Challenge No. 3 - Valentine/Love

Wow, how well did we do in the last challenge?  100+ entries is wonderful.  I would imagine this weeks challenge will be just as popular given our theme of Valentine/Love.  This week we're sponsored by the wonderful Prairie Fairy,

Hello! I am Roberta from Prairie Fairy Designs. I am a new digital stamp company featuring artwork not only created by me but also my two kids, ages 9 and 12. They are featured on the site as the Fairy Princess and the Prairie Prince.

I have been an artist for as long as I can remember and have always loved to create. Two years ago my sister-in-law invited me to a rubber stamp party. I laughed and said "Maybe I will buy something if I can use it to stamp on canvases.". Needless to say, I was hooked! Two years later and a lot of learning about computers, I have finally accomplished my goal. 

While digital stamping is relatively new in the papercrafting scene, it is what I believe to be such an amazing tool. Printed images have such clarity and vibrancy and gone is the need to re stamp an image because you didn't press hard enough or maybe you pressed too hard! They are also a lot easier to store and they can be reprinted over and over again. The fact that you can rotate and flip files, print them off the size of a postage stamp or as large as a scrapbook page makes them such a versatile medium. It is my sincere hope that I can help anyone who has hesitations about using digital images to embrace these amazing creative tools. If you have any questions about going digital, check out the site and the blog for more information. So head on over to http://www.prairiefairydesigns.com/ and check it out!

Please take the time to have a look at what's on offer at Prairie Fairy because the images are wonderful.  The prize for our random winner will be 5 digi images of your choice.

We got the chance to work with some of Roberta's images and here's what we made:

Shirley

Patricia

Mandy

Sarah

Donna

Alison

Aren't they wonderful?  Hopefully you've got some ideas for us because we can't wait to see.  You may have noticed we are a couple of members down.  Unfortunately, we have to say goodbye to both Amy and Kym.  You've both been great team members and contributed lots to our challenge.  We'll miss you tons!

Finally some rules:

1. Your card must be for a man/boy
2. It must follow the theme/sketch set
3. It must be a new card for our challenge.

The challenge will close at 12 Midnight (GMT) on 13th February 2011.  Leave your name and a direct link to your project (not just your blog) in the link tool below.  If the link tool is not there for some reason, then please leave details in the comments and I'll add you in before I do the draw.

Resisting the Temptation to Quit

There are times when I am tempted to quit.
Tempted to *throw in the towel*.
Times when I wonder if I should give it all up.

After all,
I have reached 1000.
That was the goal.

BUT...

In the course of regular, daily living,
I remind myself that these are the things to treasure.
These are the moments to *keep*.
So, I....

Keep on counting.
Keep on numbering.

Most importantly, I...
Keep on noticing.

Don't Quit.


Noticing all the little things.
All the moments and fleeting treasures of today.
All too soon,
they will be history.
In the past.

Gone.


Treasure up the the sights,
the sounds...the silence.

Treasure up the imperfect.
Treasure up the ordinary.
Treasure up the beautiful.
Treasure up the important.

Don't miss the moments.


In the flurry of life.
In the bustle of activity.
In the frantic pace to *get it all done*.

Don't miss out.

On LIFE
and LIVING!

Continuing to number.
I am past the *required* 1000,
but I don't want to quit.
Do you mind if I keep it up?
Maybe you will join me soon?
I would *LOVE* to hear about it if you do!

So, the numbering of the gifts continues,
and in the numbering there is joy.

1132. The near-all-nighter deadline is behind us!

1133. When things come together

1134. God ALWAYS answers prayer ~
Not always how we want HIM to...
but ALWAYS for our good and HIS glory!

1135. The dishwasher ~
Again, and again, and again! :)

1136. That the children underline and mark in their
own Bibles when the Word speaks to their hearts ~
JOY!

1137. Waking up to more white ~ So beautiful!

1138. Late Christmas greetings still trickling in ~
Love it! (Written at the fist part of January)

1139. A husband who does not complain about his food
and is easy to please.

1140. That I could get Calvin's RC Helicopter fixed for free!

1141. $25.00 Slippers on sale for $7.00!

1142. A basement couch to sort laundry on ~ Love it!

1143. Being accountable

1144. 100 Days Calendar and the beginnings of progress


1145. Another week of reporting done. :)

Super /ir/ /er/ /ur/ Girl!

This super girl (I think I'll name her Fern) is flying into our classroom this week to teach r-controlled vowels!  She is going to be one of the choices at word work station--the kids will use the magnetic words to label her with super words.  I also made an identical workpage (just much, much smaller!) for the kids to practice spelling the words on the labels!

Dropping the Ball

Have you ever "dropped the ball"?
Lacked in discernment?
Done something you regretted?

I have.

What a blessing to know that the LORD
gives us fresh starts and a
*clean slate*.

When we first
come to HIM for Salvation,
HE justifies us.

Justification ~
"Just as if I never sinned."

But we don't stay there.
We need to be sanctified.
A daily learning and growing in grace.
This process is not completed until the day we die.

How precious it is to know that the
LORD Jesus Christ has paid for all my past,
present, and future sins.
And that HE is with me
each step of this journey.

I have not arrived.

I must run the race.
One foot in front of the other.
Step by step.
Day by day.
Never quitting.
Never giving up.
Always moving forward.
With HIM.


"Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:
but this one thing I do,
forgetting those things which are behind,
and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
I press toward the mark for the prize of
the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
~ Philippians 3:13-14 ~

Forgiveness is so rich.
Grace is so rich.
We are rich in HIM!
What a PRECIOUS Saviour we have!

The older I get,
the more I *know* this
at the core of my being.
More of HIM.
Less of me.

All is grace and mercy.

"Being confident of this very thing,
that he which hath begun a good work in you
will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."
~ Philippians 1:6 ~

May the LORD bless each of you, kind friends,
this weekend with HIS peace and presence,
and might HE lead us ever unto Himself.

In His Love,
Camille

"Qu" Quints Baby Shower!

On Monday, I introduced five new little friends to the class--the quints:  Queenie, Quintin, Quigley, Quinn, and Quincy.  While a few of my students rocked the babies (so cute!), I explained that these little ones were here to help us learn to read and write /qu/ words.  {And, since our reading series said so, I also had to teach /wh/ this week.  Just a little confusing for my kiddos.}  Anyway, we practiced reading our giant baby shower invitation that had many /wh/ words, then each student took home a baby shower invitation to share with their families!  The quints stayed in our room all week long, and today we threw a /qu/ {and /wh/}  baby shower for them!  The kids brought in /qu/ and /wh/ gifts like white blankies/booties/hats, quarters, hot wheels cars, white quilts, squeaky books, and quacking ducks!  After the gifts were all set up on a table, and most of the quints were wrapped up in new quilts, the kids visited baby-themed reading stations! 

The Giant Invitation!

Baby bottled up words:  The kids had to unscramble the letter beads to figure out which /wh/ and /qu/ word was inside each bottle!  (This was a little tricky, so we had a word bank to help!)

Rattle toss:  The kids were given two soft baby rattles, and were to toss them onto a large word mat (just a Dollar Tree table cloth).  If the rattle landed on a word, they would read it, then get a point for their team!  They really loved this game!

Descriptive writing--baby clothes edition!  I left a bag of baby clothes at the writing table.  The kids chose an outfit, then used descriptive words to describe the outfit.  When stations were over, they took turns reading their descriptive writing and having their friends guess which outfit they were describing!  It was so much fun, and many realized that a few more details could have made it easier for others to guess!

PowerPoint Download and SMART Board!

Here is an "Animal Fun" PowerPoint I made for teaching inflections -er and -est!  Just thought I'd share with my teacher friends out there!  {I wish I could figure out how to attach a picture of the first slide...anyone know how to do this?}  Anyway, I hope you will enjoy it!

Download Animal Fun!

In other news...my class is getting a SMART BOARD!  Hooray, hooray!  I am BEYOND excited!  When we found out, the whole class did a WOW cheer, a sprinkler dance, and jumped for joy!  I can't wait to use this incredible resource, and see all the wonderful learning that will take place!!!

Braces ON and Braces OFF

Austin wore braces for over
two and a half years.

Was it a joy?

When asked if he was ready to have them removed,
this was his answer ~
"I've been ready for this for two years!"

I suppose that means he endured them.

And so the adventure began for one
and was completed for the other.
The date was November 17, 2010.

Austin in this chair...

And Emma in this one...

Emma's is more of a *preventative* case at the moment.
She only has brackets on six of her top teeth ~
they will only need to be worn less than three months.
It is still very exciting for an eight year old.
She was thrilled with her Christmas coloured ties...
perfect timing!

Austin is looking *all grown up* with his completed smile ~
Braces Free! :)

One happy young man.

Post Script ~
Emma got her braces off today! :)

He Cannot be My EVERYTHING

We cannot, as a wife, expect our husband
to be what he was never called to be.

Our EVERYTHING.


Only God in Heaven can fill that void.
That need can only be met by HIM.
It isn't fair to put that kind of pressure on our husband.
He was never meant to live up to that standard.

We are not called to be his everything either.

But ~
We can be something.
Someone who walks faithfully alongside.
Someone who is there ~
For richer or for poorer,
For better or for worse,
In sickness and in health ~

Until death.


How?

Only by the grace of God.

HE is the ONE Who keeps ~
The ONE Who sustains.
We both belong to HIM.
Our all is found in HIM.

HE is our
EVERYTHING.

Of Gingerbread and Other Good Things

It's a tradition.

We *must* bake gingerbread
at least once over Christmas.

And we did.


The rolling.
The shaping.
The sprinkles.
The icing.
The candies.
The tasting.

It's all an adventure.
I find myself becoming a *little*
more relaxed with the whole process.

And OH!

How the children
ENJOY it!

Thankful this Monday for more of the *everyday*.
Thankful for more of the *ordinary*.
How precious it is to number them and
to reflect on HIS goodness!
Have you joined us yet?
Oh, do come along...
it is a JOY!

1091. Family beach walk
on a crisp winter morning ~
R.E.F.R.E.S.H.I.N.G.

1092. Tazo Vanilla Rooibos Tea ~ Yum!
(Notice the tea mug?
It's the one Emma gave me for Christmas,
and the tea was from Fraser ~ precious)!


1093. Bonus Air Miles!

1094. Music teachers for our children

1095. Sleeping in

1096. Catching up

1097. Routine

1098. Admitting I was wrong and making it right ~
with the LORD and others...forgiveness!

1099. Fresh starts

1100. Homemade soup for lunch

1101. Lunch as a family ~ all six of us together

1102. Early to bed

1103. Early to rise

1104. Purpose

1105. Grounding ourselves with the Truth

1106. Dispelling fears

1107. Being able to glue together a broken ornament for at
least the third time (and it's been broken in three places too) ~
Yaay for Super Glue!

1108. Seeing old friends

1109. Being greeted warmly by a teenager who is not related ~
very sweet!

1110. Snow in the night ~ waking up to white!

1111. Furnace that faithfully heats this house again and again ~
I think it's the original...nearly 40 years old!!

1112. Rain that washes all the snow and ice away

1113. Warm, dry home on a cold, wet day

1114. The sound of the downpour as we fall asleep

1115. Chicken Pot Pie for dinner ~ Yum!

1116. Muffins for breakfast

1117. Pre-soaked steel cut oats ready to be cooked up
quickly in the morning ~ Do you notice how much of my
life revolves around food?? LOL!

1118. Casting all my care upon HIM ~
HE cares for me! What a comforting thought!

1119. Freshly boiled water poured over a favourite tea bag
to enjoy just before bed

1120. Little girl asking me to play "Canon in D"
on the piano while she settles down to sleep ~
"Why do you like it?" I ask.
"I don't know, but it is so beautiful!" comes the reply.
A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.

1121. When things are not perfect...
points me to the ONE Who is!

1122. The sense of humour in the children evidenced
more and more as they grow...sometimes I really laugh!

1123. Snuggling on the couch with the two youngest
during morning quiet times...
Precious moments thatwon't last forever.

1124. An evening of hockey with our two oldest

1125. A fresh dose of P.E.R.S.P.E.C.T.I.V.E.

1126. Knowing that the LORD not only knows,
but HE also cares

1127. Cheering my husband on from the sidelines ~
I am so thankful for his *never give up* attitude

1128. Book recommendations

1129. The occasional coffee...yum!
(I *love* it, but it doesn't love me back)

1130. Getting the thank you notes done and mailed!

1131. Precious people to thank! :)

It May Look Good ~ But is it REALLY?

I've been thinking on this a lot lately.
How often do I live to please others...
and forget that my purpose is to please the LORD?


I've been looking at the motives of my heart.
Why do I do what I do?
Am I any different when I am alone and
*no one* sees me?
Ah, the litmus test of the heart.

Heart religion.

Am I a Pharisee?
A Hypocrite?

Food for thought.

Our precious Saviour had a few things
to say on this matter.
HE always looks on the heart.

White-washed tombs was what
He called those who looked good
on the outside,
but their hearts were far from Him.

Oh. Dear. Me.


Living for HIM.
Looking unto HIM.
Following HIM.
In everything.

"That no flesh should glory in his presence.
But of him are ye in Christ Jesus,
who of God is made unto us wisdom,
and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
That, according as it is written,
He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord."

~ I Corinthians 1:29-31 ~

For HIS glory.
Not mine.

By HIS grace.
Alone.

Have you ever seen a pink penguin?

I know you want to hear all about this pink penguin, but first, let me just tell you, my class has had an absolute BLAST learning about penguins this week!  During independent reading, the kids have used our penguin research tub of books to discover new learning!  They have been busy writing down fun facts on sticky notes and adding them to our fat little penguin anchor chart!  {It has crazy big eyes, of course!}

We used rulers to find out exactly how tall a 4 foot Emperor Penguin is, and everyone had fun standing next to a life sized Emperor Penguin chart to see how they would measure up!  We even started adding some facts we learned about Emperor Penguins!

During buddy reading, the performer was brought out in many of my little friends as they practiced plays like "Tacky the Penguin" and "Winter Friends"!  One of my favorite activities of the week has been reading the picture book Pink!  After we read about Patrick the pink penguin, we decided to create our own little guys using pink scrapbook paper.  Then the kids had a writing activity called, "Meet my Pink Penguin!"  I love that one of the penguins is named Michael and takes karate lessons.  First graders are creative...and funny!

Homemade Pizza ~ Crust and All!

"Easy as pie"...
or so the saying goes!
More on that another day perhaps.

But for today...
I want to share with you my favourite
pizza crust recipe.

Do you ever buy the premade crusts
for ease of operation
and fuss-free preparation?

Have you ever added a frozen pizza
to your cart at the grocery store?
If so, this post is for you.

Don't feel bad...I've done it too!
But, it isn't necessary...
this pizza recipe is ~

Oh. So. Easy.

Pizza Crust ~
from scratch.
Quick and painless...
I promise! :)


One thing I like about this dough is it's quick.
Really, it is!
The secret is in the yeast.
This recipe calls for *instant* yeast,
and doesn't require a *rising* time ~
you just let it *rest* for ten minutes
before rolling it out.

P.E.R.F.E.C.T.I.O.N.

It's a great place to begin if you've never made bread.
Won't you give it a try?
Please?


~ The Recipe ~
~ Dough for One Pizza ~
FYI ~ I make two large pans (double this recipe)
for our family of six
**Recipe courtesy of my Sister-in-Love**

2 Cups flour (divided)
1 Tbsp Instant Yeast
1/4 tsp Sea Salt
1 Tbsp Sugar
3/4 cup Warm Water

Mix together 1 cup flour,
yeast, salt and sugar
in a large bowl.
Stir in water.
Knead in as much of the remaining 1 cup of flour
as is needed to make a soft and not too sticky dough.
This will take about 5 minutes of kneading.
Let rest on counter for 10 minutes.
Roll dough out to fit your pizza pan,
use a light dusting of flour on the counter to keep
the dough from sticking.
Press into prepared pan.
(I use parchment paper,
but if you don't have it, grease the pan)

Just a little note ~ I don't have pizza pans,
I use cookie sheets...
they work just fine. :)

Once your pizza is assembled,
you bake it for 20 to 25 minutes at 400* F ~
Let rest in pan for 5 minutes before cutting.

Now...how to assemble a pizza?
This is the fun part!
Almost anything goes.


Make it simple or make it fancy.
Pizza is very versatile.


Gather together your toppings.
Mozzarella cheese ~ shredded, of course.
Pizza Sauce or some sort of tomato base.
Pineapple tidbits ~ drained.
Sliced pepperoni or other pizza meat
(You can even use scramble fried
ground beef with chopped onions)
Chopped red, green or yellow peppers
Italian Seasoning for garnishing

Other ideas ~
chopped sun-dried tomatoes,
chopped artichoke hearts (really!),
chopped onions,
chopped jalpeno peppers (for some kick),
etc....


The trick to get a soggy-less pizza is to not overdo the toppings.
Ask me how I know. LOL!

Spread a very thin layer of your pizza sauce on the unbaked crust.
Layer the meat over the sauce.
Sprinkle a handful of chopped ingredients over top ~
if you are using pineapple, do NOT put it on yet!
Sprinkle a large handful of mozzarella cheese over all.
Pineapple tidbits (well drained) if you are using them,
would go on now...on top of the cheese.
Sprinkle with Italian seasoning (if desired).

Bake as indicated above.
Slice and enjoy!

Challenge 1 - Winner and Top 3

What a great start to the New Year.  Thanks to everyone who joined us with our sketch challenge and thanks again to our wonderful sponsors, The Stamping Boutique.  The winner of our prize (5 digi images) was chosen using Random.org:

Congratulations Sheena, please email me on cardsformen@donnasden.co.uk with your choice of 5 digistamps from The Stamping Boutique.

The top 3 cards were:

1 - Linda H

21 - Wenche P

29 - Brook

Congratulations girls.  Please grab our Top 3 badge from the sidebar and add it to your own.

Challenge No. 2 - Let's Party

First challenge over, it was lovely to see so many of you trying our sketch out.  It's amazing how many different interpretations can be seen.

Our second challenge has the theme 'Let's Party' so let's see all your celebration cards.  We're sponsored by the wonderful, Meljens Designs, who kindly provided us with some images to use.

Meljen's Designs is a lovely stamp company owned and illustrated by Melissa Jenkins. She illustrates whimsical rubber and digital images inspired by her kids and family. Meljen's Designs has new releases along with a new challenge every Thursday, freebies every Monday and a Guest Designer each month at the Meljen's Designs Blog. Please visit the Meljen's Designs line of stamps at the WHIMSY STAMPS STORE to browse and enjoy Melissa's wonderful images!

Take a look at the ideas our DT came up with:

Shirley

Sarah

Amy

Alison

Patricia

Mandy

Donna

Kym 

Haven't they done a wonderful job?  Our prize from Meljen's Designs is 4 digi images of your choice.  Finally some rules:

1. Your card must be for a man/boy.

2. It must follow the theme/sketch set.

3. It must be a new card for our challenge.

The challenge will close at 12 midnight (GMT) on the 30th January 2011.  Leave your name and a direct link to your entry (not just to your blog) below.  If the link tool is not there for some reason, then please leave details in the comments and I'll add you in before I do the draw.