New Blog, and some of my favorite past cards!

   So...I finally did it! I created a blog. I thought it would never happen, but I also used to say I couldn't make cards. My mom still makes fun of me for that one, but I blame her for it! She introduced me to the Cricut Expression - a machine that has allowed my creative genes from her to finally come out of hiding.

   I began my papercrafting with scrapbooking - my wedding album to be specific. As I had children, it of course expanded to that as well. I have chosen to organize my scrapbooks by year, and have completed halfway through 2009 at this time. When I started to scrapbook (about 10 years ago), it was pretty much the norm to scrapbook in 8 1/2 X 11. Because I tend to have SOOO many pages, I have stuck with this format. I am starting to fall in love with the look of 12 X 12, but haven't been able to bring myself to make the switch though. Only time will tell.

   After I got my Cricut, my scrapbooks got more detailed (and also more time-consuming unfortunately!), and I started looking for other ways to use it. As I spent time on the cricut.com message board, I began to be inspired by all the great talent over there. (I also spent a lot of money on things I never knew I needed!!!) Eventually I began to try my hand at making cards, and fell in love with it. I tell my husband all that time that it is my relaxing time - and cheaper than paying for therapy! I tried to sell my cards at one craft fair, but found that I spent too much time making the cards to be able to sell them for a price that people would be willing to pay.

   I began to pray about it, to decide what to do. During that time, I feel the Lord showed me what to do. My church supports a ministry called Sister Connection (http://www.sisterconnection.org/) that works with widows and orphans in Burundi. Both of my dear daughters, now age 6 and 7 were deeply touched by hearing about this, and started looking for all the ways they could to help out. They started saving all their spare change, and working to earn extra money by cleaning up the house and their toys. This led to a jar being set up at church for people to put their coins in, and eventually a pie auction to reach the funds necessary to build a house for a widow (amazingly, only $600). So...I decided that since I already have all the supplies (I am a paper collector, among other things!), and I love doing it, maybe I could put my cards out at church, and people could make donations toward building a house for a widow. It has been a great journey, and over the last 6 months since I began, we have received approximately $200 - that is 1/3 of the way to a house for a widow!

So, here are just a few of my favorite cards that I have made since I began. Thanks for looking, and God bless!