Birthday Wishes

See two creations in one week - Aren't you all impressed?



I made this card for a friend of mime whose birthday was on Valentine's day. She is always complaining that most people are more excited about Valentine's day than her birthday and she usually gets a Valentine's card instead. So I tried to skip all the pink and fluff but couldn't resist the cute little girl.

They are calling for more snow this week. Though I enjoy the snow, enough already we were just beginning to see the ground again. Happy Hump Day to everyone.

Late - But Alive

Hello Peeps - if you're still out there. I apologize for the lack of posting, I'm lucky I can find time to comment let alone create, shoot, edit and post. My live has been crazy and I won't bore you all with the details. But one of my goals is to actually find some "me time" and do a few of the things I like. As a result, I actually did find some time to make a few CAS Valentine's cards last weekend.

This image was pre-colored from Lord knows when and was able to make a quick card for Al.

These are two really CAS cards that came together pretty quick. I don't know why the colors are so off, but they really did look better in person.

I miss playing along with the challenges and keeping everything up to date. Maybe even if there are now pictures and/or cards I'll let you know what's going on.

Hope everyone is well and I'll be back soon.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

-Yes, I am still alive, and all is well. Though I don't have anything crafty or any pictures to share I want to let you all know I am thinking of you. Life has been crazy and I won't bore you with details. To all my friends to whom I owe cards, yes I made them, but never mailed them you will however receive them in time for New Year. - But in the meantime:

"Let us keep Christmas,

holding it close to our hearts...

for its meaning never ends

and its spirit is the warmth and joy

of remembering friends...

Merry Christmas

and

Every happiness in the New Year"

I will be back soon - PROMISE!

Wedding Wishes

We are off to New York this weekend for a wedding reception. Now wedding cards are not something I keep "in stock". Most of my friends are already married so it's a make as you need kind of thing. As usual the last minute Lucy that I am had to put something together quick. No time for coloring or fancy ribbon, but it's amazing what a cuttlebug and some folders can do. It didn't turn out half bad if I say so myself. It actually looks much better in real life.

It should be a fun weekend, the event is black tie so Al has his tux and I have my fancy clothes. Maybe I'll even remember to take a picture -LOL. Also this weekend we will be celebrating our 17th wedding anniversary so the timing of the weekend get away is perfect.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

My Favorite Christmas Movie

I've been playing along with Sparkle's Christmas challenges off an on for the last two years. Today I had the honor of being asked to be a guest designer. How cool is that?

The part of your favorite Christmas movie was easy, the designing of the card proved to be a little more challenging. "The Christmas Shoes" is my favorite, so to me the focus is on the "Give Your Self"

Christmas should be a time not of buying thing for the sake of presents, but to take the time and think about someone maybe a little less fortunate than yourself. I think of many of my employees at work, originally from Haiti and all those they lost back home last January or the many residents who have no family or anyone to visit them especially during the holidays.

The company I work for is non-profit and every year during the holidays we get our Senior Management team and our Executive Board of Directors together. We give every employee a turkey, a small monetary token and gift cards to a Grocery Store and Walmart. The employees in turn if they want can choose a resident and buy a small gift from Santa. This may not seem like much, but to many people it mean a lot. Which is the meaning of the whole movie and of the holiday season - "Give Your Self"

For this card I also used one of Sparkle's own designs. Is he not the cutest elf you've ever seen, and of course I had to paper piece and color him with copics. Add a little masculine embellishment and let the DSP take care of the rest.

Hope you can join us in this week's challenge. I'ld love to hear the story behind your favorite Christmas move.

Happy Haunting

It's getting close to Halloween time of year again. Though not really a huge Halloween fan I do find it a fun occasion to send a couple of cards. My poor Bella's have not seen ink in some time so I thought they deserved some loving.

Awhile back, and I mean awhile there was a challenge to look at your Bella's in a much smaller way, no more than a 2" square. Now for me that was a little tough as I'm pretty much an all or nothing kind of person. Though not a very "inchie' person at all this is what I came up with.



Pretty basic, but not bad for my first attempt at an inchie. Now if I can only find some time to make a few more Halloween cards I should be good to go. So do you send out Halloween cards?

I Need a Vacation

I so need to go someplace warm and soon. Can't believe don't have a scheduled trip for the fall. This would be the first fall in 10 or so years that we haven't gone away.

The last year has proven to be very challenging in so many ways with a lot of changes. Some of which have been really hard to adjust to, and others not so bad, but I guess life goes on.

That being said I'm looking at possibly booking a last minute cruise for just Al and I then look at doing a group trip in the Spring. We'll see how it goes.

I took this photo on one of our past trips to Grand Cayman. The boat I'm looking at has a stop in Grand Cayman, so that works. Cozumel, Roatan, and Belize are also on the itinerary. Though we've been to 3 out 4 of the destinations other than Cayman it's been awhile and it will be interesting to see how they have changed.

I'll keep you posted on the plans. Anyone want to come the first week in November?