Beleive it or not...I'm still alive!

Hey there everyone First let me say to my followers, I'm so sorry for being MIA for the past few months. Really, there is no good excuse but just in case here's where I've been. Honestly it's just been a very hard couple of months for me and there's been alot of changes for me to get use to so I just haven't had time to use the computer. This year has been financially devastating for us as I am sure most of you understand, so in lue of that fact I have gone back to work. It has been a very easy transition for me in fact I really enjoy working again. However, with four children, a husband, and home to take care of it has left me no time for my passions or computer time. On a good night I stay awake long enough to get the kids tucked into their beds and then I'm out cold. Anyway, I am okay and I will try to post more often even if I don't have any art to show. I appreciate all the wonderful comments I have still received since I have been on hiatus, they really do mean so much to me. I love all my blogging friends and hope that you are all doing well this holiday season. I will be working on my annual Christmas letter soon and I will post that when I finish it. Merry Christmas!

Congrats to Geoffrey Beene & Megan!

I don't have much time to post but I thought I'd share a card that I made for a dear friend's wedding yesterday. I used the Sept SOTM from CTMH. I also made a matching bookmark for the inside but I forgot to take a picture of it! I copyed the layout from a fellow CTMH consultant so I must give credit where credit is due! Have a great day!

I would like to thank Jaime for this award!

My CTMH girl Jaime has given me this award and I love it! I really do appreciate all the awards that are given to me. It makes me feel so good that you all enjoy my blog so a great big thank you to everyone who visits regularly! This time I am going to nominate all the blogs that I stalk regularly. These people have inspired me and though I may not leave many comments I love to admire their work!

The rules of the award are:
1.The winner can put the logo on her blog.
2.Link the person you received your award from.
3.Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4.Put links of those blogs on yours.
5.Leave a message on the blogs of the girls you’ve nominated

My nominees are...

1. Amy Sheffer
2. Julie Brooks
3. Gina K
4. Marjorie Eno
5. Nona Davenport
6. Tonya Klar
7. Jami Rudd (my girl)

Something old, something new!

Okay, so I have something old and something new to share with you tonight. First of all, I made this card because my daughter was invited to a birthday party for today only I (one who never checks her voicemail) just got the message last night. So this morning I made this card for her and so this is the old...I used a layout that I have used before so I wouldn't be fussing over that part (sometimes it takes me a while to get the layout just how I want it) and the something new is the way that I colored it! I totally used my ink pad lids and a water brush or as some call it, an aqua painter! I was so proud of myself, you see I am the kind of person that when I want to learn something new I want to be a professional at it, YESTERDAY! Not practice makes perfect or take a few classes or work at it for a few months, no, not me, I have to know NOW! So I decided that I wanted to learn how to watercolor and therefore I bring you this card today and I am in love with it! The watercoloring, that is. Whoo Hoo, I'm off to bed for now but tomorrow after church I am back home with my water brush! Goodnight!

Pool Party!

Hey there everyone, I finally had a chance to get some cards made! I am planning my daughter's birthday party so I made these invites to send to all her little friends. She is having a pool party and then a slumber party so this ought to be fun! She will be 12 next month! Where have the years gone? Well anyway, I used CTMH paper called good times and of course a Bella cause you know I love my Bella's! Hopefully I will have some more time this weekend to play and I can post again soon! Have a great weekend everyone!

Speechless

I just finished a book today that I feel everyone should read! It was seriously life changing for me and the way I think about the Lord and his place in my life. I know that some of you will know what I am talking about and there will be others who think I am just a Jesus freak or something (that's okay with me)! I know for so many people the biggest question is why would Jesus cause so much pain or better yet why does he allow such bad things to happen to such good people? As valid as that question is there has never been a good answer, has there? Every one of us has a shack of our own, we are a bruised and broken society. What are you dealing with Do you need healing in some area of your life? Well, this book provides one of the best depictions of what our God really feels and thinks and is such an amazing book of healing. I will share with you one of the passages that stood out to me. This passage is speaking in reference to unspeakable tragedies and this is God's remark..."Don't ever assume that my(God) using something (speaking of tragedies) means I caused it or that I need it to accomplish my purposes. That will only lead you to false notions about me. Grace doesn't depend on suffering to exist, but where there is suffering you will find grace in many facets and colors." Are you kidding me? I am so blown away by the message in this book that I am rendered speechless.

Terrible Two's anyone?

Would you like to see what I found today upon entering the living room/dinning room? You've got it! That would be my 18 month old son, Jonah. Yes oh yes had has learned the art of climbing, of course I took a quick snapshot before getting him down. There he was with no regard for Daddy's laptop or big brother's site words or (if you look real close, not too close though)(lol) Mommy's scrappin corner. Oh man, it's gonna be a long rest of the summer with him! Just thought I'd share, hee hee! Good night everyone!

Okay I give!

Well a couple of weeks ago my sistah Tonya posted about her Bestie (BFF) and challenged all of us followers (of her blog) to make something nice for our Besties! It was just what I needed, a little boost. You see, I have been wanting to make a card for my BFF for a while now but I only get a small amount of time at my scrap-table and so my time is usually spent making the needed cards (you know for all the occasions) Anyway, I made this card for my BFF last week but then I ended up with Bronchitis and have been on the couch for the last three days so I haven't been able to do anything else. So, I'm gonna give in and post this before I even give it to her! I'll tell you a little about my BFF! We became friends in Kindergarten (can you believe that?) We were in a ton a classes together in school and we lived on the same street (about 20 houses apart). We have stayed friends all through our great times and the few not so great times. Through our good choices in life and our very bad choices (Lees, if your reading this you know what those are! lol!) And then to top things all off I married her big brother who is the love of my life and I can't imagine life without, so she is now my SIL! How great is that! We may not get to talk every day or hang out as much as we would like (she has a love of her life too) but we always love each other and know that no one can ever fill the other ones shoes! I love her so much and so this post is for her! Hats off to all the BFF's out there!

I am Honored!

I am so honored to receive this award from my girl Tonya over at Stamp Happens! Thanks so much Tonya, Love ya girl!


Here are the rules:

Only 5 people allowed.
4 have to be dedicated followers of your blog
One has to be someone new or recently new to your blog and live in another part of the world.
You must link back to whoever gave you the award. Quite simple really it is a way of saying thank you to those who take time out for wonderful comments to boost your day!

Well, I have to say since I gotta give this to five people that are faithful followers of my blog I must start by giving it right back to...

Tonya
She is always the first to leave fab comments!
Jami
Maria
Michelle

And she may not be too new to my blog but she is in another part of the world so...

Beckie

So thanks again for the fabulous award and have a great day!

Oh what a day!

Well, it's official...I'm totally exhausted. Today was such a loooooonnnnggggg day. It actually all started yesterday when I realized that my washer was broken. You would think one would realize after trying to wash the same load of towels three times that the dog-gone thing was broken, but no. Anyway, three year old high efficiency front loaders and now I'm washing clothes at my Mom's. Oh, I was so bugged. Anyway, then I take my son to the Dr's only to find out(after 4 hours) that he has pneumonia! Are you kidding me? The poor boy has had a crappy summer so far. Then I wake up at 3:00am to find out that we have no power and continued to have no power until about 3:30 today. Oh my, it was so hot in here but all is well now though I will be at my Mom's for the next couple of days doing my laundry. The repair man will be here on Mon so hopefully it will be an easy fix. I was, however, able to make another card today for a special friend and her hubby. So I hope you enjoy. Have a great night and hopefully tomorrow will be much better. Good night.

Another Baby shower, another boy!

SO, I have another baby shower on Sat and I have been getting some things together for her and this is the card that I made. I really love my Bella's and my nestabilities, can you tell? I haven't had a lot of time to work but since my washer is on strike right now (it is broke and waiting for repair) I don't have to do any laundry, right? So that just leaves dishes, oh wait I don't do them either, hee hee. I'm totally kidding although, we do have a new summer toy. My Mom just had her pool put in this week so while they were filling it up with water I took the kids over there to play! We cannot wait til the weekend! Needless-to-say, you can see where we'll be for the rest of the summer!

Loads of Love!

Well, last night just wasn't my night for card making, probably because I was supposed to be going to the grocery store, instead I was up trying to work on some of the SCS sketch challenges. I swear I made three of the same card and still wasn't thrilled with the final card but it's okay, I guess. I used CTMH paper and a stamp set from Stampin Up. Of course I used my nestabilities, did I mention that I love them? LOL!

Introducing my new goodies!

Okay so I had a few minutes today to play with my new stuff! Whoo Hoo, I had so much fun! My hubby took the girls down to Cobo Hall for the big FLW weigh-in (fishing stuff). We were originally all going but my oldest son isn't feeling well so I stayed home with the boys while they went. Anyway, lets get to the good stuff! A couple of months ago I ordered the petals & stems set from Verve Stamps but until now I hadn't inked them up. Well, today was their lucky day! I also ordered my first set of nestabilities in May but they were on backorder until last week. I received them on Friday and absolutely could not wait to try them out. I must say I LOVE them so much! I can't wait to get the other sets, my birthday's in Oct for anyone who is interested. Hee hee! Just Kidding, unless of course my Mom is reading this, hint hint. Anyway, I combined the new goodies and this is what I got so here's my card for the day. Enjoy!

My Mini Makeover

I am the Infant room director at my church and about a month ago I was asked to make our infant room more inviting. Have I mentioned the fact that I have had a sick family for the past month? Well, it ended up taking me a whole month to get it done, I had everything ready and at my house within three days but that's when the sickness started. It went from one person to another and now one month later I am still dealing with sick kids. However, I was able to get up to the church today for a couple of hours to work(with the help of my dear friend Kathy)on putting everything up. I have to say, I was so excited when I was done. It looks so cute! I made a table topper and some curtains to match, I bought some wood letters and my sister painted them for me, and I made two signs. The before picture is not very clear but you'll get the idea. So anyway, it's so nice to have that all taken care of and now maybe I can get to my workspace (a little corner of our table) and get some cards or layouts done. I just got some new goodies and I can't wait to show you guys! Hope you all have a great night!

Blog Candy up for grabs!

Head over to my stampin sistah, Maria's blog for a chance to win some great blog candy! Thanks Maria!

The baby's on his way!

Okay, so the other day I posted the card that I made for my friend Crystal's baby shower and I said in that post that I was working on a quilt for her new baby. Well, the time has come that I can post it. So I am going to repost the card along with the quilt. Here ya go. Have a nice night.

Oh, I almost forgot!

I do have a project that I forgot to post! I made this shadow box for my daughter's first grade teacher. On the last day of school I like to give the teachers a Thank you gift for being so instrumental in the development of my children. This year especially, not only did Sarah have a great teacher who stayed after school to get Sarah up to her appropriate reading level but she became my friend as well. I used little black hearts because I did not get permission to post her daughters pictures on the Internet but you can see how cute this turned out. I cased the page from our CTMH catalog and all products are CTMH except the frame which I bought at Joann's.

Dave Ramsey sums it up!

This is a recent writing from Dave Ramsey and it just sums up everything that I have been feeling. He is much more articulate than I am so enjoy! By the way, I am married to a butt scratching bass fisherman but not the kind that he is talking about! Hee hee!


Butt Scratching and Bass Fishing by Dave Ramsey

A couple of weeks ago, I worked late like I sometimes need to do to run my business. It was a nice
Tennessee summer evening, and I was enjoying the drive home. About 7:30, as I pulled to a stop light a
few blocks from my office, I noticed a light on in the corner office of a friend's office building. Through the
twilight I could make out my friend's silhouette as he bent over his desk. Being a fellow entrepreneur, I
knew what he was doing.
He was pouring over some receivables. Some turkey hadn't paid him, and he was trying to make his
accounts balance so he would have the cash to make it another day. In that instant, I had a flashback to
some of the ridiculous statements I've been hearing on the talking-head news channels and from
some individuals during this political year. And I'll be honest—I instantly felt the heat of anger flow
through my body.
Let me tell you why. You see, my friend who I saw working late—we'll call him Henry—is a great guy.
He's what you want your son to grow up to be. He loves God, his country, his wife, and his kids. He didn't
have the academic advantage of attending a big-name university. Instead, he started installing heating
and air systems as a grunt laborer after he graduated from high school. He was and is a very hard and
diligent worker, and before long, the boss taught him the trade. But when he was 24, after 6 years of
service, the company he was working for got into financial trouble and laid him off.
Henry still had his tools, so he bought an old pickup to haul around his materials and tools, and suddenly
he was in business. He knew about heating and air-conditioning, but not about business, so he made a
lot of mistakes.
He persisted. He took accounting and management at the community college to learn about business.
He started reading books on business, HVAC, marriage, kids, God, and anything else someone he
respected recommended. Today he is one of the best-read men I know. Soon, because of his fabulous
service and fair prices, he developed a great reputation, and his little business began to grow.
Henry started 15 years ago, and now he has 17 employees whose families are fed because he does a
great job. He is in church on Sunday and seldom misses his kids' Little League games. Sometimes he
has to miss a game because some poor soul has their AC go out in the 96-degree Tennessee summer
heat, but Henry makes sure they are served. He is, by all standards, a good man. He is, by all
standards, what makes America great.
Henry and I are friends, and so he asked me some financial questions last year. I learned in the process
that his personal taxable income last year was $328,000. I smiled with pride for this 70-hour a week guy
because he is living the dream.
At the stop light that evening, I also thought of another guy I know—and that is where the anger flash
came from. We will call him John. While John does not have the same drive Henry has, I can say that he,
too, is a good man.
John also graduated from high school and did not attend a big-name university. He went to work at a local
factory 15 years ago. When 5:00pm comes around, John has probably already made it to his car in the
parking lot. He comes in 5 minutes late, takes frequent breaks, and leaves 5 minutes early. However, to
his credit, he is steady and works hard.
Over the years, due to his steadiness and seniority, he has worked his way up to about $75,000 per year
in that same factory. He seldom misses his kid's ballgames, but most nights you will find him in front of
the TV where he has become an expert on "American Idol," "The Biggest Loser," and who got thrown off
the island. When he is not in front of the TV, he spends a LOT of time and money bass fishing on our
local lake. He never works over 40 hours a week and hasn't read a non-fiction book since high school.
This is America, and there is nothing wrong with either set of choices. Nothing wrong, that is, until
the politicians and socialists get involved.
I have seen several elitist people on the talking-head channels make the statement lately that people
making over $250,000 per year have a "moral imperative" to pay more in taxes to take care of the
country's problems. This is not only infuriating—it is economically, spiritually, and morally crazy!
Where in the world do these twits get off saying that Henry should be punished for his diligence? If you
are John, where do you get off trying to take Henry's hard-earned money away from him in the name of
your misguided "fairness"? If you want to sit on the lake, drink beer, scratch your butt, and bass fish, that
is perfectly fine with me. I am not against any of those activities and have engaged in some of them
myself at one time or another. But you HAVE NO RIGHT to talk about "moral imperatives" about what
other people have earned due to their diligence. That money is not yours! You want some money? Go
earn some! Get up, leave the cave, kill something, and drag it home.
We are in a dangerous place in our country today. A segment of our population has decided that it is the
government's job to provide all of their protection, provision, and prosperity. This segment has figured out
that government doesn't have the money to give them everything they want, so somebody else has to
pay for it. That is how the "politics of envy" was born. "Tax the rich" has become the mantra of the left,
and this political season it has been falsely dubbed a "moral imperative."
Ninety percent of America's millionaires are first-generation rich. They are Henry. To tax them because
you think it is a "moral imperative" is legalizing governmental theft from our brightest, most charitable, and
most productive citizens.
If I can get a law passed that says you must surrender all your cars to the government because it is the
"moral imperative" of anyone who owns cars to support the latest governmental program, that would be a
violation of private property rights and simply morally wrong. This new "moral imperative" to
redistribute wealth is no different from that. It's the SAME THING!
Please, America, re-think the politics of envy! You are sowing the seeds of our destruction when you
punish the Henrys of our culture.
If you think taxing the populace to support government programs is the best way—and I don't—then at
least tax every single person the same! There are very few Henrys out here who would squawk much
about paying a set percentage of their income—if everyone else did, too. But this idea of some buttscratching
bass fisherman saying government should tax his neighbor and not him—just because his
neighbor has succeeded—must stop.
So the next time an elitist media talking-head starts telling you it is the moral imperative of our culture to
tax my friend Henry, change the channel.
The next time you see someone wealthy who feels guilty and is preaching the politics of envy, change the
channel.
The next time you see some celebrity who feels guilt over their income preaching socialism, change the
channel.
And the next time you run into a misguided, butt-scratching bass fisherman who says the evil rich people
in our culture should have their private property confiscated because that is fair… well just shake your
head walk away—and make sure to vote against his candidate. If he and his type win, God help
America.

© The Lampo Group, Inc. all rights reserved.

Dishes are done!

This is what happens when one tries to load the dishwasher! Hee hee!

My Everyday!

As I walked into the living room today this is the picture that I saw. All six children playing nicely for a brief moment and I thought to myself, since I cannot post any artwork, I'll post this picture so you can see what my days look like! For most of the morning my living room looks as if a bomb went off but after lunch I am able to clean everything up and it's back to normal (that is until they all wake up!) Sometimes (most of the time) it is craziness but there are some calmer times like this one. Four of them are mine and I am so used to them that I do everything with them. If I need to run to the store for one thing or if I having a ton of errands to do we all head out together but adding two that are not yours puts a little bend in that. They are pretty good but it is definitely a challenge. Anyway, this is my life until 5:00 pm and then it's dinner, playtime, baths, and bedtime! AAhhh, then when it's time for me to enjoy a little time creating I usually crash on the couch! Hee hee. Oh well, gotta love it! Hope you all are having a great day!

One Nation Under God?

Wow, where do I even start? I haven't had a single minute to produce anything creative lately so first and foremost I am sorry about that. I hope to be able to sit down and create again very soon. I was hoping to make something all fourth of Julyish and post a happy little post wishing everyone a fabulous holiday but honestly I was having a hard time this year finding my warm and fuzzy feelings. Our great nation is in such a delicate state right now and I'm thinking... in less than six months we are going to take an extreme turn one way or another. This morning I experienced a heart warming patriotic service that was quite moving. I normally try to pick one verse from our morning service to take with me throughout the week, pray about, and apply to my daily life. The verse that stood out to me today is found in second Corinthians 7:14 and reads, If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and will heal their land. Wow, I have to take a minute, catch my breath and ask myself, Will God heal this land? Will He forgive the people of their wicked ways? I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that our loving Savior offers complete grace to those to ask but what about the men and women who hold high power in this country and yet defend wickedness and evil in His name? Or even worst yet have chosen to completely deny the fact that this country was founded in His great and holy name by God-fearing men. Remember, the currency that keeps this nation running is inscribed, "In God we Trust" but do we? Some of our current leaders have taken his name right out of the nation. Like for instance a U.S. appeals court recently decided that a high school football coach could not bow his head or take a bow while his students said a pre-game prayer. Are you kidding me? This man was not leading them in prayer or encouraging prayer in any way but simply showing respect to his players and bowing his head or kneeling with them and a some judge had the nerve to say that this is not acceptable! We wonder why our nation is in the shape that it is in but take good look around, our values have slipped through the cracks and what kills me the most is that most of this is done from people who claim to know and love Christ. How can we be Christ-like if we are doing the very things that shame Him? What are we (who claim to be Christians) doing to steer this nation towards Godly morals and standards. We are called by God to stand in His image and share His love with all! Even those who are far far from him. If you say that you are a child of God, ask yourself, what kind of a job are you doing? Join me in making this Independence holiday a day of a renewed people who will engage in making this a great country that is truly "One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all"!

Broken but on his way to fixed.

Last weekend we had a little accident...Noah my oldest (4 yr old) son fell from the monkey bars (hate those monkey bars)(and trampolines for that matter) and broke his elbow! Yikes, huh. Can you imagine. Of course I was at the grocery store and Daddy took the kids for a bike ride to the park! So here's Dad trying to walk his bike and push Noah on his, all the way back home! Kinda funny but not really, I guess. So I took him to the ER when I got home and yeppers a broken elbow. He was able to get in with the orthopedic surgeon the very next day and now has a cast from his shoulder to his hand for 6-8 weeks! (It's green so he totally thinks he's the Incredible Hulk!) The cast has in no way slowed him down, he's still wild as ever!

In love with cupcakes!

So I have to admit I am completely in love with cupcakes. Not only am I completely hooked on them I am on the search for the perfect cupcake stamp. The one that I love the best is of course the bella stamp! So I came up with this cupcake card and I gotta tell ya, I love it! I used the cupcakeabella and just cut out the cupcakes. I also used the bella baubles for the cherries. The next card was made for my daughter's first grade teacher (now my friend) for her end of the year Thank You. Her theme for the room is dogs so I thought this would be fitting. I got this stamp a long time ago from The Angel Company. The dogs are just so stinking cute. Well, I have also been scraping away so I have about 10 two page layouts put together and ready for embellishing. When I finish them up I'll be sure to post them for you all to see! Thanks for visiting! Have a blessed evening!

More Father's Day cards!

For those of you who didn't know...I have three Fathers so I already posted one of my Father's day cards earlier but here are the other two that I made this week.

Wow, I've been busy!

Well, I have just been working away the last three days so I thought I would finally post some of the cards that I have made! I got some new whipper snapper stamps from Jami (thanks sweetie) and I couldn't wait to ink them up so here are the final results!

Mamaw

There is no art to post tonight. I just have had no time to work lately but I am hoping to get there soon. I have had a very emotional day today, not real sure why but non-the-less, still emotional. Ever had one of those days when you just feel on the verge of tears all day? Well, that's me. First of all, I have been thinking of my Mamaw so much the past few weeks. It's like she is constantly on my mind, and then I realize that her birthday was May 18th. Duh, no wonder. I know she is home with the Lord but man it is just so hard here without her. Let me fill some of you in a bit. My Mamaw was my Mom's, Mother and she was seriously the most amazing woman. She was everything God intended her to be. She was patient, kind, loving, honest, compassionate, forgiving...shall I go on? She had a special relationship with the Lord, for sure. She was my best friend. She passed in June of 2006 just five short months after her husband (my Papaw, who was also a great man of God) I loved our talks and our shopping trips, I miss her so very much but one thing that is so crazy is that even in her death she still teaches me to lean into God and to love Him with all my heart and He will take care of us. I can't really explain it in detail or this post would be a thousand pages long but throughout the last two years, through missing my Mamaw I have learned to appreciate my Lord so much more and to deepen my walk with Him. Do any of you remember that old hymn...Oh, How I love Jesus? I have caught myself humming it all day today. Oh how thankful I am that I can take on this life with the knowledge that Jesus has it all under control. I went back and watched the Laminin video again and was so touched all over again. If you haven't watched it look for my post entitled, Thank you Julie Brooks. It really is amazing. Well, my pot boiled over at the last five minutes of Grey's tonight. I'm sure it had nothing to do with the show but the somewhat emotional ending just pushed me over my limit and the floodgates opened up. My husband is so funny, he just reached over and handed me a tissue. He was probably thinking, oh dear here she goes. Well I just thought I would share some of my thoughts tonight, I'll leave you with with a beautiful picture of my dear Mamaw. Goodnight.

Comments please!

Hee hee, I'm just conducting a test to see why my comments are not there. Comments, where are you?

A quick card for today!

I actually had some time today to crank out a card. I made this for my girl, Crystal. Her baby shower is next month. I also made two Father's Day cards but I am waiting on some hemp that I ordered so I'll post those later. I just love the way this card turned out. I used my new punch from Creative Memories. It's a tad expensive but if you ask me totally worth it! I love the little petals it makes in the corners. It also makes a full flower. I got the paper at Archivers, it's My Minds Eye. I also used my Cuttlebug die to cut out the ribbon slide. Well, that's all the time I have for now. See ya soon!

My Super Mom!

So if any of you know of Lauren Meader or visit her blog you will automatically see that she is oh so talented! Not too long ago she posted her Mother's Day card that she had made for her Mom and I just had to make my Mom one like it. Of course I changed it up a little to represent my Mom but the main idea came from her. I used a much busier paper for a backing as my Mom Loves Bling Bling! The inside contained all the meanings of the Bellas. In order from left to right, top to bottom...

1. She was expecting, there's a baby on the way!
2. She's here, A sweet baby girl. You are now a Mommy
3. This is how I remember my Mom every morning, sitting on the couch in her robe with her morning cup of coffee.
4. Here she is after about 15 min in the bathroom, ready to start her day.
5. She was the best Dr. whether she was administering my daily allergy shots or just fixin up my boo boos.
6. She was my ultimate teacher of life.
7. She was the party planner and showed me how to be a homemaker.
8. She is my best shopping buddy.
9. By her influence she taught me how to love the Lord. By her example I am now a child of God and I am saved by His grace.
10. She is my friend

She is my Super Mom!

Happy Birthday

My daughter was invited to a birthday party this weekend and Sparkle had made a birthday card that I have been wanting to try so this is it. It was late at night and I didn't feel like random stamping as Sparkle did so I used paper as my background instead. I must say that Sparkle's is way better. The paper was just too busy, I think. But anyway the little girl (who just turned 7) loved the card so all was well.

Well, it has been so incredibly busy over here. I started watching two little girls this week and let me tell you it is much harder than I thought it would be! I now have four kids under four here all day and then at 3:30 my oldest two come home from school and then I have six of them here! Whoo whee, if any of you have six kids of your own I don't know how you do it! I have been completely exhausted all weekend. So anyway, Friday night was scrap night and I wanted to teach a couple of techniques so I made this card. I taught them the dahlia fold and how to color with prismas and odorless mineral spirits (which is my absolute favorite way to color). Hope you like!

Just a simple thank you.

There's not much to say about this one, I needed a thank you card so I whipped this up. I'm hoping to make a ton of cards this weekend but I have a ton of cleaning and laundry to do so we'll see how much I get done! I start watching two little girls on Monday which means I will have four kids under 4 during the day! Yikes, there may not be much stampin going on next week. Have a great night.

Thank You Julie Brooks!

Please take a moment to watch this video, trust me, you will feel the spirit of the Lord move through this clip. I visited Julie Brooks blog today and found this video clip, thank you Julie for the blessing this afternoon, hope you don't mind me passing it on. I was so amazed by this I just couldn't help but pass it on. It stirred up so many things in me that I am actually having trouble getting it all out, if you can believe that! There are so many people that I know need encouragement and uplifting, this is for you if you fall in that category. The LORD is so good and steadfast, through all of the trials that this life may bring, he is there. There are times when I have to just sit still, close my eyes, and I swear I can almost feel him filling me up again and holding me in his arms. Thank you Jesus for those times. For along time one of my biggest struggles was figuring out how to hear the Lord. I wasn't sure how to know if what I was feeling was the Lord or pure emotion. I just kept asking Him, Lord, help me to know when you are here, speaking to me? I believe with all my heart that I now know the difference. If I may offer one little bit of advice today. Lean into Him when things are tough, speak to Him often, praise His name instead of using it in vain, seek him with your questions, read His word, better yet dwell in it. He will reveal himself to us if we would just ask. Will you ask him today? Our Lord is so full of Grace and Mercy, without Him we would be nothing! I will never forget the word Laminin!

Some more new stuff and challenges!

Tonight I killed two birds with one stone(pun intended)hee hee. I received a package yesterday containing my four new Cuttlebug embossing folders and another one today from Gina K! Can I get a woot woot!?!? (I'm feeling so silly tonight, can you tell?) All I have to say is that Gina K rocks! I visit her site all the time and have some of her stuff but this is the first time I ordered some stamps. They're greeeat! (Think Tony Tiger here.) I absolutely love the new owl stamp set. I made this card using the scs sketch challenge #166 for my Dad for Father's Day this year. I'll probably add Happy Father's Day to the bottom right hand corner before I give it to him but I have a habit of making cards early and then changing my mind and making a new one right before the event. So, I leave the greeting off til I'm ready to seal the envelope. I also ordered another stamp set that I have been eyeballing for a few months but I'll post that one later. I also made a Mother's Day card for my MIL using the latest scs sketch challenge #173. I was so productive today, I also made a baby quilt for my friend Crystal but can't post that one for a couple of months til after the baby shower. She already knows that I am making her one but she doesn't need to see it til then, ya know. It's beautiful though, I can't wait to show you all! I finished the top today so now I just have to get the backing and binding ready. Well, I guess I had better get to bed, it's very late and for whatever reason I'm not tired at all. Have a great night!

Look what I got today!

Okay so now that our income tax return, vacation, and bills have all been taken care of I got to order a bunch of stuff that I have been wanting. Yipee for me! Today, I received the first of many packages to come, my Tilda's! I was so excited to receive them that I made a card right away.I used the splitcoast stampers sketch challenge #154. I have a long time friend that I only see about once a year and I just found out a little while ago that her husband is battling cancer so I made this for her. The inside says, "Hope, Comfort, & Peace". I also got my new watermark to work and I am loving it so much. I ordered it from Beth, she makes custom watermarks if you are interested! Well, I am off to make hamburgers on the grill for dinner tonight...doesn't that sound so good?!?!

Wedding jewelry

I have also been making jewelry for my cousin's sister-in-law's wedding. Did you get that, hee hee? So I was to make a bracelet and a necklace for each one of the girls in the wedding party. The necklace looks crooked but the crystals are free moving so that when you are wearing it they stay even. I delivered them today so I hope the girls love them. Sorry about the pictures, I am definitely no photographer.

I'm still here!

Hello there everyone, I'm still alive over here though I have been so stinking busy lately I haven't had any time to post. I finally finished some stuff I have been working on so here it is. First, I finished a Bella swap that I was in but I have already posted it awhile ago. Anyway, that's done and ready for the mail. I also made my secret pal (Jenn in Iowa) this little album using my soon to be bind it all! Mwahh haa haa! I borrowed it from Jami and I think I'm lovin it! Then I also had some jewelry to fix for her (Jenn) so I extended it a little. This is a bracelet that I made her for her birthday using Amethyst Swarovski crystals (her birthstone). Her package will be going in the mail today also. SO thanks for taking time to stop by and hope to be back on track real soon! Ta Ta for now!