Retail Therapy for a Bad Evening!

I just can't seem to get rid of this crud!  I've been sick since May 22...my birthday!  Pray that this stupid cough and wheezing goes away!  On the positive side I just learned that I have a beautiful new great nephew, Miles Wayne, born June  6th!

I just entered an order at JoAnne Fabric - for some texture templates; they are on sale.  I also found a coupon on the Retail Me Not site for free shipping and handling...yippee!  I saved almost as much as I spent!! very proud of myself other than I not suppose to spend on craft items at this time.  But it cheered me up from my "off" afternoon...if you know what I mean.  Shopping therapy!!!  I'll regret it terribly when my husband finds out though...LOL!  

For children of God, there is ultimate healing for each of us...

As children of God, our healing prayer can be:

“Heavenly Father, You are intimately aware of the struggle I am experiencing -- the pain and the despair. You know the desire of my heart to be healed of this illness. I ask now for Your healing touch. I know that You are able and that just like in Bible times, You can heal me.

“I also understand that You will chose what is best for me. I pray that through this trial, I will draw close to You -- that You will be my comfort and strength. I pray that ultimately, whatever happens, You will be glorified through me. I pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.”

Read more: http://www.allaboutprayer.org/healing-prayers.htm#ixzz1PWS37IYD

 BLOGS and STORES

I have an account with Gina K Designs/Stamp TV and was going through their card gallery.  Very nice cards in their GALLERIES.  I have just touch the surface of their gallery.  HERE is my site there.  I am posting the cards I like so I can refer to them later.





Darlene is the owner of Dutch Papercrafts.

  

One of the gallery members card led me to this site: Dutch Papercrafts. 

Dutch Papercrafts has some great ideas and some wonderful products.  I am tempted; but not today maybe some other day when I need some retail therapy. They have some very nice "detailed" diecuts that you should check out... The blogsite also has videos so you can lean to use their products.

 

detailed diecut butterfly



  






Lisa M. is the owner of this blog...You Made Me Ink!

 



I also just subscribed to

 "You Made Me Ink!"

There were a couple of cards that I like there. One in particular... Thank You Window which was inspired by Splitcoast Stampers - Tutorial Cards.  The card was entered into two different challenges; something I have never done yet.

One of them was:  Creative Inspirations Paint - Fun Fold Cards.  Their website is www.creativeinspirationspaint.com.  Their members who post to their gallery like to "think out of the box."

Creative Inspirations Paint also has some great ideas...Please check them out.  Have you ever made an explosion box?  There is a very beautiful one on their site.  You can check it out HERE!

It's funny how one blog can lead to several other blogs!  LOL...

I want to mention my friend at Creative Connections, Jeannie Kinney.  She has come so far in creating some wonderful cards.  She is a Stampin Up consultant and holds card classes as well as selling her cards.  Please check out her blogsite for all the projects she sells and can teach!  She is also a seamstress!  Something I could only dream of doing.

Creative Connection CLASS:

Don't forget my friend Jeannie at Creative Connections is having a card class this Saturday. From Facebook... my Facebook Friend also will have the NEW Stampin Up catalog at the class for you to look through! (this class is also mentioned HERE)

Creative Connections:  Saturday's workshop is Easter and Mother's Day cards. RSVP if you want to attend. I have an Easter treat for those who attend. Lunch is included. Next workshop is May 14th, Graduation and Father's Day cards. New stamps set every month!  Keep cheeking back with her blogsite because she is always having a card class.  If you have some friends and you want a class or show at your house; give Jeannie a call...



Vicky's card using one of their wonderful stamps.

I haven't mentioned my other creative friends in awhile and I miss them very much... Vicky and Jon at the Crackerbox Palace Rubber Stamps.  They have a store in 1321 West Court St, Janesville, WI 53548.  The phone number is 608.755.4638.

Crackerbox Palace Rubber Stamps also has an on-line store.  They sell various items including their own stamp designs.  Please take time out and visit their on-line store or drop in...tell them I sent you.  They are very fun and loving people!  Facebook...   

Crackerbox Palace Rubber Stamps have a Blog Spot which showcases their stamps... Both John and Vicky love humor. Their stamps are serious to light hearted and mostly made to make you smile.




Cbick's Ice Cream Card whick you can find on her blogsite!

 

The Crackerbox Palace Rubber Stamps also have a demonstrator and friend "Chick" who also has a blogsite: 

Chick's Crafty Chatter

Vicky and Chick have been together a long time and they BOTH do terrific work.  They are extremely helpful if you have any questions too.

We are

People who need to love, because

Love is the soul's life,

Love is simply creation's greatest joy.

'til next time,

Con

I watched the Royal Wedding

Watching the Royal Wedding was great. I remember watching when Diana and Charles wed and when Diana died... Her children have grown up to be very special individuals.  She would have been proud of both her sons; I and I pray that the Price William's new wife will be happy in her marriage unlike her mother-in-law was.  It will be interesting to see how they progress with their lives and their royal duties.

I wanted to share this blogsite I just found... I really like her style.  Girl In Air.  Her tutorials are good. I enjoyed her crafts with the washers and mason jars.

I just recently place Crafty Caring Friends on Facebook (lets hope that I don't get hacked!, I hear that FB is having a problem with that).   I am just putting links I like there.

I feel a need to pray for all of you out there - right now; my heart is telling me this and I'm not sure what for... for whom; I don't know but I know you know who you are.  Please believe me - I know God knows who I am praying for... Blessings to all of you, my friends.

Dear Lord of Mercy and Father of Comfort,

You are the One I turn to for help in moments of weakness and times of need. I ask you to be with your servant in this illness. Psalm 107:20 says that you send out your Word and heal. So then, please send your healing Word to your servant. In the name of Jesus, drive out all infirmity and sickness from his body.

Dear Lord, I ask you to turn this weakness into strength, suffering into compassion, sorrow into joy, and pain into comfort for others. May your servant trust in your goodness and hope in your faithfulness, even in the middle of this suffering. Let him be filled with patience and joy in your presence as he waits for your healing touch.

Please restore your servant to full health, dear Father. Remove all fear and doubt from his heart by the power of your Holy Spirit, and may you, Lord, be glorified through his life.

As you heal and renew your servant, Lord, may he bless and praise you. All of this I pray in the name of Jesus Christ.

Amen.

For When You Feel Lonely

(click above link)



Remember we need to take care of our mind, body, and soul...

EXERCISE!!!

I struggle with self-image issues and obesity, depression, anxiety and pain so these prayers are for you and for me too.  XOXO

A Prayer for the Body

Thank You, God, for the body You have given me. Most of the time I take my health for granted. I forget how fortunate I am to live without pain or disability, how blessed I am to be able to see and hear and walk and eat. I forget that this body of mine, with all its imperfections is a gift from You.

When I am critical of my appearance, remind me, God, that I am created in Your holy image. If I become jealous of someone else’s appearance, teach me to treasure my unique form.

Help me, God, to care for my body. Teach me to refrain from any action that will bring harm to me. If I fall prey to a self-destructive habit, fill me with the strength to conquer my cravings.

Lead me to use my body wisely, God. Guide my every limb, God, to perform acts of compassion and kindness.

I thank You, God, for creating me as I am. Amen.

'till next time,




Con

Overcome Low Self-Esteem

Something that YOU need to know


There is something that I need to tell you

Something that YOU need to know

I want you to please read what I write here as the video plays

Know that these words are meant for YOU, right now.

You are unique

You are warm and kind

You are sensitive

You rare honest and fair

You are caring

You are loving and lovable

You are intelligent

You are creative

You have a good sense of humor

You are competent

You are sensitive

You are enjoyable

You are productive

You are efficient

You are persistent

You are generous

You are independent

You are one of a kind

You are special

You are a worthy person

Your self-esteem is growing daily

All you have to be is you’

Your life is meaningful

Your life is important

You know that everyone makes mistakes

You now learn from your mistakes

You don’t have to be perfect

Just be perfectly you

You have many good qualities

The real you is likeable

The real you Is loveable

You know it’s healthy to have high self-esteem

The more you accept yourself

The more you accept others

From this moment you promise

To accept yourself

To accept others

To love yourself

To love others

You promise to be the real you

You have never felt this good before

This is how you are meant to feel

You are becoming the best you can be

You feel relieved to know how good you are

You can really live!

You are now free, to be the real you

By: Paul from Stoke UK

Now What Have I've Gone and Done....

Crafty Caring Friends 2 blogspot

Don't know why I started a different blogspot...LOL.  I guess I wanted to try a different background look and ....it ended up being another blog...ha  ha ha....  

So I will be bouncing between this one and that one.  I guess it will depend on my mood of the day;)

'til next time,


Con

"Scraping in the UK! " Sounds like a good '80s song; doesn't it...

I was going thru my routine homage to YouTube How-tos and found this cute monochromatic card...by MACM

Greetings, Earthling!

Pretty sweet - don't you agree.

My daughter and her husband are trying to decide if they can afford to add onto their house...they could use another bedroom and bathroom.  With the economy and thier finances tight I've been doing some research and she has been doing research...and we are just not sure what to do.  They are young and haven't built up much equity yet. 

Jim and I live in a three bedroom home for just the two of us.  Doesn't seem fair.  I sure feel for today's young/couples trying to make it in the job market and raise a family. 

I can tell you it isn't hasn't been that easy for Jim and I either.  We are older now...with only a couple of more years to pay for our house.  Slowly, we have been remodeling and raising our family - 20 years!  And now it's time to start all over fixing it up all over again!!! with painting, and flooring.... when does it ever stop??? 


The house is worth less now compared to a couple of years ago...only because of the economy.  Houses are just not selling right now in our "neck of the woods."  I just thank God every day that Jim still has his job. 

I have just received my second magazine from Cardmaking & Papercraft.  

The magazine is from the UK and they claim to be the best cardmaking magazine in the UK.  I discovered that I really like it.  The magazine is just eing launched in the United States.  I decided to get it out of curiousity.  I wanted to see the type of cardmaking being done in the UK. 

Unlike the other crafting magazines, this magazine is sent with a free sample of "something" with each issue.  My first issue I got some nice "Bentley Bear" chipboards and today attached - was a stack of "Kate Knight" paper... pretty decorative paper sheets, borders and greetings.  The magazine even showed several "thank you" cards using the freebies (created by Jo Nevill).  I think I am going to like this magazine;) 

  

PeeJay's Crafty Bits had a nice article on promarker storage.  

PeeJay has some nice Freebies on her site too; just remember her requirements for utilizing them.  I found PeeJay purely by accident; she was one of my 9165 emails in my in-box (ok, I need to go through my email)...but I discovered that she is based on the South Coast in the UK!  So I guess I am blogging UK today. LOL. 

HERE is PeeJay's Gallery.

PeeJay also has another blogsite:  PeeJay's Rambling's.  Looks like PeeJay likes to cook too and has found some inspiration that she shares on her "Rambling's" site.  The banana and pecan loaf looks yummy!!!  I think I'm keeping in touch with this site...it's got to be good because PeeJay claims to be a proud grandma!  and so am I. LOL. 

Over the years I have come across a lot of UK crafters as well as Australian crafters. They have some top notch ideas that I totally fell in love with.

GRANDMA... gave Andrew a bath last night and he had so much fun! It would seem that Grandma put in to much (way to much) tear-free bubble bath!!! Bubbles were flowing onto the floor.  LOL. My daughter, Michelle, thought it was pretty funny too.  Grandpa kinda frowned upon it...it was quit sloppy on the floor.  Grandma cleaned up the overflo.  The good news is the bathroom floor is really clean!

 

GRANDPA... was very dirty and tired from working on nephew's, Ryan, Jeep. He was done for the day and that is when he discovered Andrew and I playing in the bubbles! LOL...  Jim helping his nephew restore his Jeep.  It is in our garage until Uncle Jim gets done with it.  Then we get to take it back to Nebraska.

TODAY, was rather yucky out but my sweet grandson got to go to the park.  My grandson, Andrew, went on a short sled ride with his dad, Louie. The park is located at the end of our street - so his daddy didn't have to pull him too far.  My son-in-law tried out his cross country skies today for the first time and pulled Andrew (in his little red sled). It was just too cute for words! so here are some pictures...

Andrew is two years old. 

He loves the outdoors but not the mittens!

Louie put's on his new skis and its off to the park!

As you can see we have had some snow lately...

That's our green house in the background.  I am so blessed.  My daughter and her family live right across the street from us.  My son lives just outside of town.  Lucky, Lucky Me....

'til next time,

Con

Melanie Muenchinger - Hands, Head and Heart

One can see that Melanie Muenchinger, is a very talented person who has accomplished quit a bit. She is a stamp designer/illustrator and Senior Design Team Member for Gina K Designs.




I like her statement on her homepage from St. Francis of Assisi,


"A woman who works with her hands is a LABORER; a woman who works with her hands and head, a CRAFTSMAN; but a woman who works with her hands, her head and her heart is an ARTIST."




To see Melanie's Stamps: My Stamp Sets for Gina K Designs.




I enjoyed the video clips that Hands, Head and Heart had on their site... (Tuesday, January 18, 2011) On TV! not STV this time, Tee! Vee!!!!! :)

The video clips are How to Watercolor with Glitter Pens and how to make clear embellishments with transparencies, courtesy of Julie Fei-Fan Balzer. I hope that you enjoy watching them too.



Hands, Head and Heart has a cute tutorial from the new Cardmaker issue.  Featured on page 22, is one of Melanie's favorite intereactive designs.  She has created, a birthday blowout using "Candles on Your Cake"!  The card was just too cute to pass up. Please check it out.

I am addicted to subscribing to blogs...LOL!!!  

I have subscribed to so many sites it is starting to take up more and more time deciding which ones I want to visit each day...there are so many blogs out there with some really great information and ideas! I really enjoy blog hopping.  It is so much fun and you get to see new blogs.  Are you finding yourself becoming addictive too? What are you doing to manage all this information? How to keep up with the Blogs?

I also have blog envy!  =) 

I have no tutorials, YouTube Videos...I have a very simple blog. I am not a writer and my spelling is horrible.  In fact I find it hard to write that is why I started this blog...to force myself to write. So please be patient with me - my sentence structure will be wrong too;)  What I can do is post what I have found in different blogs which I like in hopes that they might inspire you. 

So thank you every one who keep checking in with me.  I really appreciate it.

 

'till next time,

Con

Exploring Womanhood

Exploring Womanhood

Been checking out some awesome blogs and websites and thought I would share this one with you.

Here is a great place for some "giveaways."  Crabtbits has some great ideas too for all you crafters.

I'll be sending more info your way so watch for it.

'till next time,

Con