Just a quick note....

I am alive and well.  Just been extraordinarily busy!  Had Mom and Stepdad Mel up with us for a week or so, and all the family gathered here at my house for Mother's Day.  And tons of cards to make for this month with birthdays galore in the family and several friends who have been ill.  Just not finding enough time to blog much.  thanks for the emails wondering where I am! June should be a slower month and I'll get back at it then.

Have been pretty busy

I have been making cards, but just not getting them posted!  Here's a few of them.  I've also had to do several other get well, a couple sympathy, and even a couple other birthday ones that I failed to get photos of for the blog.  Sorry.  I've also had to have one sleep study - and they goofed up, so now I have to do it all again tomorrow night!  And we are planning a trip to visit family for my MIL's 89th birthday!  Things have been pretty busy around here.

But I do have some wonderful news to share!
I did get my social security disability approved!! So I've started getting some little income now, and then in the fall I'll be able to get medicare which was what I mostly needed!  With my hubby's buyout plan ending next month, I'll have to start paying my insurance with Cobra for a few months coverage but then the medicare will kick in late fall.  What a relief that is!!

Well, with the visiting I'll be off here for a few days again, but hopefully things will slow down in another week or so and then I'll be busy with taxes!

A Paper Shelter Celebration

Here's a card I made for the Challenge at The Paper Shelter.  They are having their 100 Celebration Challenge with a special prize and I want one!  this happens to be a pre-colored image and I love having it for a quickie card.  I never seem to have enough birthday cards around, so this comes in handy once in a while!

WHEW! Cannot afford to ship more packages....

Well, what a rude awakening I received today.  I finally got my package completed to ship to Nikki, my blog candy winner, and went to the post office to ship it, and it was over $20 for a little over 3 pounds!!  Talk about shock!!  Last time I shipped one of these bigger boxes it was less than $10.  and I think it weighed more.   I knew this would be a little more in costs because it had two punches in it, plus several stamps, and paper - which does get heavy.

But If I give more candy away, it's gonna have to be gift certificates I guess.  I simply cannot afford shipping costs like that, on top of what the items themselves cost.  I've not worked for the past nearly 3 years, and have not qualified for disability yet, so this is just too expensive.

This truly makes me much more appreciative (I've always been really appreciative because it's allowed me to do this hobby!) of the blog candies that I win. I really do thank you each and every one for absorbing all those extra costs!

BLOG CANDY WINNER!

Well, I removed a couple duplicates or extra comments, and then numbered them all, and so this #7 drawn is NIKKI!

Congrats to you Nikki.  I'll email you to double check, but I believe I have your mailing address.

Thank you everyone for joining in.  I did not reach the participants I would have liked, but hey, I'm glad you folks follow me and I hope there will be more goodies to come in the future at a little quicker pace!  So please stick around!

I also hope to get into posting some of my cards a little more regularly than the past few months.  I'm finally feeling much better and breathing easier now with the oxygen 24/7.  Hubby has been retired for nearly a year now, and we've settled into a routine with our babysitting of our granddaughter to mostly Saturdays now.  So, although I've been continuing making cards, I sure haven't posted even a quarter of what I've made probably - and since I do actually mail off almost of them, they aren't here to photo for the blog!!  I'll do better!

Our 40th Wedding Anniversary is tomorrow, and we have a brunch planned with our sons and their ladies and my little Dahlia!  It will be a wonderful day!!  Happy Weekend everyone.

no more entries allowed: 4 Year Blogaversary! JUST ONE MORE DAY!!!

NO MORE ENTRIES ALLOWED.   

WINNER WILL BE LISTED IN THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS.

**Edited to add photo of candy!
(papers are not included - still sorting!  AND  I'd better get busy - drawing tomorrow sometime!!)

Wow, it's been 4 years since I started this blog on January 1, 2009!  I can hardly believe it's been that long.

There have been some starts and stops, some delays in commenting, but I've enjoyed it all.  I've found new friends and been encouraged by many.  I've seen so much talent out there it's just amazing to me!

I've also won tons of blog candy (thank you every single one!!) during those 4 years, and I want to give a little back.  Still no job on the horizon for me (and maybe none as I've finally applied for SS disability) but I do have some goodies that I'm still gathering.  It will include at least one punch as I love them, lots of papers, lots of ribbons.  Oh, I have a new glue glider pro and refill too!  Plus maybe a stamp set or two.  Anyway, I'll try to get a picture posted really soon!

In the meantime, please comment if you'd like to win.  I'd like you to be a follower, and be sure to leave a way to contact you if you win (a pet peeve of mine is expecting everyone to come back - I will contact the winner), and if there is something in my candy you have already - you can let me know and refuse it and I'll choose someone else to win that!  

Sorry, available only to the US and Canada because of shipping costs.

This candy will be drawn on Valentine's Day, and announced shortly thereafter.  One more thing, I want to have at least 75 entrants, so tell everyone about this candy and encourage them to enter!

Want a chance at a great prize?

Well, here's your chance!  Mosey along to Clare Curd Crafts and enter for your chance to win. End of March 8 so get moving!

Crafting with Jack freebie!

Here are a couple of cards I made using a freebie image from Crafting with Jack!  Sad to say I had to use the sympathy card almost immediately.  Angela has several lovely freebie images, so drop by and check it out and pick up one for yourself!

Polkadoodle Challenge and hop

There's this cute little freebie up for grabs Here, and a chance to win more if you join in!  Come on, it's fun.

new Stampin Up Blog

This new to me Stampin Up Blogger Lizy has a very CAS style (which I like a lot!) and has some candy up right now too!  Now she's in England, which isn't practical for me, but... I like her style!  so I follow.

Digi Garden Challenge

Here's a tag I made for the Digi Garden Challenge. My granddaughter's 2nd birthday is coming up, so this goes on a package from me! Adorable little image - it was a facebook freebie!

Had to choose a new Blog Candy Winner....

Since I hadn't heard back from the first winner, a new one was chosen!  Drop down below to see who it is!!They have until noon on Sunday to respond to me with their mailing address!

My 5 Christmas favorites (of mine)....

Over at Debby's blog , she has this going on. And has for a couple of years now.

So I thought I'd join in (I would rather have posted 5 that someone else did).
So here goes..... Not the best photography, cause these were just the pics I took for myself to show who I sent which card - I don't make two alike ever - and so I had to try to block out the addresses and names from my pics to get these!  Maybe next year I'll take pics first!!

WINNER of my 2013 monthy card candy

**Edited to correct:  Well, Sorry Yvonne, but I haven't heard back from you with an address, and it's after 2:15 pm on Friday, so I am choosing a new winner - and it's   ARDILLA.  You have until Sunday at lunchtime to respond to me with a mailing address.


Well, we were too hectic around here last night to get to drawing a name,
so I had my hubby do that today, and the winner who will receive a monthly card done by me with envelope, stuffed inside another envelope so that it's fitting to give away if they wish, is:

YVONNE Moentin!

Congrats!  Now I need your mailing address sent to me by Friday.  (terriavidreader at yahoo dot com  and please write blog candy winner as subject)  If I don't get it, I'll have to choose another winner after lunch on Friday.
     I hope you enjoy this evenly partly as much as I enjoyed when I won from Toni @ 5InkyFingers!

Paper Shelter images

Here's a favorite image from The Paper Shelter, who is giving away an image on Christmas Eve.  What will determine the image is reviews.  I posted a review for this, stating how it could be used for Valentines, Anniversaries, Weddings and lots of things!  Go check them out and write a review too!  I actually have about 6 images on my wish list.

My blog candy ends next Monday

Just a quick reminder to everyone - My blog candy (a card a month for all of 2013) ends next Monday night.  
I'd love to have more people entering this blog candy.
But in January, I'll have another.  I've been very lucky myself this year and I'd love to pass a little of that along!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

I got off so easy today, I only baked a small ham, fixed a couple dozen deviled eggs and we are providing  a pre-baked Sam's Club Pumpkin Pie and Cool Whip, a couple folding chairs, some bagged ice and some iced tea.  Whooo Hoo!!  And I get to spend time with family while not cooking.  How special is that!

Hope your Thanksgiving is as good to you!

BLOG CANDY!! @Christmastime....

***edited:  a winner was chosen!  Thanks to all who participated.

Hi everyone!
I'm setting up a new blog candy starting tonight,  here - and you are all welcome to enter.  It runs through until Christmas Eve when one of my son's will choose a winner.
   
I won last year a candy like this, and I so enjoyed it the whole year long.  I won it from Toni Sacrison from her 5InkyFingers blog, and the prize was a card a month from her for all of 2012!

What a great surprise awaited me this year.  Every month I received a surprise card - suitable for me to use if I chose, but never knowing exactly when it would come, if it would be just a general card or a theme for a holiday occurring during that month.  And I have to say, so far at least, I've kept them ALL for great inspiration!

      So, starting tonight, my blog candy to one winner will be this same idea:
a new card made by me and mailed to the winner every month in 2013.
If you would like to have candy like this, please just leave a comment and a clear way for me to contact you later if you should win so I can get your mailing address.  That's it.  No more hoops and no conditions for this one.  Will mail anywhere.  
I'll have one of my sons choose a winner when our family gathers on Christmas Eve.

Good Luck everyone!   I hope many of you would like to get this type of yearlong gift. 
I can assure you that I at least thoroughly enjoyed the surprises in the mail!  Special Thanks Toni!!

Purple Pumpkin....

I think that about says it all. Go check it out!  http://purplepumpkincrafts.blogspot.com/2012/11/purple-pumpkin-giveaway.html

25 Days of Christmas Blog Candy...

Well, I have some good news for you! You need to check out this site Studio D and participate for a chance to win some goodies for the Holidays! (You can also click on the icon on my left sidebar!) I think it sounds like fun!

trying to get back into the routine....

Here are a few cards I've made recently.

I am entering them into the Oozak blog contest this month for their Winter Vibes.

 I've not been doing much, as I haven't been in the best of health for a while, and awaiting testing results.  Today my doc said I'm doing as well as expected, and in some ways even better, so I'm trying to get back into normal routines.  So maybe you'll be seeing a few more cards in the coming weeks!

little halloween cutie

Here's a little Halloween card I made for my cute little Dahlia.  She's coming over tonight to greet the visits to our house and her Mama said she's dressing as a dragon, since she was a princess last year!  I'm also entering this into the Simon Says challenge since it's a round card!  Karen said Dahlia kept picking out this costume from a catalog and refused to look at any others.  Needless to say, my little sweetie has her own idea about things! But she was so darling in it!

Here's 3 recent cards I've made.  I've actually made several more, but forgot to take photos of them!!

I'm going to have to get better at that.

Birdie Brown freebie

Here's a little card I made using a new freebie from Birdie Brown!  I love the shape of this tree, and it's perfect for this fall weather and gathering at the orchard!

sorry no posting recently...

Things are a little busy around here again. I've been making cards, but who knows when I'll get around to posting them.  Soon, I hope.  And I haven't forgotten about the candy - it should be up in a week or so, with pics.

I HAVE A WINNER....

EDITED:  Maria has contacted me and the package is on it's way!

(also, if you didn't win here - go check this out:  http://creativeharmony.blogspot.co.uk/ she has the same available here) 

for my blog candy! The winner, chosen by simply having hubby pick a number between 1 and 24 (my blog shows 25 but one was a duplicate) and we came up with # 15, and by our counting that means it's:
 Maria,  who said... wow, how generous good luck everyone
So, Maria, send me your mailing address by Sunday to terriavidreader at yahoo dot com
(if not received in time I'll choose again)  and I'll get the Labels One set out to you ASAP!
I've also added a few 6X6 papers to fill out the manila envelope!

OK, and now for some more news!  I will have some more candy, in the form of a couple of punches and probably some papers again and maybe even a few other things in before mid-October.  Check back and see what I come up with!  At least one punch is a duplicate I won, and another is something I simply don't use.

A winner soon - check LeAnn's blog

I'll be back in just a bit to announce the winner of the Nesties!!

In the meantime, go check out LeAnn's blog: here

I have a small Blog Candy....

OK, I pulled a dumb one the other day and ordered a second Labels One Nestability that someone was selling.  I already had one, I messed up and forgot I did, what I had really wanted was a Labels 3 - so..... for the benefit of someone who does not have a Labels One Nestability - put your name down here and maybe you can win it!

No fuss, no biggie, just put your name down in the comments if you DO NOT OWN this set and would like to have it.  And don't be like me, go check first!!  Here's a reminder of what they look like (6 of them), and samples of cuts.  Remember they are used, and so no packaging.

I'll probably add a few ribbons and maybe some small papers to the winner also.  I'll let this run until the end of August and probably list the winner within a few days (we'll be out of town for the first weekend of September).

Also, I'll have another blog candy probably in September or October for a punch or two that I don't use plus one new one that came as a candy - but I already had one!

Fresh Cut Flours..... go check her out.

Have you ever stopped by the blog called Fresh Cut Flours ? Well, why not?

She has the most lovely cookies always on her blog. I wish I could make decent cookies - I can't, really, I've tried. But it's awe inspiring! And she has re-purposed items all the time too.


and now she has some candy too. I really don't want you to win it - cause I want to win it, but I promised I'd let you know about it!!

There be candy to be had.....

Craft Barn candy

Go check it out, there is some yummy candy available to be had here on the 9th of September (that's my oldest son's birthday! - so I'd especially love to win it!)

You do need to follow, but that's no hardship as it's a nice blog to be checking out any way!

more blog candy - just some papers **EDITED

It's been a few days, and I've chosen the winners.  All 5 people who have commented have won and I'm asking now for your mailing information.
  The packets are ready to go! 
If I have not heard back within 3 days, and any one new asks for some, the new people will get it!!


I had several of the big 12 X 12 paper packs and so I rough cut some of them up into 6X6 pieces and I'm going to send off some paper packs to 2-3 winners.

Sorry but due to the weight of the paper, I'll only ship this in the US unless someone sends the postage to me by PayPal.  And, I'm shipping them in a bubble wrap or cardboarded manilla envelope only - not boxes.

If you are at all interested, please just sign up below.  I'll bundle these up and  choose some winners one day next week.  I need to clear out some room, and I know I'll never use all these papers so I'm hoping someone is interested in them.  I didn't keep the name of the paper packs - sorry - and I had about 6 big ones - the kind that had 180 pages or so!  So there are a lot.       This photo is a sampling of some of the cut pieces!

a few more recent cards...

 Here are a few of the recent cards I've made.  I get busy, and forget to post some of them.  I've probably made over 20 in the past month, mostly for friends and family birthdays and such.

Crafters Companion Challenge for July

I just won this FABULOUS stamp set called Wish Upon a Star and decided to use it to make a card for the  Crafters Companion Challenge this month of anything goes! Although I'm not too much into the Christmas in July - it fits that too!!