update on hubby....

Well, I haven't posted again in a long while.  My husband Bob got to come home from the Nursing home and my youngest son Steve and I are taking care of him.  That happened back in late October.         Well today we had another checkup with the Oncologist, and they are placing Bob in Hospice care today.  His recent MRI shows that the lesions in his brain have grown and there is nothing else that can be done.  He's had all the brain radiation allowed, and the chemo isn't affecting the brain lesions at all.  So there is no point in continuing the chemo for the rest of his body. So we are just going to try and make him comfortable and without pain as much as possible.  We've had 5 months since the diagnosis and that's good.  We'll push for all we can get.
      One thing we were hoping for early on was that Bob would last long enough to see our new grandson, and that has happened, even if not in person yet.  Finn Patrick was born on Sunday, and after a few days recovering with his Momma,  we hope to see him next week or at least by Christmas Eve, which is our family traditional get together.  He's adorable.

Thank you all for the continued prayers for my husband, and the entire family.  We can use them all.

And Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Some lovely halloween candy

I just saw this, and would love to win them.
LiaStampz has a new realease on discount! until the 26th of October !!
DON'T MISS THIS CUTE SET OF 9 HALLOWEEN STAMPS!

Aren't these cute?

https://www.etsy.com/listing/207220996/digital-stamp-witch-girl-halloween?ref=shop_home_active_1

We will chose, randomly,  3 blogs that will share our promotional link below, and send them the Halloween collection FOR FREE! 

A couple more cards...

 Here's a few cards I've made recently.

I'm trying to remember to post some before I lose track of them, or my computer crashes again like it did in February and I lost everything because my backup failed also!

These were all done before my husband's hospitalization.

Need PRAYERS from everyone! UPDATE!

Prayers are needed, desperately.
We have just received really bad news about my husband.
He has Stage 4 Kidney Cancer which has also infected his lungs and brain.
He's a strong, faith filled man and is determined to beat this despite the very poor prognosis.
Please pray for my family as we deal with this.
I won't be posting much or even checking in often, but I would so appreciate all the prayers.  You guys have helped me through some bad times before and I have come to really appreciate all the blessings from having such blogging friends!

This is his "mug shot" used when he was still working at the newspaper!  I love it  I think it shows clearly what a positive outlook type person Bob really is!!

UPDATE:  Aug. 27, 2014

Bob is getting to come home later today!!  He's been doing really well in rehab, and although he must continue a stringent range of therapies, he is getting to come home tonight.  We are so looking forward to that!  He's completed all his radiation to his brain, and is currently doing his chemo.  But his strength is returning to his left arm and leg and he's doing so much better!  Thanks for all the prayers. and keep them coming.  I've received a lot of emails, and comments on my facebook as well!  So appreciated.

first attempt

Well, this is my first attempt at this type of card. Overall I like it.  Sorry that my photo isn't too good.  I'm way out of practice with that.  This is for Pat,  a former classmate of mine who has a birthday this coming week.  We just lost another classmate last week.  I come from a very small town and we've tried to stay in touch with each other.  I use my cards as one way to do that.  I hope that Linda (the one who passed away) enjoyed all the cards I had sent to her.  I heard back from most of them that they enjoy getting the cards.  And of course, there are a lot of them I don't have snail mail addresses or birth dates.

a few of my recent cards...

 I'm way behind in posting here, but I have been making a few cards.  Here are a few of those.  Many I've not even taken photos of, but wish I had.  Oh well, things do continue getting a little better.  Hope you enjoy seeing some of these, and I'll try to do better.

Can't believe it's been so long....

since my last posting.  Where has the time gone.  I know February was really bad for me (with losing my brother Doug) and although I'm much better with it now, it's been hard.  And my poor Mom, it's been very hard on her too.  She couldn't remember it for a while, and that stressed the rest of us, having to keep bringing it up so much.  She has a photo of Doug and his obit framed that she must walk by many times a day, and that has helped keep it fresh in her mind.  I almost wish we could just let her forget but she needs to know why she isn't hearing from him any more.  Every now and then she still comments when talking to me that she wonders why he hasn't called lately.  Little brother John is having a struggle too.  So its been pretty rough, but getting onto better now.

And I do have some absolutely wonderful news to report, and maybe that's partly why I'm getting more into the mood of getting back in control of things and writing here again!!

Anyway, my good news is that my oldest son and his wife are expecting a new baby boy just before Christmas.  And we are all over-joyed.  They've been married 10 years, and this is a long time coming!

I want to thank all of you that have stayed with me during this down-time, and I promise to get more and more cards shown.   Thanks for all you who have sent me cards and emails.  It's been wonderful.
I have still been making cards now and then, but maybe not as many, and I just haven't been putting any up here on my blog.  I'll have to go back through and see if I still have pictures of many of them.

Have a fantastic day!

Want to pick your brain for a minute...

I'm hoping to get some comments about where you find your best deals on dies.

I'm wanting to buy a few new ones (got a few dollars from selling a few cards) and I've always waited for what I felt were the best sales - and then end up finding I've missed even better sales and better values (like free shipping or really reduced shipping) within a matter of days.  So very frustrating, especially if you have a tight, tight crafting budget like me.

Now I own a fair amount of the basic dies (most of them I've won) like Spellbinder Nestabilities.  And I do own a few of the smaller misc. shapes of various Companies dies (like a couple of Verve and 3-4 from Simon Says.
AND, maybe more importantly, I only have the cuttlebug, no other machines, so they must be compatible.

So let me know where you shop for the best bargains!! I'd love to know.  Oh, I am in the US - so keep that in mind too.

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!