Lurking around the corner ...

     Where has the time gone?  I feel as though summer has slipped through my fingertips.  I look around me and ask, "What have you accomplished"?  I shrug to myself "nothing". The calendar is chanting 'school, school, school' in my ear.  The realization that time with my children is dwindling as we scurry about making the preparations.  I try to imagine what it will be like to say goodbye to my oldest daughter as she begins a new journey in college.  I can't even fathom it! 

      The start of school also sends signals darting at me as reminders that the annual craft fair I attend with my sister in VA  is just around the corner.  I decided to play for a bit today.  In order to transition slowly after spending months healing from surgeries I decided to start out small.  I remembered how loved the envelope gift card holder / treat bag was in previous years and decided to put a few together.  It felt amazing to craft ... my favorite country music playing in the background ... my mind escaping from its depths of stress.  Stamping is so therapeutic!

Envelope Bag - Gift Card Holder

The countdown is on ... two weeks from tomorrow I will be in my car and headed to Virginia!  I am very fortunate to have a family supportive of my dream of finding a venue to share my card creations and crafts.  I have been busy playing with paper, searching the cyber world for inspiration, and getting inky!  These little bags were made with Stampin' Up envelopes.  I used my favorite stamp set Snow Much Fun and Bashful Blue ink and ribbon.  These can be hung from the tree with a gift card or treat, given to a coworker or used as a Secret Santa gift.  So many ideas!  I made several different designs and played with different colors!  Let me know ... which one is your favorite?

 Happy Stamping!

Lost ...

Hello Blogger Friends,

     It has been forever since I've logged on and shared any inspiration or creativity.  I thought that once I graduated from college I would have plenty of free time ... now I sit back and wonder how in the world I even managed to find time to do homework!  Today, I decided that as messy as my house is (my husband is gutting the attic to insulate) it was important for me to pull a stamp set off the shelf, blow the dust off and and create something!  So after mounting half a dozen sets that have been lying around ... I decided to lift an idea from Regionals in CT (I believe).  Cam Meagher made a similar card with white on white and white ribbon.  Here is my take:

 I used the stamp set Word Play and layered the Card Stock to match the scallop circle.  I played around with colors trying out Elegant Eggplant, Bashful Blue, Cherry Cobbler and Night of Navy.  I used Whisper White ribbon on the Cherry Cobbler card and dies it by just sponging both sides with ink.  

Thanks for taking a peek!
    Samie

Easter Fun ...

 
I'm so ready for our monthly Demonstrator meeting tomorrow evening at my upline Michelle Deslandes!  My family of girls is my lifeline and they bring so much brightness to the dreariest of days.  I hope they don't peek at my blog ... 'cause I'm sharing the swap that I made for them.  The theme this month was a 3D Easter swap.  I had so much fun making these cute little door hangers inspired by Andrea Walford. I ended up filling them with Easter grass and tying a bow around the boxes.  I love them!  After I finished I couldn't settle down so I whipped up some of these cute little Easter cards.  I don't know why my camera messed up the color. I used the Ice Cream Parlor DSP from Sale-a-Bration again.  It goes great with Rose Red and Marina Mist.  What do you think?
Hugs from chilly VT!

Stampin' Up always on my mind ...

Finally Friday and I managed to survive a crazy week.  The weather was so hot ... and we were teased with the July heat that never found its way during the summer months.  The kids were cranky from spending their days inside hot classrooms and it seemed quite the challenge to maintain any structure.  As soon as the work day ended, I packed up some supplies and headed over to my Stampin' sisters house to play for a couple of hours.  I was surprised that through all of our ahhhing and oohhhing over the Holiday mini and the catty, I managed to make some gift card holders. I also worked on some Santa cards that I will post soon!

   Here is a true Vermont sunset.  Relaxing!


Thanks for stopping by!

Stampin' Up Jolly Old Saint Nick and I accept the challenge!

Where does the time go?  It's already September.  The kids are back in school and the days feel shorter!  Though we are being spoiled in Vermont with the summer weather we never got it is still important to keep sight of the upcoming Holidays!  Yes .. the countdown to Christmas has begun.  To kick off the MoJo, I joined a Holiday card swap on Sudsol.  I just couldn't get a good picture of the card.  This was my first card swap with other demonstrators and I was a bit nervous thought I was pleased with how it turned out!

CS and Ink:  Whisper White and Bashful Blue

Stamp Set:  Jolly Old Saint Nick (Holiday mini) and sentiment from Christmas Punch

Accessories: Two way glue, dazzling diamonds and Bashful Blue grosgrain ribbon

On a personal note:  30 Days of Excellent in Every Way.

The challenge that originated with Dana Young-Bailey looks like this:

As a mom, I know that I focus too much on all the wrong things my kids do and miss out on all the right things they do. I get frustrated with chores not done or with their disobediance. When I only see their sin, I miss out on the blessing that my children really are.

Genesis 1:31 says, "Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was excellent in every way." (NLT)

I love how that is worded, "excellent in every way". Our children are excellent in every way, in spite of how they act at times. They were made in Gods' image and he said his creation is excellent.
Do you think your kids are excellent? I know that there are many times that I don't see them as excellent.
I want you to join me in 30 Days of Excellent in Every Way in September.

1. Pray & ask God to show you ways in which your kids are excellent. If you are like me, you may have a child that is more difficult than others. This is the child that you need really need to focus on. Pray for that child & ask God to show you how that child is excellent.
2. Keep a journal if you like of what the Lord shows you about your kids. If you have a blog, blog about it & send me your link!

3. At least once a day, post an status on face book about how one of your children was excellent. Don't use their name if you don't want to, especially if they are on face book.

4. Invite your friends. Ask your mom friends to join us.

5. Use excellent words with your children. Tell them when you catch them doing something wonderful. Compliment them. Build them up with your positive, encouraging words!

So what do you think?  Up for the challenge??