Monday with The Project Bin ~ Love Notes! ♥

Hi friends!  

And just like that ~ the winter holiday break is over!

 It's back to college(s) and middle/high school for our kids ..

 I'm suddenly humming the tune to Willie Nelson's  

"On the road again" ♪♫♯   
LOL!

I've gotten spoiled by their constant presence in the house

and I truly love having them here so often.

Not a single one of us was looking forward to today's return to school(s) :(

   

 But in happier news -

It's Project Bin Monday!

Which means once again, Kelly² are the highlighted designers :)

The Project Bin stamps are so. much. fun!

I am in love with the In My Heart stamp and die set,

so I am showcasing it again today.

  For today's post, I made .......

Lunch box love notes! ♥

This idea was inspired by my daughter's super sweet boyfriend ♥

He packed her lunch for her and left it in the refrigerator

with a little love note on a piece of paper inside.

I, of course, had no idea but she told me about it later via text

and sent a little snapshot, too - cuteness!   

  

So here's how I made these:

I cut random scraps of cardstock in a variety of colors in 4" x 8" strips.

Using the score pad, I folded these in half to create little 4" x 4" note cards.

I ran a white piece of 65# cardstock through the Cuttlebug 

with a scallop edge die, then stamped out different sentiments 

 from the In My Heart stamp/die set directly onto the cardstock.

The hearts are die cuts from the coordinating die heart

which I ran through the Cuttlebug as well, 

and then glued those down with Tombo.

The inside of the love notes have plain white cardstock for messages.

           

      

   

For more inspiration on how to use The Project Bin stamps and dies
and to see many samples of cards,
please visit The Project Bin blog!

Thanks for stopping by!
Big hugs, bigger blessings ♥
~Kelly

Abide - Plain Jane (1)

Hello friends!   

I see so many of you are getting lots of snow and freezing temps

 ~ bundle up, stay warm!

   You may remember my post on daydreaming in church 

discovering my word of the year ~ Abide ♥  

I'm committed to spending time this year digging deeper into God's word

and observing all things that will draw me closer to Him.

In just this one little week into the new year,

I'm learning abide is more than just being obedient.

It's also to be dutiful,

finding strength and grace along the way. 

 I heard a phrase too often this holiday season ...

"It's not enough. It's too plain!"

Plain.

Oddly, this word is comforting to me.

It's a word that doesn't beg.

It doesn't boast.

It's just ... average.

They say a Plain Jane is a woman with an average appearance.

But it also means an object that is unadorned or unembellished.

 

And here's the beauty in that.

Plain allows for growth, enrichment, revelry.

It also often includes doing things for others,

even in the smallest measurements.

Smile at someone.  Wave hello.  Give a compliment. 

 Say a kind word.  Hold open a door. 

 There is no monetary value to live in a moment of absolute grace.

 

I made a humble set of cards,

created to share with people I don't even know.

I already know where they will be delivered ♥

They are plain.

But they are equally bold.  

See that sentiment right there on the front?

Three  little words.

To me, that says enough.

I'm just a plain jane.

Just like my handful of humble cards.

But I'm living in God's word and that's a great start!

Thanks for your visit today :)
Big hugs, bigger blessings!

~Kelly

Happy Monday with The Project Bin + Winner!

 Good morning on this 2nd day of the brand new year!

I hope 2017 is already kind to you ♥

Starting this year, Denise from The Project Bin stamps

will have a featured designer(s) as a regular blogger of the week,

double the inspiration, double the creativity!

And today is double Kelly day!

Hee hee!

Both Kelly Clark and I are on the blog for today's Monday inspiration ...

how fun is that!

Kelly squared! :)

Here is my card using the new Valentine's Day stamp set and dies!
This set is so much fun and so versatile, with sayings 
perfect for both Valentine's Day and all year long ♥
For this card, I've used the heart shaped die and made a heart shaped cut.
In the center of the heart, I've stamped out one of the sentiments
and let the heart frame it.
The inside holds another sentiment ~ 
as well as the reverse die cut from the front.

Now, I did notice after seeing this posted to Facebook 
that there is a possible oops!  The patterned paper has hearts
both up and down and I didn't notice until this afternoon that 
the birds are upside down!  
Well, as one sweet lady pointed out in the Stamping Enablers FB group,
'it looks like those birds are just head over heals in love!"   
I love that!!

Thank you Karen for such a sweet comment and a positive 
and lovely way to look at it! ♥
  
  You can find this stamp/die set in the shop 
along with many other stamps and sentiments for all occasions.
For more inspiration, follow The Project Bin blog,
Pinterest, Instagram and more! 

And now onto the winner of the birthday blog hop:

Congratulations to Jennifer Earley from Jen's Creative Side! 

 (I had this cute video of my son pulling a random name from the bucket

 - cute as all get out - but couldn't get the video to attach!) :/

Please post your email information in the comments section
within 2 weeks so that I may mail out your prize!

Big hugs, bigger blessings!
~Kelly 

Abide: One Word 2017 ♥

You know those moments in life 

when you just know something is meant for you? 

That was me. In church.  'Bout a month ago, give or take a Sunday :)

I was daydreaming.  Not even gonna fib.

I was lost in thought, thinking about who knows what ...

laundry, the kids, chicken or beef for that night's dinner ...

literally staring up at the ceiling.

See, that part was kinda great ...

it fit.

At least to those around me.

I looked like I was seeking, praying, nourishing.

BUT.

Because I wasn't paying attention closely enough,

I didn'nt notice that Pastor had started to walk down
 from the stage and onto the floor.

Getting closer.

Preaching to us in the congregation.

 "Abide in me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me." ~ John 15:4

I nearly jumped off the pew!

Okay, Lord ~ I hear you.

Loud. and. clear.

I knew right then in that moment,

before Christmas, before ringing in the new year,

that it was a word meant for me.

Abide.

According to definition, it means: 

1.  to endure without yielding, to withstand, to bear patiently, tolerate 

2.  to accept without objection

2016 was not a year without it's flaws,

but 2017 will.  be.  different.

Each year holds 365 days.
Blank pages, one for each day, and it's up to us to fill them up. 

God has spoken to my heart and for this year's story
I will reconnect with Him on a deeply personal level ~ 
listening, enduring, withstanding, tolerating, dwelling, abiding.

My goals for this upcoming year are simple.
 I will abide in growing my faith, my family, my creativity, 
my friendships and my passions.
Simply, that means I'll savor the world in which is our gift.
I'll trust in Him that all is designed for me.

Three hundred and sixty five ways 
to abide in grace and wonderment ..
three hundred sixty five opportunities!

My story starts today.
And I'm excited to see where this journey takes me ♥

Big hugs, Bigger Blessings! 
~Kelly