New Year=One Word

Happy Weekend, everyone!

I know that some of you are cozied up for a long winter's nap right now with some pretty frigid temps...ME TOO!  ;)  I am always amazed at how low the temp can go.  I believe it already!  No need to prove it any longer, lol.

Now, back to my blogging business at hand.  Please take a moment to read this...I know there are a lot of words, but I promise it is worth it!

I wanted to start off the year fresh, you know, that whole clean start, yada, yadda.  But I don't make resolutions.  Period.  If you recall the beginning of 2013, I was supposed to be rolling out a measly scrapbook layout a week, but that lasted about oh, 6 weeks if that!  If it happens, so be it.  Real life is just not scripted by you and me.

If you were with me at the start of 2013, you also might remember my word(s) for the year:  Never let anyone dull your SPARKLE!

remember that old watermark?  sigh...

I wanted to do a better job of keeping that ball rolling last year, I really did.  I sparkled, you all sparkled and left me lots of sparkle here which I thank you for!  I just wish I had spread it a bit wider.  Well, this year, I intend to keep on sparkling, so don't you worry!  I just have another little bitty word to throw in with it.  DANCE!

No, I am not taking dance lessons, lol!  In the days leading up to the New Year, I was in the midst of searching for my one word for 2014 when I happened to pull out my new Bible study called Make Over by Jen Hatmaker.  As I finished up the day's reading, my word hit me smack between the eyes!  Jen was talking about attitude and motivation when she said that it all really boiled down to one simple question...who are YOU dancing for?  The implications of that little sentence really hit me hard, and I knew that I had finally found my new word for 2014.  DANCE.

Here is the card I was inspired to make as my one word happened to coincide with the CAS-ual Fridays challenge: In A Word.  (Coincidences always happen when you are on the right path, my friends!)  I used the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches 117.

The background is stamped in Whisper Ink with the retiring (but still available until the end of January) My Acrylix Universal Backgrounds.  I use this set ALL the time! I used the pretty papers in the Laughing Lola Paper Packet, and my trusty Black glitter paper!  See that little touch of teal?  That is the brand new teal shimmer trim that is only available right now in our Cloud Nine Cardmaking Kit.  It will be available February 1st in the new Spring and Summer Idea Book!  :)  The word dance is welded together in the Cricut Craft Room using the font on the new Cricut Artbooking Cartridge.  LOVE!!!

Would you believe I actually, physically stitched the line of black waxy flax on this one?  I cannot believe it either! I used my piercing tool and ruler like this...

I needed a sentiment for the inside since I have no stamps with just the right words.  I used my Close to My Heart Glamour Glitter Alphabet stickers to make my own...

Not your neighbor's beat.  Not that gorgeous supermodel's beat.  Not the beat of your grandmother.  YOUR beat.  Maybe your beat will be similar to mine if we are dancing for the same reason, but it sure won't be the same dance!

Well, my crafty friend, I hope you stop in to see what I am up to frequently this year, and no matter what, I hope you dance!  And if you happen to sparkle while you're dancing, then you just might be dancing for all the right reasons!  :)

My upline is having another month of daily challenges, #projectaday, and this one fit right along with today's--Use Scraps!  My banners are all scraps from previous projects.  Scraps are your friend!  ;)