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!!

Giveaway at My Crafting Channel

Another great giveaway is taking place over at My Crafting Channel'.   The Giveaway a $150 gift card to Jo-Ann's once she reaches 250 followers (at 130 now).
1. Become a follower 

2. Like her page on Facebook 

3. Grab her button and place on your blog

4. Make a post on your blog about the giveaway

Open to US residents only...

Winner will be chosen using Random.org 

There will also be 5 additional surprise goodies for 5 other people beside the main winner.

Needing some help please.. regarding copic markers..

Hi everyone.
Well, I have a few copics and I'm getting a little better at using them, but not buying them.
The ones I have so far mostly were purchased individually at Michael's using a coupon.  Our local Hobby Lobby wasn't carrying them, and neither does the local JoAnn's.  I did get an 8 piece starter set when I won a gift certificate from Amazon, and I've added slowly to where I have about 25 now.

Anyway.... I have about six or eight  that now need a refill (I assume that, as the tips are getting lighter and it's not coloring as well).
I've seen comments on blogs before that it's MUCH cheaper to buy a refill (as it can fill at least a couple/three times).  What I need to know is the best and most inexpensive place in the USA  to buy them.


So, please let me know where you get your refills and how much they cost and an idea on the shipping.  
If you are a store owner - do you carry all the numbers? or just a select bunch - as on a couple of sites I couldn't find the specific ones I needed.


I'd appreciate any and all help.

Finally.. all my Crafters Companion prizes have arrived.

Well, as of this evening, all my prizes I won during the month of May from Crafter's Companion have now arrived.  Took almost exactly 2 months to get, and I was getting so impatient to get them all. I did receive a couple of them earlier, but the ones I was most anxiously waiting on were the first two I won the first week in May - and now they've arrived.

So I'm off to play and learn to use them.  I won the Ultimate Crafter's Companion tool (it's awesome!) and also the Envelobox Creator and the Boxer!  These also came with a CD that  helps explain how to use it (but I've been reviewing these videos online already - and they seem perfect for me who hates math (it appears done for ya!!!).  Plus I won a Clevercut Mini trimmer and also a set of Rock-a-Blocks.  

Here's my little Sweetie Dahlia helping grandma at the computer.  She loves it.  We watch videos, and look for music (her favorite thing) and she's just overwhelmed with the goodies all around my craft room.  Can't seem to take it all in - she holds out her hand wanting something but before I can get it (if it's OK for her to handle) she's off staring at something new she'd like.

Happy 4th of July to everyone.
I'm still taking things a little easy - been sick the past couple of weeks with a rotten cold needing tons of meds (I know, no idea how I could get such a bad one in this rotten 100+ heat?!)  And tomorrow is my birthday, so I'm definitely taking it easy then!!

a couple new cards....

Here are a few of the cards I've been working on lately.  I have several birthday cards to do this month again, and of course Father's Day.  And just a few "staying in touch" type cards also.  I'm still waiting on my blog candy wins from last month's Crafter's Companion giveaways, and I can hardly wait!

Hubby has his retirement party tomorrow night, and we're excited for that.  Because it's a weeknight a lot of family and friends can't come, and a few have sent regrets because of their vacation plans, but I hope it gets a nice turnout anyway.

Problems with Blogger!!!!

I read that a lot of people besides myself are having TON OF PROBLEMS with Blogger.

Please, if you have offered candy, and expect the winner to contact you, please consider notifying them yourself.
I am totally unable to get to the blogs I usually follow (there are WAYYY tooo many for me to remember every single one) and therefore I have no way to respond if I was chosen a winner.

How did this get started anyway to make the person come back or miss out. Why not at least make ONE attempt to notify the winner. I can understand not letting it just go on and on without a response, but come on.... sometimes things are out of our control.
So if you are giving away blog candy of any sort, PLEASE make at least one attempt to locate the winner (by email) and let them know! One attempt other than just putting it on your blog for a few hours.
Some already do this (thanks a lot!!!) but most just want to see their counts go up and get visitors coming back. I personally always come back to blogs - (I have only ever discontinued with 2 or 3 blogs that changed their content significantly).

 And BLOGGER - please quit messing around with the basics!!

Beccy's Place challenge again

Here's my card for the current challenge at Beccy's Place . I love her images.

May is the Month at Crafters Companion!

Have you been entering the drawings at Crafter's Companion blogs? You should be! I've been a winner, and can't wait to get my package!

There is still some time, until the end of the month, to get in on the action.  Go check it out! And enter - often and at all the DT for prizes that are certainly worth it!!

Blog candy Scrappin' It

More blog candy can be found at Scrappinit , and I wanna Win it!
She's asked us to comment about our blessings.  My blessing is my family - all of it:  the good, the bad and the ugly! It has not always been perfect, but I have learned to deal with it.  My favorite is my fairly new granddaughter - she brings us joy!  My newly retired husband and I both are thrilled we get to see her often. We make each other laugh a lot!

Sweet Pea candy May 24

More candy from Sweet Pea at will be given away on May 24 @ Milo Lilja's. Check it out!

A few pictures from our recent trip with Dahlia to meet  up with relatives in St. Louis. It's her first visit and chance to meet cousin Layla!

My son Steve with Dahlia and Layla.  They LOVED to scream together.  I think they had a ball!

April Beccy's Place Challenge

Here's the card I made for the April Challenge at Beccy's Place .  She requested we use Chocolate colored papers, trim and embelishments. and I could not resist using these Chocolate covered Strawberries! Yummy!

Market Street Stamp Block Party

Here's a card I made today for the Market Street Stamps Block Party!  Cute little dress image - which was free!

This is the time of year my Mom always started hanging things on the line outside again, so I just went with the flow!

Scrapinit Discoveries

There is a another weekly contest over at  http://scrapinit.blogspot.com and Einat wants people to write a post about something they "discover" in the second half of life, and my comment is that I think everyone wishes they had the knowledge they've obtained lasting that long, but wish they were teenagers again!  I do! I've discovered that if I could do it again, Oh the things I'd change.  By the ton!  And probably not what most people would think.  I think I did the major things right, but my life could have used some tweeking!  Do you agree?  If so, join in!

Hubby has retired!

I have a non-crafty blog today.  My husband has retired from his job at the newspaper after 38 years!  He was offered a buy-out and it was too good to pass up. That industry is failing more and more every day and although he's not quite old enough for Social Security, it was time.  The stress in the past few years were starting to affect him a little, and even though he absolutely loved his job  -  He's really happy now!

So, we'll see how things go.  He's already trying to get me out of my craft room.  And sometimes that could be a good thing, but not always!  And he is already planning to get me to de-clutter the whole house, and especially my craft room - Mercy Me!  I'm resisting like crazy.  But then again, I could use the help!

Hang in there with us, and I'll be sure to let you know as things progress (or regress, I'm not sure which).

new punch I won

Here's a card I made today, using a new punch I just won.  It's fab.  I love it already. And so useful!  I won several others things, but you'll just have to wait and see for those!  This is a card for my little Dahlia's mama who has a birthday coming up real soon, and she loves elephants - so how fitting!

Here's a new card I made for a friend of my older brother - who sometimes has been like a brother to me. I think he'll like the humor - about me always being younger!  I really love this image by Mo - I've used it for so many different things!

Scrappy Chick has some goodies

The Scrappy Chick has some goodies up for grabs for some of her followers, and I'm one who hopes to win!  Some paper, stencils, gift certificate and some stamps - Goodies! for 4 winners.  Worth to trip to her blog to find out how to enter.

Here's my card for the new Challenge over at Digi Darla's.  This one is called, "Festive Flowers" and I found a cute little image for that.  My girlfriend Laura has several gardens, and although a lot of it is produce, she does have flowers too!  And my flower beds have all just been redone (by someone else I may add!) and ready for new plants.  I can hardly wait to get it set up with new stuff.

My sweet Dahlia

This picture was from a few weeks ago. She loves to rough-house around. My son Steven does that with her a lot I think! Here's she's trying to get my toes!

Sweet Dahlia Anne, she's getting so big. She's just 14 months old last week.

Hubby and I are surely enjoying all our visits with her. I've been taking a few videos, so that's one reason there haven't been many pictures of her recently.