Still Choosing Joy!

What does that mean choosing joy? It means being content with what is good in my life. It means not sweating the small stuff. It means finding something good in people around you who are determined to disrupt your peace. It means being thankful for opportunity to see God carry you through a tough situation.

Here's my practical example for today. My boys take off their socks and leave them "there". "There" is wherever they were when they took them off. Get it? We spend a lot of time in the basement. As I look around the basement I see socks. So instead of either leaving them there for them to pick up when they get home from school, or picking them up myself, I decided to dust. I don't know anybody who likes to dust so saying that I don't like to dust would be a mute point. But from now on when I see socks on the floor, instead of wasting my vocal chords by yelling, I'm going to dust with their socks. Did I ever tell you that I live in the dustiest house in the world? Now this has to be our little secret because if the boys find out I'm not going to get upset about their socks anymore, I'll be dusting 24/7!

This A2 card is embossed on the front with the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder. The flower and acrylic piece are attached with brads. I trimmed off a little with the Cloud Paper Edgers and added green pattern paper behind it to hide the brads. I also added a very thin strip to the top in the space that didn't get embossed. The brad in the center of the flower was black and white until I rolled it around on the green ink pad. The stamp was sent to me by Staci for Christmas. This is the first time I've used it!

True Friends -- revisited

Post 200!
I spent a little time over the weekend going thru my blog and reading comments. There are quite a few people who have taken the time to comment or email me with encouraging messages. And then there are a few who have done so over and over. I wish I could tell you how many times you've all brightened my day. I am so grateful!! I'm still working on a way to pick a couple of people and I'll figure it out tonight or tomorrow morning. I am planning to be at home tomorrow, so I may accomplish something in the house.

Today was another "On the Road Again" kind of days. I had to take my daughter back to college after the labor day weekend. I go 130ish miles and it takes 2 hours and 15 minutes each way. I left this morning right after we dropped off at the high school and I made it home 15 minutes before my fourth grader... no room for ATL traffic or accidents.

Here are my cards for today. I made these a while back-- actually it was while I was still in MI-- which hopefully explains why I don't remember some of the details. I'm planning to spend some time tonight getting cards ready to go in the mail. It's a shame that I make so many and actually send so few. I have a stack stamped and addressed and ready to go except I need to write a note inside. I need to go feed my bunch so I can get to it. Have a blessed evening.



Stamps: True Friends (Stampabilities), Floral (SU)
Card Stock: White card(Georgia Pacific), Orange, Gold and Pink (I think are all SU. but I'm not certain)
Ink: So Saffron, Pumpkin Pie and Regal Rose I think (SU), Brilliance Graphite Black( Tsukenko)
Other: Flowers (Prima), Brads (I cannot remember the maker )

The brads in the center of the flower was a black and white fabric covered brad that I rolled around over the surface of the coordinating pad.

Wishing You Joy

This card is for my friend, Jackie, who is expecting her second child. That first baby has brought so much joy into their lives. I hope this second boy is as happy and easy going as his big brother.

I love the "wishing you joy" sentiment. and I really like this handwriting. It is the best dollar I ever spent.

Stamps: Nesting Bird (Savvy Stamps ), wishing you joy(Michael's 1 dollar stamp)

Printed Paper: Watercolor Block (Provo Craft)

Ink:Brilliance Graphite Black( Tsukenko), Lavender Lace, I think(SU)

Coloring Medium:Prismacolor Pencils

Other: Ticket Corner Punch (SU) Flowers (Prima) Large Brads

I received this image in an image swap. I was excited to see it at the Stampbuzz, because now I can get one for myself. Which reminds me, I need to add it to my order

I have so much to do, that I don't know where to start. Normally I would start at the top and work my way downstairs, but I think I am going to start in the Card Castle this time and work my way up. I am anxious to show you my new space. I am trying to sort things as I move them into the room. Eventually, whatever doesn't fit in the room is going "bye bye" I am actually trying to condense things from two spaces into the one. I used to have storage in the basement and I worked on the first floor. I didn't see a lot of my collection, because it was down there. Now I'm forcing myself to get rid of old stuff. The stamp drawers are organized now, but I need to make new labels for them.

Am I the only one who had tons of images stamped (and sometimes colored or painted)? I don't think I need to keep them all. I always stamp more than I need. I color a couple( or a few) and then pick the one I like best for the card. Now I'm stuck with too much. Any suggestions???

Choosing Joy! Jacki

Feeling Better?

This is a photo of the card I sent last week to Marcia, one of my fellow Gingerwoodies and a frequent commenter here. She's going through Chemo. I hope things are going OK today, Marcia.

I chose to make the sentiment the focus of the card. The card stock background is Murdock Country Creations. It is glossy cardstock with a "Polished Stone" look. I love the look without the work, especially when I didn't have to pay for it. I was given several sheets of this when I was on a design team. Now that I've "found" it again, I'm guessing you'll see more of it sooner or later.

Finished Card Size: 4 1/4 x 5 1/2
Stamps: I hope you're feeling better(Stampabilities),
Printed Paper: Murdock Country Creations, Basic Grey
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip(SU), White card(Georgia Pacific)
Ink:Basic Brown( SU) Tattered Rose Distress Ink ( Ranger)
Other: Ticket Corner Punch (SU), Flowers (Prima) , Brads( Making Memories)

Here is a picture of what my desk looks like right now. All my ink pads are out of the holder and rubber banded shut. My markers are too. It's so sad...

But don't feel too sorry for me. I found a couple stamps I wanted to color when I was "cleaning up" the stamps, so I un-did the rubber bands and stamped a little tonight. :) I have to finish packing our suitcases tomorrow. If you've ever dealt with "professional" packers, you know that if it's not breathing, it gets packed. And they don't stop to ask questions. My strategy is to have every thing that we are planning to take with us already in the van by the time they arrive. --And the trash will be emptied or clearly identified. That way there are no mistakes like the time they packed a trash can containing a used Pull-Up !
I had the kids pack their suitcases today. For the younger ones, I'll check behind them to advise and/or add to it, if necessary tomorrow.
Ahhh tomorrow, another busy day. Is there ever going to be a lazy day this summer?

Wishing You Joy

The center of the flower was a black and white fabric covered brad that I rolled around over the surface of the Cool Caribbean ink pad.

I like how these flowers coordinate with the Cool Caribbean cardstock and ink. The background stamp is SU and the "wishing you joy" is a Michaels $1 stamp.

True Friends

ETA: to answer questions at the bottom.



A friend of mine, who also moves a lot, mentioned that she'd like to have a card with this quote for the friends she leaves behind when she moves. It's a nice way of saying "So Long" to friends you meet along the way. I have a stamp with this saying, but when I saw this at The Stampbuzz, I knew right away I needed this one. The font and script is much more interesting than the one I already have.



Stamps: True Friends (Stampabilities)
Printed Paper: Vineyard Jersey Stripe and Vineyard Flowers (Heidi Grace) still my favorite!
Ink: Certainly Celery (SU) Brilliance Victorian Violet( Tsukenko)
Other: Flowers (Prima) , Hydrangea Punch (Martha Stewart), Small Flower (unknown), Lavender Ultrafine Pastel Glitter(Stampendous), Ticket punch (SU)

Yes, Flossie it's double stamped if that's what it's called. I stamped the green first and moved the stamp just up and over slightly for the purple ink. and no Dina, I don't have a stampamajig. Yes, purple with green are my Default colors. (smile)
Yes, Energyfree, some friends do leave BIG giant dinosaur footprints. I feel so blessed to have met some of the most terrific people in the world!

Another Offspring?

The Recycled?

I don't know what to call this card. It is a good result of last weekend's fiasco with the "Ugly" card. The Good the Bad and the Ugly. It was really unfair of me to call that card ugly. It wasn't ugly, but it just wasn't working for me. I was frustrated because I spent a lot of time trying to make it work before I gave up on it and took it apart.

I used the main image with a different color scheme as a fix. I used that unwanted background to create this monochromatic birthday card.

Stamps: Happy Birthday (Serendipity Stamps)

Printed Paper: SU Pallet O Prints

Cardstock: Green Textured (Bazzill Monochromatic),White (Georgia Pacific)

Ink: SU Certainly Celery

Other: Corner Punches, Prima Flowers, Bazzill Buttons

The Original

The Fix

You Inspire Me

Artist Pig (Hambo Stamps), Papers and Plastic Frame (Heidi Grace), Prima Flowers, Flower Punch ( Martha Stewart), Circle Punches( EK Success), Cloud Scissors ( Fiskars), Prismacolor Pencils, Square Brads, Button( Bazzill)


I finally finished this card that I started a month ago, maybe?? I had half of the card figured out, but I didn't know what I wanted to do with the right side of the card until I went to Target on Monday. I took my daughter there to find a scrapbook. She wanted to do a book of her Senior year and none of the brand new scrapbooks that I already had here suited her. So I innocently went into Target so that she could look at the scrapbooking supplies because I didn't need to look at scrapbooking stuff, since I have more than I'll use in my lifetime. It was totally for her...are you believing me??(smile)
It looks like the Scrapbooking section had recently been revamped again-- a lot of new stuff since the last time I looked. One thing I did notice was the Prima Flowers. I rarely get to see them in person so, I have been able to avoid buying too many of them to add to my collection.

They had the Got Flowers milk bottles and these cute little paint cans full of flowers. At first we decided to split a can, but couldn't decide on which can, so I bought both. Each can had the smaller magnetized tin of funky chip board buttons connected to the top. It called to me "alter me!".(It would be cute with a picture in it for the fridge or file cabnet) See, I do have specific projects in mind, and that's not the problem for me. The problem is finding time to do it all.
I also made a decision to purchase Teacher Gifts this year. If you know me, that's a big BIG step for me. I've made gifts for the teachers for 14 or 15 years. I have no idea what to get so I figured a gift card would be least stressful for me. Presenting the gift card, would be something easy to work on, right?? I thought about using the paint cans I have already, but they are larger and I would have to fill the can with something so that the Gift Card doesn't look lost in them. These cans are smaller and probably a perfect way to present a gift card.
OK, I think I've sufficiently justified that purchase.
...And to finish this long story, that's where the flowers on this card came from that helped me finish this month long project!

Bloom with Happiness!

ETA: This post was edited to add photos of the cards taken in the daytime.

I got a chance to play with my new stuff this afternoon. Actually, we had no power for two hours and I had a very productive two hours. I couldn't go online to read about making cards or shop for cardmaking supplies so I actually had time to make cards! (smile)

I used the Bloom with Happiness hostess set, Cranberry Crisp cardstock and ink, Designer Series Sampler Pad. Prima Flowers, Corner Rounder and the mini flower punch.

ETA(again): I used a Zig two way Glue pen to apply the Multi Ultra fine Crystal Glitter.

Mother's Day Cards 2007

I love it when a design plan comes together even better in real life than the plan in my head. This design also justified my having so many similar stamps. I actually felt bad recently and didn't purchase a Happy Mother's Day stamp I wanted, because I already have a few Happy Mother's Day stamps in my collection. Anyway none of the stamps I had would fit in the space allowed for the sentiment of that magnificent card design that was in my head, so I had to do it on the computer.

Topiary trees stamp = SU, Printed paper= Basic Grey, Chocolate Chip card stock= SU, Flowers = Prima, Brad= Spare Parts