God gives me the BEST projects, don't you think??

I can't share my projects until after the show, but I promise to share some of the other things I've been crafting...soon!

I trust the good Lord is blessing your socks off this weekend! The sun is coming and so are more PARADES! I've have pix of those too! See you soon! Blessings!
Kim Marie

Just a few more prom pix:)

2009-05-18T20:57:00.009-04:00

Some of the neat things about being royalty for a night is the extra special details that make you feel like you're extraordinary....like a fancy car to pose in front of..

....a really long limo ride...........

and a chance to meet a prince or two (these young men are actually close family friends and a few of the guys that both my daughters hang out with at school).
Oh the joys!

The benefit concert went well, too by the way, although the weather dampened attendance a bit...they sold some t shirts and raised some money and awareness for their cause "I AM THE DIFFERENCE"...an organization started locally here by some teens to raise awareness that you can change your world for the better. Isn't God good?
Blessings all!

A Danish Princess :)

2009-05-17T15:22:00.005-04:00

Here are a few snaps of Mejse and her date, Clay. Also, the group picture is of all the couples that rode in the limousine.
Isn't she darling? Every parent I spoke with said that she looked so adorable. Her dress is my favorite one, of course...but I could be a wee bit biased! :) How she stood in those shoes though, remains a mystery to me....ah to be a teenager again.....or not ;) Blessings, all!

Prom Day! And Benefit Concert Day!

2009-05-16T11:36:00.000-04:00

Today is prom day! Today is Benefit Concert Day! Our girl from Denmark, Mejse, is going to prom and our girl Kelsey is part of organizing a benefit concert this afternoon! Pray for sunny and bright weather as right now....BIG STORMY RAIN! But things are brightening up to the north, so.....come back later and check for prom pictures and benefit concert updates!
Happy Saturday!

O Happy Moms Day!

2009-05-10T09:19:00.005-04:00

Happy Mom's Day People!!!

Blessings to all the moms, aunts and grandmoms out there! Enjoy your children today, in person, by phone or satellite :)

And enjoy your day! God loves you, Moms, Aunts and Grandmoms!!

PS This is one of my two greatest creations...she took the pic herself!

Faith Hope Love

2009-05-04T14:44:00.002-04:00

This was the other card that I made for the Papercrafts "stamped background" Category. These images are all Papertrey Ink. I love their acrylic stamps...they usually build on one another, making them extremely versatile. The ribbon is also PTI...chocolate :) yummy! Click on the pic to see it close up...you can see the two step process better!

My friends, we can't make it in this world without faith, hope and love....but remember, the most important of these is love :)

Blessings to you today, my friends!

Not quite royalty and something special to do

2009-05-01T21:30:00.000-04:00

Hi all!

Here's a card I made months ago and I actually sent it in to a Stamping Royalty contest for PaperCrafts magazine. The time has passed for when they said they would have chosen the winners, and I haven't heard a thing, so I'm going to go out on a limb and figure it wasn't my time to be published :)

The entry was for a card that was to use stamps to make your own design/background paper. All the stamped images are Stampin' Up, but I used alcohol inks to make the background color. I love alcohol inks...they are BEAUTIFUL! And so easy to use. I made two cards actually, but I'll share the second card in a different post.

Tomorrow is one of my favorite things to be a part of....SPECIAL OLYMPICS! I go and cheer on all my friends, old and new! I get to see kids I've worked with over the years, many of whom are now in their late teens and early 20's {yes they were TWO when I first met them}! And also, the kids I work with now. I cannot tell you the pride in my heart when I see them win a wheelchair obstacle course, softball throw or bean bag drop. There is even a switch hitting competition that some of my girls have received a gold medal in! And some of my kids {3!} have even carried the torch! My daughter has volunteered since she was a wee thing, as I have always brought my kids. It is a wonderful morning!

Be well, friends! Have a good weekend!

Survivor

2009-04-27T21:46:00.007-04:00

This is a tribute post to my friend, Gigi, who lost her battle with cancer this weekend. Gigi wasn't all sweetness and light...she was a survivor...she took on whatever came her way and went all the way with it. She was tough and courageous; a person who strives to thrive no matter how hard the ground is. She was a real survivor: courageous and down to earth. She was a wonderful, strong woman who loved her children fiercely and gave her laugh and her smile generously. She was a mom of a child with disabilities, but she never waivered in her desire for her child to do all she could do to grow up like everyone else. Her sense of humor was fantastic and she always made me smile.

Gigi, you will stay in our hearts and minds and someday, we'll see you again, beautiful friend, whole and healed. Please pray for her teenaged girls and her husband to find comfort in the memories of their dearly loved one.

Love ya, Girl!

Celebrate life!

2009-04-26T16:01:00.008-04:00

In this world of super depressing news on every channel, TV and radio, disasters and violence all over the front pages of the newspaper and messages of doom and gloom coming from all quarters, we need to remind ourselves that this is not the worst time in our history and God is not bound by our choices, our mistakes, our little brains....He is all knowing, all powerful and very importantly, He wants to bless His children. This has been a tough week for me....a good friend has been told she has only days to live, I lost a beloved Great Uncle and several family and friends are being attacked in a battle with that insidious enemy, cancer.

And yet....I've seen so many new babies, more and more of our friend's kids as well as some of our good friends are getting married, kids are graduating high school and college and we have a roof over our heads and food on the table. Today my family attended an Eagle Scout ceremony for a young man that my DH and I are blessed to have lead in Boy scouts when he was just a kid...and today he received the highest award in Scouting. God is so good! And no matter what, have to look BEYOND the latest depressing news and negative circumstances and look for the GOOD in life. AND CELEBRATE IT!

Today's card was based on a challenge sketch from Clear Artistic Stamp's Cottage Studio Blog.

The card uses several of Belinda's sets including Moments of Lace and Whispers in the Woods. It also uses her new shimmer paper, although you can't truly see the shimmery-ness of it here...trust me, it's so beautiful! (click on the pic for a better view) I used my copics to make the design on the cake an a Sakura glitter pen on the bride's dress. The butterfly on the cake is my favorite part...once I started using the Shimmer paper, I couldn't stop! Belinda is having a special in her store for all May orders...you may win some FREE STAMPS, or some other bling....go check it out!

Good news!! God is alive and he seeks to bless YOU! We are already VICTORIOUS! Happy Blessed Sunday!!

So Kind :)

2009-04-16T16:48:00.006-04:00

Thank you for the birthday well wishes and for the cards I received....your kindness goes above and beyond and I appreciate you all so much! This card is for my DH to give to a sweet and generous customer on his mail route who gives him a card and a little gift for every holiday.

These are some more pictures from Easter weekend. We went down to the lake in Charlotte, NY (Lake Ontario) and walked down a pier on Good Friday. It was a REALLY chilly afternoon, even more so on the lake, but the girls braved the elements to walk all the way to the watch tower and here are some pix my girl M snapped of my girl, Kelsey. Isn't she GROWING up so fast?! LOL! I guess these are considered trick pictures, as this tower is about 12' tall!

And here's a close up of both of them in front of the tower...did you notice the little elephant at M's feet? Cute, huh? {I meant the girls, of course! ;)}

My birthday has been full of sunshine and blue skies, so it's been a nice day. I've had a chance to do some stamping and some stuff for a summer project I'll be working on with my friend Betty. Friends like you make special days really wonderful. Thanks for stopping by :)

Love ya!

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T21:17:00.005-04:00

Happy Easter everyone! Blessed Day! Praise God for His life, His Sacrifice and His Glory!

He is Risen!

We had a wonderful Easter day here...every Easter Sunday, our church has a big breakfast buffet at the beginning of the service, along with special programming and Pastor preaching while we sit and enjoy the good foods of God's provision! Easter is a celebration Jesus' resurrection, which we know is the "whole ball of wax" when it comes to our Christian faith! How tremendous is the love of Christ in our hearts on this day, knowing all that God has sacrificed that we might become children of Heaven! Praise God!

We were blessed to have all our children here for the celebration! And my in-laws as well! My son and his long time girlfriend were here, along with my girls of course. 'M', our daughter from Denmark, had her first Easter experience here in the US when we sat and dyed hard boiled eggs the night before Easter. It was fun to see the two 'sisters' coloring eggs...and nostalgic for me, because my daughter will be at college next Easter, making it a bit trickier to find time for such family traditions! {sigh!}

This morning we went to church all dressed up for service, and ate yummy stuff. We then came home for a little egg hunt (in the living room) and then Easter basket yumminess and fun, and hanging out. In the afternoon, we had a great dinner cooked by my amazing hubby :) And after dinner, some of us went for a walk near here where there is a bit of waterfall. All in all it was fun and blessed day! :)
Here is my dear hubby cooking his butt off :)

Here are some more camera shots of our fun!

Kal lounging, M doing sodoku

Geoff and M learning to yoyo again since they've grown up :) My daughter K was on the computer and not too much into the mom photographing :)

And our little falls near our house

Here's a pic with me at the bottom and the girls and my DH at the top :)

Hope your holiday was fun as well! :)
Have a blessed week!

2009-04-07T08:30:00.002-04:00

Good morning! A friend of mine sent me a link to this Pantene commercial...given all the awful, offensive and ridiculous commercials out there, this one is refreshing and wonderful and worth a minute of your time.

Amazing Commercial

We have a bit of snow...ewww....but not a lot. Yay! Enjoy your day!

Wishin' a sunny day to you!

2009-04-06T11:45:00.004-04:00

I'm on vacation (staycation anyway) for two weeks with lots of errands to run, but I hope for time for stamping in the midst of it all! I'll be sure to post! Have a wonderful day!

For you!

2009-04-01T19:35:00.001-04:00

Happy April 1st! Aside from the fact that today is April Fool's day here in the US, it is also a special day for me as it is my Grandma Arietta's birthday. My Gram and I shared this month of birthdays and that has always been very important to me. She used to tell me she was glad I was not born on her birthday as that would make me a fool. She was funny like that. Interesting to note: My Gram went to be with Jesus years ago on my birthday, April 16th. At first I wasn't too happy about that, but then over time I came to realize it as an honor. We always shared this month of birthdays and we continue to share my special day as a day when she got to meet the Savior up close and personal. Wow, huh? Happy 97th Birthday, Gramma!

This is the final card of the set of cards I made to send to Dorothy. The neat thing about sending the cards? She will give them away to some people who need encouragement and she asked that, if we wanted, those of us who made the cards could write a little note with our names and where we're from. And Dorothy is up in Canada, so now I can think about the fact that cards I created and prayed over will find their way into the hands of those that needed a lift of spirit :) God works everywhere doesn't He? And I'm an instrument of His Peace and Grace! To God be the glory! What a joy!

And today I want to wish YOU God's Peace and Grace for YOUR week! It seems around me I have so many friends and family in need of encouragement. Be encouraged! God is in control and HE SEES. He does! Sit quietly a bit and let His grace SINK IN. Wallow in it. And you will feel PEACE in your MIND, SPIRIT and SOUL! Be refreshed!

And be blessed, my friends!

O Happy Day

2009-03-28T09:36:00.002-04:00

I love birthdays and celebrations of the kind when we can be thankful for another year of blessings and life :) Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday and birthdays are no different than that...another God given chance to celebrate all that He is in our lives...'cause without God, no life would be here :) This card is another one I sent to Dorothy...I couldn't get it to be less fuzzy, sorry...but I again used this sweet little girl swinging on her swing. I also used Red Riding hood trimmed ribbon from Stampin Up...love the stuff :)

This is an extra set of images I made to give to my friend Wendy for her birthday. It is the same idea I used for an image swap I did with some SBS sisters...I hope they've all received their images!! Using Red Riding Hood CS from SU, this is a simple holder made with 1/2 a sheet of 8.5x11" CS and only a few folds. I CB'ed the front flap to make it fancier and added a flower sticker! Fun!
Finally, here is a picture of our daughter from Denmark blowing out her candles and opening presents after her 17th birthday dinner last week. We are so thankful that her mom and dad and family shared her with us! We know that it must be hard for them not to be with their girl on her birthday, but we thank God that we could be here for her to experience a birthday celebration in the States. I cannot believe how time has flown by since she first came in August! She will be going home in only a few short months! Eek! And I am not very good at goodbyes....lalalalalalalala (fingers in ears, can't hear you!) Change of subject!

The second picture is a snapshot of both girls :) Love 'em!

I hope you are celebrating blessings today! Be well and smile :)

Content to Be :)

2009-03-27T20:39:00.001-04:00

Hello friends :) This is another card sent to Dorothy for encouraging others. I love this image for a good reason! I thought up the name for this bella image "Content-to-be-a-Bella" and STAMPING BELLA's Emmabella HERSELF LOVED IT ENOUGH TO KEEP IT!!! We were on the cruise last October and she was taking suggestions! I looked at the expression on this particular bella and thought...she looks so content! And who wouldn't be content to be a Bella?? So, it was with great pleasure that, when she released the stamp image to the public for sale early this year, the name on the website was my "baby"! How very cool is that!?

Oh that we could be so content in all our circumstances! And yet I strive to be like Paul in the Philipians 4, content in all things....

I rejoice greatly in the Lord ....I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Isn't that the truth!!

Blessings for all

2009-03-26T22:38:00.002-04:00

Hi again! Here's a card that I made to send to Dorothy over at her Neverenoughrubberstamps blog . She is collecting cards to give out to people in need of a little encouragement. I made up several cards and this is one of my favorites. I received this stamping up image from Wish RAK and coloring her with my SU markers relieved some stress...don't you love to color?! This card was unique in that it is actually 2-in-1! You can see below that the little card with the image opens up with a little message (my calligraphy) and then the big card that it is mounted to also opens for a handwritten note. The little girl is so sweet and the bird on her hat made me smile! Can you see where I cuttlebugged the Cameo Coral paper too!? I really liked how it turned out!

As the card says, please have a blessed day! And rejoice in His handcrafted goodness today, won't you?

Off the map :)

2009-03-24T20:58:00.008-04:00

A sunny hi to all my Frog Faithfuls!

First of all thank you for the emails I've received wondering where the heck I am...it is always a blessing to be thought of and cared for :) You could say that I have been *off the map* for a few weeks...in fact, I've actually been off the computer! My neck and back have been a pain recently and I just couldn't fathom sitting down and typing for any length of time. If I am on the computer for more than 10 minutes, my back goes numb up by my neck and pain goes lots of places. Don't worry though! Dr. Jesus and my earthly physicians are on the case!

I thought I'd share a few things in the next few posts that I've had a chance or two to work on these past few weeks. Most of the time, it was a "parts and pieces" approach. I'd ink up the images one day, color them the next, layer a few, etc until finally they were complete cards!

The one I want to share today is actually the last one I made (and finished a few minutes ago!) It is for a StampTV challenge set by Kurtis of Stampin' Kub fame. Kurtis' blog was one of a small handful of blogs that inspired me a few years ago to begin my own blog. In fact, Kurtis was the first person to comment on my blog! His style is always so clean and simple, so it was no surprise that his challenge was to make a Clean and Simple card using his sketch. Here it is!

The CS is Papertreyink's Lemon Tart, the ink is Ranger's Adirondack inks: Bright Orange and Terracotta and the stamps are Cornish Heritage Farm's Victorian Butterflies. Quite clean and simple, wouldn't you agree!?

The sun is shining so beautifully in New York this week, you'd almost believe that winter is over....but I've been living here for 45 years...I know better!

Through it all, remember, GOD IS SO, SO GOOD!!

Blessings!

My blog has a heart :)

2009-02-25T18:18:00.003-05:00

Dorothy gave me this award for my blog....isn't she sweet?! Thanks so much! I want to pass it on to the 8 bloggers who have chosen to be my blog followers {see right sidebar}...how sweet of them to take the time to join the list :) Be blessed!

Hello Kitty :)

2009-02-23T22:35:00.001-05:00

Just a quick and cheery hello :) This is a card for the Stamp TV Gina K Challenge using the Thumping technique....try it! Check it out at Stamp TV (see sidebar link).

Have a grand week!

Sweet!

2009-02-21T18:45:00.003-05:00

I was on a bit of a cupcake frenzy around valentine's day and made some cards for my hubby and daughters to go with their big plate of heart cookies. This is a card I made but didn't end up giving away. I ADORE all cupcake images...they make me so happy! These cuties and sentiment are from Unity Stamp Company. The photo came out a bit dark when I uploaded it(who knows why?!). I used Papertrey's Sweet Blush and Plum Pudding Cardstock and ribbon, Memento Grape jelly ink, and Copic markers. All YUM!

Have a sweet, blessed Sunday!

Wow...this is BIG news for one of my fav people...

2009-02-20T13:25:00.005-05:00

What exciting news going on over at Gina K's blog! A new adventure....a new way to experience all we love about Gina K designs....check out Gina's blog or use the blinkie on the right---> and see what all the fun is about!!

I am so proud to be a Gina K customer and stamping friend :)

Kim needs.....what?!

2009-02-17T17:59:00.005-05:00

Oh if only life were so easy as to type "Kim needs" into Google and all my needs would be layed out right there in front of me! According to Google, these are the top 10 things "Kim needs"....

Kim needs:
1. to take off the gloves (well, I oughta....)
2. super effort (well, what else is new?!)
3. a refreshment (well, I do so love mint iced tea)
4. some help big time (well, come on over!)
5. to mind her own business (well enough, thank you!)
6. to talk (well, have a seat...)
7. to shut up and go home (WELL!!)
8. some hints (well, wasn't that last one clear enough?!)
9. our support (well, thank you, dear friends!)
10. counseling (well, I'm not surprised at this point, are you?!)

I am so glad to have that cleared up! It's all for fun, but you may want to see what Google thinks you need, too...you never know where it may lead....type "YOUR NAME" in a google search window and go for it!

Isn't life GRAND?!

The Greatest of these

2009-02-15T15:32:00.011-05:00

Some of you may remember my Wizard of Oz inspired card, here, that I made for the Cinema Saturday Challenge a few weeks ago. This week's challenge is from the movie Emma, based on a book of the same name by Jane Austen, written in 1815. I read the book in a women's literature class in college, but had never seen any of the movies based on the book. After seeing the challenge on the blog this week, I went on my Netflix and watched this 1996 version with Gwyneth Paltrow and LOVED IT!

Emma is a natural matchmaker who works her charm to match up couples from her group of friends...never realizing how much trouble one can get into when "involving oneself" in others' affairs ;) It's a fun and clean (!) love story and one I think you would really enjoy!
Here is my inspired card from the movie:

The DP actually has a sheen to it which you are able to see if you enlarge the picture.
I chose this scripture because faith, hope and love were all in the movie! And dancing scenes were some of the most beautiful parts of the movie. For the challenge, the card also had to have dots in it somewhere. My dancers image is from Gina K's Heartfelt Hits 1, which I paperpieced with SEI's dotted, double-sided DP. The scripture is one of many from Cornish Heritage Farms Scripture Essentials I. I also used SU's mellow moss CS and Fiskar's Victorian corner rounder punch. No doubt this card will end up as a wedding or anniversary card somewhere down the line!
I was going for a card that was simple yet elegant....much like Emma, herself :)
Have an amazing week!

Well, hello there :)

2009-02-14T20:30:00.003-05:00

I've had quite a quiet and selfish day, watching old movies, stamping a bit and even a little teeny bit of house cleaning. Nice to have a day like that once every 100 years or so! Here is a card I am posting that I made today for PTI's color challenge. We had to make a card that used the colors on one of PTI's designer projects for Nichole's new release...this is inspired from Dawn McVey's blog...she is a tremendous designer! I used PTI's Summer Sun and Berry Sorbet Ribbon, Ink and cardstock and PTI's Floral Frenzy Stamp set. I wanted something warm and summery and these are two of my favorite PTI colors. Check out Nichole's new release tonight...the party is in the PTI forum starting at 10 pm, but the new stuff isn't available until midnight....can you make it?! Check out Papertreyink.com!

Sunny blessings and have a warm and cozy Sunday!

Stamping is art :)

2009-02-10T19:33:00.005-05:00

Card details: SU CS, Basic Grey Euphoria DP, Inkadinkadoo stmp, Stamping Bella EmBELLAshments donuts and dots colored with Copics

I forgot to share this! This card follows the CPS #100 sketch like the CAS card I posted last week or so, but with a little bit looser twist to the sketch layout. I love this quote! {Thanks, Rox for loaning me the stamp...I will give it back! LOL!}

I made this card to give to a teacher I work with who is really a kindred spirit...and she also happens to be my classroom neighbor and the elementary art teacher!! She has this great easel outside of her room and she often puts a famous work of art out so that we can enjoy great masterpieces as we walk up the hall. We have what I call a mutual fan club....she likes my quotes and I love her artwork. It's a good deal all around.

Who is a kindred spirit in your life?

PS We have pouring rain and almost 60 today...nice change, but the flooding is not good and tonight winds are coming (45-60 mph) and the temp will be dropping into the teens for tomorrow...brrrr.....winter is back!! Boo hoo! Back to the UK with you, I say!! ;)

EDITED TO ADD: We ended up having a snow day {no school! no school!} today! (Thursday)...actually...more of a super-windy, slushy rain day! LOL! As my friend and fellow educator, Ann said...it's a gift!! :) No excuses for me not to make a new card, right?! ;) ~K

Holding up

2009-02-10T19:20:00.003-05:00

God is with us where we are, no matter where that is. Three friends of mine lost a parent last week and so I made them a card. I pray for strength for them as they go through these days, knowing that God will sustain them every painful and difficult time. Hold up your burdens and Jesus will carry them for you. He promised and His promises are true!

Card Details: All Prism Purple paper, Gina K's Whimsical Autumn Set (Pussywillow image) SU White craft ink, SU scripture sentiment

Blessings!

Thanks for being YOU! :)

2009-02-09T10:29:00.001-05:00

This is a Thank you card for my bestest friend Sandy for the marvelous time we had together a few weeks ago! She is always so great at cooking delicious food, making sure everyone is happy and coming up with fun and new games to play when our families get together! Sandy's favorite color is RED, so I really juiced it up using alcohol inks (poppy and copper) and Gina K's cream sateen flowers colored with one of my red Copic markers. The images are SU's Thank you Kindly hostess set.

This card also works for our SBS9 triple challenge {Make a card using the multiple of 3's}
:) and I am entering it in Nichole's 2nd Anniversary PTI challenge for today as well!

Thank YOU blogging friends for all your comments and lovely thoughts. You are really good friends to me too! My favorite stamping friends as a matter of fact!

Are you F.R.O.G?

2009-02-07T22:20:00.011-05:00

This little card was made for a friend of mine whose life has been quite a trial lately. Long ago and far away, I wish God had told Adam not to worry about that little bite of the apple and that we could have continued to hang all out in Eden for generations and forever, but if Adam was anything like the rest of us, he would have bitten more than we could chew eventually!

But praise our God, He thought of a different way to save us from ourselves. Jesus came and died for us and now we have new lives in Him that will get us back into paradise :) Some days in this world though, it's easy to say we're new creatures, but not so easy to do it with faith that all will come out for the best in the end. How do we live through times like these that try the soul?

Card Details: Basic Grey Euphoria DP; Dollar Clear Stamps {thanks Manna!}, Gina K Sateen flower colored with Copic Red, SU cardstock, SU's Glorious Green Ink

Well, the only answer is this: by fully relying on the One that we know will never leave nor forsake us, never let us down or leave us out--He gives us the key to living with JOY as we are His children and He gives us good gifts of grace and mercy, strength and faith....but to take His gifts, we must trust that His plans for us are the BEST that there could be and that maybe we just don't know everything there is to know about everything there is to know! I know one thing...I can't do this life alone--I need God! So yes, I'm Fully Relying On God!

Go FROG! You'll be hoppy you did! ;)
Have a blessed week!

A great day and a Challenge posted!

2009-02-07T21:39:00.012-05:00

Hi all! Happy weekend!

I spent today doing some of my favorite things! I had breakfast with a friend and fellow stamping junkie, Ann. Then we went to the new Staples in our little town and checked out the crafty side of stationary stores...fun, too. Then we came home to my house and stamped and chatted and stamped some more! What a great day!

I have been making cards on and off this past week, but it seemed while each one was close to being done, no one was completely finished...so today, I finished them off and they are some of my favorites I've made so far! The only one I am posting today is a challenge card I made as part of Papertreyink's 2nd Anniversary....I have several baby showers coming this month, so here's one of the first baby cards to come. I used Nichole's Dot to Dot challenge sketch from her blog:

My card uses PTI's Bitty Baby Blessings stamp set...I paper pieced the elephant...the images in this set just cry out to be paper pieced! After stamping and cutting out Elly, I also Xyron-ed her and covered her in Dazzling Diamonds. Isn't she so cute!?

I also used Bitty Baby Blessings Patterned Paper from PTI as well as Nicole's Lemon Tart and Plum Pudding CS...the color is more of a subtle yellow IRL, but it came out a bit of a richer yellow in the picture. The 3 little baubles are EmBELLAshments from Stamping Bella. I did add the trim on the left hand side to follow the sketch: a strip of Lemon Tart cut with scallop scissors and pierced on each scallop.

I'm quite pleased with it! It also enters me in a chance to win wonderful things from PTI...check it out for yourself! Nichole has a new and fun thing happening every day, so check in often; her new stamps come out on the 15th!
Have a blessed Sunday!

CAS CPS GKD !! KWIM??

2009-01-28T19:45:00.015-05:00

Hi everyone! Here's me blogging from home, sick with a sinus headache and a toothache and throwing out acronyms at the pace of a freight train! Actually, I'm posting my latest creation which I happen to adore...it came together so easily, it's almost scary {the process, not the card!}
To let you in on the letter thing....this card uses a stamp set from Clear Artistic Stamps (CAS) Girly Girls line called "Hearts and Lace". I used the Card Positioning Systems (CPS) sketch for this week, which is featured by Gina K Designs (GKD). Now do you know what I mean? (KWIM?)

I just love the poem on the front, written by Belinda I believe. In case you can't read it through the glitter, it says, Give me buttons and bows, Lavender and Lace, Then sprinkle some glitter all over the place!

After stamping and coloring the image with Copics, I ran the image through my Xyron and covered it in Dazzling Diamonds. The photo colors are off a bit, as it was hard to photograph it without all the glitter reflecting and covering up the image. In real life (ahem, IRL) it looks more gorgeous! The ribbon behind the image is from Belinda in a little grab bag I won over at the CAS forum. The DP is Basic Grey's Euphoria {anyone else using up all their BG DP? Love it!}

Oh, and my friend Jolene has tagged me! I need to post the 6th photo from the 6th folder in my Pictures folder and then explain it. Here it is:

This was one of the 6 x6 pages I made in the wedding scrapbook I made for my friend Kelly who got married this last fall :) Funny thing, it was one of the pics from the album which I did not share on my blog! There you go!

Now I pick 5 more to tag?? How about
Roxanne
Kathy
Wendy
Becky
Deby

Remember all, post your 6th pic from your 6th folder in your My pictures folder. KWIM?? LOL! Please pray for my cold/sinus/toothache if you would. Appreciated in advance!

Love ya!

Wizard of Oz Challenge!

2009-01-26T23:14:00.011-05:00

This card is for the Cinema Saturday Challenge at Sankari's blog here. Melanie of Heart, Head , and Hands blog {link on the Tee on my Right-->} mentioned the challenge on her blog and I started thinking about trying it. Then, I couldn't fall asleep last night and suddenly POOF! This idea hit me! And I had to work and wait all day today to finally sit down and make the card look like what I imagined! And it does!!

Every week Sankari challenges us to make a card inspired by a particular movie...this week's flick is the Wizard of Oz. One of my favorite parts of the movie is when the group led by Dorothy to see the Great Oz comes across a big barrier...a gigantic door! It is their first encounter with the palace inhabitants and of course, they are challenged and changed drastically from that point on! You know, Dorothy had to discover the secret of getting back home...and my card opens to reveal...

Card Details: Clear Artistic Stamp's Shimmer paper, SU Night of Navy, Versamark, SU silver embossing powder, CB Textile folder, OTC brads and flowers.

...the simple idea that the secret is within yourself! One must wish and believe...and miracles will happen! Don't those flower brads remind you of the doors with a big knob in the middle? That's what I thought of! And I just couldn't bring myself to embellish these doors any more than just with the Textile CB embossing...so pretty! Part of the challenge was using something metallic on the card and mine fits in perfectly as both my doors and the flower "knobs" are metallic. Hey, I have a chance to win a Gina K set! And so do you! Check out the challenge and play along! It was REALLY fun!

{I should probably tell you that as much loved as this movie is by the ages, my little sister Kristy was so creeped out by this movie when we were kids, I think she had nightmares for a year! Of course now Horror is one of her favorite movie genres....go figure! LOL!}

Icicles, 25 years and a baby card!

2009-01-22T18:15:00.005-05:00

Hello :) How are you all? Blessed I hope! This has been a week of blessings and God has been so good! Just to share a few of the reasons why I can smile even when times are tough :)

This was the view outside my bathroom window this week...Yeah, that's snow and ice. Ewww. But it is also one of the most beautiful views around this week...even more lovely from inside, LOL! We had record low temps, some dipping into two digit numbers BELOW ZERO! Whoa. Luckily we were in heat wave mode today....almost 25 degrees :)

This was the cake that my friends Heather, Joe and Melanie surprised us with when we went to their house for dinner this past weekend! Our anniversary kind of came and went with nothing special and we were so so blessed and surprised when they made it a celebration! Heather, Mel and my hubby John and I went to high school together! Yes, we still keep in touch after all these years...mostly because Heather calls me, so she gets all the credit! We have been picnicing with our kids for years and she is so sweet to have made the effort to celebrate for us! She gave us a beautiful silver frame and Mel gave us a gift card. So so nice! I will be making their Thank you cards soon, so stay tuned!! :) Below is a pic that was snapped of my DH and I that evening. Aren't we so cute?! We've been dating "together" for 29 years! Wow, huh?

And finally, this is a card I made for my friend Jim and his family to celebrate their new baby boy, Noah {born on Christmas!}. It is their fourth child and first boy! I used some DELICIOUS 85 lb. Sparkles and Shimmers paper from Clear Artistic Stamps to cuttlebug-emboss the card's image...isn't it great how it shimmers even in the photo!? My favorite CB cardstock to emboss is the metallic CS. It came in an assortment pack, so I have a nice variety of shades.

As it was Jim's first boy, I wanted to use a more masculine color scheme, so I also used SU's Chocolate chip and Creamy caramel cardstock and PTI's perfect match chocolate ribbon {hard to see on the bottom right}. And I just love the sentiment.

So all in all, God has been good this week, don't you think?! Be blessed in all you do this week and know that God is!

Have faith

2009-01-17T09:41:00.003-05:00

Card details: Basic Grey paper, Memento Ink, Unity stamps and SU Riding Hood red and Mellow Moss CS

In this day and time of seemingly endless unrest and economic question marks, I feel like I need to remind myself daily that a small dose of faith and a belief that God is acting truly on our behalf to bless and protect no matter how we are seeing our circumstances, is all we need to make the mountains in our lives move!

Keep up your spirits and know that God sees. He really really does. Be blessed today, won't you?

Cute couple! Now a favor!

2009-01-14T16:44:00.004-05:00

Hi all!
Hey, I need a favor! My friend and co-teacher, Tess, and her fiance met through a dating service and now they are trying to win their dream honeymoon by being voted Most Inspirational couple! They are getting married this summer, but if you're not opposed to it, would you consider voting for them? Click here to go directly to their page...they're in top 10 but we want them to be number one!! Awww...thanks!

So very lovely!

2009-01-13T19:38:00.003-05:00

Melanie sent me some flowers ;) and had this link on her blog; I thought it was very cool and so so spring-y that I wanted to share it with you! For a wonderfull whiff of spring, read the next sentence for directions and then click here! {{When you get there, put your mouse over the screen and CLICK some whimsical flowers all over the place!}} We are getting snowy blizzards on blizzards and will be getting lots of FRIGID temps coming here in the next few days, so I can use all the spring I can get! Stay warm and cozy!

Lovely!

2009-01-10T11:34:00.006-05:00

Well, it's been awhile since I've been so awarded and thanks to my friend, Deby aka The Sofa Lady, I have been blessed with this Lovely Blog award! How sweet of her to think of me :)

I would love to pass this one to 7 other bloggers I adore! I know that it is sometimes hard to think of seven others to pass it to, but if you can it would be so fun!

Sue at Slumber Cards always makes me smile with her creations
Manna at Out of the East who always blesses me, {especially the technique junkie in me}
Holly at Glitter, Stamps and Ink (oh, my!) always inspires and is so sweet!
Lori at Make a Difference who always always makes me smile, blesses me and inspires!!
Jolene at Stampin' for Sanity is new to blogging and doing an amazing job at it...OMGracious!
Louise at "Creations" who is trying out her newest blog and is sharing some fabulous stuff all the way from across the pond!
Erika at A mama who stamps who is ENDLESS in her creativity and love of the craft and who is a blessing as a mom and as an artist!

These ladies are amazing people and their blogs amazing stuff...go visit!

Happy blessed weekend, everybody!

Risking it all to blossom!

2009-01-09T19:12:00.006-05:00

This is a card I made using one of my very first Unity Stamp Company Stamps! I first saw Unity Stamps products in real life at the Crafter's convention I went to last summer....I knew I would fall in love with every single one and so for awhile I avoided even looking on their site...I didn't need another line in my budget if you know what I mean?? {or does the fact that the word budge is in "budget" 'cause you gotta MOVE stuff over??? Hmmmm..... } Well, I just couldn't ignore that last banner ad I saw on SCS and I took the plunge....and I was right....I LOVE THEM ALL!!! The stamps come unmounted and were packaged so beautifully in chocolate brown mesh bags! How wonderful is THAT? The stamps are made from red rubber and this image inked up gorgeously! Isn't the font so pretty??

This stamp I actually purchased with my daughter in mind. She is a senior in high school and going to college next year. I would be less than honest if I didn't admit that I am usually teary eyed most days just thinking of her going into the big world without me! Well, to be entirely honest, I'm being left in the big world without her! So to be an encouragement instead of a mom who can't let go, I saw this sentiment and HAD to have it so I could make her a card. Sappy, huh? The floral paper is basic grey's Euphoria that I purchased from Gina K, the ink Momento's Grape jelly and the flower from my old silky flower collection that my gramma gave me many many many years ago! I used my copic markers to color the center to make it look like a pansy and to match the colors of the card (it was kind of yellow-y and I needed purple-y! LOL!) What think ye??

And we finally had a day with less snow...only a flurry now and again. How's the sky look where you are?
Blessings!

A pic and pixies

2009-01-06T19:54:00.003-05:00

Just thought I'd share the last page of the wedding album....this was an image sent in a swap from one of my SBS9 sisters...colored with copics, I thought it the perfect way to end the book :)

And since we are now thigh-deep in snow (lots more today...arghhh!!) I thought I'd throw in a picture we took in Niagara falls way back when life was sunny, warm and green!! Here are Kalene, my son's long time girlfriend, our girls, Kelsey and Mejse (from Denmark) and the beautiful Niagara River about an hour from our house....ah, to be wearing tee shirts and shorts again! Sigh....

Although we are buried in snow and freezing up here in NY, God has been so good! We are all getting where we need to go and arriving home safely! I hope you are staying warm and cozy whereever you may be! Blessings and warm hugs!

2009-01-06T19:52:00.001-05:00

Just wanted to share some more pages in the wedding album ;)

Another page using PTI's First Fruits DP and some yummy swiss dotted ribbon! The brad's from OTC :)

I love this page set...I hope the hyperlink works...I used some DP I got at the dollar store a long time ago and then PTI's Quilted Sampler set to make the other page. Sentiments are also from this AMAZING set! If you are a quilter, you will need this set...Oh, I can't quilt for real. I know because I tried and tried and tried...but it is just is NOT my gifting! I love them very much, though, and always had a secret wish that someday someone would make a quilt just for me! But alas, there is a reason I don't have the gift...I think it's hereditary and absolutely no one in my family quilts either! At least now I can "quilt" on paper! Darlene, the bride's mom is a MASTER QUILTER and Kelly quilts herself!! So this page is for them ;)

This page was really easy and actually has no stamping. I did cuttlebug the vellum, layered it on more dollar store paper and added two dollar store stickers...Voila! See how easy this kind of project can be?!

Be blessed and stay warm in your corner of the world!

A Wedding attended :)

2009-01-06T19:00:00.001-05:00

I forgot to mention that one of the things we've done since Thanksgiving! We attended the wedding of a daughter of our very good friends, the Hulls. Their daughter Kelly is like a family member, as our kids have grown up together and our DHs were scout leaders together! I wanted to post the pictures of the wedding album pages I put together for her shower gift...I guess you can call it a scrapbook, but really, it's just a series of 20 card fronts put into a post album....all she needs to do is add the pictures!! I've done about six of these so far for brides and new moms...they always love them :) I'll spread the pix out over several posts so you can tell me what you think! {Oh! the cover above was made with a card I did not make myself, but that I received in a Cornish Heritage Farms card swap I did a long time ago...sorry I don't know which wonderful woman made the card...I just used it for the cover! The designs on the cover are from Cornish Heritage Farms wonderful images!!}

Now, here is a fun image...the mice I received from an image swap with my SBS9 sisters and I believe they are Penny black :) Love PB! The little sentiment is from PTI's Little Lady set.

This was one of my favorites....using Stampin' Up's old designer cardstock, some SU Rub ons and some clips from SU's hodgepodge hardware, these pages went together lickety-split!

I totally fell in love with this next page...the first one in the wedding album! I used the DP from Papertreyink's gorgeous patterned paper series First Fruits; the Unity Sticker I received from one of SBS9 sisters and I finished it off with some of that delicious SU ribbon in Red Riding Hood with gold trim!! I thought the knot was a perfect "embellishment" for a page about being united!

The best part about making these albums is that I always make each one different, specific to whomever I am making the album for...in this case, Kelly and Charlie are all about farm and country (they had each guest table at the wedding named for a different tractor!) and Kelly's dad is a dairy farmer so she grew up on a farm! As I make the album I enjoy the time spent thinking of that person...it's so much more special to me that way! Hope you enjoyed the first peeks...more to come!

Be blessed today!!

Rainbows and Mondays

2009-01-05T10:00:00.000-05:00

It's back to school Monday :) Now don't you feel better when the news is delivered with a sparkly rainbow? Tee hee!

Oh and check out my friends, the Curry's, new blog Curry's Creations!!! Congrats Wendy and Eric! Leave them a comment welcoming them to Blogland, won't you?

Have a blessed week!

Happy New Year to the Frog Faithfuls :)

2009-01-03T15:51:00.003-05:00

It's a new year and a new day :) Praise God!

Time at the helm of my computer has been at a premium, but that's okay! We all know how life is...and it's both crazy and a blessing, so although I have missed sharing life and cards with you, I have been thinking of you quite often!

So what's been happening since our state soccer championship WAAAAAAY back in November?? Well,

10. We served over 200 meals again this Thanksgiving to Go at church! What a wonder to see a group of God's faithful servants working side by side to GIVE!

9. Our 2 girls have been busy with social calendar duties, snow boarding, parties, snow shoveling (see #8) and sleeping in on their vacation days 'til NOON!

8. We've had two blizzards resulting in several snow days from school (YAY!). Between storms we had a week of 50 degree weather melting all the snow in between. No worries...the second storm dropped 11'' in a day and its all still here!

7. My 1 son came home twice (both holidays) and stayed a few days so we got to see him...his hair has grown out for the first time in his life and I barely could recognize him, but he's still my adorable boy!

6. My DH was one of the three "wise guys" in our annual Christmas Eve service with his memorable line: "Look over yonder doth break the shine of a bright star!" Memorable because he had to practice it over and over for several weeks to get it right so we all learned the line!

5. Card making time was also at a premium--squeezed in over a period of weeks a few minutes at a time...I kept changing the design, as I never seemed happy with it....I ended up making 70+ cards between our own family cards, my SBS sister cards, John's "mailman thank you" cards and friend cards....and this year I made them by myself mostly....everyone else was really really busy :) LOL!!

4. We got our tree early!! December 21st! It's still up of course.....I'm thinking it can come down Martin Luther King Day....but then, I will be gone for a wedding....hmmmm....maybe Valentine's day!

3. I got a new laptop computer :) YAY! Now if I can get a wireless router, I can blog anywhere and not have to compete for the computer room! It's almost too good to imagine!

2. My mom finally got out of a hospital and is in a rehab program where she is doing well, getting up and about and looking fab! For my faithful prayer partners....thanks more than I can say!

And NUMBER ONE!!
My prayer life is increasing 10000-fold. With today's economy issues, raising teenagers, work stresses {you would NOT believe the paperwork burden on special education..especially in NY!}, family and friend illnesses, severe winter driving, and a tiring tiring schedule, I can only do any of this with God's help. The book of James has really been a godsend! I've been reading it over and over again!

How's this for encouragement-- James 1:1-6
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. and then James 1:12: Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

I've also read the book The Shack this month (thanks for the loan, Carolyn!). Oh my goodness friends...you have GOT to read this book! Get it out of your library if you don't want to buy it or borrow it as I did, but definitely read it! Don't worry if the description of the content seems disturbing at first...really, you must look into reading it! It'll only take a weekend...of course it took me three weeks reading a bit at a time....but I know this....YOU WILL BE BLESSED!

You are all in my heart and my prayers! Be well and blessed, dear friends!
Love ya!

Copics, anyone?

2008-11-20T17:46:00.003-05:00

Having a heck of a time uploading pix from blogger tonight! I'll keep trying!
Oh, and if you want some copics, check out this great blog candy!!

We are state champions!

2008-11-16T08:39:00.004-05:00

I'm off to church, but I wanted to let you know.....by the grace of God, WE ARE STATE CHAMPIONS!

Well co-champions actually. Our girls played (and we cheered) for 3 hours in pouring rain to end 4 overtimes with a 0-0 tie. Thank the Good Lord they have done away with the final "shoot out", so we were declared State Co Champions with Marathon school....which is to say we have two state champions! I told the girls that they are heroes for playing soccer for that long soaking wet! The pouring rains never let up...but they were troopers! We finally got home last night at 11 pm.

The County sheriffs escorted our girls' bus from the expressway exit with sirens and lights to the school (about 15 milies) and the surrounding towns' fire trucks joined the escort from the town line to the school (about 5 miles). It was so sparkly and bright! At the school, they had fireworks and of course all the parents and community members clapping like crazy! It was a three hour ride from the championship site to home and we all rushed to get to the school before the bus (safely in the fog and rain, of course!) It was a great weekend and a tiring night, but all is good!!!

Pictures later!!
O Happy Day!

It's the people who really make it special

2008-11-12T18:54:00.010-05:00

The cruise was really nice...being waited on, sitting around on deck, food 24/7, sunny and warm temps, gorgeous landscape and of course all the WONDERFUL stamping opportunities...but if not for the people I met and hung out with? No chance of living one of life's greatest memories. Here's a final salute to those who made my vacation so very wonderful! And to new friends, some of which will be in my life from now on--I just know it! ;) Here's me and Mo one more time :)

Then our wonderful hostesses, Gina, Nichole and Emily and Nicky (did I mention my great love and respect for these independent wonderful women??)

Then there was our amazing and sweet as can be waitress, Imelda who did a different trick or two at dinner time to entertain us (her giggle at her own jokes is what made us laugh so hard!) and our host for our Mexican Cuisine class, Chef Luis who promised to "light our fire" when we asked...and along with him, the "partners" we shared our griddle with in the class, Russ and Doreen. It was such a fun time on that beach in Cozumel!!

And then there were our nightly dinner buddies, whom we were honored to call friends by the second evening. What fun it was to review the thrills and excitement of our daily adventures! I think that has been the biggest adjustment back to real life: not seeing these ladies every day! A big shout out to {back row} Pam, Barbara, {front}Cara and Carol!!And finally a grand salute to two of my new BFF's...{that means "Best Friends Forever"}, Jolene and Danielle. We met these wonderful souls in the hotel we stayed in Saturday before setting sail and we were blessed to connect with them every day of the trip. These new friends are more than special :) Love you girls!

Trying to stay in the Carribbean as long as possible...

2008-11-11T15:53:00.018-05:00

Finally, some of the sights of my cruise....some are labeled, some not :) Here are the carvings and swan ice sculture that awaited our welcome luncheon. It's all food :) And the ice serpent on the last day at sea.

Port Canaveral from the ship (above) and as we sailed away (below). Also some pictures from the safety drill we had to do before leaving port.

And some deck pictures including the "exercise deck" (Deck 12) and my perfect view from the deck chair on deck 11.

And then there were the dining room (s). I say it that way, because it was actually a THREE LEVEL dining room. We were in "Top Hat and Tails" the middle level room, but above us was the "Sound of Music" with these beautiful scultures and mural on the stairs. So wonderful!

Here's the promenade where all the shops were and where we had to cross at times to get to the back of the ship from our room in the forward section!
And although we saw most of the Shows on board, I only took pictures of the ice show. The show's theme was Under the big top, so here are some of the Circus performers :)

And here are some of our projects made with the stamp sets especially designed for our cruise adventures. Bellas are in back, PTI is on the lower left and Gina K on the lower right.

More pictures to come, but as I said...I want the cruise to last as long as humanly possible; especially with snow falling outside :)

Happy week!

Some favorites and HERE WE GO AGAIN!

2008-11-09T08:17:00.012-05:00

Hi all! I know you have patiently been waiting for my cruise pix....we due to technical difficulties at Wally World...the CD's I need to show you pix of my adventures is taking a few days longer...but no worries! I can show you my favorite projects we did! The 3 companies prepared almost 40 projects for us to do while we were cruising...I really don't think I can show them all, although I may throw in a few here and there now and then...but I wanted to show you some of my very favorites.

This first one was a "satchel" project we did with Gina K's stamps. We used a scor pal to score the two pieces of DP we glued together, scored then folded. The cards were simple layered notecards. We colored a bit of the flowers to coordinate with the paper and voila! I did not yet color the last two cards. The flap on the satchel closes with a button magnet that Gina K sells! It was fun to make and so pretty! :)

This set was designed by Nichole Heady of Papertreyink. She is all about the simple and elegant. We used her Floral Frenzy set and the wonderful Kraft cardstock she sells. It was definitely more complicated a project, but not hard. Just lots of steps, which she walked us through beautifully. We also used her Polka Dot Basics set. I don't have either of these stamp sets, but now they are on my Christmas wish list! The little purse holds the cards and the folder has a note pad in it. How adorable is this set!?

This little set was designed by stamping bella's Nicky and she is such a sweetheart! The box was already punched and scored and we just put it together and layered on the flower. Then we made these little adorable cards using Stamping bella stamps...they were all simple and fun to make. The cards go in their little cellophane envelopes and fit in the box. Adorable, yes?

The images from Gina K and Stamping Bella were all included in our goody bag! Oh and did I mention they also gave us a score pal?! Scor pal donated one to EVERY ONE ON THE STAMPING CRUISE! How wonderful it was to get my own!!

My girl is #14.
Now, for some really really exciting news!! We have been going to games and games and games of soccer...our girls' team won their division, their class and their regional game and now

My daughter's team is once again GOING TO THE STATE SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIPS!!! WOO HOO!!!

We have been there 3 of 4 years, going to the final game twice before and winning it all once, two years ago. What a joy to be able to experience this with our Danish daughter too, as she is playing on the team as well. God is so so GOOD!

It's gonna be quite a week!

Enjoy yours! Off to church!

Be blessed!

A winner! and Home again from an Incredible adventure!!

2008-11-02T21:23:00.016-05:00

Hi all!

First, I want to congratulate Doris on being the closest guess to how many pieces of "stuff" was in my kit for my travel book....the answer was 122 (all those brads!) and her guess was the highest at 65! Email me with your address in Poland, Doris and you will be receiving a Gina K stamp set and acrylic block, both part of my goodie bag!

I will post the pictures of all my stuff, projects and fun when I get my pictures back from processing...

Yes, I said processing. Well, Kim Marie, why didn't you use your digital camera, you ask....well........that's a different post in itself.....

I do have a few cruise pictures to post, though, sent to me by my new friend Pam, who was one of my delightful dinner companions and stampers that I met during one of the best things I have ever done in my life! This is Maureen and I at dinner one night. Maureen is the friend I went with on the boat. She was not even close to being called a hobby stamper...she enjoys the fellowship of stamping, but was just content to watch other's enjoy the craft. Now, I have to say, she is quite sold on the whole thing!

And here are Maureen, me and Barbara, another dinner table friend....why we even ate breakfast together! This pic was snapped by Pam as well...she had come in from taking pix of the sunrise...we are sitting in the Windjammer restaurant...a 24/7 food fest! Isn't the sea scene just so lovely??

The best part of the cruise was meeting kindred spirits...here are the women we spent time with every evening.....sweet, wonderful woman of strength, creativity and fun! Here are Cara and Carol in the pink and black, and Pam and Barbara in the suit and dark top

Makes you think all we did was eat on this ship, huh? Ha! More info to follow...I promise!

Next post, I hope to share some pix with some new BFF's of mine....and some superstars :)

Love you all!

PS My girl's team is once again going to the state playoffs....omigosh...so exciting! Pray for us! No injuries!! :) Game is Tuesday night!

Packing....and some blog candy to win??

2008-10-16T22:45:00.008-04:00

Well, it's time....to start packing....the lists have been in my head for weeks, parts of lists on little pieces of paper all over the house and car. I have the clothes packing in one place, the stamping stuff pack list in another place...the toiletries list in another place...the documents/$ list in another...and now they all have to come together in a beautiful symphony of two check-ins and a carry-on. Oh no, not all the stuff has come together! All the pieces of paper. Whew...tired just thinking of it :) Now the hard part of actually gathering it all.....but while I'm doing that....

Nichole of Papertreyink, one of my fav companies and a sponsor of this cruise, suggested that we bring a trip scrapbook to put together while we are on the trip. I have decided to do that, to see if I can, really. Here is my "starter kit" that I am bringing.

Since I will be away and not blogging, I decided that "away-blog candy" was in order. So--can you guess how many pieces are in this kit?? Yes, counting each thing (marker, prisma, etc. separately? but not the ziplock bag or bowl holding the embellishments, silly) Make your best guess and comment here, then tell people on your blog about a chance to win something fun that I bring back from my wonderful wonderful stamping cruise! I will award the prize to the answer closest to the right one, or pick randomly from all the right choices. You have until October 28th to guess, then I will choose a lucky duck!

I will miss you! Have a great time this week and know that I am thinking of all of you and wishing wishing wishing wishing you could come with!! I won't be online tomorrow and I leave Saturday, so BON VOYAGE!

Blessings to all!