Kerry's Halloween birthday

It has been a long time since posting. The reason being I am now back to work as a preschool assistant teacher. I am on a 5 month recovery with my knee replacement so that is moving along also. I have a lot to share because I have been making some cards but will do that in my next post. This card is for Kerry who is a friend of my daughter Kerin. Her birthday is on Halloween so this card is just perfect.

Hoot, Hoot, Hooray!

Love these owls from Pink Cat Studio. My daughter Jenne and I made these two cards today using 1 of their stamps. Jenne, did the one in pink using SU Pixie Pink paper and SU yo yo yellow. Inside the sentiment is " You're 1 today!" My card is done in SU Real Red and Creamy Caramel. We both used crystal effects on the balloon, beak, and dots on the hat. We cuttlebugged both with the HB embossing plate.

A New Stamp-Dandie Trio

Those of you who know me, know that I am not buying anymore stamps! LOL!! Well, I just couldn't resist this one from Stampendous called DandieTrio. I saw a card made with it in a recent card magazine and just had to have the stamp. I see possibilities as endless for this stamp which is why I can justify buying it!! This first card is the one I saw in a magazine and except for using different papers and a saying it is very close to the original. The other 2 are my own. Can you just see all the possibilities with card. I will stray away from the browns and blues and get creative with other ideas so stay tuned. I also just adore MS's butterfly punch. The second card lifts up from the piece hanging down. Each of these flowers I have stickled with cinnamon in the centers.

Gotta Love Fluffies!

I have a few of these "fluffie" stamps from Stampendous. They are just so darn cute. I've been thinking about pulling out some stamps that have been "lost in the shuffle"(aka deep chasms of the craft room) and using them again. This is a start. It may be hard to tell but I paper pieced the balloon and layers of cake. The stars on the candles and the cirlces on the left are teeny teeny rhinestones from Taylored Expressions. Hard to see but these are pink rhinestones. The striped paper is from Hobby Lobby. I cut out the large scallop circle using Nestabilities from the striped paper and then added fluffies on the white scallop inside it on the top of the card.

It's never too early for Christmas

My friend Sam came over the other day and introduced me to Dustin Pike's blog. He has some great freebie digital images. This Santa is one of his freebies and Sam and I created cards using his design. The inside says" Believe" "in the Magic" "of Christmas" I used the Santa digital image on the white oval and then paper pieced all the parts. I cuttlebugged the beard and rim of the hat and used glossy black for the boots and a small white pom-pom on his hat.

Baby Shower for twins

Tomorrow there is a baby shower for a former co-worker, Gianna. She is having twins - a boy and a girl. I decided to make another of those Hershey nugget cakes (see previous post.) It was so much fun to do blue and pink together. The slanted view showing the top of the cake also shows the board that I put under it. All those 12x12 white cardboard pieces from SUDP have come in handy for my cake "tray". For the card, I saw something a long time ago on Splitcoast showing these 2 babies and remembered it. Can't wait to go and see all those people I have missed from the school I was at.

Wedding Shower gift

I have a wedding shower to go to for Dina, daughter of my friend Pat, and since I have the creative bug no purchased gift will do. Don't you all feel the need to create something for special moments??? So, I made her this "Marriage Survival Kit". Cute and a conversation piece.

Inside are these little packages of "ideas" for a perfect marriage.

I have included:

Kiss: to remember that it all started with a kiss. (used a Hershey Kiss for this) And did you

know that if you go to Party City you can buy just 1 kiss!! I was totally floored when I saw bins and bins of pieces of all kinds of candy that you can buy just 1 piece. I was so excited because I really didn't want a whole bag of kisses (because you know where they will go!). So check it out- what a great find.

Toothpick: to remind you to pick your battles

Rubberband: to remember to be flexible

Cotton Ball: to help cushion the rough times

Pencil w/eraser: to remind you that all though you are sharp, we all make mistakes

Duck: to remind you to let some things roll off your back

Snickers Bar: to remind you that laughter is the best medicine

Seeds: to remind you that love grows stronger every day

Candle: to keep the glow of romance alive

Puzzle Piece: to remind you that you are an important part in each others lives

Glitter: to remind you to always add sparkle to your life

Tools: to help build a lasting relationship ( this one I stamped, and cut out)

Also we had to bring a recipe, so I used my "Voila" stamp from SU and created this recipe holder using a large clothespin.

What to do with stickers???

I must admit that I am not much for using stickers. Since I have become a stamper, stickers just don't do it for me anymore! However, there are times when a good "sticker" is worthy of its' use. I made this jar for our secretary Lynne at work at the end of the school year. She uses them for candy jars on her desk. I have made her one for Back to school, Halloween, Christmas, Valentines and now Spring. Some say "Want a Kiss? (See below - at my craft fair items). This was totally done with just paper and sticker flowers and a ladybug (and of course ribbon). Oh, and I found a button "ladybug" that is attached to the ribbon. Love the colors - so bright and springy!

Happy Birthday Carolyn

My stamping friend Carolyn, who shows up at the Wed. group had a birthday recently and I realized that I never posted her card. So here it is. I sure do miss that group and maybe now that I am unemployed I may be able to go back!!!

Baby Shower Invitation

My friend Jen at work ( well actually, my used to be work!!) asked me to make her some baby shower invitations for a friend of hers. The baby's rooms colors were purple and sage and I had a hard time coming up with something to match SU lavender lace. Luckily in my stash I had some DCWV paper that matched perfectly. Unfortunately, I did not have enough of one piece so I had to make 2 different ones. The inside I have blocked to

protect their privacy.

Bon Voyage!

My good friend Roberta was headed to a whirlwind vacation - first to Seattle to visit a friend and run the Rock & Roll Marathon and then hop on a crusie ship to Alaska. All this in a matter of a few days and she is in her "70's". She is just amazing. I made this card for her to cover all those adventures in one. I can't wait to hear how it all went.

I'm Back

Wow, it has been a long time since I posted. But, I do have an excuse. In April our school was such a frustrating place because no one knew if they were coming back next year and the waiting game was very stressful. Unfortunately, I was one of those whose jobs got cut. However, I am still hoping that I will get called back the end of this month.

Then on May 26, I went in the hospital for a total knee replacement. Now, I know in 6 months I am going to say it was the best thing I've ever done, but at the moment "DON'T ASK"!!

It is just the most painful thing in the world going through recovery. Physical Therapy is just brutal, however, on a positive note I am getting better everyday - today is 5 weeks. I am no longer using a walker or cane and can pretty much do most things again. Except sit or stand for too long. I am constantly in motion - getting up; getting down; walking. At least I am getting my exercise.

Here are some of the "homemade" cards I have received.

The cards in order are from Sam, Jenne, Lois, Carolyn and Vicki. I just love their talent and believe me they brought a much needed smile to my face.

Happy Birthday Blakey

My dear friend, and former team teacher, Blakey, is celebrating her birthday. She lives in Ireland now and I surely do miss seeing her. I am sending her this card and nugget tin for her birthday at the end of April. I absoutely love this paper from SU. It is Parisian Breeze Specialty using Baja Breeze, Buckaroo Blue, and chocolate chip. It is just so soothing and calm. The flowers are from SU Pocket Silhouettes.

Newly made cards

Here are some new cards, some courtesy of Splitcoast members. I'm sorry I have been on that site so much and loved so many ideas, that I can't remember who inspired me. If it was you, please let me know so that I can check out your blog and see what other wonderful things you are doing.

This is one that my daughter, Jenne, did.

Leigh, You make my heart Smile

Leigh commented on my blog after viewing the Disney album I created (shown below). She bestowed this award on me and I feel so blessed. Thank you Leigh and thank you too for letting me discover your awesome blog. I am now a follower.

Disneyland Adventure

My good friend and co-worker, Leslie asked me to make her a scrapbook of her family's trip to Disneyland last summer. Well, I have been trying forever to get this on a slideshow but Myslide was not co-operating so I went to Imageloop and it came out perfect. This scrapbook was so much fun to do, and Austin is just so darn cute and the anticipation and excitement in his face is priceless. I think I had just as much fun creating this book as they did experiencing it! Enjoy your visit below!

Disneyland Adventure

Recent birthdays

For Jen at work. Inside says a Very Happy Birthday

For my friend Vicki

For Christine at work.

For my friend Alyce - Oopsie Daisy is because it was just a "tad" late!!!

For my friend Diane

Valentines for a co-worker

These are cards that I made
for a co-worker to give to
residents in a nursing home.
Most of the paper is from last
year's collection.