MDS Blog Hop--The Graduate!

 

We are officially under contract with our home!  Hopefully everything will go smoothly and we will be able to close in just a few weeks.  So, besides working on getting my household packed up, I also have a daughter graduating high school!  Most of my MDS playtime has focused around graduation announcements.  I have come up with a few different samples I would love to share and get your vote.  Kylie likes them all, but she has a favorite. I won't tell you which one it is until I order them.  I love that I can choose from thousands of digital images Stampin' Up! has on their website for just the right look.  I can also find ideas all over the internet and tweak them to make each one unique. Stampin' Up! also has designer templates so you don't have to do anything but add photos.  Make sure you check out all of the graduation/school themed MDS downloads.  Photos taken by Orange Soda Photography in Las Vegas.

#1 5 x 7 front

5 x 7 back

#2 Long front

Long back

#3 Trifold front

Trifold back

Ok, before you hop around to my blog friends, you need to let me know which card you like best!! (And the cupcake is a "nod" to the fact that she has worked for the last year at Retro Bakery!)

I'm sure my friends will have some great projects, as always! Make sure you comment--they love that!

Julie

Ready...Set...GO!

We are under contract!!  We had two cash offers in less than 48 hours of listing our home!  CRAZY!  Everything just got real really fast!  I'm sorry if I haven't been posting very often, please hang in there--I will try to at least have something once a week for the next little while until we get settled.  So for now, I will share the most recent promotions from Stampin' Up! just in case you haven't heard!!!

Free Shipping through the week of April 21-25, 2014 on stamps, accessories, paper, MDS print services...EVERYTHING!!!

Seriously???  I can't think of a better pairing for Scrapbooking!!! Available May 1, 2014

Yep, that's all folks! Time to say good-bye! Check out the list here.

Ok, that's it for now. If you have any questions about any of these promotions, please comment or email me. Or you can order at any time (even in your PJ's!) http://juliedavidse.stampinup.net.  This Thursday is MDS Blog Hop day, so check back in then!

Julie

A Refuge from the World

Every Tuesday, I get up at 5:00 am and drive more than 20 miles, past iconic Downtown Las Vegas to volunteer my time in the Las Vegas Temple.  I change out of my street clothes and wear my white dress (all the patrons and workers change into white clothing in the temple) and spend a few hours in a place that is a refuge from the craziness of what can be life.  I feel such a peace when I am there, even though I do fairly normal office work.  I can feel closer to my Heavenly Father when I am there.  It is also a place where families can be sealed for eternity.  I cannot imagine heaven without my family being my family!  That would not be heaven to me.  If you ever have an opportunity to attend an open house for a new LDS temple in your area, I highly recommend going. New temples are open to the public for several weeks before they are formally dedicated to the Lord. You will definitely feel peace and love when you enter the doors. Also, even though you must be a member in good standing to perform ordinances there, most temples have a beautiful entry or foyer where the public is welcome to come and sit and ponder or read the scriptures surrounded by . I know that the temple is the house of the Lord and I can feel His Spirit very strongly there.  It is because of Him that I can have my family not just "till death do us part" but for eternity.

I will really miss the Las Vegas temple and the many people I work with.  It is a sanctuary for me.

Julie

Starting Today

I am grateful for the opportunity to start over every morning, with a fresh, new slate.  I am trying not to let the little things get to me. I need to change my thoughts so that I'm not so judgmental--of others, but more importantly, myself.  The Lord knows all my weaknesses and strengths, but He also knows exactly how to help me change my weaknesses into strengths!  It is because of Him that I have the opportunity to change.

I hope you can find something to be grateful for today!

Julie

Because of Him

There are many people in the world who believe that members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (mormons) are NOT Christians.  People can choose to believe whatever they want about me or my religion.  I pray that as I serve and love and teach, my actions will speak louder than the words that are spoken out against me or what I believe.  I only have to answer to One...my Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ.  Everything I am is because of Him.

I will be sharing messages each day this week as Easter approaches.  May God bless you!

Julie

MDS Blog Hop--I Stand All Amazed

As Easter approaches, much of the world's focus turns to new life, not only in nature but in our spiritual lives.  Twice a year, (April and October) our church has General Conference where members all over the world can hear uplifting messages from church leaders.  I look forward to it every time.  I love being reminded I am a daughter of God and He loves me and I have a Savior who atoned for my sins. One of my favorite hymns is "I Stand All Amazed" and the words convey the feelings of my heart:

I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me,

Confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me,

I tremble to know that for me he was crucified

That for me, a sinner, he suffered, he bled and died.

I marvel that he would descend from his throne divine

To rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine.

That he should extend his great love unto such as I,

Sufficient to own, to redeem, and to justify.

 I think of his hands pierced and bleeding to pay the debt!

Such mercy, such love and devotion can I forget?

No, no I will praise and adore at the mercy seat,

Until at the glorified throne I kneel at his feet.

Oh, it is wonderful, that he should care for me enough to die for me!

Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!

Download

The words bring tears to my eyes! Just a few weeks ago, my little primary children sang this song to me for my last Sunday as their president and I almost went into the ugly cry!  To see those little children sing at the top of the lungs "Oh, it is wonderful" just reminded me exactly why Jesus has such a love for the little children.

I pray that you all enjoy this time of reflection, remembrance, and re-birth.

I just know you will love all the projects my friends have created--make sure to leave them a quick comment ("love", "fun", "TFS", "great job", "cute" are all acceptable comments!!) we all love to hear that people are interested in what we are creating!

Julie

Watering the Flowers

I decided to break out my watercolor paper for this project for a very easy faux watercolor look.  First, I stamped my Flower Shop flower in Crushed Curry and then lightly rolled the outside edges of the stamp in Tangerine Tango, aka Rock and Roll technique.  It gives the stamp a two-toned look with just one stamp.  After I stamped the two flowers, I lightly spritzed the watercolor paper with water and just let it sit.  Our Classic ink pads are dye based, so the color runs easily with water.  When the paper was completely dry, I stamped  Off the Grid with Versamark and embossed with gold Stampin' Emboss powder.  The sentiment was first stamped with Crushed Curry and lightly spritzed with water. When dry, I re-stamped it using the Stamp-a-ma-jig and Tangerine Tango. The Tango card base was dry embossed with the Big Shot and our SAB Decorative Dots embossing folder (will be available in the next catalog).  To tie in the gold, I added small strips of Watercolor Wonder  Designer washi tape and a small punched piece of Gold Foil sheet behind the Vintage Faceted clear button.

 I wish I could spend  a little more time with my stamps, but with the packing and repair projects going on, my stamp room is more like a staging area for piles of to-be-packed items.  I hope to be stamping more regularly once we get a bit more settled.  Thanks for hanging with me through all the craziness.

Painters will be here tomorrow!  It's amazing what 20 years will do to a house!

Julie

We Create Blog Hop--Happy Daisy

Well, yesterday I was released from my calling as the President of the children's Primary at church.  It has been just shy of 2 years and it has been an extraordinary blessing in my life. I was able to serve with 3 great women in my presidency who helped me with my responsibilities--they were an answer to many prayers.  It's wonderful to see little faces looking up at me every week as they learn about the gospel.  Listening to them sing about their Savior, at times brought me to tears.  As each of them had the opportunity to speak, whether durning Primary or as part of the annual Primary Presentation in sacrament meeting, their testimonies were pure and simple. I learned so much from them. I will miss seeing them every week, but I hope that they will continue to keep me up to date on all that is happening in their lives! They truly make me happy!!

So, with that said, my project this month just screams "Happy"!!  Who doesn't like daisies?  They are just a happy flower, either alone or in a big bunch.  This daisy is done in a line art style so it can be colored in using the freeform feature on MDS. If you would like to see how I use the freeform feature to add shading detail to digital images, check out this video:

I love that it has depth and dimension instead of just a flat image on a page.  There are several digital stamp sets that allow you to use the freeform tool to color in--try this technique, it's fun once you know how. And make sure you get your 30-day free trial of MDS, you will love it!

Hop along to Michelle, she's just getting started with MDS but I'm sure she'll get hooked on it quickly!

The packing is coming along and the house is going on the market in less than 2 weeks...AHHHHHHHHHH!!!  I hope we're ready!

Julie