I Love preparing for NEW things and NEW events.  I Love creating NEW projects for stamping, like this week’s Pot Luck Stamp-A-Stack cards, and NEW ways to inspire things I am already doing.

My recent stamping projects are very reflective of this process.  I have used up a lot of my stash of cards, in recent times, and noticed that, apart from birthday cards, the category in my stash which was most depleted was the ‘miscellaneous’ selection.  They’re the cards I use to Say Hello … or Thank You … or to Acknowledge a Friend.  The next MOTHER EARTH DREAMING workshop is all about Sacred Space and Norma and I will be sharing tips and processes for Decluttering.  As is the way when I am planning a workshop, the process is one which I seem to have to actually participate in, too.  Very appropriate at the moment because I have heaps of stuff in my Stampin’ Stash which really needs to be used up ~ so there is plenty of space for the NEW product available in the Autumn Winter Mini Catalog arriving in April!

I decided to create a bunch of ‘Pot Luck’ cards.  I call them ‘Pot Luck’ because I thought if I was offering a workshop for this project we would use whatever Designer Series Paper was in my stash, regardless of whether it was old or current product.  I chose a layout I liked, the stamp set which coordinated with the paper and Voila!  8 cards, 4 different sentiments, 2 colour combos.  Instant supply of Friendship Cards!

The Cleansing part of life involves sifting through ’stuff’ – physical and emotional – and working out which things need to be ‘decluttered’, which need to be ‘deleted’ (like all the old posts on Joy Express, or all the scrappy bits of paper and cardstock in my Stampin’ Stash), and which can be ‘recycled’ into something purposeful (like new cards from old product, or new ways of seeing old situations).

I LOVE Decluttering!  I’ve decluttered some ’symbolic’ things, this week; things which represent emotional baggage – Very Empowering!  In fact, at lunch yesterday, I gave Lovely Bernie an Archangel Oracle Cards Deck and suggested the ladies all took a card for themselves as the first part of readings over our meal.  My card was “Take Back Your Power” – Woo Hoo!  A timely reminder!  After a while, clutter builds up, in the craft room especially, and I find myself less able to think clearly.  So, a DECLUTTER is called for and, after a flurry of activity, peace and harmony reign supreme … and clear thoughts present themselves again.

Clear space and cleansed energy is the recipe for NEW ideas.  They formulate like seeds germinating in rich soil … they inspire a journey into new areas.  I really, really enJOYed creating one of the projects from UStamp With Love 2010 that I was inspired by at the time, but hadn’t made ~ a Designer Series Paper Card Holder and Matching Note Cards by Jenn Picard.  The process was new and challenging and thought provoking and a little bit complex but also very simple.  The outcome was FANTASTIC!  And, I think I have Fallen in Love all over again with the Pink Flamingo DSP from Stampin’ Up!

The same energy is going into my Angel Business.  This week, a flyer came from my local printing business and I am formulating new business cards.  I have decided to incorporate Fundraising for Charity into my events, to Give Back to Mother Earth and support the Environment and the Animals.  I have 3 one day workshops planned, with fabulous co-facilitators, to take place during the next 6 months, and meetings have been arranged so we can organise content and processes.  I have a wish list of Events to Attend ~ other people’s workshops which interest me and will allow me to access a whole lot of new information and concepts.  And, I have tentative dates for “Michelle Time”  which involve time out, nurturing & pampering sessions, and TRAVEL!

Cleansing and Clearing are a necessary part of Good Health and WellBeing.  They are a constant process … just when you get comfortable with the harmonious space, the cleansing and clearing process seems to need doing again.  I do think that comes from being a craft indulgent person.  LOL.  So, I put on some Fabulous Music, grab my Feather Duster, and dance through the cleansing/clearing/decluttering process ~ knowing I am actively working on Being JOYful!

Today is one of those amazing days where I can indulge in things I LOVE.  I LOVE Stampin’ Up!  I LOVE Angel Events! 

I copied this cute card from the Summer Mini Catalog – Gosh, there are so many great ideas in our catalogs!  I confess to this design ‘doing my head in’, a bit, to start with but I love the end result.  I sent it off to Lovely Jenny who has just signed her first Stampin’ Recruit.  YAY! 

There are lots of things I love about Stampin’ Up!  One which fits really well with attending Angel Lunch, today, is the fabulous energy which ‘pops’ out of the box when I open product I’ve ordered.  I find a HUGE SMILE crossing my face whenever a box arrives from Stampin’ Up!  Being ‘energy sensitive’, I LOVE finding Great Energy to bask in.  It’s really obvious when I receive mail from someone in an emotionally tumultuous state – the mail carries it through to me.  That’s why my cards are always given or posted with Great Deliberation … so only positive and loving energy is attached.

Another thing I love about Stampin’ Up! is the Statement of the Heart:

To Love what we do and Share what we love,

as we help others enjoy creativity and worthwhile accomplishments …

in this we make a difference!

Isn’t that fabulous?!

While I don’t ‘teach’ others about Stamping, I do “Love what we do” and I do “Share what we love” … in the making of my cards, and in the giving of them, too.   I also apply this Statement of the Heart to my Angel world:

To LOVE what I do and Share what I LOVE,

as we Share the Warmth and Strength of Journeys Travelled

Hand in Hand.

Cool, huh?

Living Your Passion involves LOVING what you do; Doing Something which Makes Your Heart Sing.  It’s what comes through Stampin’ Up!  It’s what I share when I “Talk Angels”.  I am Living My Passion.

I LOVE Stamping!  And these are the things I LOVE most about Stamping:

Colour ~ Bold Brights, especially

the Bone Folder ~ it’s So Easy to get crisp folds on my cards and boxes

Stampin’ Wheels ~ mostly those which can be Coloured In … Easter Eggs … Cupcakes … Ooh La La!

Watercolouring ~ gentle and ’swishy’

Ribbon!

Stamp Sets ~ LOTS of images that coordinate ~ lots of choices in lots of themes ~ lots of different styles

Crystal Effects ~ for that added dimensional shine

Stampin’ Up! Mini Catalogs!!!

UStamp with Dawn ~ outstanding projects ~ fabulous contributors ~ family-like atmosphere ~ dedicated stampers ~ creative heaven ~ a month of indulgence

Stampin’ Blogs ~ lots and lots and lots of brilliant ideas (the top 2 cards are designs by other Stamper’s and I am Grateful for the Creativity )

Stampin’ Up!

I’ve been stamping again – a LOT – to the point that I think I have almost overdone it!  LOL.  But … I have a fabulous stash of cards ready to send off when I need them, and some stunning 3D projects to grace the craft room. 

Isn’t that Designer Purse and coordinating cards set fabulous?!  This project was from UStamp “With Love … 2010″ and created by Becky Roberts ~ stunning, stunning, stunning!  I revisited a designer series paper pack which has been quite neglected in my stash, recently, called “Haiku”.  I love the thought of the purse holding several cards and then given as a gift … hmm. I wonder if that’s a great workshop theme?

What are you doing, this weekend, which brings you Pleasure and JOY?

I’m Feeling the Love.

Thank Goodness!

I’ve been feeling sad, angry, sad, angry for days now and it’s so nice to wake up this morning and actually find that LOVE is resonating more strongly in my being than those other emotions and feelings.  I am Grateful for having made the Valentine’s Calendar (inspired by UStamp and Tracey Old!) because even though life has been traumatic over the last month, each morning I have been able to update the Countdown to Valentine’s Day widget and connect with just a Little Love.

Ooh, which brings to mind a Great Song for today – Good Lovin’ by the Rascals! [This is dedicated to my Great Mate Mark in Spain who has been unwell but has excellent taste in 'old' music - Be Well, Feel Great, My Friend!]  By the way, this is such a short clip that I am sure you will want to listen to it again … and again … and again.  LOL.

My ‘Gifts’ have continued to arrive in abundance.  David liked the way I listed what Gifts had been given to me each day this week so I thought I would add a few more …

• The Gift of Great Love ~ in the reading I shared with a lovely new friend, yesterday, I was allowed to access the most incredible relationship in one of her past lives.  It filled my heart and soul with Love, and the awareness of just what is possible when you are with your Perfect Mate.  Thank You.
• A card arrived in the mail from my cousin in Sydney ~ she was thinking of us and sending her thoughts and well wishes for our healing process.  I am So Appreciative.  Thank You.
• A notecard appeared in my letter box from a friend sharing with me how much she appreciated seeing me, this week, and how aware she was of the challenges of  ‘Walking Your Own Path’.  I am Very Grateful for her acknowledgement (and for receiving such a beautiful hand made card!).  Thank You.
• Family dinner, last night – oh, wow!  We are back in Harmony and it was so much fun!  A most enJOYable occasion.  Thank You!
• An email, this morning, from a friend who had read yesterday’s blog post and appreciated the ‘active listening’ and caring that friends can do … that’s how she sees ME.  I am humbled, and grateful.  Thank You.

And, finally, my Gift to Myself ~ I made 10 ‘Thank You’ cards during the aftermath of my nephew and father’s deaths.  They are simple but reminded me so much of Joel, and Dad.  I am So Grateful that I had the Thought, the Energy, and the Commitment to make them because 8 of them have been posted to the various lovely people who have been so supportive during this time.  Thank You.