Dare you to Digi Stamp - challenge 6

The week the challenge is stitching and gingham. I was originally a bit stumped because I do not have any gingham paper. I know, I know, as someone who has been scrapbooking for over 11 years I should have some in my stash. That said, I don't. It then dawned on my that I DO have lots of gingham ribbon! So here we are. The image is by BeccaKay and I think she is just as sweet as can be.

The other challenge this week was to actually mail out the created card and to send to a child sponsored by Post Pals in the UK. This is a FABULOUS thing and I am very excited to learn about the organization. What a wonderful thing-I would encourage ALL of you to check it out and send a card if possible.

I am sending this one to Samara M. She says she likes glitter and sparkles (so do I Samara!) so hopefully she will enjoy the card!

I WON!!

I WON, I WON, I WON!!! Doing the happy dance at my house!!
I won the BLOG hop challenge from Paper Makeup Stamps. What does this mean? This means I get the entire May Release! YES!!! How rockin' is that?
Check out the store BLOG for some wonderful samples from the DT and spotlight designers. There is some amazing talent and they are working with FABULOUS images!!!

Comfort at the loss of a Father

This is being sent to a friend of a friend. I am very, very honored to have assembled this. It is being sent as comfort due to the loss of her Father. The timing was close to the time of year my own Father died and I can imagine her pain. I want her to know that others do care and want her to feel some comfort at this time and always.

BLOG CANDY- Victoria Case

Victoria Case - the designer of the images from my last 2 posts- is giving away some amazing blog candy. Check it out and check out her stamps while you are there too ;).

Dare you to digi challenge #5

This week's challenge at Dare you to Digi Stamp is a sketch. Here is my take on the sketch using a Victoria Case image.
This was a really fun one to color! I could not resist adding the freckles, LOL!

DU2DS challenge

The challenge on Dare You 2 Digi Stamp this week is Things With Wings. What is more fitting than a Fairy? IMHO- nothing :).
I have two cards to share. They are both done with a new release digi stamp from Victoria Case. I just love her. I like the blue hair the best, but kind of messed up the wings I think. I love the way the wings turned out though on the turquoise and orange one :)

More cards with images from Dustin

Dustin Pike is have a design team call going on. Anyone who is interested should check out the details on his BLOG!
Here are 2 more cards I have been working on the last couple of days that feature some of Dustin's designs. I just love how much fun they are to work with!!

Lots of Love

I will be mailing out this comfort afghan this week. I am honored to have assembled it and hope it brings the recipient many feelings of love and comfort.

Dare you to digi stamp

This is the next Friday challenge from the Dare you to digi stamp BLOG. This image is from Sketching Stamper. These is an amazing variety of images there, but I love the anime looking ones sooooooooooo much!!!
Anyway, the challenge was to use pink and green. I decided the background paper here was just screaming to be used for this one and ran with it. Enjoy!

Challenge from the Digi Shack

The Digi Shack is having their Grand Opening and have issued a challenge with a free image. This is what I have created with the image and the sketch.

Birthday Lauren Fairy

This is the first card I have created with this image and I love it! It is just a fun image and the card ended up so bright and cheerful. I got the frazzles in a birthday bag some time ago and have wanted to use them ever since. I am so glad to finally have the opportunity.

Cards anyone

I am evidently in a card creating mood. At least I am making something, even if I am not getting scrapbook pages done :)
A few more fairy cards done with stamps from Susana's Custom Art & Card Design.

Thanks Chameleon!

The Dare you to digi stamp Friday Challenge this time is all about BLING! This image is another from Dustin Pike and the saying is the brain child of my good friend "Bob". How perfect is it?!?!?
The little guy took a couple of tries. Initially I used green and yellow glitter after coloring. My boys and I all agreed "it looked better before". For this one I used an iridescent glitter after coloring and it is MUCH more to my liking!

In Honor of Jason Hicks

This is being sent to the Mother of Air Force Staff Sgt. Jason Hicks (25) in his honor for the sacrifice he made. I hope it brings her a tiny bit of peace.

Digi Stamp Challenge

There is a digi stamp creation challenge going on here. I decided to combine my Dustin Pike digi stamp, my desire to make some Thank You cards for Make A Wish (I am sure there are other chapters that need cards as well, this is just what I KNOW about!) and this challenge all in one. These two cards are the result.

April Showers

I recently found an artist named Dustin Pike. On his BLOG he was very kind and shared some free digi-stamps. This card was made with one of them. I LOVE his artwork! He also has a few digi-stamps for sale on ETSY and there is a Fairy Bear that is adorable! There is also the cutest Birthday Monkey. I have a couple of friends that go "ape" for monkeys so thought I better mention it. LOL! Check out his work!

Also while you are out and about cruising BLOGs, there is some AMAZING candy available at Crafty Goings On. -I almost hate to spill the beans :)

Happy Birthday Dad!

Love you and miss you!

Fairy Box #2

This is done with the stamp Lark. Learning a bit more with every single experiment. Some I will repeat, some I will modify and some are just never to be done again, LOL!

Fairy Magic Box

I have been working on this one since the moment I finished the last. Mostly mentally, but I KNEW I had to do it :). The flying bumblebee didn't turn out as well as I had hoped, but the one on the flower is fine. I learned a few other things I will do a bit differently next time, but all in all am fairly pleased. More than I thought I would be yesterday when the wings were drying....

Magic box

I saw these and knew I wanted to try my hand at making one. It was a BLAST to do! I am pretty certain I will be making more. I don't have a purpose for them, but they are so much fun! I put the quarter in one of the pictures so you get a feel for the scale.

Couple more cards with fairies

YES- I love fairies :). I am not a super girly, girl, but I DO love the fairies!!

Another fairy

I used some more of the paper as a background for this card as well. The fairy stamp is from Susana's .

Aisian theme cards

I have some wonderful papers sent to me by a friend in Japan. I have been reluctant to use them as I don't want to use them all up. I have decided that I don't get to enjoy them when they are put away so I WILL be using them :) Here are a couple of cards I made.

March- gone too quickly

I have been laid off for the month of March. The no paycheck thing will hit in about a week (April 1st to be exact), but for now, the time has been WONDERFUL. It has lined up beautifully with the boys Spring Break-this week. I have also really enjoyed being the person to take care of my home and family. I have gotten a few smaller projects completed. I didn't tackle the really big one, but that is because I decided to stay small. I don't have as much time as I wish. The weather didn't/isn't cooperating as much as I would like for the outside activities, but they are started at least.
Just some general rambling, but I am LOVING this month! :)

In Honor of Jason W. Swiger

This OPH comfortghan is being sent to the Mother of Army Sgt. Jason W. Swiger (24).

In Honor of Spence A. McNeil

This comfort afghan is being sent to the mother of Army Pfc. Spence A. McNeil (19).

BLOG Candy from Elisabeth Bell!

Elisabeth Bell is an illustrator that has had many of her images created as stamps. She has a style all her own and definitely has a way with capturing the moment! She has some BLOG candy going on now that asks what is the favorite from a particular group. Well, for me, that was EASY. It is Willow with Hot Chocolate. LOVE IT!

Check out her BLOG and let her know what your favorite is!

In Honor of Kevin Shea

This has been mailed to the parents of Marine Lt. Col. Kevin M. Shea (38). I am very grateful to all of those that send squares for these comfortghans. This mission is very, very important to me.

Comfort delivered in a box

I am sending out some comfort to the husband of a friend and also to one of my young son's teachers. She is a wonderful woman as well and I enjoy every minute I am around her in my son's classroom. Both of these people (unrelated) have experienced the loss of their Mother recently. Such a sad situation and I hope that they will be blessed with a tiny bit of peace and comfort when these are received.

Fairy cards

I have been using some fairy stamps I have lately to create cards. Some of them turn out better than others, but I am enjoying experimenting :). The stamps are from Susana's Custom Art and Card Design

Winner of the OWOH is........

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

218

Timestamp: 2009-02-12 13:58:36 UTC

The winner is JENN Z!!!

Thank you all so much and I loved being part of the Gypsy Caravan. I will most definitely do it again next year!!

The saga of a knee

I went in Monday to see if I could FINALLY be cleared for running with my knee. Now, just so you understand I have NEVER been a runner. However, NOW I want nothing more than to be able to run. In fact, I am determined to make running and activity I participate in with some frequency.
Unfortunately, the answer was "No". I did receive a new list of exercises to work towards the clearance. Physical Therapists have an amazing was of finding something that looks very simple and what it actually does is make every single muscle ACHE the next day. The good news is, they must be doing something :)

Look at that boy jump!!

Hard to realize this is the same boy who in September fractured his ankle in two places, one of them going through the growth plate. Oh to heal like a young person....
He took his test and is now a green belt! I have never seen him work and focus on anything like he does his Tae Kwon Do. I am so proud of him. I knew he had this passion in him, it just needed a worthy outlet.

Comfortghan mailed

This is being sent to a very dear lady who needs some comfort. Her father recently passed away and she has had some medical things of her own to deal with. I have known her for years and although our association is through work, I have come to think of her as a friend as well.

I am disappointed

I am very disappointed in Danica Patrick. When I saw the commercials during the Super Bowl she is in I was so saddened. She has broken through some barriers and is in a position to be such a positive influence for women and especially young girls. These commercials to me do the exact opposite and do nothing more than reinforce the idea of women as sex objects and unintelligent. The more I think of it, the sadder I become.

Comfort Afghan ready to send

This is being sent to a couple who had a 3 year old son pass away very unexpectedly. I can only imagine the pain and hope this comfort afghan helps them during this time.

One World-One Heart

COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED. I WILL POST THE WINNER SHORTLY.





I am participating in the 2009 One World-One Heart blog hop and giveaway. There is a list of all the participating blogs and more details available by clicking the logo.
Now, for the "rules" and the give away. I will send to a winner anywhere in the world. In order to be entered in for the random draw you must leave a comment on THIS post. You also must include either a link to your blog or an email address so that I can contact you if you win. The winner will be drawn and contacted on February 12th. Good luck!

The goodies:


some inside pages of the mini-album I made that is included.

Given a little time

All things seem to work through given some time. I have calmed down and that has helped tons. I also had a weekend filled with family in both good and bad times. I am very blessed in my life and was reminded of it in a big way.
Back to a better attitude and being grateful.
I also got some wonderful time with friends and playing with paper. How could a person look at these photos of my nephew with our kitty and not smile?

It isn't happening

The attitude adjustment I mean. I got bombarded with MORE **** when I walked in and read my email. WHY do people think it is OK to commit me to things that will run outside my agreed upon work schedule without even consulting me? It isn't like I am in a position to change them when I find out. They aren't the kind of thing that allow that PLUS the fact it is the boss/owner (who is also the one who agreed to the work schedule when he talked me into coming back to work) who is the offender.

big huge GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!

Attitude Adjustment

I need one. I am still working on being grateful for things that I don't feel grateful for. This is going to be a lifelong process. However, I am hoping that if I can really focus on one "thing" at a time that I will make progress in that area and then go to the next one. Right now my main focus is my job. Today is not a good day for feeling grateful. I want to throw a fit and pout and get to stop being a grown up. That isn't going to happen and what I NEED to do is remember how grateful I am that I HAVE job. Especially right now. Not only do I have a job, but I have a pretty good employer who really does try to make certain that my priorities are met. It just doesn't always work out that way and it seems to be in waves and right now, I am drowning!!!

In Honor of Sean H. Miles

This was sent to the parents of Marine Sgt. Sean H. Miles (28).

One Little Word - for 2009

I have watched with great interest the last couple of years as people around me in the scrapbooking world have selected their "WORD". It is explained here with some additional links to more ideas and details. I love the concept, but just couldn't imagine that I could sum things up in one word. I was challenged by Chiara's post and you know me, never one to ignore a give-away I began to ponder things.
I debated several different words and they were all good, but nothing was really grabbing me. I finally settled on one and just as I was logging in to post on Chiara's BLOG my word hit me. The expression "like a ton of bricks" is actually pretty appropriate. My word for 2009 is STRENGTH.

I could go on about why, but there are many reasons. Primarily I have some goals for myself this year that are going to require me to find and develop my personal strength in many areas, not the least of which is will power. I can do this, and my word for the year will serve as a wonderful reminder.