Dream Your Heart Out - Day 26

This is today's entry in my 100 Days to Dream Your Heart Out devotional journal.

Stamp Sets Used:
Stamplorations - Faith Expressions
Unity - Bernadette Girl

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A Day Touched By Kindness

Kindness is a beautiful thing. It makes bad days better. It eases burdens. It cheers the downtrodden. It bolsters one's confidence. It impacts quality control and job performance. It rejuvenates those who are worn out. 

Kindness makes the world a better place.

In fact, kindness is so valuable that there is even a day set aside to celebrate it. Established in 1998 and celebrated on November 13th every year, World Kindness Day is an international holiday to promote kindness throughout the world. 

BUT - don't you just love that word? - But why wait! Let's celebrate kindness EVERY day! I'm going to celebrate kindness today in little ways - choosing my words and actions carefully as I interact with others, ensuring that I treat them with kindness. I think I'll also mail a card or two to some individuals who might need a reminder of how very much I appreciate them and their kindness to me.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Set: Flourishes Zinnia stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Papertrey Ink White and SU Cameo Coral CS

Die: My Favorite Things Blueprint 21

Embellishments: American Crafts and SU Ribbons and Gold Trim and Recollections Rhinestones

Dream Your Heart Out - Day 25

This is today's entry in my 100 Days to Dream Your Heart Out devotional journal.

Stamp Set Used:
Your Next Stamp - Lisa

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Love Is the Theme

One of the great joys of my crafting life was serving on the Eyelet Outlet design team. When I chose to leave the team at the end of 2019 (I had taken on a part-time job and time was more limited) I told Suzanne, the owner of Eyelet Outlet, that I'd do a Focus on Eyelet Outlet post on my blog each month, just for the fun of it. Why? Because I love Eyelet Outlet products!

So today is...

Focus on Eyelet Outlet

With Valentine's Day just around the corner 

(as well Brent's and my Anniversary) 

I decided to focus on love.

It Moose Be Love

Eyelet Outlet Products:

Jewel Strip

Moose Brad

Pine Tree Brad

Washi Tape - Glitter Hearts

Washi Tape - Skinny

The sentiment was computer generated.

Polar Opposites

Eyelet Outlet Products:

Bear Brad

Heart Enamel - Pastel

Polar Bear Brads

Snowflake Brads

The sentiment was computer generated.

The mountains are a La La Land die.

I Woof You!

Eyelet Outlet Products:

Bluebird Brad

Enamel Heart - Pastel

Glitter Enamel Dots

Puppy Brads

Washi Tape

Taylored Expressions Tanner Stamp/Die Set

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Dream Your Heart Out - Day 24

This is today's entry in my 100 Days to Dream Your Heart Out devotional journal.

Stamp Sets Used:
Unity - Butterfly
Unity - Here Today, Here Tomorrow

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Stamp What? Oh Whale

There's a new challenge series starting on my blog today. Kelly came up with this creative idea and invited Barb and I to join her. You might recognize this trio - we are the Three Musketeers and also do the Ready Set Go and One Plus Twelve challenges. This challenge which will be on our blogs on the 29th of each month is called Stamp What?

You know that stack of stamps you have that you have never used or haven't used in a LONG time and are sitting on a shelf, collecting dust?  It's time for us to take one down off the shelf and use it!  But which one?  The name *Stamp What?* comes from using only STAMPin' Up stamps for this challenge and never knowing WHAT it will be! Even we won't know which one it will be ~ it's chosen at random either by someone for us or by number generator.  (I used a number generator to determine which one to use). Since it's chosen at random, it will be a surprise, even to us!   

Stamp What?!!

What stamp was randomly selected for my first Stamp What post? 

Stampin' UP! Oh, Whale!

Truthfully, I'm not sure why I even purchased this stamp - I had never used it and didn't even have an idea of what to do with it. But a challenge is a challenge is a challenge, so here we go.

First I used two stencil to add some blue to a piece of white cardstock - My Favorite Things Wonky Chevron and an Oval from an unknown vendor. Next I stamped the images and sentiment, then I used my Taylored Expressions Blending Brushes to add So Saffron ink around the outside.

A sun and some brads and we're ready to put it all together.

Not my favorite card; that's for sure... but what could I expect since it's also not a stamp set I would buy again, given the chance.

Be sure to head over to Kelly's blog and Barb's blog to see what stamp sets they used and to admire their creativity.

As always...

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Set: Stampin' UP! Oh, Whale!

Inks: Memento Paris Dusk and SU Marina Mist and So Saffron

Papers: Recollections Blue and 110# White and SU So Saffron CS

Die: Gina Marie Designs Stitched Sky

Embellishments: Paper Studio Brads

Dream Your Heart Out - Day 23

This is today's entry in my 100 Days to Dream Your Heart Out devotional journal.

Stamp Set Used:
Unity - Celebrate the New

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Sprinkle A Little Love

It's the 28th of January, which means it's the day that the Challenge Your Stash group posts this month's creations. One of the members hosts each month, choosing a theme for us to use... and as always, we must only use items in our stash (no shopping allowed).

LJ was this month's host. Her theme is...

Sprinkle a Little Love

It's a great theme with lots of possibilities. I decided to use a stamp set from Sparkle and Sprinkle (how's that for Sprinkling a Little Love?) with some adorable sheep and lots of hearts.

I hope LJ and the other Challenge Your Stash members like my card.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Set: Sparkle and Sprinkle Will Ewe Be Mine stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Recollections Black and 110# White and SU Real Red CS and DP from my scrap file

Embellishment: Michael's Ribbon

Dream Your Heart Out - Day 22

This is today's entry in my 100 Days to Dream Your Heart Out devotional journal.

Stamp Set Used:

Flourishes - Tulips for Friends

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2020 Travel the World - Week 4

FYI: It's not Tuesday. LOL! Usually these Travel the World cards are on my blog on Tuesdays, but I have another card that needs to be on my blog tomorrow, so Travel the World is a day early this week.

I started my Travel the World Series last year. (It should be noted that I did a similar thing in 2018, only it was the 50 states.) For 50 weeks in 2019, I visited a different country (virtually) and shared facts about that country. I then selected one tidbit of information about that week's country as inspiration for a card. Fifty weeks; fifty countries... BUT there are 195 countries in the world so that was just a little over 25% of them. Of course I couldn't stop, so this year I'm continuing with fifty more countries, one per week.

This week's country is...

Luxembourg

Luxembourg is a little smaller than the state of Rhode Island, making it one of the tiniest countries in the world.

Forests cover more than a third of the country.

Over half of the permanent residents of Luxembourg are natives and just under half of them are foreign born. There are about 170 different nationalities calling Luxembourg home, the majority of the immigrants are Portuguese (over 15 percent). The country also has very small Jewish and Romani (Gypsy) populations.

Luxembourg is the second richest country in the world.

Luxembourg is home to many stunning castles. Several castles have been preserved and restored, and are very much worth visiting.

There are 17 kilometers (over ten and a half miles) of underground tunnels under The Bock that are cut through solid rock beneath Luxembourg City. First started in 1644, they were used as air raid shelters during World Wars I and II.

Le Chemin de La Corniche is a pedestrian walkway built along the tops of the ramparts on the eastern side of the fortress-city of Le Chemin. Its nickname is “Europe’s most beautiful balcony”.

Luxembourg has seven national parks: two are diverse nature parks, two are humid zones, two are nature reserves, and one is a protected area.

Luxembourg’s population is generally tri-lingual. The national language, Luxembourgish, is taught in nursery school and spoken at home and among natives. In fact, the major symbol of social class divisions is which language is understood and spoken in the home. German is the first new language taught at school and French and English are taught in secondary school. All three are spoken in public and French, German and English used doing business.

Schiessentumpel is a three-part waterfall on the Black Ernz River that tourists and locals both love to visit.

Almost half of the country's workforce lives in another country and commutes to work in Luxembourg. They come from France, Belgium, and Germany.

With 647 cars purchased per 1,000 people, Luxembourg has the highest rate of car ownership in the entire world. What is the top selling brand? Volkswagen is purchased most often. 

You can rent bikes for free anywhere in Luxembourg City for 30 minutes.

Luxembourg is one of the world’s safest countries and has only two jails.

When eating out with others in Luxembourg, table manners are formal and you must have good ones at all times. First, remain standing until you are invited to sit down. The table manners are Continental: you hold your knife in your right hand and your fork in your left when eating. Do not rest your elbows on the table at any time. You begin to eat when your hostess does. Almost all foods are eaten using utensils, including sandwiches. Clean your plate and then show you are finished eating by laying your knife and fork together on the parallel across the right side of your plate.

Good manners dictate you must always take gifts along if invited to someone’s Luxembourg home, usually good chocolates or flowers for the hostess. But always give flowers in odd numbers (but never 13), and don’t give chrysanthemums as they are given at funerals.

Good manners are important to and demonstrated by the Luxembourg people. Being blunt is considered rude behaviors and punctuality is taken very seriously. If you are late, you are seen as unreliable and should offer an explanation and an apology.

I decided to let this Luxembourg fact be the inspiration for this week's card... The national animal is the lion, also known as “the king of beasts”.

Here's the inside of my card:

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Set: Technique Tuesday Leonardo the Lion stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink

Papers: Recollections Black and 110# White and SU So Saffron CS and AMuse Studio DP

Embellishments: Gina Marie Designs Enamel Dots

Dream Your Heart Out - Day 21

This is today's entry in my 100 Days to Dream Your Heart Out devotional journal.

Stamp Set Used:
Unity - My Heart Trusts

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The Hope We Have

If you come to my blog often, you probably know that Sundays are reserved for Bible Journaling posts unless the date is one that is matches one of my monthly postings.

I like Sundays.

While life for ministry families really doesn't allow for making it a true day of rest, I do rest as much as possible on Sundays. I take a break from SCS. I do only a minimal amount of posting on any social media, for that matter. I relax between morning and evening church services. It is a break from the normal routines and that, in and of itself, is restful.

Today's Bible Journaling entry is Hebrews 6:18b-19.

Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God's inner sanctuary.

Stamp Set Used:

Our Daily Bread - Anchor

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Dream Your Heart Out - Day 20

This is today's entry in my 100 Days to Dream Your Heart Out devotional journal.

Stamp Set Used:
Woodware - Fill Me Lightbulb

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Wool "Ewe" Be Mine?

Do EWE have a Sweetheart?

If so, it's time to start thinking about making a Valentine's Day Card for him/her.

I used the Raisin Boat Wild About Ewe, Honey! stamp set for my card.

The set has so many options for making fun Valentine cards.

Here's the inside of my card:

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Set: Raisin Boat Wild About Ewe, Honey! stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Recollections Black and 110# White and SU Lemon Lime Twist CS and DP from my scrap file

Dies: Spellbinders Circles

Punch: SU Word Window

Embellishments: CC Designs Enamel Dots