More candy plus picking your past favorite...

There is a Happy New Year candy that's a MYSTERY GIFT PACK over at Quixotic Challenges and you can join in before January 5! Go check out the details and get posting!

My favorite of my own cards for this past year is probably the one I made for my daughter-in-law for her birthday. I like flowers, a lot, and so does she. And although my techniques have improved I think, this came from the heart. So it's special.


Anyway, go check out the requirements and sign up for the candy!

Hop, Hop, Hop - not the Easter Bunny (yet) but the other kind...

A New Blog in town!
The ABC Christmas Challenge blog. And their Grand Opening Hop!
It is a sister site to the ABC Challenge that I have been following. They are having a blog hop to celebrate their "opening" so between tracking Santa and getting everything ready, I've been hopping! They have prizes too!! Check them out. Ends on December 29th. Get Hopping!

SSS36 Challenge

Here is my card for the Sweet Stop Sketch #36 Challenge!

This is a very good sketch to follow, and I loved this image, but I cannot remember where I got it. But it's so appropriate for New Years Celebrations!

And... Happy New Year everyone! Have fun and enjoy yourselves, but Be Safe!

Shhh... I'll let you in on a secret...

I can hardly believe it, but you have a FANTASTIC chance at winning the weekly prize over at
Stamp, Scrap & Doodle Saturday cause no one has completed the challenge yet! Head over today and get your project posted!
And the prize, it's a Christmas Package of papers from Paper Temptress!

Remember, you just need to follow the sketch (see my post below) using whatever papers and images you'd like!

Christmas is coming tomorrow, no matter what and by the way - MERRY CHRISTMAS!, so take a few minutes to get your project linked up for a chance to win!

House of Ippity

has a New Year Giveaway! I just found out about this site, and Sarabeth is giving candy away on Jan 1st ! That's my favorite way to find new sites!!

For January, Sarabeth is using a new set called: Straight from the Heart! and it's a cutie. You can order it on January 2nd, but she's giving away a set (or more...) before.
Go check it out Here!

Could use some help with making 3rd column...

Hey, I'm not so good with all this setup stuff in blogger, and was wondering can someone help me to get my blog into 3 columns relatively easily - or at least explained how in VERY basic terms.
I've seen lots of blogs with 3 columns out there, and would love to have mine separated a little better, and haven't a clue how to do it. I'd be very appreciate of the help.

Karen's Doodles Needs more Followers

And if she gets them, we all benefit!!

Picture removed by request of Karen's Doodles

300 Followers by January 1???
Is it possible?

Karen's Doodles is hoping to get to this #.
Can you help out and reward yourself by following?
She has promised to post 3 freebies if she reaches that number by January 1, and if she reaches 200 she'll post 2 freebies. What more could you ask for?

And they are cute images! She posted this freebie when she hit 100 followers.

Digital Tues Challenge - SNOW!

Here's my entry into the Digital Tuesday Challenge . This time it's "Let it snow" and must have LOTS of snowflakes on it somehow. I think this qualifies since they are on the paper as well as embossed images added!

The image is a digital freebie from Verve (check it out quick before it expires).

Dustin Pike images will be the prize, and I'm always up for those!

Go check it out.

Stamp With Us Challenge -

The Stamp With Us Challenge this time around is the theme: Christmas (what else)!

And I decided I had a little extra time today,
so I made up these two cards.

I'm positive my hubby will come along in the next day or two, and inform me that he needs some cards for someone at work - so I'm prepared. Well, until he needs more than just a couple anyway!
I think these are basic Christmas cards. Could work well for most anyone. And sometimes, that's exactly what you need in your stash. I know I will probably keep making a few more cards for hold for next year. I felt really pushed getting all my individual cards made this year, and having a few on hand would be quite helpful. I know there will be tons of new stamps I'll want to use, but you can always use the basic tree, santa, and snowman ones.

Over the next few days I'll try and post a few of the cards I've made, but I need to allow time for them to arrive at their destination before I do that! And I got them mailed a little late.

Happy Saturday before Christmas!

Hi everyone! Well, the challenge this week at Stamp, Scrap & Doodle Saturday will be up for two weeks, due to the holiday!

So let's get to it! Here is the sketch to follow.

The prize for this challenge is Paper Pack from Paper Temptress!

As you can tell, I used the same little monkey for this card. I think he's adorable. I had forgotten about the previous card when I made this though, as I make some of my challenge cards ahead a little bit. Sorry about that. Otherwise I would have used a different little image.

I've been so busy making cards for family and friends ( over 70 completed and in the mail - and I make each one different) that I'm way behind on other things. Luckily, we are having a simple family dinner here on Christmas night. I think I have that covered.

I hope to spend a little time during the holidays just going around and checking some blogs that I've neglected!

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and New Years too!

Remember, you have 2 whole weeks to complete this challenge! Come join in.

A challenge card - Simon Says

Here's my entry into the Simon Says Challenge for "Let it Snow".

I love this little image, and this paper already had some snowflakes on it, so I just added to it!
This is one of the many cards for friends that I'm desperately trying to finish up and get mailed!
Can you say, "YIKES"?!

A shaped card is the Challenge!

Happy Saturday!

This is my "shaped" card for the Stamp, Scrap and Doodle Saturday Challenge today!
This image lends itself to making a cute shaped card, and it was easy-peasy!

I hope you gather your courage to give this challenge a try. There are just so many different ideas out there. I was thinking of making an ornament shape, then I thought about a snowball!, then I considered a stocking shape, but then remembered that my neighbor is getting married in less than two weeks and I'd need to have a card done for that and frankly, I'm tired of Christmas things at the moment -- so I thought this was the perfect card for Sarah/Richard. She's a young school teacher, and her fiance is a sweetie too. I'll get back into Christmas cards later this weekend, as I still have quite a few to make. I make them all different, and I only have about 18 made so far and still need a fair amount. I'll be singing along with Dean Martin's Rudolph later and get back into the mood.

Click on the link on the right, and come join in the challenge. This week's sponsor is Victoria Case and there will be some images available to the winner!

Now this is a PRIZE!!

How about a NEW QuicKutz Epic Six Die Cutting System and a grab bag of QuicKutz dies to get you started!!!! No, you are not seeing things and this is no trick! In the spirit of the season, we want to give one lucky blog follower this fabulous prize! So, what needs to happen for us to hand this prize pack over?? Well, we need to hit 500 followers by New Year's Day!!! We know you can help us do this! Spread the word of this giveaway on your blog, forums, facebook., twitter, EVERYWHERE YOU CAN! If we can reach the 500, someone in that 500 gets the New Epic Six & the dies!!! The more people you tell, the better chance we have of reaching 500 and you will be in the pot to win! So, help spread the word, make sure you are signed up on the right as a follower, and comment on this post telling us you want to win!
Go to: Die Cuts R Us Epic Giveaway and check it out! Add your name to the followers list.

Could win a personalized stamp!

Some fab candy to be found at Magnolia Down Under Blog by Kellie Winnell and it runs through Dec. 19th. There are a few rules you have to comply with or your name will be removed, but I believe it's more than worth it. So go check it out, and then sign up at the Mr. Linky thingy! I like the 100% oval one the best, but really they are all lovely. Now I want one!

Whimsy Stamps card

This is my entry into the Whimsy Stamps Holiday Stamp Contest. I love this little frog, and he does seem to be daydreaming, doesn't he?

This contest continues until December 12 at Whimsy Stamps. Your card must be Holiday Themed and it must include the main focus of a Whimsy Stamp, and the card must be created for this specific contest. There are a few other rules and things, so go to their website and check it out.

There will be 3 finalists chosen, and then voting begins. The final contest winner will be chosen and announced on December 20.

I'd love to win, as the prizes are stamps from Whimsy Stamps, and I have a few of those on my wish list!

So if you don't enter yourself, and if I get chosen as one of the finalists, please come vote for me!

* Edited - wasn't good enough for the finalists, but it was a fun card to do anyway!

#18 Stamp, Scrap & Doodle Saturday Challenge

First, I want to say Thank You to all of the people who joined us in our challenge last week. It was great to see all the names being added to the Mr. Linky. We had over 43 people join in the challenge. You can still stop by and check out those designs, but a winner was chosen, and it's
Erin of Scrap, Stamp & Be Merry! Congrats Erin!

On to the new challenge! This challenge was a little difficult for me, it's a color challenge and I don't do so well with those!
I don't have many of those supplies readily available, and also they just didn't seem to go together for me. But... I finally came up with something. I love this freebie image I got and couldn't wait to use it.

This week's color challenge is being sponsored by a first-timer company to us: Whimsy Stamps , and do they ever have some wonderful images! (They have this adorable little snowman holding up a bird and that's on my wish list!)

So.... please join us this week and click on the link on the right. We always enjoy seeing the projects and I admit I often don't get to visit everyone and I don't always leave a comment, but I'm trying to improve on that! I really do enjoy visiting all of them - and you always amaze me with the creativity!! I can't wait to see what YOU come up with for this color challenge!!

Card for Men challenge

Here's my entry into the Cards for Men 1st Challenge .

Basic, simple and appropriate! Fits the challenge I think.

I'm planning to make these up assembly style for the nephews and neices. I think they'll enjoy getting their own card!

Blog Candy

Isn't this lovely? To be in for a chance to win it, go to A Gathering Place and see what you need to do! This is a lovely site, with some wonderful Christmas images and music and makes a nice little visit!

And you could win this in time to give it to someone else if you wanted! Moms like things like this you know!
If nothing else, go and listen to the music she's chosen. This Candy is available for signup until December 6 at 5 pm.

Sketchy Thursday - for Copics

Here's a card for Sketchy Thursday. I'll come back and post more, but the deadline nears.

And I keep being bumped off the web sites for some strange reason. Comcast or Blogger, something just isn't right tonight.

So go check out what others have done for this challenge
Here . And I'll just close this computer for the night! Maybe tomorrow will be better!

Kinda long....but very good!

My friend Margaret sent this to me today, and I thought it was good enough to put on here for everyone to enjoy! I hope you do enjoy it, and pass it along.

RE: My Birthday!
A letter from Jesus:
It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season. How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Now, having said that, let Me go on.
If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all My followers did that -- there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.
And stop worrying about the fact that people are calling The Tree a Holiday Tree, instead of a Christmas Tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree.
Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1-8.

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My Birth here is my wish list: Choose something from it:
1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.
2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.
3. Instead of writing the President complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up... It will be nice hearing from you again.
4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.
5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.
6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.
7. Instead of nitpicking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families. (by the way, Hobby Lobby is a great example of this!)
8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary-- especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name.
9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you.
10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.

Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short.
I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court.

And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember: I LOVE YOU,
JESUS