Hi Sisters!
I'm am so happy to join your group. To tell you a little bit about me ... I am a forty year old mother to five beautiful children: Ryan 20, Sayde 15, Steele 12, Caleb 10 and Kaetlyn 8 (yes, that is how her name is spelled LOL!). My days are spent operating a Registered Childcare Home (celebrating my 10th year), caring for my home and family while trying to finish my Bachelor of Psychology. A few years ago I visited my sister Marie (www.isomecre8tions.blogspot.com) in colorado and fell in love with Scrapbooking. I had never heard of an Archivers or Hobby Lobby store (now I want to move into one!) and through her skillful guidance I began my journey into paper crafting. I tend to play more with altered paper projects and cards more than making pages but am slowly beginning to bring myself around.
One of the challenges I face is that I live in a very small corner of Northern Vermont where there are no crafting or scrapbooking stores. I turn to the Cyber world (and all of you) for inspiration and guidance! Thank you for welcoming me into your family!
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Friday, May 8, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Life ...
The pressures of this life seems to be all around me - financial and health concerns, worries about my family, concern about the future of our nation. Some days I can keep it all in perspective and push away the care, but other days I feel as if I am carrying a great big heavy sack on my back.
I am not even sure how I should pray for many of these circumstances. I found that it is best to simply invite You into each situation and ask that You bathe all of them with your presence and Your influence. When my burdens seems heavier than I can carry, I hand them over to You. On my small frame they simply weigh me down but you are great enough to hold them all.
I think of me dear sister and all she has taught me about trusting You. I am beginning to understand that often the greatest way that we come to know You better is through our burdens, so thank You for the privilege of growing to know You.
These were some of the little "sandwiches" I made for Teacher Appreciation week at the kids school. We made over forty of them and then made a couple of paper boxes to hold them.
I was so excited to sneak out for some more 'girl time' last night. My friend Dea
nna introduced me to another CTMH consultant that only lives 25 miles away! She led us in making six layout pages in less two hours! It would take me two weeks on my own! Thank you Jeni Dutil!!
Here is the second two page layout. I didn't realize the paper was overlapping when I put it down for picture taking!!
The final layout is my favorite. We stamped the background - I started out with a piece of white cardstock and did a bit of second generation and random stamping. Then we sanded cardstock frames. I was awed by my finished product! Jen introduced the Bella colors for this layout!
To make the end of me a bit brighter ... my first party was almost $350! How exciting! Here's to a couple of weeks off before semester begins - lots of paper crafting so check back ... and remember to follow my blog!
~Samantha
I am not even sure how I should pray for many of these circumstances. I found that it is best to simply invite You into each situation and ask that You bathe all of them with your presence and Your influence. When my burdens seems heavier than I can carry, I hand them over to You. On my small frame they simply weigh me down but you are great enough to hold them all.
I think of me dear sister and all she has taught me about trusting You. I am beginning to understand that often the greatest way that we come to know You better is through our burdens, so thank You for the privilege of growing to know You.
These were some of the little "sandwiches" I made for Teacher Appreciation week at the kids school. We made over forty of them and then made a couple of paper boxes to hold them.I was so excited to sneak out for some more 'girl time' last night. My friend Dea
nna introduced me to another CTMH consultant that only lives 25 miles away! She led us in making six layout pages in less two hours! It would take me two weeks on my own! Thank you Jeni Dutil!!
Here is the second two page layout. I didn't realize the paper was overlapping when I put it down for picture taking!!The final layout is my favorite. We stamped the background - I started out with a piece of white cardstock and did a bit of second generation and random stamping. Then we sanded cardstock frames. I was awed by my finished product! Jen introduced the Bella colors for this layout!
To make the end of me a bit brighter ... my first party was almost $350! How exciting! Here's to a couple of weeks off before semester begins - lots of paper crafting so check back ... and remember to follow my blog!~Samantha
Monday, May 4, 2009
Nurture
As a mom to five children, a college student, a childcare provider, mentor, wife ... I allow little time for replenishing my energy. Every moment is spent meeting the needs of those around me that I have forgotten that I, too, have needs -physical, emotional and spiritual. I realized that if I do not attend to my own needs at some point or other I will fail at meeting the needs of those I most care about and stray from who I am. I took a few hours to attend an afternoon craft gathering at my friend Deanna's house and was blessed to meet an amazing SU demonstrator (visit her at www.wendystamps.com). Listening to her share her 'journey' with us really inspired me to think about my goals. Not only is she extremely talented, it was obvious that she was true to herself! She inspired us to 'think outside the box' and the two pages below were created under her guidance (I added a little of my own touch).
I am going to use this layout when I find the "just right" picture of my 20 yr old son and I. I was reminded of how much I cherished each and every moment of raising him and though he has begun his journey into adulthood I am blessed by his "I love you's" every day!
This was a fun, colorful page that I couldn't just have a flower or two ...
Have a Sunshine Day!!
I am going to use this layout when I find the "just right" picture of my 20 yr old son and I. I was reminded of how much I cherished each and every moment of raising him and though he has begun his journey into adulthood I am blessed by his "I love you's" every day!
This was a fun, colorful page that I couldn't just have a flower or two ...
Have a Sunshine Day!!
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Wow - Amazing Blog Candy Giveaway!
this tops the charts! Check it out: corrosivecreationsbyjanet.blogspot.com
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Blog Candy Give Away ...
Hat off to Sarah's Paper Tray for reaching 2000 hits on her blog. To celebrate she's giving away blog candy you are sure to love! Visit her blog ... and if you know how to add a counter please let me know!
CONGRATULATIONS Sarah!!
http://sarahspapertray.blogspot.com/2009/04/i-reached-2000-hits-and-have-some-blog.html
CONGRATULATIONS Sarah!!
http://sarahspapertray.blogspot.com/2009/04/i-reached-2000-hits-and-have-some-blog.html
The family is a haven in a heartless world.
Today was one of those days that I was making myself dizzy going around in cirlces. Sipping a hot cup of coffee with pen and pad next to me, I decided to make a "to do" list! Dig out Spring and Summer clothing, wash windows, vacuum and mop, clean daycare, scrub bathrooms, tackle the mounds of laundry piled up in every corner, begin homework assignments ... the list was endless.
The house was quiet and I could hear the clock ticking in the background. I thought about my friend that had lost his life just eight days. I was once again reminded how precious each and every second of my life is - I needed to stop worrying about what everyone thought if they came into my home and it was not spotless - we had clean clothes, clean dishes and food in the house. I tore the paper from the pad, crumpled it up and tossed it in the garbage. When I heard the giggles coming from upstairs and the footsteps of the kids waking up ... I knew my priorities were right where they needed to be. I grabbed my coffee and raced to the living room and plopped on the piles of "blankets" - the burst of laughter that filled the room filled my heart!
I made these Easy Post It holders with the kids. We sat around the table sharing M&M's, laughter and a memory I will carry in my heart!
~ The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family. ~Thomas Jefferson
I had a request for Chocolate Bar slider cards with a "You Rock" theme. Here are a couple of ideas I came up with. Comments??
** Please consider following my blog!! It would be greatly appreciated! **
The house was quiet and I could hear the clock ticking in the background. I thought about my friend that had lost his life just eight days. I was once again reminded how precious each and every second of my life is - I needed to stop worrying about what everyone thought if they came into my home and it was not spotless - we had clean clothes, clean dishes and food in the house. I tore the paper from the pad, crumpled it up and tossed it in the garbage. When I heard the giggles coming from upstairs and the footsteps of the kids waking up ... I knew my priorities were right where they needed to be. I grabbed my coffee and raced to the living room and plopped on the piles of "blankets" - the burst of laughter that filled the room filled my heart!
I made these Easy Post It holders with the kids. We sat around the table sharing M&M's, laughter and a memory I will carry in my heart!~ The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family. ~Thomas Jefferson
I had a request for Chocolate Bar slider cards with a "You Rock" theme. Here are a couple of ideas I came up with. Comments??** Please consider following my blog!! It would be greatly appreciated! **
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