STAY FOCUSED

Many times I've lost sight of why I do this.

"This" can be anything from challenges and my blog to homeschooling, parenting, and socializing.


These are the activities and movements that make me, ME, right now.


I get distracted by the common "carrots" of greed, ego,fear...YOU NAME IT...
and lose focus on what gives my life...LIFE.

That's when I need to zoom in on the ONE love that keeps me grounded~


for me, it's Jesus.



1 Corinthians 16:13 is the verse I stamped in this card.



Sometimes it isn't so much about WHAT I'm doing or not doing...but what I'm  VIEWING IN MY LENS while I'm doing it (or not doing it).

I created this card for someone else...but it might as well be given to ME.

The Camera Craze Challenge in the Moxie Fab World 

had me thinking about what I view in my lens, and it

inspired me to use the cute camera from Amy Tangerine, that I HAD TO HAVE.



I don't remember when I last inked it, but I brought it out for the challenge:


Simon Says Stamp and Show: the Stamp You Love (but Don't Use).



Thanks for stopping by today~ ;)




stamps: American Crafts Amy Tangerine Lovestruck,Our Daily Bread Design Not Forgotten
ink: Memento Ink Peanut Brittle
other: Copic Marker Lime Green,Studio Calico camera,Martha Stewart twine,Georgia Pacific white cardstock

~Happy New Year~

I woke up yesterday morning in a PANIC~

it was the last day of 2012.

WHAT have I done that was important???

What NEEDS to be done next year???

This is BIG....am I ready to transition???

Then, I took a DEEP BREATH and was reminded....

it's ONE MORE DAY....

~~~~ to tell Jesus I love him

~~~~ to tell my husband I love him

~~~~to hug my girlies...they KNOW I love them...but I'll tell them BECAUSE I CAN


~~~~to call my parents and ring my grandma's cowbell through the phone,   land and ocean that divide us
(I have been bestowed the honor of keeping the precious bell~I know that everyone who was around her can hear it in clanging in their memories of happy times when she was around)

~~~~~to laugh until my sides hurt ...

Lately I've been IN PAIN with giggles...totally gifts from God when silly silly things happen and there is someone RIGHT THERE to share the memories with...better yet...3 girlies who mean the world to me....

~~~~to pray....

for those who can't

for those who won't

and for those who don't know how.

Let's not freak out with over-preparing on the FIRST day of this fresh New Year...


 I want to celebrate the ordinary day.

EACH ordinary day can be wonderful

...leading up to a wonderful week


....a wonderful month



...and eventually,



another wonderful year.

 The following challenges inspired me:

Word Art Wednesday Challenge #60:Faith/Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp and Show:The totally mad (no rules) tea party

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday#202

I chose this card from challenge #196.

The theme was to make a card that makes you feel happy.



We are blessed that happiness doesn't have to fall on just the special days...

it's possible in the ordinary days too! 

 

 

 

 Here is to your NEW year and my NEW year!!!

~May the Lord bless us and keep us and fill us with His joy~

 

 

stamps: Technique Tuesday Ali Edwards Ordinary Days,Flourishes Hydrangea

ink: Memento Ink Teal Zeal,Ranger Tim Holtz Peeled Paint

die: Spellbinders Label 25

other: Ellison Tim Holtz Rays embossing folder,Georgia Pacific white cardstock,Bazzill blue dot cardstock,Little Yellow Bicycle Acorn Hollow DP,Want2Scrap bling,white uniball pen,staple

 

Upside Down Clouds and an Orange House

I don't buy embellishments often...

but these layered chipboard elements were too cute to pass up.

Simon Says Stamp and Show House Rules

Crafty Friends Challenge #12-CAS Card



Check out the newest

Runway Inspired Challenge #25

Wowzers!


Orange dress=Orange house.


I've learned to love orange since that's my husband's favorite color.


I hope to create another for the RIC!



stamps: Kaisercraft Fine & Sunny Clear Stamp,Hero Arts Thoughtful Messages
other: Kaisercraft Fine & Sunny Printed Chipboard Layered,Georgia Pacific white cardstock,Papertrey Ink True Black ink

~True Colors~

Teens and Pre-teens have it tough nowadays, don't they?

Good gravy, not only are they bullied ... but NOW it spreads viral.

I had Cyndi Lauper's tribute as a teen.

 Boy, did this song oooze with therapy for me!

My girlies' generation have songs like Britt Nicole's "Headphones;"

she also sings encouragement into their souls(and mine for that matter).

Kids need to hear that they are awesome and accepted, you know?

Simon Says Stamp and Show:Your Favorite

I followed the maze of white from my favorite design in Basic Grey's Lauderdale pack~which left a cool and free result.

I fussy cut the kiss and sentiment "true colors"; then I embossed with my favorite embossing folder to press in the raw edges.

Placing the folder at an angle...I was careful to roll it through my Big Shot and spring back.  I did not follow through all the way, because it would have cracked a corner off of the folder.

 Crafty Friends Challenge #8:Dry Embossing

Fantastic colors and a celebration at the

The Play Date Cafe #154

Wooo hooo! It's their 3Yr Anniversary!

Have a blessed day~

stamps: Verve Words of Wisdom

ink: Memento Ink Rhubarb Stalk

paper: Georgia Pacific white,Basic Grey Lauderdale

embossing folder: Cuttlebug Diamond Plate

~It's Like Soooo Christmas~

It's like, soooo goin' to be Christmas~

and I'm like, sooo goin' to be NoT rEaDy.



But, it's goin' to be sooo, like, AwEsOmE aNyWaY!!!



Sorry, ever since making this...I'm like, SOOO being a teenager (in the 80's) and like sooo irritating myself but can't stop. ;)


How do you like those funky tags that came off of my teen's new shirts???


Aren't they LiKe So CoOl????


hee hee hee.


OK, stopping, LiKe, NOW!



Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger: Val de Victorian

Told you these colors are on my mind....

I like the trendy vibe of lavender,pinks and pops of orange.


I also love the whimsical shapes that make you feel like you're in a dream~


Simon Says Stamp and Show:Your Favorite



These are my FAVORITE recycled tags to work with.

I just had to add the DP/kraft circles; then strategically place die cuts to hide the tag info.

They have the "So" already built in and the bigger pink tag to complement.


Plus, I'm being all responsible-like too, by recycling.


win! win!


yay! yay!


stamp:  Papertrey Ink Wreath for All Seasons sentiment,My Favorite Things Christmas Ornaments snowflake
ink:  Memento Ink Tangelo
paper:  Papertrey Ink Rustic Cream and Kraft
dies:  My Favorite Things Christmas Ornaments Stamp Set

~My Heroes~My Parents~

I feel so bad.

Did you know that Sunday was Grandparents' Day?

Well, good gravy, I didn't.

I don't have a single Grandparents' sentiment either.

Do you?

If you know of a Grandparents' Day sentiment, please let me know!

This card is late...but needed to be created.

OLW #104:Gratitude Campaign-a challenge to inspire us to THANK those around us.

Bold colors and inspirational photo from 

Runway Inspired Challenge RIC#19

I tried to mimic the color blocking here with two blues and an orange.

 

Also, I kept it masculine so it's appropriate for Mom AND Dad.

Simon Says Stamp and Show:Hero

For my heroes...

 

 the grandparents of my children~

 

 

the life teachers that God blessed me with.

 

 

 

Supplies:

 

Stamp:Papertrey Ink Teach & Inspire

Ink:Ranger Jenni Bowlin Spice Tin,Tsukineko Memento Inks Paris Dusk and Tangelo

Paper:Georgia Pacific White Cardstock

Other:Crop-A-Dile Corner Chomper

 

 

 

~Go Confidently~

Got a bit random today.

I get it from my girlies.

Random is IN, you know.

My youngest is begging to go buy a stuffed Jamaican banana~dreadlocks and all

(rumored to be in an amusement park shop 4 hours away from us) .

Seriously.

This is her dream.

I can't make this stuff up.

I combined two stickers to create a random scene for her in honor of the

Minty Fresh Challenge in the Moxie Fab World.

Maybe she'll get that banana soon~or perhaps she'll search for a crowned rhino or anything else random that's CLOSER to our house.

Simon Says Stamp and Show:Paint It Up

I used Tim Holtz black crackle paint to edge a layer of this card.

Thanks to 

DYSU : 4 Legged Friends

my rhino gets crowned!

Stamp: Verve Words of Wisdom

Stickers: Me & My Big Ideas Safari Stickers,Glitzers Beautiful Dreamer

Paper:My Mind's Eye All is Bright,Bazzill silver

Ink:Versamark

Other:Ranger Super Fine Detail black embossing powder,EK laurel leaf trim

~Feel~

I found some stickers that have been laying around awhile and paired them with this gorgeous frame.


The bird is from ODBD.

I was inspired by

Simon Says Stamp Challenge:Kristina's Inspiration
 and
Simon Says Stamp and Show:What Do You Say?

My thoughts?


Ugh.  This is tough.


I was thinking about when my husband was deployed for 15 months...and the normal, everyday feelings that were hard to enjoy.

 I had to remind myself to LIVE,FEEL,EXPERIENCE...even if I felt guilty for laughing, discovering, enjoying our kids (while he was probably in danger and not laughing so much).

TOLD YOU THIS WAS TOUGH!


I REMEMBER laughing one minute...then grieving the next...knowing he wasn't there to see the girlies grow.



God taught me to cry then.

It was easier to NOT FEEL.

But God showed me I needed to.

I needed to grieve, cry, laugh...even just a little...because it glorified Him, and meant I was ALIVE.

Sometimes, even when life is so black and white...so STARK or even bleak...

we need to FEEL.

Even if it's a little bit, like the pops of color here.

Simon Says Stamp

Or even here, at

Moxie Fab's Tuesday Trigger:Type Hype

The pretty lil' dots bring a bit of life to this dark,black machine.


Enough to say...

"Sense,share,cry,feel,see, discover!"




Stamp and die: ODBD You Will Find Refuge
Other: stickers, Little Yellow Bicycle Clear Cut Shapes,Want2Scrap bling,Scor-Tape Adhesive 1/4"
Embossing powder:Ranger Super Fine Detail black
Ink:Versamark



 

~Waltzingmouse Sketch and the Q~

My husband's birthday is coming up.


I ordered this sentiment awhile ago, because it TOUCHED MY HEART when I first read it.

AWWWW, right?

Waltzingmouse Sketch #108

I used two fun borders from Heirloom Patterns.


The colors are from the

ColourQ Challenge #148.

Hubby LOVES ORANGE...so I made sure there were lots of orangy pops.


I only had slivers of the green~enough to cut the top and bottom of the tag for a stacked feel.


The wee bittiest bit of pink (my husband already has three girls and a froufrou doggy... gotta take it easy ya know). ;)

The poppy is in the flower and highlight.


Simon Says Stamp and Show:What Do You Say?
is all about the sentiment.



 Thanks for stopping by today~




Here are the supplies:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse Heirloom Patterns,Verve Beautiful You
Ink:Tsukineko Memento Ink Angel Pink,Tangelo and Tuxedo Black
Paper:BoBunny Country Garden,Georgia Pacific White,Bazzill green and pink
Dies:Spellbinders Classic Circles,Sizzix tag
Punch:Martha Stewart goo
Other:Crop-A-Dile corner chomper,Copic red,stapler

~Don't Wanna Be a Bug~

I had fun with this card I made for an old friend.

In the early nineties, she loved to sing The Bug song.

I missed her birthday on the fourth...but I hope this makes her smile. ;)

The Paper Crafts July 2012 Gallery Challenge

inspired me to shape my card.

I partially cut the shape out with my Creative Memories oval cutter; left the frame for the car; and added side mirrors.

Another challenge...

Simon Stamp and Show Challenge: No Rules!

is JUST FOR FUN.

I designed the sentiment on Word~this HAD TO BE the sentiment. ;)

The road was masked and sponged with chalk,then reverse masked and sponged with Tim Holtz's distress peeled paint for the grass.

Hope your week started off great today...

if not, start over tomorrow! ;)

Take care now~

Stamp:dragonfly stamp,Papertrey Ink Grunge Me splat

Ink:Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Peeled Paint,Tsukineko Memento Ink Rich Cocoa and Tuxedo Black

Other: Pebbles Inc. Pearlescent Chalks,Word,Creative Memories oval cutter,Martha Stewart fringe scissors

Die:Spellbinders Lattice Rectangles

Paper:Bazzill silver,American Craft black

~Your Time~

I needed a masculine card for a speaker who visited our homeschool class recently.

 

I've had this wonderful collection of "flash cards" from Pink Paislee (Daily Junque Ephemera Pack) that I won awhile back from Jaclyn's blog.

They're cool; but I've been unsure of how to use them.

This Bobunny paper seemed to marry with it well!

The colors from ColourQ Challenge #133 were perfect for this project.

The clock from Our Daily Bread Designs is nice and big, emphasizing the TIME FACTOR. ;)

Our Daily Bread Designs S-P-R-I-N-G Challenge:

S-staples (I love using staples...they are "officy" and they save my adhesive)

P-patterned paper...Bo Bunny's Weekend Market

I-ink  (gotta have ink!)  I recently got this Jenni Bowlin Weather Vane-LOVE IT.

 I also used Tim Holtz distress mustard seed for the sentiment and a Potter's Clay Memento marker to ink up the scallop from My Mind's Eye Rosy "Everything".

 

Simon Says Stamp and Show:Anything Goes

That's all for now-have a blessed day!