I feel so very blessed!!!

I've been sick with the flu since Monday.......ugh.......hubby wanted to share with me........lol. So this week had started out on a bad note. But then............I found out I won a FANtastic prize at Christina's Card Connection. I won a $50 shopping spree at Diana's Magnolia-licious store! Yippee Skippee!!!!! From time to time Christina draws from her commenters on her blog posts & blesses them with this amazingly generous gift. Actually this time she chose 2 of us to win. I feel so very blessed!!! Thank you so much, Christina!!!!!!!!!!!

And that's not all.....here's another blessing I got this week...........

My "sister from another mister" Charlene aka scrappygma gave me this special award. She has become more than a friend in the several years I've known her. She truly has become my SISTER. We are kindred spirits & I'm so very thankful for her love & friendship. She has encouraged me in sooooo many ways........including crafting on my dining room table instead of my bed. LOL (I lost my craft room when we moved here over 3 years ago to help our daughter & her girls.) Anywho........that encouragement has opened up a whole new world to me as I can craft more now & I am so very blessed to have a hubby who really doesn't mind the crafting mess or me turning my dining room into my craft room.....LOL.

Charlene so very generously gave me this beautiful "Love Blog" award. I feel so very blessed!!! Thank you, Sis!!!!!!
This is what this award is all about..
You have been Tagged want to participate? Then create a post where you post the LOVE BLOG image.

You should also blog the persons link that gave you the award and inform her/him that you accept the award. You can then choose 3 - 5 favorite blogs which you also link into your post, then each blogger will inform you that they have been tagged. The aim of this action is that we bring unknown, good blogs to light, so I would ask you not to blog fellow bloggers that already have 3,000 followers. As always, the hardest part is to pick who to pass this on to, there are so many bloggers I could give it to, so ... the blogs I have chosen are .....

But.....I'm not going to follow the rules.....GASP.....I'm such a rebel.....LOL.....hey.....my blog.....my rules.....hahahaha......

I want to pass this award onto my Followers. If you have less than 3,000 Followers on your blog then you can grab this award for your blog. If you're not already one of my amazing Followers......then you can become a Follower & then grab the award. Easy peasy!

I feel so very blessed to follow so many amazing blogs & it's just tooooooo doggone difficult to narrow it down to only 3 or even 5.

Okay....back to bed for me. LOL Hope this flu goes away & stays away! Then I will not only feel so very blessed.....I'll feel so very good! LOL

Huggies & Blessings ~♥♥♥~

Angie's amazing candy!

The oh so talented Angie Hunt is offering some amazing candy on her blog here. If you've never visited her amazing blog.....well.......you're just missing out on her amazing creations all done with Distress Inks. She is now offering Distress Ink classes at Suzanne Dean's CMC Classroom.

A lucky winner will receive a free Distress Ink class taught by the talented Angie Hunt. What could be better than being taught by an expert!

So rush on over to Angie's Scrap Girl blog. You won't be sorry you did.

Huggies & Blessings ~♥♥♥~

Craft Us Crazy Challenge starts today & my DT card...

I am soooo excited to tell you about our brand new bi-weekly Challenge blog CRAFT US CRAZY that starts TODAY. YAY! I am so very honored to be on the Design Team. YAY again! Each challenge will give you two whole weeks to complete your project that fits the theme. Our first challenge theme is ANYTHING GOES.....easy peasy! Our sponsor is Digital Delights. The winner of this challenge will receive their choice of 3 Digital Stamps. How cool is that!

Digital Delights is a magical place filled with little digi creations from all walks of life. They have a wide range of digital stamps which are delivered straight to your email 24/7! In addition they also have a growing range of "Delightful Piecings" which are paper pieced files designed to be used with your cutting machines or for hand cutting. Fancy a new blog makeover, header or new watermark, then stop by their sister site Delightful Custom blogs.

Digital Delights so generously gave me this darling little 'Ducky Dilly & Ladybug' digi to play with. Don't you just love his cute little Ladybug Valentine. They were so much fun to color with my Copic markers. I had never colored a duck or grass before.....not since Kindergarten with my crayons anyway.....LOL....so it was a bit of a challenge for me at first.....but once I started.....Ducky Dilly's personality just came to life. LOL (btw...the Copics I used are listed at the bottom of this post.)


The sentiment on my card is from Create with TLC's cute little set "Love you like a duck loves water". Isn't that just the perfect little saying for this card. Paulette has a lot of cute Valentine images & sentiments for your Valentine cards.


Our new Challenge blog will also have Monthly Sponsors. At the end of each month all of our Top 3's (chosen from each challenge) will go into a drawing to win a special prize from our Monthly Sponsors. This month our Sponsors are The Cutting Cafe and Stamps Alive.

The Cutting Cafe's prize package is Three stamp sets of their choice.

Stamps Alive!'s prize package will be a Spellbinders Nestabilities set.

Card recipe:
Copics: Y00, Y11, Y13, YR20, YR21, YR24, R20, R21, R22, R24, W00, W3, W5, W7, G20, G21, G24
DP: NitWits
Classic Scalloped Heart Nesties
Stardust Stickles
Ribbon from Michael's Valentine section
Heart bling & flower from my stash

I hope you'll join us in the challenges & have some FUN! And have a chance to win some pretty cool prizes too! Can't wait to see your amazing creations!!!

I thought I would join in some challenges myself (LOL):
Paper Sundaes: Valentine
Bunny Zoe's Crafts: Love is in the air
Prairie Fairy Fridays: #45 For a sweetheart
Wild Orchid Challenge 16: Love Is
Sundays with Crissy: It's all about Love

Huggies & Blessings ~♥♥♥~

Jam Tilda loves her Valentine friend

"Jam Tilda" is looking for her Valentine. Won't you be her friend? LOL This cutie can be found at Diana's Magnolia-licious shop. I love the versatility of so many Magnolia Tilda stamps. I used my handy dandy trusty Copics to color her (colors below).

The sentiment I used is just darling. You can find it at Create with TLC along with oodles of other lovely sentiments for your cardmaking or scrapbooking. Also be sure to check out Paulette's wonderful blog HERE. It is full of FABulous free graphic images.

Here's the card recipe:

Copics: E0000, E000, E00, E21, E30, E34, E35, R0000, R02, R11, R20, R81, R83, R85, G20, G21, YR20 & YR21.
DP: My Mind's Eye "Lost & Found"
Fringe Trim & Bow Garland w/diamonds trim: JoAnn's Crafts
Prima Flowers
Gartner Rhinestone Hearts: Michael's
Recollections Rhinestone Swirl & Amber Dots: Michael's
Calendar: Freebie from Crafty Secrets
Lacey Circle & regular Circle Nesties
Star Dust Stickles

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Papertake Weekly Challenge: This Sketch

Paper Sundaes: Distressing to "de-stress" your life
Really Reasonable Ribbons: Heart theme
Magnolia-licious Highlites: Calendar
Wild Orchid Crafts: Sentimental
Die Cut Dreams: Use a digi & a rubber stamp
A Spoonful of Sugar: Valentine

As always.........thanks so much for looking & for taking the time to leave a comment. It means so much to hear your thoughts on my cards.

Huggies & Blessings ~♥♥♥~

There's a new little girl in town!

Ssssshhhhhhh.......mum's the word! LOL I just finished this birthday card using a new little girl image (gasp......don't tell Tilda....LOL) from All That Scraps by CC Designs called Swiss Pixie 'Sweetheart Birgitta'. Isn't she adorable!

I wanted to make a special card for one of my very bestest friends........cuz we've been friends for forever & a day (over 20 years). Her birthday was last week but we're celebrating it on Monday with a day of antique shopping (can't wait) & a yummy lunch on me (oh, not literally on me.....at least I hope I won't be wearing it.......LOL).

I love this Birthday sentiment that I got from Paulette at Create with TLC. You can find this cute Birthday greeting in the "Linear Sentiment" set that also includes Get Well, Celebrate, Thank You, Congratulations & Retirement in her store HERE. Something for every occasion.

I used my wonderful Copics to color Birgitta: E000, E00, E30, E34, E35, E41, E42, E43, R0000, R00, R11, R20, R21, W3. Do her shoes look like they're "suede"? I did this by dabbing them lightly with E41,E42 & E43.

On a side note: I think the hardest part for me is using a "light" touch when I color with my Copics.....as Suzanne Dean so wisely suggests. If you want to learn how to color with your Copics.....sign up for one of her many, many classes HERE. If you've never been to her amazing blog......then run.....don't walk to Scrap Bitz. You'll fall in love with her (she's soooo sweet) & her amazing cards.

Anywho..........back to my card recipe.........

The beautiful DP is from a DCWV matstack that I just fell in love with at JoAnn's called The Mariposa. It is gorgeous. The picture really doesn't do it justice.

I used my Martha Stewart butterfly punch as well as my EK Success Lattice punch. Prima & Wild Orchid Crafts flowers were used along with my trusty......wouldn't be complete without it.........Stardust Stickles to give her some bling, bling. Cuz don'tcha know......every girl loves some bling. LOL

I completed my card with some beautiful black & rhinestone....uh I mean....diamond strands I found at JoAnn's.

Challenges I'm entering:
The Pixie Cottage: Using Your Favorite Coloring Method (my Copics, of course)
Cute Card Thursday: Monochrome
Prairie Fairy Fridays: Happy Birthday
Stampavie and more: #124 Glitter
Stamp, Scrap & Doodle Saturdays: Anything Goes

As always.........thank you so much for looking & for your oh so sweet comments that just make my day. And sometimes make me blush. LOL

Huggies & Blessings ~♥♥♥~

Tilda has a hug for you

Waiting Tilda has "a Little HUG coming your way". She almost looks like she's hugging herself (or maybe she's just cold.....LOL). The sentiment is from the "Go Forth & Encourage" set which can be found at Paulette's Create with TLC store. Who doesn't need a Little Hug now & then..........or every day for that matter! The card was my DT contribution for the Create with TLC blog. Paulette so generously shares amazing vintage graphics along with her beautiful sentiments.

You can shop for Waiting Tilda at Magnolia-licious. I don't see her in stock right now but just let Diana know & I'm sure she can find her for you.

DP used for my card were from 2 mat stacks (I just love those for cardmaking): DCWV "Once Upon a Time" and "The Luxury Stack". Tilda was colored with Copics C0, C1, C3, C5, E000, E00, E21, E31, E34, E37, R20, B0000, B000 & B00.

I used my Nestabilities Circles, Scallops & Large Labels (love my Nesties). Wild Orchid flowers adorn the bow from my Michael's ribbon stash. The bling & snowflakes are also from Michael's. I used Stardust & Platinum Stickles for some additional bling.

Challenges:
Totally Tilda Challenge Blog: Ribbon & Roses
Stamp Something: Glitter
Just Magnolia & hAnglar & sTanglar: Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly Challenge: Anything Goes

Thanks so much for looking & as always...........your comments mean the world to me. This card is going to my dear friend Myrna.

Huggies & Blessings ~♥♥♥~

New DT position for me!!!!

Yippee Skippee! I've been selected to be on the Design Team for the brand spankin' new Craft Us Crazy Challenge blog! WooHoo! 2011 is starting off with a bang & I am soooooo very excited! You will notice the new badge on the right sidebar where you can find all of the amazingly talented designers I will have the honor of working alongside. Please be sure to visit their blogs often. You will find tons of inspiration & amazing creativity.

Thanks so much for joining in my excitement! I look forward to sharing ideas & projects with you. Our first challenge will begin in February. I'll let you know when it's time to join in the fun!

Huggies & Blessings ~♥♥♥~

Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year to my wonderful blogging friends! I have made so many friendship over the few years I've had my blog.........it's been a true blessing to my life. Thank you to all who follow me & those who just pop in to say HI from time to time. You all mean the world to me.

I pray that 2011 brings you much joy & happiness!!!!!

Huggies & Blessings ~♥♥♥~

Yippee Skippee!

I have some exciting news to share! I just found out today that I've been selected to be on the Create with TLC's Design Team (DT). I am so very honored to be chosen. This is my very first time to be on a DT so I'm a little nervous but very excited about this new opportunity.

Paulette with Create with TLC is so giving with her free vintage graphics & sentiments. She has fun little games too. If you haven't visited her amazing site........you are really missing out. You can also shop for graphics, digi stamps & more at her online store HERE.

My card features Paulette's cute "Sliders" charms. I reduced one for Tilda to wear on her necklace & added some Glossy Accents to give it a bit of a shine. The other Sliders are on the left side panel......"Live Fully" & "Smile Often".........now those are words to live by. You can purchase these "Sliders" & more at Create with TLC HERE.

"Waiting Tilda" is a cute little Magnolia stamp I used for this card. I don't see her in stock right now but you could let Diana at Magnolia-licious know & she'll do her best to find her for you.

I used Copic markers to color Tilda (W00, W0, W1, W3, W5, W7, E000, E00, E21, R20, E31, E34, E35, E37). DP (decorative paper) is from K&Co. Black & Ivory and DCWV La Creme stack. I glittered her purse, shoes & shopping bags with Stardust Stickles. The silver buttons are from Jolee's boutique (don't you just love her cute little stickers) with a bit of tied black jute. The silver glitter dots are from Dress It Up and the black & gray ribbon is from my LSS (local scrapbook store).

Thanks so much for joining in my exciting news!

Huggies & Blessings ~♥♥♥~

Merry Christmas!!!

May your Christmas be filled with family & friends as you enjoy our dear Savior's birth.

Happy Birthday, Jesus!!!



Huggies & Blessings ~♥♥♥~

A hiking we will go........

I made this birthday card for my daughter (see her pic in the post below). She loves to hike in our local mountains. Last week she did her personal best of 15 miles........that's 3 times around The Loop. Wowsers! There's no way I could even do one mile. LOL

Anywho.......I searched for just the perfect image to color for her special card & found this beauty. She's called Download Diva & you can find her at KennyK's downloads.

I also needed some mountains, trees, a sun (cuz my Baby Girl is all about the sun) & a critter or two........so I found these all in Mary Fran's Nit Wits collections. I used scalloped borders to make the 'mountains'. Aren't the raccoon & little owl just too stinkin' cute!

This card was sooo much fun to make. A bit different for me but a lot of fun!

I colored her with these Copics: E000, E30, E11, E93, E34, E37, R20, R22, R81, R83, R85, C0, C1, C3, C5, W00, W0, W1, W3, W5, B91, B93 & B97.

I used Distress Ink 'Brushed Corduroy' and Stardust & Diamond Stickles for the bling, bling.........what girl doesn't love bling. hahaha

I'm entering these challenges:
Creative Card Crew: Anything Goes
The Pixie Cottage: Sparkle & Shine
Stamp Something: Use something digi (I used NitWits graphics)

As always........thanks so much for looking.
Huggies & Blessings ~♥♥♥~

A Happy Birthday & a Sneak Peek

Happy Birthday to my sweet Baby Girl, Kim! Isn't she beautiful! She's my first born & my only daughter. She's such a wonderful blessing to my life.

I made her a card but won't post it until tomorrow so be on the look out for it. LOL Here's a sneaky peekie............


Have a FABulous day & don't get trampled if you're Christmas shopping today. LOL See you tomorrow!
Huggies & Blessings ~♥♥♥~

Sharing a Crepe Paper Tree tutorial

Isn't this GORGEOUS!!!! Karin at Creative Chaos shared a tutorial on making this beauty. She has wonderful......step by step directions that even I could follow. lol I just HAD to share this with you all.

Enjoy!
Huggies & Blessings ~♥♥♥~

Such a worthy cause.....

There is a WONDERFUL CHARITY called the FISHER HOUSE FOUNDATION. They build, operate and supply homes around the US for military families to stay in while their loved ones are in the hospital or in rehabilitation. We are so very privileged to have the military support that we have in this country. They SACRIFICE the most precious gift of their LIVES every single day to defend and protect us.

Go to Suzanne Dean's blog to join in the cause & find out how you can get involved & possibly win a FABulous gift.

I just realized that today is my BLOGOVERSARY! LOL Two years of blogging fun with over 15,000 visitors. Thank you all so much for joining in the journey with me.

Huggies & Blessings ~♥♥♥~

DT Call

Jeri at Craft Us Crazy has started a brand new bi-weekly challenge blog! If you love crafting, then hop on over to join in the fun as either a Designer or as a Sponsor! You'll find all the details on the Craft Us Crazy blog.

Huggies & Blessings ~♥♥♥~