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Tuesday, September 18, 2012

You're Invited to Cupcake Canvas!


(cupcake compliments of Sandra)
I am so excited about this I can hardly stand it! I want you to join me for some hands-down super fun time, enjoy my cupcakes, and give back to the community! How, you ask? Here's the story:
     So, our church, First ARP, is excitedly in the midst of the HIP (Harvest Is Plentiful) Project - an effort to share Christ's love and our church to friends, family, coworkers, and our local community.  Our congregation has been challenged to invest a sum of money and figure out creative ways to meet others around us and tell them about our church.  Each of us was given "seed money" to get our project started.  Although the measure of our "success" is the number of people who we communicate the gospel to, all funds that are raised from our seed money go directly to our daughter church fund (for those of you not familiar with that terminology, our church has been given the opportunity to start another church in the upcoming year - we've been praying over this and moving in this direction ever since I began my ministry there...that means a new church will need a place to meet (or rent to pay for it), a pastor who needs to have a salary, and tons of miscellaneous needs that require money).   We are excited to see how we can support that effort of a new church, while inviting others to see what First ARP is about.  So my project, CUPCAKE CANVAS!
     Some of you may have been to one of those cute little expensive girls night out parties - you know, where you have an art teacher in front of you giving instructions on how to paint a peacock, beautiful sunset, or scenery all while sipping on a bottle of wine.  While those nights are fun, you probably end up enjoying your wine more than your awkward-doesn't-look-anything-like-it's-supposed-to paintings that you take home.  
Well, cupcake canvas will have a similar idea but with a twist...
     We will gather together for a few hours, eat some of my yummy cupcakes (by the way, did you know I make cupcakes for a partial living now?!:)), and we'll be painting button tree canvases - just google or pinterest "button tree canvas" and you'll see what I'm talking about.  I'll give you a few of my tips/pointers for painting canvases (like I did for this one, this one, and this one), but we'll be painting trees. Simple, two colors needed trees.  Then, we'll add some buttons.  
*PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE take a break from reading this and go get all of your random missing and extra buttons in your jewelry box and top drawers*
Now, back to reading...if you don't have spare buttons, no need to worry, I'll have some you can use.
Then, we'll eat some more cupcakes, gab a little, then add (in your own handwriting) this sweet simple verse:
 They are like a tree planted by streams of water,
    which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
    whatever they do prospers.  Psalm 1:3
     I'll gather all of our completed canvases and take them over to our local adoption agency, Christian Family Services, for them to be given to birth families and adopting families to serve as sweet reminders and encouragement for their bundles of joy.  On the back of each canvas will be a short note of where the paintings came from, and the information about our church (in the event they are impacted and want to visit someday).
     And get this - it will only cost you $15!!!! All of that is tax-deductible, and it will be a great help in covering costs for supplies, goodies, and even help towards that daughter church fund! Invite friends so that the Cupcake Canvas in itself will be an outreach to other folks (like that girl you work with who is super cool and nice, but you have no clue if she's a believer or if she goes to church or what - PERFECT OPPORTUNITY!!)

So a run-down of the pros:
- cheap cheap cheap girls night/afternoon out
- two different times to paint for your schedule's convenience
- helping the community, especially the adopting community
- enabling God's kingdom to grow through sharing love to others and raising money to help build a new church
- yummy cupcakes at your disposal
- learn the way around free-hand canvas painting 
- enlighten your creative side
and the cons:
- there are none.
The official promo
So if you're interested in this sort of thing, COME JOIN ME! I have 24 canvases that are stark white and need some paint and buttons and TRUTH on them!  And if you can't make it, will you just say a prayer right now for those who will be impacted by this simple ministry? Many many thanks!
Email me, fb register, or call to let me know if you'll join me for one of the nights.  See you there!


Thursday, September 13, 2012

Giveaway Central!

I LOVE all things giveaway, crafty, artsy, baby, cute, chic, etc etc. That's why, when I came across this post about a virtual grand opening for a business called "Multiple Blessings" from a FB post of a friend of mine who owns a baby boutique store, I hopped all over it! While first perusing the gambit of items and opportunities, I quickly rushed to the laptop to do all that I could to win something (the iPhone is awesome, but not with all the do-dahs of blogaways!). With all of the items this gal is giving away, surely I'll win something, right?
If not, she's got some great options to add on my Christmas list, and to Miriam's list, and to Lydia's list - ha.
Check her site out! http://www.multipleblessings.net

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Life of a cowgirl

Miriam got invited to a super fun RoundUp Party and we've been totally excited about it since the day the invitation came.  I LOVED every part about this day - from the invitation, to the simpleness, to the cupcakes (I wonder who did them?!), and the events.  I didn't know how it would turn out, but Miriam finally warmed up to the horses, and took a ride - and then another!  We had a blast, and for the first time in EONS, she fell asleep in the car at noon on our way to lunch. Some photos from the day:
Cupcake display. I loved the idea of the candy boot molds!

Miriam not so much warming up to the horses
J showing how sweet they can really be, M having no part in it.


Finally on, but not so sure about it...

She's havin a talkin with that Snowflake of a pony.
Success!! And she's even enjoying her ride!

She is so proud of herself!


Enjoying one of the best parts of the day, the cupcake icing. Fueling up for another ride.

Daddy is a great guide - ride #2 on sweet Snowflake.
Thanks, Megan for the invite - we had a blast!!!