Celebrating Mom

Happy Birthentine's Day to my MOM!!

She is...dare I say it....she won't know...she's 74 today!

I'm so thankful to the Lord that she is still with us, making memories with us, and telling us all the stories of our family.

I haven't made a card since Father's Day...GASP!

Don't really know why, just didn't make it into my craft room to do more then play on the computer. I always have intentions to, but life gets in the way.

I went hunting for inspiration to get me back into the swing of things and found this card over at SCS that caught my eye. Maybe because I could do it without stamping...I don't know.

I added a layer of cardstock behind the hearts to make them pop a bit.

And aren't those glitter brads beautiful!!!!

Thanks for stopping by! I hope everyone enjoys their Valentine's day with someone they love.

Accessories: [Everything SU unless stated] Designer Paper Razzleberry Lemonade, Cardstock: Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry, Crushed Curry. Heart Punch, Glimmer Brads, Crushed Curry Polka Dot Grosgrain, Rich Razzleberry Taffeta and a Cuttlebug Folder.

When it's been too long

So, I was in my craft room today, actually working on a card....
...and you know it's been too long when you feel like you are in someone else's craft room. I was feeling so lost. When SU changed around their colors with the new catalog last summer, I moved all my colors around, and today I was so lost. I didn't know where things were...never mind what I had, lol. Guess it will be like new discoveries for me :)

A whole new year...

Hello everyone.

I'm sure you are all shocked to see that I am finally posting, after about 5 months. Crazy isn't it, how life just moves you in different directions. As this blog had mostly always been about paper crafting, I haven't inked up since May/June. Coming into my craft room today, I didn't know where things were. I also use this same room for my computer so it's not like I haven't been in here, but I didn't have any creative feelings in my soul, so I would just do my computer work, pay bills, email, facebook etc....and pretend that all those beautiful stamps, ribbons, paper etc weren't calling my name.

Since I last posted, my husband came back from a deployment, we went up to Maine for a visit, started homeschooling my teen, hubby went on another deployment for only 6 weeks, we celebrated our little one's second birthday,

enjoyed the holidays here and also went back to Maine to celebrate our Lord's birth there as well.

We had such a blessed Christmas, the Lord was so good to us. I just know that this new year will bring wonderful things to our family.

My husband is now on shore duty after what seemed like forever on sea duty. Even when we were overseas, he was always gone, so really it's been about 6 years since we've all just been home together. Now, he has an instructor position, so he'll be home regularly....later I'm sure you'll hear me post about how he's home too much.

Our teen is enjoying homeschooling. She is also enjoying the new laptop she received for Christmas. The PC she had been using went kaput......sorta like mine had over the summer, so we are both sporting new laptops. We can find her schooling in the dining room....in her room....in the living room.....on the road....it's nice to be so flexible. She is doing Switched On Schoolhouse 10th grade curriculum. It's working pretty well so far, yet we are undecided on which plan we will use for 11th grade.

Our two year old is in speech, has been since September, and doing well. He has many ways of getting his point across, from sounds, gestures, actual words and sign language. He's just behind in his speech articulation, so I believe by this time next year he'll be caught up and talking my ears off. He's such a happy tyke.

For Christmas he got a train table, and that has become his favorite place to hang out. Really anything .... planes, trains, automobiles ... that's his idea of fun.

The twins...our Maine Coons...are just as wonderful as ever. They hide quite often from the terror, I mean joy of our lives....our two year old. As he finds it funny to run after them just to do it. He doesn't hurt them, just loves to chase them around the house.

As for me. I'm adjusting to my teen being home all the time. Enjoying our playgroup for little ones my sons age. Loving our church family. Missing our families back home. And finally feeling like life isn't moving as quickly. I think this is why you are seeing me here today. I am working hard at slowing down. Spending more time in the Word, praying, reading etc. and I feel that is doing what I've been needing for quite some time. He knows what I need. He knows when I need it. It's always amazing to me how He just has it all planned out. I thought I would start back gently....beading pens :)

When I was home, I noticed that the ones I had previously made for my Mom were coming to the end of their ink supply, so time for a treat in the mail :) And I think I'll make some more and add them to my store. Something to start a spark at my Etsy store and in the core of my creativity. Maybe it's still there. Have a wonderful week.

My wonderful birthday RAKs

My birthday was back in July, but I've been so consumed with my Navy hubby returning home on August 1st....I haven't stamped in forever, I feel like I've neglected all my wonderful rubber. I think ... finally, things are coming back to a normal routine and I hope to get a bit inky this week if at all possible.

For now, I wanted to share with you all, the wonderful cards that I received from friends on SCS. One is even from one of the lovely gals in the Ocean's 11 blogger group.

This one is beautiful and from 'marinemom01' over at SCS

What a lovely pocket card from 'Brad's Mom' over at SCS

This one makes me want to take out my crimper and make lovely note cards. This one is from 'Mad Muffin' over at SCS.

And last but certainly not lease is the one from fellow Ocean's 11....Adventures from the Monkey Hut....she did a wonderful job with this card. Love the butterflies. Dying to know if they were Jollees or if she somehow made them. So very pretty!

I had a wonderful birthday...even the card from my Mom was butterflies, it must've been the year of the butterfly! So lovely, I felt so loved. Thank you all so much for thinking of me.

Praying for you

I don't make these cards too often, but since I had out my Thoughts and Prayers set I made a few to tide me over :) I even sent one off to my mom, I'm always thinking about her.

Made use of some buttons, I don't do that too often. But, lately they've been calling out to me. And the eyelet border punch was a perfect touch for this card. Softly sponged the edges and tied some ribbon.

Set: Thoughts and Prayers
Accessories: Porcelain Prints DP, Blue Bayou and Whisper White cardstocks, sponge, eyelet border punch, blue bayou ribbon, white organdy, and buttons.

Always be remembered

My wonderful aunt passed away recently. This is the card that I sent off
to my uncle. They are a very dear couple and she will be greatly missed.

I am loving this set, as it's new to me :) Getting lots of use out of it already. Sponged over the tree to give it that spring/summer look. It's been embossed and the sponging goes over it very easily.

Pretty basic card, yet I really love it.

Set: Thoughts and Prayers
Accessories: Porcelain Prints DP, Wild Wasabi, River Rock and Whisper White cardstock. River Rock ribbon, EP, Oval Punches, paper piercing and brads.

Happy Father's Day Honey

Happy Father's Day to my wonderful husband!
He's a great father and step-dad and we all love him so much.

He is a getting a new grill for Father's Day this year
and this card certainly will be received as a BTUtiful thing!
He'll be in our back yard with all the birds flying around for sure!

And always thinking of my own father who went home to be with our Heavenly Father. He was a wonderful father to us. I love and miss you Dad. Thinking of you today and always.

Set: King of the Grill
Accessories: Maine Blueberry DP, Old Olive, Not Quite Navy, Bashful Blue and Whisper White cardstocks, CB Folder, Punch, Old Olive Ribbon, Jolee

A friend makes it easy

I missed my good friends birthday, so after all this time passed I felt I just wanted to get a card off to her anyway, so here it is:

I love these pinks and greens together, so pretty! I used markers to color the image so that I could use two colors. I embossed the sentiment. Layered the ribbons and used the CuttleBug for the background.

Set: Thoughts and Prayers
Accessories: Porcelain Prints DP, Wild Wasabi and Whisper White cardstocks. Pink Pirouette and Regal Rose ribbons, SS Brads and SU buttons.

What a blessing

My lovely daughter is 15 today.
Again...where does the time go? She's such a lovely lady.
I'm so very proud of the woman she is becoming.
She is talented, kind, funny, smart, thoughtful, caring...the
list goes on and on.
I am so very proud that she is mine and so very blessed that
God gave her to me.

I've been wanting this set for so long, and I've seen so many wonderful
cards made with it. I raised the flowers to make them stand out and even
added crystal effects to the cap. And I used new colors!!!! How fun!

Also, I took out my trusty brayer to make the background, goodness I love
that tool!!

Thanks for coming by!

Set: Inspired by Nature, Hugs & Wishes
Accessories: Peach Parfait, Pear Pizzazz, Not Quite Navy & Whisper White cardstocks, Old Olive ribbon (really close to the pear), Scallop edge punch, Crystal Effects, brads, brayer.

Comfort

I've had the need for a couple of sympathy cards lately. This is one of the ones I made. I just love this set. The tree can be used for so many things.

I used my new Smooch Spritz on this card, it's going to take a bit to get used to it. Sometimes it comes out a lot other times a little, I need to figure out the strength in my finger :) I sponged some blue into the sky and green for grass, just to add a little something more.

I pulled out my Copper paper that I haven't used in forever and found some eyelets that matched. I think they go great with the Spritz!

Set: Thoughts & Prayers
Accessories: Porcelain Prints DP, Wile Wasabi, Brushed Copper & Whisper White cardstocks. Blue Bayou ribbon and Copper cord. EP.

Here we go...again

More fun with my grilling guy!
He really is a lot of fun to color. And I always find
that I need more masculine cards, so I went to town.

I found these brads that I believe I got from GinaK
a while back and never used. I have more product that
seems to hide on me amongst all that wonderful stamping
stuff....and once in a while it surfaces.

Set: King of the Grill
Accessories: Western Sky DP, Ruby Red, Sky Blue, River Rock and Whisper White cardstock, Blue Bayou Ribbon, Hardware Brads, Circle Cutter, Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch

King of the Grill

As promised, here is another of my fun guy.
He's out playing on the grill and a big ol' dragon fly
is trying to steal his steak!

I used the crimper to add some texture to the
background, and it seemed masculine. Almost like
the texture on the grill itself.

Striped are better suited for a man's card then flowers,
huh? But, on the last one, I figured that they were at
least not pink, HA!

Set: King of the Grill
Accessories: Treehouse DP, True Thyme, More Mustard, Buckaroo Blue & Whisper White cardstocks, Cranberry Crisp Ribbon, So Saffron Ribbon, Ticket Corner Punch, Button

One of a few...

I've been playing with a new set from the Summer Mini.
I think he's kinda cute :)
My hubby is getting a new grill this summer and this set
will suit him :)

I pulled out some designer papers that didn't look
completely feminine, it's so hard to make masculine
cards.

I used some retired HodgePodge to add some heartiness
to the card. I also used my old cloud stencil for the sky. That is not something that should ever have retired.
There will be more of these to come :)

Set:King of the Grill
Accessories: Razzleberry Lemonade DP, Whisper White, Crushed Curry & Pumpkin Pie cardstocks, Oval Punch, Crushed Curr Ribbon, Pumpkin Pie Ribbon, Pewter HP, Circle Cutter

Time flies when you are having fun!

My little guy turned 18 months today!
One and a half, I can't believe it!
Time sure does fly when you are having fun!
And that is exactly what I'm having with this one.
He's such a joy...full of hugs and smiles.
He's so smart and funny!
I'm so blessed that my Lord gave this bundle to me.

This was taken in April, his first time at the beach this year.
He just loved walking on the sand and feeling it in his fingers.
It's going to be a fun summer! I love the beach.

And this is him in the back yard. He has a love
for water, so a water table was perfect for him.
Splash away my son!

And with 18 months comes curiosity! He found the
water/ice machine on the fridge. And I found a good use
for the extra rubber that comes on a set! I put three pieces
together and stuffed them under the levers. I don't use
them and we dont have a switch to turn it off, so these are
a great fix! Well...that is until he figures out how to pull
them out, lol.

Thanks for visiting today! Have a great night!