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 ~♥♥♥~

Sweet Little Lamb

This sweet little lamb is another Crissy Armstrong creation. I used this little cutie "Spring Lamb" for my DT card for Sundays with Crissy. It's available as a digital image from Whimsy Stamps. You still have time to join in our "Birthday" themed challenge for the month of February. You even get one extra day. Don'tcha just love leap year. LOL

I paper pieced this darling with NitWit digi papers (Tippy toes & Me-Wow) & distressed the pieces with Distress Ink. I then colored the grass & flowers with my Copic markers (R81, R83, R85, G21, G40, Y21, YR20, C5, C7, W3). After cutting out the image with my Lacey Circles Nestie die I carefully sponged the sky & grass with more Distress Ink. (I left the paper inside the Nestie before sponging the background & later wiped the die off with a baby wipe.)  The pink gingham DP is from Bev Rochester's free gingham papers found on her blog All the Things I Love.  Thanks a bunch, Bev!  The pretty green DP's are from my huge paper stash.

 The sentiment was computer generated using the font "Brisk". It was cut out with my Lattice Rectangle Nestie.  When I showed the card to my hubby he asked me who "Eve" was.  LOL  Thank God when I asked my daughter to read it to me she said "ewe".  LOL So I hope you can read that it's actually to "Ewe".......not "Eve".   (You know........a 'ewe' is a female sheep.)

I used my Stardust Stickles to bling it all up.  I cut a strip of pink netting which already had a ton of glitter on it from my LSS (local stamp store) (I had glitter everywhere....lol).  Buttons, ribbon & flowers are all from my stash.

I followed this sketch from A Gem of a Challenge:

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
Crafty Catz: #121 ~ 'B' ~ Bling, Buttons, Baby lamb, Bows, Birthday
Delicious Doodles:  #13 Pink - to make the boys wink
Crop Stop:  #59 use at least 3 flowers (I used 6)
DYSU:  #60 Distress
PCJ:  #3 Make it Cute
2 Sisters Challenge Blog:  #80 ~ Anything Goes
Allsorts Challenge Blog:  #143 It's Your Choice
Craft Your Days Away:  #39 Paper Piecing
Stampin' for the Weekend:  #4 Bingo (Ribbons/Bows, Pearls & Pink)
Creative Inspirations Paint:  Paper Piecing
Paper Sundaes:  #109 Circles
That Craft Place:  Anything Goes
Crafter's Companion: #21 Anything Goes
Desert Islands Crafts:  #1, 3, 4, 9
Simon Says Stamp:  Use 3 different papers

Thanks so much for joining me today.  Please pop on over to the Sundays with Crissy blog to check out the other DT cards.  They are amazing.  (My card will appear there on the 28th.)

Huggies & Sweet Blessings ~♥♥♥~

Will you be my Valentine?

May you be surrounded by love on this Valentine's Day!

Huggies & Sweet Blessings ~♥♥♥~

*New* Distress Ink Markers

 I just saw a Tim Holtz video from CHA showing the brand new Ranger Distress Ink MARKERS.  Wowsers!  I just HAD to share it with you!  Check it out!!! (Click on it twice to see it larger)

Huggies & Sweet Blessings ~♥♥♥~

Flutter your blues away

 

We are nearing the end of our "Beat the Mid-Winter Blues" challenge #25 at Sundays with Crissy & we would love to see your creations.  You can interpret the challenge whatever way you want so feel free to join in.....you still have time.  For my DT card I chose to use Crissy Armstrong's beautiful "Rose Butterfly" that's available at Whimsy Stamps. I thought I would flutter my "Mid-Winter Blues" away with this pretty butterfly.  Well.........truth be told.......we've been having more spring like weather here in southern California lately.  I want winter!  waaah  lol I know, I know.........we're never happy with what we have. 

I colored the butterfly with my Copics & tried something new that I learned from watching the talented Bev Rochester's Copic videos.  She shows how she uses Prismacolor pencils to add some shading to her colored images.  I just added a bit here & there to the butterfly.  Didn't want to ruin my coloring job since I waited til the last minute to make this.  Geesh!  Don'tcha just hate it when you procrastinate & then the date jumps out at you & you have to move quickly.  LOL  I really need to learn to be better organized.  That's my goal for 2012.  Wish me luck with that!  LOL  Anywho......I really want to learn how to use the Prismacolor pencils with my Copics to get deeper tones in my coloring.  Wish me luck with that too.  LOL  Always sumthun new to learn, huh.  I also added the little dots around the butterfly.  I wanted to add a bit more interest to the otherwise blank white background.

I cut around my butterfly with the "Lattice Rectangles" Nestie diecut.  (I just love my Nesties & they work GREAT with my new Sizzix Vagabond.)  I wove some lavender ribbon thru the lattice openings & added a ton of glitter.  I think I went a little 'heavy handed' with it but oh well..........I just love the bling!  I added some pretty bling bling to the corners as well.  The 'dream' sentiment epoxy sticker was from my stash & the DP was from a paper pad called "Best of Brenda Walton" by K&Co.  Don't you just love hydrangeas.  I have some in my backyard that can't decide if it's winter or spring.  LOL 

I would like to enter these challenges:
Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge:  #117 Things with Wings
Lily Pad / Simon Says Stamp:  Use patterned paper
Wags 'n Whiskers Stamps: #71 Valentines/Love card
Digi Doodle Shop's Best: #92 Anything Goes
DYSU Challenge Blog:  #56 Ribbons (I won)
Paper Crafting Journey:  #1 Floral
My Mum's Craft Shop: #41 Flowers
Simon Says Stamp:  Anything Goes
Daisy Doodles Creative Challenges: #51 Anything Goes w/digi
Lollipop Crafts:  #64 Wing It (butterfly)
Stamp & Create.com:  Anything Goes
Truly Madly Crafty Challenges:  Anything Goes
Sentimental Sundays:  #86 Sentiment plus Die Cut

So come on over to Sundays with Crissy & join in the fun. We would love to see how you interpret our theme.  And thanks so much for visiting with me today & leaving some luvin'.

Huggies & Sweet Blessings ~♥♥♥~