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?

Another Birthday

I'm slowly getting caught up on my birthday card stash. Luckily after today no more birthdays until the end of the month so I have a little time right?

This is another pure innocence girl from MFT that I decided to paper piece. Maybe that's why it's taking me so long to make cards lately as I've been into the whole paper piecing thing, time to go back to CAS. But I do like the way this card turned out, maybe it's because I used more layers than I usually do too.


I hope everyone had a super weekend. The weather was perfect for Fall in New England, though the temperatures are starting to cool down much to my dismay. But, it's football season again and the Pats won their home opener which was great.

I just wish someone could explain why Monday's always come so quickly and the work week drags. But on that note I'm off to work everyone enjoy their week.

Thinking of you

I made this card for a friend of mine who has been having a rough year. The only thing is, I took the picture and realized I had forgotten to stamp the sentiment on it. I can't say it was a blonde or senior moment either, since I don't fall into either category. I'm just chalking it up to a "Duh" moment. I did add the sentiment before I gave it to her though, so that's all that really matters.

I've had my copics for over a year now and yes I have every color. But, I still feel like a 3 year old when I color. The whole blending thing isn't so bad I think I've gotten a little better with that. What I'm still having a problem with is the whole color matching thing with the numbers. I love to see what other people use for their color combinations and then I'll try that. For me it makes it a little simpler. Any better suggestions on how to pick the colors?

Gotta love short weeks, I wish every week were a 4 day work week, how sweet would that be. All I can say is thank God it's almost the weekend again.

End of Summer

This weeks challenge over at Sparkle's Creations was to use the photo as an inspiration. I'ld have to say that Summer is my favorite season; (Though Fall is almost a pretty close tie). The only downside is Summer is waaay to short here in New England.


One of my favorite things to do in the summer is to hang out on our boat and just kick back. We are fortunate to live so close to the ocean and really make the most of the short summer. There is a place right near our marina called World's End, which is where on many a weekend days is just filled with anchored boats and people swimming and lounging on their rafts.

I hope everyone is having a great summer and don't forget just because it's Labor Day weekend summer doesn't officially end until September 21st.

Baked with Love

So are you tired of my "catch-up" posts yet? Thought I'ld change it up a little bit. Remember the card class I said I did a couple of months back? Well this was the final card we made that day.


I really love to paper piece, the only downside is it is way time consuming. Though I do like the final outcome. But I really, really need to work on the whole bow tying thing. I've acquired a couple of MFT stamps recently and at first wasn't to crazy about the whole no head thing but it is growing on me. My LSS is slowly (and I mean very slowly) getting in a few more stamping items. Which I'm not so sure may be a good thing. I did manage to pick up 2 of the MFT die-namics but of course haven't used them yet, hoping to find some time this weekend.

Yeah, for a long weekend. We are expecting a storm tonight and anyone who knows me knows I love a good storm. Now if I can convince Al to go down to the beach with me, (which shouldn't be to hard) I'm hoping to have some nice wave pictures to post.

Hope everyone has a fun and safe Labor Day.

Working Backwards

I have been trying to catch up with some of Sparkle's Christmas Challenges. This is from awhile back and I realized I hadn't posted it yet. This goes back to Challenge #6, which was to emboss.


I love my cuttlebug and use it quite frequently with nesties, but I'm contemplating getting a big shot. Some of the extra large folders from SU won't work in the cuttlebug and I really would like a few of them. So am I crazy or what for wanting 2 embossing machines?

I'm hoping to post a few of my more recent creations in the next couple of days. With all of the craziness of late I've realized that crafting really does help me destress and I'm trying to do more of it. So stay tuned.

Hope everyone is having a great week so far. The long weekend can't come quick enough.

September Birthdays

Yup, a new month coming way to fast and more birthday cards to make. Last night Al was out and I had a couple of hours to myself and took the opportunity to at least get a few cards done. Isn't Scooter Chloe adorable? I used Sparkle's Creations Challenge #7 for the inspiration, but I left the sentiment for the inside.



I should have also taken a picture of the inside. Normally the insides of my cards are quite boring, but the couple I did last night for some reason I spent almost as much time on the inside as the outside. Probably why I was only able to complete like 3 cards in just over 3 hours. But I'm sure my computer breaks didn't help either.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend. It is absolutely gorgeous out and is supposed to stay that way most of the week. Keep your fingers crossed it lasts thru Labor Day and isn't ruined by the storms in the Atlantic.

Birthday Catch Up

I so need to make birthday cards. My stash is empty and my time is limited but I have a couple of birthdays that can't be missed. I was able to get a few done this past weekend and this is probably one of the only ones I won't have to use a belated birthday sentiment on.

Also, as for being late I was unable to post this for Sparkle's Stamp Challenge #6, but I used the sketch anyway. These stamps are way cute and are perfect for paper piecing. Though my tabs are slightly backwards and I did add the dots after taking the photo I think it still may qualify.



Hope everyone is having a good week. I'm hoping the weather will break soon the rainy, dreary, raw feeling is starting to get a little old. I'm missing our wonderful summer and can't believe it will soon be over. The only good thing about that is it may mean a little more crafting time.

Vintage

This week over at Sparkle's Christmas Challenge #38 was vintage/retro. Mind you both vintage and retro are definitely outside of my comfort zone. But I figured, what the heck, I'll try. I've had these "worn" Santa looking pieces for awhile just sitting there. Pieces of a swap kit, that lord only knows what happened to the rest of it. The pieces were also water colored, which is something else I never do, because when I do it they seem to just look, well old.

So I decided to take the pieces, toss them on a rug like Santa would do after traveling the world and hope for the best. I guess between, the water coloring, the cream and kraft colors it just might pass for vintage. I guess vintage is something I need to work on, either that or just stick with my copics or colored ink.

I'm so glad I had time to play and post timely this week. Hope everyone is having a great week, I'll be back with other creations later.

Simple Birthday

I so need to restock my birthday card supply. With not much free time lately and not much pre-colored I needed to keep it quick and simple. Sometimes letting the DSP do the work isn't half bad. This is one of a few CAS cards that went together quick.


This weekend a group of us is heading out of town for a fun filled weekend in PA, I'm hoping to bring a couple of pre-stamped images and maybe a few copics and if I find the time get some coloring done, we'll see. If not CAS is the way it's going to have to be for a while.

Hope everyone has a great weekend, mine started yesterday getting ready for this mini-vacation.

Christmas Card #35 and SCRSC #4

Yeah-It's been way to long since I've posted a card for Sparkle's Christmas challenge. This was actually last weeks challenge. The challenge was to use a non-traditional Christmas image on your card. This card also is for the Sparkle's creation rubber stamp challenge, which was to use your favorite embellishment.


Now for me that is quite difficult as my 'favorite' embellishment changes like New England weather. For this card though, I did use stickles, flowers and a button, so I guess one of the only things missing is ribbon. Unless of course you count the middle of the button. I also chose to paper piece her outfit and umbrella which is something else I like to do when I have patience.

I just bought myself a real simple Kenmore sewing machine and hopefully I can learn to sew on my cards. Who knows if I can master that, maybe that too will become one of my favorite things. One can never have enough favorites right?

So, I'm off to clean the craft room and maybe set up my new toy. Enjoy what's left of your weekend and I promise, promise to post more crafty stuff and to just post more in general.

Wish I Were Here...

Hello friends, yes once again I've been a really bad blogger. Let's call it stress and me missing my craft time. So, I thought I'ld post a couple of photos that always make me feel a little better. This is one of my favorite places Grand Cayman's East End. Oh how I wish I were there right now, Crystal clear water, white sandy beaches and the tranquility of being under the sea.


Yes, I am taking some time off next week and going away. Unfortunately it won't be to our home away from home (hence the photos above), but rather to the cornfields of PA. May sound a little crazy, but in the midst of the Amish is a huge fresh water quarry with lots of underwater fun. It is like an amusement park for divers. There are 35 of us going, and yup it should be a blast. If nothing else, at least it will take my mind off reality for a few days.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend, and I promise something crafty real soon.

Words Only

I thought I'ld try something new and use only a sentiment as the focal point on my card. I think this is a great sentiment because it is so true. Not so sure if I like the layout, but I guess it's ok for a first try. Maybe next time I'll try using a different shape or something.


Hope everyone had a great weekend, it's back to work for me after being on vacation for a week. But I have a mini vacation planned for mid-August, which unfortunately will be here before you know it.

Wish for A Friend

I don't know it you all remember our friend who back in February was struck with an aneurysm and spent 3 weeks in ICU and then another couple of weeks in rehab. Well he has made a terrific comeback, it must be the State Trooper in him. The thing is, he is now well enough to undergo his next surgery. The plan all along was for him to get strong enough to sustain another surgery to remove the cause of the problem.

Though the surgery isn't planned for until a little later this month I thought I'ld send along a little something. This is another card we made at the card class I took a couple of weeks. I really like the way the paper piecing turned out and should really use this technique more often. The only problem is, it can take forever to cut all those little pieces. Sometimes I just don't have the time. But isn't that the story for alot of us.


Well, I'm on vacation this week and the plan is to hopefully get together and have lunch with my friend Vicki tomorrow. Although we may not be hitting any of the LSS a trip to the Container Store may be in our future. Love the Container Store, they have every imaginable thing to help one get organized all under one roof. Now if I could only stay organized all would be good.

Hope everyone has a wonderful week.