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! :)