– and back! When my kids were bitty, bitty in the NICU (and certainly later, too), I’d sit for hours reading to them. Guess How Much I Love You was a favorite, and always got me choked up. Some days, I’d ugly cry, but always, I ended my reading time with a hope and prayer that they’d know the words from the book were not just words and that they’d grow to love books as much as I do. This little board book and bunny live on my nightstand, and I still reach for them, especially when the kids aren’t feeling well. Even at 9 and 11 they still love to be read to, and I love the chance to have them be little babies, if only for a little while longer. When I was asked if I wanted to help Taylored Expressions celebrate their fabulous first birthday by playing with the new Giving Tree Program set, I just couldn’t say no!
The Places You’ll Go is the 3rd stamp set in The Taylored Expressions Giving Tree Program designed to donate proceeds to a different charity each quarter. For each The Places You’ll Go stamp set sold September through November, Taylored Expressions will donate $7.00 to the Books for Kids Foundation. Their mission is to promote literacy among all children with a special emphasis on low-income and at-risk preschool-aged children. Books for Kids creates libraries, donates books, and partners with literacy programs to develop the critical early foundation and skills which young children need to be successful in life. Find more about it here, and see all the new stuff available in the Fresh Out of the Oven department.
You can find more Birthday Bash projects here:
Find more release day and anniversary fun at the Stamp a Sweet Impression blog, too. They’re celebrating with challenges and prizes every hour, all day!
And my prayer that my kids love to read as much as I do? I think these dark ’cause the kids were still asleep when I sneaked in to take pictures of their shelves and piles of books pictures speak louder than words.
Project details:
I made this little Christmas ornament for my son using my favorite image from the The Places You’ll Go stamp set and Ranger Memory Glass and Frames. The image was trimmed down to 2″ x 2″ and colored with Copics, then over everything, Spica pens. I adhered a ton of little Kaiser rhinestones to the frame, added some ribbon and a random star brad, and I was done.
23 Comments
Awesome stuff, Jenn. I cannot read that book without choking up. Looks like your kids read wonderful books.
Beautiful Jenn! I love reading and so do my kiddos so this set speaks “volumes” (hahaha) to me. seriously, it’s fantastic!!!
Hey Jen…you are not alone in the “ugly cry”, I love that book too and my kids mock me because I can’t get through it….
Love the fun little project you made too!
Jenn, this is ADORABLE! Oh my goodness, what a fabulous project!
What a great bookmark… love the blings… my son loves to read and I am so proud of him! It makes one’s heart fill with joy. :o)
Oh Jenn – what an awesome project and keepsake for years to come! Love it! Thanks for playing today!
I do love this. The sparkles and the vibrant color. It’s beautiful. I cry when we read that book, too!
DANG Jenn! THIS IS SOOOOOO cool! What a sweet story too! Bug hug my friend! YOU ROCK! Enjoy your weekend!
LOVE your ornament, Jenn! And the photos of all your books and the Guess How Much I Love You story… so precious! Thanks for helping us celebrate our 1st birthday!
lol about the ugly cry! I ADORE this ornament it’s so special, but even MORE so, I love your memories about reading to your kids. Thanks for sharing your heart & for celebrating with us! TFS your idea!!!
Not FAIR!! I am crying now because of your beautiful story! Love your ornament Jenn and of course that story book is phenomenal…. and “The Phantom of Pine Hill” was my favorite
ND book…..
Oh my, what a heartwarming story!!! I don’t remember this book, but will be hunting for it. To me an “ugly” cry shows just how deeply you love your kids. I will put it away for when I am blessed with grandkids. My kids are 24 and 22 but still are my babies and always will be. My crying book was I’ll Love You Forever. I still tear up when I read it. Thank you, Jenn for the wonderful story and adorable ornament.
What a beautiful cause!! You sure knocked this out of the park girl – love it! So sweet the emotion behind the ornament.
OMG Jenn, this is seriously fabulous! I think about all the times I’ve wondered what to do with the memory glass and passed it over at my LSS. I love this little pendant with the rocket ship image! Your entire post is inspiring and a pleasure to view and read! WOW!
Jenn, what a beautiful story AND ornament! Guess How Much I Love You is one of our favorite boos as well–I painted a mural from it on my son’s wall, and he still hasn’t let me paint over it yet. . .
I adore this post. 🙂 And WOW I am loving this set!! Might have to finally make my first TE purchase… you enabler, you!
I remember reading these stories to my kids!! The memories you brought back this morning too. Thanks for the little bit of enabling this morning. 🙂 Ran right over to Taylor’s site and got the set!
Jenn, this ornament is brilliant — absolutely love it!
What a gorgeous ornament—beautifully done (love the crystals around the edge)…LOVE that book!! (That and the Giving Tree get me every time!)
Jenn, I thought this was such a touching post. I agree, translating that love of reading to your children is so precious. We recently bought our baby niece all kinds of classics we read to the kids when they were little.
Oh…and the ornament is fabulous too!
What a darling rocket ornament, Jenn!! Your coloring is fab, and I’m lovin’ the bling too!! Sweet, sweet story!!
My daughter loves those Warrior books too! I saw one in the stack in your picture! : )
Oh,I loved that book, too!!! What a wonderful post to read!!! And I subcribed, successfully!!!! LOL!!!
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