Friday, January 30, 2015

I finished my Valentines yesterday and I'm going to take a little break from cardmaking. I am taking the Online Class Clean and Simple 4 but haven't had a chance to make any of the cards yet. I had the ideas for the cards I wanted to do for Valentines and got stuck on that. I hope to start on class cards tomorrow or Sunday before Super Bowl. Todays card is for my granddaughter. It is a Spellbinders die cut apple on an embossed background. The embossing folder doesn't have a name on it but it is blue. The sentiment is from Lawn Fawn and embossed in Stampendous red glitter embossing powder on a piece of vellum. I added a few red sequins from a package I had. Be kind to one another.


Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Okay, I am finished talking about the Veterans Administration. After spending many months tracking down the form DD214 for hubby to get into the VA system, taking him to get his physical, filling out the paperwork and then being approached for him to go to day care, visiting the day care, and having the director come Monday to visit us, I received a phone call today saying we are not eligible for any help from the VA. We are above the financial restrictions. Okay then. Hubby told me yesterday that he didn't want to go there. He said he is happy to watch his movies and stay here. I am not surprised as I didn't think he would go, or he would go once and not go back. He said he didn't want to talk about the service anyway. However when the director came that is all he talked about - his stories from being in the Marines! So we are right back to square one. I will continue to go out for short periods and our sons will come and spend time on the weekends. We are doing okay.

I am entering todays card in the Colour Q challenge. I love these colors together and I cut three of each size heart and can mix and match to make several cards. I also used scraps of cardstock so I will also enter http://pixiescraftyworkshop.blogspot.com/. Be kind to one another.









Monday, January 26, 2015

I have made another Valentine and saw that I could send this one to the http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.com/ this week.



I have been in a cardmaking frenzy lately. It seems the more I make, the more the idea's come. I am enjoying this so much. Be kind to one another.



Sunday, January 25, 2015

First today I would like to welcome Sid at http://harpie38.blogspot.com/ as a new follower. Sid lives in the UK and makes all kinds of mixed medium creations. I hope you have time to pop by and say "hi".

I visited the day care center Thursday that the VA reccommended. The director was a wonderful, caring man and also a lady from the VA met me there. They want hubby to come there three days a week and they will pick him up and bring him home. I think it would be wonderful for him to get to meet other veterans and a chance to talk and visit with others and keep him from in front of the TV all day long. It is just like a nursing home only you come home at night. The man from the daycare is coming to our home Monday to meet hubby.  I told hubby about it yesterday and he said he would talk to the man. I believe hubby will go once and be done. I would be thrilled for him to go three days a week to give him something to do and I would have a little break. I'm trying to be positive and hope he will go.

Today's card is another card made with my new die from Memory Box. It's very simple, just die cut and glued on. I added a simple hello and popped it up. All done. Be kind to one another.




Thursday, January 22, 2015

Making cards requires patience. I am learning that since I remade my card several times last week and I remade this one today. I tried to stamp the friend sentiment on vellum and it looked pretty but didn't really show up. So I had to go back and redo that part of the card. I don't think the stickles really show up around the little flower in the picture but they are there. I am sending this to my friend Marilyn. I am also entering it into the http://casology.blogspot.com/challenge this week. I also just saw that http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.com/ is using Friend this week too so I am popping over there.

Edited to add: On the advice of Gillian and Razzle Dazzle I will also link this to the http://unikostudio.blogspot.com/. Thank you both for coming by and welcome to my blog. I hope you drop in again.

Grab button for Uniko Studio

 




Sunday, January 18, 2015

Got all my work done and I'm ready for some football. Seahawks and Packers in a few minutes and the Colts and New England tonight. Today's card is for http://justusgirlschallenge.blogspot.com/ . Their challenge this week is blue, green and orange. This paper by Imaginisce is very bright. I used a old stamp from SU and colored with Copics (what coloring there was!) The circles were cut with Lil'Inkers. It's a teeny little image. This is for Martha who is having a hard time with her Chemo. Be kind to one another.


Thursday, January 15, 2015

Oh my gosh, here I am again. I am actually playing in another challenge! This is as many as I entered all last year. This one is forhttp://www.palspaperarts.com/challenges//. I am in Valentine mode so I made up this card following their sketch. It is Lawn Fawn stamp and a Darcie embossing folder. The sequins are the same as I used before and just scraps of paper. I will send this to http://pixiescraftyworkshop.blogspot.com/since I used the scraps. Those are snippets I think.  Be kind to one another.


Thanks, thanks, thanks for all the cutting tips. I have to tell you my mouth dropped open when I watched the video from Lori Craig that Shaz posted.  Thank you, Shaz it is awesome.   I did know about the waxed paper and in the heat of the moment I completely forgot about it. I need to keep a roll in my craft room to remind me. The little brush in that video is the best little thing to clean out the die.  I finished another card with the same die and I am happy with it. We had to change our lunch to tomorrow so the pressure was off to finish it and maybe that helped. It went together with no problem. Also got the lens in my glasses put back in and I can see better. Here is the link for the video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STAINEM6rlI&feature=em-subs_digest-vrecs&app=desktop. I am going to enter this card in Darnell's NBUS and also http://casology.blogspot.com/ because it is about NBUS this week. I hope this is okay for NBUS. I did use the die yesterday and finished this card last night. Be kind to one another.Never-Before-Used-Schtuff (Stamps, Dies, EFs, etc.)  I found that Ellie's http://livelaughstamp.blogspot.com/2014/12/monday-morning-challenge-no-2.html is also about New. So I'm adding my card to her challenge too.




Wednesday, January 14, 2015

It's not easy being able to CASE. I was trying to make Jennifer McGuires Dec. 31st card Faux Laser Cut. I ordered Bella Bouquet from Memory Box (that was my downfall the first of the year) to make this card. It seemed to go so well at first. Cut the scalloped circle on the red card, cut the Bella several times, glued the back of the circle and added the die. Then added extra pieces to fill in. Then put the card front over the foam and marked it, then cut the scallop out of foam. Something went wrong. The little points on the scallops didn't match the card front. I cut them all off. Still showed. Cut the circle bigger. Put card together. All the extra pieces that were patched in looked like they were patched in. Started over and just used one die cut and a plain circle. Cut the card front and foam at the same time so there wouldn't be a problem. Glued die on circle. Got it too high. The foam didn't match up with the front. I don't know why. I must have turned it over when I glued it on. Cut die for happy birthday. Got glue all over the front of the happy birthday. Don't like either card. Starting over today. It is for my sister in laws birthday. Her birthday is Saturday. We are having lunch tomorrow. Got to get it right. If anyone has a hint on cutting dies I would be thrilled. The red one HB came out perfect the first time. The blue one was a beast. I used a piece of copy paper for a shim, then added a piece of cardstock. It just would not cut all the way through. The Bella die cut perfectly every time. Both birthday dies are too big for this card. Maybe I should get a new hobby!! I'll be back soon with my next try. Be kind to one another.



Monday, January 12, 2015

My son came over on Saturday and visited with dad so I could go visit my friend Marilyn. She has moved to a stunning beautiful home on a lake and I was so happy to go spend some time with her. We try to get together once a month but she has had a lot on her plate and we just couldn't get together for a long time. It was so nice to see her and not have to worry about hubby. They went to lunch and drove around the neighborhood where the boys grew up. Then watched two movies together.

Since we seem to have freezing rain and very cold temps I have been inside since Sunday afternoon. I wanted to get all grocery shopping done and a visit to the library. I went to the grocery without my list, duh, and got home and forgot a couple of things. Went to the library and found it isn't open until noon. They have just started opening on Sunday and I guess I thought it was all day. So I went back to the grocery, then back to the library. I was trying to beat the freezing rain and I made it. My lens fell out of my glasses again at the first grocery store run and I had to leave them on in order to see things. I forgot about them and wondered why people looked at me so strange.  I'm back to my dimestore glasses. I put them on to read and off to watch tv. What a pain. My last visit to the eye doctor last week was just to make sure everything is okay. Turns out the new lens has folds in it and they will laser my eyes again. So I have to wait to get my glasses remade until after that. You have to wait until three months after your surgery before they will do it. So that is three more weeks. Then you have to go in for a consulation (for the insurance). Then they schedule you, then you go back and be checked. Then you order the new glasses and wait two more weeks. Ack!! I didn't try to go over today and have the lens put back in because the roads are a solid sheet of ice and the temps have already dropped from this morning.

Since you have hung in here this long with me I want to share the valentine I made for one of the grands. DeNami chick and sentiment. The heart balloon is a punch and the same PSX stamp of xo. Little bit of twine and glossy accents on the little punched hearts.  Be kind to one another.


Friday, January 9, 2015

Never-Before-Used-Schtuff (Stamps, Dies, EFs, etc.)


Hello from the polar vortex. I think everyone is freezing or having unusual cold for their area. I, for one, am tired of this extreme cold and ready for it to leave. It did keep me in my craft room and I got a valentine made. It is also a shaker card of sorts. The sequins are between two acetate sheets so they don't really move but you can see them. Then it is popped up on foam. The word love is a sequin too. The arrow is a Lil Inker die and the xo is PSX. I am going to enter this for http://www.djkardkreations.com/ NBUS. My goal this year was to use all my NBUS. Then I had an order to send  in. It wasn't for stamps tho but I did include two dies in my order and now I NEED the SSS Sending and Wishing stamp set. I need it. Be kind to one another and keep cozy warm.

I just saw the the challenge on http://colorthrowdown.blogspot.com/ is red, white and black. I'm excited that I met the criteira and I'm going to post this card there too.

Monday, January 5, 2015

Thank you all so much for your kind comments. They are so uplifting and now you know how much I value all of you. We started out today so great. Hubby had breakfast and a shower and is now watching his favorite DVD. He is mostly so agreeable about things so that makes things so much easier. He used to argue about taking a shower but now knows it is necessary. If you can stand a few more Christmas cards I'll show you my cards from friends that are card makers. The first on is from Nancy who started stamping then changed to quilting. She made this with patterned paper and a die cut with some bling. Then my SIL who stamps a little bit, bought this card when she was in Florida. There is a sticker on the back that says Kards by Kristi. It is a gorgeous view through a window. . Next one is from my niece. The red body of this card is fabric that she cut out and glued on.   The pine cone one is from my friend, Audrey. It has been embossed with a Cuttlebug folder and sparkle added to the pine cones. The last one is from my SU demonstrator.  I love the color and the whole
teal part is covered with dazzling diamonds.


I would like to welcome a new follower and hope you can drop in and say Hi. She is Ellie at http://livelaughstamp.blogspot.com/. She lives in the Midwest and is on several design teams. I am going to visit her again and scroll back through her blog. She makes some really cute cards. Thank you, Ellie, for joining me.

Be kind to one another.






Saturday, January 3, 2015

Well, so much for good intentions! I've had McDonalds french fries and some fudge. I went to Kohl's and bought some new dress slacks and I have an order ready to go to Simon Says.  That was all yesterday so I only lasted one day! That's why I should never make resolutions. Good thing I wasn't going to beat myself up or I would be black and blue by now.

Here are a few more great cards I received.  The first one is from Greta at  http://ggnursecreations.blogspot.com/. This card sparkles all over and is so pretty. It has the most beautiful background stamped in navy, teal and soft pink Then the sparkle and a navy sentiment with some bling. My second card is from Brenda at http://friendscraftinwithfriends.blogspot.com/. This one has a fun wreath with big red bow attached and red berries. It is mounted on a woodgrain panel that looks like a door. I love the little sentiment stamped at the bottom. I'm so grateful for all my blogger friends and followers. It makes the world so small and interconnected. If I had my way, I would set at the computer all day and "talk" to all of you.

This is long and doesn't have anything to do with cards so you can skip if you want.

I'm going to share a quick little story and I don't want you to think I'm complaining. It just is what it is. We have been fortunate to have been battling hubbys disease for seven years and only small changes until last year. Now he is going downhill pretty fast as compared to other years. He has a difficult time finding words he wants to say and repeats the same stuff over and over. No one except the family spends any time with us. Our friends and even the neighbors don't spend any time with him any longer. It isn't their fault, he can't really carry on a conversation and what else would you do. Sometimes I can't even guess what he is saying. I know that is frustrating for him. As a result, we don't do anything anymore. I do see my girlfriends once in a while and we talk on the phone. Hubby goes to bed at 6 pm so it is easier for me to talk then. It is getting harder and harder to leave him for any length of time. I fixed his lunch one day last week (sandwich and piece of pie) and left for a short time. When I got back, the first thing he said was "Molly ate my lunch". I asked how she got it. He put it on the table and went to the bathroom and when he came back there was no food. So our dog had a ham sandwich and pie of sugar cream pie! I asked if he went ahead and ate the last piece of pie because I didn't see it anywhere. It was in a aluminum pie pan and I didn't see that anywhere, even the trash and I looked all over. He couldn't remember. Later, when I went to heat water for tea I found the pie tin in the microwave! Oh dear. Now you see why I'm afraid to leave.
This story is to tell you why I love all my blogger friends. The interaction is sometimes the only one I have all day in the outside world. Especially in the cold winter months when I don't go out much. Sometimes a quick comment made by one of you that is so sweet makes a real difference in my day.
This sounds so pathetic but it really isn't. Our sons call a lot to check on  us and hubby's sister is always available. I'm just sharing this so you know how much I appreciate your friendship. Be kind to one another.





Thursday, January 1, 2015

Happy New Year everyone. I hope this year brings you health and love and good luck for you and your family. I hope you keep all the resolutions you make and make all the cards you want. I hope you are happy and pleased with everything in your life. And most of all, I wish you no stress. I do not plan to buy a lot of "stuff" this year. That means anything I really don't need. No more stamps, clothes, kitchen ware or books. Those are my downfall. No junk food, only trying to eat healthy snacks. Walk the dog more so she stays slim. We'll see how all that goes. I won't beat myself up over it but I am going to try.

I got some beautiful Christmas cards from blogger friends. I'll show you some today and some later on. Be kind to one another.

These are from http://carolinacardsbymaryh.blogspot.com/ and http://cards4ubylouise.blogspot.com/. Mary's card sparkles. It is mounted on green glitter paper and stamped on red velvet paper and embossed in gold and has red gems on the holly. The card from Louise is softly sparkled. I'm not sure how she did it. It is on soft lavender paper with a teeney red bow and glitter star. The whole card has soft shimmer on it. They are all gorgeous. Thanks so much ladies.