Jan and Jane on Zoom

Do you remember Dick and Jane at School?  Well I had fun with Jan and Jane this morning!


This is a daily prayer. I added this before the Daily Verse. The daily verse is, Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105

I found this picture which was taken 3 years ago when Chloe was still a kitten. I looked for this because both cats have begun to sleep inside this again. It seems like the place to be, now.

This is Phoebe taking her turn inside the pink cave. This has been set on top of an area where the floor is warm from the heating vent. Smart cats, huh?

Today I was thinking about my mom in the nursing home. I would love to visit but can't. I know she is safe, but it doesn't keep me from missing her.

That brought on missing my dad. He's been gone for over 30 years. It doesn't get easier except I know he's free of pain and with Jesus.

Here are two more scarves that I crocheted. They are quick and easy to do. This is what I do when I watch TV with Tim. It keeps me from eating.

Here is the inspiration for my card today on Splitcoaststampers.  When I saw this image, I knew I had to use my FREE digital image from Whimsy Stamps

Isn't this a cute card? Whimsy Stamps had it free on their site. It is a digital stamp you can download to send. I added the googly eyes with eyelashes to make this a female dragon. I combined it with a sentiment from an SU set called, Here For You.

 I tried to use the colors on the image and instead of hair, this TP was perfect. I added googly eyes to make it a girl dragon.
I colored the dragon with Copic markers. I cut around the dragon and added dimensionals. I added the image to a background with similar colors. I added black to show a contrast.

I did another card for the challenge today and saw this image.  When I saw this image it brought to mind the conversation friends and I had this morning about returning to work. Along with that conversation went groaning at the thought of finding and wearing a bra again!  So I found image and downloaded them to make my card. The sentiment is from the computer.

This is my second inspiration card for today. I thought it was perfect to go with the shoes above.
I downloaded images and colored with Copic Markers. Then I used clear and silver wink of stella as well as a gold bow.


Amazing people, doing amazing things!


Verse of the Day:Psalm 119:105


Matthew West sings, Hope Returns. So glad God is on the throne!


Thank you for stopping by today.
Blessing of the Day: I got to stamp and talk with friends via Zoom this morning. I stamped today and it made me feel so good.
Tim's got the water lines for the bathroom upstairs, finished!

Blessings,
Bensarmom

GEEZ!

Geez, I can't believe that I've had this as a draft for 8 days! It's not like my days are packed with activities to do! I don't even shop for groceries anymore.
I have to tell you that I've been busy making cards for a friend to take to her church. The cards are for hospital workers and nursing home residents.

After I made the cards, I wrote in each one to encourage the recipient.  I also prayed for the people who would receive the cards. I feel that's a very important thing to do.

Everyone loves to get mail, especially a card.  When that card is handmade, you know the sender took lots of time making it just for you.
AND
You know it's AMERICAN MADE!

Many of these first 8 cards were sent to nursing home residents.

This second group of cards were sent to friends or put in my birthday card box to be sent to friends, family or Splitcoaststampers members.

I have to say, this was one of my favorite cards that will be going to a health professional.  A friend share the video so I changed a few things and made one of my own.

 The mask I made was the genius idea of Scott, found here.
After I made the mask, I embossed the card base with the tufted embossing folder. I added the ribbon to the pink cardstock and placed it in the center of the card. I added glue dots to the back of the mask and placed it on the card. I stamped the sentiment, made it a banner, then added it to the card base. This will not fit in a regular envelope. It will have to go in a box or be hand delivered.

This was for an inspiration challenge on Splitcoaststampers.  Here is the inspiration for my card.
I used my bee paper then went with the black and yellow colors. The card design is via Karen Titus. She did this vertical, I did mine horizontal. I stamped, colored then cut out this cutey pie panda. I added white baker's twine to the mask then attached it to the panda with a glue dot. I wrapped the twine behind the head and secured with adhesive. I added small dimensionals to the back of the panda and added him to the card. I used retired gold 1/8" ribbon to bring the gold in the paper out more. I stamped the sentiment and cut two rectangles to layer.

We've enjoyed mostly cool or rainy days here in Ohio lately.  I long for the warm days where we can sit outside on the screened in porch. It makes such a difference when we can be outside, AND the sun is shining.

Take a look at this.

Verse of the Day:Jeremiah 32:17


Here's Matthew West, singing about our recent lock-down situation. Give it a listen.


Blessing of the Day: We continue to be healthy here. I finished another scarf except for fringe. Tim made an incredible dinner tonight with sausage, diced tomatoes, beans, rice and spices. YUM, it was good! It was a recipe from Ben that we've tweaked a bit. Thanks Ben!

Thanks for stopping by.
Blessings,
Bensarmom

Easter 2020-We'll Always Remember This One!

Easter Sunday was different from Every Easter we've ever celebrated.  We observed the quarantine rules and stayed home.
We did however, spend family time speaking to siblings via ZOOM.  It was great to see siblings and their spouses for over an hour. That's something we don't normally do so it was a wonderful gift from Ben.
Ben has a membership to Zoom for his Youth Ministry. He allowed us to use a meeting place he had set up for us.  Thanks Ben.

During our call, Ben hopped on with his two foster girls to introduce them to the family.  The kids were bashful, but that didn't last long. Think of any kid you know.  They showed off until Ben said it was nap time for the little one.

 I just got these in the mail today. Brought tears to my eyes because, 1-I couldn't hold and hug them yesterday, and 2-They will be going back to live with their parents full time very soon. They've stolen my heart and it's so hard to let them go. Foster grands are loved like your own grandchildren. You love them while you have them!

Another first in my life. Brianna, Zoey, Kaelynn and I played Sorry via Zoom! Ben helped by showing us our cards, then moving our pieces.
The game has changed a bit as far as how to leave home and what to do on certain cards. It also has only 3 game pieces instead of 4. You'd think that would make it more fun to play, you know, shorter. That is NOT true. It's still like Candyland, in that each time someone is about to win, they are sent back to home and have to start again.
I have to say it brought back lots of memories of playing board games with my kids. That part, was fun! Thanks Ben Craig, it was a fun idea!


With all of the stress of the COVID virus, I thought I'd add some relaxing sounds of the beach.  Close your eyes and concentrate on the sounds as they soothe away the stress you feel.


Here are some cards I've been working on this past week.  These will be going to nursing home residents to let them know they are not forgotten. I love doing this kind of stuff.

 Isn't this the cutest little thing? I saw one with a mask on a piggy, so I made one with this raccoon.

 This is another finished afghan. I wanted it to have bright colors. It is for a child from Laura's Home. This is a shelter for kids and moms who have been abused.

 Verse of the Day:John 8:31-32

Blessing of the Day: Tim continues to work on the plumbing in the master bath. I got some cleaning done that I had been putting off. I finished my book as well.

Thanks for stopping by,
Blessings,
Bensarmom

Last Week's Forgotten Post...OOps!

I saw this on FB again and just had to post it. I just love her expression. It seems like many people wake up every day like this now that we have to stay home.


This is a post that I had almost ready to post last week, then I got busy.
I found this on FB and loved it! I have Pajama days more often these days knowing no on will be coming over. LOL

It's been nice a few days this week, so we've been enjoying being outside on the screened in porch watching the Chickadees at the circular feeder. It is a great way to get away from all of the virus worry and news.

While sitting on the porch, the smell of hyacinths is extraordinary! I so love that smell. It reminds me of Easters past where we had them in the house before and after Easter. Then we'd plant them in the ground.

I saw the on FB and wanted to share it. I'm praying that we can be a changed nation, or world after dealing with this together.  God certainly has our attention now, doesn't he?

This is the book I finished reading. It is the 3rd in a book of 3. I read the second one and now I'm reading the first one. My sister gave me a book so I read it. I looked through my shelves and found another book so I read it. I had to find the last book online from the library.
I love to read books. I will read my Kindle, but sometimes I just love the feel of a book in my hands.



Verse of the Day: Proverbs 10:14


Here's a new to me, song by Cory Asbury called, The Father's House. Give it a listen.


Blessing of the Day,
Tim and I cooked chili today. I really enjoy making dinner together. We sat outside watching birds and enjoying the peaceful feeling. The world's going crazy, but we are enjoying God's blessings here at home.

Thanks for stopping by.
Blessings,
Bensarmom

Lots of Encouragement Cards To Go Out

Here is another One Sheet Wonder set of cards. They are ready to be sent out to encourage others.
The designer series paper is new and called, Ornate Garden, Specialty designer series paper.
I also used the new 3D embossing folder for the backgrounds behind the images.

This is a card I made today. This design began with a Stampin' Up demonstrator named, Nancy Novak. Another demonstrator, Tina Zinck added her twist to the card. Now I'm adding my twist to the card. This inside message is a stamp from a stamp set called, Enjoy Life. I think it's just perfect for encouraging people. What do you think?

Another toddler blanket to be donated to Laura's Home, here in Cleveland. It is part of the City Mission. It provides housing for abused women and their children. It also trains them and helps them get back on their feet, with a job and place to live.

This set of cards was made by stamping a white sheet of cardstock then cutting it up. This was done with one of my favorite stamp sets called, Beautiful Friendship.

This is a One Sheet Wonder made with the Ornate Garden DSP. This dsp has a page of flowers that are traced with gold. I colored the flowers with alcohol markers, then cut the paper into pieces to make the cards. The pieces were layered, then I added ribbon and sentiments. These will go out in the mail to encourage others, soon.

I love poppies and this Psalm seemed so appropriate for right now in time.

I Thought this was a great idea. This video made me smile.


Check our our song of the day. It's a new song from Newsboys called, Love One Another.


Blessing of the Day: Tim and I cooked together. We made a meat and potato casserole with lots of cheese. It was amazing! We're trying to make different things to eat. they're not necessarily healthy, but they are keeping us from getting frustrated with the same-old, same-old recipes.

Thanks for stopping by today.
Blessings,
Bensarmom