I just won some blog candy.....

and I wanted to share that with you.  I won it from a blog called:  Needful Things.  Melissa has a tab called:  Pay It Forward, and I love this idea, and was lucky enough to win the February giveaway.  Go check it out, and remember it's always extra nice to Pay it Forward!!  March starts a whole new chance to win.

Sad news

My brother Doug passed away on Sunday.  Very unexpected, although he had been in failing health for a while.  He'd been in hospital and in bad shape once before, and I'm just so very grateful for the past 10 + years extra we had with him.

Ever get frustrated in card making and ...

not making a design team, or not winning a blog candy, or.... Well go read this post:   Cardmaking and SAT scores.  I found  her link by reading one of my regular blogs Susan's Simplicity.

Grace is celebrating her 3rd blogaversary

... and having a  blog candy  too.  go check it out.  Lot of YUMMY stuff.

Merry Christmas to you, and I have a winner...

** Edited:

Here's a photo of all the items won by JANIS in my blog candy.  It went into the mail today!  Besides the die set, I added a stamp from Fresh Brewed Designs, and one from Tim Holtz; about a dozen misc. ribbons, some bling, some stickers.  I don't remember what all else.  ENJOY Janis.

I hope you are all enjoying a lovely Christmas day.  

Yesterday, my family got together for a lunchtime gathering, which was very different, but very nice also.  We kept things very simple and just enjoyed being together.  We only get gifts for our little one, which is Dahlia, and she loved being the center of attention.  She loved all  her presents, even the clothes!  (she got a few new skirts which she loves).   She thanked everyone with each present opened.

Anyway, after everyone left I forgot to post the winner of my candy.... and the winner is:   JANIS
Janis did leave me her email, so I will be sending her a note asking for mailing information.  She must acknowledge her win by commenting here, and I also must hear back from her within 2 days ( to terriavidreader at yahoo dot com - subject: winner) with her address or I'll draw another winner.
I'll try to remember to take a pic of the final items in her package right before I mail it.

Thank you everyone who joined in my candy draw.  I wish I could send something to each and everyone of you.

Just a few more days to enter my candy....

My candy draw will be coming up on Tuesday evening, and will probably be posted Christmas Day.  
You can still enter, and remember there will be more than just that set of dies. 
I have scrabbled together a few other goodies into this package (sorry, they aren't really edible)..

a Small BOG CANDY!

Hi Everyone,

I have a small blog candy to offer for my followers.  Very simple, just be a follower of my blog, and comment with your most favorite ever Christmas gift you have received.  

I'll be adding a few little things to this Shapeability die; like maybe ribbons and bling and whatnot!  And this contest will last until December 24 when my family gathers for the holiday.  I know you won't have them to use on your cards this year, but you'll be ahead of the game next year!!

I'm also hoping to have some news to share by that date!

Merry Christmas everyone.   I hope you all enjoy some time with family - whatever that means to you and yours!  Be Blessed.

Tammy Louise is having a sale....

My blogger friend is having a sale to buy some craft room furniture - and I could win these!

So if you are at all interested, go check it out:
http://handmadebytlc.blogspot.com/2013/12/win-6-e-bell-stamps-for-circulating-my.html

Some new books on my reading list....

The writer is not a relative, I promise, but I think I like her!  These are on my newest wish list for reading!  And she has a contest going right now too, through Nov 26th

My favorite genre is mysteries, especially murder mysteries, but once in a while this is what I also read.

I just had to share

Isn't she just adorable?!


Her first  year she was a princess, then last year she was a dragon.  This year she is the  Knight!      






We are expecting cold and rain tomorrow - Halloween.  But hopefully she'll have a good time anyway!  She's coming by Grandma's house to trick or treat!

I need some help....

EDITED:   I found out - it's Papertrey Ink.  They have the dies that help to make popup or cut outs for a few things to make it easier!  I think I have some shopping to do in the next couple of weeks!!


Just in the past couple of weeks I saw on a blog about some dies that I hadn't seen before, that help you make pop-up cards.  I know one in particular made the cutout of the word HAPPY  and I know there were a few others.  I thought this was on Youtube, but I cannot find it again.  I was sure I had bookmarked it, but maybe not.
SO... If anyone has an idea about this or knows what I'm talking about, please let me have that information again.

Still a few days left

to join in the challenge at Imagine That!  Here's my entry.  They provided the cute little penguin image and I wanted him to dominate the card, so I just added the little oval saying onto one of those little spring things so it bounces.  My sister-in-law likes penguins, so this may be a card for her!

Stamping Chef challenge entry

I got this image free from the Stamping Chef, and I just love it (she has tons of cute ones!). Check it out and then go enter one for yourself.  I saw on facebook that the next one is fantastic too and I definitely want that image!!

YUM - Blog candy goodies!

Doesn't this sound like something you'd love to win?  Well, I would!  Check it out here:  http://card-blanc.blogspot.com/2013/07/giveaway-alert.html  - sorry - you need to post here:  http://bellablvd.typepad.com/bella_blvd

some recent cards

Here are a few of the recent cards I've made.

sorry for not posting for a while

Hi everyone.

Sorry it's been SOOOO long since I last posted, and here I thought I would do better.

I've been making cards for family mostly (and a few friends) but nothing else crafty for a couple months, trying to just enjoy the summer with my little granddaughter Dahlia and taking things easy.

I've passed a milestone birthday recently - turned 60 on July 3rd.  That's a biggie.  Wasn't sure I'd make this one.  The COPD has worsened considerably.              As many of you know, I've had a lot of health issues, and I'm now on disability (finally -- a little help financially) but having to drag oxygen around 24/7 is very tiring!  Better than the alternative, but still.  So I'm taking treatments and more meds again and trying to spend some quality time with those who matter.

I'm hoping to spend some time with some former classmates later this fall too.  It's been over 40 years since graduation - how time has passed. But I think it's a great bunch of people and I hope to see a few more of them this next get-together!

We are also planning a trip to St. Louis soon to visit all the in-laws.  Always a fun - noisy bunch!  And that Great Grandma wants to see Dahlia - it's been too long.

Take care everyone.  I hope to get back into commenting and blogging soon.  I do visit as many blogs as I can every single day (and I do a little better commenting there too!)

Here's a few pics of my little sweetie.  What a joy to have her living nearby and that her parents are very willing to share!

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!