Whimsical Words

Not giving up, not giving in

2015-10-29T21:47:00.000-04:00

The last time I "failed" at write31days, I did not write again for six whole months! I will not let this happen again. I figure if I can write 10 times a month that is better than nothing, so I will keep writing and hopefully even keep blogging. So here I am jumping back in with Day 9.

Yesterday, I had a flashback to junior high. Okay, maybe not junior high, more like Junior Speech class. In my continuing education effort, I had a group presentation. Ya know where you actually have to be up in front of a classroom and talking and sounding intelligent. Public speaking is NOT my gift. I am 1000% positive that God has not called me to public speaking (I will take this moment to say that I am not saying this will never change, but for now in this season of my life, in the living out of my personality, there is no room for public speaking).

Anyway, back to my flashback predicament. I woke up that morning with some crazy dreams in my mind, ya know the ones where you have experienced the day's events over and over and they DO NOT go according to plan. Like when you dream that a piano has suddenly appeared in the classroom and is blocking your view from the fellow students. Or the secret service show up and pull out the ONE person you can count on to help with the interaction time. It was crazy

So I wake up and my stomach is in knots and part two of my flashback is settling my stomach with cinnamon toast because it's the only thing I can get down and I wasn't even sure that was going to be enough. Seriously, the nerves I had were causing a little bit of dry heaves as I was getting ready.

To top it off I was having a bad hair day and it was raining. Like I said, JUNIOR HIGH all over again!

It is so frustrating to me that even though I am almost old, and I have some life experience under my belt, that getting up in front of a classroom and attempting to speak about a topic or a poet or a literary critic (Matthew Arnold if you must know) still terrifies me.

Also, little tidbit about Arnold. He has some good quotes... Like this one that makes me think maybe I should pursue writing poetry instead of prose and essays.

In a way, it does remind me that I don't have it all together (don't worry, that really wasn't something I thought to begin with). And it reminds me that God gives us things to stretch us and grow us, and make us depend on Him and His strength.

Also, the presentation went by without a hitch. I don’t know what kind of grade we got and there was no raving that it was the best one, but we got it done and nobody choked or completely lost their place. It is a good reminder to me that I don’t have to be perfect. I don’t have to present like someone else. And I don’t have to love it. I just have to be willing and do my best.

My thoughts today: Stretching myself is good, although I would much rather stretch myself with writing exercises then public speaking. What stretches you?

Join me as I remember what it means to be a writer again. Writing for 31 days in an attempt to find where nature and art collide in the work of writing. Click the graphic to find all my #write31days posts.

Five Minute Friday: Trust

2015-10-09T16:50:00.001-04:00

Today, I went to a mom’s group in my area. We are studying the Psalms this year, all about praying under pressure. Just wanted to share a little bit of what I learned today!

“But I have trusted in Thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.”

Psalm 13:5-6

It’s easy to trust God when things are going well, and life is flowing smoothly, and you are getting along with all the people in your life, but do you still trust Him when life gets a little uncomfortable?

It has been well documented that David’s prayers tell it like it is. He does not hold back on his feelings when he talks to God about life’s situations. He comes boldly before the throne of God and petitions Him regularly.

However, it is important to remember that he doesn’t stop there. The Psalms of David always come back to the truth that God is good and He can be trusted.

When your friend turns against you.

When your enemy is working hard to trip you up and cause you to fall.

When you lose your job.

When your kid gets sick.

When the money runs out before the month does.

When it seems like your hopes and dreams will never come to pass.

God is still good. God is still trustworthy. You can choose to trust Him and rejoice in His rescue plan, even when you don’t know what it is. This is possible because we know God’s track record. He has dealt bountifully with His people in the past and He will continue to do so in the future.

God can be trusted.

David gives us a model of prayer when we just want to complain.

1. Get it off your chest—You can complain, tell God exactly how you feel.

2. Ask for your request—Ask Him to hear you, tell Him what you want.

3. Choose to give thanks—Make a choice to rejoice anyway. Take confidence in His lovingkindness.

Trust God with your cares and worries.

Joining in with the ladies of Five Minute Friday today with the prompt: Trust

Join me as I remember what it means to be a writer again. Writing for 31 days in an attempt to find where nature and art collide in the work of writing. Click the graphic to find all my #write31days posts.

Nicely Handled

2015-10-08T21:47:00.000-04:00

It's a short one today... Just getting in by the skin of my teeth before I head to bed. Today is one of those days when I'm getting down even if it's bad as I search for the good.

Some days it just doesn’t seem possible, this commitment to writing. There are days when I just want to give up. Quit writing, quit school, quit blogging. But just about the time that I am ready to give up, I get a little encouragement or a little reminder that I am a writer and writing is possible…

Writing is possible.

Today the encouragement came in a graded paper. It’s a funny story, ya know. How my high school English teacher is now my University literature professor, twenty years later. I have always loved her, I am always thankful for the opportunities I’ve had to learn from her. But I’ve also been a little (okay, a lot) intimidated by her. I always want to get the best grades possible.

So when my paper is returned with a B+ and the words, “Nicely handled. You write well.” You kinda wanna do a little dance and get off the couch and type another blogpost.

Just when I think that writing is not possible, I’m reminded that it is, I just have to work on it. And maybe next time the paper will be an “A.”

My Dwelling Place

2015-10-07T13:16:00.001-04:00

Home—what is home to you?

My home is the wide-open spaces with a gorgeous view, spectacular sunrises, plenty of wildlife, and right now, the colorful leaves of autumn. The cornfields will soon be harvested and the leaves will fall, and the view will expand to the city in the valley and the ski slopes in the distance. I think that the view is my favorite part of our current home.

Five years, I have been enjoying this space that isn’t really “mine.” We have been given a gift, a stewardship of a house and property. I thank God for this home every day. I do not take it for granted. It is not pinterest pretty or magazine ready, but it’s comfortable and I like comfortable. It is also a far cry from the 2-bedroom trailer we were crowded in.

It is home.

But while reading my Bible this morning, I was reminded of another home—not my future home in heaven, but a home I have right here, right now…

The Lord is my dwelling place. (Psalm 90:1)

The secret place of the most High is my dwelling place. (Psalm 91:1)

Yes, it is true that God the Holy Spirit lives in me (I Cor 6:19), but it is also true that I dwell in Him (John 15:4).

Home is where I am abiding in Christ, where I am dwelling with God and meditating on Him daily. It involves allowing God into the daily of my life. I feel most at home when I let God in, too.

When things get hectic, and tense, and a little unpleasant around here, when I start complaining and griping, when my focus becomes what I don’t have or what I am missing out on, then I know I need to check myself, to refocus and renew my mind, to give thanks and to tuck myself back into the hands of the One who holds me and carries me.

God is my home. And I am thankful for the blessings He loads me with daily.

Writing about writing

2015-10-06T21:32:00.000-04:00

So I wrote something today for #write31days, but I don't like it all, so I'm pulling something out of my journal and dusting it off. More writing about writing...

How many times can you write about writing before it gets to be ridiculous? Really what I should be writing about is discipline, because if I had self-discipline maybe this writing dream wouldn't be so hard.

I almost called it the task of writing because somewhere along the way the dream died and it became a task. But it's still a dream too. Although I have no big dreams of publishing a book, I would love to write essays that connect with others, that helps others know they are not alone. To write words that encourage, inspire, and maybe even exhort a little.

And yes, I want to write words that point others to Jesus.

I know all the right things in my head. I know that it takes actually writing to make a writer. But knowing is not enough. The next step is applying what I know, actually doing!

Maybe this would be more possible if I was disciplined--in eating right, in exercising, in making wise choices, in time spent with God, in creating, in writing.

When you work on discipline in one area of your life, it often spills over in to other areas, I just don't know which discipline to start with...

So today, I write about writing again --tomorrow, who knows?

My thoughts today: Is writing about writing a good way to find my writing voice? Do you have any topics for me to write about?

Embrace

2015-10-04T16:35:00.000-04:00

When one wants to accomplish something new, be it healthy eating, running a marathon, learning a new skill, or can I say, become a better writer, one must embrace it wholeheartedly. You have to be all in. For there to be success in a new endeavor there must be commitment.

Change and new habits do not come easy. It takes a daily commitment, a full embrace. It can’t be one of those brief awkward side hugs.

Writing is a daily (and life long) choice. Every morning I have to wake up and say, “I am a writer.” And “I will write today.”

This does not mean if I don’t write on one day that I’m not a writer. It just means that I did not make the best choices that day. Although I have wondered –Does a writer need a “rest day”? Isn’t that what marathoners do? Run and run and run and then rest.

Embrace means to hold someone closely in one’s arm. Also, to accept or support a belief willingly and enthusiastically. I’m going to take this both ways.

I’m going to hold my pen and notebook closely in my arms, like I mentioned yesterday, keeping it close by so I can capture the ideas that come along! I’m also going to embrace the fact that I am a writer and that I want to be a better writer willingly and enthusiastically.

That might mean stepping out of my comfort zone and possibly trying a new writing genre or writing about something that doesn’t really interest me, something to take me out of my comfort zone. It might even mean taking a risk and submitting something to be published, to risk a rejection.

My thoughts today: Becoming a better writer definitely means attempting #write31days and being proud of myself for making it all the way to day 4 ;)

Capturing my Thoughts

2015-10-03T20:04:00.002-04:00

I am having the hardest time with today’s post, because for the last day I was thinking that the prompt was “Courage” and when I sat down to write and saw the word was “capture” my mind kinda went blank…

Writing is about capturing my thoughts. Writing takes time. Often I have fleeting thoughts, ideas, experiences I want to remember. Or Scripture and things I'm learning in my Bible study. However, if I don't take the time to write things down, the ideas slip through the web of my consciousness and disappear. I lose the opportunity to share the stories, to encourage others with what God is teaching me, to practice my writing voice.

And then I get discouraged and want to give up.

I have a writing journal that I use when I have to (like when I’m taking a writing class or writing practicum in pursuit of my communications degree, and part of my class assignment is to gather 50 entries in my writing/idea notebook). But often I forget to use my journal, or I think I’m too busy to take the time to write things down.

But if I truly want to find my writing voice and become a better writer, capturing my thoughts and ideas is vital. I have already seen the benefit of skimming through past things I’ve written as a way to “prime the pump” and get the writing juices flowing again.

So I will pull out my writing journal and start carrying it around with me again and the next time an idea passes through my sieve of a mind, I will WRITE IT DOWN!

My thoughts today: Are you are writer, a creative, an artist? How do you capture ideas for future use? Do you use Pinterest, Evernote, or some other app? Or are you a pen and paper kind of person?

Five Minute Friday: Family

2015-10-02T16:09:00.002-04:00

It's Friday, which means we get our prompt for writing from Kate Motaung and the Five Minute Friday Community! This week's prompt is...

Family:

My writing improves when I actually live my life. My family, my friends, my kids, life events, all of these give me things to think about, things to process, things to look at through a lens.

“In order to write about life first you must live it.” (Click to tweet)

In addition to living a life, I find that if I want to write, I need to read, not the useless consumption of facebook, news, and light reading, but time spent in God's Word, in quality literature, in books on the craft of writing. For me, writing only comes when I have something to write about. And there is a limit to consumption and I have reached the point where I need to step back from consuming and start creating.

When I think of my writing journey, I am only where I am because of family. My husband encouraged me to go back to school to pursue a degree in Communications. He continues to support me by picking up the slack when I'm consumed with schoolwork. My father keeps giving me books on writing, devotionals to encourage the writer, how-tos and ideas for writings, etc. My mom and my sisters faithfully (or semi-faithfully) read my blog whenever I actually post.

My kids learn from my writing. We've had conversations about writing and going back to school (especially when my homework gets in the way of something they want). I have even caught my kids doing some of their own writing. Journals are pretty high on the Christmas list even for my young kids. They have written short stories, comic books, essays, etc.

I am thankful for my family. In anything you want to pursue, you need to have support and I believe that the ones who support you are your true family, whether it's through blood or not.

Writing has also expanded my family. I've been a part of the Five Minute Friday family, the Allume family and the God-sized Dreams family. You might call them communities, but really that's what family is all about. Living in community with one another.

My thoughts today: Be family to someone today. Encourage them to pursue their dreams. Cheering on others has a way of cheering yourself up!

Join me as I remember what it means to be a writer again. Writing for 31 days in an attempt to find where nature and art collide in the work of writing. Click the graphic to find all my #write31days posts.

When the Writing is Calling

2015-10-01T19:23:00.001-04:00

No matter how many times, I take a break from writing, (let's be honest and call it what it is... giving up), I still feel the need to write. This desire to share my story, to process my thoughts, to encourage, to inspire, to share God's hand in my life. It keeps calling me. It keeps wooing me back. The urge to write is often present in the forefront my mind.

But it still takes a response to the call. I can put it off time and time again (as I have been known to do). Yet it is still there present in my head, always on my to do list, pricking my conscience before I go to bed. Is that possible? Can the need to write be talking to me? Maybe I've gone a little cuckoo in the months of not processing the thoughts...

Often I'm reminded that I won't become a great writer in one week, maybe not even in 31 days. But if I plant the seed and water the seed, it will eventually blossom, bear fruit and ripen.

Writing is good for the soul. Even when it's hard. Maybe more so when it's hard. So I dust off the journal and pull out my pens, or open up the blog page and run my fingers across the keyboard. And I keep trying. Because there is grace in the writing, there is hope in the trying again, there is encouragement in the conversations started.

What is it that you keep putting off? What is calling you, wooing you? What dreams, art, communities, opportunities are reaching out to you? How can we encourage each other? One thing I've discovered about writing, it can apply to other areas of life. Maybe my writing about writing will trigger something in your mind.

My thoughts today: Don't Quit! Listen to the yearnings that are calling you! Try, try again. And maybe, just maybe you will find some joy.

Join me as I remember what it means to be a writer again. Writing for 31 days in an attempt to find where nature and art collide in the work of writing. Click the graphic to find all my #write31days posts.

Five Minute Friday: Find

2015-08-24T16:11:00.000-04:00

A little Five Minute Friday (on Monday)

"You will never find time for anything. If you want time you must make it." ~Charles Buxton

"Lost time is never found again." ~Proverb

"To choose time is to save time." ~Francis Bacon

"You love what you find time to do." ~Unknown (<== click to tweet)

"Take care in your minutes, and the hours will take care of themselves" ~Lord Chesterfield

Time management quotes always make me a little sick to my stomach, because I'm awful at it. I can never seem to find the time I need for the things that I say are of great importance to me. Writing, quality reading, making cards, sending cards, maybe even reading to my kids (although that may be pushing it... Reading my Bible and spending time in prayer, investing in the lives of those around me, even exercise.

Constantly I wonder, why can't I find time for this or that? Then I realize it's because I haven't wanted it bad enough. I say I love to do these things, but actions speak louder than words.

When I have a few minutes to spare, I think it's too little time to get into a project or focus on a task I want to complete, so instead I fritter away 5-10 minutes on iphone games, facebook and instagram, brainless TV or novels, and the like... and before I know it, I've lost an hour and will never get it back.

What if I took those 5-10 minutes and stretched my brain or chose a chunk of a task? It's possible that an hour later I will look up from my task and see accomplishment. I don't need to focus on the hours when I start, just five minutes here and five minutes there, making the time for the things I say matter in my life. I might even find my motivation again.

So thankful I "found" time to write and join Five Minute Friday today. Maybe you will too?

Five Minute Friday: Learn

2015-08-19T10:53:00.001-04:00

Wednesday seems as good a day as any to write and post a Five Minute Friday blogpost.

Five Minute Friday: LEARN

A new school year is on the horizon, not just for my kids, but for me, too. I never set out to be a #studentmom. I thought for sure my two years of a "Secretarial Program" (now it's called Office Administration) would get me through life just fine. And after seven years of various office jobs, I was ready to come home, stay home, and be a mom.

However, two things happened...

One, I suddenly started learning again. It's crazy how my kids teach me more than I am teaching them. Every day (even when I don't realize it) I am learning from them, through the situations we face, through the growing process. My kids are some of the most grueling educators I know...

I also discovered that I wasn't done with formal book learning. And 15 years after I hung up my pencils, papers, and textbooks, I started up again. This time for a BA in Communications/writing. To be honest, these on-campus classes freak me out a little bit. My brain isn't as fresh as it used to be. I have a lot more responsibilities and distractions than I did out of high school. And because I am a people pleaser, I always wonder how the young "whippersnappers" I'm in class with, will take to the middle aged MOM in their class.

Click To Tweet

I've discovered something in the last three years of continuing education... Experience goes a long way, and brings a new element to the learning process. Experience is a valuable teacher.

I never set out to be a lifelong learner, but it turns out that is what God wants of each one of us--even if it's not in the classroom setting!

Never stop learning! (Tweet This)

God will bless the work of your hands

2015-08-12T10:23:00.000-04:00

Sometimes in this journey to discover and pursue my God-sized dreams, sometimes in this desire to be a writer...
Sometimes I just have to open my journal even if it is already 10:00 at night and I don't want to write, but I don't want to quit this attempt at daily writing. Sometimes in that moment the journal itself gives a writing prompt.

Right there staring me in the face is Deuteronomy 16:15.

"God will bless you ... in all the work of your hands, and your joy will be complete."

Writing is the work of my hands. Card making is the work of my hands. Continuing my education is the work of my hands. The meals I prepare, the baking I do, the time I invest in my kids and husband, even folding the laundry is the work of my hands.

The writing and the card making have been stagnant for far too long. I don't need to whine and cry about too much to do, or fear of failure, or uncertainty about how to proceed.

I just need to stop procrastinating.

The work of my hands.
How can God use me?
How can God bless the work of my hands?
I have been keeping my hands closed, not writing, not creating, not making art. God can't bless what I'm not creating. But I can create again, if I open my hands and work with them.

What is it God is calling you to do, to create, to work with your hands? Are you doing it? How can we encourage one another today?

Five Minute Friday: Try

2015-07-31T19:53:00.001-04:00

It's Friday and I'm actually writing another blog post! I love being back in the swing of writing and using the word prompts from Five Minute Friday!!

This Week's Prompt: TRY
I hear the word "try" and all I can think of is the famous Yoda quote...

"Do, or do not. There is not try!"

However, in my house lately the cry has been "I can't" (or more accurately, "buuuu-uuuttt, Iiiiiii caaaaa-aaaannnn't"). To which I reply, "All I'm asking is that you try!"

It's so easy to take the easy way out and say, "I can't, so I won't even try." But I'm working on teaching my kids (and myself) that you will never know if you don't even make an attempt. Sometimes all it takes is a little effort, just a small starting point, and before you know it you have done it...

learned something new
tried a new food
faced an old fear
discovered a new opportunity
made a new friend
created new artwork
succeeded over past failures.

Trying leads to doing! What have you discovered (or conquered) lately by trying?!

PS... wanna TRY to win a FairTrade giveaway? Enter Here!!

Fair Trade Friday (and a giveaway!)

2015-07-30T09:38:00.000-04:00

So I'm feeling all the feelings today, and it's one of those days where I can't make sense of the thoughts and feelings in my head. I am so excited to share the ministry of Fair Trade Friday with my readers today. But I'm so afraid of "doing it wrong" or not doing it justice.

This ministry is so amazing that I don't even know how to share it with you. Fair Trade Friday was started by Kristen Welch as a ministry of Mercy House Kenya (also amazing). Kristen is the author of Rhinestone Jesus, a book that shares her journey of little yesses that led to some scary yesses and resulted in lives changed, girls rescued, and babies given a chance at life.

The truth is, we think that one person can't make a difference, but just like the story of the little snowflake, when we all work together, it CAN impact the world. These women depend on our purchases. One artisan said, "Tell the women in America that we need them to keep buying what we make. Tell them it is feeding my son and two daughters. Tell them not to forget us." And that is why I do what I can. One person can make a difference, when joining hands with other people to make a difference.

Our monthly budget is not huge by any stretch of the imagination, but God always meets our needs. I'm thankful to have the opportunity to be a part of the Fair Trade Friday club for a time. Getting my box each month was so much fun as I "oohed and aahed" over the items and then read the cards to find out more about the story of the women who made these items. To be honest, the jewelry is my favorite! Especially the earrings, so I was delighted when they came out with an "Earring of the Month" option.

The biggest reason that I love working with Fair Trade Friday, is that they are Gospel-Centered! Changing lives here on earth is good, but changing lives for eternity is so much more powerful.

The details: Fair Trade Friday is a monthly membership club that delivers high quality fair traded items to your door. The items in the box are fairly traded and provide employment to women all over the world. If you aren't ready to commit to a monthly subscription, there is an option for a one time trial box. They also have an "Earring of the Month" subscription which is currently my favorite!!

As a bonus, I am offering a giveaway of some of the items I have received in my monthly boxes/earrings. In addition, I am including a copy of Rhinestone Jesus!

Included in this giveaway is:
A copy of Rhinestone Jesus (retail $15.99)
Handmade Market Tote by Joyn (retail $12)
Blockprinted Key Chain by Joyn (retail $6)
Tears of Joy earrings by Village Artisan (retail $11.95)
Fabric bracelet by Tukula (retail $16)

Enter Here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for sharing!

To Write (and Blog) Again

2015-07-27T09:00:00.000-04:00

Six Months! I went six months without cracking open my writing journal. Six months without picking up my pen to write. And because objects at rest tend to stay at rest, I had a difficult time getting started again.

First it was busyness, then I felt I had nothing to say, and then it became fear. Even now as my pen connects with paper I'm not sure where this is going to go.

Way back when (really just a few years ago when all the cool kids started doing it) I called myself a writer. Not because it was something I've wanted to do since I was six years old, not because I was a great story teller, not because I had stacks and stacks of junior high and high school journals (although I have discovered a few diary attempts) but because writing helps me think, writing helps me process, writing calms my anxious thoughts.

So you can imagine how the last six months have been for me...

Writing is therapeutic so it's time for me to get back into it.

This (me writing again) was only made possible by a Writing Practicum that I took in the spring semester, which included keeping a writing ideas journal (50 entries worth) and a month of the semester slipped by before I even started.

Do I want to be a writer? Or do I want to be a blogger? You can be a writer and not be a blogger, but can you be a blogger without being a writer?

I feel like I have too many questions and not enough answers...

What do I want to write about?

What should I write about?
What does God want me to write about?
Am I writing for myself? for God? for a targeted audience?

If I'm honest with myself I quit writing because it took too much effort and I wasn't willing to do the work. The whole idea of writing every day whether you feel like it or not just didn't appeal to me. But I'm learning in other areas that some times you have to do the work--whether it's exercise, eating right, creating art, writing... You have to do the work and the more you do the work, the more the desire comes.

So I'm giving it another try, this whole writing thing. Accountability is one of the only ways I get anything done, if any of my fine readers want to email me and nag me when the blog goes quiet again!

I have to write... my sanity depends on it.

Five Minute Friday: Ten

2015-07-25T15:42:00.000-04:00

I've been keeping my eye on Five Minute Friday, even though it's been almost TEN MONTHS since I last blogged. So I thought I would attempt a blog post.

Here are 10 reasons I haven't been blogging:

1. Life got busy.
2. Life got really busy.
3. Then, I got lazy.
4. The notion that I couldn't start blogging without a special relaunch of my blog complete with a redesign and lots of cool giveaways.
5. Fear
6. procrastination and laziness...
7. wanting to start with a month of prescheduled posts.
8. I figured no one missed my writing, that my story isn't that important.
9. I don't think I can sustain a regular posting schedule.
10. The Chihuahua of FEAR.

And then 10 reasons I should start blogging again:

1. Writing is good for the soul
2. I love the blogging community
3. I have some new release books that I am reading that I need to share with you all.
4. I am part of the #FTFBloggingTeam, which means I should be blogging about the awesome ministry of Fair Trade Friday.
5. I have some giveaway ideas and I know how much my few readers (is there anybody here) love giveaways!
6. I have been writing on and off over the last 10 months, I've just been too chicken/lazy to post things
7. I don't want to be a "quitter."
8. Blogging is a creative outlet and I need creative outlets.
9. I have a story to tell... We all do and story is important.
10. It only takes "5 minutes" so I should have no problem blogging!

I wanna write, I really do... am I willing to take five (or TEN) minutes?

Handmade Cards: Say

2014-10-08T06:30:00.000-04:00

Five Minute Free Writes: Say

(this is actually finally being typed on Saturday, but I'm post-dating it to Wednesday in hopes of catching up)

What can I say? I am a procrastinator and not very good at managing my time. Life got away from me this week and I'm trying to catch it. THREE WHOLE DAYS without a blogpost in my #write31days challenge has got me a little far behind. Do I try to catch up and post 2 posts a day for the next week, or do I just let it go and pick up where I left off...

All this week I've been thinking about the prompt say. It only takes a moment to say something encouraging to someone. and it only takes a few minutes to write something encouraging. And it truly only takes a few minutes to whip up a simple handmade card to make your note even more encouraging!!

Handmade is so much fun to give and receive. The card I'm sharing today is so simple ANYONE could make it. Just a little bit of card stock (white or colored), some fun washi tape and maybe some flower accents!!

Step 1: cut cardstock in half
Step 2: add some washi tape at an angle and trim
Step 3: Write a quick "thinking of you" with coordinating marker (or stamp it if you have it)
Step 4: Accent with flowers
Step 5: Write a note inside and send it!!!

The challenge is this: Can you buy some washi tape and card stock and send an encouragement note this week? Do it, then come back and tell me you did!! I know you can do it!

My word prompt came from Kate Motaung who is doing 31 days of 5 minute free writes this month!
Five minutes of writing is about all I can squeeze in these days, but it's better than no writing!!

Thanks for taking the time to read and comment as I get moving again in writing and creating... (it might just benefit you at the end of our time this month)

Handmade Cards: Go

2014-10-07T20:30:00.000-04:00

Go Team!! Go Team!!

So it's 8:30 on Tuesday night and I'm determined to stick with this #write31days series! The good news is I'm using Kate Motaung's Five Minute Free Writes.

Today is Go... So will you all cheer me on as I keep writing and keep sharing my handmade cards with you??

We all need a cheerleader in our lives ... Lisa Jo is a cheerleader for moms; my friend, Debi Stangeland is a cheerleader for bloggers; Holley Gerth cheers you on in your dreams (and grew a whole community of cheerleaders for God-sized Dreams).

My Dad and my husband cheer me on when my writing bug hits and encourage me to keep writing, to keep going on my education.

And sales in my etsy shop encourage me to keep creating handmade cards! These cute sports cards are one of a kind, just like yesterday's cards... but these are still available and you can choose to purchase just one... let me know if the sport you want isn't in my shop and I'll add it.

Who can you cheer on today?

The question is this: Do you need somebody to cheer you on? Share in the comments and I'll do my best! Also, what's your favorite sport?

Handmade Cards: Know

2014-10-06T13:00:00.000-04:00

Know... what do I know about cards? what do I know about selling on etsy?

It's not much but I'm learning a little bit more every day!! I'm learning that the more you post pictures of your products and share them on social media, and the more that you refresh your page by adding new products, the more likely you are to get hits and sales... (Guess what????? I had another sale over the weekend...)

My weekend sale included this adorable one-of-a-kind set--actually it was a limited edition, because I sold some last fall. I was using up some discontinued product so it isn't even a card set that I can replicate.

Some cute fall themes, left completely blank so you could use the card for any occasion!! Apples, Pumpkins, Leaves, and Trees... all things fall!! Super cute and simple ... and even better, now they are SOLD!!

Be sure to stop by my shop to see what new items I am adding this month! It's giving me courage in my craft and it's helping me to know that this is what I love doing!! I love how God gives encouragement and little open doors to point you in the right direction!

The question is this: Do you prefer completely blank cards? Or do you like cards with specific sentiments already on the card?

Handmade Cards: Stuck

2014-10-05T16:00:00.000-04:00

Five Minute Free Write: Stuck

"Sometimes a break from your routine is the very thing you need"

It's Sunday so I'm going to keep it short today!!

Sometimes, in my card making, I get stuck in a rut. This past spring, my rut was birthday cards, which is kinda funny, because I am horrible at actually mailing birthday cards to my friends and family. I have a variety of birthday cards that I will hopefully be sharing with you over the course of this #write31days series. But today, it's a set of birthday balloon cards that I'm hoping to finish and get added to my shop later this week!!

Sparkly balloons and baker's twine and bright rainbow colors.. You know you want to order a set!!

The question is this: Do you send birthday cards? Would you use ones that are blank inside or do you prefer a little message preprinted?

Handmade Cards: Learn

2014-10-04T17:00:00.000-04:00

I'm learning...

Did you know that today is World Card Making Day... and usually on this day, I "lock myself" in my card room and spend the whole day making cards. Do you want to know what I actually did today? Wrote a paper... just a three-page paper on The Poem of El Cid... ever hear of it? Yeah, me neither until last week when I had to read it for World Literature which I am taking with the intention of finishing my bachelor's degree... maybe before I'm 40, but probably not... it's not that far away!

Anyway, the point is, I am pushing myself to keep learning even if it is not all the stuff I would choose. See, the thing with getting a degree is that sometimes you have to take required courses that don't really fit your passion.

I just lost my train of thought... that happens sometimes with five minute free writes. My mind just went blank.

Did you know that you can learn to make handmade cards? It's super fun and can be very easy. There is no reason to make it complicated. A handmade card is going the extra mile in a thankyou note, a birthday card, or a just because letter.

Today I am sharing some cards that I used for a workshop to teach others how to make handmade cards. I have so much fun doing these (on a small scale) and am hoping to do another one sometimes soon (but maybe not until this busy semester is over). I loved showing the ladies these sample cards and watching them take the supplies and make the design their own with simple changes here and there.

And if you don't want to make your own, you can always order a few from my shop!

The question is this: How do you keep learning, even if it's not formal education? If you are local, would you be interested in a little workshop for making cards?

My word prompt came from Kate Motaung who is doing 31 days of 5 minute free writes this month! Five minutes of writing is about all I can squeeze in these days, but it's better than no writing!!

Thanks for taking the time to read and comment as I get moving again in writing and creating... (it might just benefit you at the end of our time this month)

Handmade Cards: New

2014-10-03T18:00:00.000-04:00

Behold, I make all things new.

Revelation 21:5

So excited to be mixing #write31days with #fiveminutefreewrites because that's all I have time for these days...

The #fmfparty prompt today is NEW:

Sometimes when you get stagnant in creating, it's time for something new! A new technique, a new product, or simply new stamps. A while ago, a friend of mine was moving and cleaning out her stamping supplies. She gifted me with a large box of stamp sets that she was cleaning out!! I went on a stamping rampage when I got that box. The new stamps gave me a rush of of new ideas and I couldn't wait to create... and I made time to create.

It's been a while since I went through that box. I know there are still plenty of stamps that I haven't even touched. Maybe it's time for me to gift someone else with some new enthusiasm for stamping by sharing with them!

This summer, I bought myself a new set of stamps! It was a huge splurge for me, but I had a plan already in mind. I knew that I wanted to create cards for actual snail mail and I wanted it to be encouraging. So I bought a set of Scripture stamps and then I created and created and created.

Here are just a few of what I came up with (I actually made over 30 in a week's time)

The question is this: What colors would you use with these Scripture stamps? Wanna special order a set? Stop by my shop!

My word prompt came from Kate Motaung who is doing 31 days of 5 minute free writes this month! Five minutes of writing is about all I can squeeze in these days, but it's better than no writing!!

Thanks for taking the time to read and comment as I get moving again in writing and creating... (it might just benefit you at the end of our time this month)

Handmade Cards: View

2014-10-02T13:00:00.000-04:00

View:
You can't purchase what you can't see...

I love to create cards and my dream is to have a successful etsy shop (or successful craft show, or a successful spot in a local store)... but I don't have the marketing skills, I don't have the business skills... (Translation: I don't have the discipline for the necessary work).

But I did something yesterday in anticipation of this month long series on my handmade cards! I added a few new cards to my shop. In reality, they are all cards I have listed before and they haven't sold, so they are still sitting in my inventory in my craft room. But I did it, I listed some cards!!

And what to my surpise happened before dinner?!??!?! I made a sale on one of those cards!!! HOW AWESOME IS THAT!!! (just a little excited and it's just one card) Every sale gives me a boost of confidence. Every sale reaffirms in my heart that this is what I want to do. Every sale makes me wish I could afford a virtual assistant! ;)

Masculine birthday cards aren't always easy to come by when you are looking handmade. But this one is simple with a touch of class... just like your dad!

But I know that that sales won't come unless people can see them. So that means taking the time to take quality pictures and edit them, and upload them and give them a description, and take the risk to post them. I also need to share them... Social media is an awesome tool... but only if you use it, because you can't purchase my lovely cards if I don't give you a way to buy.

The question is this: Do I upload 10 new cards to my shop in one day... or should I do one a day for 10 days in a row?

Handmade Cards: Move

2014-10-01T21:57:00.000-04:00

Objects in motion tend to stay in motion

Objects at rest tend to stay at rest.

My pen and my card table have both been at rest for far too long. There is always a reason (or an excuse). I'm busy... aren't we all? But when I go a month without making cards, it becomes even harder for me to get down there and ignore the laundry or the vacuuming, or give up a chance to veg on the couch and watch a movie. I often choose to stay at rest when it comes to creating. But the longer I go without creating (whether in writing or in card making) the crankier I get.

And when I get cranky, I'm not much fun to be around. So this month of October will be a month of moving... I will jot down a few words on this screen, I will share some cards I have made in the past... and before this month is over, I will move and I will get back to down to my craft room and I will create some new cards to share here... and to list in my etsy shop!

Sometimes it just starts with a little paper, a little stamping and a little bit of coloring. I start with flowers and I color and cut... the cards will come later.

When I will realize that I need to send a note to one of my kids' teachers, I will whip up a little set of stationery, because notes on fun paper is so much more enjoyable.

So today's share isn't even a card... it's just a perfect paper for a little note, or a long letter!

The question is this: Do people still send actual letters? Would you buy a set (10-20 sheets) of handstamped stationery with envelopes to match?

Five Minute Friday: Because

2014-09-30T21:45:00.000-04:00

Because I can't get it out of my head, because I really love making homemade cards, because there is something so wonderfully, incredibly encouraging about sending AND receiving snail mail... because I want to be like all the cool kids! I just might be making an attempt to join #write31days for October... which may or may not be a good idea, because it's only 4 days away and I haven't written a single post, I just have a million ideas floating around in my head.

I read this week that there are three things needed to be as successful blogger

Get Organized

Stay Focused

Believe in Yourself

(seriously, go visit my friend, Debi and sign up for her newsletters, she rocks!) and because I want to be one of those, I'm going to use the month of October to work on that--in between my readings of medieval epics for World Lit and my practicing and rehearsing and memorizing for my Oral Interp class... and in between mothering and housework and being a wife and a friend and the crazy day to day and trying to glorify God in all that I do.

So come back and hang out with me for the month of October ...because I want to write and I want to make new cards and I want to show you cards I've made and cards I love... and because I would love some feedback on my cards (and maybe a purchase or two).

So what do you say? will you join me on this journey? I have no idea what it will look like, but I would love to see it be an interactive journey, because I have this great idea for a giveaway at the end of the month...

Who is with me??? Stick around for 31 days (more or less... most likely less) of Handmade cards

Day 1: Stationery (not a card)
Day 2: Views equal purchases
Day 3: New stamps, new ideas
Day 4: What are you learning?
Day 5: Stuck in a birthday card rut
Day 6: One of a kind fall cards
Day 7: Go Team!
Day 8: Simple Card Tutorial

Whimsical Words

Not giving up, not giving in

Five Minute Friday: Trust

Nicely Handled

My Dwelling Place

Writing about writing

Embrace

Capturing my Thoughts

Five Minute Friday: Family

When the Writing is Calling

Five Minute Friday: Find

Five Minute Friday: Learn

Five Minute Friday: LEARN

God will bless the work of your hands

"God will bless you ... in all the work of your hands, and your joy will be complete."

Five Minute Friday: Try

"Do, or do not. There is not try!"

Fair Trade Friday (and a giveaway!)

To Write (and Blog) Again

Five Minute Friday: Ten

Here are 10 reasons I haven't been blogging:

And then 10 reasons I should start blogging again:

Handmade Cards: Say

Five Minute Free Writes: Say

The challenge is this: Can you buy some washi tape and card stock and send an encouragement note this week? Do it, then come back and tell me you did!! I know you can do it!

Handmade Cards: Go

Go Team!! Go Team!!

The question is this: Do you need somebody to cheer you on? Share in the comments and I'll do my best! Also, what's your favorite sport?

Handmade Cards: Know

Handmade Cards: Stuck

Five Minute Free Write: Stuck

"Sometimes a break from your routine is the very thing you need"

The question is this: Do you send birthday cards? Would you use ones that are blank inside or do you prefer a little message preprinted?

Handmade Cards: Learn

I'm learning...

The question is this: How do you keep learning, even if it's not formal education? If you are local, would you be interested in a little workshop for making cards?

Handmade Cards: New

Behold, I make all things new.

The question is this: What colors would you use with these Scripture stamps? Wanna special order a set? Stop by my shop!

Handmade Cards: View

View: You can't purchase what you can't see...

The question is this: Do I upload 10 new cards to my shop in one day... or should I do one a day for 10 days in a row?

Handmade Cards: Move

Objects in motion tend to stay in motion

Objects at rest tend to stay at rest.

The question is this: Do people still send actual letters? Would you buy a set (10-20 sheets) of handstamped stationery with envelopes to match?

Five Minute Friday: Because

View:
You can't purchase what you can't see...