I don't believe in Coincidence but in God's gifts

God is always at work. So many times we just see the BIG picture and seldom see the little things he does for us.
Psalm 37:4 says "Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart".
Matthew 7:11 says "If you, then, though you are evil. know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him.
Sometmes we don't even have to ask. He loves us so.... much He suprises us with favor.

I have to share one of these moments. I don't believe in coincidences. Everything works together for good for those who love God.

I have a customer that orders my magnetic calendars every year for Christmas gifts. She had ordered a few.For one of those I was thinking how on earth could I come up with a design for it. She wanted a beach theme. With all of the 5,000+ stamps I have, I did not have a beach theme stamp, go figure. Most of you that know me, when I get an idea, my mind just goes ticking and I usually can come with somethig fairly fast. Not on this one. I knew I had to come up with something but what. I thought... well I could take some paper with a sky, some water, and one that looked like sand. But, how in the world could I get it into a 2 1/2 inch design. Well, I started tearing paper, glued and sewn until I got that far. Hmmm.. how was I going to embellish it. I had remembered a box of things that included some sea shells that I was going to give away, but for some reason I never got it to the person I was going to give it to. Duh, God knew I needed it. So I put a starfish on one side. Hummm... it needed something on the other side. So, I took a corner of some white cardstock and made a little umbrella. Perfect. It still ddn't have enough stuff on it. I added some hand drawn sea gulls. Then I remembered I had a flip flop stamp, so I stamped, colored, embossed, cut them out and added that. Humm.. A beach wouldn't be a beach without the sun. I added that. Well, it still needed something in the water. It was just too plain...Hmmm... Oh, I had a real small dolphin stamp. I fixed it up like the flip flops and added it to the water. Perfect, I thought. That was just the best embellishment I could have used. I still wasn't sure if the customer would like it or not, but I sent a photo, and waited in anticipation to see if she would.
Low and behold the next morning she had e-mailed me and said she LOVED it. Her daughter would really like it because she trains DOLPHINS. Oh, MY!!! GOD IS SO GOOD. Only He would have known that is what it needed.
Ever since I started making cards, I have prayed for every stamp I purchased. I was bidding on ebay for stamps, and would always say, if God wants me to have it, then I will get it. Otherwise, it was not meant for me to have it. I still believe that. Everything I have was given to me by my heavenly Father. Like the song says: "Oh How He Loves You and Me, He gave His life, what more could He give. Oh, How He Loves Me, Oh How He Loves You, Oh How He Loves You and Me"
Amen!!!

New card Wedding creations

Golf Card

Well, today was an eventful design day. I also designed this golf card for my massage therapist for her husbands birthday. It is made using a retired Stampin' Up! stamp set And Many Mower. I hope she likes it.

Peach Tulip card

I had a friend ask for a peach tulip card for her mother for her birthday. This is what I came up with. I used the Stampin' Up! Terrific tulips stamp set. Groovy Guava, Certainly Celery CS. I hope she likes it.

The 2010 Calendars Have Arrived!

I have just received my order of 2010 calendar pads. Now it is time to start making them just for you. These make really nice inexpensive Christmas gifts for co-workers, teachers,students, hairstylists, doctors, etc. etc. The possiblities are endless. They are mostly 5 1/2 X 4 1/4. But, can be made any size.
Now is the time to let me know what style you are going to need. How about a doggie one for a dog lover, or maybe a cat for a cat lover. Again, anything goes.
Each one of these calendars have a magnetic strip on the back. It can be placed on a refrigerator, file cabinet, or locker.
For those of you that have never seen any of them. Here is some I made last year:

GREAT DEAL for EBAY CARD BUYERS!

I still strife to have excellent customer service. I have been selling cards on ebay since March of 2004. I really don't think there is a card maker out there that has hung in with ebay that long. I think in the 5 1/3 years I only had 1 week with nothing posted. It was in November of 2004 when my mother broke her hip and I stayed with her in the hospital almost an entire week in Louisville. Even then, I worked on my Christmas cards while there. Each one of you that have purchased my cards, whether recently or long ago, have made it possible for me to continue. Through raising costs of postage and fees.

I would like to figure out how to send all of my customers, a questionare on my card business. However, I have not had the time to figure out how to do undisclosed receipents and how to make it easy for you, to chose the answers to the questions. I have done a poll or two on this blog with little response. So, I want to offer 1.00 off shipping of two or more card purchases, if paid with the same invoice, for those that replies back with the answers to the following questions. I am always willing to combine an invoice for up to 30 days, as long as you communicate will me within 5 days from end of auction what your intent is.

Questions are:
1.What size cards to you prefer. Square 5 1/2 X 5 1/4, Invitation size, 5 1/2 X 4 1/4, or other, please specify.
2.Do you prefer the inside decorated or blank.
3.Do you like the sewing on the cards, or do you prefer them without, or does it matter.
4.What kind of cards to you mostly look for. Birthday, Sympathy, Blank to use for any occassion, other, please specify.
5.What kind of cards would you be looking to purchase in the next 6 months. Christmas, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Birthday, Sympathy, other please specify.
6.What cards would you like to see that you can rarely find on-line: Childrens cards, teen cards, Masculine cards, other, please specify.
7.When looking for a masculine card what are you looking for: Outdoor, such as fishing, hunting, cabins, or more sporty, golf, bowling, football, racing, basketball, soccer,other, please specify.
8. As a buyer, what kind of communication to you like from sellers. When paying with Paypal, Paypal sends an e-mail letting the customer know when a shipping label has been made for your purchase. Do you request more than that.
9.What things attracted you to purchase my cards: 3-D, glitter, other, please specify.
10.Then, I would like to have free text on any other comments or suggestions. Don't ever be afraid to communicate with me, whether it is a compliment or constructive critizism. Your feedback is VERY important to me. I want to know how I can best serve you.

If you read this and you are one of my customers, or would like to be, please e-mail me with the answers to these questions and I will make a note to give you the above discount. This discount can be used any time betwen now and December 31,2009.

I occasionally get e-mails from customers letting me know their concerns. The latest one being, due to the cost of mailing a square card, they would like to see more of the invitation size. I hope to incorporate both sizes in the next few weeks. My problem is I only design 2-3 new ones a week, because I make so many multiples. I do this so every one can have a chance on getting one of my cards. Maybe I should make fewer. Hummm...maybe another question.

Also, follow this blog. There is a link to do this over on the left side toward the bottom to do this. I think when I add additional information you will receive it in your e-mail.

Anyhoo, thanks for reading my book here. Also, thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

Have A Blessed Day!!

Linda :o)
stampinsinger@roadrunner.com

I'm back!! I'm on FACEBOOK too!

Well, it has been a while. I wonder if too many people ever read this anyway.
I still am so grateful for wonderful customers. If I haven't told you lately. Thank You , Thank You!! You all ROCK!!! With the economy the way it is I appreciate all of you.

I also wanted to let you know, I am on Facebook,just in case you would like to be my friend. I feel like a kid in grade school. Would you like to be my friend, check yes or no. LOL!! I haven't learned too much. Especially if there is a link to post for you to go to my page and invite me. However, I know you can do a search for a friend. Look for Linda Duke Hall. Yep, that's me. Don't worry about getting your Home page filled with things regarding me. I stay so busy trying to make all of these cards, I don't have too much time to chatter a lot. But I do check it every few days and post occasionally.