HELLO, baby!

Snow is starting to melt... finally! The calendar might say it is Spring, but in northern Michigan it is not too spring-like yet! But I am grateFUL for the sun!

I have felt very overwhelmed lately... I feel like I am trying to juggle so many things and I am not doing a very good job at any of them!  My hubby and I are on the go so much with half our life in Lake City and half our life in Ludington, not to mention visiting family in the Thumb (140 miles away)!  I really am not complaining... I am just searching for an answer to find some balance.  I know this will not last forever... our house will be sold! Do you ever feel like you are not living up to your potential?  I know I am doing all I can right now... I have got to let go of that perfectionism thing, again! Sorry Lord!

I said all that to say that I am trying to rejuvenate my Stampin' Up business... it has been on the back-burner and I really need to start sharing more of it again! It really is not about the money for me... it is the love of sharing my creativity God has given me... so here goes!

I am heading to the Thumb this weekend for my cousin's baby shower, so I had this idea in my head to use a doily for the bib... and of course because it is a girl I could make it all lacy and flowery with a lil' sparkle from the Dazzling Details!  I used SU Pretty in Pink and Pool Party for the color combo! I really am loving Pool Party! Glad to see it will be around for awhile!

So many exciting things going on with Stampin' Up right now! They just keep topping themselves! The new "This and That" line, the photopolymer stamps... and now this:

Stampin' Up! is offering  

free shipping on all product April 6 - 8, 2013.

Better get my buns moving! Thanks for stopping! Have a fantastic weekend and don't forget to take advantage of the FREE shipping!

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Make a Wish...

It is a very foggy day here in northern Michigan... guess that is due after a week of sunshine!

I just want to remind you all that Stampin' Up Sale-a-bration... one of the funnest times of the year is still going until March 22!  Don't let Sale-a-bration 2013 slip by without you getting your share of the free stuff!!!  It is so simple... order $50 of products (before shipping and tax) and select a free product from the Stampin' Up Sale-a-bration flyer! And if you live near me and order directly from me, by phone or email, you will SAVE on your shipping too!  And as if that isn't great enough... I have a goal to reach before March 22, so if you are going to order, please order before March 22nd to help me out... if you are so inclined! *Ü*

On Saturday our family gave my older sister, Renee, a surprise 50th birthday party... we did it 2 weeks before her real birthday, so she wouldn't be expecting it! It turned out so good! She was very surprised!  Here is the gift I made for her:

 

The frame was bought at a local merchandise outlet store, the upper left corner is stamped with Stampin' Up ink on the canvas from the SU Spring Catalog. The birthday girl is in the center, me on the left and our baby sister on the right.  And this is the card I created using the stain glass technique (at least I think that is what you call it). The stamp set is Secret Garden, along with the framelits... also available in the Spring Catalog.

 

 





with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Valentine Smooches!

I just had to get a short post done today to wish you all a Happy Valentines Day! Hope your day is filled with love... whether you have a hubby/boyfriend wife/girlfriend or not! 

I just have to brag on my sweet, lovable hubby for a minute... so bear with me!  I have been not feeling well for a few days... okay, "not feeling well," maybe an understatement... a little like a train wreck would be closer to the truth.  He is so loving and caring... he takes such good care of me!  God blessed me with the best when He gave me him! So even though our Valentines Day is not what I wished it would be for him... I did make him this funny, smoochy card... with a BIG smooch!

I love glitter and sparkle and I think Valentines Day is one of the only days you can actually use all that's glitzy on a "manly" card!  The upside is that after going to the doctor today and finding out I have influenza... this smooch is not contagious!!! *Ü*

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

So Many Smiles...

I have been delinquent in my blogging on here lately... so sorry! Life is a little crazy and on the run!

I got the Stampin' Up special... the Simply Sent Sealed with Love and the free set My Little Valentine, but I hadn't had the chance to do anything with it... until now! So here is what I came up with:

I saw the punch owl on Stamp and Scrap with Frenchie... I thought he was so cute! So I had to make my own smaller version... I used the 1 3/8 circle punch for the body.

So what do you think? Isn't that lil' owl a hoot??? Sorry I couldn't resist... anyone would be happy to get this sweet little note for Valentines Day, plus there is extra room to slip in a yummy treat too!

Don't forget Stampin' Up's Sale-a-Bration is going on now... the best time of the year! You can go to my website to check it out by clicking HERE!

One more thing... the February Birthday Set has also been released... Best of Love... $14.95... such a cute set!

Sorry I had to pack so much in to this one post, but now I am done!!! For today anyway!
with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Happy New Year!

I just wanted to post a new years greeting to you... and share a little project I did for a gift!  Our pastor had been doing a message series about preparing! Preparing for the coming of the Lord... preparing our hearts for Christmas! Live well... Laugh often... Love much!  That is my prayer for my life as well as yours! 

 

Reflecting on the good things of the past year... learning from the not so great things of the past year... praising God for the victories He has brought in the past year!  Have a Happy New Year and don't forget to live well... laugh often... love much! Looking forward to all that God has waiting for us just around the corner!

 

Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea and a path through the mighty waters, "Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:16, 18-19

 

If you have a chance check-out Coffee Cup Corner too!

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

JOY...

 

Christmas Eve... the 12th day of the "12 Days Before Christmas."  Spending time with my family... eating, laughing, and lots of chatting!  My hubby and I were blessed to attend a lovely candlelight Christmas Eve service.  It was a nice mix of contemporary music with traditional Christmas music... just really a nice service!  And as we left church it was snowing... they don't have much snow here in the Thumb so I thought it was a nice surprise!

 

I thought today I would share a card that shows the true Reason for the Season... a precious baby born so long ago... born in humble surroundings, but would change the world forever! Who could have imagined?  What JOY to know He came for you and me!

 

 

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!
with a grateFUL HEART, carin

The Best Gift...



Sunday, December 23... Day 11 of "12 Days Before Christmas" ~ Oh my, it has been a long day with many miles traveled.  Left home before 8:00am headed towards Ludington for church... got 1 1/2 miles from home and realized I didn't have my phone... quick turn around and back on the road again. Made it just in time for 9:30 service!  Great services! Lunch with some special friends at House of Flavors... when you are in Ludington you must go to House of Flavors!  Hit the road again... heading across state to the Thumb to be with family!  We put 260 miles on today, but it is worth every inch to be with family!

 

My card for today is like one I did for my class only I changed up the colors... used Bravo Burgundy with Sahara Sand... of course still had to add glimmer paper and some shimmer paint!

 

Oh come let us adore Him... grateFUL for the Best Gift I have ever received.

with a grateFUL HEART, carin