New Year's Resolutions

Every year we make resolutions and most of the time we forget or just quit trying.  Well last year I made the resolution that I would perform one RAK (random act of kindness) per month throughout the year.  Would you believe I made it and honestly it was the most rewarding resolution I could have made therefore I am doing it again.  There a few moments I will always remember...little things do matter and can make a difference.  Let me share a few with you.

1.  One month I was able to make a young single mother cry with joy just by finishing up an electric bill for her.  She thought she had enough on a gift card but was $13 dollars short.  As I stood there I watched this young lady try to explain to the cashier how she didn't have any money and they were going to disconnect her electricity.  I listened to her words and watched as her face changed to one of despair. I stepped up and offered to pay the shortage for her.  The look on her face was enough and the cashier mouthed the words "God Bless You" just as I received the biggest hug from a total stranger. The best $13 dollars I've ever spent. 

2.  I was able to feed a family of three for one week by sharing some coupons and $20.  I overheard a lady tell a small boy that he couldn't have a .99 cent drink because she only had a few dollars for food.  My spirit told me to return some of the junk I had in my cart and to fill her cart with food that would last.  First I was going to offer her $10 dollars but then I remembered that I had coupons (I do hoard coupons), so with my coupons and $20 dollars this family walked out of the grocery store with $78 dollars' worth of groceries and I left with my $22 dollars' worth of snack and junk food.

3.  The last RAK I think made a difference is when I paid it forward for an elderly couple behind me at the pharmacy.  Their medicine was only $10 but the waves and the smiles they gave me were worth so much more.  I could only smile back and hope that someday I will get back the same kindness.

There were others, but these just seem to matter to my spirit and for me nothing more was needed.  Perhaps this year I will find myself in position to once again make a difference or have an impact on someone. Since its Random I can't plan it but I can be on the look-out for the opportunity to help.

Now that I've shared that little story I want to go ahead and share another card that I hope you will enjoy. 

After one week of waiting for the Leafy Vines stamp by Hero Arts it finally arrived.  I didn't get the wood mounted but the cling worked just as well. 

This stamp was needed to practice the "Resist Technique" based on a tutorial I read somewhere out here in Web World.  So with stamp in hand I began to create this simple and easy to do card.  

The first step was to heat emboss the stamp using white embossing powder. I think I used the Zing brand although I could have used WOW as well.  Both of these brands seem to do well for me. 

Once I completed the embossing I selected three blues for my background colors; tumble glass, broken china and stormy sky distress inks.  It was kind of fun watching the image pop as I  started inking the card-stock. 

Being quite pleased with the results of the inking I found room for a few butterflies within the leafs.  I added a bit of glitter stickles (icicles and frosted lace) around the butterfly wings to make them sparkle.

I didn't have a greeting in my stash that I wanted to use so I opted to run up to Michaels for a new stamp.  I found a set that had just what I was looking for or it became what I wanted when I saw it...sure you know what I mean.

Lastly it was a touch of green on the leafs and a sparkle or two randomly added to the leafs that bought this card together in the end.

I finished off the inside to mimic the front with the exception of the butterflies and the greeting.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Crafting From the Heart - #42 Anything Goes (1/17)
House of Cards - Glitter or Color challenge (1/30)
Inky Chicks - #45 Anything Goes (1/29)
Party Time Tuesday (PTT) - #194 Anything Goes
PDE Linky Party - Blue and White (1/18)

That's all for tonight.  Thanks for stopping by and don't forget your comments are appreciated.