Busy week coming up. My husband's aunt passed away and we will be making  plans to see who from the family goes to TN for the funeral. My son wants to make the trip in one day and I can't do that and he can't leave on Friday so I may not go. Two doctor appts. this week for yearly checks and Molly needs her nails cut. It's still really cold - only 20 degrees right now.

This card is black SU cardstock, the arrow is Lil'Inkers, the the XOXO stamp is a really old one from Michaels by Craft Smart. I think the red heart paper is one I bought in a craft store in just one sheet.  I don't know where the paper doily came from. I embossed the XOXO in WOW silver pearl. I wish I had used white e/p as it isn't real bright. I do like the card so it's okay. Be kind to one another.

I would like to welcome a new follower to my blog. She is Pam and her blog is http://pam-simcrafts.blogspot.com/. She makes the most beautiful cards and I think you will like visiting her.

I'm  getting a start on my Valentine cards today. It is a most beautiful crafting day here with temp at 27 degrees and the wind chill at 12 degrees. Who would want to go out in this perfect stamping weather! We also got a teeny bit of snow yesterday. So I don't have a card today but I did want to give you an update. Molly finished her book by Lee Child but she didn't really like it too much. I don't think she likes that style of interest. Here is her new book and I think it suits her better. Be kind to one another.

I am entering a card today for the second NBUS challenge at Darnell's blog. I am using a new die that I got at a garage sale for $2. It is a QuicKutz border die called Hearts. The hello is also one I've never used before from Lawn Fawn. The curvy die for the bottom paper is one I've had for a while and it's out of it's original wrapper so I don't know it's origin. Be kind to one another.

http://www.djkardkreations.com/search?updated-max=2017-01-26T00:00:00-08:00&max-results=1

Back to normal! Gray, cloudy weather and I made a pre-order for some new products. I have a card today but I am so disappointed in how the photo came out. I used the same Hero Arts  Paper Layering Die I sued on my last card  and sponged pinks, greens and soft reds on it. Then I added Perfect Pearls over it and that produced the shine that messed up the photo so you can't see the colors. I used a piece of pattern paper under it and soft PTI green cardstock. I added a few sequins that came from somewhere and embossed in clear powder the greeting from Avery Elle. It is a birthday card for my sister in law. I am going to enter this card in
https://a2zscrapbookingblog.com/2017/01/01/a2z-scrapbooking-january-2017-challenge/. Be kind to one another.

Thank you all for your uplifting comments. Yes, it was because of Bill's passing last December that made this December so hard. Last year was a blur and this one was just depressing because he was not here and I had to realize it and do it without him. I so appreciate your coming by to help with that.

I went from staying in all the time to a complete turnaround this week. I took my granddaughter to the mall on Monday since she was out of school, my sister in law to lunch Wed. for her birthday and went to my friend Marilyn's on Thursday. Whew. I also made a card for  http://www.djkardkreations.com/
at Darnell's blog. I tried the colored pencils on kraft paper and it was an experience. I obviously don't know how to use colored pencils. Every time I sharpened one the point broke off. Now I have short, squatty pencils. I used the sides of the pencils and that worked out fine. Be kind to one another.

Contrary to what you may think, the spider did not carry me off. I took an unintended hiatus from the world for a while. I did have a nice Christmas with my family, I take nothing away from that. This December and New Years turned out to be very hard this year. Last year I didn't even think about Christmas until the week before. I only put the tree up this year because of the grandkids and did very little decorating. Shopped mostly online but did get everything wrapped. I've tried to keep upbeat all month and be excited but it was a struggle. I was maybe a bit depressed somewhat and couldn't get interested in anything. I've hardly been out but the cold weather has something to do with that. I'm not a  shopper, didn't want to go to my friend's for New Years Eve, and haven't wanted to stamp. To tell you how bad it is, I haven't wanted to buy any of the new stamp releases! The only thing I have done is try to keep up with my blogger friends and comment and I wasn't particularily good at that but you guys kept me going. I did enjoy reading about your holidays and seeing all the great Christmas cards made and received.  We lost Bill's cousin the first week of January. She was a wonderful lady and it is so sad to see her pass. Something happened to my knee over Thanksgiving and I have been babying it along. Finally went to the Dr. Tuesday and I have bursitis and tendonitis in both knees. I've been doing my exercises and icing them along with Aleve.

Today I made a card, my first one of the year. It is a Hero Arts Die called Paper Layering Daisy and the happy birthday dies are Clearly Besotted. I used Lawn Fawn plaid paper and added a few sequins. I was trying for the shadow look for the sentiment but it got a liitle off in places. I am so happy to be making a card that I am okay with that. So I'm back and ready to roll. Be kind to one another.

Today I am running errands that I've put off because of the cold. It is suppose to become colder again by Wednesday so today is the day.  I thought I would share Molly's resolution for 2017. It is to watch less TV and read more! Be kind to one another.