Sally Jo Stamper

Happy birthday owl

2011-07-20T09:19:00.002-04:00

Hope you all enjoy the card!

Quote: "The ideals that have lighted my way, and time after time have given me new courage to face life cheerfully, have been kindness, beauty and truth." -Albert Einstein

Online card class #3

2011-07-13T17:27:00.002-04:00

Happy hump day dear readers! This is the third card I have put together during the online card class I am taking. The color combination required for this card is red, cream, and various browns. I have to say these are not exactly my favorite colors, and I would have never really thought to put them together. That is the beauty of taking this class. I am leaving my comfort zone and trying new things. So.....what do you think of my creation?

Quote: "The way to a good reputation is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear." -Socrates

For the Love of Coffee

2011-07-09T16:26:00.002-04:00

This is the second card I have created for the online card class. I am having a ton of fun participating in this class! What a great idea to keep all of us crafters inspired during the summer!

Speaking of summer - how is your's going? Mine has been very nice so far - a lot of relaxing, some treat baking, some crafting with the kids, and some spending time with friends and family.

Happy Saturday all!

Quote: "If I try to be like him, who will be like me?" -Yiddish proverb

Online Card Camp

2011-06-28T15:47:00.002-04:00

Hi all! I am taking a new online card camp, and will be posting some of my creations over the next weeks. Who knows - maybe I will become a regular poster again! :) This week, the participants were asked to create a card with the following color combination: warm purple, warm pink, warm orange, sky blue and white. What do you think of my creation? This was a lot of fun to do! Hope you all are enjoying your summer!

Quote: "Birds sing after a storm. Why shouldn't we?" -Rose Kennedy

Happy New Year!

2010-12-31T07:46:00.002-05:00

Card #98
#99
#100
I did it! I reached my goal! I had a lot of fun doing it and I am back in the creative spirit where I belong! Thank you Brian for challenging me to meet this goal! Without you, my stamps would still be gathering dust.

Tonight is New Year's Eve as you all know. How many of you are making resolutions? I used to make resolutions every year, but this year I don't really have any. I read a post on the Proverbs 31 blog about writing a New Year's prayer. That seems more up my alley this year. I hope 2011 brings all of you health, joy and peace!

Quote of the day: "Scatter seeds of kindness everywhere you go;
Scatter bits of courtesy-watch them grow and grow.
Gather buds of friendship keep them till full blown;
You will find more happiness than you have ever known." -Amy R. Raabe

I think this will be my goal for 2011, but don't worry readers - you will still find cards here on the old blog-o! Happy New Year!

Almost there

2010-12-28T15:46:00.002-05:00

Card #93
#94
#95
#96
#97

I have almost reached my goal - just three more cards and I will have done it!

Today has been spent cleaning up around the house. We have had our house on the market since June. Over the holidays, the showings slow down, and hence so does the keep up - if you know what I mean. My girls' rooms were completely cluttered, so we had to go through and declutter once again. This weekend the Christmas decorations will come down, and the house will be show worthy once again. I have to say trying to sell our house in the worst housing market since I don't know when is REALLY frustrating! Please keep our family in your prayers, and ask God to deliver a buyer to us. Thank you dear readers!

Quote of the day: "Faith moves mountains, but you have to keep pushing while you are praying." -Mason Cooley

The Aftermath

2010-12-27T08:28:00.002-05:00

Card #88
#89
#90
#91
#92
I wonder if everyone's house looks like ours when Christmas is done. We have toys, boxes, wrapping paper, and just plain stuff everywhere. It takes about three days to find a home for everything and get our house back to some sort of normalcy. That time does not even include taking down the Christmas decorations, and I have to say I am one of those people who like to get everything back to normal as quickly as possible. I will probably start taking down Christmas early this week. The advertisements have me pegged. It is now time to organize, so I can start out the new year clutter-free! Happy Monday!

Quote of the day: "You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." -A.A. Milne

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU!

2010-12-24T09:18:00.004-05:00

Card #83
#84
#85
#86
#87
It is Christmas Eve, and my girls are more than excited for tomorrow. We will definitely have to figure something out to get them good and dog tired before bed tonight! I truly can't believe Christmas is tomorrow! Where in the world did this year go? How is it possible that I have a ten and eight year old?! I feel like it was just yesterday I was in college not knowing where life was going to take me. Now I am a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, blogger, crafter, volunteer, chauffeur, the list goes on and on, and I am grateful for all of my roles. I am grateful that the good Lord put me exactly where He wants me, and He continues to watch out for me as He works out His plan for my life. I am so grateful for all of the people in my life. I am grateful for my health, and my church. The list of blessings seems infinite when I really think about it! I hope all of you have an infinitely long list of blessings, and on this holy evening will remember the true reason for this wonderful Christmas season.........Christ!

Quote of the day: "When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything You gave me." -Erma Bombeck

Traditions

2010-12-16T12:24:00.003-05:00

Card #81
#82

Watch out, because one of these days I am going to do a post with about ten cards on it. Now that Christmas is nearer, I am focusing more on family time and the traditions that we share during this special holiday rather than on making cards. Some of our traditions include: decorating gingerbread houses, baking and decorating cookies, reading Christmas books, looking at the Christmas lights in McAdenville, going to see the Bear Orchestra in Founders Hall in Charlotte, spending time with friends, attending Christmas Eve church service, and sharing brunch with my husband's parents. This year, we have added the Elf on the Shelf to our traditions, and I hope to add visiting the Billy Graham Library. What are some of your Christmas traditions?

Quote of the day: "The first home was made when a woman, cradling in her loving arms a baby, crooned a lullaby. All the tender sentimentality we throw around a place is the result of the sacred thought that we live there with someone else. It is our home ... the place where we retire and shut the world out." -Elbert Hubbard

2010-12-13T17:21:00.002-05:00

Card #79
#80

Not much to say today. We had a small dusting of snow last night. I sure hope to get some more, so the family can go sledding down our front yard hill! We have such a blast after a blast of snow arrives! Hope your Monday was a good one!

Quote of the day: "Until you make peace with who you are, you'll never be content with what you have." -Doris Mortman

Christmas is on its way

2010-12-08T09:10:00.002-05:00

Card #76
#77
#78
Hi all! We are all decorated for Christmas, and I finally feel like I have put a dent in my Christmas shopping......although I am sure I will still be shopping up until the last minute. I always think I am done, and then there is one small thing I have forgotten. Does that happen to you too?

Tomorrow I am heading to the Dr. I have been having some pain at the base of my big toe on and off for quite a while, and now the pain is more regular and there is a lump on my toe knuckle. I think I may have arthritis, but I'll see what the Dr. has to say about it. If I jump into your mind for any reason at all, please say a little prayer for me. Have a super Wednesday!

Quote of the day: "The greater part of our happiness depends on our dispositions and not on our circumstances." -Martha Washington

2010-12-06T16:44:00.002-05:00

Card #73
#74
#75

Happy Monday readers! The weather here in NC sure is feeling a lot like winter - we even saw a few snow flurries on Saturday! Now my children are wishing for a white Christmas. I have to say, that would be a nice surprise!

I did a little more Christmas shopping today. I am almost done now - woo-hoo! How are you all doing on your shopping?

Quote of the day: "We make a living by what we get. We make a living by what we give." -Winston Churchill

Nearing my goal.....

2010-12-02T14:05:00.003-05:00

Card #70
#71
#72

As most of you know, my husband has challenged me to make 100 cards in 100 days. Although I have not posted one card on every of the one hundred days, I do think I am going to make my goal of 100 cards in 100 days! You may see some posts with 5 cards on it to reach the goal, and I think that is okay! My husband doesn't mind that either. I wonder what my next goal will be. I definitely don't plan on going back into hiding, so no worries there :) Have a super Thursday!

Quote of the day: "Goals are stars to steer by, not sticks to beat yourself with." -Barbara B. Smith

Grateful

2010-11-29T17:22:00.003-05:00

Card #68
Card #69

I want to start this post by thanking all of the Michelle Wooderson's dear readers for checking out my blog this weekend. She has a wonderful following! I, too, love her work, and would like to give a great big thank you to her for including my blog site in one of her posts........THANK YOU! I love how all of us crafters can share ideas and cheer each other on. I am indeed grateful for all of my fellow stampers and crafters alike! So fellow stampers/crafters, I would like to know where you get your inspiration? Do you find it from blogs, magazines, books, catalogs. I know the sources are unlimited, but if there is one particular place you look on a regular basis to get inspired, I would love to know what it is. Have a great Monday evening!

Quote of the day: "Anyone who lives within their means suffers from a lack of imagination." -Oscar Wilde

Blessings

2010-11-24T20:45:00.004-05:00

It is the eve before Thanksgiving, and I sure am looking forward to all of the delicious food tomorrow! What is your favorite Thanksgiving dish? I would have to say mine is stuffing - with gravy of course! As you sit around your table, what will you be thankful for this year? The Lord has surely blessed me and my family. I am so grateful for family, health, peace, happiness, friends, and the list could go on and on.

This is just a wonderful time of year! Happy Thanksgiving dear readers!

Quote of the day: "Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone." -G.B. Stern

Just a note

2010-11-22T13:42:00.003-05:00

Card #61
Card #62
Card #63

I know many people send cards for birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, babies, and other main events. My favorite card to send is the unexpected note! The three cards you see above are perfect for those occasions when someone comes to mind, and you want to send a smile their way!

Quote of the day: "Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today to make a new ending." -Maria Robinson

Star birthday

2010-11-19T12:08:00.002-05:00

Card #60

My niece's birthday is this week! She is such a cutie, and so full of fire! Happy birthday Sydney! We hope you have a fantastic day!

Quote of the day: "Today you are you! That is truer than true! There is not one alive who is you-er than you!" -Dr. Seuss

Tuesday thoughts

2010-11-16T08:15:00.002-05:00

Card #57
Card #58
Card #59
Today the book fair starts at my daughters' school! They are both so excited! They absolutely love the book fair, which means they love books, and that makes me happy! Books are a huge part of my life. I truly enjoy getting lost in a story, and I also enjoy learning something new. I hope with all of the e-readers on the market that books do not become extinct. I admit I have a Kindle, and it is convenient - especially when traveling, but I will always be a purchaser of books!

Quote of the day: "Books are the food of youth, the delight of old age; the ornament of prosperity, the refuge and comfort of adversity; a delight at home, and no hindrance abroad; companions by night, in traveling, in the country." -Marcus Tullius Cicero

Monday mornings

2010-11-15T08:17:00.002-05:00

Card #55
Card #56

Monday mornings are bittersweet for me. They mean the end of the weekend, and time spent with the family, at the same time bringing some peace and quiet to the house. On Mondays I am always geared up to be healthy. I almost always exercise on Mondays with the intention of carrying that on throughout the week. Sometimes I am successful with that and sometimes not. How do you feel about Mondays?

Quote of the day: "I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble." -Helen Keller

Randomness

2010-11-10T18:14:00.002-05:00

Card #52
Card #53
Card #54
Now that the holiday season is upon me, I find that my mind is always jumping ahead! Yesterday morning, I found myself already thinking about today. You see today I had to bring my car to a body shop early in the morning, and I was worried about traffic, and everything else that could possibly go wrong. I caught myself yesterday when I was worrying about today, and I remembered a Bible verse that has great meaning to me. The verse is Matthew 6:34, and it reads, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." My goal for the next two months, and really for the rest of my life is to not worry about tomorrow, and when I start to worry, I am going to recite this verse out loud. If I can stay focused on today .......today, I know my life will be more full.

Quote of the day: Matthew 6:34 - "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Sending good wishes

2010-11-09T11:45:00.002-05:00

Card #49 and #50
Card #51

The first card you see in this post is not my design. I made this card at one of Marci's Stamp-a-stack classes. I highly recommend these classes to anyone who wants a stack of homemade cards at a fractional cost. Just contact me, and I will get you the information you need to go. I made 4 of these cards, and I sent two of them to Godly women who are a great example to me.

The birthday card is my design, and I sent this to the daughter of a dear friend of mine. She turned nine on Sunday. These girls are growing up so fast!

This weekend, I purchased a Sizzix Big Shot Die Cutting machine. I cannot wait to use it! I just need to purchase some dies. I think my girls are going to really enjoy using this machine too! Have a super Tuesday!

Quote of the day: "Mankind must remember that peace is not God's gift to his creatures; peace is our gift to each other." - Elie Wiesel

Fall Leaves

2010-11-03T16:14:00.002-04:00

Card #48

This card is not my design. I made this card at Marci's (my Stampin' Up! demonstrator) house! She comes up with some very nice designs I must say! I love the leaves in this card - almost as much as I love the beauty of real Fall leaves. I am in awe of the colors God uses to paint nature!

Quote of the day: "When I first open my eyes upon the morning meadows and look out upon the beautiful world, I thank God I am alive." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Coffee break

2010-11-02T17:05:00.003-04:00

Card #47
I don't know about all of you, but for me the school year is very busy! I cannot believe it is November already. I feel like it was August just yesterday. With all of the busyness of the day to day schedule, it is hard for me to find time to connect to the people I care about. Sure, I can talk to my friends on the phone, and that is better than nothing - to be sure, but I miss the face time. There is one wonderful person whom I particularly miss having coffee with, and that is who I am sending this card to. Our friendship actually began over a coffee date, and I am hoping to make that more of a regular part of my schedule.

Quote of the day: "Over second and third cups flow matters of high finance, high state, common gossip and low comedy. [Coffee] is a social binder, a warmer of tongues, a soberer of minds, a stimulant of with, a foiler of sleep if you want it so." -Author Unknown

Birthday Greetings

2010-11-01T17:15:00.002-04:00

Card #45
Card #46

Today two special people have a birthday. One is my sister-in-law in good ole' MN, and the other is a great friend in Charlotte! I enjoy the company of both of these ladies, and wanted to send them some glittery birthday wishes!

Quote of the day: "Every time we live, every time we give, it's Christmas." -Dale Evans

Trick or Treat

2010-10-30T15:43:00.003-04:00

Card #44
Tomorrow is the big day! My girls are so excited to go collect a large bag of candy!

I hope you all have a spooktacular day filled with many treats and very few tricks! :)

Quote of the day: "This time, like all times, is a very good one, if we but know what to do with it." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

More Halloween greetings

2010-10-29T16:30:00.003-04:00

Card #41
Card #42
Card #43

Happy Halloween! I have one more Halloween card to post tomorrow, but I wanted to get these out today!

Quote of the day: "Ninety nine percent of success is showing up." - Wendy Allen

Too cute to spook

2010-10-27T15:52:00.002-04:00

Halloween, Halloween everywhere! I can't believe that Wednesday is here already. My husband and I are going to a 40th birthday/ Halloween party this weekend, and we have no idea what to dress up as. I have given serious thought to being Daphne from Scooby Doo, and I think my husband would make a good Shaggy. I just need to make sure that he uses the same vocabulary as Shaggy. I am picturing it now and laughing. Oh, good times! Another idea I had was to be a flapper. I have this fabulous beaded dress that Brian's grandmother had. It is authentic. The only catch is that it is made with see-through material, and I cannot figure out what I would wear underneath. Help! Anyway, if you have any further suggestions for costume ideas, please send them my way.

Quote of the day: "I am seeking, I am striving, I am in it with all my heart." -Vincent Van Gogh

More Halloween

2010-10-26T18:47:00.002-04:00

Card #37
Card #38
This week you will see a lot of Halloween greetings. I love sending cards to my friends and family, and a holiday is the perfect excuse to send a card.

This afternoon my daughters and I made chocolate chip pumpkin bread, and it is delicious! I have to stay out of the kitchen to keep my hands off of it!

Quote of the day: "We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give." -Winston Churchill

Greetings

2010-10-22T10:21:00.002-04:00

Card #33 (Not my design)
Card #34
Card #35
Card #36
The first card you see is a birthday card I made at my Stampin' Up! demonstrator's house. This is not my design, but I still love it, and I think it makes for a great masculine birthday card, which is good because I am sending it to the husband of a very good friend. I know my friend will make sure her husband has fabulous birthday!

The other three cards are my designs. Now that Halloween truly is upon us, it is time for me to send some spooky greetings to friends and family alike!

You may be wondering why I am announcing which cards are my designs and which are not. The reason is that all card designers work hard to come up with a particular card, and I believe that person deserves the credit. It's a little thing called integrity, which I believe seems to be lacking in the world today. I think every single person has the ability to make the world a more loving, truthful and peaceful place, and I intend on being one of those people!

Alright, I'm off my soapbox for now! Have a fabulous weekend dear readers!

Quote of the day: "Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming." -John Wooden

Happy Fall Ya'll

2010-10-19T18:50:00.002-04:00

Card #32
The leaves are really starting to change here in NC, and I love it! I love the rich colors of Autumn, and I think I have told you all before that I absolutely love all things pumpkin! Today, I was stamping at my demonstrator and friend's house, and she served us fresh chocolate chip pumpkin bread. I think when I am done typing this post, I am going to e-mail Marci and ask her for her recipe. I have been thinking about that bread all day long!

This card is for a far away friend that I do not see near enough of - Sarah! I have known Sarah for almost 16 years - yowzers! She is the sweetest gal, and she is working very hard this semester to finish school - you go girl! I know this card will bring a smile to her face!

Quote of the day: "Many a friendship, long, loyal and self-sacrificing, rests on no thicker a foundation than a kind word." -Frederick W. Faber

Spooky Greetings

2010-10-18T15:26:00.002-04:00

Halloween is quickly approaching! Are you ready? Do you have the costumes figured out, and all of the pieces you need for the costume? What about the candy? Is that bought and put away? And speaking of candy, are you someone who buys the kind of candy you like, so you can have a piece every now and again, or are you the one who buys the candy you don't like, so you won't want to eat it. I am the first kind of person, but maybe I should be the second. :) A piece here and a piece there adds up. Oh well, today I will be grateful that my body is healthy, in working condition, and pain-free!

Quote of the day: "I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust the sails." -Anonymous

More birthday wishes

2010-10-14T16:38:00.002-04:00

Card #30
I told you all October was birthday month around here! A good friend is turning 41 on Friday, and I am sending her this card to wish her a happy birthday.

Quote of the day: "Live now, believe me, wait not till tomorrow, gather the roses of life today." -Pierre de Ronsard

More birthday wishes

2010-10-12T17:18:00.002-04:00

Card #29
October is certainly the birthday month in my circle of friends and loved ones! This weekend a little girl will be turning 7, and I thought this card would be just perfect for her!

Quote of the day: "Heaven is the limit." -Ishtar

Halloween

2010-10-11T15:13:00.002-04:00

Card #28
My girls don't have school today due to the Columbus Day holiday. It has been a great day! We did a little shopping, and home decorating to get us geared up for Halloween! Right now, I have the wonderful "Leaves" candle from Bath and Body Works burning. The smell really makes my whole house smell like Autumn. I think it is going to be my new favorite scent for this time of year. Do you have a favorite candle scent for Autumn?

Quote of the day: "What can burn and not burn up, a passion that gives birth to itself every day." -Yiddish saying

Cards #18-27

2010-10-07T15:46:00.002-04:00

Today I made ten of these thank you cards for the ten chaperones that went on my daughter's fifth grade camping trip. I am just so grateful that I do not have to worry about my daughter when she is in the hands of these ten people - I know they will take care of her.

Quote of the day: "Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around." -Leo Buscaglia

Emotion through writing

2010-10-06T17:37:00.002-04:00

Card #17
The other day, my youngest daughter delivered this awesome thank you card to me! The words she wrote really made me smile. With every year that passes, I see that she and I are more and more alike. I have always expressed myself better in the written word. I choose to really share what is in my heart to those I love through handwritten notes - just like my youngest did with me in this card. Thank you for making my day C!

Quote of the day: "Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart." -William Wordsworth

More Birthday Wishes

2010-10-05T12:32:00.002-04:00

Card #15
Card #16

It has been quite a day. My dog has been a little out of sorts, and after contemplating calling the vet right away or giving it a day, I have decided to just give it a day. I sure hope I am not regretting that decision in the middle of the night. I will keep you all posted.

On a completely different note, my brother's birthday is this week. He will be 41, and I think the palm tree card is just the ticket for a man who lives in MN. Don't you all?

Quote of the day: "Don't wait. The time will never be just right." -Napoleon Hill

Happy birthday and cards #12-14

2010-10-03T12:03:00.002-04:00

Card #12
Card #13
Card #14
Happy Sunday readers! Sorry I have been missing the past couple of days. Friday was my darling daughter's birthday, and we were quite busy celebrating the special day! Doesn't she look happy? I do believe she had a wonderful day!

I love Sunday's! I love spending the morning worshipping the Lord with praise and song, and spending time in His word; I love relaxing on Sunday afternoons; and I love my Sunday date night with my husband. It is a ritual we started many years ago, and it is so good for us! If it is at all possible, I recommend to all married couples to designate one night a week, "date night." My husband and I actually go out for our date night, but I have a friend who has her date night at home with her husband. They turn off the tv and the computer and spend time together - playing a game or just talking. It is all about reconnecting, and making each other a priority.

Quote of the day: "Decide what your priorities are and how much time you'll spend on them. If you don't someone else will." -Harvey Mackay

Card #11

2010-09-30T16:31:00.002-04:00

We have a fairly new pastor at our church. He is really great, and just what our church needs at this time! I have thoroughly enjoyed his sermons and shared testimonies, and I thought I would let him know by sending him a note.

Quote of the day: "Every time we remember to say 'Thank you,' we experience nothing less than heaven on Earth." -Sarah Ban Breathnach

Card #10 - double digits!

2010-09-29T16:05:00.002-04:00

This weekend is the anniversary of a very good friend of mine. Word on the street is her husband is surprising her with a trip. How exciting! I know they will have a wonderful time!

Have you ever been surprised by a loved one - either through a party or a trip? I want to hear all about it!

Quote of the day: "In the arithmetic of love, one plus one equals everything, and two minus one equals nothing." -Ninon De L'enclos

Cards #8 and #9

2010-09-28T17:02:00.003-04:00

I owe you all two cards, because I did not post a card on Sunday! The first card is going to one of my oldest friends who came to visit me this weekend. She always has a knack of reminding me of my strengths, and I so appreciate that about her. Not only that, but she makes me laugh with all of her stories! She does the best impressions!

The second card is going to one of my newer friends. Her birthday is this week. This will be her first birthday as a mother, which I think is kind of special!

Today, I enjoyed my first Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Latte of the season, and boy was it good! I love all things pumpkin at this time of year - pumpkin bread, pumpkin donuts, pumpkin lattes, etc. Is there some food you can't wait to dig into when it starts to get a little cooler? I would love to hear about it, and if you have a recipe to share - even better!

Quote of the day: "To know what you prefer instead of humbly saying Amen to what the world tells you you ought to prefer, is to have kept your soul alive." -Robert Louis Stevenson

Card #7

2010-09-27T07:11:00.003-04:00

It is Monday, and the weather is cooler and cloudy, and I say, "Wahoo!" I know that seems a little backward, but it has been so hot and so sunny here in North Carolina that the rain and clouds are a very nice reprieve!

Quote of the day: "If you do not know where you are going, any road will get you there." -Lewis Carroll

Card #6

2010-09-25T16:23:00.003-04:00

Happy Saturday! Cooler weather is on the way, and I cannot wait!

Quote of the day: "Start by doing what's necessary, then what's possible and suddenly you are doing the impossible." - Saint Francis Assis

Card #5

2010-09-24T14:17:00.002-04:00

I don't know about you readers, but I sometimes don't always appreciate the everyday. For instance, my husband fixes breakfast for my daughters daily, and is in charge of the majority of weekend meals. I do thank him, but I am sure not nearly as much as I should. He is a wonderful man, who wants nothing more than happiness for me and our children, and so today's card is going to him to let him know how much he means to me. If there is somebody you love and/or appreciate, let them know today. You never know what tomorrow may bring.

Quote of the day: "The way to love anything is to realize that if might be lost." -Gilbert K. Chesterton

Laughter delivered

2010-09-23T14:35:00.002-04:00

I know exactly who I am sending this card to - a friend I have had since my oldest and her oldest were in a baby playgroup together. As our children have grown, we have shared many conversations about the "joys" of motherhood, and when I say "joys," I don't necessarily mean joys. We also encourage one another to keep trucking on through the tough times. She always helps me see the bright side, so I hope this card brings a little brightness and possibly laughter to her week. In case you can't see the small print, the bottom of the cards says, "I feed it to them once a week," and in the picture the women are looking at canned joy. Funny stuff I tell ya!

Quote of the week: "Recipe for success: Study while others are sleeping; work while others are loafing; prepare while others are playing; and dream while others are wishing." -William A. Ward

Inspiration

2010-09-22T16:10:00.003-04:00

Card number three is going to Beth Moore at Beth Moore Ministries. Her Bible studies have been a true inspiration to me. They have opened my eyes to so much that I would not have discovered on my own. One thing she has taught me is how to be free from bondage, which is why I used the quote I used on the card. If you have not participated in one of her studies, I highly, highly recommend that you do. Not only is she full of Godly wisdom, but she has a great sense of humor as well! I have to say if I was not doing this challenge, I'm not sure I would ever get around to thanking Beth Moore for all she does, so I will take this opportunity to say thank you to my husband for challenging me.

Quote of the day: "Peace is not something you wish for; it's something you make, something you do, something you are, and something you give away." -Robert Fulghum

Card and Day #2

2010-09-21T13:41:00.002-04:00

Good afternoon! Today's card is going to somebody who used to work at my children's school. She is a great lady, and she is missed this year - for sure. I hope this card will brighten her day just a little bit. Is there anyone you need to reach out to? Somebody you haven't seen for awhile, but still think about? There is no time like the present to send joy to another.

Quote of the day: "It has been a long axiom of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important." -A. Conan Doyle

I'm Back!

2010-09-20T15:03:00.003-04:00

As you know it has been quite some time since I have posted to this blog. My hope and desire is to get back into it. My husband challenged me to send one hundred cards in one hundred days, and that is my intention. Now that does not mean I will send a card to 100 different people. Maybe the next personal challenge I undertake will be to send one hundred cards to one hundred different people. I really don't think that would be difficult. There are so many people in nursing homes, shelters, etc. that would love to get a bit of encouragement. Don't you think?

I started today with a card that is not my design, but a design I made at my Stampin' Up! demonstrator's house last week. I have much gratitude for Marci (my Stampin' Up! demo.). Going to her classes has renewed my creativity, and renewed this blog. I sent this card to my mom who lives in MN. I know this will brighten her day. I hope you all have a wonderful Monday!

Quote: "Life is what happens when you are busy making plans." -John Lennon

Wisdom in nature

2009-11-16T10:17:00.003-05:00

As I was running through my neighborhood this morning, I saw a beautiful raptor fly from one high tree to another with amazing grace. My mouth opened in awe before I broke into a wide smile. You see whenever I see one of those beautiful birds, I think of my father. The next thought that popped into my head was of his very good friend Rich, who came to see him nearly every Friday after my father had his lung surgery. Sometimes he would walk through the door bearing a pizza and a six pack of beer to share. Thinking of Rich and his devoted friendship to my father made me realize what a true friend is. A true friend is the one who will be there bringing the pizza and beer to share with you when you are too tired to go out and have a good time. In today's fast-paced, web-based world, it is really easy to keep up with people without seeing or actually speaking to each other. I hope you take the time to call your loved ones or send them a written note - at least every once in awhile. The Lord made us to be in relationship with one another, which will lead to a more abundant and joyful life for each and everyone of us. Happy Monday all!

Quote of the day: "Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference. They bless the one who receives them, and they bless you, the giver." -Barbara De Angelis

MIA

2009-11-05T07:43:00.003-05:00

Hi there! I'm sure you have noticed that I have not been as regular with the blog posts lately. I'm not going to make up excuses about how busy I am (although I am busy); instead I am going to be honest with you. I have had NO creative inspiration for weeks. The cards you have been looking at are cards I created about a month ago. That is how I roll. I get a burst of creative inspiration, I make around 12-20 cards, I take photos of those cards, and keep them on my computer to post daily for the blog. Sometimes I make one card for an occasion and post it here, but usually the cards have been made long ago. The card you are looking at is my last card, so hopefully I will have another burst of creative inspiration soon. Until then, I will be posting a little more sporadically. You can still check it every day, because you never know what day I am going to be posting! Happy Thursday dear readers!

Quote of the day: "If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything." -Mark Twain

Simple birthday card

2009-11-02T18:21:00.003-05:00

How was your Halloween? Is your house now stuffed with candy and hidden wrappers? Mine sure is! I feel like my whole dining room has been overrun with candy! I know you were looking forward to seeing some photos of the kiddos in their costumes. Don't worry, I will get them on the old blog pretty soon!

There sure have been a lot of birthdays in the past couple of months. I feel like every week, I am sending somebody a birthday card. Is it just me or have you felt the birthday stampede at your house too?

Quote of the day: "There is nothing more properly the language of the heart than the wish." -

Pumpkins on my mind

2009-10-29T12:59:00.002-04:00

It is all about pumpkins in my first grader's class this week. They went on a field trip to the pumpkin patch at Carrigan Farms yesterday, and tomorrow she and her dad are going to carve a pumpkin at school. My first grader wants to keep some of the seeds from the pumpkin carving to plant in our backyard, so she can grow her own pumpkins. She is so "green!" Unfortunately, I think the chances of growing pumpkins in our backyard is one in 324 million since our backyard is hard as a rock. You think I am exaggerating - I am not exaggerating! I digress. Let's get back to the subject of pumpkins being on my mind........all of the pumpkin talk from my first grader led me to: 1. eat a piece of pumpkin cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory (YUM), and 2. create a card with a nice wagon full of pumpkins! I hope your next few days are just as pumpkiny as mine!

Quote of the week: "Wishing to be friends is quick work, but friendship is a slow-ripening fruit." (Just like pumpkins.) - Aristotle

Budding Artist

2009-10-27T10:13:00.002-04:00

My daughter made this card for her friend who was turning six. She knows he likes cars, trucks, and Legos, so she drew a nice red car on the front of the card. The same daughter is now determined to make her own birthday invitations - seventeen birthday invitations to be exact! She started yesterday, hoping to get five made, but was quite tired after three. I may have to have a back-up plan. Nevertheless, I am impressed with her determination and artistic prowess!

Quote of the day: "The world of reality has its limits; the world of imagination is boundless." -Jean-Jacques Rousseau

More Halloween

2009-10-26T13:47:00.002-04:00

I have another Halloween card for you all! My girls can hardly wait for the big day! They are thinking C-A-N-D-Y! They want candy - as much candy as they can get their little hands on! I can't believe Halloween is Saturday! It is even harder to believe that Sunday is the first day of November! This year for Halloween my kids will be participating in a neighborhood parade before heading out for the C-A-N-D-Y! How about you and your family? What will you all be doing to celebrate All Hallows Eve?!

Quote of the day: "Be the change you wish to see in the world." -Gandhi

Anna's birthday card

2009-10-23T12:27:00.004-04:00

I know Anna's birthday was a little while ago, but I forgot to show you the card I made for her. She and Claire really enjoy getting a home made card from me on their birthdays. They see me working on the different cards that I post here, so when they receive a card from me they know how much time it took for me to make for them. Of course the cards I make for my family are a labor of love!

Quote of the day: "One is loved because one is loved. No reason is needed for loving." -Paulo Coelho

Some of my favorite books

2009-10-21T10:39:00.002-04:00

I am home with a sick little girl today. We are heading to the Doc later to find out exactly what it is she may have. I know I should use this time to create some cards, but I am not really feeling inspired, so I will share some of my favorite reads with you all.

1. Memoirs of a Geisha
2. Snowflower and the Secret Fan
3. I Know This Much is True
4. Atlas Shrugged (from my college years - I really should reread it)
5. Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons
6. The Red Tent
7. The Other Boleyn Girl
8. Lords of Discipline

What are some of your favorite books? I'm always looking for some new material!

Quote of the day: "No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." -Aesop

Are you ready for some football?

2009-10-19T18:33:00.004-04:00

A family tradition at our house - at least for the dad and daughters of the house - is watching football together. When the Carolina Panthers have a home game, the dad and his daughters head to the stadium to really get into the action, and when the Panthers play away, the dad and daughters pop up a bowl of popcorn and watch some football in the comfort of home.

You might be asking yourself, "Why doesn't Sally want to get in on the football action?" Let me answer that for you. First off, I think it is important for Brian to have some activity that he can share with his daughters - something not too girly that all involved will enjoy - a little father/ daughter quality time if you may. Secondly, it is nice to have my Sunday afternoons to myself. I always manage to find something to do, like working on the family Christmas card. :)

What non-holiday traditions do your families partake in? I would love to hear all about them!

Quote of the day: "And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers." -Malachi 4:6

Blessings

2009-10-15T16:27:00.001-04:00

Blessings for today:
My family
My family's health
My health
My friends
Shelter
Clothing
Heat
Electricity
Running water
Freedom
Having sight
Being able to hear
Being able to move my body
Coffee
No rain today

The list could go on and on. I think it is good for all of us to regularly take time to count our blessings. I hope you have the opportunity to count some of your blessings today.

Quote of the day: "Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others." -Cicero

Drippy Goo

2009-10-13T18:50:00.002-04:00

Do you see that drippy goo border on the card? I used a punch by Martha Stewart to make that border - don't you just love it?! I know I do! I saw a really cool idea for making treat bags using that punch as well. You have to hand it to Martha Stewart - she sure is a crafty lady (or at least knows how to hire the crafty ladies.) Sometimes I wish I had some crafty ladies working for me - coming up with new card ideas for me to create. Alas, all the creativity must come from moi'! I better get to creating! Have a wonderful evening!

Quote of the day: "It is truly said: It does not take much strength to do things, but it requires great strength to decide what to do." - Chow Ching

October 31st

2009-10-12T15:03:00.003-04:00

I think you can tell from my recent posts that I have really been enjoying the purple, black, and green color combinations for my Halloween cards this year. I think I needed a little break from the typical orange and black.

Sorry my posts have been so short as of late. My mind has been fairly blank lately. Can you relate? Do you ever have times when you feel like you have nothing to say?

Quote of the week: "The greatest homage to truth is to use it." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Try something new!

2009-10-09T08:12:00.002-04:00

Good Friday morning to you! I have been wanting to take dance lessons with Brian for years, but we never seemed to find the time to do it. Well, lucky for us, our good friend Tasha bought us lessons for our birthdays this year. Not only did she purchase and sign us up for the lessons, she also offered herself up to be our babysitter on dance night. We no longer had a reason not to do it. Last night was our very first Shag lesson - you know the beach dance of the Carolina's? We were very surprised by the number of people who were there to learn how to Shag. We thought we would be one in maybe 5 couples, but there were around 50 people there! We had so much fun. We learned only the basic Shag step.......one and two and three and four five six. For those of you who Shag, you know what I am talking about. We will certainly be practicing all week, so when it comes to building onto the basic we will feel comfortable (we have 5 more lessons). I highly recommend trying something new with someone you are close to - a spouse or good friend - you won't be disappointed.

Quote of the day: "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." = Unknown

Glittery Halloween

2009-10-07T08:00:00.004-04:00

Another Halloween card! I know it seems awful early in October for Halloween cards, but Halloween will be here before you know it. Then Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Oh my, the time is going too quickly this year. Do you know what your little ones are going to be for Halloween yet? If you do not have little ones, what about you? What are you going to be for Halloween? I can't wait to take photos of pumpkin patches, lit jack-o-lanterns, and my kids in their costumes!

Quote of the day: "We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give." -Winston Churchill

Skeleton dance

2009-10-06T19:09:00.002-04:00

Another busy day here, and I gotta tell ya.........I am exhausted!

Enjoy the dance!

Quote of the day: "I could not at any age be content to take my place in a corner by the fireside and simply look on." -Eleanor Roosevelt

Fun Halloween Tree

2009-10-05T18:31:00.002-04:00

I had a lot of fun making this card. I decided to make the tree a fun Halloween tree. The inspiration for this card came from my Stampin' Up! demonstrator Marci. She has this Halloween decoration, which is a black, glittery tree. She decorates the tree with homemade Halloween decorations every year. I was thinking of that tree when I decided to stamp and glitter up this tree. The greeting on the card is a simple rub-on. Halloween night this year will be a lot of fun since it is on Saturday. Do you have any special Halloween plans?

Quote of the day: "Determine that the thing can and shall be done, and then we shall find the way." -Abraham Lincoln

The many facets of Anna

2009-10-02T08:06:00.003-04:00

Yesterday was my daughter Anna's birthday! She had a great day! It started out with donuts for breakfast - surprise! For any of you who don't know me personally, that is a big deal at our house. We usually stick to the healthy stuff - especially on school days. Later, I went to have lunch with her at school. I even played a couple rounds of helicopter with her during recess. Those girls get a little wild with the jump rope, and I didn't want to end up with a gigantic bruise on my shin, so I sat out after awhile. I also had the pleasure of reading a chapter of a book,of Anna's choosing, to her class. I was a bit nervous for that. I know they are just fourth graders, but I didn't want them thinking I was a boring reader.

After school, one of Anna's friends surprised her with some beautiful roses for her birthday - oh yeah - and a box of Nerds - I'm not sure which Anna liked better. :) Lastly, her dad brought home pizza from Tony's (at Anna's request), and she opened her gifts from the family. She truly had a great day filled with love and blessings from many people! The good news for Anna is the celebration will continue tonight! She is starting to take after her mom, who likes to have many days of birthday fun - not just one! Have a great weekend all!

Quote of the day: "Magic is believing in yourself. If you can do that, you can make anything happen." -Foka Gomez

Today's quote is inspired by how Anna lives every day!

New book - at least new to me

2009-09-30T16:33:00.003-04:00

Last week, we decided to order some guitar books for Anna as part of her birthday gift. Brian went to Amazon and loaded them into the cart. After the total was calculated, I saw that we needed to order something else to qualify for free super saver shipping, so I started searching for an interesting book. I have an Amazon Kindle, so it didn't make sense for me to order just any sort of book - I wanted to order something that I would really want to hold in my hands. I happened upon the above book. After reading the rave reviews, and checking out the inside of the book, I decided this is the book I wanted to order. I added it to the cart and checked out. The book was delivered today, and I have read the prologue and introduction. I am so glad that I ordered the physical book instead of loading it onto my Kindle. I have already done some underlining and margin-noting. I think it is going to be a book that I will go to again and again. I can't wait to delve deeper into the meat of the text. I will update you all when I have finished the book to let you know what I think.

Quote of the day: "The happiest people are those who think the most interesting thoughts. Those who decide to use leisure as a means of mental development, who love good music, good books, good pictures, good company, good conversation, are the happiest people in the world. And they are not only happy in themselves, they are the cause of happiness in others." -William Lyon Phelps

I hope, not only that you have happiness, but that you will be the cause of happiness in others - at least today!

Carve out some fun

2009-09-29T15:54:00.002-04:00

Halloween is on its way. I know it seems early to be looking at Halloween cards, but I was in the Halloween-card-making spirit, so you will be seeing quite a few Halloween cards over the next week or so. If only I could take my Halloween-card-making spirit and put it to use - motivating me to decorate my house for Halloween. I think I better do it this week, because if I put it off too much longer it will be hard to do it at all. Do you know what I mean? If I am going to decorate for a holiday, I don't want to put those decorations up one week and take them down a week or two later - that is just too much work. Those decorations need to be up for almost a month to make it worth it to me. How many of you dear readers feel the same way about holiday decorations?

Quote of the day: "The reward of a thing well done is to have done it." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

More Pumpkins

2009-09-28T18:35:00.002-04:00

I bought the stamp I used on this card when I was in New York City last year. When I saw it, I thought it was really cute and distinct. After playing around with it, I still like it, but I find it kind of difficult to color in. Should the person holding the pumpkin be a person? Should it be a scarecrow? I guess the decision is up to me, which is the nice thing about this craft - there are so many options from one little stamp.

This is the first time I used dew drops on a card. The dew drops started out clear, and I colored them using my Copic markers to make them orange. I am telling you - those markers are so versatile. I can make buttons, dew drops, and ribbon match my cards by coloring them with Copic markers. They are a great investment, and I highly recommend them to any paper crafter!

Quote of the day: "Happy the man, and happy he alone,
He, who can call today his own;
He who, secure within, can say;
Tomorrow do thy worst,
for I have liv'd today." -John Dryden

Pumpkin Time

2009-09-25T16:55:00.002-04:00

It is getting to be that time of year when pumpkins start finding a place on front porches and doorsteps all over America. I hope you all find your "great pumpkin" this year. Happy Friday, and have a great weekend!

Quote of the day: "Don't go through life, grow through life." -Eric Butterworth

Sympathy

2009-09-24T10:47:00.002-04:00

Today's card is going to be sent to a woman that I spend time with every Wednesday afternoon. She works at the front desk of my children's school, and her mother passed away last week. This woman, along with her mother, moved here after losing their homes to Hurricane Katrina. This woman is a wonderful woman, who has taken very good care of her mother for years. She is loaded with great "tell it like it is" advice. She is a Godly woman, who will make it through this difficult time with the help of the Lord. I am grateful to know her, and my heart goes out to her!

Quote of the day: "Death is the opening of a more subtle life. In the flower, it sets free the perfume; in the chrysalis, the butterfly; in man (and woman), the soul." -Juliette Adam

Thinking of you on a full day :)

2009-09-23T08:46:00.003-04:00

I hope you enjoy today's card! My day is so full, I really have to run! More tomorrow! Happy Wednesday!

Quote of the day: "Treasure the one who thinks of you when all others are thinking of themselves." -James Gunn

Just Dessert

2009-09-22T15:51:00.002-04:00

What do you think of this dessert? There is a lot going on, but it sure was delicious, and it really was as big as it looks! Do you ever have one of those days when all you want to eat is dessert? I sure do! I am definitely a "sweet" person, and I need to have something sweet to eat every day. I'm pretty sure my kids have taken after me, since they ask me what is for dessert every single night, and I mean E-V-E-R-Y night! Are you a "sweet" or a "salty" person?

Quote of the day: "Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them." - James Baldwin

Time well spent

2009-09-21T08:15:00.002-04:00

It is Monday again. The weekends go by so darn fast - don't they?! Today has gone by very fast too - sorry this post is coming at you so late on a Monday. I hope you enjoy the card. I was having fun with all of the circles, and the stamped image of the two women enjoying a drink is one of my favorites. I can color it in using any number of color combinations or I could paper piece their outfits, which is fun too.

Quote of the day: "The ideals which have always shone before me and filled me with the joy of living are goodness, beauty, and truth." -Albert Einstein

Two more family members

2009-09-18T12:34:00.002-04:00

I realized today that I forgot to add photos of my pets in yesterday's "family" blog post. The cat is Bailey, and he has been a member of our family for eleven years. He used to be so little, but now he is far from little. He is not the nicest cat. He likes to be petted, but only for a short period of time and only by adults. He doesn't care for the kids too much. I think they move too fast for him. The dog is Cubby, and she has been in our family for 10 years. She is so sweet and calm. Although when Todd or Gary come for a visit, she gets very excited and rowdy. She certainly knows who will give her a lot of pets and attention. :) Cubby and Bailey keep me company during the day when the kids are at school and the Brian is work, work, working away. They have such funny ways about them. Sometimes just watching them cracks me up. I believe what all the scientists say about pets and blood pressure. They can bring mine down quite quickly! I love them!

Quote of the day: "The purity of a person's heart can be quickly measured by how they regard animals." -Anonymous

Family

2009-09-17T14:02:00.002-04:00

I just wanted to share some fun photos of my family. I love them so!

Quote of the day: "You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them." - Desmond Tutu

Bubble Gum Machine

2009-09-16T17:09:00.002-04:00

What a day! I am afraid my Wednesdays are going to be super crazy for the next month - sorry for the late post. I saw this bubble gum machine stamp at my local stamp store and had to have it. First of all, I wanted it to make cards for someone I know who loves bubble gum machines (she even talked of getting one tattooed on her forearm). And, secondly I wanted it, because it is so darn cute! I don't know if you can tell from the photo or not, but I put some Stampin' Up! crystal effects over the glass part of the machine to make it look like glass. This card was fun to make, and I think it is adorable if I do say so myself!

Quote of the day: "Happiness consists more in small conveniences or pleasures that occur every day, than in great pieces of good fortune that happen but seldom." -Benjamin Franklin

Butterflies

2009-09-15T12:43:00.002-04:00

I told you yesterday how I love hydrangea flowers. Well, I love butterflies even more than I love hydrangea flowers. Butterflies represent so many things to me, such as change, freedom, beauty, and tranquility. I love butterflies so much, I have a very large tattoo of a butterfly on my back. My friends know how much I love butterflies too, and now I get all kinds of gifts that have a butterfly theme - I love it! There is a lot of love going on in this blog post. :) On that note, I will leave you by saying, "Have a lovely Tuesday afternoon!"

Quote of the day: "Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you." -Nathaniel Hawthorne

2nd Quote (had to have 2 today): "The butterfly counts not months but moments, and has time enough." -Rabindranath Tagore

Hydrangea

2009-09-14T13:09:00.002-04:00

I absolutely love hydrangea flowers. I really need to grow a few bushes in my yard, so I can gaze out at their loveliness for days on end when they are in bloom. I love the different hues of blues, purples, and pinks that you find in different hydrangea flowers. When they are not in bloom, I can stamp this beautiful Karen Lockhart stamp, color it in with my marvelous Copic markers, and enjoy! Happy Monday!

Quote of the day: "Beauty is whatever gives joy." -Hugh Nibley

It is Friday!

2009-09-11T14:20:00.001-04:00

I hope you have a great weekend! Take time to enjoy a coffee either by yourself, or with a friend!

Quote of the day: "Too much of a good thing is wonderful." - Mae West

Flower power

2009-09-10T08:37:00.002-04:00

How many of you don't delight in receiving a bouquet of flowers, or even a single bloom for no reason other than somebody was thinking about you? I know I do. I used to be one of those women that said, "Don't buy me flowers. They will soon die, and it seems such a waste of money." I am not that woman anymore. Live flowers bring such beauty and vibrancy into my kitchen. On a rainy day like today, a bouquet of vibrancy would sure be a breath of fresh air. At the very least, today I have my flower-themed cards to add some color to my day. I hope viewing this card brings a little color to your day too!

Quote of the day: "The fragrance always stays in the hand that gives the rose." -Hada Bejar

Who is that girl behind the camera?

2009-09-09T16:11:00.002-04:00

Me - that's who! One of the gifts I received for my birthday was a digital SLR camera, and an intro to digital SLR photography class. The class started today, and it was great! The teacher is so nice, and she explains things really well. I feel like I learned so much on the first day. I can't wait to keep learning and putting into practice what I learn. I forgot how much I loved being a student!

Quote of the day: "Let nothing dim the light that shines from within." - Maya Angelou

Birthday card

2009-09-08T13:28:00.002-04:00

Hi there! Did you enjoy your labor day weekend? I sure did! I just returned from a getaway to the Grove Park Inn in Asheville! It was wonderful! A full day was spent at the spa enjoying their pools, steam room, and lounge areas. The day was topped off with a delicious dinner on the Sunset Terrace. You can not beat those views.

You may be asking why I am posting a birthday card when I am talking about my fabulous Asheville getaway. The reason for the trip was a celebration of my and my best friend's birthdays, and the card you are looking at is the card I made for her. She loves cupcakes and is quite the cupcake chef, so what better birthday card than one with cupcakes?!

Quote of the day: "Remember that the beauty of any dream is in never letting it go." -Sarina

Rock Star

2009-09-04T13:53:00.002-04:00

Happy Friday! I am so glad it is almost the weekend. The routine is already starting to wear me thin, so I am looking forward to a little rest and relaxation this weekend. I just want to sleep in, and not have to be on the ball the minute I wake up in the morning!

Sorry for the quality of the photo of this card. It looks much better in person. I chose to post this card today because I want to give a shout out to my rock star friend who is having a birthday today! Happy birthday Danielle! I hope it is great one with many many even more awesome returns! Love ya D!

Have a great weekend dear readers. Rest up and enjoy the fruits of your labors!

Quote of the day: "Enjoy yourself, it's later than you think." - Chinese Proverb

New fall colors?

2009-09-03T12:20:00.003-04:00

I love these cute little trees, and I really love this color combination. I think the colors are very fall-like. I may use these colors when making fall cards instead of the traditional rusts, oranges, etc. What do you think? The cooler weather here in NC really has gotten me in the mood for full on fall, yet I know I better not get too ahead of myself since it really isn't fall here until November. What do you look most forward to in the fall? I have too many things to count, but I guess the weather would have to be number one for me.

Quote of the day: "It's faith in something and enthusiasm for something that makes a life worth living." -Oliver Wendell Holmes

Bright and bubbly!

2009-09-02T15:54:00.002-04:00

I think this card is so bright and bubbly! I bet it would make any recipient smile. I hope you are having a great Wednesday. We have almost made it over the hump - only two more days until the weekend!

Quote of the day: "The best way to cheer yourself is to try to cheer someone else up." - Mark Twain

Sprinkled with love

2009-09-01T09:21:00.002-04:00

Happy Tuesday to you! I had a wonderful birthday that was sprinkled with love - just like the card says! Thank you to everyone who helped to make my day special.

I had a lot of fun making this card. I used some manufactured die-cuts (the bird and watering can) and I punched out the little hearts myself. I didn't have the exact shade of pink for the hearts that I wanted, so I used some different inks to give the hearts a more aniquey look. I think they turned out perfectly! I love it when a good card comes together.

Quote of the day: "There is no surprise more magical than the surprise of being loved. It is God's finger on man's shoulder." - Charles Morgan

Birthday wishes

2009-08-31T12:38:00.003-04:00

Today is my 37th birthday! My morning has been wonderful! I have received many birthday wishes from friends and loved ones, and I have to tell you it makes my heart light up to know that all of these people have thought of me today. When I started thinking about what I wanted to post today, I decided I wanted to post the birthday wishes I have for myself during the next year of my life, so here goes:

1. I want to remain healthy in body, mind, and spirit;
2. I want to be an encourager to all I encounter - family, friends, and strangers;
3. I want to continue learning - about myself and many other subjects (such as photography, dance, cooking, etc.);
4. I want to activate and demonstrate my faith more boldly;
5. I want to continue to practice my craft (card-making) and maybe even be published in a magazine;
6. I want to get my home more organized; and
7. I want to be joy-filled and peace-filled, so I can live my life more abundantly like the Lord would have me do!

Quote of the day: "Happiness is not a station to arrive at, but a manner of traveling." -Margaret Lee Runbeck

My funny family

2009-08-28T10:28:00.002-04:00

My husband and children keep me laughing regularly. They are cracking jokes and being silly all the time. Last night, Anna was walking around the house like she was an old woman (all bent over, pretending to carry a cane, and calling us 'sonny'). It was hilarious, and it came out of nowhere. I love it! These are the moments I really need to be documenting - not just the regular stuff like the first day of school, Halloween, Christmas, etc. I think I just set a new goal for myself. Take the time to document the regular stuff - the stuff that happens in the moment, and may never happen again. When I am old, and calling everyone "sonny," I want to remember that stuff!

Have a great weekend!

Quote of the day: "The only rock I know that stays stead, the only institution I know that works is the family." -Lee Iacocca

Love this tree!

2009-08-27T12:46:00.002-04:00

I love the stamp set I used to make this card. It is very versatile. You will be seeing it again and again. I will make fall trees, winter trees, and spring trees! It is so fun to stamp with, and I think it will become a Stampin' Up! classic set that stampers return to again and again! Just wondering - a question to all of you stampers - what set do you return to again and again right now?

Quote of the day: "There is more in us than we know. If we can be made to see it, perhaps, for the rest of our lives, we will be unwilling to settle for less. -Kurt Hahn

Upheaval

2009-08-26T09:39:00.003-04:00

Yesterday, I checked out some of the blogs that I read pretty regularly. Three of the bloggers that I read regularly are taking breaks from their blogs due to stuff happening in their lives. Not only are they taking breaks, but they have not included a return date. After reading three different times that people were not blogging due to life circumstances, I started to ponder how quickly life can change from a state of continuity to upheaval. It really can happen in a blink of an eye. I hope the three bloggers are not in a state of upheaval, but rather just a bit overwhelmed with the beginning of the school year and such.

As I type this, two wonderful friends are going through a bit of upheaval in their lives and one dear friend is getting checked out medically due to some concerns she has been having. I hope and pray all of these friends will come out of their situations better than when the upheaval took place, and I also hope and pray they know that they can turn to me anytime for anything!

Quote of the day: "Whenever you see darkness, there is extraordinary opportunity for the light to burn brighter." -Bono

Unexpected

2009-08-25T13:00:00.003-04:00

When I started this card, I wasn't sure what I wanted the finished product to look like. I started by stamping the flowers onto the card front. Then I added the halved scallop circles to the edge. Next I added the ribbon and the sentiment, but I felt like something was missing. This card needed some umph! I reached for my gold glitter glue, and voila'!

Sometimes I have days just like this card. I wake up, and I have nothing on the calendar. I have a general idea of what I will do (like go to the gym or maybe clean up around the house), and while I am doing that, something else comes up (like an invitation to the pool, or to have coffee). The next thing I know I am having a great day! I hope you have an unexpectedly great day today!

Quote of the day: "My heart gives thanks for empty moments given to dreams, and for thoughtful people who help those dreams come true." -William S. Braithwaite

Put a smile on your face

2009-08-24T10:50:00.002-04:00

Happy Monday! The weather is a little cooler here today, and that is definitely something to smile about. A good friend of mine sent an e-mail to a group of people this morning which contained a bunch of funny pictures with commentary. The purpose of the e-mail was to give the reader a good chuckle. At the end of the e-mail, it said, "Keep smiling. It makes people wonder what you are up to." When I read that quote at the end of the e-mail, I remembered that my dad always used to say that exact phrase. He even wrote it in a letter to me when I was in college. My dad passed away a few years ago. I still have so many fond memories of his different sayings. Reading that e-mail, and remembering my dad is also reason for me to smile this morning! I hope you find yourself sharing a smile with someone on this sunny yet cooler Monday!

Quote of the day: "The happiest people seem to be those who have no particular reason to be happy except that they are so. " -W.R. Inge

First Day of School

2009-08-21T09:27:00.002-04:00

A couple of days ago it was my daughters' first day back at school. Every year we try to take their photo on the first day of school. They like to have one picture taken with their back pack on, and one picture taken of them together. Aren't they cute? They sure were ready to get to school and see all of their friends! It is hard to believe that summer is over already.

Happy Friday to you, and I hope you have a MARVELOUS weekend!

Quote of the day: "Family faces are magic mirrors. Looking at people who belong to us, we see the past, present, and future." -Gail Lumet Buckley

Brian's birthday card

2009-08-20T14:31:00.002-04:00

Here it is! Here is the card I made for Brian for his birthday! He had a nice celebration with the family last night - a little homemade lasagna, a little Oreo man cake, and a lot of loving phone calls from family! My girls get so excited for birthdays - there has to be lots of presents; there has to be cake; and there has to be fun! How do you celebrate birthdays at your house?

Quote of the day: "Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize that they were the big things." -Robert Brault

Sugary sweetness

2009-08-19T08:40:00.003-04:00

More fruit y'all! Doesn't this orange look like one of those sugar-covered orange gummies you can get in the candy store? I love the look of sugared fruit! I bet you could tell since I have shown you several sugared fruit cards in the past couple of weeks. I can't help myself - when something is inspiring to me, I keep going with the inspiration.

Well today is a special day for two reasons. First off, it is my husband's birthday. Happy birthday Brian! I will show you his card later this week. I haven't given it to him yet, and he reads this blog daily, so I want his first look at his birthday card to be his actual card. :) And, second, today is my girls' first day back at school. It is awfully quiet here in the house this morning - so quiet in fact that I don't have to tell anyone to be quiet so I can concentrate on my blog writing. I hope they are having a great first day! I am looking forward to hearing all about it this afternoon.

I hope you have a happy hump day!

Quote of the day: "Ability is what you are capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. ATTITUDE determines how well you do it." -Lou Holtz

Black- Eyed Susans

2009-08-18T13:06:00.002-04:00

I don't really have a lot to say today, so enjoy the card, and have a great Tuesday!

Quote of the day: "We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak." -Epictetus

Silly girls make for lots of laughs

2009-08-17T08:46:00.002-04:00

Not too long ago, the girls went outside to draw tattoos on themselves using watercolor pencils. They had a lot of fun, and I highly recommend this as a form of entertainment for your kids. Who knew the versatility of watercolor pencils? I guess, while they were outside, they ran out of ideas of things to draw, so they decided to draw beards and mustaches on each other. They could not wait to show me, and believe me when I tell you we all had a great laugh! One daughter also has a huge peace sign in the middle of her forehead. My girls are very into the peace sign. Are yours? I digress - their dad was quite surprised to come home and find beards on his daughters, but he ended up laughing too. What imaginations my girls have!

Happy Monday!

Quote of the day: "We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures." - Thornton Wilder

Snail mail

2009-08-14T12:33:00.002-04:00

Don't you just love the cute little snail on this card? Ever since I can remember, I have had a thing for snails. I know I should not like them because they eat plants and such, but I just think they are so cute. I love the little trail they leave when crawling along the sidewalk. This snail is a Karen Lockhart image. I love her stamps! They are so detailed and so fun to color! You can check them out at the Karen Lockhart Stamp Company.

Snail mail is becoming a lost art, and it makes me a little bit sad. How many of you delight when you go to the mailbox to see something other than a bill or catalog - maybe something like a card or letter in the mail for no reason other than to say hello or how are you doing? I know I get a smile on my face when I find a card or letter in my mailbox, soooooo I was smiling today on my trip back to the house from the mailbox because I received a very pretty postcard from a dear, dear friend. She had heard me complaining lately about not receiving anything good in the mail. Actually she did more than hear me, she listened to what I said, and acted from her heart! Thank you friend!

I challenge all of you dear readers to send a piece of mail to someone you care about for no reason other than to say "hello," or" I was thinking about you," or "have a good day" - you get the idea. You know it won't take very much time out of your day, and it will bring a day's worth of delight to the person you send your thought to. Your random act of kindness may start a chain reaction. How nice would that be?! That is a thought to ponder.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Quote of the day: "The reward of a thing well done is to have done it." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Tropical days of summer

2009-08-13T14:29:00.003-04:00

The weather here in NC is feeling quite tropical with the heat and humidity. I sure am ready for some cooler days, but I have awhile before that will occur. I must say this is the time of year when I start missing Minnesota (where I was born and raised.) I bet the weather there is cool in the morning, and doesn't get to more than eighty degrees in the afternoon right now. Aaaah - the memories.

Today's card is another simple one. It is amazing what I can do with a little decorative paper and some buttons. Not one thing on this card is stamped - can ya believe it? I'm really digging this color scheme too. I think I will do some more fun cards with these colors.

Happy Thursday to you all! I am happy to report that my back is feeling a lot better. I am glad I got the right medication to help ease the pain.

Quote of the day: "Whatever you are, be a good one." - Abraham Lincoln

I get by with a little help from my friends........

2009-08-12T15:53:00.002-04:00

It has been another topsy-turvy day here at the Mesibov household. Long story short, I spent 2.5 hours in the ER this morning to find out that I had a back strain of the thoracic region. I thought for sure when I went into the ER, I would be admitted into the hospital to have emergency surgery to remove some organ that had ruptured. You can imagine my surprise when I found out that there was nothing wrong with my organs. I don't know how I strained my back, but I did not get a lot of sleep last night due to the pain. Most of the day today has been spent in pain as well. The ER Dr. prescribed Naprosyn, and that has finally kicked in. The pain has subsided some - thank God.

I'm sure you are all wondering about the title of this post. Well, I do not have family that lives real close by, so I rely on my friends to help me during these times. Brian called my BFF, Danielle, early this morning to ask her to watch our girls while he took me to the ER. His phone call woke her from a dead sleep, but she did not hesitate when she told him to bring the girls on over. When I was in the ER, I had no worries about my children. I knew they were in good hands, and I am so grateful. Later this afternoon, another dear friend, Tasha, called and offered to bring me dinner tonight. On FB, another friend offered to watch my kids tomorrow for awhile if I needed. So you see the title has a lot to do with my post. This day would have been a lot more difficult for me had I not had help from my friends. Thank you to my wonderful friends!

Quote of the day: "There is no wilderness like life without friends; friendship multiplies blessings and minimizes misfortunes; it is a unique remedy against adversity and it soothes the soul." -Baltasar