DJ's Sundries

Do you have friends or loved ones going through a rough spot right now?  I do.  You don't have to look hard to see people who are hurting.  Crafting is a stress release for me.  I can get lost for hours creating something while forgetting about the day's frustrations and hurts.  Long ago, I learned that an hour or two spent in the craft room after a tough day in the ER helped me relax enough to get the rest I needed. While this is important for my own well being, I also need to look outside of myself or  I will quickly become self-centered.  This attitude does not honor Christ and it does not help those around me who are hurting.  It is amazing that when you open your eyes and use your skills to help those around you you, how much your own emotional and spiritual well being is blessed. Today's project is a great picture of this.  I needed a sympathy card but I also know others who are hurting and I wanted to have something for them as well.  This reminder from our Lord

I truly believe that we are not on this earth for our own pleasure.  God has given each of us talents to be an encouragement to others and we can always show kindness.  I think this is one of the reasons that I like this month's Close To My Heart campaign so much.  It is a good reminder to take a few minutes to show kindness to others.  This little kit contains EVERYTHING you need to make simple cards.   However, you can spruce it up a bit with watercolors or markers.  Add some shapes from the CTMH Art Philosophy cartridge and it steps up a bit more.  The possibilities are endless. I like this so much and I plan to continue the concept through October.  Watch for other ways to "Create Kindness" in the coming weeks. I really would love to have you join me in a Creating Kindness Challenge.  Of course I would love for you to purchase this kit from me here.  In fact, anyone who purchases this kit from me will receive a small collection of the scalloped shape

Hello everyone.  It's been a crazy busy month and I am so far behind with posting.  To catch up up going to share these 2 videos that I prepared earlier. I also had quite a few graduation cards to send out. So this is what I came up with. I have some fun things coming up including a big Close To My Heart reveal in August.  In the meantime, I have some "top secret" planning to do.  Keep stopping by. Thanks for stopping by today.  Remember to take some time to enjoy the little things.

Recently a friend of ours had surgery and I wanted to make a card to take when we visited him in the hospital. I had very little time to make it but still wanted it to be special. I think I was able to pull it off. Here are the items I used: Kraft Cardstock from Paper Trey Ink Memento Tuxedo Black Bowties 6X6 pad by Basic Grey "The Future" stamp set from Sweet and Sassy Stamps "Originals" Card Confidence Program found here Black ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon Sequins from Mainstays Black Soot Distress Marker Lime Twist Bakers Twine by My Minds Eye The whole thing went together quickly. Thanks for stopping by today.  Remember to take some time to enjoy the little things.

I love to browse on Pinterest!  Where else can you go from yummy recipes, to new nail colors, to exercise trends, to fabulous card ideas all in the matter of minutes (or hours depending on the day)?  I was recently Pinspired by the card that you can see by clicking here .  I wanted a card for a friend who needed some encouragement and I thought this would be perfect.  Add my favorite color and the gorgeous Grey Gray crinkle ribbon from 3 Girl JAM's LG bundle and you have this pretty little card.   Supplies: 3 Girl JAM LG Bundle Cuttlebug embossing folder - Birds & Swirls Georgia Pacific white cardstock CTMH - Smoky Plum ink Paper Trey Ink  - Boutique Borders Sympathy stamp and die; Plum Pudding cardstock Recollections Cool Water card stock  - Grey Adhesives - foam tape and ATG One of the best features of a card like this, is that you have enough to make 2 cards by simply using your left over pieces. I felt like all the white needed a little extra pop so I add

Do you know what time it is?  It's time for a brand new Challenge on the 3 Girl JAM Challenge blog and we really hope you will play along.  March is one of my favorite months of the year.  It is the month of both of my children's births as well as mine.  It is also the month where I feel like new beginnings are starting after the long, cold months of winter.  This month's challenge celebrates that by encouraging you to use gorgeous colors - yellow, green, and orange.  Does anything celebrate the beginning of new life better than a daffodil as it peeks it's yellow head bravely through the snow?  How about those first sprigs of green grass or orange wildflowers?  You can choose any combination of the 3 colors and add some ribbon for this challenge. For my projects I used green and yellow.  Goblin Green and Sunflower 3 Girl JAM ribbon worked perfectly to make them really pop.  If you would like some of your own ribbon, click on the name of each color to go directl

Everybody needs a little note of encouragement sometimes.  I wanted to express my appreciation for a few people so I decided to make some little encouragement cards for them.  Originally, I planned to make 3X3" cards but when I found this stamp set, I knew it was the perfect sentiment but a bit too big for 3" cards.  That's when I decided to make 4" cards instead.  I don't plan to put them in envelopes, but may put them in clear bags as they will not be mailed. These super simple cards only required a few paper layers and went together really quickly.  Despite the fact that the brown card is difficult to see in the picture, I think it is my favorite!  I like the richness of the colors. Supplies: Graphic 45 - French Collection in 8X8 DCWV - Autumn Melody matstack The Paper Studio - Cyprus collection Memento Tuxedo black ink Ribbon - Really Reasonable Ribbon Stampabilities - Some People stamp set Prima Flowers Memento Tuxedo Black ink K&am

Do you ever feel like you are riding a roller coaster as you go through life?  Some days are full of laughter and sunshine only to be replaced by gloom and storm clouds.  I am so blessed to know that my God is able to see me through the ups as well as the downs of life.  Do you know Him?  Can you trust Him with your ups and downs? My son recently showed me a picture that he found while on the internet or Facebook.  It was a picture of an EKG and said "If there are no ups and downs, you're dead".  When you think about it, that's really true.  The ups help keep us sane and feeling victorious.  The downs have the potential to teach us so much about ourselves, others, and even God.  I wonder if we would enjoy and appreciate the ups so much if we didn't have the downs to compare them too?  I really doubt it. As I pondered the picture, I thought that you could make a great card of encouragement with this concept.  I don't think you will ever find a card like thi