MOTHER'S LOVE

Well now that Mother's Day is over, I can show you what I made for my daughters to celebrate how proud I am for being such awesome mother's to my grandchildren.  A lot of people might think it is weird that I give my daughters a card on Mother's Day, but they experience the same trials and joy that I do as their mother -- so why not honor them on their special day?  And I do the same for my granddaughters that are moms -- so we celebrate a lot on this day as it is so special for all of us (of course, we have a lot of "we survived" stories to tell)!!

This year I fell in love with samples that Ronda Wade displayed at our last RubberQueen meeting.  They used the same stamp set, Mother's Love, that I had already picked as the one I wanted to use, so I CASEd her samples.  If you don't have this set, I'm telling you that you need to buy it before the end of the month because it will be discontinued -- it is beautiful and doesn't have to be used as a Mother's Day card.  These were so beautiful in person, and the girls loved them:  

Love the Blackberry Bliss card stock with Sahara Sand!!  This uses the Mother's Love Stamp Set and Something Borrowed Designer Series Paper.



Inside of Card (flowers on envelope are from the Beautiful Bunch Stamp Set).

This is a pocket card (using the Beautiful Bunch Stamp Set), which I also gave them because I wanted to write a personal note inside to keep in their scrapbook albums.

The inside of the pocket card before I added my personal note.

Until next time,
Sandi

"For with God nothing shall be impossible."  --  Luke 1:37

MAY RUBBERQUEEN MEETING

Another awesome RubberQueen meeting this month.  Ronda's theme was "masculine" for her make'n takes and our swap cards.  I really got a lot of ideas for future masculine cards and a sweet, sweet CASE from Ronda for Mother's Day (sorry can't show it today because I don't want to ruin the surprise).  Demonstrators also have the opportunity each month to share projects they are using for their classes; and they really outdid themselves this month. Here are a few pictures:

This was on the WOW table, not sure who did it, but love the Blackberry Bliss!!

Another WOW table card.

One of my favorites on the WOW table, loved this one for masculine card (I always have such a hard time doing masculine).

 



This was my swap card using By the Tide Stamp Set (so glad this set is being carried over another year!).

Hope you all have a beautiful Mother's Day!!

Until next time,
Sandi

"Praise the Lord for His mercy endures forever." --  2 Chronicles 20:21

CREATIVE RETREAT

I'm finally caught up after getting back from Creative Retreat so I can post a few pictures of some make'n takes and my swap card from the last RubberQueen meeting.  And yes, I have been busy on a new album for my newest great-granddaughter, Hazel Ann (pictures soon).  My grand-daughter asked if I would make her an album like I did last year for my great-grandson, so how could I saw "no"???  I had such a fun time at retreat, my laugh-lines on my face dug a deeper tunnel because I laughed so much with my friends and family.  I have attended all of Ronda Wade's retreats for the last 7-8 years (approx. 16) and she never ceases to amaze me with what she has in store for all of us (gift bags with SU product, pillow gifts, awesome make'n takes, creative classes, and always a surprise or two).  Today I am showing these cute note cards featuring Stampin' Up's! Sweet Dreams Washi Tape and Note Cards with Envelopes.  I wish my pictures captured how cute these are in person:

This was my swap card for the April RubberQueen meeting, featuring the Butterfly Basics Stamp Set, Typeset Designer Series Paper, and Burlap Ribbon.

Until next time,
Sandi

"Thanks be unto God for His gifts." --  2 Corinthians 9:15

STAMPIN' UP PROJECT LIFE MEETS FAITH

Hello my crafty friends!!  No I didn’t take a vacation, I’m just enjoying life!!  I thought I would share something close to my heart today.  Many of you visiting today probably already know, and perhaps are doing, the inspiring Twenty-One Day Devotional Series, created by Ronda Wade and Julie Salva.  These ladies are not only Stampin’ Up demonstrators, but Christians who came together to share their love of crafting and serving God.  Julie is also a POWERFUL and well-known Christian Speaker who has a way of helping you see God’s word through practical Biblical teachings and brings me so much joy every time I listen to her or visit her blog (check it out, you will understand why I say this!!).  Ronda and Julie also have a Facebook group dedicated to Creating For Christ. 

Anyway, I am just a little over halfway through the 21 days of videos, but wanted to share my beautiful Project Life Album, using the Little Moments Project Life Kit (pages designed by Ronda).  Everybody knows how much I love to “scrapbook” so I truly am grateful that I can journal my Christian journey and other mementoes I have collected over the years depicting my faith to document my faith for generations to come.  Here are a few of my pages:

 

Ronda provided a video of how to put our book together, which I used for the "core" of the pages along with her pre-printed scripture verses and then I added my own details to make it "mine."  For a better view of this cover and inside pages below, be sure to use your mouse to right-click on the picture and select either "open in new tab" or "open in new window."

 

Yes, I also included some of my favorite Christian poems through the years.

So this is what I call a "memory keeper" vs. my traditional scrapbook pages -- but they both share my precious moments in life for future generations!!

 

Until next time,

Sandi

 

"The Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations."  --  Psalm 100:5

 

BUILD A BOUQUET FLOWER KIT AND MORE!!

Do you know how hard it is to craft when you are finally seeing and feeling sunshine in months???  Here in Michigan the snow is finally starting to melt and I'm seeing patches of green in the yard -- YIPPIE!!!  But nothing compares to going outside without 4 layers of sweatshirts and coats on (and sometimes I wrap in a blanket).  So I decided to celebrate the coming of spring with finalizing my Build a Bouquet Project Kit from Stampin' Up.  I started this at retreat a couple of weeks ago (did a whopping 4 flowers) and pulled it back out this last weekend to work on it.  Of course I did some of my flowers a little different, just because I wanted it to be "mine."  But all in all, I loved the end result.  However, buyers beware:  this is not a kit that you will sit down and finish in a couple of hours (unless your name is Tamie Ackerson).  But that is okay for me, as I never finish a project in a couple of hours -- did Picasso?  It actually took me longer to decorate my flower pot than it did to assemble the flowers (that's a whole story in itself -- let's just say, on the 4th layer I finally was satisfied).  And now that I am finished, I'm so glad I got the coordinating stamp set and Big Shot Bouquet Bigz L Die so I can make more.  So here is my finished bouquet and flower pot:

Well after doing 3 different layers of designs on this metal can, I finally liked my 4th layer using the Painted Blooms Designer Series Paper; and for the tag, I used the matching Painted Petals Stamp Set with the tag, ribbon, and twine included in the Build a Bouquet Project Kit.  I wanted to use this designer paper right from the get-go, but I was going through one of those, "I love it so much I can't give it up" moods.  In the end, I knew this is what I wanted and nothing else was going to "work" for me so just clinched my teeth (and cried a little) as I glued it on the can -- now I'm happy!!

This was my name tag/card sitting on my table when I went to Retreat.

One of our make'n takes we did at Retreat.

Pillow gift from Ronda Wade and Jenny Peterson at Retreat (filled with a package of the new Itty Bitty Accents Epoxy Stickers).

Another make'n take with a birthday card inside the pocket.

Until next time,
Sandi

"For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand saying unto thee, Fear not; I will keep thee." 

-- Isaiah 41:13

STAMPIN' UP'S! PAINTED PETALS

Whew, it has been a long time since I have posted!!  I was going through some serious withdrawal because I haven't had a working computer since coming back from Leadership -- that is one long time!!!  And then it was gone for 2 days at the tech shop to get a complete check-up and overhaul.  I never realized how addicted I was with using my computer -- not good!!  So now I am going to wean myself a little every day so my life doesn't seem to be consumed by an electronic gadget (we will see how that works, as I sit here typing away on my electronic gadget -- LOL).  But how else am I going to show you some new projects? Today I am featuring one of my favorite stamp sets from the Occasions Mini Catalog, Painted Petals.

Besides the Painted Petals Stamp Set, I also used the Sahara Sand 7/8" Lace Trim to make the flower with a Something Borrowed Embellishment in the center, a Tea Lace Paper Doily sponged in Sahara Sand Ink, Ornate Tag Topper Punch, I Love Lace Background Stamp on the Moonlight Designer Series Paper Pack design, and a Cajun Craze Candy Dot. 

I used the Spring Flowers Textured Impressions Embossing Folder the Sahara Sand Card Stock cut with the new Mini Treat Bag Thinlits Die.

I needed a lot of sympathy and get well cards, so these are some of the designs I came up with (couldn't make my mind up on how to add embellishments).  The Swallowtail Stamp Set is heat embossed with Whisper White Embossing Powder and then colored with Blendabilities.  To get a better/close-up look do a right-click on picture and select "open in new window" or "new tab" and then enlarge by clicking on the picture again.

I have a lot of pictures to show you from Creative Retreat, so stay tuned for my next update!!

Until next time,
Sandi

"Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows."  -- Isaiah 53:4

BACK FROM LEADERSHIP

I've been back from Leadership almost five days, and I swear I haven't gotten a thing done.  I have learned, however, that your life comes to an almost complete standstill if your computer is not working correctly.  Mine still is wacky, after spending the entire day on the phone checking my whole computer system, spending $150 to talk with Geek Squad so they can work on fixing problems.  Well, guess what?  The good news is that it works twice as fast, the bad news is I'm still getting unwanted ads popping up on my internet.  So I will be calling them back tomorrow and probably spend another entire day on the phone!!  I think I will go back and start writing checks, going to the mall to shop, go to the bank for transactions, etc.  I even had to call Stampin' Up! Support yesterday to close a workshop -- yikes, haven't done that in years!!

So moving on to some pictures from Leadership, this should brighten my day reliving my fun down in Orlando!!

These are the beautiful gifts my upline, Ronda Wade, got for all the RubberQueens attending Leadership.  The book is a beautifully decorated hardcover and the pages inside are all lined.  I love how she decorated the key chain hand sanitizer with her logo and the heart. 

This is a card created and designed by RubberQueen Tami Ackerson -- I love it and plan on CASEing!!

This card was created by RubberQueen Sandi Haynes -- another beautiful CASE.

And this was a swap card from Linda Tarolli (a long-time friend from New York) -- I love the butterfly in the Gold and shadowed with Tangerine Tango.

And here are all the gifts I received from Stampin' Up! at leadership.  Love the heavy duty canvas bag (and it has pocket inside which is reversible).  Everybody in attendance during all the programs received all of this product except the four new Blendabilities (new in the Occasions Mini Catalog) -- I won this from Prize Patrol -- WooHoo!!).

I had so much fun (as always) and am so sad that this is the last Leadership event (in this content) -- but bigger and better events are in the horizon so it will be exciting to see what is in the future!!

Until next time,
Sandi

"I have learned to be content in whatever situation I find myself in." -- Philippians 4:11.