Raise The Bar Challenge #2

WOW! We are so thrilled with the turnout for our "Debut Challenge" ! Thank you so much for participating and showing your support! What WONDERFUL creations ... and so much fun visiting so many new folks! We're glad you enjoyed our 1st challenge ... now let's try it again!

This week's RAISE THE BAR challenge is the "GIFT THAT KEEPS GIVING". Create a card/project using something you received as a gift from a friend. It could be paper, embellishments, stamped images .... well, you get the picture!!

Last fall, my friend Linda Davis (waving Hi!) gave me several sheets of this (The Paper Studio) musical designer paper and I have used it over & over on so many different styles of cards!! It worked great for holiday cards .... vintage cards ... birthday cards. This is definitely the "gift that kept giving"!!

Here are the details for today's card:

Stamps: SU "And Everything Nice", Stampabilities (sentiment)
Papers: Kraft cs, Whisper White cs, The Paper Studio dp
Inks: Versafine black, Ranger Vintage Photo
Accessories: Sponge, Chalk, Make-up applicator, Prima flowers, Gold Stickles, Darice Ivory Satin Ribbon, Nestabilities Classic Ovals, Dimensionals, Prismacolor markers

Please be sure to check out the wonderful creations designed by my co-bar tenders:

Anita ... Sparkle ... Suzi ... Audrey ... Joni (Head Bar Tender)
AND
Guest Designer - Sheri from PaperCrafty's Creations

Thanks so much for stopping by today and now it's YOUR turn!! I can't wait to see what you create using something you have received as a gift ... this should be GREAT FUN!!!

Chalking with Penny ...

Good Morning Everyone!

Welcome to the 1st Wednesday of 2010!!

Today is the 1st challenge of the new year over at Penny's Challenges and today we are using CHALK. That's right ... get out those chalks that we all tend to forget about and get creative!!

First let me say that even though my creation looks like it is done in BLUE ... it is not!! It is PURPLE but my camera doesn't like hues of purple ... it generally always changes them to blue! Why you ask ... I haven't a clue! So with that in mind, please know my ribbon is PURPLE/WHITE gingham (Hobby Lobby) ... my background matting is deep PURPLE as are the Paper Studio Bubbleabilities!

The way I used CHALK on my creation is for the friends medallion. The Inkadinkado (round frames) image was stamped on white cardstock using Versamark then given color by using a cotton ball and purple EK Success chalk. My base card is Whisper White and the designer paper is Basic Grey Wisteria. Pretty easy-peasy but I'm very happy with the outcome!

For added inspiration, be sure to check out the creations by my co-team members listed below:

* Alison - Hairy Harry's Craft
* Boni - Bonibleaux Designs
* Kim - Memories in Thyme
* Cheryl - CherCroppin's Stamp Pad
* Alanna - Alanna's Spot in the World

Okay ... now it's your turn! Please join in on the fun and show us your CHALK creation by making a direct link to Mr. Linky over on the Penny's Challenge Blog. And, if you are uploading to other online galleries, please add the keyword PC20.

{Just a note ... have you seen Penny's new store blog??? Please check it out.}

Time for Sharing ...

What a busy ... fun week I have had!!

Making cards with Girl Scout Troop 1393 in Green, Ohio on Wednesday afternoon was GREAT FUN and the girls were all so excited to take part in creating the two cards I came up with. Their favorite part of the card making was using the Puff Paint ... they all thought it was pretty cool looking when you hit it with the heat gun. Second favorite was using the Cuttlebug to emboss the background panel for their snowman card. I shared the cards we were going to create in an earlier post found HERE. Now here is a group photo of Troop 1393 ... what a lovely group of young ladies. I hope I get invited back again for more crafting fun.

And if that wasn't enough excitement, today was another crafting, fun-filled day, but this time it was with the "big kids"!! LOL!! Yes, today was my Holiday Get- Together with some stamping friends. It certainly gave me a good excuse to get my decorating done early and I'm thrilled with how the house looks this year. (I hope to share some photos of my decorations with you next week). Here's a group photo of the gang that came to play today:

(L-R: Kris Turner, Lana Edwards, Carol Smuts, Linda Davis, Carolyn Franjko [daughter], and Terri Snode)

Today was focused on just working on whatever you wanted to do ... Christmas cards, gift items, etc. Of course this group of ladies are alway good about bringing along items to share. Whether it be new Cuttlebug folders for the rest of us to run off for future projects ... images to share ... papers, stickers, chipboards, CHOCOLATE ... well, you get the picture!! The only thing I did ask them to bring was a Grab Bag item. It is always so much fun to draw names and pick out a prize ... it somehow brings out the KID in all of us!!!

Besides crafting the items we had brought along to work on, Lana & Kris each brought along a project for us to do! Lana created an adorable card and Kris had a Ghiradelli box.

At lunch time we came up from the "Crafting Cave" (as I like to call it since my craftroom is in the basement) and shared in some good food and even better fellowship & conversation before returning to all the crafting fun!! It always amazes me just how fast the time goes when you are enjoying yourself with friends ... this day certainly did FLY by!!

Thanks for stopping by today. I must apologize to you all for not being a very good blogger recently ... I hope to rectify that in the upcoming week!!

Please stop back tomorrow for the SATURDAY SPOTLIGHT CHALLENGE ... you're going to love it!!

Wonderful Online FRIENDS ...

I received this award awhile back from my friend and co-team member for Digital Ink Co ... Kim at Memories in Thyme. In the rules, there is a long list of questions which you are to give one word answers to ... but since Blogger won't let me cut & paste these days, that part will have to wait for another day ... sorry! I've been trying to get it to work so I could post this earlier but nothing seems to be helping!! ?? !! Thanks Kim for your kindness ... it's been so much fun getting to know you and all the others on the team!! What an awesomely talented group that I am so proud to be a part of!!

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Kathy (Stitchy Stamps) over on Digital-Ink Co. created this AWESOME Blog Award (isn't it beautiful) for our DT, to show her appreciation for us showcasing her images in our creations. If you haven't seen Kathy's digi images ... please, rush right over ... check them out ... then make your purchase!

I have been so blessed to be working on this design team with these amazing creators, the other DT members and of course our LEADERS! What an awesome group and what fun!!!

Thanks Kathy for this honor! I'm proud and thrilled to be able to play with all your wonderful creations ... PLEASE ... keep 'em coming!!

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Now if that wasn't enough ... (I AM SO BLESSED!!!) ... today I received this wonderful award from my friend and Crafty Secrets buddy Julie Campbell - A Vintage Chic. If you have never been to Julie's blog ... PLEASE, click on the link and check it out ... she is so talented!! Not only in her card making abilities, but cooking (shares recipes) ... photography (shares beautiful scenes) and her wonderful, bubbly personality is very contagious!! If I ever make it back over to the "other" coastline ... I'll surely be knocking on Julie's door!!! Thanks girlfriend for this honor ... I'll display it proudly!!


For this one I'm supposed to tell you 5 things you don't already know about me!! So, here goes! (A couple of these I posted a long time ago on another award ruling ... sorry if I repeat myself ... my life isn't all that exciting!! teehee)

1. I've been married THREE times (third time's the charm) and the first time was at age 17 (what was I thinking?????)

2. I took DANCING (tap & ballet) from age 3 until age 16 along with my sister, Linda, who is 13 months older than myself.

3. Linda & I went back to DANCING together again when we were in our 40's and won a ShowStopper Competition in N.C. (not bad for dancing grannies, LOL).

4. I can type 90 words a minute with zero errors. As long as I have my fingers, I'll always have a job!! (Not that I want one mind you!!)

5. I am TERRIFIED of loosing my husband ... I've always known he is the best thing that has ever happened to me (other than giving birth to my DD) ... but after this last year's bout with cancer ... I am even more afraid but I put my trust in the Lord that if that time comes ... he will guide me through it!


Thanks everyone for letting me boast a bit! I can remember not all that long ago I made the comment to my daughter ... "I'll never have a blog ... I wouldn't know where to start or what to say" !! Well it didn't take me long to figure it out and THANK GOD I DID!! I have met SO MANY wonderful, supportive people through blogland ... I can't imagine my day without them all! And that means YOU!!! Blessed Day To You!!!

A few Touching Moments ...

Just a quick post to share with you today. Mark & I were invited to the wedding of our friends Mark & Nancy Beelman's daughter Sarah to Travis McKay over the weekend in Toledo, Ohio. I was thrilled that my DH was feeling well enough to make the trip. Unfortunately we didn't arrive in time for the wedding but did make it to the reception and had a wonderful time.

The Beelman's were our neighbors when we lived in Perrysburg, Ohio (Toledo area) and we have remained very close, loving friends even though we don't see each other as often as we would like. Mark & I were SO THRILLED to see Sarah so happy on this, her wedding day ... she & Travis make a wonderful couple and we wish them many years of love & happiness.

Stamp Simply #104 - Halloween is Almost Here!!

A moment of rememberance for those who lost their lives on 9/11/2001. God Rest Your Souls ...

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Today's Stamp Simply challenge over on Sharon Johnson's blog was all about Fall/Halloween! Here it is in Sharon's words:

Halloween is Almost Here! - Today’s challenge is to make a card or project
for Halloween, or perhaps a bag or container for treats! Anything
goes. And I realize some don’t care to do Halloween, and that’s just
fine — then just incorporate a pumpkin into your project! Everyone can
play, and we hope you do!!!

Since I had friends coming to "PLAY" today ... I made this card VERY quickly. So, it's a true STAMP SIMPLY creation. My main image is from the Crafty Secrets Halloween Cotton Scraps and the background paper is Debbie Mumm Harvest & Holiday designer paper. The orange satin ribbon is from Offray.

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My friend Terri Snode was on vacation this week so we decided to "get together and play" ... so I put the word out to a few others and my daughter even took her "day off" and drove the hour to come play. We shared snacks, chocolate, techniques, stamped images and a lot of laughs! Terri got several cards created, while my daughter Carolyn learned a few coloring tips from Lana Edward. Friend Carol Smuts joined in on the fun today and shared several vintage images among other things. This time we decided to each bring "grab bag" gifts, drew names for the drawings ... another fun way to share!! In the grab-bag there were some really cool items ... stamp sets, stickers, ribbon, rubber wheels, holiday envelopes ... WOW!

Images from Friends ....

Good Friday Morning All!!

Over time, I have received images from various online friends and have finally gotten around to making a few cards with those images to share with you!!



This first creation uses an image from Marie in Sweden! I can't even remember how or when Marie & I first starting talking but somehow we discovered we were both Pittsburgh Steeler fans. And, not only did she send me this (and a few other) adorable image, but she created a Steeler card to send them in!! Isn't she sweet!!! Thanks Marie ... GO STEELERS!!


Details:

Stamps: Rosebud Rubber Stamps
Papers: Bo Bunny dp, Whisper White, Only Orange, Close to Cocoa
Inks: Versafine black, Only Orange
Accessories: Nestabilities, Making Memories brads, sponge, Creative Memories corner rounder, watercolor pencils, blender pen, crystal affects




This adorable rocking chair is an image my friend Kay Squires in Indianapolis, Indiana, sent to me! I happened to comment on an awesome group of cards she had created with this image and asked her if she would send me a few and WOW, she sent me this image and several others along with a whole lot of other goodies ... what fun!! Thanks Kay for your generosity & kindness!!

Details:

Papers: Pink Pirouette, Close to Cocoa, Basic Grey designer paper
Accessories: Watercolor pencils, blender pens, Nestabilities, Creative Memories corner rounder, Offray grosgrain ribbon





Last but not least ... this very whimsical image from my friend Janine Orchard in London, Ontario, Canada. While meeting up with some of the Stamp Simply ladies back in July, Janine had several different little whimsical images like this to share with us all. As most of you know, I am NOT a whimsical crafter ... so this was out of my comfort zone but was GREAT FUN to play with! How do you like the colors I came up with ??? Thanks Janine for making me "try something different" ... Waving Hi!!!


Details:
Stamps: Impression Obsession (sentiment)
Papers: Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, Rainbow Sherbet dp
Inks: Versafine black
Accessories: Prima flowers, Doodlebug sugar coated brads, Making Memories brads, Offray Amethyst satin ribbon, dimensional tape, detail clear embossing powder





Isn't it wonderful how we can make friends all over the world and share this wonderful craft together! I have a few others that were kind enough to share their images with me and really must get busy creating with those to share with you! I just LOVE meeting new crafting people here on the internet and am always THRILLED when I get a personal email, surprise via snail mail or even just a comment on one of my creations that I've shared here on my blog!! This is just a little token of my thanks for these ladies kindness .. I certainly wouldn't want you to think that your efforts weren't appreciated and put to good use!!! God Love Ya for being so kind!



Thanks to you too for stopping by today and letting me share! Please stop back later in the day when I hope to have today's Stamp Simply creation completed and ready to share with you!! Today Sharon has us doing "overstamped sentiments" ... should be fun!!!

Stamp Simply #99

Yippee .. time for another Stamp Simply Challenge over on Sharon Johnson's No Time To Stamp Blog! Today Sharon says "That's What Friends Are For". Here is the scope of the challenge as written in Sharon's words:

Today’s challenge is simple — make a card for a friend, for ANY occasion,
just make sure the word *friend* appears somewhere on the card front.
There are so many fun friend sentiments out there — these will be fun cards to
check out! If you don’t happen to have any friend sentiments, you could
even hand write friend on a little tag to hang — whatever works — let’s just get
very *friendly* today — LOL!!! Have fun with this!

For my creation today I definately followed the "STAMP SIMPLY" method. I just love this Hero Arts "friend" set that I purchased from MY friend, Tammy Hershberger (Stamp Happy) at Toyrifix some time ago.





Here I've simply stamped the circle image with Versamark and colored it with Pan Pastels Artist Chalks and cotton balls. The sentiment was stamped with Versafine Black and embossed with Detail Clear ep. I then ran it through my Cuttlebug to do the embossing and again to do the diecutting with my Nestabilities. The little butterfly is also from this set. I stamped it onto a scrap of purple cs with Versafine black ... then after clear embossing, cut it out with my swivel craft knife. My white satin ribon is by Offray and I have used my BOW EASY which was purchased from Sharon's Ribbon Store to make this beautiful, perfect bow! LOVE my Bow Easy ... don't have one you say ... well talk to Sharon ... she'll fix you right up!!









Sharon mentioned the "fun friend sentiments" out there to use and since I recently purchased this sentiment and haven't had the opportunity (until now) to ink it up ... that's what I'm going with today.



I've used a portion of a floral swag image from one of my Inkadinkado sets for the image behind the sentiment. I merely stamped it with Versamark then stamped the sentiment with Versafine black ink. With the simplicity of this card, I thought it added just that little extra touch. Hope you like it!









Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today! Don't forget ... it's the LAST DAY to get in on my Blogaversary Candy. Drawing will be tonight before DH goes to bed ... of course he doesn't know that yet ... but he will, LOL!!! Have a great day everyone!

A Visit to Joan's Garden

If you follow my blog you already know that I just returned home from a wonderful weekend trip to Shipshewana, Indiana where I linked up with some of the Stamp Simply ladies. What I didn't tell you is that in preparation for this get together Joan Fricker (Joan's Gardens) graciously invited Tammy Hershberger (Stamp Happy) & I to come a day early and spend the night at her home. Luckily, Tammy was able to get the extra day off work and we were able to take Joan up on her offer.

After making a short stop in Defiance, Ohio to drop Tammy's daughters off at their grandma's home, we headed for Indiana! The weather was beautiful, the drive was relaxing (Tammy & I talked the whole way) and what a beautiful sight when we pulled into Joan's driveway. She has a beautiful old white farmhouse with a wrap around porch, beautiful gardens, and of course I had to check out her little shop (couldn't wait to see what purchases I NEEDED to make there!).

After greeting us and making us feel very welcomed, she showed us into her beautiful home and told us we could take our suitcases upstairs and pick which ever bedroom we wanted for the night. We were in awe of her wonderful decorating and when we got to the top of the steps, we were like little kids ... LOL ... the doors were closed and we had to pick Door #1, #2 or #3. Well Tammy picked Door #1 and when we opened the door ... WOW, how beautiful ... it took our breathe away.

Moving on, I picked Door #2 and believe me when I say, this room was decorated FOR ME ... JUST MY STYLE!! How did she know?? LOL!! As you know, I am a vintage lover and her beautifully decorated home just made me smile at every turn! Can you see these beautiful bed linens ... well, under each is ANOTHER beautiful quilt made by Joan's Mom!! YES ... her mom is 95 years young and is still making quilts and has a little quilt shop where she sells her beautiful handwork! Isn't that amazingly awesome!!!!!

Check this out! Not only are her guestrooms beautifully decorated & welcoming, but she also makes her own SOAP ... yes and it is wonderful!!! I got the "oatmeal" and was very impressed with how soft my skin felt after using it. The insert shows the towels & soap (on a silver plater) that awaited me. OH, and don't let me forget to mention that on the dresser were fresh flowers & CHOCOLATES!!! Tammy & I both declared that we were MOVING IN!!

Not only were our accommodations amazing, but that evening we had HOME MADE BLUEBERRY PIE and the next morning Joan served us a wonderful breakfast casserole, english muffins with homemade strawberry jam & a pineapple/banana slush ... YUMMY!!! What a nice surprise to learn that Sharon Johnson (and her husband Steve) would be stopping by before we ventured over to link up with the other ladies in Shipshewana. Of course this called for another fresh baked BLUEBERRY PIE ... YUM!! (And to think I don't even like blueberries ... really!) But, oh this pie was Out Of This World good!!!

In the photo of us ladies, left to right: Tammy, Joan, Me & Sharon

In the other photo: Joan, Steve, Sharon & John

We had a little time to get acquainted before heading over to Shipshe so we sat and enjoyed that awesome pie and learned a little about Joan & her wonderful husband John (in the green shirt). I enjoyed meeting Sharon's husband too! Steve (in the blue shirt) is kind of a quiet guy but FUNNY!!!! What great fun meeting these two lovely couples.

THANKS JOAN & JOHN FOR YOUR HOSPITALITY!!!

Next time I'm in your area, I'll certainly stop by and say Hello!!! And maybe even do a little shopping & stamping!!!

Time to Share the SURPRISE ...

From the beginning ...

the other day my friend, Anita Kurtz, emailed me and asked if I would be "up to a visit" on Thursday evening since she had some shopping to do in my area. Of course I said YES ... always LOVE when friends come to visit! Well she called when she "got in the area" and as she came up the sidewalk I noticed she wasn't alone ... my friend Tammy Hershberger was with her and they were "baring gifts!" I thought "now what are these two up to???" Joyfully I learned that the STAMP SIMPLY ladies were talking and decided to all go together and with the local help of Anita & Tammy ... put together this AWESOME goodie basket as well has hand-made cards from each of the ladies!



Needless to say, my jaw hit the floor and I got so excited!!! I still can't believe these ladies would take the time out of their busy lives (and the expense) to do something like this for Mark & I ... WOW, that just blows my mind!!!


We went into the livingroom where my husband, Mark was to share in opening these beautiful cards and fun gifts! He too was very impressed and overwhelmed with this generous gesture! The beautiful basket was filled with Movie Going Goodies ... you know ... M&Ms, Whoppers, Junior Mints, Raisinets, Starburst, HUGE bag of Twizzlers, and even Werther's Originals ... HOW COOL IS THAT!!! Oh, and it doesn't stop there!!! Since Mark isn't up to going out to the movies these days ... they even got us a gift card for Blockbuster! Now we can have our movie & movie goodies right in our own comfy livingroom!! Since Mark bought himself a new 58" HD Plasma TV when he was diagnosed, figuring he'd be "in the house" a lot ... it will actually feel like we're at the theatre!!! There is also a gift card for Panera Bread in case we need real food like soup & sandwich to go with our Movie Goodies!! Ooops wait ... I forgot to add it to the photo ... Anita walked in with a huge box of Orville Redenbacher's popcorn too! What's Movie Night without popcorn?????? (These ladies thought of everything!!)


WAIT ... there's more!!! (can you imagine!!! ... more!!!) It's a treat JUST FOR ME!! They have spoiled me with 4 - 1 hour sessions at the Kimz Kare Relaxation Massage! OH MY GOODNESS ... pinch me because I think I'm dreaming!! (hang on while I wipe away the tears) ...





Here are the cards these wonderfully talented ladies sent to Tammy to include in our surprise! I was overwhelmed with each & every one of them as was Mark!! I was having a terrible time reading the messages inside (Anita & Tammy thought it was just my "old eyes ... maybe need new glasses") but actually I was having trouble fighting back the tears that kept welling up and causing "blurred vision". Aren't they gorgeous????










Mind you, I've never met any of these ladies in person (which I hope to do someday) but I consider them all "my friends"!!! How do I possibly express to these lovely ladies how touched I am by their kindness other than to just say "Thank YOU and I LOVE you all!!!"

Love Those Challenges ....

As promised ... I'm back with cards for today's SCS Sketch Challenge and the Color Throwdown Blog Challenge.



First let's start with the Sketch Challenge #214 over on SCS (splitcoaststampers). With it only being about 10 degrees outside, I chose to do a card that would give me a more "warm" feeling. This lovely birdsnest image by Inkadinkado did the trick. I've stamped the image onto glossy white paper using India Ink Black then colored it in using my inking nibs and various SU inks. The turquoise background paper is by Making Memories and the other two panels were scraps I had in my drawer.


Don't you just LOVE those satin ribbons that are in all the stores ... it ties a bow so nicely!! I've added a little touch of gold holiday thread to my bow and Stampendous gold diamond dots in the corners. Just needed a little touch of "something"! I find myself liking to "cut images out", as I've done here and popping them up ... gives it a nice dimension ... don't you think!!


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Second card is for today's Color Throwdown Blog Challenge using Pink Pirouette, Chocolate Chip & Riding Hood Red. Looking through my drawer of "floral" designer papers I came across this beautiful 12x12 Daisy Bucket Designs dp. It was the perfect shade of chocolate chip ... so that was my starting point. The chocolate chip flower is from the Inkadinkado garden delight set which I've embossed using detail clear embossing powder. I then used my circle & scallop circle Nesties for the matting. My side borders were punched with a Martha Stewart punch and of course the butterflies are also Martha Stewart. I couldn't help but use this luscious SU Chocolate Chip satin ribbon ... (I'll be so sad with it's all gone!). From the same Inkadinkado set I've stamped a background image behind my sentiment using Pink Pirouette ink on Pink Pirouette paper. The "friends" stamp is by My Sentiments Exactly and was also embossed after stamping with Chocolate Chip SU ink. Oh yea, I popped a few Martha Stewart branches in & around my flower panel. They were just laying on my worktable begging to be utilized, LOL!!!


Well, there you have it! My two favorite Wednesday challenges are complete!! Now I just learned that I need two MALE birthday cards for tomorrow's mail ... guess I'd better get busy ... you know how difficult MALE cards can be sometimes!! I'll be sure to share them with you before popping them into the mail! Thanks so much for stopping by ... hope to see you again real soon!!

Fun with Friends

Today I had the pleasure of getting together with a couple of my friends ... Sandy Egbert and Linda Davis. First we met for breakfast at Friendly's (our usual breakfast meeting place) then back to my house for a little stamping, crafting, and gabbing fun. Sadly Linda had to leave early and wasn't able to get in on too much of the stamping fun and I don't have any of her samples to show you (maybe next time), but I did get some photos of what Sandy & I were able to come up with. I had asked her to bring over her "Valentine's" images since I don't have many of my own and wanted to do a few cards for this year. WOW ... she has a whole case of different heart stamps ... big - little - vintage - cutesy ... you name it, she had it ... WHAT FUN!!!



These first photos (watermarked for Sandy) are what she came up with. (Click on photo for larger view) The background paper on two is actually Pink Pirouette though it looks nearly white in the photo, sorry! The double matting is glossy black & silver metallic. This vintage heart image is by PSX ... she bought it at a garage sale awhile back for $1.50 ... can you believe that!!! The background stamp is a retired SU heart image.



The double card photo she made using a "blue-purple" vellum which she'd punched the border using the Martha Stewart border punch then ran it through the Cuttlebug using the "swiss dot" embossing folder. The card on the left has a 3d cluster of flowers and she's not finished with this card yet ... she has plans for the right hand side but was going to finish it off at home. The card on the right uses the same PSX vintage heart image only it was stamped in SU perfect plun then mounted on the silver metallic. The photo really doesn't do either of these cards justice!!!



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Now, here's what I came up with!


Basically, they are the same concept as Sandy's but I layed them out a little differently ... using Basic Grey designer paper for the background on the one ... glossy black background with Creative Memories hearts on another and I colored the rose on the main vintage heart stamp on a couple of them.


The card with the solid glossy black background was actually done by accident. I had several pieces laid out putting "this with that" and I just happened to lay this on top of the black background by itself and thought "wow ... that looks great, okay let's do one like that" and here you go!!






Now this was an idea we both really liked! The PSX vintage heart image was stamped on red cardstock with Versafine black ink and embossed using detail clear embossing powder. This card was done using 3 different sized rectangle Nestabilities. The smallest being the size that the image was cut from ... the next size up was used to cut the opening in the front of the card and ... the next size up was used to cut the glossy black from which we layed the "middle sized diecut" ontop of and cut again to give us the frame we overlayed on the front of the card. Did you follow that??? The heart stamped red panel is actually on the INSIDE of the card. Doesn't this look cool ... you should see it in real life ... awesome. We both make a couple of these!!

Isn't it great fun to get together with other ladies and share fresh ideas and "stash"!! We will certainly have to do this again ... maybe next time a few more friends (and family members - that mean you my sweet daughter) can join in too!! Thanks for stopping by and taking a peek!!

Crafty Secrets Challenge #32

Here is a card for today's Crafty Secrets Challenge over on the forum of SCS. Lori Lynn Washburn is our hostess today and she has asked us to make something honoring our FRIENDSHIPS and add a little sparkle to it!!

These images are from the Crafty Secrets (Joys of Life) booklet ... aren't they awesome?? The little strip of flowers is by Around the Block and it's called Lace Frame tape. There are four different styles in this set and it is awesome. You want to know the best part of this ... my good friend Tammy (stampertammy) who runs the Stamping section at the Toyrifix store in Smithville, OH ... GAVE IT TO ME!!! Is that cool or what! She came for a little visit yesterday and brought "goodies" ... thanks girlfriend!!


Sorry, back to the card. I didn't add a lot to this card because I really wanted to focus on the FRIENDSHIP part of it! I did however, put together a Darice & Prima flower with a little gold sticker ball center. I added gold stickles to ALL the flower centers for that little touch of "sparkle".


I have made SO MANY new friends within this stamping community!!

FRIENDS ARE A GOOD THING!!

RAKs for new friends!

A friend of mine over on the Crafty Secrets forum (Pammyjo) was kind enough to set up a thread on SCS - Crafty Secrets forum asking the other ladies to make cards to be sent to my dear husband, Mark. Mark is fighting the same fight that SO MANY others are fighting ... of course I'm speaking of cancer! Fortunately for Mark, his cancer type is Hodgkins Lymphoma and after extended treatment, he should be okay (we pray). He has already undergone 9 chemo treatments and has at least 7 more to go (and possibly more). I have no doubt he will be thrilled with the outpouring of well wishes these ladies will provide.

In the process of doing this, Pammyjo has asked us to please take the time and make a card for a couple guys who are near & dear to her heart. First is her friend, Bill who is fighting cancer and could really use a little "boost". This is the card I have made for Bill. I hear he likes the beach so I thought maybe a lighthouse would be appropriate!! (You know how hard it is to make a "guy" card ... especially when you don't really know the guy!!). Hope he likes it and it makes him smile!!

Another request from Pammyjo was for her nephew, Shawn who is stationed SOMEWHERE in Iraq. Location can not be disclosed. He misses his wife and family and could really use our support to remember that we are thinking and praying for our boys & girls who are fighting this ugly war to keep our freedom here in the USA! This is the card I made for Shawn. Hopefully soon, he and his lovely wife will be able to sit upon a mountain top and just enjoy the wind in their hair and the sun on their faces! God Speed Shawn!!!

Meet my neighbors!

This is the Adkins family (Daddy - Phil, Mommy - Christine, big sister - Olivia and little sister - Emily) and what a great family and neighbors they are!!! While posting some of my new cards, I looked out the window and saw my little neighbor girls (just home from church), outside in their matching dresses watering the flowers and just had to run over and get a few photos. These two little ones ALWAYS bring a smile to my face!

The girls like to stop over and say Hi to my husband Mark because they know he's sick and "needs cheered up" (as Emily would say). After they sing their little song, or do their little dance for Mark ... the next comment is "can we have licorice?" They know that anytime they stop in they get to take either a little bag of mini marshmellows or licorice back home with them. Of course, they have to check with Mommy before they eat any because they may not have had their dinner yet and have to wait until later. Anytime they are out and see me open my garage door ... they come right over to say hello and that ALWAYS makes my day!!! How wonderful it is to have such wonderful people right next door!

While walking back to my house, I spotted this monarch butterfly on the bush at the front of our house. I quickly reopened my camera and took a quick shot. The wind was blowing but I'm happy with how this photo turned out! There seems to have been more butterflies this year and I'm so glad to see that!! We always had a lot of butterflies in my father's flower garden when I was a young girl and it just brings back so many happy thoughts of those "days gone by" when I see them now in MY flower gardens. Dad has been gone nearly 20 years now ... but he passed on his love of gardening to me and for that I am so thankful ... maybe he sent this butterfly to me today just to remind me how beautiful God's creations are! Thanks Dad!!