What Warms Your Soul?

Hi! Glad you could visit today!

My friend, Lana (www.blestwithstamps.blogspot.com), led me to a very neat blog entry here http://vickichrisman.blogspot.com and a terrific, inspirational video as found on http://www.kindovermatter.com/2011/02/what-warms-your-soul.html

What warms your soul? from hailey bartholomew on Vimeo.

I wanted to pass along those bits of inspiration to you. Check out each of the blogs, and leave some kind comments for each of the authors - it's always nice to know when the blogosphere likes what you've shared. Then, list everything you can think of that warms your soul. Share them with the world on your blog, Facebook page, wherever, and pass the love and warmth this brings to others, encouraging them to do the same – pass it forward. God certainly knows that with the bombardment of the news of the world, we could all use a moment or two of wonderful reverie and gratitude! Let others know how special you are and what's important to you! It can be truly wonderful for you and it may lift up and inspire someone else!

My list:
My twin granddaughters’ wonderful, deep belly laughs, their hands on my face when they want my undivided attention, and their amazingly insightful thoughts on the world around them; my husband’s hand on mine in the car while we’re driving somewhere; my eldest daughter’s terrific belly laugh (maybe that’s where the twins get theirs?) and her commitment to friends and family; my grandson’s smile, his dinosaur roar that comes from the bottom of his toes, and his sweet face, hands and feet when he sleeps; my youngest daughter’s laugh, sense of humor and dedication to her children; my son-in-law’s laugh (seeing a picture here?) and his gentle spirit; my future son-in-law’s remarkable talents as a handyman, and his love for my daughter and her children; my sweet Chloe dog, who is with me wherever I am in the house and knows when I need her nuzzle the most; my cats’ warmth as they snuggle in the crook of my knees on the couch; a beautiful blue, sunny sky and the snow on just one side of the trees out my door to the woods; the wonderful feeling when someone thanks me when I least expect it; making art with my stamping; the roof over my head, particularly when the curtains are drawn and it’s our own little world together, my hubby and me; listening to my husband play his drums (he’s really good!); little children running, playing and laughing, and particularly when they are so excited to tell you about their day; the undeniable knowledge and feel of the Presence of God wherever I am; soft jazz; a beautifully sung song; gardening and watching beautiful, flavorful things grow; memories of my mom’s beautiful white hair blowing in the breeze on a gorgeous, sunny day; sinking into a really warm, comfy bed when I’m too tired to keep my eyes open; camping on a foggy summer morning; reading blogs that inspire with words and art because you know they hold a small vision of the heart of the author/artist; a quiet moment alone with God in my church sanctuary; Psalm 121.

These are just some of my heartwarmers – how about you?

Have a blessed day!
Kris

My sweet Valentine

Hi, all - thanks for stopping by!

My wish for each of you this week is to have a very sweet, happy Valentine's Day with your loved one(s).

My hubby and I celebrated it early. We had a Groupon coupon (if you haven't joined Groupon.com or Living Social, you absolutely have to try it! What savings!) to a local restaurant we hadn't tried for some time. We had a delicious meal and a very nice time just spending time together. Then, we had watched one of our twins granddaughters yesterday, and her mom invited us to dinner. Very nice time with her family, too. And, I actually sent probably the first adult Valentine to my eldest daughter (the first one I've handmade for her since she was a child) and her hubby and hope to spend some wonderful time with them next Sunday. Very nice times!

Just wanted to share the card I made for my best friend, my husband of 39 years, but whom I've known since kindergarten. I believe God sends people into our lives that he knows we will need along our journey, and I am extremely blessed every day for my guy. He loves God, loves me and makes me laugh, and those are the most important qualities of a good man and a lasting marriage. My parents held hands and smooched all the time until my dad passed and, after, she always knew he was with her constantly. That was the type of marriage I always wanted and, fortunately, God's blessed me with that same type of relationship. I pray that you, too, will have such a relationship in your life!

I actually cased this very neat card from Amber Hight (AmberDawn on SCS):
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1896108
(Thanks for sharing and inspiring, Amber!) I'm submitting my version to Crazy 4 Challenges C4C74.

I loved the image and that simple, yet meaningful, sentiment from My Favorite Things. Now, I love all things vintage, so this was a little stretch for me, but I think it turned out well - made my hubby smile, so that's good! SU Riding Hood Red and Basic Black were used for the cs. The striped paper was from a digital collection from ScrapGirls. I embossed the hearts from the stamp set with SU silver dp. The red heart was cut and embossed with the Swirls Cuttlebug ef.

I am fairly new to Copics, so I followed Amber's excellent coloring idea (and hope I did her artwork justice!). Stickles were used to give the flapper dress a bit of glitz, as well as the button on the collar of the guy. Finally, rhinestone brads from SU were placed on each corner for a slight bit more bling.

Hope you all have a wonderful, fill-your-heart-with-love kind of Valentine's Day!

Kris

Know the love of Christ ... so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.--Ephesians 3:19

He Will Make All Things Beautiful

Hi, all!

Thanks so much for stopping by. Are you keeping warm? Are you staying in and stamping up a storm (pun intended)?

Well, I've been holed up working on reorganizing my craft room (not moving along very fast - just too much stuff!), stamping, and other things to keep busy. Our Daily Bread Designs is having a challenge entitled "the blues," that caught my eye, so here is my card for that challenge (ODBDSLC46).

I believe most people (except maybe the winter skiers and slope owners) are done with snow this year, don't you? I know that the gray skies tend to make me more subdued, to say the least! That's what came to mind with this challenge - looking for sun (and bright hope) in the drabness of these snow-laden days. After all, when the sun shines through, we feel rejuvenated and happier, don't you agree? And that's what I look forward to through the ice and snow of these days.

I've been really reflective lately (being indoors on cloudy days will do that to a person! HA!)and this challenge's timing gives me a chance to share some of that reflection through artwork and this blog, if you'll indulge me for a moment! With this card, the blue I used came from Basic Grey's Periphery paper (love this retired pad of paper!), which illustrates a swallow with its beak pointing up. That indicated to me the hope of a brighter day. Surrounding the main image are borders of bright, crisp white stamped with an EK Success border punch. The sentiment, from ODBD's set, "Scripture Collection I," was stamped on additional Periphery paper in SU Bordering Blue ink, and two antique brads from SU were applied. The image, the sentiment, and the butterflies were all popped up for dimension.

The heart stamp is called "Music of Love" by Stampendous. Here, I wanted to capture the idea of hope, which the heart represents, and the sweet songs of the bird. The Martha Stewart punch was used to punch the butterflies from more Perifery paper, and each butterfly has a body of small pearls. They were placed to indicate movement upward toward the sun (which I know is still there and will be peeking through very soon!), and, again, is my interpretation of hope for a "brighter" day! All of this, then, was mounted on 6x6 white cardstock.

Along, then, with hope for sunny days is the thought that God is always present through the storm and gray clouds of our lives. I think the poet and Quaker, John Greenleaf Whittier, expresses these thoughts well:

“I pray for faith, I long to trust; I listen with my heart, and hear A Voice without a sound: 'Be just, Be true, be merciful, revere The Word within thee: God is near! 'A light to sky and earth unknown Pales all their lights: a mightier force Than theirs the powers of Nature own, And, to its goal as at its source, His Spirit moves the Universe. 'Believe and trust. Through stars and suns, Through life and death, through soul and sense, His wise, paternal purpose runs; The darkness of His providence Is star-lit with benign intents.' O joy supreme! I know the Voice Like none beside on earth or sea; Yea, more, O soul of mine, rejoice, By all that He requires of me, I know what God himself must be.... I fear no more. The clouded face Of Nature smiles; through all her things Of time and space and sense I trace The moving of the Spirit’s wings, And hear the song of hope she sings.”

If you've read this far, God bless you for your stamina and thanks so much for indulging me in my reverie. Remember, Punxatawney Phil says Spring in six weeks! The sun is coming! Keep warm and have faith!!! :-)