Happy…Happy Monday to all! I am so happy as I am coming home from a fabulous weekend with some AMAZING women to celebrate a dear friends 50th Birthday! It simply could not have been any better and it was a battery charger that I soooooo needed…..in short, my “JOY TANK” is filled to the brim!
When I returned home late yesterday afternoon I naturally played with the dogs…checked the horses (and made sure Daisy was ok as no one else really cares for her)….we are already in Tax season so John was at the office and after I made my rounds I headed upstairs to make 15 cards for my friends!
The whole way driving home I was thinking of what card to make…and YEP – I think I nailed it! I know that they are going to love it and I truly do not mean to bore you but I feel so incredibly lucky to have these women in my life! (I truly think I could do a whole week of posts of our 48 hours together) as it was the best!
I am going to shower you with a bunch of pictures but I am going to do a video on this card this week so you will see the FULL scoop later on this week. I really want you to understand and see me do a card with water-coloring…..I think that you will see and also agree that I am NOT an artist at all and that YOU can do this type of card!
Seriously, it is such a rewarding technique to do as you feel like you are doing something super special and the end result IS SPECIAL! Remember, you know me well enough by now….throw all inhibitions about water-coloring out the door…as I will show you how easy it is and also share with you tips and trick to MAKE IT HAPPEN!
Now to the BLOG CANDY.….as I have been away…. I honestly can not wait to sit down and read your comments from the weekend (hopefully I have some comments to read) but on Thursday I asked you what was your favorite Stamp Set from the Sale-A-Bration catalog….I learned a bunch and now I know what stamps sets that are “HOT ONES” in your eyes!
I am sooooo happy about my weekend and it was soooooo close as to which one was your favorite – that I am going to give away (2) stamp sets as they were so close!
Here are the top (2) winners and they were only 1 away from each other so I said to myself – WHY NOT…you all are the best so why not give away (2) sets.
- Flowering Fields
- Sky is the Limit
What brings you “simple joy” – You all know me well enough by now that I am all about sharing, enjoying and doing for others…..I think that the word “JOY” is sooooooo powerful and as my “JOY TANK” is full to the max….I think that we ALL need to have positiveness in our lives…so let’s here what brings you joy! I am going to use random.org to pick (2) winners and tomorrow I will let you know who won…..
Please submit your comment by 9 p.m. Eastern time today…..I am looking soooooooo forward to hearing what makes your “Joy Tank” get filled! Please feel free to email me if I can be of help and also remember that today is the last day to take advantage of the weekly deals but guess what – tomorrow is NEW TUESDAY – and that means another batch of weekly deals!
Simple joy: the surprised pleasure and gratefulness of my friends when they receive one of my cards.
What fills my joy tank is when my grandchildren come to visit. They live a distance away so don’t come often but when they do as soon as the car comes to a stop in the driveway they jump out and come running to the house and give me big hugs. We then go for a walk on the beach, looking for beach glass, shells and other treasures.
Simple Joy for me: My daughter’s visits. Now that she is grown and 6 hours away, we don’t get to see one another regularly and she is VERY busy. So, when I get a call or an email saying she is coming, my cup truly runneth over! And when we spend that time together, it is PRICELESS, even if it is just lounging in our pj’s and watching TLC or HGTV. SHOPPING is so much fun when we are together too!
Spending time with my grandkids is the best! And, then, of course, finding some time to make cards!
My Joy Tank is filled when I help someone with a project (crocheting) and they say I have a lot of patience and they couldn’t have completed the project without my help. Helping makes me smile! 🙂
Making cards with my Mom who is 84 years old. Love this woman.
Spending time with my sons. Even though they are grown men, time together brings me much joy.
When I see my grandchildren fills my tank! Tonite one of them is coming to see grandma! Great card!
Love your card for today, looking forward to the video. My joy tank becomes filled when spending time with my family, be it hiking, geocaching, swimming, reading, cooking, you get the point. I feel like we have so little time together to truly enjoy each other without obligations from work, life, and such.
My joy tank fills up when my daughters call me! I am a new empty nester and miss them so much. Also, making a card of my own design for someone special:). I feel joyful
Everything in life fills this JOY TANK! I try to find the happy in almost all things! You said it……LIFE IS A BEAUTIFUL RIDE!
What fills my “joy tank” is talking to my mom. She is always encouraging me to try new things.Cammi from IN
Spending some quality time with my adult children always brings me joy. I also love giving something that I know someone else really wants. It brings way more joy than getting something that I want :).
Oh for sure, now that they are grown and away from home, spending time with my children and grandchildren are “joy filled” times for me.
I haven’t as yet had much time to spend with my new sets, but I have to say Rose Wonder will be used a lot.
Have another joy filled week.
When the kids come over, I love sitting back and watching them and my husband “enjoying” a good football game. I don’t know much about the game but their banter and comments put a smile on my face (as well as them eating all the good food I prepare)! Love your card and can’t wait to see the video!
One of my favorite Joys is having the person I made a card for tell me how much they enjoyed it!! Then asking how I made it etc! It warms my heart that they appreciate it!
I am joy filled when I am with my church family. We have such a wonderful time together and volunteer for many causes in our city. We feed and house the homeless once a year for a week and it is gratifying to see everyone work together.
What fills me up is quiet time with my Lord and time spent with my family (esp. those cute grandkids).
Playing with my rescue dog!
I love simple things like when our grown sons come for dinner and spend time with us. Sharing a beautiful sunset with my hubby. Hiking with family (including the doggies). Thank you for another chance to win blog candy, Susan! Have a Wonderful day! Your card is really cute, and I know you will put a smile on your friends’ faces when they open it~ Hugs
My grandchildren bring me the most joy! Especially stamping WITH.the kids! Thank you!
I still love playing hide n seek with my niece and nephew….I know it makes them happy and I enjoy their sweet little faces because we all know that they grow up way too fast!!
I love when our sons come home and we are all together as a family. It is so rewarding to listen to them…I don’t have to say anything, just listen. It is so fun. Also, I am getting so much pleasure from practicing with my stamps and learning the art of making cards. Thanks for your inspiration and the chance to win.
I love hearing from my grandson. He is in college now and I don’t see much of him. They grow up and move away so fast.
Thanks
Spending time with family & friends, especially my children who live in different states.
My grandkids bring the greatest joy to my life.
Great card today asLwas Susan
Oops that was suppose to be as always!!!!!
My joy tank gets filled by singing on the praise team at church as well as by making cards for friends and family. I also seem to get really happy each time I use my green glue, thanks to you Susan. I would not touch the stuff until you kept singing green glue praises and now each time I use it I think to myself, thank you Susan:)
I love being with friends and family — having meaningful conversations, sharing ideas, having fun, laughing together, cooking and eating great food and doing something for someone that they can’t do themselves. ?
Music brings me joy! And my stamping is my therapy & pleasure.
I don’t have just one thing. The worship team at my church, date night with my husband and girlfriend time. It’s great that you were able to get away and get recharged.
Joy = Family …. Period.
My family especially my children- sometimes just watching them sleep!! Also love to bake and share the results with others!
My family fills my “joy tank”. I love spending time with my kids and grandkids as well as my many siblings.
Spending time with friends and family.
My joy tank is filled when my son and his family visit but I also fill it in between their visits with volunteering at a local senior center or having lunch with friends.
Spending time with the family is always a joy to me. Any extra time to spend with the Grandkids who live 12 hours away is a very special treat!
Recharging with a good book and my dogs lying on the couch by me !
Being with family and close friends brings me joy as does a good book and cardmaking.
Family is #1 but quiet time in my craft room to play is definitely #2. That’s what fills my joy tank! Love today’s card!
Family naturally….however my 16 1/2 year old Doxie, Tess, brings me so much Joy. She is always by my side. I just wish she wasn’t so old!
My simple joy is watching a sunrise on my morning walk, spending time with my family, and stamping with friends.
Getting an unexpected call from my family is probably my favorite!
Time at the lake searching for beach glass with my brother’s girlfriend and her mom. It’s always quality time together and it’s a great recharge.
Being with my family always brings lots of joy! But I agree with Barbara, time in my craft room brings me joy also! How great you could get away with your best friends! Life is too short to miss out on such opportunities!
Hanging out with my sons is the best. They are both grown and are awesome. Every time they come home, it is a special gift.
Spending time with my oldest and dearest friend that lives 8 hours away. We laugh so much and just love seeing each other.
Hugs from my grandkids and having an hour to stamp things I’d like to make.
Love your card!! It brings back lots of fun memories of driving with our dogs over the years! My Joy Tank is filled by spending time with Caleb and Dan. If you haven’t already figured it out, I love these two guys more than anything in this world. 🙂 I also get extra Joy from spending time with my mom and brothers as well as my in-laws; I lost my dad 21 years ago and learned then that life is short, unpredictable and precious.
Glad you had a great time with your friends!! 🙂
Joy tank = family (especially grandchildren)!!!!!
I have to say that I get so much joy out of card-making, but my greater joy comes from giving them to people I know will appreciate them.
Just the joy of everyday living and it’s blessings.
Talking to my daughter fills my Joy Tank. She lives in NC and I live in Texas so phone calls have to do when we can’t be together!
Working with my Stampin’ Up products with my Australian Shepherd at my feet fills my Joy Tank. I was able to do this yesterday. I was able to make 12 cards yesterday. Yeah!
Crabby Chrissy here and probably disqualified from blog candy as I honestly am not sure what fills my Joy Tank. It always seems to be half full, half empty or on fumes lately. I looked at the comments and almost all featured kids, grandkids or their mom or dad. Well, I have none of those. So, I have to go with little things like a surprise E-mail from a blog friend or a card or present. I have no close friends in this town so I don’t do anything with anybody it seems. But, I am able to get up in the morning with my husband and sweet Basset hound though right now I just found he chewed up a sock. I have a crappy job though the hours have been severely cut but it is a job and I can buy some fun goodies! There are always health issues but I have all of my faculties (well sometimes it is questionable) and able to walk the dog, read, craft etc. So, I think I do have it pretty darn good – just not to the top I guess. Susan lets me blab on and on here and occasionally making someone’s day. That is a plus too! Gee maybe I should be Corny Chrissy since I am from Iowa…..
Oh, if anyone happened to see The Good Wife last night, a loose meat sandwich is a disassembled hamburger on a bun. The hamburger meat is crumbled and sort of has a steam going on when cooking it. Sometimes onions are included. The traditional hamburger condiments are served on it like a burger. They are4 messy to eat so usually wrapped in wax paper or eaten with a spoon. The trade mark loose meat sandwich is a Maid Rite but of course they didn’t want to pay for that. I have already had one E-mail and one phone call as to what that was as it sounded yucky. Meanwhile counting the days until the caucus is over here in Iowa
My Joy Tank is empty at the moment after just had my 5th spinal surgery 12 days ago at the age of 45. However, reading blogs and seeing amazing card creations does make me smile. I pray that I find joy when I’m able to return to my craft room to make cards for those who have prayed for me and called and sent texts.
My joy tank is hearing from those that I send cards to; especially those that express “your card put a smile on my face and I really appreciate you thinking of me”. Receiving a hand-made card from a friend in your time of need is a wonderful experience; that’s my main reason for card making.
You certainly are raring to go! Love this card. I was very tempted by this set in my last order but I was good, stuck to my budget and got only what I had planned on getting. There’s always next month… and the one after that!
I am going to be the oddball out as my family does not bring me joy. They do quite the opposite. But I find joy with my hubby, my cats, and my crafty toys. I like to share joy with my crafting, either having a play session with someone or sending them cards.
I am so lucky. I pretty much do what one of my favorite stamps from S U says, “Do more of what makes you happy”. So, I do. I am able to get together with family and friends often. They fill my “joy tank”( I like your phrase) so I am going to use it too in the future. Reading your blog also brings joy. Thanks Susan.
I find joy in giving my cards to others. It means a lot to hear from those you sent a card to of how they appreciated it. Not just the making the card, but what was written inside.
Creating..whether it be a meal, card making or sewing for Dress A girl Around the World. Yes, we can all worry or complain about why we don’t have or what we have lost. Yeah, I have a 3 1/2 hour commute every day, live with NF1, went through a divorce, a BK lost both parents and a home and helped my sister with her fight with cancer but in the end-life is still good and I am very happy as a single woman with two grown sons and a new granddaughter to cherish Every day can bring something new and yes it may not always be good, but it is how you handle it that makes the difference and that is the believe that makes me enjoy life and keep my joy tank full..most of the time.:)
Being with friends! Waking up and having another day to enjoy the world around me! Sharing a smile and seeing someone realize it and smile back! Great card today Susan.
Sunshine fills me with joy. AND that I found you again. Somehow or other I got deleted from your email list and I have been wondering why you were not sending them out. Well, you have been, but I just wasn’t getting them. Uh-Oh. But I am back now and looking forward to all your blog posts.
Hi Chris R in Iowa. I am from IA too but live in GA now. It is pretty chilly right now but I bet it is warmer than Iowa! Watch, I am waving at you!!!
Well, I am most joyful that I am healthy & can enjoy my days with my wonderful husband, who allows me to spend time in my craft room without any time deadline as to when I must be ready to do everyday mundane chores!! I can be such a procrastinator in that department…….especially when I have ink, card stock & stamps out on my craft table!! Thank you for another year of cards & inspiration!
Hi Susan,
I must say my JOY TANK is full when I give thanks to God for giving me another day to enjoy the life He has given me. My time at Bible Study and church with friends and family fills me with so much joy and happiness. Of course, making cards and sending them to others adds to my JOY TANK too. Thank you for the opportunity to win some BLOG CANDY!! Have a blessed day.
I have eaten at Maid Rite (I don’t watch the Good Wife though) and they are awesome! The one in Springfield, IL twists two gumdrops up in wax paper for your dessert. How cool that they made it to tv!
I’m sorry Susan, I bet I just made a mistake with replying to Chris R’s comment about Maid Rites…I don’t want to mess up the blog candy as I’m not trying to enter twice..just got so excited about the sandwiches, heehee. My joy tank is filled to the brim when my family is together and laughing…I love the way we have always been able to cut up together. What a wonderful blog post…these overcast January days can start to gang up on me…now I will remember to think about my “joy tank”…thanks!
God and being with friends and family ( four legged ones included ) are just a few things that fills me with joy. Love your card. TFS
Joy is making cards with my Wednesday Sisters. We meet the 2nd Wednesday of each month and make cards for charities. Sometimes we need to make some personal cards, but whatever we’re making, we have loads of fun!
Joy is having someone tell me that receiving one of my cards “made their day.”
Spending time with my family always fills my joy tank! My hubby and my 3 boys are a great joy to me! And, one of my favorite ways to spend time with the boys is making cards. I didn’t think they would want to continue after the older two became teenagers, but they do! Watching their creativity grow as they do is wonderful. Thanks for making me stop and think with your question! Love the slug bug card! 🙂
Joy is spending time with my family doing spur of the moment things.
We don’t have any children, so it makes me very happy to spend time with our pup, my mom & dad, my husband…..we have to be sure we spend quality time with these special people and animals; time gets away from you in a hurry.
What brings me great joy these days is my first grandchild, who was recently adopted from South Africa. She is adorable and I love watching her and how joyful she is!! Her name is Natalie JOY 🙂
It is like 6 degrees but the wind makes it like -25 with the wind chill factor they said on the news. Where did you live in Iowa? I am from Burlington but live in Pella right now. I have never been to Georgia but my step mother-in-law has relatives there and she always enjoys going there. She said the scenery is gorgeous. The basset hound and I are waving back towards your direction!
I have been to Springfield but not to their Maid Rite. Several of the presidential candidates like to eat the tenderloin pork sandwich too. It is breaded and fried and a favorite of mine. During the caucus 8 years ago I had a heck of a time explaining to the news crew from Japan why they don’t see pigs running all over the place. They wanted to film some for the people back home. Or, the corn fields – duh, it is winter people!
Hi Chris. I was born and raised in Waterloo. Lived there until I was in my 20’s. I have been through Burlington a number of times (since it is right on the border). I don’t go to IA anymore though since all my family there is deceased. GA is pretty, but IA is too. There you have nice luscious black dirt. We have red clay. Not the same!!! I visited my daughter in Miami at Thanksgiving and I LOVED FLA. The trees and foliage were just unbelievable. It is true what they say about “the grass is always greener”. But it is also true that “The secret to having it all is believing you already do”. Hope you have a great day. The sun is shining and I am indoors so all is good here.