Remembering Flash

Sweet boy, Flash, who went to the Rainbow Bridge on 10-23-10

"...We who choose to surround ourselves with lives even more temporary than our own, live within a fragile circle, easily and often breached.  Unable to accept its awful gaps, we still wound live no other way.  We cherish memory as the only certain immortality, never fully understanding the necessary plan...

The life of a dog seems endless, until one day.  That day has come and gone for me and I am once again within a smaller circle, still unable to believe that this evening I will not see him within the setting sun..."

Irving Townsend, Separate Lifetimes, "The Once Again Prince".

With me not nearly long enough, forever in my heart.  I will never forget.  I love you and miss you, sweet boy.

Shirley and Ernie, thank you for loving him too.

Hooray for Blogging Friends

Well, thanks to Pam S. we have an ID on the sweet image in the card that Kellie included with the blog candy.    The image is from C.C. Designs, by Amy Young, and is available at All That Scraps.

She is by Amy Young for C.C. Designs, and is a Sweet November - Twisted Sisters - Azalea - stamp. 

Pam, thanks.  I would not have begun to know where to look!

Kellie's blog candy arrived

Kellie mailed my blog candy winnings from Australia on Sep.13th.  Would you believe that I got the parcel on the 16th?  It was like Christmas here.  You can see all the goodies that were included if you go back two posts I think, maybe three.  It is an amazing assortment of wonderful stamps and bling.  She also enclosed a hand-made card which is adorable.  I do not recognize the image, however.  Perhaps someone who reads this will recognize it and let me know.  Kellie, if you read this, I am overjoyed, and will have great fun with all these new toys.  Thank you to Kellie and to Holley for my recent blog candy wins.  I am sorry the image is not the best.  I did not have the best lighting when I took the photo today.  Who is this charmer???

Kellie's card:



I won some more blog candy!

I cannot believe it.  I actually won some more blog candy, this time on Holley's blog.  There were lots of winners, so the wealth was kindly spread among many, but I won a Recollections Zoolicious stamp set.  Kellie's blog candy from Australia has not arrived yet, but now I have two packages to await.  What fun - like Christmas!  Here is the photo of everything Holley offered.  The Recollections set is towards the right side, under the book that says "Heritage".

ADDENDUM:  The blog candy arrived on 9-11 and the stamps are so cute - photo below the one from Holley's blog.  The blog candy from Australia, from Kellie's blog, will be on its way as of Monday. 

Magnolia with Vintage Roses

This card was made for the August "mingle" on the Magnolia-licious yahoo group.  I did not want to post the card until I knew it had been received. 

For this image, I used Magnolia with Vintage Roses, #3004.  This item is currently out of stock at Diana's Magnolia store but is on re-order.  I am sure Diana could give you an idea of when it is expected and you can contact her here. 

This is one of my favorite Magnolia images and I have used it many times.  For this "mingle", I made another easel card which I really love.  Someday I will make a stash of heavy envelopes for them.  Thanks for stopping by to see my card.  I am always appreciative of your kind comments.

RECIPE:

Stamp:  Magnolia with Vintage Roses, #3004; sentiment stamp - Hampton Art.

Coloring:  Prismacolor pencils with turpenoid.

Sketch:  Just Magnolia, week #66, by Bev Rochester

Paper:  DCWV Luxury Stack, 8 x 8

Cardstock:  DCWV Neutral Stack and Bazzill

Die:  Spellbinders Standard Circles, Large, and Classic Scalloped Squares, Large

Punches:  Martha Stewart Garden Trellis and Cedar Branch;  EK Success Rock Fern

Flowers:  Prima Tea Roses in Marshmallow, tinted with chalk; Iced Got Flowers in Rosy Red; Prima Flowers Spring Mix (buds)

Chalk:  Pebbles Pearlescent Chalks in Shimmers (used on large white flower)

Misc:  Making Memories Clear Gem Flower Brads;  Recollections Gemstone Brads;  Recollections Rhinestone stickers; Glossy Accents as adhesive; Gelly Roll in Clear Star.

CHALLENGES ENTERED:
Just Magnolia #71, Anything Goes
Paper Sundaes #34, Mixed Media
Your Next Stamp Challenge #23, Anything Goes

I actually won some blog candy!

I cannot believe it but I have actually won Blog Candy - and quite a win it is.  I am just shaking with joy over this.  I have entered various blog candy contests for over 2 years and have never won until now.  Below is the listing of what I have won and I am just thrilled.  I had a bad last 7-10 days, part fibromyalgia, part discovering that my blood sugar is horrendously low at 47!  Perhaps that explains why I am shaking, have palpitations and cannot stay awake.  Seems lab normal is 80-120.

Kellie, thank you for your generosity.  I have written you as requested, from my Comcast account as AOL is acting up - again. 

From Kellie's blog:

Blog CANDY to Celebrate….

Saturday, July 17th, 2010

I am so overly EXCITED about many things, some I can share now and some you’ll have to wait and see, some are to do with my store and some are not but all craft related. But one of my reasons for this candy is that I have reached 550 followers…. WOW I am BLOWN away and amazed that many people like reading my waffles hehe….. And am extremely touched in so many ways by all the visits and comments that people come by and leave… So lets see the candy hey…… OH but before I do…. My candy consist of mainly stamps, stamps from my store, stamps I have bought and never used or bought 2 of etc…..

I actually had to get a chair in the end and stand on it to try and get it all in hehe… OK so here is the NON teasing photo….

Want to know everything that is in there that you may not be able to see….? Well then here is the list….

Tim Holtz 2 Embossing Folders
Flourish with a Bling Pearls – Pearl
Flourish with a Bling Pearls – Black
Flourish with a Bling Pearls – Pink
Flourish with a Bling Rhinestones – Silver
Flourish with a Bling Rhinestones – Wine *NEW*
Flourish with a Bling Rhinestones – Black
Magnolia Doohickey – Tilda Lace
Magnolia Doohickey – Vintage Tag
Magnolia Doohickey – Leaf and Swirl
Magnolia Doohickey – Peony Petal
Simply Betty Stamp Rio
Simply Betty Stamp Betty
Kraftin’ Kimmie Stamp – Babette
Kraftin’ Kimmie Stamp – Monique
Kraftin’ Kimmie Stamp – Perfect Poision
C.C Designs – Heidi Amount The Flowers
C.C Designs – Sandbucket Tevor
C.C Designs – Bathing Beauty Emma
C.C Designs Beach Scene
C.C Designs – Coffee Kiki La Rue
Motivet – Rabbit with Dandelion
Baby Buds Designs – Owie
Baby Buds Designs – Ashton
Baby Buds Designs – Jack
Fairy Tales – Cupcake Belle
Fairy Tales – Belle
Fairy Tales – Phillip
Sweet November Stamps – Current Ebbtide & Anela
Sweet November Stamps – Ocean Wavedancer & Echo
Sweet November Stamps – Shimmer Redkelp & Otto
Sweet November Stamps – Bubbles Lostlagoon & Palu
Tickled Pink Stamp – Lil Lolita – 20’s Evie
Tickled Pink Stamps – Lil Lolita – 30’s Lylah
Tickled Pink Stamps – Lil Lolita – 50’s Lilith
Pink Cat Studio – Sick Billy
Pink Cat Studio – Sick Lily
The Greeting Farm – Thursday
The Greeting Farm – Sweet Message
The Greeting Farm – OA – Happy Days
Magnolia Stamp – Wedding Collection – Tilda with Peony
Magnolia Stamp – Wedding Collection – Tilda with Veil
Magnolia Stamp – Wedding Collection – Flower Girl

AWARD DAY

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

I received this lovely award from Mary Anne at her sparkly-train blog and am honored that she decided to pass this on to me.  Mary Anne is a special friend - one you meet online, may never meetin person , but you know that you are friends and always will be.
There are some conditions attached to this award, which I am more than happy to fulfill.

1. You need to thank the person who sent it.  Mary Anne, thank you from the bottom of my heart.  I am truly touched that you thought of me.

2. You need to post a favorite photo on your blog.

These beautiful ladies with dirty seats are my eldest granddaughter, Beth, on the left, and my daughter, Megan, on the right.  Yes, despite being mother and daughter, it is hard to tell them apart.

These handsome young men, taken a long time ago, are my two boys.  This was taken at the Phila. Zoo back in the early 80s.

3.  Capture the award and post it on your blog. 

4.  List three things you like about yourself :  a) I love my children, without reservation and always will, no matter what; b) I honor my friends and cherish their friendship; c)  I have loved and been devoted to rescue dogs.

5.  Choose five blogs with which to share this award.  Like Mary Anne, I follow a lot of blogs and this is really a hard one.  I will say that I have perhaps gone with the blogs I follow the most and from which I derive a great deal of inspiration.  That said, I cannot share this with Mary Anne since she sent it to me but would if I could.   I just cannot decide on 5, so I have added a sixth.  Keep in mind I follow over 100 blogs and am grateful to all of you for the inspiration you impart and the techniques you so generously share:

     1.  Eulanda S. Cards, Cards and More Cards.
           http://eulandasilvey.blogspot.com/
     2.  Suzanne Dean
           http://scrapbitz.blogspot.com/
      3.  Sue's Sentiments         
           http://suessentiments.com/wordpress
      4.  Bev R. All the Things I Love.
           http://bevscrafts.blogspot.com/
      5.  Angie - Scrap Girl
           http://scrapgirl-angie.blogspot.com/
      6.  Pam S.
           http://expressionswithheart.com/wordpress

Again, Mary Anne, thanks so much for sharing this award with me.  I am touched and honored.
          

Tweet Kisses - again

Another House Mouse card - using the same sketch as the previous post, but this one is for an exchange on the House Mouse group.   I like everything about the card except the color of the flowers that I used.  I am thinking now it should have been closer in color to the violets between the mouse and the bird.  I have purple flowers but none that color.  From now on I must remember to check my flower stash before I color in an image!  The feathers, however, I think work well.  I had pearls in that area first and they did not work at all.  I love the DP and wish I had gotten more than one sheet of it.

Maybe it is that I am not as comfortable putting flowers on the HM images as I am on the Magnolia images.  The Maggies just seem to take to all sorts of bling.

I love doing the inside of the cards also. The feather made this one a lot of fun!

Recipe:
Image:  Tweet Kisses, House Mouse HMJR1035
Other stamps:  Swirl stamp - Kolette Hall for Studio G; Sentiment - Boxes Wishes, Inkadinkadoo
Card base:  DCWV Sorbet Stack
Ink:  K & Co (blue)
Cardstock/solid:  DCWV Brights stack
DP:  Prima Stone Rose Collection, Muuirfield
Flowers:  Prima Got Flowers; Recollections Boutique Fleur
Ribbon:  American Crafts Elements, Popsicle Collection
Nesties:  Classic Scalloped Squares, Large; Classic Scalloped Rectangles, Small.
Chalk:  Pebbles Pearlescent Chalks, Shimmers
Misc:  Stickles - Crystal; Gelly Roll - Clear Star; Feathers - Touch of Nature;  Embossing powder - A la mode in Clear; Glossy Accents.

Thanks for stopping by.  Your comments are always appreciated.

Card count:  20/365

New House Mouse Card

It took longer to get a good photo of this card than it did to make it.  I have a low-end digital camera and I think it was tricked by the small dots and wanted to blur the background.  Finally, I had to resort to taking the card outside, fighting the breeze that kept the day from being stifling, and finally got a good photo.

I have been so busy with Magnolia cards that my House Mouse images have been gathering dust.  However, a friend on the House Mouse group had a birthday, which I missed, so I will be sending this card off to her.   Thanks for looking!

I had a hard time lining up the cupcake paper on the inside, and after wasting a sheet of this great paper, it dawned on me to cut the inside paper as one sheet, and then cut it at the fold in the card!  (It was very late and I was watching a movie - The Mission - while cutting the paper, not the best way to guarantee accuracy!)

Recipe:

Image:  House Mouse Make a Wish 02

Sketch:  House Mouse and Friends 7/19/10

Coloring:  Prismacolor and Derwent pencils with turpenoid and blending stumps; Pebbles Pearlescent Chalks in Shimmers.

Cardstock (brown dot):   DCWV Spring card stack (card base was part of a kit)

DP:  TPC Studios Sweet Celebration/Cupcakes Galore

Ribbon:  American Crafts Elements: Popsicle

Flower:  Prima Essentials No. 9 Watercolor Flowers/Lg

Sentiment:  Hero Arts Special Birthday #F456

Other:  Sewing machine, brad from stash
Bling:  Stickles Frosted Lace

Card count:  19/365

New header photo

The photo that I added behind my blog title is a photo of the beautiful bay in Belfast, Maine.  I lived there for three years, and thought the view just suited this new blog background.  The weather we have been having here in PA this summer has made me miss Maine even more.

Change of background

My new cards generated a lot of visitors, but some had trouble reading the posts because of the purple color that had been under the text.  I changed my background to one with a white center, so I hope this makes it easier to read my blog.  Thanks for letting me know. 

Please take a moment to look at my side bar, for the button for Digi Drawn.  A few months back, one of the members (Maureen) of the Magnolia-licious group on yahoo made a card using Giggling Tilda, and this sweet Tilda was being kissed by the cutest Beagle/Basset hound.  What made this especially wonderful was that  Maureen drew the dog herself! She kindly sent me a few of the images after I told her of my rescue Beagles and one Beagle/Basset.  I just learned that she offers this, and other wonderful designs, as digi stamps.  Please click on the button to see her creations.  This is the card Maureen made, sizing the dog perfectly to kiss a seated Tilda.  Isn't he wonderful?  I can almost imagine him wagging his tail as he kissed Tilda. 

UPDATE:  Maureen has just joined the Magnolia Design Team.  What good news!

Entering My First Challenge

I just found out about the challenges at Flutterby Wednesdays so I am entering this in their Challenge #115.  The entries need to have either butterflies, angels or fairies on the cards, and since I love butterflies (and dragonflies) that is not a problem.  So, swallowing hard, I am entering my first challenge with this card, my first easel card.  There are a lot of layers on the front of this card - three layers of paper on top of the card base, plus the additional added layers of the branch, Tilda, Rufus the dog, etc.  It took forever as things as tucked in here and there,  but I was quite happy with the result.  The swing branch was tucked between the two solid die cut layers, with another part of the leaves stamped and cut out separately and applied over the left end of the branch where it went under the frame.  Tilda had the space between her feet cut so her feet could slip over the grass.  Rufus' lollipop was cut from DP and adhered to him.   I also entered this in the One Stop Craft Challenge, theme - pattern. 

RECIPE:

Stamps:  60s Tilda #385, Rufus the Dog #402, Swing #512 (the branch is part of this stamp).  Sentiment: S.U. Friendships Grow (2001) stamped with Color Box Cat's Eye and embossed with A La Mode clear embossing powder.  Flourish: Recollections clear stamp set from Michael's. Cardstock, solid:  DCWV Pastels.

DP:  K & Co. Paper Doll (floral inside frames, behind the swing).  Rufus' Lollipop has been cut from a paper in the DCWV Sweet Stack.

Coloring:  Prismacolor and Derwent colored pencils, Gamsol and blending stumps.

Punches:  EK Success Rock Fern; MS Frond and Butterfly.

Die:  Spellbinders Label Two in Cuttlebug

Grass:  Diecut by Jolee's By You/EK Success.

Embellishments:  Stickles:  Crystal on Rufus' Lollipop; Flowers:  Prima Spring Petal Mix and Summer Mix (small roses); Glitter:  MS coarse glitter in Crystal;

Pearls:  Queen & Co..

Chalk:  Pebbles, Inc. in Shimmers.

If additional entries are accepted, I have a few more with butterflies which I will enter.

I made two cards using identical papers.   It must be a throw-back to my high school years when I dated a few fellows from Father Judge High School in Philadelphia, but I just love deep red and light blue together!  My Mind's Eye certainly helped with their Bohemia line in just these colors.

The first card uses Bridesmaid Tilda while the second uses Peachy Tilda.  Otherwise, I used almost identical items in making both.  I get all my Magnolia cards from Diana at http://www.magnoliastamps.us/.  If a certain stamp does not show up on the website, it means it is out of stock and will be listed when it is back in stock.  Contact Diana with any questions at ladydian@shaw.ca (but she is at CHA this week). 

RECIPES:  (identical except for stamps and stickles on Bridesmaid Tilda.
Stamps:  Bridesmaid Tilda #322; Peachy Tilda (do not know # at this moment).  Both from Magnoliastamps.us at above link.  
Papers:  CS - DCWV; DP - MME Bohemia (Bliss/Love of My Life and Tiny Dots/Blue) and Basic Grey Blush (Admire).
Sketch:  Adaptation of Friday Sketchers #93.
Punches:   EK Success Morocco Lace; MS Butterfly; MS branch.
Coloring:  Prismacolor and Derwent colored pencils and Gamsol.
Flowers:  Prima Spring Petal  Mix and Spring Mix.
Embellishments: Gelly Roll pen in Copper Star on dots around Peachy Tilda;
Stickles:  Crystal on wings on Bridesmaid Tilda;  Rhinestone stickers from Michaels.

I did make one other card this weekend.  In May, my best friend lost her husband of almost 40 years, after failed cardiac bypass surgery.  Needless to say, she is devastated, as are their children.  While I have sent the usual sympathy card, and a perpetual Mass enrollment, I wanted to do something else, something more personal, for Carol.  It must have been a weekend for firsts, as this was my first criss-cross card.  While I used an Anna Griffin  book for inspiration, I miscut my paper (using my scoring board for the first time too!) so had to make it smaller than she suggested.

RECIPE:
Cardstock:  DCWV
DP:  K & Co.  Brenda Walton Evergreen Shimmer Paper Pack (Christmas).
Scissors:  Fiskars Victorian.
Ribbon:  Michael's.
Charm:  Jewelry Essentials
Quote:  Found in "Treasury of Tips & Tricks" by Paper Crafts and Stamp It (ISBN: 1-57486-572-2, purchased at Michael's).
Inspiration:  My 51 year friendship with Carol and her sticking with me through thick and thin, especially these past 10 years, and a book by Anna Griffin - "Card Crafting Techniques". 

The photo was cropped from a photo of Carol and Thom when they attended my eldest son's wedding in 2002.   I tried to use my Spellbinders scalloped oval dies to back Thom's photo but they just were not the right size for the face of the card, so I used the Fiskar's scissors.   Not having a ribbon slit punch, I used the smallest hole punch I had and made a row of connected holes, until I had an opening the correct size for the ribbon. I sewed the charm to the knot of the ribbon.  The following cards show the card with the insert tucked in,  then showing the poem on the insert and finally, a photo of Carol and I in our younger days.   (I'm the shorter one).  Carol, should you see this, you are definitely a keeper, my friend! 

Card count:  18/365

Sweet Friends Blog Award

This wonderful Blog award was given to me by Cindy, a co-member of S.C.S. Designing D.I.V.A.S.   Please visit her blog HERE.  I am to list 10 favorite things, and then pass the award on to some of my blog friends.  Sounds like an easy thing to do!  Cindy, thank you so much for thinking of me. 

10 favorite things: (In no particular order).

 1.  My family which includes three grown children (1 girl and 2 boys) and 8 beautiful grandchildren.   To my daughter Megan, please remember that "Pobody's Nerfect",  especially Moms.
2.  My faith, which provides great comfort and has kept me going in the dark times.   This should include the influence of the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart on my life, through grade school, high school and college, and in the years since.
3.  My friends, both old and new (this includes my doll and paper crafting friends!)  You know who you are. 
 4.   Chocolate, preferably dark, semi-sweet and with coconut, even better.   For Zitner's Double Krak Easter eggs!
5.   The absolute joy of being loved unconditionally by a dog:   Snickers, Ripley and Zeke, and my daughter's chocolate lab, Bailey (all from my married days) , and then Tucker, Smokey and Flash, all Beagle/Bassett rescues, in the 10 years I have been on my own. 
 6.  The audio-visual world that is available to us.   Even though I hate the bill, thank you Comcast for all the wondering offerings on TV.  Since being on my own, I hate the quiet, so the TV goes on the minute I get up and stays on until I head to bed.   For my love of old time folk music - Peter, Paul and Mary; Joan Baez, Buffy Ste. Marie, Gordon Bok, etc. and 50s/60s rock and roll, for dancing on Bandstand, and hearing "The Geator with the Heater" play all the best music for us.   Check out The Geator HERE.
 7.   My long-time love of the ocean and the shore (Jersey, of course).  Even my three years on Maine, right on the bay.   I even like the ocean during storms.  It is beautiful and majestic.   What is better than the smell of the salt in the air to tell  you know you are getting near to the shore?
 8.   Lavender and vanilla.  The lavender in body lotions and candles, the vanilla in just about everything.  Yankee Candle makes a Lavender-Vanilla candle that is really yummy.  Healing Garden makes a bedtime set of scent items that are vanilla and orange blossom scented.  Fabulous!

9.   For the dolls that have brought so much joy to my life:  Ginny and Jill as a child, as well as Mary Hoyer, a love that has followed me into adulthood.  Also, Bleuette and her sister Rosette.  The joy of sewing their clothes by hand with vintage fabrics.
 10.  My beloved adoptive parents (real to me - just like the Velveteen Rabbit), both gone now but never gone from my heart.  Thanks, Mom and Dad, for everything. 


Here are the rules for the award:

1. Copy and paste the award on your blog.

2. List the person who gave you the award and provide a link to her blog.

3. List 10 things that make you happy.

4. Pass this award on to others and visit their blogs to let them know.


Here are the people that I have randomly picked:


1.  Sue (scrubbybubbles) http://suessentiments.com/wordpress/
2.  Kim  http://kreativekim.blogspot.com/
3.  Lauren  http://lem-photography.blogspot.com/
4.  Eulanda  http://eulandasilvey.blogspot.com/
5.  Lisa  http://the-purple-place.blogspot.com/
6.  Jacque  http://jacquesmagnolias.blogspot.com/


Happy Blogging!!!

Birdie Choir and Spring Blossoms

Two more House Mouse cards to share with you.  I really have to get a few more Magnolia images made into cards as there are several challenges going on for Magnolia but I guess I find them a little scarier than the HM stamps.  Hopefully that will change soon.  

BIRDIE CHOIR:

Recipe:

Stamp:  HM (Stampabilities) HMLR1043, Birdie Choir.

Colored pencils:  Derwent and Prismacolor with turpenoid and blending stump.

Cardstock/solid:  Bazzill Basics in Guacamole and African Daisy/

DP:  Floral:  Martha Stewart tablet; plaid:  HOTP/Paper Pizazz. Purple dot (mat behind stamped image) - came in a card kit.

Embellishment:  Flower - Prima.  Brad:  Recollections.  Gelly Roll Stardust pen in Silver Star on Prima flower and on stamped/colored purple flowers.

SPRING BLOSSOMS:

Recipe:

Stamp:  HM (Stampabilities) HMJR1051, Spring Blossoms.

Cardstock/solid:  Bazzill Bling in Feather Boa.  Purple:  from a card kit.  Green:  Bazzill Basics in Guacamole. 

DP:  Plaid is Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses in Village.   Green floral is Making Memories Basic Papers from Chloe's Closet collection. 

Embellishments:   Flower:  Sandylion sticker.  Ribbon:  American Crafts.

Card Count:  15/365

Bunny Boo Boo and Tilda with Hearts

I am finally getting to use some of the images I have already finished, getting them made up into cards.  I am grateful that the terrible flare of neck pain that I have been dealing with of late has still allowed me some time to create, although not as much as I wish.

First card:  Bunny Boo Boo

Recipe:

Stamp:  Stampabilities (House Mouse/Happy Hoppers) Bunny Boo Boo HMOR1035.

Cardstock:  Bazzill.  Green is Guacamole.  Yellow is African Daisy.

DP:  Recollections Monkeying Around line, in "Button Up".  The inside has the coordinating green dot called "Banana Leaf".

Ribbon:  Celebrate It Basic Narrows.

Embellishment:  Recollections Dimensional Stickers.  I may change this as I am finding the blue jarring.

Colored pencils:  Prismacolor and Derwent with turpenoid and blending stump.  I used about 10 different shades of green in the grass, and the turpenoid blended them all beautifully.  Great stuff.

Chalk:  Pebbles Pearlescent in Shimmers.

This card will go to the woman who does the general cleaning here at the apartment building where I live (for the company which owns the building, not the residents, although she did help out many since this is a senior/disabled complex).  She had a stroke a little over a week ago and many of my card friends have offered to send her a shower of cards.  I am sure this will cheer her as she readies herself for carotid artery surgery.

Second card:  Tilda with Hearts.

Recipe:

Stamp:  Magnolia - Tilda with Hearts.  You can purchase this and other Magnolia stamps from Diana at Magnolia-licious.   Click this link to get to her store:

Magnolia US.

DP:  From a card making kit I won at a craft show.  This is called "Handmade Cards" by Anne Akers Johnson.

Cardstock:  Bazzill Feather Boa; Basic Grey Bittersweet in Truffle; K & Co. Smitten tablet.

Flourish:  American Crafts Baby in Miss Muffet cut with Sizzix Decorative Accents die.  (This American Crafts Baby/Miss Muffet is a lovely paper, 8-1/2 x 11, solid brown on one side, with the other side being pink with tiny polkadots.  I got it at Michael's.

Paper lace:  K & Co. Smitten, 12 x 12 pad of Valentine's paper, cut with Fiskars Heart edge punch. 

Embellishment:  Recollections Pearl Stickers. 

Glitter pen:  Sakura Gelly Roll Stardust in Pink Star was used on the cookies, Tilda's hairband and on the hearts on her shoes, but is not showing up very well.  Sakura Gelly Roll Stardust in Clear was used over the silver pencil on her wings.

White opaque pen:  Inkssentials Opaque Pen in white (Tilda's cheek dots).

Sentiment:  Inkadinkadoo Personal Impressions, Tattoo Expressions which I curved a little as I put it on the acrylic block.  It is stamped with Palette in brown but I need to get a darker brown stamp pad.

Colored pencils:  Prismacolor and Derwent with turpenoid and blending stumps.

Chalk:  Pebbles Pearlescent in Shimmers.

While this is the second Magnolia card I have made, it is the first that made it to the scanner.  I had made a Christmas themed one for the Christmas All Year Round blog hop, but before it could get scanned, I accidentally overturned a cup of tea all over it, so I could not join in on the blog hop.  Next time, I hope.  For this card, I used the Roses on Paper Challenge sketch #30 as a jumping off point, but did not follow it exactly.  Therefore I can't enter this card in the challenge.  Here is the sketch,  That horizontal band of hearts is reminding me of a pink ribbon I saw somewhere - now where was that?????

Card count:  13/365

Jacque's blog candy

Despite a terrible week, with an equally terrible diagnosis, the very talented Jacque has entered yet another sweet gift for her followers.  This blog candy ends January 28th so visit her blog and leave her some encouragement for the days ahead.  Here is her link:

http://jacquesmagnolias.blogspot.com/

and here is the Valentine's blog candy:

Thanks for visiting her pages and keeping her in your prayers.  Remember to get your mammograms!

More Love Bunny and Feeling Rosy

I had several of the bunny images colored in, and was having a good time with some new punches, so I made a few more Valentine cards using the same stamp that I used for the first House Mouse and Friends challenge/blog hop.   First card:

Recipe for the above card:

Stamp:  Stampabilities (House Mouse/Happy Hoppers) HMI1014.

Colored pencils:  Prismacolor and Derwent, with turpenoid and blending stumps.

Background paper:  K & Co., Smitten 12 x 12 paper collection.

Brown cardstock:  American Crafts Baby, in Miss Muffet, double-sided paper.

Paper lace:  American Crafts Baby, in Miss Muffet, cut with Martha Stewart double edge doily lace punch.

Stickers:  Recollections dimensional stickers

Chalk:  Pebbles Pearlescent in Shimmers.

Next card:

Recipe for above card:

Stamp:  Stampabilites (House Mouse/Happy Hoppers) HMI1014.

Colored pencils:  Prismacolor and Derwent with turpenoid and blending stump.

Background paper:  K & Co. Smitten 12 x 12 paper collection

Pink DP behind image:  Basic Grey, Bittersweet Collection in Mousse.

Dark brown cardstock:  American Crafts Baby, in Miss Muffet.

Swirls:  Above dark brown cardstock cut with Sizzix Scribbles Swirls in Cuttlebug machine.

Bling:  Queen & Co. Rhinestones in Pretty in Pink.

Chalk:  Pebbles Pearlescent in Shimmers.

Ribbon:  Mega Bobbin Ribbon by Morex Corp.

Now, on to Feeling Rosy:

I just love the look on the wee mouse's face in this stamp - such contentment.

Recipe for above card:

Stamp:  Stampabilities (House Mouse) Feeling Rosy (HMG1001)

Colored pencils:  Prismacolor and Derwent with turpenoid and blending stumps.

Yellow cardstock:  Bazzill Candlelight embossed with Swiss Dots in Cuttlebug.

Purple cardstock and purple dot: Handmade Cards kit by Klutz.

Purple striped cardstock:  Sprout 6 x 6 paper collection by Memory Box Inc.

Dragonfly:  Sandylion stickers.

Ribbon:  Craft Essentials.

Corners in purple stripe paper:  Cut with EK Success Card Creator Paper Shaper in Basketweave.

Chalk:  Pebbles Pearlescent in Shimmers.

Gel pen:  Metallic gold gel roller used on rim and decoration on tea cup.

And the next Feeling Rosy:

Recipe for above card:

Stamp:  Stampabilities (House Mouse) Feeling Rosy HMG1001.

Colored pencils:  Prismacolor and Derwent, with turpenoid and blending stumps.

Pink floral cardstock:  Making Memories 8 x 8 Noteworthy/Audrey.

Pink dot/brown cardstock:  American Crafts Baby in Miss Muffet (double sided).

Turquoise cardstock:  Bazzill.

Paper lace/brown and pink dot strip:  American Crafts Baby in Miss Muffet (double sided). 

Punch:  Martha Stewart double edge doily lace trim.

Scissors:  Provo Craft mini pink.

Flower:  K & Co. Citronella, Layered Accents.

Chalk:  Pebbles Pearlescent in Shimmers (yes, someday I will get more colors).

Gel roller:  Metallic gold on rim of tea cup.

Thank you so much for looking!  I really appreciate your comments.

Card count:  11/365

House Mouse and Friends Blog Hop and Challenge

House Mouse and Friends is having its first blog hop/challenge, using any House Mouse, Happy Hoppers or Gruffies stamp, using this sketch for your design:

I had made a few Valentines before last night, but none matched the sketch completely, so I worked on another:

Here is what I used for the card:

Stamp:  Stampabilities Happy Hoppers (House Mouse) "Love Bunny" HMI1014.

Colored pencils:  Prismacolor, Derwent and EK Success.

Chalk:  Pebbles Pearlescent Shimmers (around bunny).

Paper, background:  K & Co. Smitten Valentine tablet of 12 x 12 papers.

Paper lace, light pink:  American Crafts paper in Baby/Miss Muffit, cut with Fiskars heart edge punch.

Paper lace, brown:  American Crafts paper in Baby/Miss Muffit, reverse if light pink dot, cut with Martha Stewart double edge doily lace trim punch.

Raspberry square:  Bazzill pearlescent in Feather Boa, embossed with Swiss Dots folder in Cuttlebug, cut with Nestabilities Classic Scalloped Squares, Large.

Sentiment:  K & Co. Smitten banners.

Pearls:  Recollections half-pearl stickers.

Miscellaneous:  Pink Gelly Roll Stardust pen on hearts above bunny's head.

You can visit the Blog Hop/Challenge by clicking on the title of this blog, or on this link:  http://www.housemouseandfriends.blogspot.com/

Card count:  7/365

Magnolia-licious Highlites Blog Hop - Pretty in Pink

Attention, cardmakers:  Gather all your Magnolia stamps, and all your pink card making supplies, and visit the Magnolia-licious Highlights blog ( http://magnolia-licioushighlites.blogspot.com/) for a wonderful blog hop with delightful (and even delicious) blog candy from the DT.  Even Diana has joined this blog hop, and it is nice to see her entry, especially before she heads to CHA.   You have to start at the above website, and follow the links from there, being sure to add a comment on each blog as you travel along.  If you wish to be eligible for Diana's prize, you must make a pink-themed Magnolia card, and link to the Magnolia-licious Highlights blog.   Just to get you inspired, as if the beautiful cards are not sufficient, here are photos of Diana's prize for the winner of the blog hop, and Jacque's "Sweet Stuff" for the winner from those who leave comments at her site.  Yes, Jacque's even includes pink truffles!   For those new to Magnolia, there is a link on the right side of my blog, to get you to Diana's store.   Happy cardmaking!

Make a Wish

Am I on a roll or what?  I colored several images and have started to assemble them into cards.  This first one is a birthday card for someone who lives here in the apartment building, and since her birthday is today, I had best get it delivered. Thanks for looking.  Here is what I used:

Stamp:  Make a Wish 02, House Mouse/Stampabilities - HMGR1011.

Pencils:  Prismacolor and Derwent, blending stump, turpenoid.

Cardstock, solid:  K & Co., Marcella Well-worn solid mat deck.

Print cardstock:  source unknown but I love it.  Wish I had more.

Flowers:  Prima Pixie Tin, Bella.  A word to the wise - it is very hard to get a good scan with flowers that have raised centers, especially when you put them on with foam dots!  (the shadow on the card is because of this).

Glitter:  Stickles in Baby Blue (on the icing) and Frosted Lace (on the candle).

Cuttlebug folder:  Happy Birthday (Joyeux Anniversaire).  I also ran a sheet of the olive through this folder as a greeting for the inside, just adding a tag for my signature.  On the envelope I used the Cuttlebug Celebration Stamps and die that came with the machine, and since I am hand delivering the card, I put them where you would put a stamp on the envelope.

Chalk:  Pebbles Pearlescent in Shimmers. 

I didn't get the others finished that I had hoped, but maybe tomorrow.  The recipient of the above card called me the minute she got it.  First she said "Thank you" and then she said "Please tell me how to make these".  That was as wonderful as the "thank you"!

Card count:  6/365

Tweet Kisses

I got another one done but it was hard to get a good photo because the "bling" on the card kept the scanner lid from closing properly, and even though I covered it, some light got in.   I also seem to be slowing down a little because my fingertips are in their usual winter condition which means split and sore.  Time to slather on more cortisone or Neosporin.  Thank you for looking.

Here is what was used for this card:
Stamp:  Stampabilities/House Mouse Tweet Kisses HMJR1035
Coloring:  Prismacolor and Derwent colored pencils, blending stumps and turpenoid. Background shaded with Pebbles Pearlescent chalks in Shimmers.
Cardstock:  Solid:  Bazzill; Green dot:  Sprout 6 x 6 Paper Collection, Memory Box, Inc. (love this collection and wish I had bought several pads of it).
Paper:  Source unknown.
Punch:  Martha Stewart
Flowers:  Prima
Ribbon:  Dashes, Dots & Checks
Bling:  from a Heidi Swapp frame
Brads:  Recollections

Card count:  5/365

Baby Card

Last week, on the Magnolia-licious group, we learned from Willeke that she had just become grandmother to a very premature baby boy.  I asked if it would be okay if I sent a card to the baby's parents and she said "yes".   I went through my images, and found this one, colored it last night and assembled the card this morning, when I had better light (I really must get another Ott Lite).   I hope you like it.  I am definitely starting to see a pattern here with my colors - soft and muted, harkening back to the days of Color Me Beautiful and color analysis.  Yes, I am a soft summer. 

Stamp:  House Mouse/Stampabilities, Baby Shoes 02 HMIR1006

Coloring:  Prismacolor and Derwent colored pencils, blending pen (National    Colored Pencil Blender).

Cardstock:  Bazzill Basic cut and embossed with Spellbinders Nestabilities in Classic Scalloped Squares, Large.

Chalk:  Pebbles Pearlescent in Shimmers. 

DP:  Source unknown, in gift package from paper crafting friend.

Bling:  Source unknown, in same gift package as DP.

Letters:  Part of a pack of designer papers purchased two years ago, company forgotten.  They show up better on the card than they do in this photo, sorry.

This will be on its way to the Netherlands tomorrow.

Card count:  4/365

Happy Retirement

One of my neighbors here at the apartment complex will be retiring Friday and I wanted to make a card for her.  I was truly at a loss as to how to begin but I tossed the idea out to the House Mouse group and someone suggested this stamp.   Once the stamp design was chosen, the rest was easy as it is a simple card without much embellishment.    Thanks for looking.

Stamp:  Happy Hopper (from Stampabilities/House Mouse),  "Relaxing Bubbles", item HMG1015.

Coloring:  Prismacolor and Derwent colored pencils.  For the tub, to make the white stand out, I used a dressmaker's tool:  General's Pastel Chalk pencil in white, #4414, bought at the local quilt shop.  Area around the bunny was highlighted with Pebbles pearlescent chalks in Shimmers.  Edges were darkened with brown Palette stamp.

Highlights:  Creative Cafe Glitter Glue in Spirit White for the bubbles (this is iridescent and works well with the colors of the mats) and Stickles Frosted Lace on the tub.

Paper:  unknown, gift from a paper crafting friend (thanks, Lisa).

Cardstock:  Bazzill solids, cut and embossed in Cuttlebug with Nestabilities Classic Scalloped Squares, Large.

Sentiment:  Computer generated, Storybook font.

Flowers:  Prima

Brads:  Recollections.

Inside verse:  Irish Blessing:

          May you always have work for your hands to do.

          May your pockets hold always a coin or two.

          May the sun shine bright on your windowpane.

          May the rainbow be certain to follow the rain.

          May the hand of a friend always be near you 

          And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.

This was printed on vellum and mounted on the same blue cardstock as the second mount behind the bunny.  The bottom edge was cut with the Martha Stewart heart border punch. 

Card count:  3/365

ADDENDUM:  Happy 13th birthday, Katie (one of my granddaughters in MN).