Sweet Easter

I love the sweet expression on the face of this Penny Black bunny.  I used this image today for the Sketch Challenge at SCS.

I'm tired of St. Patrick's Day cards........you can get really sick of Green, Green, Green!

There is a Blog Hop coming up for the month of March at Mark's Finest Papers - A Heinrich Company, and the images are just wonderful.  I'm getting started on them today.

We are expecting snow later today, and I can't say I'm all that happy about it.  The only good thing is that we are a day closer to Spring.  We are enjoying programming from Spring Training Baseball from FL, and that's the only thing keeping our heads above water now.

Have a great day wherever you are.

Hello Friend

A combined challenge this morning.......the TLC and CAS.

A simple card, really.  Just took a little longer than I thought, and I wish I had made the image a little straighter, but that's show biz!

Today is haircut day.  Our DGS's Bar Mitzvah is less than two weeks away.  I have nothing to wear yet, and may have to go in a paper bag, since nothing fits.  I've enjoyed eating, and it shows.

Have a great day.

Dogwood Thoughts

Here's the card I just finished for the Featured Stamper (catcrazy) today on SCS.  I changed the colors and image, but kept the wonderful layout.  I had some gorgeous ribbon, so I put that in too.

We got a late start, going to Mom's to sort out some basement stuff.  Got a lot done, but LOTS more to go.  Have a great rest of the weekend.  I'm going to spend the rest of the day with my feet up and a nice COLD glass of wine! Seeya!

Gold and Apricot

This Easter card is for two challenges today, the Inspiration, and Speedy Fox and Friends #96.  Barb is our hostess, and asked us to use lace this week.  Please join us and link your card here.

Tommy went home this morning.  He came with a bunch of stuff, and of course went home with more!  We had a wonderful time with him.  He's the easiest of the younger grands.

Now it's just us again, and the peace and quiet is lovely.

The wind is very strong today, so no outdoor plans for us.......but DH asked if we would like to go out for lunch and of course Mom and I said SURE!  I don't think we will blow away!

Have a great weekend.  Hugs to you all.

A Monkey For Pat

Our Queen for the Day is Pat Rose.  What a sweet lady she is, always with beautiful and fun cards, lovely comments too.

I cased a card with a monkey on it, and changed it very little.  Hers was so nice I didn't want to "monkey" around with it. *sorry*

Snow does not keep us from going to Toys R Us in search of more Lego people.  Tommy is hoping to find some he doesn't already have.

Have a great day, and if you would like some snow, come here!

CCEE #1208 Favorite Zoo Animal

If you know anything about me, you know my favorite color is RED............ but my favorite animal at the zoo is the GIRAFFE.

I love their silent elegance.

This theme was selected by Shirley.  I loved this choice!  It's a Valentine that will go to one of my grands. 

Of course it had to be a TALL card.  Tall and thin.  Hmmmmm... maybe it should go to my son Paul.  He is tall and thin (6'10", 173#)!!

The bg dp is giraffe paper.  How cool is that??????

Please join us, linking your card or project here, and we'll be back next Thursday with another fun challenge.

Hot Water!!

This card using the sentiment and teabag from Relax A Bit (MFP) is for the Sketch Challenge today on SCS.  If you want to click on the image, you can probably see the glass mini beads better on the teabag.

Two of the grands went home this morning, and the next arrives in time for lunch.  I just have to make up the bed for him, and see what has to be put away from the two goofy boys' play!!

They were really good...ate well, slept well, went in the Hot Tub three times a day......in general had fun.  The next one is a quiet and thoughtful boy.  A lot different!

I'll take Tommy to the bookstore and grocery as well.  He is a picky eater, so it's better to let him choose.

Have a great day.  No comments again from me today, as you can understand.  Hugs to you all!

Lotsa Flowers!

The boys slept late this morning, so while they were in the kitchen, there was ample time for making a card.

This is for the color challenge, gray and 2 shades of pink.  Lotsa little punched flowers.  I'm happy with the results.

Have a great day..we'll be busy with the boys.

Spring Pink

This is gonna be quick.  I have two grands with me.  We are going to the bookstore, toystore and grocery.  Gotta keep 'em busy.  Have a great day.

Black and White (and RED) Birthday

This card is for our Featured Stamper today, beccabatgirl (Becky).  I cased a card of hers with a typewriter, tab, and flower.  Hers is beautifully colorful, mine ended up in my favorite colors!

No commenting today.  A busy one ahead for us.

DSIL Tom is bringing DGS John for a mini vacation here, and will help DH with the chipper.  We have SCADS of branches in the yard!

DS Paul is bringing DGS Jake for the same vacation with cousin John..the two boys like the same kinds of things (except food!).  Should be eventful!  His wife, our fun Debbie, will stay for dinner and cards, and the grownups will leave the boys to us.

Have a great day.  See you tomorrow for the challenges, and there will probably be entries from the boys as well.

Beauty Rose

Here's a joyfold card for both the Inspiration Challenge and Speedy Fox and Friends Challenge #95. 

Pat is our hostess this week at MFP, and she wanted us to use a different fold.  I hardly ever think to do this, so this was fun for me.  Thanks Pat. Please join us!

Today Tom and Cheryl are coming for dinner (spaghetti and meatballs - easy!), and cards.  The guys (Tom and DH) are officiating at the America East Track and Field Meet at Boston University.  Nine colleges compete.  They will enjoy themselves today!

Tomorrow, because it's school vacation, we will have Jake, age 12, and John, age 11, here for a mini stay at Grandma's.  On Wednesday, those crazy boys will go to their respective homes, and we will have Tommy, age 11, for the rest of the week.  Busy, busy.  What's fun is that all three boys love to craft........so you will see grandson cards here as well.

Have a great weekend! Hugs to you all, and thanks for joining me here for the Blog Hop.  Hope you enjoyed it!

Blog Hop Last Day - Dogwood Blossoms

Hello! Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's February Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Relax A Bit Featured February 14
North American Woods Featured February 15
Blessings Featured February 16
Dogwood Blossoms Featured February 17

Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each day for more chances to win! (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly!) All four winners will be announced on February 18, 2012 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win and comments on the MFP blog count twice!) The deadline for commenting is 11PM EST on Friday February 17, 2012.

Lois
Vicky
Anne
Pat G.
Karen H.
Patty P.
Mary
Dawn M.
Marilynn
Chrissy
Karen K.
Pam
Debbie
Nancy
Bonnie
Harriet
Kathy
Brenda
Mark's Finest Papers

Our new promotion begins this month! With the purchase of the February New Release Package, you will receive this stamp set for FREE!

Our February New Release Mini:

Spring Joy

Here are my samples:

This card above was made with HUGE thanks to Lois Bak, my DT friend, who made a fabulous card with this amazing fence.  Lois, I just had to case your card.  Thanks for a great idea and project!!!!!

Thanks for joining us this week.  Good luck to you all!

Blog Hop day 3 - Blessings (CCEE BELOW)

Hello! Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's February Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Relax A Bit Featured February 14
North American Woods Featured February 15
Blessings Featured February 16
Dogwood Blossoms Featured February 17

Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each day for more chances to win! (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly!) All four winners will be announced on February 18, 2012 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win and comments on the MFP blog count twice!) The deadline for commenting is 11PM EST on Friday February 17, 2012.

Lois
Vicky
Anne
Pat G.
Karen H.
Patty P.
Mary
Dawn M.
Marilynn
Chrissy
Karen K.
Pam
Debbie
Nancy
Bonnie
Harriet
Kathy
Brenda
Mark's Finest Papers

Our new promotion begins this month! With the purchase of the February New Release Package, you will receive this stamp set for FREE!

Our February New Release Mini:

Spring Joy

Here's my sample:

And here's another:

Please join us again tomorrow for our last day of new releases!

CCEE #1207 White On White

Don't you just love the elegance of white on white?  This is our challenge from Shirley this week.

I had such fun deciding what layers to add to this card.  Lots of embossing, with the addition of pearls and ribbon.

The butterfly and flower bg are up on dimensionals, and the frame fits just inside the card edges.

Please join us again this week, linking your card or project here.

Blog Hop Day 2 - North American Woods

Hello! Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's February Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Relax A Bit Featured February 14
North American Woods Featured February 15
Blessings Featured February 16
Dogwood Blossoms Featured February 17

Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each day for more chances to win! (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly!) All four winners will be announced on February 18, 2012 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win and comments on the MFP blog count twice!) The deadline for commenting is 11PM EST on Friday February 17, 2012.

Lois
Vicky
Anne
Pat G.
Karen H.
Patty P.
Mary
Dawn M.
Marilynn
Chrissy
Karen K.
Pam
Debbie
Nancy
Bonnie
Harriet
Kathy
Brenda
Mark's Finest Papers

Our new promotion begins this month! With the purchase of the February New Release Package, you will receive this stamp set for FREE!

Our February New Release Mini:

Spring Joy

Here's my sample:

Please join us again tomorrow!

Blog Hop Day 1 - Relax A Bit

Hello! Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's February Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Relax A Bit Featured February 14
North American Woods Featured February 15
Blessings Featured February 16
Dogwood Blossoms Featured February 17

Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each day for more chances to win! (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly!) All four winners will be announced on February 18, 2012 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win and comments on the MFP blog count twice!) The deadline for commenting is 11PM EST on Friday February 17, 2012.

Lois
Vicky
Anne
Pat G.
Karen H.
Patty P.
Mary
Dawn M.
Marilynn
Chrissy
Karen K.
Pam
Debbie
Nancy
Bonnie
Harriet
Kathy
Brenda
Mark's Finest Papers

Our new promotion begins this month! With the purchase of the February New Release Package, you will receive this stamp set for FREE!

Our February New Release Mini:

Spring Joy

Here's my sample:

See you tomorrow for Day 2!

Easter Duckies

This little Easter card is for the combined challenges this morning.  The CAS is a sketch, and the TLC has an interesting technique.

The "wrinkle free distress" uses three different distress inks, a felt pad, a mister, and the heat gun to make the background.  Fun, and not too messy.  The ducks were markered and cut out, then popped up.  I think this makes a very sweet Easter card for one of the little people I send cards to for each of the holidays.

In the Hot Tub this morning, it was really cold, and there were some random flakes.  The sun is shining now, but it's still cold.  We will intrepidly venture out (DH mentioned LUNCH!), and that's the plan for today.  Have a good one, and hugs to you all, my cyber friends.

Featured Stamper - My Friend Kathy!!!

My friend Kathy Bradley (101Airborne) is Featured Stamper today on SCS.  Kathy and I are cyber friends, serving on two teams together, MFP and CCEE.

I cased her first card in sage, with one in the same color.  I changed the image to one that is a sneak peek for MFP's Blog Hop on Tuesday here.  The wolf is from the set called North American Woods.  I just love the animals in this set.


Kathy has so many beautiful cards in her gallery, that casing just one wasn't enough.

I'm sure you can figure out just why I cased a card in RED, black and gray. 

Kathy's card was Asian as well.  All I changed was the giesha and character, but kept everything else.


Kathy, enjoy being Featured stamper this week! You so deserve this honor.


Today we also celebrate DH's birthday with the kids and grands.  DS David and family are sick with the stomach bug that's going around, so thankfully they will stay home and not infect the rest of us.  Paul, Debbie, and Jake will be here from Hudson, and Tom, Amy, Erin, Tommy and John will come from Holden.  There will be just enough cake for us all.

DH's birthday is on Valentine's day, so we'll celebrate again on Tuesday.  We love it when we can enjoy a birthday for more than one day!!! 

Have a great day too, and sorry there won't be cake and ice cream for you all!

Relax with some Tea

Here is my card today for two challenges....the IC at SCS, and Speedy Fox and Friends #94, a shaped card.

This little card is a 2 and 3/4" square that will be used to go along with a gift.  IRL it is just so sweet!!

It's stamped in black, and marker colored with green and pink, another sneak peek of MFP's new images that you can see here on Tuesday.

We have snow.  Not much, just a sprinkling.  We somehow thought we might get out of this winter scott-free, but I guess that was way too much to hope for.  Have a great weekend!!

Rainbow Bear

I think you can probably tell that I like this bear.  This is the second day I've used it as a sneak peek for the sets coming out next Tuesday.  Please come here for the MFP Blog Hop.

This card is a combination of the two challenges today, QFTD for JenMarie, and the F4A, rainbow.

Not much planned today except for the hairdresser for Mom.  If DH comes home and suggests we go out to lunch, we would certainly be ready.  I used to love my grandmother's response when she was asked to do something.......it seems like she threw the phone at the wall and was outside before it hung up.  She said she had "her GADDING britches on!".  And she always did....ready for anything.  So are we.

Have a great day. Hugs to you all.

CCEE #1206 Favorite Sketch and Brads

This week, Shirley chose to ask us to use our favorite sketch, and to embellish it with brads.

I LOVE this cat, called the "King Of Siam".  It's a digi stamp from Just Inklined called King of Siam - thanks for telling me where I got it, Kathy!!  I am very remiss at saving the right kind of information!!!

Of course I had to use RED in addition to the painted image......a RED cat just didn't work for me.

I used the cb for the heart and dot bg and nesties, and the out of the box technique for the cat's tail.  The flowers are primas, and are backed with punched leaves.

Please join us, and link your card here.  See you next Thursday!

Howl on your Birthday

Here's a sneak peek of North American Woods, a new set that will be released in a Blog Hop next Tuesday.  Mark's Finest Papers - a Heinrich Co. has three more sets to show you.  Be sure to come here and see them all.

I used only the wolf and one sentiment from this set, and I think it makes a wonderful card for a man.  I used a yellow marker for those eyes, and the sketch challenge from SCS for today.

Last night was the 6th grade concert for DGS Tommy, and his trombone.  He (and the rest of them) have only been playing since October.  DD sent a video via Facebook, and the playing is...well...pretty interesting!  My Dad played the trombone all his life, and was fabulous, so Tommy has a ways to go, but he is really enjoying it.  That's all we hope for.

Have a fun day.

Sneak Peek - Relax A Bit

Here's a sneak peek of a new set that will be released next Tuesday in a Blog Hop for MFP.  This is one of four new ones, and this is called Relax A Bit.  Fab images for a stressed friend, to cheer someone up, or just a get well.  Hope you like it, and that you will join me here, along with the DT for the HOP.

Irish Hearts

Today I combined the two challenges at SCS......CAS, hearts, and TLC, make your own stripes.

I punched out hearts from the striped paper I made, using two dp's from Michael's, and adding a flourish from ODBD.

The single word is from MFP's set, Winter Crocus.

We are not happy that our Patriots didn't win, but there's always next year, right?  Congrats to Eli.

Hugs to you all.  Have a great day.

Rose for Darcie

I thought you might have been missing RED.  I know I was.

This card is a case of Darcie1, our Featured Stamper at SCS today.  I used MFP's Love Remains for the rose, and sparkle paper.

I just got back from the grocery store, made my card in Darcie's honor, and will shortly get to work in the kitchen, getting things ready for the Super Bowl.  If you're not rooting for the Patriots, you are definitely NOT my friend........but that's just for today.

Have a wonderful and fun filled day, cross  your fingers and toes for a Patriot win, and see  you tomorrow.

Ferns and Speedy Challenge #93

This is the card I made for the Inspiration Challenge at SCS.  The site is Charleston Gardens, and I chose a fern rug.

This is also for the Speedy Fox and Friends Challenge #93, use a spray.  The background is done by spraying alcohol and inks, in this case celery and olive.  Then the stamps are inked and added.  This is the first time I have used the label, and forgot how hard it is to take the paper out without first using waxed paper!! A learning experience to be sure.

Have a great day, and start crossing fingers and toes for our Patriots to win the Super Bowl tomorrow.  We are already gearing up!!

Spring Chicks and Daisies

This is a card combining the two challenges this morning........Free4All (joke) and QFTD, casing a card by Brat (Terri).

Terri's card is behind mine so you can see what I changed.  Joke?  I'm not so sure this is a joke......it will go as an Easter card to Mary, who has been my friend for 40+ years.  Her favorite color is orange.  We are CERTAINLY NO SPRING CHICKS!!  This will make her laugh!

Have a fun day today.  DH is gone to meetings and is the Starter for a big Track and Field meet , so we girls (?) are on our own.  See you tomorrow.

After I posted this card, I found another I loved. Here it is:

Thanks for looking!

CCEE#1205 Snowman and Scallops

Shirley is our hostess all this month.  Her choice of theme is Snowman and Scallops.

My snowman is cuttlebug embossed, with punching all the way around, and sponging in pale blue.  The scallop at the bottom is one of my favorites from EKSuccess, highlighted with little pearls

The pale blue organdy ribbon has a tiny flower with a pearl in the center.

Please join us in the challenge this week and every week on Thursday, and link your card here.

Sending Happy Thoughts

What a great sketch we had to work with today!!  I love it, and will do more!!

This pansy is from a new set at MFP - Sending Happy Thoughts.

Nothing new to report.  We are all well, sang HB to DS yesterday.....loud and off key....... perfect, he said.

Have a great day today....we are out to lunch....um.......meaning we are going out for lunch.  We are also a little nutty, so I guess that works too.  Seeya!