Sunday, March 28, 2010 - DO YOU LOVE WHAT YOU DO?

....HOW FANTASTIC A FEELING IT IS TO, EVERY SINGLE DAY, WAKE UP, WITH SHEER DELIGHT RUNNING THROUGH OUR VEINS IN ANTICIPATION OF SITTING AT OUR CRAFT TABLES TO "CREATE" A PROJECT!!!

This is what my work means to me!  And I know many paper artists feel the same way.  The piece of work that I'm offering up today, I actually created while watching "The 40 year Old Virgin."  Hmmm.  I don't know what that says about me....Perhaps I don't want to know!!!! lol 

But needless to say, my blog:  ART IS TRUE LOVE IN ACTION - Is really dedicated to GOD, and how GOD runs through me...GOD being my personal definition of LOVE.

SO GOD, I AM SO TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY IN-LOVE WITH YOU, WITH MY ENTIRE BEING. I THANK YOU FOR THIS FEELING, AND FOR "YOUR" ART THAT RUNS THROUGH ME, THAT I AM ABLE TO CREATE, and OFFER UP TO THE WORLD, "ONLY
BECAUSE OF THE GIFT YOU HAVE GRACED UPON ME.

Please double click to enlarge image

LOVINGLY MADE WITH...

Paper:  Bisous Zoo, Stampin' up", Coasters

Stamps: Stampin' Up! and Papertrey Ink

Ribbon:  Stampin' Up! and Creative Memories

Flowers:  Stash

Buttons:  Basic Grey

Letters:  Thickers

Scallop:  Stampin' Up!

Pens:  Stampin' Up!

LOVING GOD

Samara

May you be blessed with finding some GOD in your day today!

March 26, 2010 - SOMEDAYS YOU JUST HAVE TO LEAVE IT ALL UP TO GOD....

...AND YOU KNOW IT!!!

Well, today is one of those days for me...so here we go GOD!

FOUNDATIONS

O God, you are my rock, my rescue, and

my refuge, I leave it all quietly to you.

George Appleton (1902 - 93)  England

This card is dedicated to my son Jordan who just got accepted to all his choices of M.A. programs with Scholarships to cover all the M.A. schooling plus all living expenses!!!  All that hard work studying instead of partying paid off!!!! He is also the musician....

LOVINGLY MADE WITH....

Paper:  National Geographic, Stampin' Up!
Stamp:  CTMH
Accessories:  Radiant Pearls, Sparkle Pen (Copic), Gel Pen (Stampin' Up!)

LOVING GOD

Samara

Wednesday, March 24, 2010 - FAITH AND THE SECRET HEART

...AS I SAID ONCE BEFORE, I AM IN LOVE WITH "SARK" AND HER VERY FUNKY BOHEMIAN BOOKS.

FAITH

When you walk to the edge of all the light you have, and take that first step into the darkness of the unknown, you must believe that one of two things will happen:

There will be something solid for you to stand upon,

or

you will be taught how to fly.

By Patrick Overton, The Leaning Tree, c 1975

THE SECRET HEART

The secret is not in your hand or your eye or your voice, my aunt once told me.  The secret is in your heart.  Of course, she said, knowing that doesn't make it any easier...

By Brian Andreas from Still Mostly True: Collected Stories and Drawings.



Please double click on image to enlarge

LOVINGLY MADE WITH...

Paper:  Dusty Durango (Stampin' Up!), Kraft Naturals (Stampin' Up!)
DSP: (National Geographic Sea Creatures)
Ink: Dusty Durango, Really Rust, So Saffron (Stampin' Up!) - Sponging
Pencil:  Prisma
Watercolors: Stampin' Up!

LOVING GOD

Samara

Monday, March, 22, 2010 - I HAVE LOST MY BUDDY ....

.....BECAUSE HE (My youngest son Taylor) HAS RETURNED TO SCHOOL AFTER MARCH BREAK  :(

Do you ever get like that...you just want to keep your kids home FOREVER?  I sure do.  My young Taylor is 12, as you all surely know by now.  He went to snowboarding camp on Day 1 of the Holiday, that was to last the entire holiday.  Well, in the middle of the first night, "cough, cough, cough," you know, that croupy type of cough.  He went from perfectly alright to DOWN DOWN DOWN.  He woke up and said "mommy, my throat is so sore I can't even swallow - I am so sorry - but I can't go to the camp today.  I said "STREP."

Off to the Docs - swab - Penicillan - and Yuppers - STREP!

Well, there is an upside to strep, if there can be!!!  This little fellow spent 7 days shoulder to shoulder with me, as I was in my studio, playing his DS (one of those small video thing a ma bob's that I completely do not understand.)  He was so "mommyish" it was precious!  He did NOT want to leave my side.  My 12 year old teenager (oh yes, he is there though his years aren't) suddenly became 3.  Wahoo for Mommy!  It was the most delicious time I could have hoped for, and my baby felt better by day 3.  I kept giving him my Jewish Chicken soup (ha! sounds good, I gave him Lipton's) and still, "mommy!"  We watched Inglorious Basterds,  Benjamin Buttons, The Ugly Truth, Dan in Real Life, and talked about each one in depth.  Taylor helped me to understand some things about GOD and destiny that I had never thought about.  He helped me to understand some things about the ION HORA and YETZ A HORA (Jewish for God and Devil - loose translation) that I hadn't contemplated.  He just kept going on and on.  I think the strep put him deep into his prophetic self, which he usually has no problem hitting anyway.  So on that note, I think that is my meditation for today...MY PROPHETIC SON TAYLOR.

P.S.  Did Valentine's Day really come and go?  Did Christmas Really come and Go?  Why is it feeling like time is speeding up and the Holidays are here and gone in a blink!  Does anyone else feel like this?  I can hardly open up my Easter stamps....because I think the same thing will happen!

This card is dedicated to my Taylor...

LOVINGLY MADE WITH....

Paper:  Kraft, Black (Stampin' Up!)

Ribbon:  (Stampin' Up!)

Stamp:  (Papertrey)

Fleur:  Starbucks Coffee Shop Gift Card  (I always ask for these at Starbucks, Walmart and anywhere where I think they will be funky for my cards - and they always say SURE!)

LOVING GOD

Samara

I hope today you find something PROPHETIC in your day!

Sunday, March 14, 2010 - HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!!

TODAY HAS BEEN A QUIET DAY...VERY GREY OUTSIDE, RAINY AND DAMP.  So, I thought I would use the card that I entered for The Cinema Saturday Challenge this week and try to cheer things up a bit!  Enjoy TODAY'S MEDITATION:

A STILL PLACE

Make me

   a still place of light

   a still place of love

   of you

   your light radiating

   your love vibrating

   your touch and your healing

   far flung and near

   to the myriads caught

   in darkness, in sickness

   in lostness, in fear

   make a heart-centre here,

   LIGHT of the World.

Prayer from Malling Abbey, Denmark

LOVINGLY MADE WITH....

Paper:  Black (Papertrey), Gold/Orange (Dollar Store), White (Neenah Outlet - Toronto)

Ink: Basic Black (Stampin' Up)

Stamps: 5 different Landscape Stamps are used in a Collage Manner (Stampscapes)

Flower (Dollar Store)

Button and Wire (Dollar Store)

Bling (Basic Grey)

Ribbon: Yellow Polka Dots (Stampin' Up!)

Corner Chomper

Black Button (Stash - which I just love!)

LOVING GOD

Samara

P.S.  hope you have a great birthday MOM!!!

I hope you are able to find a still place in your heart today!

Thursday, March 11, 2010 - GOD RULES!!!

....WOW AND AM I GLAD!!!

Yesterday was such a bomb (in the worst way) of a day for me and today - while I have the stomach flu - great things have happened already!  I had the best conversation with Provocraft, a wonderful person has come back into my life, it is sunny (when it was supposed to be raining) and I received a special gifti from my new friend Karen Wallace, whose blog you have to check out, that I have yet to open.  I am suspending the excitement...I do that sometimes...like playing hide and go seek with myself!  So today, rather than offering a prayer, I am simply going to say 2 simple words that I hope resonate with all of you...

GOD ROCKS!!!

AND

LOVINGLY MADE WITH...

Second Card

Paper:  Basic Grey background... Certainly Celergy, Chocolate Chip, Tempting Turquoise (Stampin' Up!)

Die Cut:  Buttons Sizzix (Stampin' Up!)

Bling:  Basic Grey

Pen:  Gel Pen (Stampin' Up!)

First Card

 The same colors apply for the first card...except I used the ink pads from Stampin' Up! in the co-ordinating colors, and the glitter from Jewel Glitteritz

The Nesti I used - I took the "empty" spots of the nesti and stacked them together after sponging them.

These cards were made for THE COLOR DARE challenge.

LOVING GOD

Samara

I hope you too can find a way that GOD ROCKS in your world today!

Wednesday, March 10, 2010 - DO YOU EVER HAVE ONE OF THOSE DAYS?

....well, this has been a doozer for me!

So, as they say in Show Business! 

...ON WITH THE SHEWWWWWW!!

AND FINALLY!

I made it through this day in one piece...now it is time to go night night....

PRAISE THE LORD!!!

Lovingly made with...

Stamp: Close to my Heart

Ribbon:  Stampin' Up!

Hardware:  Stampin' Up!

Paper:  Basic Grey

Buttons:  Stampin' Up!

LOVING GOD

Samara

Tuesday March 9th, 2010 - WALK YOUR TALK....

THE DAILY TUNE-UP FROM THE KABBALAH CENTRE, which is a mystical form of Judaism (Kabbalah that is.)  This is something I subscribe to and love to receive.  It is what I use to focus my day.  If it turns you on, just go to kabbalahcentre.com (I think) and there are all sorts of choices.  Daily Tune up is what will follow for today:

Tuesday, March 9

Practicing what we preach is a hard thing indeed. But when we manage to match our words with our thoughts with our actions, we feel fulfilled indeed.

Today, live your beliefs as best you can. Walk your talk. This means making sure what you think, say and do are all talking to one another.

Please double click to enlarge card

Lovingly made with....

Paper:  DSP -Wisteria (Basic Grey), Background Paper (Papertrey Ink)

Stamps: Say it with Style (Papertrey Ink)

Ink:  Hydrangea (CTMH)

Embellisments:  Wisteria Die Cuts (Basic Grey), Button (Basic Grey) Gem (Stampin' Up!)

Heart:  Heart Embosslet (Stampin' Up!)

LOVING GOD

Samara

ENJOY THIS SPRING-like WEATHER! (Ontario!)

March 5, 2010 ADDING PEOPLE TO YOUR PLEASURE...

EATING MANGOS NAKED!  by the author Sark.


There is a wonderful series of books by Sark.  They are handwritten, which makes them very fun to read.  Today, I thought I'd offer a piece of Sark's brilliance:

ADDING PEOPLE TO YOUR PLEASURE - 

Sark, Eating Mangos Naked, p. 49

I am an introvert, and I enjoy doing things alone, and being alone.  Sometimes my aloneness is a way to avoid people and how out of control I often feel with them.

I actually forget about the joy that people can bring.  My own mind can feel very small, my own activities limited, and I begin to wish for the tumult and unpredictability of other people.

As I write this, I wonder how many other people feel like I do.  Sometimes it seems to me that other people "get together" easily and naturally, and that I'm the only uncomfortable, p e o p l e, highly sensitive, wishing - i - was - home - in - bed person.  Then as I continue to share my life process in my books, I continue to find myself surrounded by other like-minded souls.  Lots of them.  Even if someone doesn't share my particular experience, perhaps he/she can better understand people like me!

Perhaps this passage by Sark touches me so much because she speaks of me... xox

Lovingly made with...

Paper:  DSP (stash), Riding Hood Red (Stampin' Up!), Whisper White (Stampin' Up!)

Embossing:  Sizzix Big Shot Textured Impressions Finial Press (Stampin' Up!) - The best impressions in my experience

Stamps: The Flower Flourish is from the New Messages for Mom (Stampin' Up!) and the tiny Love is from Tiny Tags (Stampin' Up!)

Punch: (also Riding Hood Red Paper and Embossed same as above) is Martha

Bling a Ding: Pretties Kit (Stampin' Up!)

LOVING GOD

Samara

I hope you have a pretty day!

March 4, 2010 I ACTUALLY WENT SNOWBOARDING YESTERDAY!

YUP, THIS HAS TO BE ITS OWN BLOG POST because unless i saw it for myself, I wouldn't have believed it!


I have this very generous son, who is an instructor in both skiing and snowboarding, and he offered to teach me. WOW, it does actually no good to be an excellent skier (which I used to teach!)  I fell about 75 times, wiped out twice getting off the chair lift and once took Jordan with me, and managed to flip myself around in circles only to go kabong, straight back on my noggin'!  But...I am hooked!


This weekend I am off again...and I have my young son registered in a snowboarding camp for March break and his mommy will snowboard during the days (ugh, each day) during the March break while he is at snowboard school!  Haha...look at me...53 and taking up this death sport!  I LOVE IT...and it is all thanks to my daughter's encouragement, and my son's expertise that I am now an official (you can fill in the blank)!!!

to enlarge the cards, please double click

Lovingly made with...

Paper:  Creative Memories Black on Black

Stamps: Papertrey Ink

Ink: Basic Black - Stampin' Up!

LOVING GOD

Samara

March (already??) 1, 2010 CINEMA SATURDAY CHALLENGE - SPIDERMAN!

The choices for this were endless!

My first choice was to hang a man upside down (haha - I love how funny that sounds)but I am sorry because it also sounds very sexist, which my boys would call me on, and a woman standing, and have them kissing (because that was the scene that made the biggest impression on me) but I didn't have the stamps to do that.  So, I opted for something "deeper." Big surprise!!

I went for the soul (oh, you know me!) of the movie - fighting JUSTICE (and the complexity of the black paper reminded me of the sinister in the movie,) the circle being more webbing with the other webbing coming from it with of course some bling a ding ding - and how being known for who you are, or in the case of Spiderman, not being known for who he was in his dual reality, was painful...

"until it came to being loved once that was shared."

Lovingly made with....

Paper:  Black Collection Pack (Basic Grey), Glitter Foam (Wallmart), Patterned Transparency (Marchant)

Ink: (Printer)

Stamp: Pantina Script (Printer Font), Circle (Stampin' Up!)

Accessories: Black Embossing Powder, Silver Corner (Ecstasy Crafts) Letters (Basic Grey) Black Underline (Ecstasy Crafts), Black Marker (IdentPen), Bling (Basic Grey)

LOVING GOD

Samara