The Prettiest Thank You!

Recently I participated in a Secret Girlfriend swap. For this swap you send a gift for everyday for a whole month, it sounds like it's expensive and I suppose it can be, but when you're a part of the crafting world, you well.... get creative.

I had the absolute best time giving to my secret girlfriend, which turned out to be I was her secret girlfriend, too! We spoiled each other!!! It was absolutely the best round and I'd partipated in 2 others.

I would like to share with you the thank you card that she made me... I'd been struggling with making her the perfect card to say thank you and then hers came and well, anything I come up with now will pale greatly in comparison!! Check this beauty out:

I scanned it in because I'd hoped it would capture all the detail and it doesn't look too bad, but in real life, it's breathtaking!! I put a piece of black card stock behind it because the base is a plastic coaster that's pretty much clear. I just discovered these in the TAC catalog... so cool!!! The back of the card has her message. And thank you Jen for giving me permission to share your lovely creation on my blog.

My birthday present

Hi Everyone! I hope you all had a great week. My days are very stressful at work right now but hopefully there will be a change soon.

I belong to a challenge group, where we do two cards each month, each member choosing what the challenge will be be. The challenge on the 1st of the month I didn't like so well, but the challenge for the 15th of the month was a lot more fun! This was Maria's idea and at first I was very upset with her for coming up with this (LOL) but I have had a blast... not only trying a new challenge, but it gave me a chance to play with my new birthday present from my sister. Check out this card.....


The picture isn't the greatest because I had to scan it, the ribbon prevents a good scan because of the bumpiness. But isn't it pretty!! I used Lavendar Moon as the base... then used Perfect Plum as the next layer. The set I used is Papertrey's Guidelines set using Lavendar Moon and Perfect Plum inks. The ribbon is Lavendar Moon saddle stitch ribbon (yes! I actually used it!!) - then the "start" of the sentiment is "Life" from PTI's Out on Limb. The Celtic knot accent in the scallops is PTI's Borders & Corners Circles set. Now, this is what happens to the card.....




You pull the sides out and out pops the rest of the message - it's one of my favorites. I'm pretty sure I shared this before, but the inside says... "is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the moments that take our breath away."

I hope you enjoy my card as much as I do! BTW, the tutorial that I followed for this great card can be found on this great blog.

TWO MONTHS!!

Holy cow! It's been two months since I've had a blog entry! My goodness.... OK I have some to things to share.

First, the bad news... after 10 years of being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, I have given it up. It just got too hard to keep that going, family, my job and my swaps. I also found where I wasn't enjoying stamping as much, it was a job. I will miss the monthly magazine, the free catalog every year and the 20% discount, but I'll live.

The really bad news... I just had another birthday! Ugh! But I did have a lovely time with my family and I received some wonderful gifts. My sister gave me a Color Me Happy gift pack... I got PaperTrey Ink stuff.... the new Guidelines stamp set, 5 rolls of ribbon, a Pallette ink pad and cardstock in the Lavender Moon color. So beauty-ful!! It came in a purple canvas tool caddy that is lined with black fabric and polka dots (see Jones, it really is a color) and purple rhinestone bling! My children gave me a card that when you open it there is a sound thingy in it and plays Shake Your Groove Thing! How awesome is that!! They also gave me candles. My mother gave me more favorites... a Key Lime Pie and a bottle of Beringers White Zinfandel. Yum!

To explain the yummy card! I received this from my card traders group that I belong to. Isn't it adorable!! I didn't keep a copy of the one I made, but it's the greatest card idea I've ever seen!!

OK, to my faithful readers that have probably been looking and seeing the same card for two months now.... I promise to be better about posting. At least once a week minimum.

Share a glass of wine with me??

Hi and happy Saturday to you!!

I have gotten so much happy mail lately with the monthy card swap I'm hosting and will wrap up next month - but I also signed up for a swap that has a drink theme. I didn't want to make a Christmas card as I just have Christmatini from Stamping Bella, but I also have Cosmobella which I was sure the hostess would get a lot of those, so I used Winobella and I think these cards came out really pretty. My pictures aren't great, I think I should have taken them earlier in the day.

I used Spring release of Two Scoops paper from Basic Grey. I love this paper, it's so pretty. I also have really enjoyed paper piecing lately, too.

Have you missed me?

Hello Everyone! I cannot believe it's been more than a month since I posted last!

Life has been busy to say the least! My sister came out here for a visit during Spring break and my other sister is coming during the 4th holiday! Sooo looking forward to her visit!! I've also been going through a transition at work - recently an employee of 31 years retired and I've been training for the last few months to take over her job. It's meant longer days and more demands, but I think once I'm totally comfortable, my life will have some semblance of normal again.

Also in this last month, my dear friend gave her son back to the Lord. Tim, a 21 year old young man was killed in a motorcycle accident. The family is doing well and is seeking their comfort in God.

We're nearing the end of the school year and it just hit me that I am one year closer to having a child in High School! Aaaccckkk!!! He's getting so big. My oldest son became a teenager this year - seems like yesterday we were helping him learn to walk.

My daughter's dance year is winding down or up, depending on how you look at it. Recital is in 3 weeks and from what I've seen, it's going to be fabulous!

Enough of my ramblings. I have a sweet little card to share with you. I received this image in my Monthly card swap and I'll tell you, I love this size card!! The image is an Elzybells stamp - these little girls are just so cute. I apologize for the scan, hubby is away for the weekend and took the good camera! That'll teach me to get my pictures taken right away.

This scan is not doing this card justice at all. The base is white and I haven't a clue where the decorative paper is from, but it's gorgeous! The size is a 3x6 card and I just love it! I loved it so much I joined 2 other swaps for this size card!

You can't see it very well, but the sentiment is simply Friends. I had fun making this card and when the good camera comes home, I will replace the photo!

Hope everyone is well and enjoy the rest of your weekend.

A big, belated Thanks!

I had received a few weeks ago two "awards" for my blog. I received a lovely one from Maria and another from Toni. To you both, thank you so much from the bottom of my heart. I haven't received them to put on my blog. Truthfully, I forgot to go back and get them. So my personal message to Toni and Maria, thank you to you both for thinking me worthy of these wonderful awards. And forgive me for not getting them onto my blog. Your blogs are very special to me too.

Miss You

Hi All! I have missed everyone! How have you all been? I've been doing OK. I hurt myself last week. I started Jazzercise classes and just when I thought I was getting the steps down, my left foot stopped but the rest of me didn't and I fell. Full impact on my left knee. At first only my pride was wounded - but I'm still pretty sore and it's amazing how you take for granted the ways your body moves when you want it to move one way and a shooting pain goes straight up your leg and makes you see stars!! Oh boy.

I have a card front to share with you. I sent this in as my contribution to a swap that my dear friend jonjinko is hosting. Another friend sent me this stamp as part of another swap that I was in - I just love it. It's a Great Impressions stamp and the sentiment is none other than Papertrey Ink.

The base is Real Red and I cut the sides using my old decorative scissors from Fiskars, the design is called Clouds. I wish I had bought years ago the SU! scalloped scissors, but they can't be found anywhere. {If anyone does find some, will you clue me in?} Next is Basic Black card stock. I stamped the image in 3 different panels to make it appear that the ladybug is moving along (my husband said this didn't make any sense because the flower is moving, too). I used my Stampin' Write markers to color the images, using Barely Banana in the flower petals and Apricot Appeal for shading. I think if I made this into a full card, I would then add red ribbon with black polka dots. I like it, even if DH thinks it doesn't make sense. The hostess liked it, too. That's enough votes for me.

I have another Elzybells card to share with you, but I have to wait a few more days to post it. I am so sad, too. The post below was a card I made for a swap, I mailed them and the hostess never received them. I am not happy with the postal service. I was really hoping I goofed and maybe mailed it to one of my swappers in the monthly card swap, but no one has said anything. Oh well. They're gone, life goes on.