Inspirational Card Sketch #22

This week's card challenge at Inspirational Card Sketches is a window card. How fun is that! I decided to put together a "thinking of you" card. Sweet leaf is one of my favorite CTMH colors, and I wanted that color to be the focus of the card. The other color in the card is Petal. To match, I've used Sweet Leaf craft buttons, designer ribbon, and cordouroy brads. I ran the piece of Sweet Leaf through the Stylized Flower cuttlebug folder. It matches well with the stamps from Come Unto Me and He is Risen from CTMH.

Michelle's Color Challenge

Over at Creative Scrappers, one of the designers, Michelle, is having a color challenge. Her son picked out 4 markers in the colors he wanted us to work with. These are pictures from a long time ago that I had not scrapped yet. (See, even an avid scrapper isn't necessarily "caught up.") This is my Shane at just 14 months old in 1990. Isn't he adorable?

I used paper from a few CTMH paper packets. The Sunflower is from Animal Cookies, the Dutch Blue is from Stardust, the Tulip is from Perfect Day, and the Outdoor Denim is cardstock. I take no credit for the idea of mixing! My good friend Karen has been teaching me through her artwork that you can mix it all to gain your look. (Check out her work!)

The ghost letters are from SEI, the ribbon and brads are from CTMH, and the clear buttons are from Buttons Galore & More. I used Liguid Glass to adhere paper to the back of the clear buttons to help them match the layout and give them a more interesting look.

We're liking this layout in our house - even Shane! I hope you pick up a technique or two by looking! As always, click on the layout to make it larger.

Cuttlebug Countdown to CHA Celebration!

Do you love your Cuttlebug? I havesome exciting news for you! Head on over to the Cuttlebug Challenge Blog for your chance to win incredible prizes!! Beginning today, there are going to be awesome previews of the new folders not yet released. Head on over and see what amazing products are in store for us!!

Today I am Grateful...

Every morning when I wake up, I list 3 things I am grateful for. I having been doing this for so many years that it's automatic response when I wake. This may sound funny, but somedays I am just thankful that there is cold water to splash my face (think of all the countries that need water wells...), coffee to wake me up, and pets to lick my face.

And then there is today. I woke up with verse from Jeremiah in my head, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

We don't always know what the future holds for us, but this Scripture is a promise we can lean on. Just when we think things are going well, God may change our course and take us in a completely different direction. It's his way of molding us and shaping us into His final image. For those of us that have natural leading abilities, being a follower isn't always an easy thing. However, that's just what God asks us to do.

I have one more week to take orders as an active Close To My Heart consultant. I don't know what direction I will go from there because these days, I am following. I'm listening to my body when I need rest, and hopefully as I continue to make much needed medical changes, I will see a future where I am well again. I am believing that by faith.

But back to that grateful part. There are so many things I am grateful for so I thought I would just list them here:

• My dear, sweet husband who would spin the world for me if I wanted it done. He is an amazing individual who supports our famly, drives me everywhere, has supported me for almost 19 years in everything I've done, and I love him down to the tips of my toes.
• My hard-working, beautiful son who stands tall in the strength of his individuality. He believes in himself, is kind and caring, and he loves me ferociously (just the way a boy should love his mom).
• I have four beautiful sisters each of them with their own unique qualities. I need each one of them in my life, and when one of them is missing for one reason or another, there's a part of me missing, too. I value each of them for the accomplished women they are.
• My mother and mother-in-law are wonderful people. How blessed am I to have them in my life? My mother taught me good financial ethics as I was growing up, and I am greatful for that. I know now how to make a dollar stretch. My mother-in-law answers all my "growing older" questions and she scrapbooks with me. I love that! We can pretty much talk about anything!
• I'm greateful for those pets that lick me in the face every morning. Their unconditional love on a bad day is just what you need some days.
• I am grateful we have a roof over our heads. I know that's not easy for a lot of people these days. I am glad that God provides for our house payment every month.
• I am so grateful that I have a craft room, and I can play during the day. I feel very blessed to be able to do this. More than that, during this time when I am unable to drive, I am hugely grateful God has given me the ability to "be still" and not be bored in my home when I am here.

I could gone on and on, but I will end then for now. But now I challenge you. What are you grateful for today? Always remember, even if you don't see what's going on in your life, God is painting vast divine strokes on the portrait of your life. Your brilliance is more than you know!

Card Patterns Sketch 20

My husband took Chanel (our beagle) and went fishing last night. I was able to spend some serious time card making without disctraction. Sassy just sits in the window perch or in a basket or sometimes on my craft table watching me, but Chanel, well, she requires my attention. And she is extremely energetic about getting it! But she's a perfect boat mate, so she always goes fishing with Jerry!

I took out Card Patterns Sketch 20, and I decided to make some die-cuts with stamps for it. I used my Tickled Pink stamp set to stamp flowers, stems, and leaves. I cut them by hand and then sponged them a little for the card. The paper I used is from the Daydream packet. I used a Fiskars border bunch for that touch of romance to match my sentiment. Flowers are popped up and crinkled on the very edges. I've also used my paper piercer to lift up the pretty punched borders and crinkled them a bit. All supplies are CTMH.

Jamie's New Card Sketch!

Jamie put out her first card sketch, and I loved it from the moment I saw it! This card offered a lot of different opportunities, and I played with it in my head for a couple days. I ended up pulling out a packet a paper I had received from Archiver's free (yippee - free!). It's We are Memory Keepers Sun-Splashed. I cut the hibiscus from a sheet and crinkled them up a bit. The stamp is from CTMH's Extreme Happiness, and the ribbon & gems are random from my stash. Fun sketch, huh? Be sure to visit Jamie at A Happy Scrappy Place, and you'll find good things! Thanks, Jamie - and keep creating sketches!!

Page Maps Sketch Contest..A Heritage Layout

I have had these wonderful pictures sitting on my desk. I decided to put them to use today on a heritage layout. The sketch I used is for a Page Maps contest. Be sure to check it out!

It may be a little known fact, that I was a baseball player when I was young. I played little league on the boy's team because WAY BACK THEN (lol!) there wasn't a girl's team. Anyway, this layout is my youngest sister Julie wearing my uniform in one layout and my cap another year. She was only 3 years on the left and 2 on the right. I love these pictures and have been waiting for something special to do with them.

I used Cosmo Cricket Twist and Shout paper. The diecuts, letters, and tags are matching from that line as well. The ribbon is from My Mind's Eye Laundry Line collection, and the buttons are CTMH. This is going to be a fun layout to have in my heritage book!!

Beautiful Colors!

I didn't know what I would think about working with these colors. Every Monday, I anxiously await the color challenge on Jeanette Lynton's blog from Close To My Heart. I do think she has an amazing eye for putting color together and creating!

I am working on finishing my cruise book (Still. Yes, I kow we want last October!) But I am glad that I had such color inspiration for these pages about Nice, France. I'll tell you a secret. I am not fond of the color Brown Bag, and I wondered what on earth I was going to do with it! But look at what awesome journaling blocks that color makes - LOVE it! For Juniper and Creme Brulee, I used pieces from the Key To My Heart packet. Oh, that paper is gorgeous!! The two large dark flowers are Bazzill, but the rest are Prima Naturals. The rest of the accessories are CTMH Creme Brulee.

Oh, I am thankful for scrapbooking. This was a long lingering layout that I took my time making. My husband and I enjoyed every minute of the time we spent in Nice, France. The people we lovely, the chocolate was rich, the soaps in the shops smelled wonderful, and the markets were amazing. Truly, a trip we will never forget.

Thank you, Jeanette, not only for the color inspiration, but for the amazing cruise. You'll never know how much it meant to us.

A Few Cards for a Few Occasions

I needed to make a few cards for some people, so that's how I kept busy on this very hot summer day. Whew! What a day! Even the pooch didn't like it outside very much today.

I used K and Company paper on my first card. It is actually just one sheet - Cut 'N Paste Roses Thermography. The polka-dotted pattern is from the back side of the sheet. This is just beautiful paper. Along with it, I used a Stampendous birthday stamp and CTMH ribbon sparkles. Easy peasy. I am entering this card in Stamping 411 challenge.

My next card took a little more time as I spent some time giving this one an antique look. This card will go in the CPS 121 Challenge. I love this paper, and I've been a bit of a hoarder with it. Let me tell you a little of what I did with this card. Unless otherwise noted all supplies are from Close To My Heart. I used Silhouette paper, Make it Count stamp set, Lovely Lace stamp set, colonial white buttons, black organdy ribbon. The flowers are from Bazzill. I stamped the clock and numbers on colonial white with archival ink. I sponged over them with bamboo ink to give them an antique look. The lace is a stamp. I used Dazzle versamark and black embossing powder. I sponged over with bamboo ink. The embossing resists the ink, and it just fills in other parts. I like this antique card, and I hope the receiver will too!

My last card is for an early July birthday. Isn't this sugar-coated Reminisce paper fun? I used my largest circle and scalloped nesties to make the popped up circular fireworks. That gorgeous ribbon is from CTMH, the stamp is from Heidi Grace, and I used the window word punch from SU! I am putting this card in the weekly Sweet Stop challenge.

Tomorrow is supposed to be even warmer. I'm thinking that it will be another good day to create, and I always look forward to doing more!

2 Very Basic Colors..and a Challenge

Bamboo and white. That is Color Chef Challenge #11 over at Kelly Jo's Stamp Pad. At first I thought this was going to be difficult so I dilly-dallied around with the thoughts of it. Oh, but then I thought of the SU! coffee stamps that I've had for years. They were the perfect set for me to use along with my CTMH accessories. I rolled my coffee cup stamp in the bamboo ink to give it a "stoneware" look. Fun! The card was simple to make and is very appealing to the eye with the colors. I can't wait to give it away!

A Bouquet from My Yard to You

The Wisteria on my trellis is in full bloom, and I want to share it with you. It's just so lovely and such a huge blessing that I can't possibly keep it to myself!

The thing that is interesting about Wisteria is that it is not supposed to grow well or bloom in the northern states. The green house warned me that it would only be something "green" for my front trellis, but nothing more. Oh gracious, were they wrong! From the first year I have been overjoyed to find big, wonderful blooms droop from the trellis. The vine itself has grown on to the house and grabs on to anything near. It loves the beautiful south sun and front of the house.

After the Wisteria are done, I will peek a little more closely. I am quite certain there is a nest in the trellis again this year. What a perfect dwelling for new baby birds!

Cuttlebug Challenge - Be Inspired #36

This week's Cuttlebug Challenge is to make a masculine card. I immediately thought of my "You" embossing folder for my husband, and I picked out some of his favorite colors and ideas to work with.

The embossing folder has words on it like crazy, wise, faithful, strong, big-hearted, kind. I consider my husband all of those things and so much more!! (Just don't tell him I think he is wise - he already beats me at every trivia game!!)

I picked out black accessories to match the desert sand paper, and I am wondering if you can tell that I've made a transparency card. This is how I assembled this card:

• First, I wrapped black hemp and spiral clip around the embossed desert sand piece.
• Next, I used two glue dots on the left side to attach it to the inside of the transparency card.
• Then the black ribbon around the whole of the card. That easily covers the glue dots.
• The sticker is rested on a scalloped circle (nestabilities) and glue dotted on the front of the transparency. Glue dots can then go on the back inside to more securely hold the embossed piece.
• The inside piece is secured with a glue dot vellum sheet. These are amazing and do not show through transparency. So the back of the card looks clear! I've got a sticker on the inside that says "Just Relax" and I've tied black ribbon along the length.

Hope you've enjoyed. I know this is one my husband will love!

There is a Coffee Emergency in the Rose House!

You are looking at the LAST bottle Nescafe Ice Java that we can find on the grocery store shelves. It was discontinued in May, and for some reason unexplainable to a person like me (yes, I have talked to the people at Nestle), they are not going to bring it back. This constitutes a real coffee emergency in the Rose house in the summertime.

You could say that a good ice blended coffee is my mojo when I sit down for a long spell of scrapping. Oh, if I'm just making a card or one two pages, I can do with a tall glass of ice water or diet mountain dew. (No eating while scrapping or creating - that actually wrecks my mojo.) But if I want to sit down for a full day, I like that blended coffee somewhere in there.

I'll also get up on my soapbox a bit here. Jerry and I stopped at Caribou for an Espresso Cooler one day. Now we love Caribou - Shane used to work there. But gracious me! It was over $10 for us to have medium coolers. It's only $3.99 for this bottle of Ice Java, and it makes 20 drinks! Add $1.50 can of whipped cream from Wal-Mart, and now we're talking economy. I think we're going to have pass on Caribou or Starbuck's from now on!

I have to tell you, I have friends and family that love my blended coffees, too.

But Nestle's decision leaves me in a dilemna. Where will I get my coffee mix? Well, I have been researching recipes and websites. I'll figure something out without breaking the Rose bank!

;) Hope I gave you a good chuckle today!

Mojo Monday Sketch #91

You'll take a look at my card and think it looks nothing like the sketch! But tilt your head to the left, and you'll see the sketch in this card!

For this card I pulled out some very favorite paper of mine. It's called Serendipity, and it was a Heart of Winter special two years ago. I am very fond of the rich blue and chocolate in this paper, but more so that there is a matching stamp set! That matching stamp set is what I used to create the different flower petals. I stamped them in Outdoor Denim. The chocolate bracket was a die-cut in the packet, but there is a dotted bracket stamp in the Serendipity stamp set. So I thought it was fun to continue the dots! The phrase is from the new TLC stamp set. So small and perfect for this 3-1/2 x 6 card. All materials on this card are from CTMH.

Thank You Tina, Elissa, Margo, and Kim! I LOVE My Blog Award!

Isn't this wonderful? I woke up this morning and found that I had this Blog Award from two people! Thank you so much, Tina , Kim, Margo, and Elissa! Be sure to click on their names to visit their wonderful blogs!!

The rules for this blog award are:

1. Accept the award, post it on your blog with the name of the person who gave you the award. Be sure to link their blog so people can visit them!!
2. Pass the award to 15 other blogs you've newly discovered. Remember to post to their blog to let them know they've received the award!

Okay, so I'm passing this award to 10 blogs I've found in the past couple of weeks. And I'm really enjoying them!!

1. http://papercraftpleasures.blogspot.com/
2. http://stampinfunwithselene.blogspot.com/
3. http://luciasscrappinandstampin.blogspot.com/
4. http://ahappyscrappyplace.blogspot.com/
5. http://stampinakapalace.blogspot.com/
6. http://www.godblessyourart.blogspot.com/
7. http://scrappinwithtammy.blogspot.com/
8. http://www.memoriesinthyme.blogspot.com/
9. http://sarabatkin.blogspot.com/
10. http://margosgarden.blogspot.com/

I like this award because it goes to people that have great blogs that we watch, but we might not comment on, tell them that their blogs are amazing, or even know for that matter!

Enjoy your lovely blog award ladies! I sure loved getting mine!!

Capturing My Joy

I can't even begin to tell you what it means to me to spend an evening with two "main men." On this Friday evening, I got to do just that. I know some people would look at our little family and wonder why it is such a precious thing that three of us would have time together. Well, Jerry works erratic hours as an auto body painter. He's been with the company 20 years, and he generally works a good day shift, but if there is work, he stays. And if he is busy, he will go to bed extremely early so that he can make it through the next long day. Shane many long days as a Manager of a tanning salon (yes, it's a great business!), and I never quite know when he'll be home. Other than to sleep - that's a certainty!

So when we were all able to go out to dinner, well, I loved it! Jerry treated us to fajitas at Chili's. We ordered the combo for two and then my boys wanted to try the Texas Cheese Fries and the Snacking Onion "things" with jalepenos. What a great meal of laughter and hot, spicy food!

Now that you've heard a little bit of the story, I'll tell you about the layout. We took the pictures in our backyard. I chose Paper Loft Well Worn paper for this along with 2 sheets of sanded down textured CTMH Outdoor Denim. The flowers and large letters are die-cuts from CTMH (a promotion last November). The epoxy letters are Latte from DCWV. All the Outdoor Denim accessories are from CTMH.

I've got journaling tags stacked on the side and attached with large brads. I don't mind if people that look through my books read the top tag, but there are some things written on the inside tags about our conversations that I want Shane to remember in his older years. That's part of my legacy to him on these pages.

Another thing. This pages is the Grand Finale pattern from the CTMH Imagine book. The right side easily allows for a 2" x 10-1/2" strip of typewritten journaling. I RARELY type anything in my books. I use tags, I print, I use cursive, and sometimes I even make mistakes. I think it's really, really important to handwrite as much as possible. I know in this day and age when all want our pages to be the prettiest or the most perfect, we often turn to the computer to journal. But, oh, how the story will come alive in 50 years when Shane is explaining this night to his children and running his hands across my handwritten tags. So I've learned to love how I write - whether it be good, bad, or ugly.

As always, click on the picture if you want to take a larger view!

Sweet Peas Anyone?

365 Cards had a unique challenge on their 101st day. The task is to create a card with a veggie. In all my stamps, I probably have a lot more veggie stamps, but the first one I thought of was my sweet peas. What an adorable birthday card it made! I used Cosmo Cricket paper from a crafting packet called Jack's World. The stamped stars are from a CTMH set called Shining Star. I love this card pattern. It came from the new CTMH Wishes book. These elements made me smile - it was truly a joy to put this card together!

How 'Bout a Chance at a Bind-it-All?

I have seen some extraordinary books and crafts made from the Bind-it-All. One of the blogs I'm following, Jan at Paper Craft Pleasures, is giving one away as Blog Candy! Head on over there, and read her rules for your chance to win!

What's Your Favorite Movie?

That's what the good people at Cuttlebug Challenges wanted to know this week in Challenge #35 Inspired By the Movies. Can you guess what my movie is? I'll tell you about the products and a little about the movie and we'll see if you can guess!

• Black & White Textured Cardstock - CTMH
• Bird Call Cuttlebug Embossing Folder (this would represent the birdhouse that was knocked down and then built again)
• Nestabilities - scallop and circle
• Rub-On letters (plain, simple, and love are key factors in this 1980s movie)
• Black Gingham Ribbon - CTMH
• Embellishments - random

Have you guessed my movie yet? I have it on DVD, but would watch it absolutely anytime that I saw it on TV. It's Witness with Harrison Ford and Kelly McGillis. I absolutely loved the acting, and the the love story was very touching.

What card would you create for your favorite movie?

Julie's Youngest Three

My youngest sister Julie is 10 years younger than I am, and she has four children. Her oldest son Nick is not pictured here, but I had pictures of her other three children. Caine, in the picture on the top, is our godchild. We love this picture of him, and I was really happy to be able to scrapbook it. And look at the smiles on the two youngest - Jaimen and Miranda. They are adorable! I was able to chat with all of these kids last weekend, and I loved catching up!

I used a Basic Grey sketch from October 2007 for my pattern. You can find these and all kinds of other cool sketches at Page Maps. Let tell you a bit about the product I used for this layout:

• White Textured Cardstock - CTMH
• Twilight Textured Cardstock - CTMH (scored in a grid with the Scor-Pal and then sanded)
• Cranberry Plaid B & T from Route 66 - CTMH (short right edge against white journaling piece scalloped with green EK Success corner rounder)
• Sweet Leaf Ric Rac - CTMH
• White Daisy Craft Button - CTMH
• Chipboard Frame - CTMH
• Cranberry Waxy Flax - CTMH
• Chipboard Stars & Saying - My Mind's Eye
• Rub Ons - My Mind's Eye
• Prisma Glitter - CTMH

Look at What I Was Surprised With!

Actually, my sister Linda gave me and all of my sisters aprons. We were at Lacey's graduation, and here she passed out the 4 of us packages (there are five of us sisters total). I'll refresh your memory a bit. You met Linda with her grandsons not too long ago. Anyway, she's been going to quilting, and she machine embroidered on aprons. What I liked is that she chose fabric especially for each one of us. I knew immediately that mine would be a craft room apron, and sure enough, that's what she intended it for! Take a look at it. I took a close up at the pocket fabric for you, too.

What a joy to receive presents for absolutely nothing! Just because. It's better than giving on birthdays or holidays or anniversaries. "Just because" is the occasion of all. If you haven't given someone something for absolutely no good reason lately, try it. See how it brightens their day!

Mojo Monday Sketch 90

I checked in with Mojo Monday yesterday and found this unique sketch. Don't you love a good pattern? I love something really out of the box, and that's how this felt to me. I was thinking on it during the day knew just what stamp set I wanted to use.
I pulled out the Promise of Spring stamp set. Oh, I think this was a January special in CTMH about 3 years ago. I love this set, and I was fortunate enough to have some of the matching paper left, too.

I stamped the large flower in smokey plum on a piece of paper from the packet that is bamboo and covered with bamboo-colored ivy vines. After I cut it out, I lightly sponged it, and then I lightly brushed the edges with pearl paint. Then came a couple spritz of pearl glimmer mist. After I dried it with my heat gun, I set a large circle window charm in the middle. For a better effect, I pop dotted the flower.

Party-Filled Weekend

My niece Lacey graduated last weekend, so we went up north to celebrate at her party this weekend. Now tell me, isn't this just the cutest picture of her and her boyfriend? What a sweet pair!
It was such a lovely graduation party! So many people came to wish Lacey well as she faces her future. She is going to follow in my sister's footsteps and go into Occupational Therapy.

As I grow older, it's a unique experience to watch my older nieces and nephews raise their children. They should be so proud of the job they are doing! Young children watch their mom and dad so closely, and they are all so aware of that. They set such a good example and really keep their children in the forefront. How proud my sisters must be of their children!

I'll be posting a picture later this week of a gift my sister Linda made. It's the cutest apron that she machine embroidered with my name. The fabric is such that it will be a craft apron for me. So nice!! The best part is that she made them for all my sisters choosing fabric that she thought would suit each each one of us. I love gifts from the heart - and this is another one from her!

I was washing dishes for my sister Patti (Lacey's mom), and I also got to re-connect with a niece and nephew I hadn't seen in awhile. They both came to me at separate times and we had nice chats over dishwater. I love those kind of times. Unplanned, unscripted, real.

So, now Jerry and I are home again, and I have "bookends" sleeping to the left and to the right of me. That would be Chanel and Sassy. Do you think the pets miss me when I'm gone for 24 hours? LOL!

Off to get ready for my scrapbooking day tomorrow at Archiver's. I'm loking forward to spending the day with my mother-in-law working on pictures. I'm sure you'll see someone of the finished product next week!

PageMaps Card Sketch for You to Enjoy!

I thought I would post a card this afternoon for you to enjoy that I just finished making. I cut 3/4" off the right edge of the front and added a chipboard scallop. That was kind of fun because it allowed me to bring the card together by adding a 3/4" piece of the left paper to the edge. Fun! As you might be able to tell, I was working today with the felt diecuts. I wanted to see what I could do with them, whether I could stamp effectively on them, etc. They were much to add as an element! Next I'll try embossing on them. I'll let you know if that turns out and what it looks like.

All supplies were CTMH except for the pin. That's from the fabulous Chloe's Closet line.

Okay, off to take just a little cat nap. Tomorrow afternoon we're headed up north to my sister's house for my niece's graduation party. Yippee! I am looking forward to seeing family! Oh, and you've met my sweet, pretty niece in some of the layouts I've done.

When we get home on Saturday, I'm going to put some things together to take scrapbooking. My mother-in-law and I are going to Archiver's for a relaxing afternoon to crop on Sunday. I am looking forward to that little bit of time out and time to finish my cruise album. If I'm lucky, I'll only have journaling left to do when I come home. Don't you just love crop time?

Okay, back to thoughts of that cat nap...LOL!

PageMaps Challenge

I received my PageMaps newsletter and was reading it over. Naturally I looked for the challenge! I loved this layout, and two pictures easily came to mind. I was glad because I am trying to get my Mediterranean Cruise book done. Only a couple cities left, and loads of journaling! This is a book I didn't want to rush through!

Okay, so back to this challenge (see how easily I can get side-tracked? I blame this on two of my sisters - Linda & Patti. They are great story tellers!). Anyway, you can interpret this map any way you'd like, and you have to post a link with your finished product by Sunday, June 7th. Naturally, they are giving away some great prizes! Check out their blog to see if it interests you!

For those of you that don't know, Perfect Day is my very favorite CTMH paper. I used four different patterns on this page, and I made good use of the My Stickease. I don't use those a great deal, but this set also has some really nice Stickease. Love the letters! (By the way, if you are looking for that font, it is the Chocolate Alphabet. You can get it in E-Sized and small.) Those buttons are Stickease, too, and I've threaded Waxy Flax through them.

I also used Colonial White Designer Ribbon from CTMH, Arstylicious Ribbon, Bamboo Edge Anchors (CTMH), and Tulip & Colonial White Mini Medleys. The stick pin is from my stash. The flowers are Bazzill mixed with the new Prima flowers. Oh, and I scalloped some paper with my corner rounder - LOVE doing that and adding that touch!

Let me know if you enter. I want to see what you come up with!

Dependency

Remember a few days ago I told you about one of the books I read, Today is Your Best Day? I want to share a little something out of there again today.

"As God's child, today is your best day because you are totally and completely dependent upon Him. There is no way that today could be your best day if you were dependent upon yourself - your finances, friends, talents, abilities, resources, looks, body, personality, will, mind, or emotion. Money runs out, friends come and go, talents and abilities wear down, resources diminish, and looks change. Your personality is flawed, your body is aging, your mind has limitations, and your emotions rise and fall. God is your only rock, your only security, your only certainty, and your only hope.

How blessed you are to be dependent on God today."

I am quite sure that eveyone single one of us can read this passage and find something in it that pertains to us. The author is so encompassing that he speaks to heart of each one of us. I'll share with you a little more about today about why I am so dependent on the One who created the painted the sunsets for us.

This is kind of a peculiar little symbol, huh? Autumn Terracotta and Outdoor Denim in CTMH colors, it is the diamond that respresents the new medicine I will be starting Thursday. Yippee! You have no idea how much hope I have put in this pill nor how much trust I have put in my doctor. But in the end, my dependency has to be God. I need to have faith that He has given my doctor the greatest wisdom possible for my situation.

That reminds me of another time I was forced to rely on God. This layout was done 5 years ago when I had my VNS (vagus nerve stimulator) implanted. The horizontal cut is on my neck and the vertical cut is right about where my bra strap would come down on the left side. This picture was taken just hours after surgery - and yes, I was home already at that point! Imagine, implanting a metal device with wires that wrap around the vagus nerve in your throat and being home in a couple hours. Truly amazing! Well, anyway, I went ahead and trusted God and my doctor and the outcome was GREAT for 4-1/2 years! So I figure, that I have nothing to lose by doing that again. Only lots of good days to gain!

Yes, I do hope like crazy. Oh, I do wear my heart on my sleeve when it comes to new treatments, and I don't think that will ever change. Every new medicine, every new bit of progress is just a good thing. I am always willing to do whatever it takes. So I guess today, my dependency lies in my brain (now is that body or mind?) that needs a touch from the Master's Hand. I do feel very blessed to be dependent on God today.

Make today your best day~

Oh Just One More Before Bed

I came across this precious photo of three of my grand nephews. I am so glad that my sisters and nieces share so much! They know how much I love to scrap their kids!
Well, I went back to one of the Creative Scrappers challenges that I had looked at over and over last month. It was finally time to use it! I took out some Granny's Kitchen paper made by SEI. It's blue, chocolate, and colonial white. I had bought this package several years ago from QVC, so I have all the matching elements which is really quite handy. (One of the reasons I'll always love CTMH!) To the Granny's Kitchen, I added:

• Flowers - CTMH, Bazzill, Prima
• Organdy Ribbon - CTMH
• Square Window Charm - CTMH
• Chocolate Brad, Button, & Safety Pins - random
• Picture Perfect Stamp Set - CTMH
  

Mojo Monday

I love a good challenge, and the Mojo Monday challenge is no exception! If you want a new card pattern to try every week, with some awesome contests, click over there!

Now I'll tell you about my card. I've had some antique grey lace I've wanted to use for quite some time. When I saw that there was a border near the bottom, I thought that would be the perfect place for piece of the ribbon. Here are the rest of my supplies with some explanation:

• Petal Cardstock - CTMH


• White Daisy Cardstock - CTMH (I sent this through the Cuttlebug in the Swirls folder)


• Grey Flannel Cardstock - CTMH


• Grey Wool Stamp Pad - CTMH


• Petal Stamp Pad - CTMH (not only did I stamp the foreground piece with this, but I sponged the Cuttlebug piece with Petal ink)


• Black flower - Bazzill


• Pansy Purple flower - CTMH


• Rhinestones - dollar bin


• Pearl Glitter Mist - Tattered Angels


• Prisma Glitter - CTMH

Have you seen the Tattered Angels Glitter Mist and not known what to do with it? It comes in several colors, and I use Pearl the most often. Lay the piece of the project of down that you want to glimmer on a protected area, and give it a spritz. It will be wet and curl, but if you want to use it right away (as I so impatiently always do), just dry it with your heat gun. Fun, fun, fun. I love this even way to give things a subtle sparkle.