You've Got Mail

Source: shelterpop.com via Amy on Pinterest

I'm a lover of the mail box.
I look forward to getting my mail.
I relish pulling out all the bits and pieces from the box each afternoon, hoping for a little sunshine in an envelope or magazine.
Sometimes it's the JCrew or Anthropologie catalog.
Other days it's an etsy order.
But my favorite days are those when there's a note from a friend.
Even in an age of technology, with texting and email, nothing beats a handwritten card.


I also love sending mail.
I love putting cards in the mail to friends and family that need a bit of sunshine.
I love shortening the miles between friends from afar by sending love in an envelope.
My friend Karen moved 5+ years ago, and missing her hasn't changed as the years have passed. Yet, we send cards, and chat on the phone, and the miles seem to shorten just a bit.
My friend Noelle recently lost her younger sister very unexpectedly, and while I don't have the right words, a "thinking and praying for you" card lets her know she is loved and prayed for.


I enjoy buying cards and making cards.
Some of my favorite store bought cards have come from DaySpring.
For the month of January they offered to send out a package of cards and a package of thank you cards for review.

Check out the (in)spired deals blog here.

I received the Holley Gerth Hope and Encouragement cards:

I am a big Holley Gerth fan. I love her devotional, "God's Heart for You" (I bought it for my sister for Christmas and we are both loving it!). 
Just like her devotional, her cards do not disappoint. They are the perfect cards to send to a friend or family member that could use a little pick me up or a cheerleader in an envelope. Each card has an inspiring message and a sweet sentiment. 
I sent one to my sister and she loved it. It is the perfect bit of encouragement after a long day.
If you've never checked out DaySpring, I encourage you to check out their wonderful products.


**Please note, Dayspring did provide the Holley Gerth collection of cards and Thank you notes to me at no charge, but the opinions in this blog post are my own.


I'll be back tomorrow with photos from CHA and this week I will be sharing my CHA projects!

Ippity Tuesday

Happy Tuesday!

Last week the Ippity Design Team received some FABULOUS stamps from Heather.

I was blessed to receive the Sweet on You set (which includes a cupcakes stand with cupcakes stamp...LOVE!) along with two others.

My mother in law's birthday is coming up quick, so I thought I make her a cute little card to go with the gift we purchased for her.

Here's a look:

It's on the simple side, I wanted to focus on the stamps and products.

I embossed the stamp (using Versamark ink, black embossing powder) and then colored it in with some colored pencils I had on hand. I haven't invested in any Copics yet, my day is coming!

Here's the stamp set:

Thanks for stopping by today!

Four Generations Layout...

Four generations....
Great Grandparents (both sides)
Grandparents
Parents
Grand kids

I've had this picture printed for quite a while, it's been in my pile of "to be scrapped" for just as long. It's an old photo, it's color quality isn't the best, and how do I do it justice on a scrapbook page?
So much this photo captures: A special time, my grandpa still alive, four generations in one room, grand kids on grandparent's laps, smiles, a family together.
Echo Park released "Times and Seasons" and it seemed to call to this photo, so I obliged. I set aside the feelings of "to special to scrap" and pulled out the glue, the ink and the mist.
I'm glad I did. I am going to love looking back on this page. The photo alone always makes me smile.

Thank you for stopping by today, I just created a facebook page for this blog, so if you'd like to stay up to date and see all the fun things going on here be sure to hit the "like" button located in the upper left corner.
Happy Monday!

Fun Friday Recipe...

Many of you know I love to bake. Tonight I fired up my oven (first time since Christmas) and made a batch of carrot cake cupcakes. I'll share those next week.
This week I've got Hot Chocolate Cookies to share!
I love hot chocolate, well, I should say I love, love, love hot chocolate. If it's under 70 degrees I may be found in the Starbucks drive thru buying myself a peppermint hot chocolate with no whip cream.
I saw this recipe in Rachel Ray's Everyday Magazine (which I'm still not sure why I'm receiving...we didn't order it and actually it's addressed to my husband, just a little odd) and had to make them.
Anyways, here's a look at these amazing cookies:

Here's the recipe, just in case you want a little chocolate for the weekend :)

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 stick (4 oz.) unsalted butter
• 7 bars (3.5 oz. each) semisweet chocolate—12 oz. chopped, 7.5 oz. cut into 1-inch squares and the rest for garnish
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1 1/4 cups (packed) light brown sugar
• 3 eggs, at room temperature
• 1 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 30 marshmallows

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter and chopped chocolate, stirring frequently, over medium heat. Let cool for 15 minutes.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt.
3. Using an electric mixer, beat the sugar, eggs and vanilla at low speed until smooth, 2 minutes. Mix in the cooled chocolate mixture just until blended. Add the flour mixture in 2 batches, mixing on low speed until just combined. Refrigerate the dough for at least 1 hour. (If making the dough a day ahead, let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before shaping.)
4. Position a rack in the upper third of the oven; preheat to 325°. Line 2 large cookie sheets with parchment. Using a tablespoon, scoop the dough and roll between your palms to form 1-inch balls. Arrange about 16 balls 2 inches apart on each cookie sheet, flattening slightly. Bake until the tops of the cookies crack, about 12 minutes.
5. Meanwhile, snip 8 marshmallows in half crosswise and stick 1 square of chocolate onto each of the cut sides.
6. Remove the cookie sheets from the oven; gently press a marshmallow half, chocolate side down, into each cookie. Bake until the marshmallows are just softened, about 4 minutes. Transfer the pans to racks to cool for 5 minutes; grate the remaining chocolate over the hot cookies. Using a spatula, transfer the cookies to the racks; let cool. Repeat the process with the remaining dough, marshmallows and chocolate. Bake each batch on a clean sheet of parchment.
   Source: Rachel Ray
   
   
   Wishing you a wonderful, chocolate filled weekend :)

Abundance

I've been thinking about abundance: 

a·bun·dance

 

noun

1.

an extremely plentiful or oversufficient quantity or supply:an abundance of grain.

2.

overflowing fullness: abundance of the heart.

3.

affluence; wealth: the enjoyment of abundance.

4.

Physics, Chemistry . the number of atoms of one isotope of anelement divided by the total number of atoms in amixture of the isotopes.

When November rolled around this past year and Christmas lists were requested from family, I struggled.

I teach junior highers who only have three outfits to wear total, and many go home to empty homes and eat quesadillas for dinner every night. I see kids each day who own one sweatshirt, have never been to Disneyland and are fortunate to get a few Christmas presents at best.

So, it was hard for me to think about wanting anything more than I already have.  A good dose of gratitude brought the overwhelming feeling that in 2012 we needed to find a way to give back, to make an impact, to change another's life for the better. As a teacher, I can provide a loving classroom, encouragement, meet some clothing needs, but I still never feel like it's quite enough. 

Enter Luis.

I was reading (in)courage last week and happened upon Compassion's website. I scrolled the faces of kids in need, and stopped on a small, smiling seven year old from El Salvador. He held a striking resemblance to one of my students, and he had been requesting a sponsor for more than six months. What better way to give back than to give a seven year old who lives in a dirt floor mud hut the opportunity for clean water, food, medical care, training for his parents and tutoring for him? Who knew just saying yes in response to the abundance we have could feel so good? Who knew that $48 a month could do so much for one other person on this earth. 

I sure didn't. 

But I do now.

Meet Luis: 

 I can't wait to see what the future holds for this little one! 

“If you can't feed a hundred people, then just feed one.”

Mother Teresa

Eleven Years Layout...

The Sampler's January Kit is so much fun!
I used it to document J and my eleventh wedding anniversary. We kicked it off at Griffith Park watching the sun go down. It was beautiful! Then we went to Mastro's in Beverly Hills (where we had THE BEST warm butter cake dessert and saw Lionel Richie).

Here's my layout:

I cut the flower petals and "Hello Time" (Ali Edwards brush) on my Silhouette Cameo.
Thanks for stopping by today!

Two Card Tuesday

The Sampler Kit Club is hosting their monthly card challenge starting today.
If you love making cards, this might be a fun one for you.
Here is the inspiration piece:

Here is the card I made:

I used The Sampler's January kit and a Fiskars heart punch to make the hearts and then stamped with Ali Edward's Studio AE stamps for the "love" and "love you images". They are embossed with clear embossing powder. I will be doing a tutorial over on the blog on Friday on how to make those hearts!
If you would like to join in the card challenge, head over to The Sampler blog and join in!


I also have another card for you today, one that I made with the Sampler's January kit and also with an Ippity Stamp. I am over on the Ippity blog today and would love for you to stop by and leave some love!

Here is the card:

I explained how to make it on the Ippity blog.

Thanks for stopping by, and happy Tuesday!

What's New?

Twenty Twelve is here and there is so much going on!

I thought I'd take today to show you what's happening at some of my favorite places. 

First up, Sally and I have a new class over at Scrapbook Daisies in Long Beach, CA. 

Our class is titled Twelve Months Captured in 2012: 

Twelve Months Captured in 2012 will allow you to capture, record and remember all the moments 2012 brings. This album/layout class will include a two page 12x12 spread for each month, along with a 12x6 double sided page sandwiched between the spread to hold all the journaling and fun for the month. This class will be held three times during the year. We look forward to recording 2012 with you!    Class 1: February 19, 2011 $38.00 12:30-3:30 PM This class includes: a leather 12x12 album, page protectors, a cover page layout, layouts for January, February, and March.  Class 2: April  Class Cost $25.00 This class will include: Layouts for April, May, June, July and August.

Class 3: Late Summer  Class Cost: $25.00 In this class we will create layouts for September, October, November, and December, along with a closing page to finish off your album with style.  Please call or stop by Scrapbook Daisies today (562-377-0302) to sign up for our February class! This class is a steal as it includes a 12x12 leather album with all the necessary page protectors for the entire year, along with three months of layouts. We hope to see you in February. If you will be out of town or not able to attend we will have kits available for pick up at Scrapbook Daisies starting Feb. 19th. We'll advise you of the dates of the other 2 classes as soon as they are scheduled. Next up I have The Sampler's January 2012 kit!  I was so floored when this kit hit my doorstep as it is PACKED full! Three alphabets, tons of patterned paper, Hambly transparency, handmade embellishments, and more! Go here to see more!  Here's a peek: and We Scrap has a big event coming up, so mark your calendar: I will be back to regular blogging this week, tomorrow I have two cards to share, and layouts will be shared this week as well, so come back tomorrow!  Happy Monday!!