With Stamping Sympathy

This card was created with sympathy for the Gardner family who lost their dear Heather, Shelli's mother, this past Sunday. Having just experienced the loss of my 94 year old grandmother just last week, I have deep empathy for Shelli and her family to have to endure this event at Christmas time. However, my grandmother was 94 and had lived a wonderful life until the past year and a half. Heather went unexpectedly and no doubt the suddenness of her leaving wieghs heavy on this dear family. For that, my greatest sympathy goes out to them. Never is a good time, but no greater time is now. Just as one would experience the sweet smell of a rose (and I see in my mind the memory of my adorable little great neice toddling around the funeral home this past Friday evening offering to everyone a chance to smell a rose given to her by my dad,) may Shelli and her loved ones experience the sweet smelling love of Christ.

"The widerness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the ROSE. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with the joy and sining: they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God." Isaiah 35:1,2.

Are you ready for 2008?

Check out this fun planner we created at my Stamp Club Appreciation Party! How fun is this?! This simple planner uses a simple school folder and some fun Stampin' Up! Darling Doodles Designer Series Paper. Here is how we made this planner...

1. Fold the folder BACKWARD. Then fold each side forward to create an accordian.
2. Trim 12x12 Designer Series Papers at 4". You will have three pieces from each sheet.
3. Adhere one full strip to the front and one strip to the back of your planner.
4. Trim four pieces of paper so that half will fit on the top part of each planner "page" and the other half will fit on the bottom. These measurements may vary depending on the folder measurements.
5. Use a stretchy hairband decorated with ribbons to hold your planner together.
6. Trim lined notebook paper to fit in one panel. Clip paper together with tiny clip.
7. Trim the end of one long envelope and stamp "receipts" along the opening.
8. Cut a smaller envelope in half and stamp "stuff" along the opening. Adhere this envelope to the smaller section of one panel.
9. Download or stamp calendar pages to create planner calendar. Clip calendar together with tiny clip.
10. Embellish as desired.

A Whole Lot of Gratitude

This is one of the three make & take projects we stamped up at my Stamp Club Appreciation Party recently. If you missed these fun projects, not to worry... join Stamp Club 2008 and you will be set for a ton of stampin' fun! There are so many great things planned for next year's club. This card was super easy to create especially because of Stampin' Up!'s great punches. The focal blossom of the card was created by completely using these fun punches. I LOVE the saying, also by Stampin' Up!. It is exactly what I want to say to ALL of my Stamp Club members, present and future.

Embellished Gift Cone

I decided to embellish my gift cone with Stampin' Up!'s Pretties Kit. It turned out to be so much easier than I had thought it would be. I colored my flower with my craft Very Vanilla ink. So easy! The inked flower wouldn't stick by using a glue dot so I had to use Crystal Effects. The jewels were threaded through a peice of silver cord, then inserted through the slight opening at the bottom of the cone and held in place by a drip of CE.

To create the cone, I traced the biggest dinner plate I could find onto a piece of Designer Series Paper by Stampin' Up!. After cutting it out, I quartered it. One quarter will round together to create this cone. I used Sticky Strip to hold it together.

I can't believe Stampin' Up! is retiring Merry Merry! But they are! And along with so many other fantastic sets! I'm not sure who was more disappointed... me or my husband, he he he... I am sure he is thinking, "Great! That means she is going to go purchase another snowflake set!" he he he... Not neccessarily, buuuutt... ya never know! I do really like Merry Merry and I don't think I will ever get rid of it. Sooo... stampers, you better order yours while you can because once January gets here it will be too late! And don't forget about Frosty! Can't believe he is leaving us also. He is rather up in age but he is still one of my absolute favorite stamp sets! And what about Headline Alphabet?! Love, love LOVE that alphabet! Ooooooooh.... makes me so excited about the new Spring Summer Collections Catalog!!!

Door Prizes!!!

Are you ready to PARRRTY?! Check out this gift set that will be up for grabs as a door prize at our Stamp Club Appreciation Party! Better make sure you are there on Tuesday, December 4th at 7:00pm. Come early if you want some home-made chicken and dumplings. Yum! The kitchen will close PROMPTLY at 6:45pm so we can "get the party started!" Someone will win this adorable gift set as well as the project patterns and instructions. Be sure to email or call me to tell me you are coming! Are you ready to PARRRTY?! I am!

Smell of Snow

Although it is not snowing where I am, it is very chilly and the smell of snow is in the air. The kids and I got all the Christmas decorations out today and Dean hung the house lights. Ooooooohhh, I just love this time of year. I created this EXTREMELY simple card today. I think it just might be the most simple card I've ever made... and I love it! It reminds me of a day warm inside while the beautiful snow gently falls outside. Speaking of the "smell of snow..." I love cold days with the crock pot fired up. I am a big crock pot cooker so mine is usually going all year round. But there is just something about those yummy crockpot recipes in the winter time. Here is one that my entire family freaked out about today...

*Spicy Pot Roast*

3-4lb pot roast

salt & pepper to taste

3/4oz pkg. brown gravy mix (I used 3TBsp of brown gravy powder.)

1/4 cup ketchup

2tsp. Dijon mustard (I used Beer & Brat Mustard.)

1tsp. Worcestershire sauce

1/8tsp. garlic powder

1C water

In slow cooker, sprinkle meat with S & P. Combine remaining ingredients. Pour over meat. Cover. Cook on Low 8-10 hours or High 4-5 hours. (I cooked on High.)

Please send me your favorite crockpot recipes! Just email me! I love sharing recipes!

Split Negative Technique

Well this was fun! I used the Split Negative technique for the first time. It was really very easy. You can find the instructions on Split Coast Stampers. What an amazing website! Trust me, if you are a bit intimidated by the site, I totally understand. There is SO MUCH stuff on that site and more than half of it doesn't even relate to stamping. However, what DOES relate to stamping... mm! I love it! So if you really like this technique and think you might want to try it, visit http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ and click on "resources" found at the top righthand corner. Look for Split Negative in the list of techniques. And there ya go! Be careful! If the site doesn't overwhelm you... it will addict you... he he he...

A "Can-do" Project

Would you believe this is a VEGETABLE CAN?! I am lovin' my Crop-a-dile! It punched holes right through the can like it was going through butter. Awesome! I used the new hostess stamp set, "Time Well Spent" (sent FREE to all active Stampin' Up! demonstrators as a thank you gift) to decorate my treasured little "gift can." I can't wait to give it away! (The can, that is. Not the the stamp set. he he he... how selfish is that?!)

Family Benefits

In honor of Stampin' Up!'s "All in the Family" promotional benefit (find out more at http://www.stampinup.com/) going on now until the end of November, you can attend a FREE STAMP CAMP when you purchase the "All in the Family" stamp set from ME. The projects you see above are what we will create at the camp. The camp is THIS SUNDAY from 6:30pm to 8:00pm.

When I first glance at the stamp set "All in the Family," I think of a stamper having small children... what a fun set for scrapbooking and birthday cards! I just LOVE that SU! is offering ALL PROCEEDS of the sales from this set to benefit one family in need. That is just SO GREAT! So... you need to see how this set is NOT JUST FOR STAMPERS WITH SMALL CHILDREN. The little tree and the big gift just crack me up! The tree is actually one of the dresses. What a hoot! I left the inside of the gift card holder blank for your choice of sentiment. And who wouldn't get a "lift" by receiving the little puppy card?!

I will also be showing you how to use the Write Me a Memory CD to create your own greetings. This is one area I think there could never be enough stamps. Greetings. I like making up my own so they really coordinate with my image.

Please RSVP by emailing me and telling me you would like to help serve a family in need by purchasing the "All in the Family" stamp set. With your RSVP your Stamp Camp supplies will be cut and ready for you to stamp.

Can you COPY?

If I've heard it once, I've heard it a ga-zillion times... "I'm just not creative." Bla, bla, bla... Sorry to be gettin' in your face if you are "one of those" "I'm not creative" type people. This is what I tell EVERYONE I come in contact with while there is a stamp in my hand... If you can COPY, you can CREATE! You don't even have to have the same image... not even the same colors... not even the same tools. The above card is my copy of a card I recently received from a SCS friend. Notice the only thing the same is the basic layout. My challenge for you today to to be a "copycat." Go ahead... BE CREATIVE!

CASE Inspiration

Enjoy Your Day!

Wow! The cards have poured in for Olivia and Christian over the past couple of days just before the WE. How can we ever thank you generous stampers?! Your time is so precious and your loving kindness is so appreciated! I have held onto many of the cards as I am waiting for the "aftershock" hits. My amazing SIL has prepared her children well for her leaving to be with our Heavenly Father.

***Sharon's Life Celebration was SUCH A JOYOUS TIME IN THE LORD. The preacher lovingly joked and began by saying "this day was predestined... by Sharon." (She was somewhat of a control freak.) Everyone laughed since we all know too well how she enjoyed planning events. And what a success she was on this one. She pointed the entire day back to the Lord. Hallelujah! It was exactly the way (I believe) God intends for us to say goodbye to our loved ones in Christ.

***PLEASE PLEASE consider RAKing our little Olivia and Christian as the days to come will really be the difficult ones. My "little rock," NoahTate finally broke last night. He crawled into bed and said, "Mommy, Christian just doesn't get it. I don't think I could live without you." Of course I immediately told him that his little cousin is still in shock but also that Aunt Sharon has really built him up to appreciate where she is. I told him we need to continue to pray for blessed people to be in Christian's life, especially at the times when he will "get it." He said, "Ya, but what about those days in school when the class works on a gift for their mommies. That's going to be so hard." And he is right. So I explained to him that those are the times God wants us to lean completely on Him.

***Proverbs 3:5-6 "Lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight."

Remembering Sharon

Sharon Gettelfinger, my witty, funny, intelligent, and caring sister-in-law, WON her battle with breast cancer Sunday, November4th at 2:00pm. Remembering her, I decided to look through some old photos. This one is a PERFECT picture of her. This photo shares very much who Sharon is. She liked to laugh.

We know Sharon won her battle and lives today because she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. She lived for Christ and she shared His love with many people. She may very well be accepting her crown right this very minute. You can learn more about Sharon's journey by visiting her Caring Bridge website at www.caringbridge.com and typing in sharongettelfinger where it says, "Visit a Caring Bridge website."

Are you saved by the power of God's love? Do you know (without a doubt) your destination once you have fought the battle of life? If you would like to know more about Jesus and the power of His saving love, please contact me or call 1-800-A-FAMILY (1-800-232-6459.)

If you've been touched in any way by my paper encouragements and samples you've seen on my blog or by Sharon's story, please consider donating to one of Sharon's requested locations as follows...

1. Lighthouse Christian Academy, 1201 West That Road, Bloomington, Indiana, 47403. (Olivia and Christian's school - raising Godly children with character).
2.The Galen Dolby Christian Legacy Fund Scholarship, Youth for Christ Great Lakes, 5160 E. 65th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46220. (A dear friend and "running buddy" in life for Sharon that died a month ago of renal cell - Galen was instrumental in bringing young folks to the Lord).
3. Indiana Univ. Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center, C/O I.U. Foundation, PO Box 660245, Indianapolis, IN 46266-0245. (Dr. George Sledge and his staff work feverishly to end breast cancer deaths - he was always a bright light for us on sometimes dark days).

Clearly Fun!

If you have never stamped on acetate sheets (or overhead pages,) CLEARLY you are missing out on the fun! These cards say "WOW" without even trying. My daughter is stuck on these cards. Lately, they are all she wants to work with.

The first card is one I am giving to my children's teachers as simply fall "thank yous." The second card (which is totally where I got my inspiration) is from my fabulous big secret sister, Kathleen Curry. CLEARLY, she is very talented!

You will want to use StazOn ink on your acetate. On my fall card, I used black with the Fall Apparations stamp set found in Stampin' Up!'s Holiday Mini Catalog. Time to order from this fabulous catalog is running out! You will want to order right away. Last chance (with my orders) will be November 18th. On Kathleen's card, she used the StazOn White with the Season of Joy stamp set also found in the Holiday Mini. I just keep debating and debating on this set. It is so eye-catching and I just LOVE that tree!

Now that you can "see clearly," go ahead... give these clear cards a try! Who knows... I think I am "seeing right through" to my Stamp Club Appreciation Party! Hmmmmm.....