My Mom's Party

Here are a few of the photos from my Mom's 80th Birthday Party. A couple of the photoboards are shown here and also one of her with her cake. There is also a photo of my two boys with their Grandma and the group shot is of a couple of my classmates (and a spouse!) and my Mom and me. The lady in the red top is my best friend Laura - basically my sister! No blood relation, but maybe all the better for that! Through thick and thin, she's there. The other couple came to our hometown for the Homecoming weekend from North Dakota and stayed for this party! Jeanne and Terry, so glad you got to stay and catch up with us a bit! It was great to get to visit for a short while.

My sister-in-law who has done scrapbooking helped us set up 3 of the boards (we ended up having 8 total) including the two shown above. That was a lot of help, as I had no experience with it at all. I'm glad I had all the supplies and punches to use! I used my card experience to do the Happy Birthday with the black background off the edge of the board so it would Pop! But no one would let me actually put 80 small balloons on this posterboard (I think we had about 35)!

We took photos of the boards, and printed them as 8X10s so my Mom could have them at home with her. She wanted the actual boards, but it would have been difficult and costly to ship them and no way were they going on the plane like this! Especially not all of them.

I may show a few more pictures later on, but for now, I'm glad the whole thing is over! It took forever to scan the photos in, sort through them all, and get these made up. But it was worth it. And the stress of the week was horrendous, but that's a whole other story.

It's Saturday... and the SSDS Challenge!

This week is a color challenge and also we are getting to use some wonderful images from Sue McMahon, who is our sponsor for this week's challenge!

This is such a cute image, and so much fun to color. I liked trying to keep him from being so serious in black like the typical pilgrim images!

And I liked adding his "southern" expression.

I've had such a busy 2-3 weeks, but things are starting to settle down a little, just in time for the busy, craziness of the holiday season! Oh well, at least that gives me a good reason to start cleaning house again and getting things ready!

I hope to be back sometime over the weekend and show a few photos from my Mom's 80th Birthday Party and some of the posterboards we put up for her. She had a good time, and it was really simple with cake and punch, exactly what she asked for. And she loved the photo boards that were made. She wanted to take them home, but we finally talked her into just having big, closeup 8X10 pictures of them and changing them out often. She has no room for these big posterboards on the wall! So come back and visit later and see what I'd been busy doing recently.

Have a great Saturday, and fall weekend!

It's Wednesday...

So here is my card for this week's challenge at Doodle Street. I love this little pumpkin image, but there is so much more. You really need to check out the store!

Today's challenge pushed me a little bit, especially since I've been so swamped with family stuff. And computer problems. Family stuff is mostly over for now, my Mom really enjoyed most of the party and has today started on her flight home. More on all that later. The computer is still sick. We have someone finally scheduled to come see if it's all the cable problem like I think, and not my poor computer.

But back to this card, I'm usually a very CAS card maker in general. And sometimes I stay stuck in that rut. But I can be pushed out occasionally! This text image was something I found a a local flea market (along with a couple other prize images!) but I'm not sure I like it - may not use it again. I thought at first I smeared it when stamping, but no, this is how it came out 3 times in a row. So it's the image and I think it's difficult to read.

Please join our challenge, each and every week that you can! It's lots of fun and we have some wonderful prizes. Take a chance, try something different. It is fun, I promise!

SSDS - I'ts Saturday!

Welcome Saturday!

Today is a very short posting for me. I'm actually not even here this weekend. I'm off to my old hometown area to help celebrate my Mother's 80th Birthday! We convinced her to come up from Florida for this, and my brothers and I are hosting a small gathering of family and friends in our old church (really the name is Friendly Grove Baptist Church, honest!) and I hope it goes well as a lot of hard work has gone into this. I hope to post more about this event in the coming weeks, including some photos, assuming we survive!

But in the meantime, you won't hear from me for a short while as my husband and I are also taking a vacation after this weekend. We haven't had time off or been anywhere in well over a year, so we are going to enjoy a few days off. I have another post or two scheduled, so I hope they work, otherwise I'll be back to post around October 18/19.

Todays card features an image from Dustin Pike. I'm sure you all know who he is! He's done some fabulous images, and he's also very generous with freebies! So head on over to the SSDS blog (link on the right) and check out all the other DT cards/projects, and then stop by Dustin's blog and get yourself a couple, three or whatever! They are so whimsical and wonderful to use!

Have a great weekend!

BOY, am I ever late in posting...

Sorry, I should have had my card up on Wednesday for Doodle Street. But at least I finally got it finished, the computer is now working (sort of) and here it is!

I've not been feeling well this past week, so I got waaayyy behind on things. Then the computer isn't cooperating (well, actually I think it's the cable connections) and so it was one thing after another. But this is a cute little turtle image from Doodle Street and one of the fun things with digital images is that you can flip them around, which is what I did here. I wanted him to face the opposite way, so I just flipped him.

I hope you get the chance to check out the site and see some of the new images! Please join in the challenges and come visit often.

2nd Day of our Blog Hop!

Welcome back to day 2 of the Blog Hop! for Doodle Street.

WE are having a new image release on October 7th, and this is our second day to introduce you to some of hte new images!

Today, you will start at Jenn, and continue with Callie, Norma, Terri, Heather, Fink, and then finish at Cassandra.You must follow through with a comment at each DT member's blog, in order, to finish and be eligible for the prize each day!

My cards for today are here:



Please also visit Heather's store - Fresh Brewed Designs , and Cassandra's store, Doodle Street Designs . Together, they make up the Doodle Street Challenge Blog.

We hope you enjoyed our hop! Stop back by our Challenge Blog often, there are always new things to see and cards to check out by the Design Team!

Happy Saturday!

Looking for the Doodle Street Hop?
Check out the post below!!


Here's my card for the challenge at Stamp, Scrap & Doodle Saturday! Don't forget, you can click the link on the right and join in the challenges every Saturday!

How fun is Halloween? I have to admit that I still enjoy dressing up occasionally! Luckily, it's not such a strange thing, some of the places I've worked have joined in the fun and had both workers dress up, and also encouraged guests/customers to join in as well. But this year, I'm unemployed, and so it might be a little strange!!

But, I remember I did buy a new Witch Hat last year.... hmmmm, wonder if that would be too much out of character for me!

Hope you get the chance to enjoy Halloween in whatever way you choose!

Blog Hop! for Doodle Street

WE are having a new image release on October 7th. So we are inviting you to join in our Blog Hop Today - October 3rd, and tomorrow, October 4th.

Our beginning host for this hop is Heather (so if you didn't start there, you need to!) , then you continue next to Norma , Terri (me), Fink , Callie , Cassandra and then finish at Jenn .
You must follow through with a comment at each DT member's blog, in order, to finish and be eligible for the prize each day!

Here are two of the cards I've made! These images are fun and easy to color too.






Please also visit Heather's store - Fresh Brewed Designs , which is one half of this venture, and Cassandra's store Doodle Street Designs . Together, they make up the Doodle Street Challenge Blog.


We hope you enjoy our hop, and getting to see our new images. Don't forget to come back tomorrow for more of the new releases and another chance for a prize!

(I hope all my links work, but this is my very first hop and I'm still learning all this - so if they won't work, head over to the main blog (link is on the right) and click the links there)

Sharon's turning 50

And has some candy up for grabs! What a treat for us!

This candy will run through 10-9 and she'll announce the winner on her actual birthday Go wish her a Happy Day!

Looking for a Challenge (with Candy?)

Looking for a fun design challenge?

Here's one, and it requires Circles! You must include circles in your Halloween design and submit an electronic photo of your creation to cheryl@stampbystep.com, or snail mail to Stamp-By-Step, PO Box 752115, Dayton, OH 45475, by Sunday October 4th, 9:00pm for a chance to win this prize package.

How simple is that? And what fun. Here's the spinner card I made for it.

Upcoming Blog Hop at Doodle Street

Blog Hop coming this coming weekend!
Did I get your attention?

Just wanted to get on your calendar for the upcoming Blog Hop at Doodle Street.

October 3 & 4 we will have a hop, and there will be prizes. You must go visit and comment on each DT blog to win.

Now to clarify, Heather's store - Fresh Brewed Designs , is one half of this venture, and the other is Cassandra's store, Doodle Street Designs . Together, they make up the Doodle Street Challenge Blog .

These are just a couple of the images I've been working on. There will be many more to see and drool over before the release date of October 7!

Mark your calendar for this blog hop - You DON'T want to miss it!

Hey, it's Saturday...

And time for another Stamp, Scrap & Doodle Saturday. Here's my card for this week's challenge. I followed the sketch pretty close I think. As I was going through my flowers, I found these lovely little buds I had forgotten I had. Perfect!

I've had a chance to get into some other challenges this week, and it was fun. I hope you get the chance to join in ours and have some fun this week! The link is on the right and you have the whole week!

Check this blog for candy

Create Something Everyday, a great sentiment. That's what Bree has at the top of her blog . And now she has fab candy that is growing. Check it out! Runs through Oct 2 now. She's a part of Get Sketchy too and they have great challenges.

2 Entries into Get Sketchy Challenge #7

Here are a couple of quick cards for the Get Sketchy Challenge #7 , going on now. Check it out. There are some great prizes up for grabs!

Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge #5 - 4 entries

Here are my 4 entries into the Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge this week.

The verse: Ecclesiastes 3:1, "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven." And although this scripture makes me think of something entirely different, Kathy's challenge is to make a card/project using the colors of fall. So here they are! And fall is here, as my backyard can attest. Hundreds of leaves in the past few days!

Some news! and a Challenge

I have some news to impart!!
First, it's time for Challenge #2 in the new adventures of
Doodle Street Designs!

The challenge this week -- create something with a "get well" "thinking of you" theme! Its about that time of year! The sniffles, the sneezes, the coughing....so please create something to make that special someone feel better! Fall is here!

And the incentives are: For every 10 people that participate (not just comment) we will offer one free image to a random winner from each shop! So spread the word and start creating!

And now for the news!
The First DT for Doodle Street Designs was chosen yesterday and everyone has now participated in their first challenge in just one evening.
The first Doodle Street DT are: Jenn, Callie, Norma, and ME!!

Here's my card. I love this little flower image. It's one I actually used for my DT callout. And the text is just on the computer. I have tons of fonts and like changing them out often for projects.


Come on over to Doodle Street Designs and check out all the DT projects! They are all FAB. AND, we hope you get the chance to participate in this and all future challenges and join us in having some fun!

Day 20 giveaway

Well, they are up to Day 20, and that's a lot. They are also sponsoring Alzheimer's fundraising too. Go check it out if you haven't already! Here at Crafts-International

Sister-in-Law's Birthday card

Well, here's the card I made for my sister-in-law Torey. Her birthday was yesterday, and hopefully she got the card on time.

My photos aren't that great, but the card is actually a blue/grey with a blue scalloped edge. Inside I made the cupcake card front with a little note, and stamped inside the flap is Happy Birthday.

I think it turned out really good, and I hope she enjoyed this unusual card.

Also here is a card for my nephew, Jeremy, who recently moved away to Texas. He's finished college and is off on the start of his life's adventures, so we have to tease him a little bit! I think he'll like the card though.

Another Challenge

This week it's a COLOR Challenge at Stamp, Scrap and Doodle Saturday.

I'm getting a jump on it this time, as I'm usually oversleeping on a Saturday morning, so I decided to post my entry tonight.

Boni is gonna love this one, I think! She's kinda into Halloween.



I just love these girly images from Sassy Studio Designs. And these cameos are adorable. I didn't find quite the right color blue in my stash, and being a little short of cash this week decided to use several shades of blue instead! I have a girlfriend who's birthday is Halloween, maybe this will be a card for her this year!

Come on - it's your turn to join in the challenge fun!
And it is fun, just click on the link on the right, and check out the other DT members projects and then sign up on Mr. Linky and show us what you come up with! No stamp restrictions, in fact you could do something without stamps even. Doesn't have to be a card either (although that's my favorite!) You have a whole week to do something for this challenge, but how about doing it right now. Or take a few minutes to make a note for yourself to come back and play before next Friday night! There are prizes involved too, but you can check that out on the website as well! Just go with the first thing you think of when you see this pickup with pumpkins (well, the colors anyway!)

Oh, and Happy Birthday Torey! (my sis-in-law - who I hope reads this blog sometimes! Hope you liked your card/purse! {and I'll show it soon too})

Have a great weekend everyone!

Quick card for challenge

Here's a card I made for the Weekend Sketch Challenge at Inspiration in Action - IA102 - and Gretchen is looking for at least 50 players in order to have a fab blog candy.

So go check it out. Doesn't have to be Halloween themed. In fact, she has a Thanksgiving one that's gorgeous and a Christmas one too.

I've just been on a Halloween kick for a few days. I have a cute card coming up on Saturday too.

DT call for Thinking Pink... til 9-25

Here is my entry for a DT call from Die Cut Dreams .

Susie and Vikki are looking for 2 DT members, and have asked that the card or project be done in the theme of "Pink" and although there is a little more color here, the main theme here is Pink. Many shades of Pink.

I like how this turned out, and simply Love the poppy. And the ribbon. And I think my bow is about the best I've done, ever.

Patrick Swayze

I'm extremely sad tonight to learn of the death of Patrick. He always came across as such a sweet guy. I loved him in Dirty Dancing and Ghost, but also playing the drag queen in To Wong Fu (or something like that). And so courageous in this battle with cancer. I think Barbara Walters had it right, he was a sweetheart.
My sympathies to his family.

I've been playing...

And, I decided to check out the Halloween Release Color Challenge over at Sassy Design Studios. Lindsay has been busy in the studio getting images ready for their new release on Sept. 15th, and to get every one ready for it...the Sassy 7 (design team) issued a challenge! The Challenge: use the colors ORANGE, PURPLE, BLACK & GREEN with any image from Sassy Studio's.


Well, I'm up for that challenge. Here's the card I made for it. I hope you like it, and I hope they do too. Cause there is some candy involved here, ya know! I have loved this image since I first saw it, and I always think "vamp" as soon as I see it, and that kinda is how I think of this Rosemary Clooney song too! So they fit nicely together, especially for Halloween, and all that candy stuff!

Challenge

This is for the very first challenge for the New Digital Ink Co. and it is a floral challenge. The image is a Jules Junk Poppy, which is one of my very favorite flowers! So, I used it to make a simple card for one of my sister-in-laws to just say Hello. I hope she'll like it, as I think it's great. I just wish I could get a real poppy to be this color in my garden. I'd plant hundreds of them if they were!

SSCC4

Here is my entry into the SSCC4, Stamping Sisters in Christ Challenge. I love this DRS Designs Image, so cute. And the papers are from the Safari Chic Matstack. I had a hard time photographing this, as the circle paper has a sheen on it. But hopefully you can see the basics. The verse this week is Jeremiah 29:11.

Happy Saturday Everyone!

Well, it's another Saturday and time for a new card for Stamp, Scrap & Doodle Saturday! This week is a simple recipe challenge: 3 DP, and ribbon or lace!

I just love this little girl - doesn't she look like she's off to a wonderful party! This is an April Reece Designs image and they are so easy to color!

Come join the fun and there's a chance for a cool prize packet this week! Remember, you have a whole week to play and get your card/project posted.

Cards for Kate

For more information on this worthwhile cause, please check out Jennifer's blog, http://jennifermcguireink.typepad.com/

I made these cards up this evening, and they are ready to ship out tomorrow. I made ones for the kids, but also the whole family. When someone in the family becomes ill like this, it affects everyone so much, and each person needs a card to show encouragement!

A couple of these cards also qualify as an entry into some blog candy that's coming up at http://bumblcreate.blogspot.com/!

I believe the candy continues until September 19, so check it out!

I also would like to remind everyone about the Challenge over at Stamp, Scrap and Doodle Saturday Challenge.

Remember, you don't have to use any specific stamps, but come and have some fun.

This week's challenge is: What do/did you want to be when you grow/grew up?

This is a fun challenge and without the requirement of a specific brand of stamp, you can even find some freebies to use to show us. Even if you didn't complete your dream job, please consider joining in the fun and encouraging some younger stampers to join in also! You only have until tomorrow evening to complete and get your card/project posted for this week, but there will be a new challenge issued on Saturday, so if you're late, join the new one!!

Our Challenge is relatively new, and we'd love to encourage you to join in every Saturday. There are prizes and possibly some new ideas coming up soon. So click on the link at the right and come see some examples by the Design Team, and join us. You have a whole week to complete the challenge.

Hope to see a project by you soon!!

SSDS Challenge Saturday!

The Challenge?: "What do you want to be when you grow up?"

This is a special challenge that allows you to
enter your work, your child's (can be niece,
nephew, son, daughter, grandson, granddaughter, neighbor's kid, scout troop) work, and/or both.

I always wanted to be a nurse, so that's the card I made. I have great admiration for anyone who completed the long hours to become one!!

Congratulations also to CAROL (ScrapMomOf2) who is our Week 4 Winner!

Happy Birthday Heidi

and the new Simon Says Challenge! I love the bright colors, I think those work especially for birthday cards, but I wasn't extremely happy with this. I struggled with the sketch, but hey, that's how we learn!

And there is a chance for some great blog candy with this also.
Go check it out.

A recent candy win

and a Challenge #2 for Stampin' Sisters in Christ.

I won this gumball digi stamp recently from Katie for a My Grafico challenge blog hop, and it works for today's MGparty challenge also. And the new challenge #2 at Stampin' Sisters in Christ was the perfect time to use it! And, thanks Katie for getting the image to me so quickly! I used to LOVE gumballs!

Heads Up everyone...

Sonia Kertznus is offering BIG BLOG CANDY, in celebration of CUTTLEBUG CHALLENGE BLOGSPOT First birthday and to also celebrate the Sixth Birthday of PEACHY KEEN STAMPS. There are several steps to follow, but they are easy, and you probably do some anyway! This goes until 9-30-09. Check it out Here

Blog Candy Win - RAK win from Ingenious Inkling

Stephanie Severin of Ingenious Inkling (isn't she cute!)

sent me a large USPS box (actually HUGE is more like what it was) and it was filled with tons and tons and tons of goodies! I won this on her blog a week or so ago, and she asked what we would do as a RAK. I told her about my making cards to take to a local Healthcare facility where people go to recovery from surgeries and such. And I was the lucky winner.

I could hardly believe my eyes (or my arms when I tried to lift this box!). It was packed snugly with all kinds of stamps and some punches and huge amounts of papers and I don't know what all!

She was purging her stash area, and I benefited hugely. This was a wonderful idea for blog candy. A great idea that down the road I intend to emulate. And it's not the size, but the idea of sharing that's great. Something you may feel you no longer need, can benefit someone else. And as long as the person knows this up front, I think it's a fantastic idea!

I hope to be back later with a photo of some/most of the goodies!

Daily Blog Candy....

OK, now here is a blog site that's just my style:
I basically just copied this: But wanted every one of my friends to know about it:
WOW ....1st Day of Daily blog Candy
September 1st is the first day of the "Daily Blog Candy Giverway". (this isn't me talking, following is directly copied from the blog).

I hope you will all enter as i have some lovely brand new crafty giverways to offer .This is what you have to do;1.Please add this post about the daily Blog Candy giverway to your blog Blog Candy 2.Then just go leave a message on this post to be in with a chance of winning.
The winner of todays lovely "Disney Tinkerbell Stamp Set" will be up here tomorrow morning on the post for day 2 giverway and you will have until 2pm that day to claim the prize. So it's that simple all craft items are brand new and just waiting for new homes these items for prizers are from stock alot of stock left over from website./buisness. So don't delay add your name today!!!lol. Please note all prizes will be posted out at smae time once the giverways have finished which will be next thursday. Thanks Good luck!

SSDS Challenge continues...

We're halfway through the week, don't forget to participate in the Stamp, Scrap and Doodle Saturday Challenge .

There is a nice prize package available to the winner (see pic), and this week's challenge is a sketch.

And let us know what you think of the challenges. We hope they are fun!