Let's Embellish

our first ever blog hop for the

Susan K Design Team
today we are hopping with the Unity Stamp Design Team!

If you are not already a follower,

we would love for you to join our families

and follow our blogs as well as stay up-to-date

by Liking us on Facebook:

Susan K Weckesser Inc http://mysweetearth.blogspot.com/ facebook page

    Unity Stamps Facebook page

During this 2-day hop, you will be inspired

and in awe of all the fabulous creations shared by

members of these two talented design teams.

Both teams will be sharing Simple Christmas Card Ideas

using Unity Stamps designed by Susan K Weckesser Inc.

 It's not too late for Christmas Cards. According to the

US Postal service, if you mail your holiday cards by

December 20, they will arrive by December 25th!

And, this will give you a chance to also join in

the Christmas Love Campaign.

 



These images are so cute!

***

We are giving away two chances to win an

amazing prize package containing a generous

variety of Susan K Weckesser stamps co-branded with Unity Stamps.

For a chance to win, visit each blog

and leave a comment. Then come back

on Dec 3 at 6 PM CST to find out if you

are a winner at Susan K Weckesser Inc and Unity Stamp Co blogs.

Here are some close ups!

I used Faber -Castell PITT artist pens and Gelatos

to color my images and lots of glitter!

 



On top I used Twinkling H20's...

 



How cool is that?

Click on the box to check out the sale!

And for those that are new to my blog

I do a giveaway every 10the and 20th of the month!

Check it out here!

Good morning bloggers, as I type this I realize it may get lost as tomorrow

I am participating in a blog hop, but tomorrow is the last day of

the month and I really want to finish my 30 days of thankfulness.

If you are reading this, maybe you are supposed to and even

if alot of people don't read it I am OK knowing whoever was supposed to read

this did. Make sense? I hope so!

 

I am sitting here in my house wearing a hoodie and a blanket.
I can't get warm, it's been that way for a few days. Yes I have heat in my house,

I fear I am getting sick. Cold, tired, sore throat and a big headache.
Hopefully my body will fight it off but meanwhile (29)
I am thankful for medicine!I (aka supermom lol) do not have time to be sick.

(I really should color that page- I feel much like the white rabbit's

in Alice in Wonderland "I'm late, I'm late for a very important date". No time, sigh. )

 

On the last day of November (yes I know it's tomorrow.)

I am thankful for forgiveness.

I am naturally a happy girl.

But injustice will push my buttons and if I am not careful

I could hold onto unforgiveness and it could turn into bitterness.

It took years to let go of the injustice that was done to our

adopted kids. I was angry and rightfully so.
A few years back I did a layout venting to the birth parents for what they

did to our kids and how far they have come in spite of what

they suffered. I even did a layout about the really stupid things that

people have said to us because our kids are adopted.

Like "can't you just give them back?"

when we discovered some of disabilities they had or how about

"don't you ever wish you had not adopted?"

in the middle of walmart with my kids in the basket!

OK so it's a work in progress right?
I am STILL working on the forgiveness and letting go.

***

I will never forget the court date to terminate the parental rights for our first kid.

(The court has to terminate the parental rights before
there can be an adoption- even if it has been years since they saw their bio parents.)

I was angry (putting it nicely) because of what she did

to him (dad was not in the picture) and because

my child was still suffering years later as a result of her choices.

 I was also scared that although she never made

one attempt to visit him, there was a possibility that she could get another

chance to work her case file and try to get him back.
I brought a camera, thinking it might be my only chance
of getting a picture of her and a waited outside.

But you know what?

She never came.

I thought would be a relief - her not showing, instead I felt outrage!

How dare she not fight for her boy!

Didn't she realize how amazing he is?

Didn't she even care? Who does that!?!

At the same time my heart went out to my son and my rage 

  quickly turned to sadness. It breaks my heart that

she did not fight for him- the thing I feared most...

Maybe she thought she was doing the right thing for

him by not fighting, I don't know.

But I had to let go of that anger and forgive her.

Without her I wouldn't have my little miracle.

And I am not perfect - I've made mistakes BIG ONES. Who am I to judge?

I can't harbor all that anger for her and love on my child.

My anger for her wasn't hurting her, it was hurting me.

Holding onto it took energy, a lot of it.

I need that energy to chase my kids! LOL!

 

That day was a life changing experience for me -
I didn't realize how much unforgiveness was wearing me down.

So I am thankful for forgiveness (still a work in progress), if you

are holding onto unforgivness I promise you it is a very

freeing experience to let it go.
(Even if you have to keep letting it go every time you think about it.)

 

And thank you for reading this long post.

This was for you. 

;)

Tomorrow- Blog hop & prizes, I'm just sayin'!

 

 

Here is the finished card.

It's a dark & cold day here so my pictures aren't as great
as I'd like but you get the idea! The paper speaks for itself!
There are three different papers cut and layered.

One of the things I love about the stacks is you don't have
to try to find a matching paper- it's included so you get right
to the fun stuff, creating! Especially this time of year

when things start to get rushed- you can easily
grab a DCWV stack and make a ton of cards or projects
without stopping to find a matching sheet of paper!

 

Are you doing any Christmas projects?

***

I will be back tomorrow to finish up my 30 days of Thankfulness

as I have a blog hop on Friday that you wont want to miss!

 

I have started this post more than a dozen times.

 Do you know how hard it is to blog when the kids are on Thanksgiving break?

Yay school! I'm just saying! So today (27)

I am thankful for a little peace and quiet-

nobody calling my name with all the things they want or need.

A little break is good for me - time to regroup!

I am also  (26) thankful for the Internet,

where I have information at my fingertips, I can work from home and
catch up with all my favorite people.

"Night Owl"

Over Thanksgiving break (my kids were out all week) I was reminded of something else (25)

I am thankful for, Saturday Morning chats.

We have a big bed. California King. Which is funny because I am only 5and 1/2 inch
and hubby is 5'10.  We got this bed when we only had one child -
but hubby knew that we would need it. Every time somebody had a nightmare, got
sick or just needed to talk they ended up there, sometimes everybody in the house
ended up in there! Maybe during a storm or fun times like movie night in mom

and dads room. Snuggling on daddy's day off. Nap times on Sunday afternoons.

And Saturday morning chats and cuddles. (Of course only baby girl calls it that-

the other kids call it Saturday morning chats! I don't know when it started.

The babies (my youngest three) have never been kids that sleep in- no matter
what time they go to bed. I have not needed an alarm clock for almost 10 years. But Sat

 is the only day I don't have to be anywhere early (except for football season).
Before breakfast they come in and chat about their week or whats going to happen

the next week. During the break our "night owl" said "hey mom, we can have

Saturday Morning chats everyday this week!" It's a good thing.

(24) I am thankful for beautiful weather!

It was really weird here- the 70's and 80's over Thanksgiving break!

Defiantly not missing the snow and freezing temps from Colorado!

It has been gorgeous outside... although it does not feel like

fall. On the plus side the kids were having a blast playing outside and hubby

did put up some Christmas lights outside and I got some great pics of the kids!

 

 

 

 (23) I am thankful for Grace.

As I drive back from dropping off  the kids from school I snapped this

picture and am reminded of this scripture.

 

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23

 

 

I am so glad we have this word to remind us that every day is a new day -

full of possibilities and new beginnings! If you messed up yesterday,

you can start over again today! Each day is full of promise and potential

to be something great! (Even if it is just a little peace and quiet!)

 

 

(28) I am thankful for your kind words,
I love the comments I have been getting- especially the

ones that include some of your personal lives! 

You have really blessed me. Thank you. ((hugs))

((those are cyber hugs - in case you didn't know! LOL!))

The day has officially started! Turkey is in the oven!

The kids are super excited!

We have friends and family coming over!

  The new Thanksgiving banner is up!

(DCWV  & a Clear Scraps banner of course!)

 A family tradition at the table is the ABC's of Thanksgiving-

what are you thankful for, if your letter is

A you might say you are thankful for "animals"...

One of the kids(Boo) already said "I am thankful today for Jesus!"

Well said son. :)

 

 Celebrating 21 days of thankfulness I must include adoption.

Many of you know my little ones are adopted - they know it too, it's never been a secret.

LOL it's also kinda hard to hide with a blond in the family -

but he is a riot, he will tell you everybody else is adopted but not him!

When he was little he kept cutting his own hair - I mean down to the skin!

When we asked him why he did that he said it keeps growing in the wrong color!

So cute! We told him we love his hair and that God made Him special,

he was perfect just way he is!

 

 Good morning Bloggers- well for me anyway.

I was thinking about what to write about on my blog today.

I know that I am behind on my 30 days and as much as I did not want to

simply list the things this year(I wanted to do at least a paragraph)

life has gotten in the way. Recently a sweet friend suddenly lost her mother to cancer,

perspective changes when something like that happens. Long time readers of my

blog know that a few years back I lost a very dear friend of mine suddenly to C. It brought

back those memories as well. We need to cherish the moments we have with those

we love everyday.  So fast forward to (#20) on my things to be thankful for

I am thankful for life.

Along with that (#19 )I am thankful for  relationships- good and bad they shape us into the people that we are. I am grateful for the time spent in them and sometimes (when they were not healthy) when they were over. (Not all friendships are forever-

but I am truly thankful for those as well.)

 

 (#18) I am thankful for art  as way to express myself.

Who knew that I would be still be using all those art supplies as an adult! 

It has led me to be create in other areas of  my life that I am passionate about- things like scrap booking, journaling, photography and cards.
Its not because I was passionate about those things,
but because I am passionate about people I care about
and the relationships that we have. I believe it is so important
to document how you feel about people- encourage them.
I have found art and scrap booking can be very therapeutic when you
are going through something. Sometimes someone else is not ready to hear
what you have to say but you need to get it off your chest. Sometimes you
need to vent, or share something important, maybe get closure and I
can do that through art, journaling, scrap booking. Sometimes someone
is on your heart and you need to express that- hence a card is made.

 Which also leads me to you, other bloggers

(and blog readers or stalkers- you never comment but I know you are there! LOL!)

(#17) I am thankful for a community of people I would have never "met"

if it were not for (#16) scrap booking and  (#15) blogger.

I would have never started a blog if it wasn't a requirement to be on a
manufacturer design team! (I really am a private person! LOL)

And I would have never taken the leap into blogging if it wasn't
free - after all I didn't really want to do it in the first place, I didn't think I'd like
blogging- putting all your "business" (quoting my 7 year old) out there! But you know

it turned into something great - being able to "meet" like minded people all over the world-
other creative souls and amazing strong women who are going through or have

been through some of the same things I have/am experienced/ing. 

Which leads me to this...

If you have not click on the picture and it will give you the details for my giveaway.

have to do is comment and check back tomorrow to win.

*If you don't send me your address right away I may not be able to get

to the post office right away with the holiday.

Even if you don't celebrate Thanksgiving there is always something to be thankful for.

(P.S. My art journal page was done with gesso,

I can't help but get excited when I see these beautiful rich colors

for fall! As soon as I saw this paper I had to use it,
I used Quick Quotes Cherry Truffle 

for the cover of this 8x8 Top Load Deco album. I loved the colors

so much I painted the title to match!

The title is also acrylic. 

I dry embossed it, added gesso,
then added color with
Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft®
Guava, Metallic Melon and Chocolate
Gelatos™ and a dry sponge to blend the color.
On top and on the edges I used  a black Stampers Big Brush.  



I used cream acrylic paint on the edges & splattered it on the album.

Day 14
Hello bloggers. On the quest for giving thanks this month
I will be honest and tell you I did not find myself very thankful today.
I knew this was going to be a busy week and my head
and stomach were not cooperating with all I have to do to.

Then I saw my post was up on the Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft blog
and remembered this quote I used on my project.

When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that
the simplest things-not the great occasions-
give off the greatest glow of happiness. - Bob Hope

 Hey there bloggers! Three more things I am thankful for...Day 11, 12, 13.
(Not in any order)
11. I am thankful for freedom.
Thankful for the brave and bold men and women of our country
who have and continue to fight for our country and our FREEDOM.
May God bless those who have and continue to serve our country.

12. I am thankful for PROVISION.
 I feel very blessed that we have never gone without food or shelter.

God has always provided for our needs,
physically, financially and otherwise.
Even with things we didn't know we needed.

13. ARTSY TALENT
I am horrible at math, numbers, facts, memorization but
I am really good at all things artsy & creative!
Art has opened so many doors in business and social realms that I never
would have thought of! It calms me, helps me regroup and I have met some pretty
awesome people because of it!

Speaking of which today is my first "official" post for the

Susan K.Weckeser design team! I am super excited to share a banner I made ...

 

Susan K.Weckeser blog

 (Hint - I used lots of Love My Tapes)

***

By the way