Kids Are the Cutest! A Challenge for You!

This has nothing to do with stamping....but all to do with kids. My mom sent this youtube to me and it's just darling. What a voice Tennessee Ernie Ford had and what a cute rhythmic son he had too. Love this old song! Now, How can I tie this in with stamping and scrapping?? Ideas? A good challenge coming up? I'd love someone to take off and run with this one.

Use this video as inspiration for some sort of card or scrap page!


http://carolynspreciousmemories.com/Videos/childrengo-tennernieford.html


If you post a link to your work using this as inspiration, I will draw names from the posts to win something....not sure what...something old...something new...something borrowed..something blue.....well, I'll figure out what that 'something' is! Enjoy and go for it!!!

Paula's Award!

Paula, you are such a sweetie to pass this blog award on to me. I feel so unworthy! Thanks so much. You all need to visit Paula's amazing blog here: Her work is incredible! Thanks again, Paula. You are a sweetie pie!!

www.cropnotesandcrafts.blogspot.com

This award is passed on to other bloggers who, in the opinion of the bestowed, feel the bloggers creations are brilliant. I certainly don't think my work is brilliant....maybe brilliant with a little DORK quality added in the mix....making it more dorky than brilliant! :) I do thank you all for visiting and for looking at my work.

The conditions or this award are as follows:
1. I must thank the person who gave me this award and post a link here for you all to go and visit her blog... you will be doing lots of drooling over Paula's work...it's simply scrumptious!
2. I must list 10 honest things about myself.
3. I must put a copy of the Honest Scrap logo on my blog.
4. I must list at least 7 worth bloggers to pass this award on to and list their links.
5. I must notify the blogger of their award.


10 Honest Things About Me

1) I love Jesus...just like Paula and Nina before her! :)
2) I love nice spring/fall weather.
3) I love to read except I always fall asleep...can't remember when I last finished a book.
4) I drink Diet Coke and Love Lipton Green Tea with a citrus twist.
5) I need to loose some weight! :)
6) I'm a dork!
7) I love chocolate!
8) I craft for therapy...it's cheaper..well, some months it is!
9) I just became a Stampin Up demonstrator about 3 months ago and LOVE it.
10) I run a daycare and naptime is my favorite time of the day! Quiet! Ahhhh! I do love all my little kiddies though..they are each one precious in their own sweet ways!

I bestow this blog award on the following bloggers:

Toni http://www.39thaveink.blogspot.com/
Holly http://www.hollysstampinmania.blogspot.com/
Karen Lynn http://www.karensdandypatch.blogspot.com/
Peggysue http://www.rosesbymywindow.blogspot.com/
Linda B http://www.mylittleyellowcottage.blogspot.com/
Linda M http://www.prettyinky.blogspot.com/
Lori http://www.chefmamacrafts.blogspot.com/
Wendy http://www.onepickyfamily.blogspot.com/
Traci http://www.tracimajor.blogspot.com/
Leona http://www.stampinwithbettyboop.blogspot.com/
Vikki Jo http://www.vikkijoscorner.blogspot.com/

Joyce www.1ashjoy.blogspot.com

I know, I can't count..but there are more than 7 amazing blogs out there! ;)

God is Near at All Times!

Back in the fall, one of my online Christian sisters posted a prayer request for a family in Canada whose 14 year old daughter had been murdered. She was walking home one afternoon and was murdered in broad daylight. The daughter's father happens to be a Baptist minister. I remember reading news articles about the incident. I sent a card to the family because this weighed so very heavily on my heart. I've wondered, on and off over the months, how this family was coping. Well, just the other day, my on-line sister posted an update.

Here is a link to another blogger who interviewed the father, Terry Stauffer.

http://www.challies.com/archives/interviews/god-gives-strength-as-needed-an-interview-with-terry-stauffer.php

I wanted to copy and paste part of it here but my silly computer is not letting me do that this a.m. I hope you will take a few minutes to read the interview as it is a moving piece. The article has helped me to see that God is much bigger than me and that He provides strength to those in need. I often wonder how, when tragic things happen in our lives...how one copes? I admit, my life has been pretty easy compared to loosing a child. I know in my heart that God will give strength, His words ring true!!! But, as a mom with kids..I don't know how I would make it on my own without God's strength.

" He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak." ~ Isaiah 40:29

"Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord." ~ Psalms 31:24

"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through HIM who gives me strength" ~ Philippians 4:12, 13

All these thoughts this week have reminded me of a card I made up when I was at my mom's. She had just had knee surgery and I was up there helping. She had set out some scrapbook papers, etc, on the bed and said I could create and play and make up a few cards. Well, you know me, I couldn't turn down that offer! So, here is a card I made at that time. I think it fits so well with all these thoughts....when we don't know where God is...or we are so consumed by our pain...He is there and comes and searches out for us!



I hope that no matter what you are going through today, that you will find strength in God's promises and if you can't find Him, that you will let Him find you! He will!

The Train to BONKERS!

I love this stamp set from SU! My mom brought her set down a month or so ago and my 8 yo son LOVED playing with it. So, I ordered it! He didn't know I ordered it though. When Mr. Brown came a few weeks after, he was jumping up..."Did you get the train set, mom? Did you??" YIPPY! He was so excited. So here are two samples using this set. One is a birthday Thank You for our younger son. He turned 6 a few weeks ago and these are Thank You's to send out to his guests. Now, it will probably take us 6 weeks to fill them out, but, hey..it's good for him! :) I made 17 of these yesterday...I felt like I was on the train going to Bonkers!

The other card is for a friend who turned 40 this week. He will love it!

This set is called Choo Choo and can be found on page 83 of the new catty. The train track is a SU wheel and can be found on the same page and is called Right On Track. If you'd like to order this set, contact me, or place an order directly on my SU site by clicking the gold SU catalog on the right side of my blog.

As always, you can order most any cards you see on my blog. Price ranges are from $2.50-$3.50 depending on style, construction and design. OR if you'd like to make similar cards, check out my class offerings or you can hold a class in your home with a few friends. Typically, for in home classes, we will make 3 cards each and you, as the hostess, can earn free Stampin Up! items.

Mr. Brown CAME!!! And Workshop Samples are DONE!

Mr. Brown came!!!! (And you really need to go read the comment on the previous post....Hilarious rhyme from Chef Mama).

Here are the samples for our Stamp-A-Stack that is coming up on the 23rd of this month.

Here are the details of the class. I have room for 10 ladies so sign up now!!!

Stamp-A-Stack of Thank You's

At this workshop we will be stamping a stack of 10 Thank You cards. We will make 5 each of the two samples. These can be used for your personal use or given away as a teacher gift at the beginning of the school year.

Date: Thursday, July 23rd
Time: 7:00-9:00
Fee: $15 for the 10 cards plus a free clear plastic card box. This comes out to ONLY $1.50 a card...can't buy a Hallmark for anywhere near that. (Envelopes not included)

Mr. Brown Has Come to Town!!

Mr. Brown, Mr. Brown

Mr. Brown has come to town.



He should be, he should be,

He should be at my street!



I'm beat, I'm beat

From pacing on my feet!



Where is that Mr. Brown, I say!

My SU box should come TODAY!



I can't wait! I can't wait!

This is supposed to be the date!



Oh where, oh where

Where is my dashing Mr. Brown??



As you can tell, I'm waiting, and pacing and looking out my window and listening to the roaring of the UPS truck buzzing down our street (that I can NOT hear yet). This is the day that a BIG ORDER is supposed to come in. I'm getting ansy, I'm getting loopy, I want my SU order!!! Patience is not one of my virtures! Hoo-hum......is he here yet?????

Blog Award!!!

I got this sweet Blog Award from my friend and sister Dork, Traci. You can see her fantastic blog at http://www.tracimajor.blogspot.com/ Leave her a comment...her stuff is amazing!!! Thank you so much, Traci! I'm honored and humbled by your kindness!!

The idea behind this award is to pass it on to someone else who has a blog that you frequent or that you have newly discovered. My award winners are below.

**Laura Fluke**--Laura is a stamper-scrapper and we met on a swap on Splitcoast a few years back. She's a great gal and I love visiting her blog. Laura also runs a daycare like I do and her blog is mostly about her daycare adventures with a little bit of stampin' and family fun thrown in the mix. We always have said that we wished we could live next door to each other so we could daycare/scrap/stamp/and chat for hours upon end!

Here's Laura's Blog http://www.theflukepeanutgallery.blogspot.com/

**Debra Daam**--Debra has been a long time friend on Splitcoast. Her arts and crafts are amazing! She and I have had the fun opportunity to meet in person and we've had several conversations on the phone. She is a wonderful sister in Christ and one amazing stamper.

Here is Debra's Blog http://www.debrasstamplife.blogspot.com/

Oh, goodness! There are so many more peeps that I could give this too..but then I'd be here most of the day. There are lots of great blogs at the bottom of my page here....check them out!