YOU CAN DO THIS

Yesterday was a very difficult day for our daughter.....moving from the home she had planned to be in for the rest of her marriage.  Divorce was not what she wanted so today was very rough for her.  I saw a video from Lisa Curcio this morning that had the perfect sentiment on it.........and I had the set!  

I followed her video for the partial die cut panel and was very pleased with how easy the card really was to make.  I'm going to drop it in the mail and it might just be the very first piece of mail she receives at her new address.  Tomorrow (2021) will be the beginning of a new chapter in her life.  So happy that she has so many friends in the community and at the school where she works who will be supportive of her.

On moving day she actually found out that she is going to be blessed with a neighbor who will clear snow from her driveway and doesn't even want paid for it.  As a single gal with no snowblower, that was music to my ears.  

Thank for stopping by today!

 

CHRISTMAS POINSETTIA

Yesterday's card was a CASE of one that Lynette made.  I started to make my second card like the other one that she had posted on our group.  I didn't get it finished but went on to try stamping it with Versamark and heat embossed it with gold powder.  I really like it matted on the shiny gold.  It was my intention to stamp this at an angle so that a sentiment could be added in the lower right corner.  When I pull out my things next Christmas, I may decide to add a sentiment on a small piece of card stock and add it with pop dots......so you may see a revised version of this in 2021.

I purchased this wood mounted set from someone who had used it and had not mounted the same way the picture on top is.  In fact one of the designs is mounted upside down!  I always have to remember that when I use it.

 Thank you so much for coming by today!

P.S. Today is moving day for our daughter.  The movers stopped here to pick up some things before heading to where our daughter currently lives to load the truck there.  I'm afraid it got off to a bad start.  (Another 2020 thing).  The movers got stuck at the end of the alley and the fortunately Gary is friends with the guy who took over Gary's job when he retired.  Mike came with the tractor and helped them out.  The truck came up the alley but got stuck a second time and ended up sliding into the side of our garage.  Fortunately the only thing damaged was the gutter.  The moving company will cover the damages.

CHRISTMAS HOLLY

My friend, Lynette, showed a couple of cards lately using an older Stampin' Up! stamp set called "Christmas Blessings".  I still had my set and had considered selling it.  After I saw her cards, I decided to hold on to mine just a bit longer.  I'll show the second card tomorrow.

I didn't have anything scheduled for today so I made the one above in the same manner as she had done hers.  I had two gold strips on my table and they were just a bit too short to make the card 5 1/2" wide so I cut down my card base.

This morning we became "landlords" and signed papers to purchase a home for our daughter who will actually be making the payments. Tomorrow is moving day but we are getting around an inch of snow every hour and lots more to come.  Sure hoping that by the time the movers show up the snow plows will have cleared the roads enough to make a safe trip to her new home.

Thanks for stopping by today!

 

CHRISTMAS CANDLES

A few weeks ago, I sold this stamp and another one with just a single candle.  I had always liked these two but decided it was time to move them on to a new owner.  Before letting them go though, I did stamp off a few of this one using Memento Tuxedo Black ink.  I was able to clean the stamp afterwards and the stamps were still extremely clean.

I colored the design with SU Blender pens.  Some of the berries were right next to the red candles so I used a Wink of Stella Gold pen to color the berries which added some glitter to the design.  The SU plaid designer paper has metallic gold stripes so I added a shiny gold mat to the stamped design.

I'm praying for "decent" weather tomorrow but they are predicting about an inch of snow (which is fine) but then ice continuing over night tomorrow into Wednesday.  Tomorrow we are supposed to close on a house we are buying for our daughter and then the movers are supposed to get her things moved to the new home on Wednesday.

Thank you for coming by today!
 

CHRISTMAS DAY

Wishing all of you a Blessed Christmas!

 

CHRISTMAS EVE

The designer paper is from Stampin' Up!. I cut the beautiful candles from a die and carefully added some glue from a glue pad to add it to the card.

We traditionally go to church on Christmas Eve.  This year I'm afraid that won't be happening.  Our church was damaged this summer by a Derecho that toppled our church's steeple and due to safety reasons we are not able to use the inside of the sanctuary.  Services have been held in an area of the parish center but with more limited seating due to physical distancing and some people refusing to wear a mask, I haven't felt safe attending church. Very grateful that I can at least watch services on YouTube from a video that a previous priest is making available.

Repairs have begun but won't be completed for a few months due to winter weather.  The bells in the tower were also sent off to be refurnished.

Our parish has been known for it's beautiful music from our organist and the choir.  Christmas Eve services were normally packed with overflow seating available. This year I'm not even sure if there will be any music.  Even when we return to the sanctuary, I'm not sure our organist will be available.  It's such a sad time and yet we need to be rejoicing the birth of Jesus.  

Thank you for stopping by!

CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT

Actually this "ornament" was made using dies from two separate Penny Black packages.  The bow is from a set that includes a beautiful wreath.  The designer papers are from Stampin' Up!.

Thank you for stopping by today!

 

CHRISTMAS CARD

For this card I used the Penny Black die for the deer and Stampin' Up! designer paper and card stock.

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CHRISTMAS REINDEER

 I made this card to send to one of one of the members of the group who meets each summer (except 2020).   I started with a white 4" x 5 1/4" piece of white card stock. I added a piece of washi tape across the lower portion of that piece and then embossed the area above the washi tape with a star folder.

The trees and deer were die cut from a Stampin' Up! set and added before adding a narrow brown mat.  The card base is Mossy Meadow......the same color as one of the trees.

Thank you for coming by today!

ONE MORE PLAID

Since this die has the poinsettia, I used the red plaid designer paper with it.  I am really loving these plaid papers.

I haven't done any baking yet but have been working on some non-bake cookies.  Our two daughters always have their requests.  Since we aren't having the formal Christmas gathering, we will be "dropping and running" any gifts and cookies.  Sure praying that by the time Easter rolls around we can get together as a family again.

Thank you for coming by today!

 

STAMPIN' UP! PLAID DESIGNER PAPER

Below are two samples of cards I made using the wonderful plaid papers from Stampin' Up!  I can't take credit for the idea of using that die cut with the plaid.  My friend, Kris, sent us a  similar card last year.

Today I am dealing with Two Men and a Truck to move my mothers things out of her apartment.  We were going to do some of the packing and moving ourselves but having professionals do it seemed like a much smarter idea.  It's bitter sweet knowing she won't be going back to her apartment because the entire staff there has been wonderful for the 9 years Mom lived there.  She will now be staying at a Nursing/Rehab center......feeling much more like a hospital room than an apartment.  

Today's move will be a practice run for moving one of our daughter on the 30th of this month.  The same company is moving her.   I think I'm going to need January to recover from all of this!

Thank you for coming by today!

PENNY BLACK - "Sparkler" (Poinsettia)

 I stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black and colored with SU blenders.  The sentiment is from Paper Inspirations. Polka Dot mat is from a pad of SU designer papers.  I added Gold Wink of Stella to the center of the Poinsettia for some sparkle.

Thank you for coming by today!

CASING ANN SCHACH

I met Ann Schach when we both took a class with Michelle Zindorf several years ago. Since that class I have been following her blog and "chatting" via email now and then.  Recently she had a card using the "Detailed Dove" die and "Tis the Season" designer paper.  My brother had just asked me to make a card for him and since Ann had generously offered the tutorial for her post,  I knew what I was going to make because I love the dove and really liked her combination of the papers.  Mine is slightly different.

Thank you for coming by today!

SYMPATHY CARD

I really like the simplicity of this card.  The mother of one of my high school classmates passed a few days ago and I wanted his family to know that we were thinking of them.

Thank you for coming by today.

 

WITH SYMPATHY

Today we will be attending the very intimate funeral for a long time friend of ours.  Many years ago we had several trips together and had lots of laughs.  I have to admit I'm a little nervous about going, but my husband is a pallbearer and he feels I really need to go. There are supposed to be only about a dozen people but I will be extremely careful.

STAMPIN' UP! Mosaic Madness

I made these using Night of Navy as well.

Thank you for coming by today!

 

PEACEFUL DOVE

Cards will be posted but I'm afraid I will not be posting anything for descriptions for a while.  We are in the middle of moving my mother from an apartment next Thursday and 2 weeks later will be moving one of our daughters into a different house.  My stress level has been maxed out!

The idea for this one came from Pinterest.

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY AUNT

BREAK TIME IS FINALLY OVER! I certainly didn't plan on staying away this long but the stresses of life just took over.  I have a lot of cards lined up to post and since so many are Christmas/Holiday cards, I will probably post more than one at a time some days.

My mother's only surviving sister turned 101!!!  My card is going to be late but I knew I still wanted to send it because I was pretty sure she would enjoy the piano on it.  She was so talented and was still playing the piano as of a couple of years ago.  Not sure if she does any more.  Impressive!!!

Remember if you want to know when I actually do post something, you can sign up for the newsletter.  That way there is no need to check back each day if I'm "taking a break" again.

Thank you for coming by today!  

 

TAKING A BREAK

It's still Monday but less than an hour left until Tuesday here.  Over the weekend I was going to try to post a card for today and post ones scheduled to show up the rest of the week.  That didn't happen.  I won't bore everyone with things happening here, but I find it necessary to take this week off from posting on my blog.  We need to get together with our insurance agent to figure out what insurance plan we'll be signing up with for 2021. I hate having to make that decision every year.    

My husband and I will be celebrating Thanksgiving alone this year. Since I promised to make the traditional Thanksgiving meal for just the two of us, I am going to be kind of busy over the next couple of days with that as well.   We discussed it with our two daughters and decided it was best if we all have our own Thanksgiving "celebrations" with those in our own households.  Sad but being safe is most important.  My husband and I probably don't need to worry about getting the virus again this soon, but we don't want to take the chance of picking up something else - especially while my lungs are still healing.

I will leave you with this card that I made back in 2013.  It is one my mother's favorites and she gets it out every year.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, EVERYONE!  I plan on being back with something new again next Monday, November 30.......I hope.

MORE RETIRED SU DESIGNER PAPER

Hope you have a great weekend.............Thank you for stopping by today!

 

USING UP MORE RETIRED SU DESIGNER PAPER

Thank you for coming by today!

 

THANKSGIVING CARD

 We have a mailing list of about 20 senior citizens from our community and family members that we send holiday cards to.  This is what I made to use this year for our Thanksgiving cards.  There are a lot of different color combinations in the Plaid Tidings designer paper pack so I used a variety of the pieces.  The leaf is from Poppy Stamps.

Thank you for coming by today!

STAMPIN' UP! - Plaid Tidings designer paper

Thank you for coming by today!

 

HAPPY FALL!

I had intended to post this card last Friday but time got away.   I saw one similar to this on Pinterest and really liked it.  I'm really enjoying using the Plaid Tidings designer paper from Stampin' Up!

Thank you for coming by today!

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ABBY!

Today one of our granddaughters, Abby, is celebrating her birthday.  I've been trying to make all of the birthday cards for the grandchildren with something a little different than an A2 card.  

I went to YouTube and searched for a Peek-A-Boo card.  This was one style and I really liked the way it works.  Open it up and you get a different message in the circle...............

Now for making it.  This was my second attempt to make it following the video.  I'm not sure what I did wrong to the first one, but the opening for the stamped items ended up down toward the bottom.....which would have been OK but my circles were not lining up as well as I wanted them.  Since this was for my granddaughter, I wanted them to look better.

Thanks for coming by today!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

 

This is a card I cased from one I saw on  Pinterest. 

 

A DAY WITHOUT COOKIES

The stamp set has such cute images.....cookies, chocolates, coffee cup and a cocktail.....and it also has dies to cut them out.

Thank you for coming by today!

STAMPIN' UP! FOREVER GREENERY DP - #2 & #3

 

STAMPIN' UP! FOREVER GREENERY DP #1

 

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, LYNETTE & JIM

My friend, Lynette and her husband Jim are celebrating their Anniversary today.  This is one of my very favorite cards that I made with this dp.   I love that beautiful flower.  It really made the card all by itself.  I matted the dp with Crumb Cake card stock from SU and then added it to a white card base.

Thank you for coming by today!

CORRECTION:  It's probably too late to change this to post on Monday and Lynette may have already seen this post.  I know she won't open cards until Monday.  Their anniversary is actually Monday.  😀

 

SU ENGLISH GARDEN DP - #8 & #9

This is such a fun fold to use

Closed

Open

Thank you for coming by today!

 

SU ENGLISH GARDEN DSP - #4, #5, #6 & #7

 

SU ENGLISH GARDEN DESIGNER PAPER - #1, #2 & #3

 Thank you for coming by today!

USING SCRAPS

One of the Stampin' Up! demonstrators who put on the online retreats that I have taken also does a weekly "Mystery Stamping" project.  She puts out a list on Sundays of the supplies we'll need and then one clue at a time on Monday tells us what to do......one clue at a time.

I like the layout. It was something different than I have done before.  Thank you for coming by today!

 

FANCY FOLD using SU Flowers for Every Season

This card is folded like a box top.  

Completely open on the inside.

Completely open on the outside.

To close, start with the left front....

Next fold down the top and tuck under circle...

Next right front fold and tucks under circle.

Last fold up the bottom section tucking under the left front and the circle....just like you do when closing a box top.  One of my friends made one of these a few weeks ago so I made this one at that time. I think it's fun trying new folds so that when I send the card they are receiving something that is a little unusual.

Thanks for coming by today!