Happy Anniversary to my Hubby!

I'm taking a wee little break from sharing my Christmas in July gifts with you to take time out to tell my hubby that I love him so much & wish him a Happy Happy Anniversary!!!!!  It's been 39 years of wedded bliss & I'm so very happy that God saw fit to put the two of us together as one.  I don't regret one single minute of it.

I love you, Babe!  ♥MWAH♥

I'll see you all tomorrow when I'll share another chapter of CIJ.  :)

Huggies & Sweet Blessings ~♥♥♥~

Christmas in July, part 3

Hi again! My next little treasure I made for my CIJ swap partner is this pin cushion I made from a pint size "Ball" mason jar.

This was my first time making one & I had to make it twice because after hot gluing the fabric & stuffing onto the lid I couldn't get it to screw down all the way. LOL Regroup..........then I took another lid & just glued it to the top of the lid instead of the bottom. There are several tutorials online but I found this one the most helpful.......'Suzanne's Crazy for Collars' blog. I don't know why I couldn't get it to work like hers but I'll try again. Maybe I had too much fabric in the way. Oh well.........live & learn. LOL I then glued on some sweet little pink daisy trim all around the outer edge.

Isn't that scissor charm the sweetest little thing.  I found it hiding in my button box.  I thought it would make the perfect little touch on top.  I stuck in various stick pins & flowers all around & then added a little box of straight pins inside the jar for her to use later.

Thanks again for joining me.  I'll be back soon to show you another goodie I made.

Huggies & Sweet Blessings ~♥♥♥~

Christmas in July, part 2

Hello again! Part 2 of sharing the gifties I made for my swap partner, Mary.   I've been cross stitching for years and years and thought I would make some Christmas magnets for my swap partners fridge. I love to do needlework in the evenings while watching TV. It had been awhile since I had done any counted cross stitch & I found that I really missed it. It's so relaxing (until I miss a stitch & have to rip it out....LOL).

So I scoured the craft stores & my stash of cross stitch books & found some cute Christmas patterns that would work well together. A Santa, a Christmas tree & a sign pointing the way to Santa.  I glittered a bit here & there with Stardust Stickles & backed them with black self-adhesive felt & added a magnet.  I placed them inside a tin so the magnets would keep them in place (I found this pretty tin in the gift wrap section at Michael's.)

Here's a close up view.

Thanks for letting me share & I'll be back with another CIJ Show & Tell.

Huggies & Sweet Blessings ~♥♥♥~

Christmas in July, part 1

Merry Christmas in July!!! Yippee Skippee!!! Are you celebrating too?  LOL I'm a part of a sweet little group of ladies who I share my life with each & every day on our own private board. These ladies have become my extended family & I love them dearly.

Christmas in December is always such a hectic time for all of us so we decided to make July a very special time to share gifts with each other.........henceforth we have.......CHRISTMAS IN JULY (who even says "henceforth"? LOL). We've been exchanging these gifts for several years. It's so much fun and we all look forward to seeing what each person receives. There is an abundance of talent in our little group.

I know I haven't shared many crafts in the last few weeks & this is why.........I've been working on these little gifties & couldn't share them until my swap partner "Mary" opened them today.  Sooooooo today is the day that I get to start sharing them with you over the next week.  **warning......this post is long & filled with lots & lots of pics.

First I'd like to share this "Keepsake Box" (cigar box) that I embellished.

The 'cigar box' is from JoAnn's unfinished wood section. Before I painted the box with Plaid Apple Barrel "Antique White" paint......I removed the hardware. I went over the brass closure & hinges with my Black Soot Distress Ink marker to try & tone down the brassy-ness.  (It doesn't show in the pics but it's not as shiny.)

I then covered the larger surfaces of the box with beautiful Graphic 45 papers called "A Ladies' Diary" and a coordinating soft red decorative paper from BoBunny using Scotch Quick-Dry Adhesive that I brushed on. I then wrapped all around the box with Tim Holtz tissue tape and a tassel trim from my stash.

The postcards on the top are also from "A Ladies' Diary" collection. I love these papers so much that it's hard for me to cut into them.  LOL I distressed the edges with Tim Holtz paper distresser & Distress Ink 'frayed burlap'.

Here are more views of my box.

The beautiful metal corners are from Tim Holtz' idea-ology line.

This beautiful flower is from EK Success Jolee's Boutique called 'grey burnt edge gem center flowers'.   The "leaves" are from sprays that I found in Michael's wedding section. You might also notice a Kaiser Craft skeleton leaf peeking out from under the flower.

I made the stick pin with glass beads & baubles from my stash (attached each piece with Glossy Accents). I plan on making more of these so be looking for them in an upcoming blog candy or two. They are very addictive.

I found the word "Paris" on the Graphic45 paper & decided to frame it with a Tim Holtz 'ornate plate'. I cut some transparent plastic & the "Paris" graphic & attached them to the inside of the 'plate' with some Glossy Accents. It was then attached to a thick tag from the same "A Ladies' Diary" line.

This sweet little metal doo-dad hanging from the Tim Holt 'hanger clip' is from a new jewelry line that Michael's is now carrying called "art-i-cake" by Amy Labbe. She even has a sweet little bio on the inside of her charm packets. These pieces are truly little works of art.

This is the inside of my box.  More of the beautiful Graphic 45 & Bo Bunny papers.

I had to restrain myself from adding any more to the beautiful papers.  "Less is More" right?  LOL  So not me.  LOL  But I'm glad I didn't do more..........I wanted to leave room for her to hide away her little treasures.  She told me that she's going to use her "Keepsake Box" for her "trip momentoes".

Thanks so much for joining me today & I look forward to sharing more over the next few days.

(The cute little vintage girl image at the top of this post is courtesy of Peggy Loves Vintage)

Huggies & Sweet Blessings ~♥♥♥~

Happy Birthday America!

Happy 4th of July to all of my American friends & family!  I love this saying......"May thy sweet blossoms never cease to bloom in love and trust and peace."  Such a sweet sentiment for our beautiful nation.  May freedom ever ring!  And don't forget to say a prayer for our troops today.

Have a blessed day with your family & friends.  A day filled with love and trust and peace.  And of course lots of yummy food & fantastic fireworks.

Huggies & Sweet Blessings ~♥♥♥~

Yippee Skippee!!!

My son & his wife are back in California after spending 4 years in New York doing his ER residency at St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx.  YAY! 

The time really flew by.  I can't believe it's over & they're back home.  He will be working as an ER doctor in Bakersfield for the next year or two & then will look for something closer to us in southern California & closer to the beach.  My boy loves to surf! LOL

Thanks so much for joining me in celebrating my son's amazing achievement!  We are all so very proud of him.

Huggies & Sweet Blessings ~♥♥♥~

Sooooo....whatcha think?

*****Another Update: LOL Now I've gone with the matching header from Plumrose Lane. I couldn't resist that cute little bird. I'm just a sucker for birds & birdcages. LOL I love it! Thanks, Sharon!!!!!


***UPDATE:  LOL  Okay........I did it again!  LOL  I found a beautiful background from Plumrose Lane that goes with my new header beautifully.  (I think so anyway)  You know how we girls love to change our minds.......just like our shoes.  LOL  So I hope you like the change. The other background was beautiful but I wanted a big more graphics to lend interest to the pages. 



LOL  I know.........I know..........what do I think about what???????  There's no card to share today sooooo..........what could it be.  hhhmmmmm...........well................whatcha think about my new blog design?  LOL  I just got a new monitor (thanks hubby) to replace my ancient of days one from waaaay back in the day (it was kind of embarrassing for others to see....hahaha).  Well after hooking up my new....much larger monitor I was NOT happy with the looks of my blog.  It just didn't "feel right".........KWIM.  Soooooooo.........the search was on!   I went on a hunting expedition & I found this beautiful background from Dotty Dot Dot.  I fell in love with it the second I laid eyes on it.  It screamed PICK ME ME ME!!!  I absolutely love the vintage feel to the pretty soft flowers & lovely color as well as the soft pretty glittery border.  (you know how we girls luv our blingity bling bling....lol)  I also love that the design doesn't overpower everything else.
 

Anywho.....since the matching header was plain I needed to fancy it up with my blog name & some images in my Photo Shop Elements program.  The font I used for my blog name is called 'Precious'.  Lace trim is from Heritage Scrap's 'Sentimental' kit by Adelina.  I've had the birdie images forever. I snagged them from the web a long long time ago (if you know where they came from please let me know so I can give credit where credit is due).....isn't it just the sweetest thing.  I added some vintage flowers from Crafty Secrets Creating with Vintage Patterns CD #1 and voila.  Here it is.  Easy Peasy.  And so easy on the eyes.

Well thanks for listening to me blather on about my new digs.  I likey................do you????  Be kind!  LOL

Until next time...............

Huggies & Sweet Blessings ~♥♥♥~

Catch a Wave card

Hi Everyone! Sorry I've been MIA so much this year. Health issues, etc. have prevented me from crafting much but I just HAD to make my oldest son Brett a birthday card. He loves to surf & is coming back to California from New York with his wife at the end of this month. YAY! He's going to be working as an ER doctor about 2 hours away from us. I'm so thrilled to have him back home.

Anywho.........back to the card. I always struggle with masculine cards cuz I don't want to drown them in glitter & make them too girlie so I restrained myself & went with a more minimalistic card. Shock! (well it's 'minimalistic' for me anyway....lol)

The digital images I used came from artists at PcCrafter which unfortunately is no longer in business. Most of the images are from "Endless Summer" by Andrea Tachiera. I also used Debbie Mumm's 'Celebrations' birthday banner and the surfboard came from "Fun in the Sun" by Sapna. I really had something else in mind when I envisioned this card but I'm pretty happy with how it came together. The "birthday greetings" is hanging from the palm trees with scrapper's floss & swaying in the breeze. I 'stuck' the surfboard in the 'sand' & added an abalone shell button to the surfer image tied up with more scrapper's floss. That's my son surfing! LOL He's 6'4" so I can just imagine him riding that big wave.

Thanks for looking & leaving comments. They always brighten my day.

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:

Craft a Scene:  Sand & Water scene

Simon Says Stamp:  Anything Goes

Stamp n doodle:  Get outside (won Top 3 ~ YAY)

Divas by design:  #37 Anything Goes

Inky Impressions:  Summer Fun!

Penny's Paper: #80 Anything Goes (Won $10 voucher ~ YAY)

Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog:  #55 Any Sentiment

DYSU:  #74 Under the Sea

Pixie Dust Studio:  #129 Summer

SJ Crafts:  #5 "All about the Boy" & something old -- I used the abalone button that has been in my stash a very long time.

For Your Inspiration:  #30 Photo Inspiration

Wags 'n Whiskers:  #80 Summer Fun

Raise the Bar:  #107 Hello Summer

The Poodles Parlour:  Male card

Allsorts challenge blog:  By the seaside

Bugaboo:  June ~ Anything Goes

Digi Design challenge blog:  Male inspired creations

My Sheri Crafts:  #86 Summer Lovin'

Here come the boys:  #28 Anything Goes(must be for a man or boy)

Platypus Creek Digitals:  #8 For the Boys

Bunny Zoe's Crafts:  #24 Anything Goes

Fashionista Challenge:  #3 Simply Summer

Kaboodle Doodles Challenge blog:  All Manly Men.....& we know how manly surfers can be...:)

Lexi's Creations:  #66 For the man/boy in our lives (my son)

Love to Create Challenge Blog:  #18 Father's Day or Special Guy in your life (my son)

The Pink Elephant:  TPE151 Use Vibrant colors

Whoopsi Daisy Challenge:  Summer colors

Huggies & Sweet Blessings ~♥♥♥~

Freedom isn't free

 Remembering those who have fought or are continuing to fight for the freedoms that we enjoy every day in America.

Please join me in this prayer for our Military..................

God bless America!  Land that I love!

Huggies & Sweet Blessings ~♥♥♥~

A Steampunk Birthday Card

My oldest granddaughter Alexis "Lex" is turning 22 years old tomorrow.  OMGosh........where do the years go?  I remember when she was born..........what a beautiful baby she was.  And she's still beautiful!  She loves the Steampunk style and purple and black is her FAVorite color combo so it came together nicely on this card.  This is my first time using a Saturated Canary image.  She's called "Gothica" and is a creation of the talented Krista Smith. 

I was so happy to complete this card in time for her birthday.  It's been a crazy "whack-a-doodle" week around here.  Remember my daughter Kim had spinal fusion in March?  Well she had a NECK FUSION on Tuesday.  Poor baby girl!  She is in so much pain.  She said it's much more painful than spinal fusion.  I sure wish I could take the pain from her but all I can do is pray that the Lord helps her with it.  Your prayers would be so appreciated.  Thank you so much.

Well back to the card.  I wasn't sure it was going to happen in time for Lex' birthday but PTL I did finish it in time.  YAY!  I hope she likes it.  **UPDATE:  She loved it & said it was her favorite card I've ever made.  aaww sure made my heart sing.

I used these Copics to color my Saturated Canary image:
Face:  E000, E00, R20, R11
Eyes:  E31, E35
Hair:  C1, C3, C5, C7, E50, Y000
Clothing:  BV00, BV11, V17, C1, C3, C5, C7

Embellies:
Tim Holtz Embossing folder "Steampunk"
Tim Holtz Alterations Die "Elegant Flourishes" (swirls)
Tim Holtz Film Strip Ribbon, Tiny Attacher, Adornments (wings & star), Sprocket Gear, Trinket Pin.
Ranger Distress Stain "Picket Fence"
Nestie "Labels Two" & Circle
Bead Landing "Found Objects" (clocks), Chain & jump rings
Recollections 'Paper Tickets' ("be original")
Black cardstock & glitter paper from my stash

I would like to enter my card in the following challenges:
Cardmadfairy's Digi Days:   Pick a number (numbers on the clock embellies)
Prairie Fairy Fridays:  #78 Inspirational photo
Creative Craft Challenge2:  Anything Goes
Joyful Stamper:  #57 Anything Goes
Polka Doodles:  Week 18 De-stressing
The Poodles Parlour:  Anything Goes
Simply Create Too:  #12 It's about Time (clocks)
The Stamp Man:  FAVorite technique (embossing)
Stampin' for the Weekend:  at least 4 layers
Wags 'n Whiskers Stamps:  Distressing
Catch the Bug:  Anything Goes (won #2 ~ YAY)
CMC Copic Challenge Group:  Celebrations (Birthday)
Catered Crop:  "B" (birthday, black, be original)
Delightful Challenges:  Distressing
Digi Doodle Shop:  #107 Bingo (Film Strip RIBBON ~ Something New (SC image) ~ Distress INK)
Dutch Dare Card Challenges:  #164 Birthday Fun
Paper Crafting Journey: #9 Black plus one color (purple) (won top spot ~ YAY)
Shelly's Images:  "Happy" challenge (this image made me smile so much that she made me happy)
The Paper Shelter:  Anything Goes
Scrapbook Sisters:  Card Challenge # 83 'Off Center'
Truly Scrumptious:  #80 Anything Goes
Whimsy Stamps Challenge Blog:  Add Dimension
Craft-room challenge:  Emboss It
Ladybug Crafts Ink TLT:  #60 Anything but a Square
Oldie but a Goodie:  Die Cuts & Punches (my 'oldie' is the purple & black diamond Cardstock from last Halloween)
Craft Your Passion:  #109 Torn or Distressed Edges (I distressed the silver card base with a 'black soot' Distress Ink pad)
Always Crafting:  #7 Anything Goes
The Corrosive Challenge Blog:  #148 The Man, The Myth, The Legend......anything by Tim Holtz (I used a steampunk embossing folder, trinket pin, film strip ribbon, tiny attacher, Elegant Flourishes diecut, wings, star, sprocket gears, Distress Ink & Distress Stain)
A and T Challenge Blog:  #23 Anything Goes

Huggies & Sweet Blessings ~♥♥♥~

Card for a dear friend

 

This card goes to a special dear friend who just lost her hubby of 57 years.  I can't even begin to imagine the loss & the loneliness she's experiencing right now.  Thank the good Lord that she has a very supportive family surrounding her with so much love.  She certainly has all of my prayers as she travels this road.  I thank the Lord that He is with her to comfort her & bring her peace.  "Cookie" was a very special man.  Loved by all who knew him.  "My Prayers are with her"

She loves butterflies so I made an attempt to create a card including butterflies on it.  The florals & butterflies are from my stash. I believe they're by Brenda Walton. The sentiment was computer generated using the lovely Edwardian Script font & then cut out with my trusty Nestie oval & scalloped oval die cuts.   I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder called "Musical Flourish" & then distressed everything with DI "old paper".  It has a hint of green in it that I just love.  The green cardstock, pearls & ribbon are all from my stash.  I used my FABulous Bow Easy to tie that sweet creamy bow. 

I want to enter this in the following challenges:

Dream Valley Challenges: #31 for a Special Lady
Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge:  #130 Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Challenge:  Anything Goes
Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog:  Anything Goes
Deep Ocean Challenges Blog:  #24 Use Punches or Dies
Bunny Zoe's Crafts:  #23 Ribbon or Twine
Hooked on Crafts Challenges: #20 Flowers
Tammy's Scrapin Corner:  #8 Anything Goes
Outlawz Greetings Challenge:  for a girl (at heart)
There She Goes Clear Stamps:  TSG154 May Flowers
Victorine Stamps:  #33 Flowers
Prairie Fairy Fridays:  #77 Anything with Flowers (won Top 3 ~ YAY!)
Whoopsi Daisy Challenge:  Pile on the Flowers
Catered Crop:  Letter "B" ~ Butterflies, Bling, Butter cream ribbon, Brenda Walton
Creative Inspirations Paint:  Inspired by Flowers
Great Impressions:  #2 Lots of Flowers
Stampin' Sisters in Christ:  Green
The Crafty Pad:  #168 Flowers
The Paper Players: 93 Tic Tac Toe (Flowers ~ Dry Emboss ~ Square Card)
Catch the Bug Challenge blog:  Recipe:  Dry Emboss & Bling
Craftymess Challenge Blog:  #7 Distressing & Embossing
Just Some Lines:  Flowers
The Poodles Parlour:  Anything Goes
4 Crafty Chicks:  #87 No Stamping (I won! YAY!)
Moving along with the Times:  Flowers
Pixie Dust Studio Challenge:  #124 Embossing
Crafts and Me:  #81 Embossing
Whimsy Stamps Challenge Blog:  #36 Distressing
Truly Scrumptious:  #79 Distressing & Die Cuts
Flourishes:  #166 Bingo (Bling ~ Die Cut ~ Emboss)
Ribbon Carousel Blog:  #50 Anything Goes with spooled item (ribbon)
Shopping Our Stash Weekly Challenge:  #49  Letter "B" ~ Butterflies, Bling, Butter cream ribbon, Brenda Walton
Tuesday Throwdown:   #95 Use some sparkle

Thank you for visiting me today.  I hope to be creating more often.

Huggies & Sweet Blessings ~♥♥♥~

Attention Nitwit lovers!

Are you a Nitwit lover like I am?  Don't worry...........I haven't flipped my lid............yet.  LOL  I'm talking about Nitwit Collections.  I've been collecting their digital sets for ages now & use many of their beautiful designs for my DP (decorative paper) that I use on my cards. I wanted to share with you that they're having their un"bee"lievable Spring Sale this coming Friday & Saturday only.  You will receive a 32 1/2 percent discount on everything you purchase.  Don'tcha know that I'll be first in line at the sale so don't try to get in front of me.  LOL  I can never get enough of their beautiful designs. 

You can check out their Gallery of creations HERE for some amazing inspiration.

I feel badly that I haven't been posting much this year.  It's been a tough year for us so my craft mojo has pretty much left the building.  I'm hoping to get back into it soon though.  My daughter is recooping nicely & very quickly from her spinal fusion a month ago but is having a neck fusion in a couple of weeks.  Poor baby girl.  She's really been thru a lot.  Then my hubby had some important things going on that culminated this week.  Not to mention my health issues going up & down........I feel like I'm riding a roller coaster some days.  LOL.........waah waah.......I wanna get off..........LOL  Prayers would sure be appreciated.  I don't like to bring anyone down when they visit me here so I try to keep everything positive but sometimes you just have to be "real".  I appreciate each one of you who visits my little blog & I love reading your sweet comments.  I'll probably be posting a card this week that I'm making for a dear friend who just lost her husband.  They were married 57 years.  So very sad.  I can't even imagine losing my hubby. 

Thank you & be sure to head over to the Nitwit Collections shop.  You might just see me over there.  LOL

Huggies & Sweet Blessings ~♥♥♥~

Blessings on Easter

I pray that you & yours have a blessed Easter!
Huggies & Sweet Blessings ~♥♥♥~

Nose to Nose card

I made this card using the adorable Crissy Armstrong digital image called "Nose to Nose.  Guess who she's nose to nose with?  A sweet sweet sweet little puppy, of course.  You can find this image at Whimsy Stamps.   I made this as my last Design Team card for Sundays with Crissy.  Sadly I have to say goodbye to these wonderful, caring ladies & the amazingly talented Crissy.  I have so much on my plate these days with my hubby & family that I had to make the sad decision to step down.  But don't worry..........I'll still be making cards.  Gotta have my card therapy.......right?  LOL  Anywho...........you still have time to pop on over to the Sundays with Crissy challenge blog to enter your "animal" creation.

My daughter just had spinal fusion surgery (her second) followed by a scary blood transfusion a few days later but PTL is home now where I can take good care of her.  So this card is for her.  The little cutie with the bare feet reminds me so much of my Kimmie when she was a little girl.  She is colored with my Copics (Skin: E000, E00, R20 ~ Hair: E34, E37, E53 ~ Puppy:  E53 & E30) and paper pieced with my NitWits digital papers.  The background paper is from a My Mind's Eye 6x6 paper pad called "Lost & Found Two".  All of the embellies (lacey flowers, bling, seam binding & scroll) are from my stash.

Challenges I would like to enter:
Simon Says Stamp Challenge:  Anything Goes
Party Time Tuesdays:  #61 Anything Goes
Ribbon Carousel Challenge Blog:  RCC46 Anything Goes with spooled item (the flower lace)
Sweet Stampin' Challenge Blog:  Anything Goes
Paper Sundaes:  #113 Spring Blossoms
Stampin' for the Weekend:  #6 Anything Goes

Thanks so much for visiting me today.  And as always I love reading your sweet comments.  I think the crafting world is full of the nicest, sweetest, most caring people in all the world.

Huggies & Sweet Blessings ~♥♥♥~

Happy Birthday card

It's a happy happy birthday to my hubby Frank today!  I won't say how old he is now but he's catching up to me.  LOL  (I'm 5 years & 4 months older..........but shhhh........don't tell anyone........LOL)

I had to really step out of my comfort zone on this card.  If you visited me long enough you'd know that I love pink.  Pink & green are my favorite colors.  So this was a streeeetch for me.  Hope you like it.

The focal point of my card is a bicycle Photoshop brush I found free online.  Gotta love freebies.  I cut it out with my Nesties Labels One die cut (one of my very favorites).  I used a Tim Holtz pennant die I just got.  Love it! His dies cut so smoothly.  I distressed it all with DI black soot.  I even distressed the baker's twine.

The rest of the embellies & papers are all from my stash.  I made the bottom right button with a Tim Holtz reinforcement circle & a spinner......& then attached it to a metal button.  Frank thought it was a compass.

Thanks so much for visiting me today & have a wonderful week.

These are the challenges I'm entering:
Paper Crafting Journey:  #4 ~ Anything Goes
Crafty Creations Challenges:  #160 Stripes
Paper Pretties:  PWC196 Masculine
The Paper Shelter:  Anything Goes
Whimsy Stamps Challenge Blog:  No Sentiments
Creative Craft Challenges:  Boys will be boys
Totally Gorjuss:  #122 Anything Goes with buttons

Huggies & Sweet Blessings ~♥♥♥~