Those of you who often visit The Stampin’ Schach know that I had a Bucket List summer this year. It was a bohemian summer…full of dreams and memories as I traveled across the Midwest with my Boxer girls.
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| Lexi and Muffy love motels! |
It was a summer of firsts. My first AKC champion.
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| New Champion Cimarron’s Do You Know the Muffin Man |
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| It’s official! |
My first time to drive in major traffic. My first time to travel so far from home and be totally by myself. It was a summer when I would get back home on Sunday night, and head back out on Wednesday or Thursday, taking care of business during the two or three days that I would be home. By the time it all came to an end the first weekend in November, I was so far behind that I would never catch up. But through it all, I always had the support of my husband and son.
And that is how I started my holiday preparations. Behind. There is candy to make, cookies to bake, a house to clean, presents to buy and wrap.
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| The famous “Momma’s Candy” |
Through it all, I have the help of my son and husband. Like today, when my son taught me the true meaning of stamping. As I was getting ready to tackle the task of making Christmas cards, Brady asked what he could do to help. I told him I didn’t think there was much he would be able to do. (When it comes to my cards, I am a perfectionist. I use the stamp-a-ma-jig to make certain my sentiments are straight. I use a ruler to ensure my borders are even. I add elements…I subtract elements…until the card fits my vision. ) I knew that Brady would never be able to meet my expectations, but I couldn’t tell him that. Not when he was wanting to help. Instead, I told him that he could go ahead and use anything he could find in my craft pantry. Not only do I stamp in my kitchen, my supplies are stored in my pantry.
A few minutes later, Brady emerged with two of the Simply Sent kits from the Holiday catalog. As I sorted through a year’s worth of cards to see what I had already created, he stamped away. Occasionally he would ask questions. How do you put a button on a card? Could I show him how to tie the bow? Could he use different ribbon? Could he use those snowflake thingies that were laying in by the inks? No stamp-a-ma-jig. No ruler. He created with joy and abandonment, while I toiled with re-designing a poinsettia card I had recently made.
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| Look how straight he stamped the image! |
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| Brady used cast-offs from other cards I had made. I did give him the tip to use pearls. |
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| Brady is a messy stamper. He is going to finish the other snowflakes later. He wants to put some “fake diamonds” on them. |
And this is when I was struck with an epiphany. Brady’s version of stamping is what stamping should be. It is a time of sharing. It is a time of joy. It is not how even your borders are, nor is it the straightness of the sentiment. It is not about how many layers you have or how many pearls you have applied. It is about creating and having fun doing it. It is about doing something for someone you love and loving what you are doing. “Mom, don’t you think you can use these for some of your stamping friends? I’m going to make you more tomorrow using some of that other paper in there. You’ll have to show me how to cut the bottoms.” And by that, I think he meant card bases.
Yep, some of you will be receiving the cards that Brady made…and you will be the lucky ones. His are filled with love.
Until next time…
