Performance Recaps

So much has happened these past few months.  We relocated to Pennsylvania and became empty-nesters.  One highlight was also a trip to LA with the American Military Spouses Choir to participate on the Queen Latifah show! (I'm in the center top row)

We also got to record at Capital Records! CAPITAL RECORDS!

And perform on Hallmark Channels' Home and Family Show with Christina Ferrare and Mark Steins

There was also the opportunity and honor to sing at the Military Channels' Homeward Bound Telethon.  Plus, I got to meet The Temptations! 

(Do I look in awe or what?)

It was an amazing time

In between the performances I had to unpack, and prepare for the holidays!

Which were followed up by a corporate engagement in Missouri (along with sillyness at a 1920's themed party)

I've had little time for my Stampin' Up! business, but tried to make time for creating. 

Now that things have settled a bit, I am looking forward to ordering from the Sale-A-Bration 2014 Catalog! Have you seen all of the crafty goodness?

My First Stampin' Up! Video Tutorial - White Watercolor Technique

It's here! My first video tutorial.  I hope you enjoy! I had a request on how I made this card I posted a few weeks ago, so here it is.

Kept By Grace

I heard a song today that said, "The Grace that saved you is the same Grace that will keep you".  I found so much comfort in that.  I sometimes feel like I stumble and fall short.  Short of my goals, short of my dreams, short of my abilities.  Or, I let the guilt of said failures 'lock' me in a place of defeat, and prevent me from moving forward. Do you ever feel like that?

Well today, I decided to break the cycle.  I began to focus on the promises of God. (Romans 8:38-39).  I began to read what the bible says about me.  Sometimes we have to override those negative voices in our minds with the truth, and purposefully, really purposefully focus on that.

That's my Penny From Heaven ~

I felt the need to share that at the beginning of this post.  But don't think for a minute that I forgot to share crafty goodness from the new Stampin' Up catalog! I started with the new Gingham Garden Designer Series Paper (which is on sale now)! I stamped the stem from Secret Garden and the flower from Mixed Bunch and punched it out! Easy-peasy!

 I love the new 2013-2015 In Colors.  Here, I used Crisp Cantalope and Pistachio Pudding.  The stamp set is the new Happy Day.  I love how the doily image punches out to creat a dimension.  I used the Delicate Doilies Sizzlets, and Tea Lace Paper Doilies (which I love!)

And remember, Phil 4:8 "And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise" ...that would be YOU!

A Summer Filled With Gratitude

Summer has just begun, yet there is already so much to be thankful for.

My youngest son, graduated from High School (with honors) last week! Thank You Lord.
I celebrated my 27th Wedding Anniversary with the love of my life. Thank You Lord.
I auditioned with American Military Spouses Choir on America's Got Talent in Chicago. Thank You Lord.
Still to come this summer? My birthday, and my sons' 18th and 21st Birthdays! Thank You Lord!

All of this thankfulness sparks creativity.  Stampin' Up! provides a lot of tools I can use to create great memories, and work on techniques.

I saw this water color technique on Stampin Connection and had to try it!

Check out this pretty Designer Series Paper Gingham Garden. I loved playing with it.

I decided to create a 'hidden pocket' on the card front.  

What are YOU thankful for this summer?  Don't forget to write it down and thank the Lord! ~ Well that's my Penny from heaven.

Supplies Used: 

Thank You Cards:

Card Stock: Black, Pool Party, Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, Island Indigo, Whisper White

Stamp Sets:  Secret Garden, Perfectly Penned, Petite Pairs, Betsy's Blossoms

Stampin Write Markers

Craft Whisper White Stampin' Pad

All of these items are available here in my 24/7 Online Store!

Father's Day Island Indigo Inspiration

Loving the new colors? Trying to use up old scraps? Stampin' Up! makes it easy.  With so many options in the new catalog, I decided to get creative using my current supplies and scraps.  What better way to make room for new products? I love Island Indigo, and find my self constantly pulling it from my cardstock pile.  I mixed it with the This and That Washi Tape and Stamps for different sets to create bright and fun Father's Day Card.

I also used my Honeycomb Embossing Folder for the strip of card stock to add texture.

I also used Island Indigo Cardstock on these cards. I used my By The Seashore stamp set.

To create these cards, I used Pool Party Stampin' Emboss Powder, and cut out the images.

I heat embossed the images and cut them into squares to mount onto cards.

I hope you enjoy! Stay creative. 

Time To Make The Father's Day Cards!

It's that time of year again.  Time to honor those wonderful men who fill our lives with joy, wisdom, security and love...OUR DAD's (and hubby's)  Stampin' Up! has many great products to help you create the perfect card to wish Dad's the best day ever!

I am hosting a Father's Day Card Class this week Friday, May 24 from 7-9pm, and again Saturday, May 25, 10am-12. We will make 3 cards w/envelopes for only $10.  If you place a $25 order, your class is only $5! This is will be a great time to check out our great hostess and new demonstrator offers while there is still time!

Busy summer coming up? Why not sign up for Paper Pumpkin? Have Stampin' Up! supplies delivered to you monthly for only $19.95! You can even skip a month, or end it at any time.  Each box will contain all the products you need to create projects.  Ask me all about it! :)

Finally, I want to give a shout out of special prayers and thoughts for the people affected by the terrible events in Oklahoma this week.  I will donate a portion of my proceeds from this week to The American Red Cross to aid the tornado victims and their families.  ~ That's my Penny From Heaven.  God bless you all.

Jer. 29:11

Being in the military gives you a lot of experience saying good-bye.  I had one such experience with a good friend and Stampin' Up! buddy.  I wanted to make her a special card using a bird, so I choose the "For The Birds" stamp set.  I embossed it in white and water colored in using chalk white ink and my Stampin Write markers.  I randomly used scraps from the This and That Epic Day Kit.  How do you create YOUR block patterns?

Here's my CASE of the day (copy and share everywhere).  My sample was blue, but I didn't have enough, so I used up my green.  Loving the new petite curly label punch! So glad it made it to the new 2013-2014 Stampin' Up! catalog.

My friend will move on with her beautiful Army family. I will miss the great times we had crafting, laughing and praying together.  But I know God has someone waiting for her at their next duty station. It's amazing how God is so strategic like that, He knows the plans He has for us! Jer. 29: 11 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." 

Are you enjoying His plans in YOUR life? Take time to thank Him for those people He blesses you with while you can ~ Well, that's my Penny From Heaven

For the Birds Stampset 126407

Up and Running!

No, I'm not talking about my exercise routine, I'm talking about my dreams! I finally created my very own Pennys From Heaven facebook page!  I already received likes and I am super excited! I can't believe I have let fear of rejection or failure hold me back for so long! What's holding YOU back from running toward YOUR dreams? Pray and ask God to remove all fear.  Trust Him and GO FOR IT!!! ~well that's my Penny From Heaven.

Below are a few samples from the Craft Fair I recently participated in.  It was so much fun!

Card Tote and 4 note cards

These little puppies have been all over Pinterest! They are cut and filed chipboard covered with Stampin' Up! Designer Series Paper.

Swap Goodness and Inspiration

This past week was our Creative InkSpirations monthly meeting.  The ladies out-did themselves (as usual). I was so super inspired by all the great projects.  I created the card above using the embossing folder with Very Vanilla CS. I ran it through the Big Shot, then used spongers and Midnight Muse ink over the whole image.  Next I cut around the flowered image and mounted it onto Midnight Muse Cardstock.  Added DSP and ribbon. Voila!

These are just a few pictures I took of the outstanding work the ladies brought to the meeting to share.  I will be posting more soon. 

Many of the projects were created using items purchased and free from the awesome Sale-a-bration event that @Stampin' Up! sponsored.  I got a lot of free products as result of sales and and workshops.  It's such fun to set and meet goals.  It's even more fun to get the opportunity to get creative with friends.  

Just for fun I want to have my own creative party.  Just have friends come over and create, and eat.    What do you think you would come up with? 

My Penny From Heaven is this: God gives us gifts and talents. Some people are great oratory speakers, others are culinary wizards.  Some possess superhuman strength on the basket ball court, some know how to coo and sooth the most ornery baby.  Me? God gifted me with creativity to love, sing and make paper crafts.  If you are reading this blog, please know that He has gifted you too! I'm the one who sends a  'Thank You' card, or an 'I'm Praying For You' card, or 'Way To Go' or 'Get Well Soon' card.  It's a form of ministry to me.  That and singing in worship.  So, having the opportunity to do what I love through @Stampin Up! is a great blessing! Want to join me? 

Keep working at your talents.  The world is waiting for you!

Hard work without talent is a shame, but talent without hard work is a tragedy. - Robert Half  

Have a Neighborhood Ladies' Night!

So my next door neighbor and I decided to have a "Neighborhood Ladies' Night" So I made these cute door hangers using Stampin' Up! Card Stock, Ribbon and Circle Punch. 

 She delivered them onto doors.  They were quick and easy, and gained lots of responses.

For door prizes, I created these cute Note Cards and Holders.  

Carrying card tote and matching card

They were super fun to create.  I will try my hand at making a video tutorial soon to show you how to create these fun boxes.

All supplies used are Stampin' Up! Of course!

My advice to everyone today is to be awesome. Not everyone will appreciate your awesomeness, and some may even try to take it away. But that's okay, just tell them they are awesome too. Then continue on in your awesomeness.

That's my Penny From Heaven

Supplies Used:

Parker Patterns Designer Series Paper                              

Patio Party Designer Series Paper

Print Poetry Designer Series Paper

Stamp Sets:

Summer Silhouettes

Perfectly Penned

Carry On

Blossoms Punch

Mixed Bunch