Lift me up ...

I sit here tonight full of so many emotions. If I wasn't surrounded by the sounds of giggling children hooting and hi-fiving during a game of SORRY, I am sure I would let the tears flow freely. Having spent so much time, energy, determination (and money) putting together a SU Open House which was (to say the least) unsuccessful robs me of confidence and leaves behind its mark of failure.
I have been told all my life that I am a "people person". I have a bubbly personality and seem to contact with almost anyone. I give freely - of more than just "things". I believe in treating others with respect. So why, I ask, do I feel so jolted? I can't believe that I had only four people show up to my open house - my stepmother, my friend Sandy and her mom and another friend from down the road. We played around and I showed them how to make a card using the Delightful Decorations and matching punch, some Halloween treat bags, some envelope bags and little envelope cards which hold a small treat (I used mini bags of M&M's). I ended up with only one order ($35) and a possible booking. I don't know how else to make connections. I've advertised, sent newsletters, left catalogs at offices, hung flyers ... if only I could make one connection!



"When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up though the pace seems slow--
You may succeed with another blow,
Success is failure turned inside out--
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit--
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit."

As promised ... Open House sneak peak!

Whew, I think I can finally sit down for a minute and catch my breath! Yes, I'll take time to breathe but refuse to stay still long enough to think! I am planning my SU Open House tomorrow and am so nervous that few will attend. It is hard in such a small town to get the word out though I have hung up posters and sent oodles of email newslettere. I feel confident about the projects that I have prepared (you'll have to visit again to see those!). I have tables set up - one with projects and pages that I have made, another with catalogs and advertising promo and my make and take tables. I have all the refreshments ready to go and can not believe the time and energy it takes to put this together! I'm sharing a few pictures with you though these are not the projects we will be doing ... don't want to give those away. So tomorrow I will have to return to post pictures of the make and takes and the tables I have set up. I am asking you to please say a prayer for a successful day for me! Your friendship and guidance is a blessing!


PS - the second to the last card will NOT be on display! It is horrible!! But in the quest to find the right combination we must share out "not so good" projects also! (I did however like the color combination)

Have a great weekend!

Stay tuned ...

Pictures coming this weekend .... some of my playtime projects! Getting ready to share!

More shoebox fun ...

I wanted to share a few more of the projects we did at the Shoebox Swap. I thought this Holiday centerpiece was adorable! It is so versatile - you can fill it with anything - dinner mints, folded napkins etc. and decorate it depending on the time of year or the current holiday.

The second project is an envelope bag. How cute is that - making a bag from a simple white envelope! My kids thought this was the coolest thing. We filled the bags with crinkle paper and sprinkled a variety of hard candies in them. I love this Dasher stamp from Stampin' Up. You can find it in the Under $10 at the back of the current catalog.

Here is the Dasher stamp used for another project. I found that this stamp was a favorite among Demonstrators lol! This is a CD holder - it is well enforced on the inside with double folds. I know I keep saying that I love the new IN colors but you have to admit they can be used with so many different variations. The Bermuda Bay gives this project just the right lift!

We are battling the flu on the homefront but I will try to post a few more in the next day or so.

Thanks for stopping in!

Shoebox Swap: Oh What a Night!

What fun! Last night I attended my
first demonstrator swap and I can tell you I had a Blast! Since I am a brand new SU Demonstrator, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Ten demo's attended and each brought a project to set up at a station. We went from station to station completing the projects. I will share these projects with you over the next couple of days! I can't wait until the next swap in November ... now --to get my business of the ground!

The Joy project was my favorite of the night. I love the color combo and all of the embossing and layering! There were definitely some talented
ladies in attendance!

I hope you enjoy your visit. Feel free
to leave a note or send an email!

Happy Crafting!

~Samie

Creative Juices Flowing ...

I thought for a moment that my creative juices were once again flowing ... Not! I decided today that besides housework and a trip to the grocery store I would spend the day putting the finishing touches on my magnet project for my very first demonstrator meeting Monday night. We are having a Shoebox Swap (I had never heard of this!). I made two magnets (one for Halloween and one for Xmas because the theme was Holiday). Looking at my completed projects, I decided they needed something more so I tried these little matchbook covers. Since I am a new demonstrator , I did not have a lot of supplies to work with - I hope they are worthy of the swap!

I love Kiwi Kiss and wondered how it would play out on a Christmas card. I love the Christmas Punches set. For some reason the colors did not come out well in this photo. I am hopeful that I will have some cards and projects to display for my Open House at the end of the month (and I am praying that someone shows up!)


Can we say Blooper ...I was playing with the Big Shot and the Top Note Die trying to figure out how they make those cute little purse holders. I would have commended myself had I better matched the colors. Maybe I'll give it another try and use some of the new In Colors.


Well it's a full day of school tomorrow (yes on Sunday) from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Please pray my Fibro doesn't act up and I can tolerate sitting in a classroom that long! Best to all ... and as always, thanks for your support and for visiting my blog!

Hello dear friends ...

I can not believe how long it has been since I have posted. It seems like I have lost a sense of all time. One day seems to flow into the next without pause. Between work, my family and school can't seem to stay caught up. I am trying to prepare for my first demonstrator meeting and have been playing around with magnets after seeing them on the internet. I used all SU products - and am making them for various themes such as Halloween and Xmas. Thanks for stopping by!

Awed by fellow bloggers

As I sit here preparing to share a couple of projects that I played around with tonight, I have to wonder if they are worthy. I love to sit here reading blogs and looking at all of the wonderful cards and projects shared through blogging friends. Each and every one of you are amazing. You bring so much to those of us with limited outlets. You inspire me to keep trying ... to search for my own creative niche. Keep leading and step by step I will follow!

Thanks for stopping!

Need Halloween Ideas ...

I have to know ... has anyone ever sat down to craft and just stared at the wonderful supplies piled in front of them and not known what to do or where to begin? I am not sure if it the stress of school or the fact that I haven't been feeling my best ... but I just can't seem to find my creative self floating around here somewhere. I need to plan an open house in three short weeks and am stuck in a rut. I had about 20 minutes to spare so I put this quick little box together that I thought I would make for my daycare children this year - fill with shredded tissue paper and treats. I am going to work on some xmas ideas over the long weekend - in between homework assignments!
Check back soon ...
Thanks for visiting!
And to all those who sent well wishes - your blessings lifted my spirits! Thank you so much!
~Samantha

Finally ... a post!

It has been quite some time since I posted. My life has been so crazy. There is so much that I want to do, need to do that it seems my creative outlet has suffered immensely. I was lucky enough to spend some time last weekend with my upline Michelle who shared some wonderful ideas picked up from the SU Convention. Next year I am going to be there sitting right next to her! I was hopeful that the week would allow me to put something together to share with my faithful visitors. I participated in my first every card swap through a group I found on yahoo. When I received my cards, I knew that I immediately had to case this card. Yes, quite frankly I copied the card colors even because I love the new SU in colors and this one just kept drawing me back! I added bling to the snowflakes and ribbon (because I am a bling addict).
I received my order of supplies and will put a few things together to post throughout the weekend. I am feeling a bit better and though Fibromyalgia is like a curse in my life ... I will not let it beat me! I will not be robbed of what I love ... my Faith, my family, my friends and my crafting!
Life without faith in something is too narrow a space to live.
Happy blogging,
Samie