ROMANCING THE CANVAS

HAPPY CANADA DAY!!!

IN SO MANY WAYS, WE ARE SUCH A FORTUNATE COUNTRY....

We have been protected from so much! For STAMP-N-DOODLE, I created a few images from Lynne's DIGIS for CANADA DAY, and upcoming will be for the American INDEPENDENCE DAY.

I THINK THEY SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES!

YET NOTHING IS COMPLETE WITHING SENDING LOVE TO OUR TROOPS AND THEIR FAMILIES...

AND PRAYING FOR THEIR SAFETY

ON THIS CANADA DAY 2010.

Thanks GOD!

May you Celebrate in Style the "Eh!" Way!

LOVING GOD

Samara

THE STAMPIN' SISTERS IN CHRIST....

HAVE ISSUED THEIR SUNDAY CHALLENGE!

This is the most wonderful site...on a lazy Sunday afternoon, it is very inspirational to visit their site and find out different people's takes on passages, their journey, the life of Jesus and how that has affected who they are.

Today's challenge came from Isaiah...a passage on Sin and Forgiveness.

Scott Peck, in his book People of the Lie has a definition of Evil...People who sin over and over and over again and take absolutely NO accountability for it. Is this what Jesus would do? Is this what we are told to do in every aspect of being a good person?

The Stamping Sisters have done a stellar job this week of leading us through a journey of sin, mistake, and choosing from a human point of view - and how God views that, who God IS, WHILE we do that...and we all do make mistakes, and we do all sin and are VERY human. Even Jesus...but we have been forgiven! If we believe we have been.

The Challenge today with the Sisters was to use STRIPES.

I have chosen to use my stripes, not in paper but in my silver marker around a passage that speaks to me and to how I see my own life...we WILL be accountable, and we WILL take responsibility and we WILL stay up close to GOD...if we KNOW with all our being how BLESSED we are each and every day...and Jesus, in all his humanity and divinity tells us so!

Please click to enlarge

This passage is from the Psalms of David..33:12

LOVINGLY MADE WITH...

Paper: (Papertrey)

Stamps: (Free Digi - Beate ?)

Silver: (Star Fit - Ecstacy Crafts)

Butterflies: (Ecstacy Crafts)

Pens: (Identi-Pen)

Ink: (Stampin' Up! Ink Spots)

"Striped Stitching": White Gel Pen (Stampin' Up!)

"Silver Striped Stitching": (Uni-Ball)

LOVING GOD

Samara

ANGEL'S EMBRACE EACH OTHER...

THERE IS NOTHING LIKE A GOOD FRIEND!
Todays Poem is Dedicated to Marie and Rob...

There are angels who sit quietly
and whisper when we need comfort.
There are those who breathe life into us
when we are breathless.

There are angels who fill us with gracious support
when our souls become fragile,
and those who kiss us goodnight for a peaceful slumber.

There are angels that touch us with sacred laughter
when tears become a burden.
There are those who strap their wings around us
and rock us until the ache in our heart disappears.

There are angels that can send us flying with wonder
when our hope begins to fade,
and those who devote everything to give us
everlasting peace in heaven.

LORI EBERHARDY
from Serenity Prayers,
Prayers, Poems and Prose to Soothe Your Soul
book by: JUNE COTNER

Today's Card is Dedicated to Michael...

Please click image to enlarge

Lovingly Made With...

Paper: (Papertrey) (Stampin' Up) (Basic Grey)

Stamp: (Layer's of Color)

Coloring of Butterfly: (My Copic Pens)

Rub On: (Creative Memories)

Heart: (Stampin' Up)

Ribbon: (Michael's)

LOVING GOD

Samara

SO THE BIG SECRET IS REVEALED....

Image is a STAMP-N-DOODLE DIGI

MY JORDAN AND LAURA ARE GETTING MARRIED!

Well, OK, they are engaged! Oh, my Jordan was SO romantic (as usual) with Our Laura! He took a ring for Laura to Israel, and when Laura went over to meet him, they were at the beach just talking and such - and Jordan reached into a bag and (took a deep breath) and POPPED the question! And of course, Our Laura said "YES"!

Isn't that just the best!

Now, it is the best because his sister, Ayla, and I have been BUGGING him for 2 years about this! About a year ago we were instructed to STOP (by Jordan)! And we did.

Although (shhhh) Our Laura and I talked about it ALL THE TIME!!! Girls will be girls...she's the one who named me HOTT MOMMA and eventually (but not too soon please God) HOTT GAMMA! (lol) She is the absolute best, Our Laura. I love her to bits! And my Ayla is over the moon to have a sister!!!

When the HAPPY COUPLE called from Israel to tell me the good news, I just screamed and screamed and screamed with glee for 5 full minutes of Israel long distance calling card time! Our Laura and my little JoJo (25 years old!) but my 1st born, just laughed and laughed!

And so it goes...

Lovingly Made for

STAMP-N-DOODLE

with their DIGI images

as part of being on their Design Team

LOVING GOD

Samara

SOCCER ANYONE?

OR IS IT SOCCER EVERYONE?

I went to the City yesterday to the Markham Street Festival and could not miss all the flags attached to the car windows. I am sure this is happening all over the World right now, as the FIFA challenge is ON!

For my Soccer Challenge, I decided to be true to my Design Team at STAMP-N-DOODLE DIGI and use their Monthly stamp club. Is this not priceless?

Well, the funny thing about this is that I had a lab who used to sneak out of the yard, mid-day, and go down the street to the highschool and play soccer with the kids in their outdoor gym class! When we found Amadeaus, the coach said she was one of the best players! This kept up for months. The coach allowed it to keep happening because he said our dog's presence motivated the otherwise unmotivated grade 9 and 10's to get with it and "beat the dog" for the ball!

Click to enlarge image please

This is what the STAMP-N-DOODLE DIGI reminds me of! Be sure to "pup" over to SND and more specifically, BLOG-A-DOODLE, and see all their doggie digi's. You won't regret it....they are SOOOOO cute!

Given that DOG is GOD backwards....I think today, DOG will be our blessing!

Card is Lovingly made with....

Stamp: Stamp-N-Doodle Digi

Stamp words: Stampin' Up!

All the rest: Taylored Expressions Monthly Kit

LOVING GOD

Samara

SPA TIME!

...SINCE WHEN ISN'T A DOG ALLOWED SOME NICE SPA TIME?

Oh my gosh, when I saw this DIGI from STAMP-N-DOODLE I saw the card completed! I laughed and laughed, knowing the direction I was going to go with it. As a designer for Lynne, I hoped she would be OK with my wacky SPA idea! Turns out, I'm in the clear....reminds me of that gorgeous blonde lab commercial with the pup doing all the spa stuff. Anyway, enjoy...and maybe give yourself a bit of SPA time!

Click to enlarge image

LOVINGLY MADE WITH...

Stamp: STAMP-N-DOODLE DIGI (from the JUNE MONTHLY STAMP CLUB SET)

Coloring: My beloved Copics

Paper: Papertrey - I put scor lines using Martha Scor Board

Letters: CTMH

Embellishments: (gifty mish mash...sorry?)

LOVING GOD

Samara

LOVE IS IN THE AIR IN MY FAMILY.....

THERE IS A HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT IN MY FAMILY....BUT IT HAS TO WAIT FOR A BIT.

Suffice to say, this might be a clue *wink*!

But before I go on, pop on over to STAMP-N-DOODLE for their new CHALLENGE and for your own copy of this new digi stamp that I used below!

PLEASE double click to get the entire essence of this STAMP-N-DOODLE DIGI card!

STEPS TOWARD A CONSCIOUS COMMITMENT

Making a Genuine Connection

The ground of a strong and lasting commitment is the passionate connection between two people whose beings say yes to each other. When two people connect being-to-being, they experience a deep "soul-resonance" that goes beyond mere romance or desire. Something powerful and real inside them starts waking up and coming alive in each other's presence. It is often surprising because they cannot reason themselves into or out of it. Although it seems to arise mysteriously out of nowhere, it may also have a certain familiarity:

"I felt when I met him that I had known him before, as if for many lifetimes. I especially remember waking up next to him with the profound feeling that I had just woken up after a thousand years."

From: Journey of the Heart by John Welwood, Ph.D.

*****************

Card was Lovingly Made With:

Stamp: STAMP-N-DOODLE DIGI STAMP

Paper: Papertrey

Buttons: Stampin' Up!

Thread/Ribbon: Michael's

Die Cuts: Remisce

and of course my COPICS

Card Lovingly Made With:

Stamp: STAMP-N-DOODLE DIGI

Paper: Papertrey

Background Stamp: King Rubber

You're My Hero Stamp: Taylored Expressions

Clips: CTMH

Ribbon: CTMH

Inks: Tim Holtz

Punches: Stampin' Up!

LOVING GOD

Samara

THE LITTLE ANGELS IN OUR LIVES.....

ARE THE TRULY PRECIOUS GIFTS FROM GOD!

When Lynne, from STAMP-N-DOODLE gave out this pic as a freebie, I thought about it, given I am not a "cutsie" artist and thought, what the heck! Then I remembered bathing my Ayla in the sink, and my Jordan in his little white plastic tub and well my 13 years later (and me at 41 years of age) my Taylor, I think I just stuck him out in the rain (lol) and had to give this one a go.

GOD, THANK YOU FOR OUR ANGELS...what would we do without them...

Please double click to enlarge picture

LOVINGLY MADE WITH...

I must happily say that everything is made with STAMPIN' UP! Products

with the exception

of my copics (and the circle - a gift)

and THE STAMP-N-DOODLE BABE IMAGE

LOVING GOD

Samara

LAYERS OF COLOR...a fantastic store and blog

I HAVE BEEN HAVING SO MUCH FUN...with these new stamps I just ordered from Laura Campbell and her family at LAYERS OF COLOR. You must check them out...they are SO different, creative, and can add to any type of creative work one does. Laura is an ecclectic artiste so looking at her work is a wonderful dive into the Divine....literally.

So today, I'd like to Honor This Magical Family, God's work at His best!

The Tree of being

All human beings powerfully sustain one another. The lovers

of God in this contingent world become the mercies and the

blessings sent out by that gentle King of the seen and unseen

realms. Let them purify their sight and behold all humankind

as leaves and blossoms and fruits of the Tree of Being.

Baha' Ullah (1817 - 1892), Persia

Lovingly made with...

Image: LAYERS OF COLOR

Button: Basic Grey

Ribbon: Michaels

Ink: Tim Holtz

Paper: Papertrey

Metal: Dollar Store

Stickles: Michaels

LOVING GOD

Samara

FUN WITH STAMP-N-DOODLE - IT'S A BLOG PARTY! THE SEARCH FOR PUZZLE PIECES IS ON....

Just thought I'd start the party off right with an image from STAMP-N-DOODLE!

...HMMM Now, where to start?

Well, here is a clue for those of you paying attention...

for a piece of the puzzle you will have to "RIDE 'EM COWBOY" like they did in the WESTERN movies...hmmm. I wonder what type of hint that could mean?

Remember...you are playing with STAMP-N-DOODLE! That gives you a bit of a double hint!!!

Now, hop on over to VICKIE'S BLOG at Vickie's Scrapbooking and Tidbits for the next clue and some more Stamp-n-doodle image inspiration!

HEE HAW COWGIRL!!

NAUGHTY OR NICE......."N"........BINGO

ENJOY AND HAVE FUN!

LOVING GOD

Samara

THE NEW TAYLOR.....ALL IN THE NAME OF LOVE

THE BRAVE HAIRCUT FOR CANCER FOR MY 12 YEAR OLD BOY TAYLOR!

WELL 12" OF HAIR WAS LOPPED OFF FOR CANCER....

and my brave 12 year old Taylor raised $400.00 in the name of his hairdresser Lucy, who is a survivor.

Lord come alive within my experience,

within my sorrows and disappointments and doubts

and within the ordinary moments of my life.

Come alive as the peace and the joy and the assurance that is

stronger than the locked doors within, and which we

try to shut out life.

Come alive as the peace and joy and assurance that

nothing in life or death can kill.

CONGRATULATIONS TAYLOR ON YOUR SELFLESS ACT OF 1 FULL YEAR OF BEING RIDICULED AND TAUNTED AT SCHOOL FOR GROWING YOUR HAIR SO LONG FOR CANCER.

YOUR PARENTAL UNITS AND ALL YOUR SPONSORS ARE VERY PROUD OF YOU AND SO WILL YOUR NEW WEARER OF YOUR BEAUTIFUL HAIR!!

MAKE YOURSELF PROUD MY LOVE CHILD!

SCROLL DOWN FOR A LOOK AT THIS CHILD'S PREVIOUSLY VERY BEAUTIFUL AND VERY LONG HAIR!!

LOVING GOD

Samara

FRIENDSHIPS AT STAMP-N-DOODLE!

WHAT BETTER WAY TO MAKE NEW FRIENDS THAN TO BE ON A DESIGN TEAM!

Well STAMP-N-DOODLE.COM is just like that. Their stamps are fantastic, their owner is fantastic and their DT is fantastic!

So in honor of THEM, I dedicate this post.

May the God of love

who is the source of all our affection

for each other formed here on earth

take our friendships into his keeping,

that they may continue and increase

throughout life and beyond it,

in God's name, our Lord.

Lovingly made with...

Stamps: Digi: STAMP-N-DOODLE.COM

Non Digi: Gina K, Stampin'Up!

Ribbon: CTMH, Wavy Ribbon: Basic Grey

Metal: CTMH

Paper: Papertrey

Inks: Copics

Bling: Basic Grey

LOVING GOD

Samara

STAMP-N-DOODLE.COM IS SUCH A HOOT!

please double click to enlarge image to read the top of the BIKINI babe's sentiment! It is too funny.

You have to pop over and visit Lynne's site...STAMP-N-DOODLE.COM!

I'm on the design team there and will show you a few of the cards I've done for Lynne...God has been watching over me and blessing me with a wonderful team leader and a wonderful Stamp site to design for and equally cool design team members. So check it out!...STAMP-N-DOODLE.COM

This is a challenge that is currently running over at the site. The COWBOY is the digi Lynne has and you can design it any way your little heart desires. My comment was "who doesn't love a cowboy in chaps!!"

This is a card that all of us on the Design Team will do and it is Lynne's OLD MILL picture. For my design, I decided to look up what exactly a Mill's definition was, and use that as part of my card.

STAMP-N-DOODLE.COM HAS A BLOG PARTY COMING UP

THEY HAVE A BINGO CHALLENGE COMING UP

and lots of other treats in the works!

SO BE SURE TO CHECK THEM OUT!

LOVING GOD

Samara

Stamp-n-Doodle's BLOG-A-DOODLE PARTY!

FRIDAY MAY 28TH - 30TH

COME JOIN THE FUN!

IT IS NEARLY TIME....

FOR THE BIG CANCER DONATION HAIRCUT!

AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT...THIS IS MY 12 YEAR OLD - BOY - TAYLOR!

This picture was taken about a month ago...

Taylor has grown his hair for one year, being ridiculed at school, told to "move those bangs out of his eyes" by his parents, as they were growing in, to put it in a ponytail when he comes to the table (which he absolutely refused to do), and to let me braid and play with it, which he ABSOLUTELY REFUSED to do! lol

But in 3 days, he will donate 12 inches of hair, in the name of Cancer, so that others may have hair.

God is watching!

LOVING GOD

Samara

LOVINGLY MADE WITH...

Taylor's Picture

May 14, 2010 - ORIGINS AND INSPIRATIONS...

THE TAJ MAHAL

taken from Wikapedia

My 12 year old Taylor and I were talking and he came up with the fact that Jordan, Ayla and Taylor = TAJ. This lead us to the topic of The Taj Mahal, which my older two have visited (pictured above.) Taylor and I researched the internet before he went to school, because we each knew bits and pieces of the story, and this is a synopsis of what we found. The research articles elaborate on these basic points, for those who are interested (just type Taj Mahal into your Google Search Engine.)

Shah Jahan, who commissioned the Taj Mahal -"Shah jahan on a globe" from the Smithsonian Institution Artistic depiction of Mumtaz Mahal.

In 1631, Shah Jahan, emperor during the Mughal empire's period of greatest prosperity, was grief stricken when his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, died during the birth of their fourteenth child, Gauhara Begum. Construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1632, one year after her death. The court chronicles of Shah Jahan's grief, illustrates the love story traditionally held as an inspiration for Taj Mahal. The principal mausoleum was completed in 1648 and the surrounding buildings and garden were finished five years later. Emperor Shah Jahan himself described the Taj in these words:

Should guilty seek asylum here,

Like one pardoned, he becomes free from sin.

Should a sinner make his way to this mansion,

All his past sins are to be washed away.

The sight of this mansion creates sorrowing sighs;

And the sun and the moon shed tears from their eyes.

In this world this edifice has been made;

To display thereby the creator's glory.

I found this story, this dedication to love and grieving the loss of love so reassuring. I hope it touches your heart in someway...

Lovingly made with...

Paper - Kraft (Stampin' Up!)

Ribbon - (Stampin' Up!)

Large Birdie on Front (Garage Sale ?)

Inside of card (Bo Bunny - Everything)

A Blessing Writing - (Mine)

Punch on Birdie on Front - (EK Success)

Bling - (Basic Grey and Garage Sale?)

FAITH - Cricut "Home Accents" Cartridge at 5 "

Wooden Garden - (Taylored Expressions Monthly Subscription Kit) - Highly Recommended!!!

"You Know my Heart God" - (Mine)

LOVING GOD

Samara

Tuesday, May 11, 2010 - FOLLOW YOUR HEART ...

IT KNOWS THE WAY!

You may have noticed that my posts are sporadic lately...I am taking some time to foster some other areas of my life - enriching my Spiritual Life, and in particular, my relationship with Jesus. Then there is my Jordan - my soon to be 25 yr old son is off for the summer, to Israel to explore his roots, then have his partner join him in Israel and they will trek to Egypt and Turkey, then Jordan heads off to Spain for a month - before starting his M.A. - for a second musician's workshop, the first being one he really enjoyed last year. It has been a rich family time to be sure...all the cubs are carving out new territory for themselves, Ayla working full time for an ad agency, Taylor about to cut 12" off his hair in a week and a half for cancer...all as mommy watches with great pride and joy in the 3 cublettes!

And my own personal/relational life appears to be blossoming folks - yes, you heard that right! And I must admit...it all began with Jesus...who has been appearing in this Jewish Womyn's life in wild and wonderful ways, in the last month. Jesus is leading me into directions that are joyful and celebratory! Who knows, I may yet be taking time to "smell the roses" as they say this summer! *wink*wink*

In the meantime, it behooved me to dedicate a card to Jesus and His work in my life, and the lives of those I am working directly with at this time, and of course those beyond. I hope you enjoy my card. Please pop over to STAMP-N-DOODLES BLOG, where I am a designer, to see today's post (by me.) It too will elaborate on this card and on the Digi Image of the Church, from Stamp-n-Doodles.

For today, I say "Thank you Jesus...your message to me is loud and clear...I'm not missing it this time!" Thanks for sharing Jesus! hee hee (don't you love when we say this to each other when we share our cards with each other?) Well, I feel like that right now with Jesus...and how cool is that!

Lovingly made with....

Please pop over to http://www.stamp-n-doodle.blogspot.com/ for all the details.

LOVING GOD

Samara

Sunday, May 2, 2010 - A METAPHOR IN A BOX....

"FIELD GUIDE"
By: How to be HAPPY dammit, a cynics's guide to spiritual happiness by salmansohn

You are like a tiny fish surrounded by a field of water

but unable to see this water. What's going on in this

field around you sends out waves that affect you.

Likewise, what you do - and think - sends out

waves into this field around you. This includes your

negative thoughts - which can create distracting

tidal waves that block you from seeing how to best

get to your goal.

RULE # 26
You must show more RESPECT for the invisible world, because often what you don't see is what you get!

Does this resonate with you at all? I sure know it does with me, especially in the recent weeks!

What I would add to the above passage from the book, it is vital to FORGIVE the person, place or thing from which this negativity emminates. This does NOT mean spending time with or in the presence of the negativity...but it does mean to forgive the circumstance, and yourself, if you find forgiving yourself is part of carrying on productively and healthfully.

Fortunately some of us were "born forgivers." For others, it is a very difficult, defensive, and crazy-making challenge. What is important though, no matter what your particular strength or weakness is, is the INTENTION to forgive.

God doesn't care which comes first, the thought to forgive or the action of forgiveness....God knows we are on the right track to all that is important in this world, which is LOVE FOR ALL...AND THE ADMISSION TO SELF THAT ALL ARE ONE IN GOD'S EYES. This is OUR challenge to strive for this same belief AND experience of LOVE daily!

lovingly made with...

Paper: Stampin' Up!

Ink: Stampin' Up!

Trinkets/Charms: A gift from my daughter when she was 12

Punch: Fiskars

Stamps: Clear Stamps - Gypsy Pattern

Tags: K & Co.

Ribbon: Purple and Cranberry from Michael's, Green from Stampin' Up!

LOVING GOD

Samara