I am a Unity Girl this week!!

First time being a Unity Girl, and I love those stamps.  Wish I had many more of them!

Today I am showing off a card I made for my Bestie, Laura, who has been a wonderful friend since the beginning of time.  I consider her my sister, and luckily for me, she feels the same.  During our lives we've lost touch a few times, but when we get back together, it's like no time is missing.  She just recently drove across state lines to come and  help me get my Kitchen emptied out, getting ready for a remodel.  What a buddy!  Hopes she comes back to help me reinstall it all!!

Anyway, here's the wonderful image I used from Unity.  PERFECT.

I've been into making cards this way since about 2009 and I Love it.  I've been a crafty person my whole life; doing sewing, and lot of misc projects.  Making things, did some oil painting for a while.  But this cardmaking is by far the most fulfilling for me. Although for years at a job I made cards, I started this style mostly when a cousin of mine was diagnosed with terminal cancer and I needed to get cards to her since I couldn't visit, and there didn't seem to be much out there to send to her, so I devised some of my own, and then found out about this hobby.  And I continue to make cards for people who are ill and to remind them and help cheer them maybe that someone is thinking of them and praying for them.  I use it also to stay in communication with some of my older relatives who I don't get to see often.  I'm not in the best of health myself, I'm on disability and use a walker and oxygen 24/7, so this hobby keeps me out of trouble, well sometimes anyway.

I became a widow a couple years ago, and I've now turned my husband's old TV viewing room into my craft room.  I was amazed at how much stuff I really had.  When it's all in one space it was a little overwhelming, but what fun I had discovering all that I had accumulated!!

I hope you enjoy some of what I make this week.

Terri (terriavidreader) Scott

Edited to say:   I am tickled to death by all the lovely comments, nearly overwhelmed.  Thank you all so much. It will take me a while, but I'll be by to visit you one day, I promise!!

finally figured it out...

I was taking my pictures wrong.  I got a new iphone, and I was taking all my pictures with the phone/camera held the wrong way.  Turns out to use the pictures on this blog I had to hold it a specific way. So, I can now post a few photos of some of the cards I've made recently.

Just got a blog candy

in the mail today!! Came all the way from Australia.  Sorry that it cost a pretty penny to mail, but I love it.  Happy Blogaversary to Sammi of http://stuffbysammi.blogspot.com/

.

Drawer (or desk) of Shame....

One of my very favorite and inspiring crafters is Vicky Papaioanou of Clips N Cuts,  and right now she has a giveaway on her blog called the Drawer of Shame.  You can enter by taking a pic of your own.  I don't currently have a drawer, but a desk of shame.  In my new craft room, I cannot seem to keep my desk cleared off the way I had hoped.  It continues to be the Desk of Shame.

I swore it wouldn't get like this.  By more than tripling my work area I wanted to try and do better, but I guess this is hope I work!!  A friend asked me why I don't show (video) how I make cards, and this is one great big reason!!  The other is that I'd talk wayyyy tooo much!
Have a nice day everyone!!

Happy 2017.

I hope this is a very good year.  I'm extremely glad the last few years are over with and looking forward or trying desperately to do that.  It's been a rough time, and I know many others have had even worse  years and that thought makes me very sad.  I'm striving to keep the future in my face.  Those little grandbabies of mine help a lot.  And having my new craftroom set up almost completely is helping as well.  I'm finding I'm spending a little more time in there, although my little dog Brady isn't too thrilled.  Every so often he nudges me to remind me to get up and move.  

I think I've managed to send cards to all my Aunts and Uncles this year for their birthdays, and a few extra occasions as well.  I want to continue that.  I also have sent cards to a lot of my former classmates for their birthdays.  I continue to send cards to people who are ill especially those who are battling cancer (which affected both my husband and myself) and even more sympathy cards as I've learned personally over these past 2-3 years how important they are!  I try to follow those up in a few weeks or even months later with another.  Those I received quit a bit later helped so very much.  

I urge you to consider doing that as well.  Sadly, it took a note a few  years ago from a widow, gently reminding me that she was still alive and she loved getting my cards when her husband was so ill with cancer.  I put her name on a reminder in my yahoo to send a card every 3-4 months.  And I constantly thank her for that reminder -  even more so now that I am a widow and know first hand how very alone you can sometime feel.  Such a simple thing like getting a "for no obvious reason" card in the mail can be such a happy note for the whole day - or even sometimes week!!

 I see all the time on blogs how people are hoarding their cards, not sending them out, and it breaks my heart.  So many people could use those for encouragement to just simply continue to take things one day at a time and getting "surprise" cards is a nice way to help them.  I know.  If you've ever been in those situations I would hope someone helped you get through it in whatever way they could.  This is something that I've tried to do in the past, even before I felt it first hand,  I have a couple of friends who I often send cards to just "out of the blue for no reason" and have later on learned that my cards seemed to arrive at just the right moment they are needed for extra encouragement.  Boy, does that ever make me feel good to hear.
  SO STOP HOARDING YOUR CARDS.  Send them on their way.  You never know how much getting a card might cheer someone up and just simply make their day.  And you got the enjoyment of making it, let it bring joy to someone else.

OK,  I'm done preaching.  Back to making a couple more cards for my stash so I have a few ready when that feeling hits me to send some off.

I hope if you've bothered to read this to this point that you have the most marvelous 2017 that can possibly happen.  And if you need me to add your name to my list to receive a card, just drop me a note with your snail mail and I'll do it.  My email is  terriavidreader at yahoo dotcom

This is the latest card I have made.  My grandson Finn just had his 2nd birthday, and here's his card.  I think he liked the interactive part of the shaker card.  And on the inside I put a picture of me instead of a signature, and he figured out who it came from!! Plus, this grandma knew what kind of toy he'd like also.  All in all, I did good.  

       But sadly I had to miss his party on Saturday as Indiana got socked with ice and snow and the highway I would have taken was closed down due to bad conditions.  I know he's only 2 and probably won't remember, but I will dang it.

It's good to be making some good cards again.  And I was selected for a week in April 2017 as a GIU girl.  Whooo Hoo!! Looking forward to that also.

Sad to post this

My nephew, Seath Lee Stevenson, passed away from a heart attack on Friday.  He was just 34 years old.  He left behind a wife, Terri and 4 young sons.  I'm still in shock.  He didn't have any indications of this as far as we know and he was in a healthy shape compared to some of his relatives.  I cannot imagine the pain my younger brother John is dealing with.  We just lost our Mom a few weeks ago and now this. Please keep my family in prayer, especially these boys and Terri.

Mother has passed away...

Sad to say, but my Mom passed away Thursday morning.  I wrote about her and my step-dad Mel who visited with me this spring for a little more than 3 weeks.  She'd had a stroke on Monday, and  fairly soon they told us it was massive and she was unresponsive and they advised placing her in Hospice as she needed 24/7 care and there really wasn't any treatment.   You never want to lose your Mom, but she wouldn't have wanted to continue within those dynamics, it had been long and bad enough with just the Alzheimers.  So I'm at peace with it.  She'll be buried next Saturday, which would have been her 87th Birthday.  Rest with God, mama.

a card for my buddy....

Hi everyone,  I was just looking about blogland today and ran across a hop called: http://coffeelovingcardmakers.com/The 2016 Fall Coffee Lovers Blog Hop, and they have tons of lovely prizes, so I thought I'd contribute and send a card to a friend.  I'm not a coffee lover myself,, but she sure is.  So, here's the card I made this afternoon and it will get mailed on Monday.  I hope she likes it.

Edited:  Thank you so much to everyone who has commented.  I've not been a good blogger for such a long time, and I've missed those comments and hadn't realized just how much until now.

For my coffee lovin' friend Jennifer

My updated, new to me Craft Room!!

Photo heavy, but here's my new craft room,  Many months after my hubby passed and no one using his TV/man cave at all, I decided to turn it into my craft room and get my guestroom back in order. So here's some pics of what happened.  It's not completely done (only about 3/4 of my stuff has been moved in already) but it's taking shape.  At least my granddaughter and I can work in here together now (we have in fact a couple times!!)  And with my disabilities it's very slow going for me to get things settled, but it will happen!


Sorry I cannot get the layout of these pics right, but you get the idea.

 

slowing back down for a bit....

Well, my last 3 months has been really hectic.  My Mom and Stepdad Mel visited from Florida.  Mom's alzheimer's is so much worse the visit wasn't great, but I'm still very glad I got to see her.  And she arrived  here the same day my newest grandson Ewan was born!  After a 3 week visit I thought my Stepdad was putting her in a nursing home back in Florida but he backed out of it once they arrived.  Then a couple weeks later she fell and was injured and while in hospital the staff realized her advancement of Alzheimer's so they basically took legal control of her case and she was ordered into a nursing facility 24/7.  That didn't set well with either of them, but finally many weeks later they are BOTH settled into what appears to be a great facility just a couple miles from their home.  Now they are back together, even my Stepdad is improving because he was so worried and stressed while they were apart.

EDITED:  My Stepdad's son has now somehow taken control of everything and is planning to move them out of Florida and  up to Ohio where he and his wife are supposed to be taking care of them.  Don't like this at all.  Trying to find out more information about  how this happened.


I've been making great progress on converting my husband old TV viewing room into my craft space, thanks to some Outstanding Help from my bestie Laura!  It's still a work in progress but I hope it keeps moving forward.  I can hardly wait to have everything out and in reach!

New grandbaby has arrived

Well my newest little grandson arrived a little early.  He was born April 29 at 10 am and his name is Ewan Christopher Scott.  His first name is pronounced "You-N".  I had to be told too!!  He's just adorable.  

Here's the proud dad, my son Andy.











And here's his brother Finn greeting the new baby brother.

And here's a little better close up of Ewan.

Hi everyone....

*** I get to edit and add that my son Andy sent me a pic of my grandson Finn last night after I posted this.  Finn was enjoying his Mac n Cheese!  

Well, as you can tell it's been a while since I posted again.  Just cannot get back into the flow of putting things on here.  I enjoyed a visit with my two little granddaughters today and my son Steve and he took a picture.

I was pretty tired today, had been out to a meeting with my clinical trial coach Brittannie and then went to Pulmonary rehab for a couple hours, and then tried to nap, but neighbors were mowing the lawn and my little Brady was barking his head off.  But boy did I bounce back when these two and their daddy arrived.

I'll try to get more into the mood to post some cards.  I have been making some and in fact made several for Easter this year, but either didn't get a good pic of them or just got them mailed off too soon.

Thanks for stopping by.  I do appreciate you sticking with me on this journey.  I'll try to do better.

Saturday is Dahlia's 5th Birthday...

So I made her a card, using a character from Frozen.  She loves that movie, and asked that it be the theme this year.  I saw a card like this on the internet (sorry,didn't keep track of who or where) but I loved it and thought it appropriate for her.   Sorry I'm not good at videos but you get the idea!

Simon Says Stamps World Card Making Day....

Update:  well, I didn't win, but I had fun making this card, and hopefully my classmate enjoyed it.  And, I've since made a couple more really similar ones for relatives.


Here's a card I've made for a former classmate's birthday this week, and I'm entering it into a drawing at Simon Says Stamps for World Card Making Day!  Boy, I'd love to win that!

I hope my friend likes this card.  It's for a guy, and they are sometimes tricky about cards, unsure what they'd like, but hopefully this simple fall card will work!

Little Daphne Gwen Scott has arrived.  Yesterday at 10:17 am.  Weighed EXACTLY the same as her big sister Dahlia, 6# 6oz.  She is 18 1/4 inches long and  has a head full of dark hair and really long fingers just like Dahlia.  So adorable.

Here's a cute family pic.  Mom Karen is doing well also.  And as you can see, Dad is still beaming!

Also, I'll be back to finish up the blog candy by this weekend (kinda busy for the next couple days).

I'm really disappointed.... no one likes blog candy any more? EDITED

My blog candy has been posted since June 16, and NO ONE has signed up yet. What's with that?  Usually there are several in the first few days at least.

 I realize I haven't shown all the candy, but with that many dies I thought sure someone would have signed up already.  Did I totally lose all my followers?  I know I haven't posted much in the past year, it's been a very bad year for me, but I have received a few comments here and there so I thought I'd do something nice for those who continue to follow and have the candy.  Now I don't know what I'll do.

I will try to gather some of the other items up in the next few days and get it posted, but if there is no more interest in this candy.... well..... we'll see.

EDITED TO ADD:
Well, the baby shower is tomorrow, and I've been so busy with that.  I have Not gathered everything up for the rest of the blog candy, but know that I do have a lot of things I should be gathering.  So, the baby is due actually on the 26th, so she's coming soon.  (did I tell you, they have chosen the name DAPHNE and I don't think they've finalized a middle name yet, I just know they didn't particularly like one I suggested).
 I hope a few more people sign up. And again, for my lovely followers who aren't in the good old USA, I promise that I'll have a gift certificate before too long just for all of you (maybe at another milestone, like when my husband's stone gets placed).  

Oh, I almost forgot.  I won a card from Amazing Paper Grace, and if you would like to win too, there is still time.  Go check out Becca's blog and comment, that's all there is to it, except maybe a lot of luck too.  Her cards are so very fabulous!! She's having a month long celebration by giving some of those wonderful cards away!

Blog candy ...UPDATE another UPDATE.....

Sorry for the big delay.... Additional things happening in my life besides the new baby Daphne arriving.  I'll detail things a bit more later on.
  So, I have now decided to give something to the 4 people who made comments here on my blog candy post.  So, please send me your mailing address (terriavidreader at yahoo dot com), and something will be coming to you.  I'll divide up the dies to the first 4 commenters (one for each), and add some other items,  and get them all mailed soon. I'm sorry I can't get something for everyone who commented on the other posts.


I've ordered a few extra dies and I hope to have some blog candy up soon.  I am expecting a new granddaughter by the end of July, so that will be the reason!  I also need to clean out my craftroom.  There is tons of stuff that I know I won't use, so I need to just get it sorted and get it gone.  Some is really nice things I've won, but that just aren't my style.  So I hope someone wins it who will use it.  I can only offer this to the USA crafters because of postage. Sorry.  I really wish I could afford to send it anywhere.  Maybe I'll do a gift cert later this year that's open to anyone.  Anyway as soon as the items arrive, I'll take a picture and post it.  Stay tuned!!


Well, the dies I ordered have arrived, and here are some that I will be adding to the blog candy.  I got a GREAT sale on these.  Now I haven't had time to go through things just yet, so I'll be adding pics when that is done.
I'll keep this up until the new baby has arrived in late July.
Some requirements will be:  must be a follower of my blog, and leave at least a couple comments between now and when the winner is chosen.  And must have a USA mailing address because of the postage.

By the way, this little one's name is going to be Daphne, but I don't think they have a middle name yet.  Stay tuned.

Here are the new dies I bought to give away.  All the other items will be added really soon.  I still have to go through a lot of stuff to get them sorted.

Updated Blog Name...

It's been suggested that I should rename my blog... so here goes.  My sis-in-law Joan was the most recent to suggest it.  But since it's been out there for such a long time - I didn't want to change it too much, but maybe this is a better title now.  And, since I do mostly just make cards, it still fits.  Now don't get me wrong, I'm still "trying" at this, still trying to find a style that's mostly me and I will continue with that, but I have actually been able to make some pretty cool cards during all this time since I started (wow! back in 2009!) and so keeping the trying in my blog title just isn't accurate so much any more.

I'm sorry to my followers that I haven't been posting much.  I have been making a pretty good handful of cards, and I'll try to get some photos up soon.  I haven't always taken pics of them, but I do try to capture most of them.  I'd had to recently make many more sympathy cards and I hate those. Well, hate the need for them anyway.  Mostly they have been birthday and thinking of you cards, and those are fun still.

My grandkids are growing like crazy and I have a new little granddaughter expected in late July.  Can't wait for that!  Dahlia and Finn are such fun that I can't wait to see what this new little one brings to the family!

So... I'll try to get some pics of the recent cards up soon, and I hope you continue to follow me and enjoy some of what I bring to this blog.

(oh, and one recent change is that I do now have a roommate!  His name is Brady.  Well, it's a long story, but I've always wanted a Yorkie.  Many years ago we went to a pet store to check them out, and a Cairn Terrier latched onto my youngest son Steve and so we adopted him and  he was part of the family for 18 years.  And since he died I've been wanting to still get a Yorkie, but the timing was never right.  While my husband was so sick we discussed getting me one, for companionship but couldn't because of all the stress and obligations we were under.  At any rate, at Bob's funeral, a lady came forth to state that Bob had reached out to her through our friend, and she was searching for a rescue Yorkie for me, at Bob's request.  She found me one recently.  He is helping me tremendously with the loneliness and also keeping me pretty busy!    I've posted a picture of him here with my granddaughter Dahlia (who was too close to the lamp to show up well) .  I'm sure you'll be hearing more about him later on.

Take care everyone, ,and please, tell those you love how much you love them every day.  You never know when it will be the last time you can say it face to face!!

I want it, I want it!

EDITED:   Well, I went to check to see if I won, and very sadly I did not.... someone who saw it here (and said so!!)  did.  Way to go REGENA!

I do want one of these, but it's not in my budget this year.  I hope I'm lucky enough to win this one. she's posting a winner on April 26th, and after the past few weeks of trials I've been through I want it to be me!!  You can go to  http://yourmemoriescanada.blogspot.com/  and check it out yourself.