A Little Coffee Wisdom

Welcoming his former students, the mentor went into the kitchen and returned with a large pot of hot, steaming coffee and an assortment of cups -- porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain-looking, some expensive, and some quite exquisite -- telling them to help themselves.

After they all had a cup of coffee in hand, the mentor said: "If you noticed, all the expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the simple ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, it is that which is the source of your problems and stress."

“Know that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. Often it is merely more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was the coffee, not the cup, but you deliberately reached for the best cup and then began coveting each other's cup."

"Now consider this: Life is the coffee…and all things material, be it your house or your gold or your problems in life, these are the cages. They are just tools to hold and contain life, and the type of cup we have does not define nor change the quality of life we live. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us. God brews the coffee, not the cup.… Enjoy your coffee."

This picture and poem have swirled around the internet for so long - that I was unable to find whom to properly credit. But the message is powerful and I needed the reminder so I thought I would share.

Sugar Nellie Valentine

I found these great Mani/Pedi Kits at Target's $1 Spot. I made up several of these quick for some of my daughter's college buddies for Valentines Day.

Stamps: Sugar Nellie - Choose

Froggie went a courting.............

I have had this project in my head ever since I saw this Water Lily Bath Confetti at Jo-Ann's forever ago. It may be hard to see, but the brown fuzzy stuff in the center of the cone flowers is called Flower Soft - check it out here.

Stamp: Rubbernecker Stamp: Frog with Daisies

Harolds Squirrels....

This card uses this months Gina K's Release Party sketch. I made this card for a dear family friend who live traps squirrels, drives them out into the country and releases them. This is his vain attempt to stop the squirrels from making holes all over his yard as they bury black walnuts. He jokes that he is going to have to start tagging the animals to see if they are finding their way home, because no matter how many he takes for a drive the population does not diminish!!

Stamp: SU Forest Friends

The catch of the day: Barracuda - 2009 Scrapbook Goal #3

While fishing on vacation, Mack caught a Barracuda (who knew it was something other than a Heart song Guitar Hero). Crafty Secrets is having a challenge to use their Clear Art Stamps in a project. The layout idea comes from the Close to My Heart Idea Book Reflections.

Stamps: Crafty Secrets - Fishing Buds

We are Family - 2009 Scrapbook Goal #2

This is one of my favorite vacation photos as it was so typical, us wondering in a pack. The layout sketch is from a Gina K Release Challenge on Splitcoaststampers. I love the idea of using stamps on scrapbook pages. I am going to try to incorporate stamping more in my scrapbook layouts.

Stamps: SU - Happy Harmony, Crafty Secrets - Artsy Alphabet

Bombshell

If you have an extra minute - take a look at the fun stamps available from Bombshell Stamp Company. I LOVE their pinup girl and WWII Tattoo style images!! I was lucky enough to get some images of my very own to play with when some generous girls shared with me (Thanks Robin & Holly). This bandanna is made from paper twist ribbon that I found at Goodwill.
Stamps: Bombshell Stamps - Retro Cowgirls

What is for supper at your house?????

I have a dear friend who will call every once and awhile and ask "what is for supper at your house"? This got me thinking that I should share a soup recipe card that I did for a swap a long time ago (click on the photo and it should get big enough you can read the recipe). Great soup you can whip up quick. You also can use vegetable broth and make this vegetarian!! Here is wishing everyone a great week and a few meals around the table with loved ones!!

Stamp: Stampin Up - What's for Dinner

If Satan had a cell phone..............

Over a year ago a young man in our community committed suicide. This has continued to weigh heavily on my mind. As a parent I vainly search for understanding. My heart clings to the hope that I have the power to prevent such a tragedy in my own family. This has made me realize that we all would be better off if Satan used a cell phone.


If Satan used a cell phone, our children could use caller ID to screen out his calls. They would never hear his deceptive whispers telling them:
* It will never get better
* No one will understand
* It will never change


Our children do not have the ability to identify the dangerous voice they hear as Satan. Although it is no guarantee that our children will not be led astray, I urge all parents to fight back. We must make sure our children know OUR side of the story:
* Nothing is ever that bad
* Mad only lasts a little while
* Love lasts forever


And for good measure, start screening your own calls. It is not only the young that can fall prey to the great deceiver!!

Love Potion #9???

I made another Test Tube Holder (see instructions here) - this time for Valentines Day. I LOVE this Black Damask Flocked Paper made by "Little Yellow Bicycle". The charm was made by stamping the skull from SU Just Jawing set on polyshrink plastic. The test tube is filled with heart shaped red hots!!

Stamp: SU - Just Jawing

Any suggestions????

Back in September Splicoaststampers had a Technique lovers challenge to make a bookmark. Splitcoaststamper artist Lynn Mercurio made this fun card with a matching bookmark that fit over the corner of the card. I decided to try this for my January "Paper Pack" card swap and the above is my prototype. I think the bookmark looks okay when it is off of the card, but when it is on the card - it seems a little too plain. Does anyone have any suggestions for me???

Stamp: Sugar Nellie - Daisy

Don't underestimate.....................

A friend has been promoted at work so I QUICKLY put together this little gift. I took a pound of coffee (Organic & Fair Trade - of course), wrapped it in ledger paper, stamped an image, colored it in and added some ribbon. Maybe 8 minutes from start to finish!!

Stamps: Inky Antics: Coffee Girl & Caffeine Power Sentiment

2009 Scrapbook Goal - #1

Did you make any craft goals for 2009? One of my goals is to do at least ONE scrapbook page challenge each week (Yes - I know I am already one week behind). My other scrapbooking goal is to make sure I am IN some of the pictures (this one is tough for me). The above pages started from this layout sketch on Splitcoaststampers. I added an extra photo and tweaked the picture size a bit - but the layout was a great starting point.

Bear-ied in Paperwork..........

When I saw this desk calender in the break room at work, I said to myself "I bet I can do something with that". I added this cute House Mouse Gruffie image. I even added some Income Tax Form numbers to the papers in honor of the upcoming season (in case you did not know - I am a CPA). I colored the image with my Peerless Watercolor Papers. I am still learning how to use them, but they are great fun to play with.

Stamp: House Mouse - Bear-ied in Paperwork

Mom's New Man?

This is another fun photo from our recent trip to Mexico!! Although Dad does not really have to worry - Mom is still crazy about the fella on the far left!!

Unity Challenges

Every Thursday Unity Stamp Company holds a Hip Hop Release Party on Splitcoaststampers. It starts with a Blog Hop on the Unity Blog and you travel through the Blogs of Unity Design Team Members. Unity just added a Scrapbooking Design Team - so you will also find many great ideas that incorporates stamping in your scrapbooking layouts.

These were my two submissions for yesterday's Unity Hip Hop challenges. I won a free stamp with the first card when it was randomly picked. YEAH - THANKS UNITY!!!!

Stamps:

Tree: Unity - Giggle Grove

Toile: Unity - Tea Time Toile

Two My Favorite Things Challenges

My Favorite Things Stamp Company released new set yesterday. These are entries I made for their two Ambassador Challenges this week. One challenge was to make & decorate a milk container - the other was to "bling" out a project. After I finished the bunny card yesterday my daughter asked me "Are you wearing body glitter"? What can I say - I was sparkly!! If you have some time check out the challenges and play along!!

Stamps:

Milk container: MFT - Mothers Day

Blingy bunny: MFT - Eggstra Special

Verve Stamp Challenges

Many stamp companies have New Releases coming out this week!! This means a load of challenges and many chances to win FREE STAMPS (my favorite kind). Verve Stamps has four challenges this week (one color and three sketch challenges), the above are my submissions. Even though I do not have any Verve Stamps "Yet" - they generously allow crafters to play along - so give it a try!!

Stamps:
Flower Girl Fun: CTMH - Flower Girls, Card Commentary
Glitch Free Birthday: Stampin Up - Computer Quips
Dotty Bird Notes: Crafty Secrets - Bird Notes
Sweet Daisy: Stamping Bells - Daisy Bittybloom

Recipe Holder

This is a holder I made to store some of the fun 6 x 6 recipe cards I have. Click here to see where I purchased the "Original Recipe Card Stand" that I altered to match my kitchen. The recipe cards are stored in Stampin Up's 6 x 6 page protectors that hang from the stand by jump rings.

Stamps: Stampin Up - Voila

I could strangle that Little Red Hen!!!

It is 10:30 p.m. and I just spent the last half hour putting away groceries, emptying and loading the dishwasher. This whole time I am muttering to myself that "I am going to get copies of "The little Red Hen" for every flipping member of this family and force them to read it"!!!

This would be a waste of money, because each family member would be sure that the story is directed at the other family members and not them. The powerful message in this children's story would be too subtle and lost in trasnlation. Or worse yet, they would all agree that the book was absolutly correct and I should start baking bread from scratch.

Due to this fact - I will spend part of my day tomorrow reading Nicole Johnson's Book: The Invisible Women - when only God sees.

This is a book I have read over and over again, and I give it 5 out of 5 stars. It is a PERFECT gift for any wife and mother in what I loving call "The Parenting Trenches". I try to keep a few copies on hand and gift them when I sense the book's wisdom is needed by a friend. Read this book and find peace in the fact that every task we do is worth it, noticed and appreciated by He who matters most of all.

Tropical Christmas

This is a little memento I made for the kids from our recent trip to MEXICO. This was a great trip and we found that it is very easy to be Happy in Mexico. We stayed in Puerto Morelos, and I would highly recommend this as a family vacation spot. I even found a new love: snorkeling!! (The third young one is my sweet niece Hanna).

The frame is a "Ready-To-Make Frame" from Maple Leaf Press. I would be embarrassed to tell you how long these frames have been in the "CRAFT VAULT" - Hello my name is Robin and I hoard craft supplies.

Stamps: Close to My Heart - Tropical Christmas