Saturday, April 30, 2011

Stampin'Up Strength & Hope Campaign

Campaign Dates: May 1-August 31, 2011

As part of our Making a Difference program, Stampin' Up! is proud to partner with The Breast Cancer Research Foundation in the Strength & Hope Campaign.

Throughout the 2011 Summer Mini Catalog sales period, Stampin' Up! will donate $2* from the sale of each Strength & Hope set and Strength & Hope digital kit to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF). Prepare for your Strength & Hope workshops now by preordering these exclusive Summer Mini products--and help contribute to an amazing cause! Start your preorder now.

Item Description Price

118100 Strength & Hope wood-mount set $17.95

123660 Strength & Hope clear-mount set $13.95

124475 Strength & Hope digital kit Includes a four-piece stamp brush set, 12 Designer Series Papers, and 10 embellishment pieces. $9.95


*Stampin' Up! is donating $2 from this purchase to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation® . BCRF is dedicated to preventing breast cancer and finding a cure in our lifetime by funding clinical and translational research worldwide. For more information about BCRF, visit www.bcrfcure.org.

Friday, April 29, 2011

National Scrapbooking Month Promotion starts

http://www.stampinup.com/us/documents/NatScrapMonth_Flyer_May2011_US.pdf

http://www.stampinup.com/us/documents/Products_on_sale_US.pdf

10 Guidelines from God..... This is so beautiful

Effective Immediately,

please be aware that there are changes YOU need to make in YOUR life. These changes need to be completed in order that I may fulfill My promises to you to grant you peace, joy and happiness in this life. I apologize for any inconvenience, but after all that I am doing, this seems very little to ask of you. Please, follow these 10 guidelines

1. QUIT WORRYING:
Life has dealt you a blow and all you do is sit and worry. Have you forgotten that I am here to take all your burdens and carry them for you? Or do you just enjoy fretting over every little thing that comes your way?

2. PUT IT ON THE LIST:
Something needs done or taken care of. Put it on the list. No, not YOUR list. Put it on MY to-do-list. Let ME be the one to take care of the problem. I can't help you until you turn it over to Me. And although My to-do-list is long, I am after all... God. I can take care of anything you put into My hands. In fact, if the truth were ever really known, I take care of a lot of things for you that you never even realize.

3. TRUST ME:
Once you've given your burdens to Me, quit trying to take them back. Trust in Me. Have the faith that I will take care of
all your needs, your problems and your trials. Problems with the kids? Put them on My list. Problem with finances? Put it on My list. Problems with your emotional roller coaster? For My sake, put it on My list. I want to help you. All you have to do is ask.

4. LEAVE IT ALONE:
Don't wake up one morning and say, "Well, I'm feeling much stronger now, I think I can handle it from here." Why do you think you are feeling stronger now? It's simple. You gave Me your burdens and I'm taking care of them. I also renew your strength and cover you in my peace. Don't you know that if I give you these problems back, you will be right back where you started? Leave them with Me and forget about them. Just let Me do my job.

5. TALK TO ME:
I want you to forget a lot of things. Forget what was making you crazy. Forget the worry and the fretting because you know I'm in control. But there's one thing I pray you never forget. Please, don't forget to talk to Me - OFTEN! I love YOU! I want to hear your voice. I want you to include Me in on the things going on in your life. I want to hear you talk about your friends and family. Prayer is simply you having a conversation with Me. I want to be your dearest friend.

6. HAVE FAITH:
I see a lot of things from up here that you can't see from where you are. Have faith in Me that I know what I'm doing. Trust Me; you wouldn't want the view from My eyes. I will continue to care for you, watch over you, and meet your needs. You only have to trust Me. Although I have a much bigger task than you, it seems as if you have so much trouble just doing your simple part. How hard can trust be?

7. SHARE:
You were taught to share when you were only two years old. When did you forget? That rule still applies. Share with those who are less fortunate than you. Share your joy with those who need encouragement. Share your laughter with those who haven't heard any in such a long time. Share your tears with those who have forgotten how to cry.. Share your faith
with those who have none.

8. BE PATIENT:
I managed to fix it so in just one lifetime you could have so many diverse experiences. You grow from a child to an adult, have children, change jobs many times, learn many trades, travel to so many places, meet thousands of people, and experience so much. How can you be so impatient then when it takes Me a little longer than you expect to handle
something on My to-do-list? Trust in My timing, for My timing is perfect. Just because I created the entire universe in
only six days, everyone thinks I should always rush, rush, rush.

9. BE KIND:
Be kind to others, for I love them just as much as I love you. They may not dress like you, or talk like you, or live the same way you do, but I still love you all. Please try to get along, for My sake. I created each of you different in some way. It would be too boring if you were all identical. Please, know I love each of your differences.

10. LOVE YOURSELF:
As much as I love you, how can you not love yourself? You were created by me for one reason only -- to be loved, and to love in return. I am a God of Love. Love Me. Love your neighbors. But also love yourself. It makes My heart ache when I see you so angry with yourself when things go wrong. You are very precious to me. Don't ever forget.......

Note: I received this from a friend and I have no idea who wrote it, but I was so touched by it, that I had to share it with you. I hope that you will be blessed by it and will share it with others.
Touch someone with your love. Rather than focus upon the thorns of life, smell the roses and count your blessings!

God Bless Us All. No Exceptions!

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Love you card.wmv

An excerpt from The 100/0 Principle by Al Ritter

What is the most effective way to create and sustain great relationships with others? It's The 100/0 Principle: You take full responsibility (the 100) for the relationship, expecting nothing (the 0) in return.

Implementing The 100/0 Principle is not natural for most of us. It takes real commitment to the relationship and a good dose of self-discipline to think, act and give 100 percent.

The 100/0 Principle applies to those people in your life where the relationships are too important to react automatically or judgmentally. Each of us must determine the relationships to which this principle should apply. For most of us, it applies to work associates, customers, suppliers, family and friends.
• STEP 1 - Determine what you can do to make the relationship work...then do it. Demonstrate respect and kindness to the other person, whether he/she deserves it or not.
• STEP 2 - Do not expect anything in return. Zero, zip, nada.
• STEP 3 - Do not allow anything the other person says or does (no matter how annoying!) to affect you. In other words, don't take the bait.
• STEP 4 - Be persistent with your graciousness and kindness. Often we give up too soon, especially when others don't respond in kind. Remember to expect nothing in return.

At times (usually few), the relationship can remain challenging, even toxic, despite your 100 percent commitment and self-discipline. When this occurs, you need to avoid being the "Knower" and shift to being the "Learner." Avoid Knower statements/ thoughts like "that won't work," "I'm right, you are wrong," "I know it and you don't," "I'll teach you," "that's just the way it is," "I need to tell you what I know," etc.

Instead use Learner statements/thoughts like "Let me find out what is going on and try to understand the situation," "I could be wrong," "I wonder if there is anything of value here," "I wonder if..." etc. In other words, as a Learner, be curious!

Principle Paradox

This may strike you as strange, but here's the paradox: When you take authentic responsibility for a relationship, more often than not the other person quickly chooses to take responsibility as well. Consequently, the 100/0 relationship quickly transforms into something approaching 100/100. When that occurs, true breakthroughs happen for the individuals involved, their teams, their organizations and their families.

His Name is Jesus by Max Lucado

HIS BIRTH
Jesus...
He could hold the universe in His palm
but gave it up to float
in the womb of a maiden.
Christ became one of us.
and He did so to redeem all of us.


HIS MISSION
Jesus...
The man...
who spoke with such thunderous authority
and loved with such childlike humility.
The life of Jesus Christ
is a message of hope,
a message of mercy,
a message of life in a dark world.

HIS DEATH
Jesus...
The palm that held the universe
took the nail of a soldier.
On the eve of the cross,
Jesus made His decision.
He would rather
go to hell for you
than go to heaven without you.

HIS RESURRECTION
Jesus...
the moment He removed the stone,
He removed all reason for doubt.
Christ's resurrection
is an exploding flare
announcing to all sincere seekers
that it is safe to believe.

-Max Lucado

We have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. I John 2:1

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

An excerpt from Life Begins When You Do by Mary Anne Radmacher

Life Begins When You Do is based upon on Mary Anne's famous poem - her statement of purpose - Live with Intention:

Walk to the edge.
Listen hard. Laugh. Play with abandon.
Practice wellness.
Continue to learn.
Choose with no regret.
Appreciate your friends.
Lead or follow a leader.
Do what you love.
Live as if this is all there is.

Nearly everyone postpones one grand thing or a collection of mighty hopes and dreams.

Between the quote marks of our lives are phrases like these: "When things slow down...when I finish my degree...when I get certified...as I acquire a deeper knowledge base...when I have kids...when the kids are grown...when I get well...when I marry...when I divorce...when I retire...when I get that promotion, that raise, that job, that house, that whatever the fill-in-the blank is for your specific postponing of life..."

Your Life Begins When You Do.

You may think you are postponing the longing of your soul until life aligns itself with your vision, until elements conspire to be more favorable...but as it happens, life just lolls along at the same remarkable consistent and disinterested cadence. Life is impartial. YOUR personal, subjective life (dreams, satisfactions, contentment, achievements, vision, fullness, passion, aspirations) begins when you begin.

From my teens into adulthood, I said, "I want to be an artist." One day I changed the sentence to, "I am an artist." My view changed. Life began. I looked behind me and saw that I had been accidentally living as an artist. I had been laying down a path that was only now visible to eyes that had begun to see. Beginning my life as an artist made my heart's longing and the small, tentative labors of my hands - visible and tangible. I began by opening the door and simply believing that I could live my dream. I began living that dream by seeing that I could.

Your purpose, that thing that among the many to-dos of your days, is what you must do. Embrace the truth of your purpose each minute of your precious life...for how very true it is that life begins when you do.

If you would dream it
BEGIN it.

If you have an idea
OPEN it.

If there is longing
ACKNOWLEDGE it.

If there is mission
COMMIT it.

If there is daring
DO it.

If there is love
SPEAK it.

If there is resource
USE it.

If there is abundance
SHARE it.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Easter Cards for my 2nd grade lambs

First of all, I'd like to give all the credit for my inspiration to my good friend Curt in Indiana. You can find His blog post at http://curtsplayhouse.blogspot.com/2011/04/wednesday-evening-post-for-april-13.html was how I was able to make these Easter cards for my class.

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Jesus won the victory!

Easter Blessings
The love of God at Easter
is there for all to see-
He died for us and rose again
and won the victory!

God bless you with His peace & joy at Easter

From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another. John 1:16


In His Hands
We should fear only if the Holy Spirit were not with us...
We should be dismayed only if Christ were not in us...
We should cower only if God were not for us.

The important thing is to not worry if your grip on God is firm enough to survive your difficult times; remember-it is His hand that has taken a grip on yours!

Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

-Roy Lessin, DaySpring co-founder and writer

Thursday, April 21, 2011

You'll Be In My Heart-phil collins

The awesome power of goals...........

The DIFFERENCE between what one person and another achieves depends more on goal CHOICES than on ABILITIES.

The profound differences between successful people and others are the goals they choose to pursue. Individuals with similar talents, intelligence, and abilities will achieve different results because they select and pursue different goals.
Each decision affects WHAT YOU BECOME.
There is no escaping this; the smallest choices are important because - over time - their cumulative effect is enormous.

Never overlook the obvious: The nature and direction of your life change the instant you decide what goals you want to pursue.

Once you make a decision, you start down a path to a new destination. At the moment the decision is made, your decision to pursue a goal alters what you are becoming. Just one spin of the lock's dial – a single choice – can alter your life, your destiny, your legacy.

Think about it - your goal decisions represent and express your individuality. You seal your fate with the choices you make.
YOU DEFINE YOURSELF BY YOUR DECISIONS.

Your dialog with success is ultimately a solo one. Decisions and goals made must be your own if you are to call your life a success.

Always establish the best goals you can. Goals are the seeds of success - you become only what you plant. The quality of your harvest is a direct reflection of the quality of your seeds...your decisions!

Indecision is the big eraser of opportunity and potential. Risks and costs accompany every decision; however, the price of decision is far less than the long-range risks and costs of comfortable inaction. When it comes to decisiveness, squatters have no rights.

Everyone has an official wish list of things they think are "reasonable." What about the unofficial wish list? The one that common sense tells you to ignore? The list that exists deep in your mind, the list that keeps you up at night, the list that makes your toes wiggle when you think of it? Why not choose that list for a change?

How long have you dreamed of being, having, and doing what you really want? Think big, as when it comes to your goals, the size of your ambition does matter.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Australian Prime Minister does it again!!

-I have no problem with people coming to the U.S. looking for a better way of life... my great grandparents and my grandparents came over from Italy. However, they didn't ask that our language be changed to Italian to accomodate them, they learned English and became American Citizens.

They didn't ask for handouts - they got jobs and worked hard to earn a living. So I resent all the people coming over here asking for us to change our language to suit them...There were no Italin,Polish, Irish, German etc. signs hanging in stores .... did things change for your ancestors when they came over? Did they ask for handouts? NO they did not!

So why do all these immigrants now want us to change for them? It is their choice to come... and as Autralia says learn our ways, our culture, our language or get out!!



Australia says NO - Second time she has done this !

AMAZING You must read it !!!!

She's done it again..

She sure isn't backing down on her hard line stance and one has to appreciate her belief in the rights of her native countrymen.



A breath of fresh air to see someone lead. I wish some leaders would step up in Canada & USA ..

Australian Prime Minister does it again!!



This woman should be appointed Queen of the World.. Truer words have never been spoken.



It took a lot of courage for this woman to speak what she had to say for the world to hear. The retribution could be phenomenal, but at least she was willing to take a stand on her and Australia 's beliefs.

The whole world needs a leader like this!

Prime Minister Julia Gillard - Australia

Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on Wednesday to get out of Australia , as the government targeted radicals in a bid to head off potential terror attacks.



Separately, Gillard angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday by saying she supported spy agencies monitoring the nation's mosques. Quote:

'IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT.. Take It Or Leave It.



I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali , we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians. '



'This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom'



'We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society . Learn the language!'



'Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing, political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture.'



'We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we ask is that you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us.'



'This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge,

Our Christian beliefs, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great Australian freedom, 'THE RIGHT TO LEAVE'.'



'If you aren't happy here then LEAVE. We didn't force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted.'



Maybe if we circulate this amongst ourselves in Canada & USA , WE will find the courage to start speaking and voicing the same truths.



If you agree please SEND THIS ON and ON, to as many people as you know

Monday, April 18, 2011

Follow Jesus on Twitter - or what it would have been like :-)

Laugh Often & Love Much

To laugh often and love much; to win the respect of intelligent persons and the affection of children … to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give of one's self; to leave the world a bit better … to have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived ... this is to have succeeded!

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Saturday, April 16, 2011

God is on Your Side

"The Lord will fight for you." Exodus 14:14

I read these words and draw in a deep breath. I need them right now. Don't we all? Oh, we may not go to war.
But we fight...
for relationships
for dreams
We battle...
against illness
against discouragement
I think of you staring at the screen, perhaps feeling your strength is small. Oh, yes, I know what that's like.
But victory isn't up to us.
And those words you sometimes hear?
"You're not worth fighting for."
They're a lie. Nothing more.
This is the truth from the heart of One who calls you His own:
You are loved.
You are worth fighting for.
You are even worth dying for.
So go into your day, strong friend, knowing that nothing can defeat you.
You've already won.

by Holley Gerth, DaySpring Writer

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Let's Help each other this week, okay?

For every $25 order, you can pick a freebie from me:
1. Free Shipping/Handling
2. No Sales Tax

So if you were to happen to order $50 then you would get both, Free S/H & No Sales Tax from me.

Win/Win situation, eh?

My offer to you will be good until Tax Day, April 15th.

Friday, April 1, 2011

Stampin'Up GRAB Bags...

Starting today ( April 1, 2011) until supplies run out.

You can grab yourself a Mystery Stampin'Up Grab Bag.

Grab Bags come in (3) different sizes $5.00- $10.00- $15.00
Use the following Item number/s above when adding them to your order starting today.Each Grab bag will a variety of SU! Discontinued items that could include:

Ribbon
Accents & Elements
Chipboard
Designer paper
Simply Sent kit components
**NO Stamp sets or Tools will be included in grab bags **

No Minimum purchase required and No limit to the number of grab bags to purchase

**Grab bags sales are final and there are no refunds or exchanges**

Spring Blossoms Sneak Peak (no foolin'!)

Promotion details: Spring is Blossoming with Sneak Peek products from the upcoming 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog. You can get these brand-new products in one of two ways:

Spend $20* on any Stampin' Up! products and become eligible to purchase both the Four Frames Set and Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper.

Host a $350* workshop and get the Four Frames Set and Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper for FREE!
*Net sales before tax and shipping

You can get your hands on these exciting, new products in April--three months before the debut of the new Idea Book & Catalog!
Four Frames Stamp Set
W: item 123440 | $20.95
C: item 123442 | $15.95
Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper
item 122367 | $9.95