FOR A SPECIAL FRIEND!!!! .... and farewell! :(

Oh my sweet friends, how I will miss you! This will be my last post until the Fall - imagine that!

First, I wanted to say that this is not my secret sister nor my SS's gift, ROFL! I wanted to post a very special thank you to someone that I can't mention just yet who it is since this will be arriving in her mailbox very soon and at least where it is heading can be part of the surprise :) I wanted to post it now so she will know that although I was gone, I was thinking of her and carry thoughts of her in my heart and she is in my prayers this past week especially. I met this most wonderful soul and special friend when I started SCS as a mere guppie, lol! She has grown so much and we've seen her go from swaps to blossoming into a DT and beyond! We all knew how talented she was but what I didn't know at that time what a special friend she would become - always there to lend a hand, a listening ear, a laugh or encouraging word. Even through her own trials and tribulations and "busy-ness", she manages to take a moment to say hello and it really makes my day! So ..... FRIEND ...... I hope you enjoy this filled with goodies (that will be a surprise, too!) and forgive me for not being quite the expert craftsman in this field! {another reason why I love ya, girl .... I can send an image stamped on a napkin and i know you would love it!} :)
Thank you - for ALL you do and for who you are - and for the blessing of your friendship. ** many hugs!**

And XOXOXOXO to all the girls on the sistahood and beyond - I will be keeping in touch along the way of our journey. Be blessed, be safe, and big hugs to all! I will miss you!

Deets: Stampendous can, MS/AC/etc designer ribbons

Stamps: The Greeting Farm

Paper: I forgot! :)

Punch: Floral punch, small scallop

Adhesive, brads, lotsa goodies inside by Bo Bunny, etc .......

*Hugs!

<3 Have Faith <3

Happy Monday! It's soooooo hot here in South Florida - too hot to be outside and nicer inside, stamping! But I took the kids to the beach today to enjoy some of our non-rain sunshine days and took refuge under the huge umbrella most of the day with SPF70! ;)

This was my entry for the Unity Card Challenge called Unity, Bits and Pieces ....... same pc/blog issues I was about an hour late, but it is going to be put to good use as I am sending this to a good friend of mine :) The challenge was to use bits and pieces to put a card together and I had just enough Chocolate Chip and cream colored cardstock left in the scrapbasket to make this. I ran it through the Cuttlebug using the paisley folder, punched out some flowers and ran those thru the CB using the swiss dots folder (still my fave!), added a big chocolate ribbon, cuttlebug frame aroudn the stamped image and voila! I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE this stamped verse and it speaks volumns to me - you could stamp this on a piece of notebook paper and it would hold so much weight! TFL!

Deets: SU cardstock in chocolate chip, vanilla

Cuttlebug: Rectangular nesties, Paisley/swiss dots folders

Unity Stamp: Move mountains

Ribbon: Unk & pearls from Kaiser

Ink: SU Chocolate chip

Happy Father's Day to all the dads .......

This card is special in that my son helped picked out what he wanted to do with "our card for daddy". I had plenty of "guy" paper on hand but he went straight for this one, one I would have never picked! But it wasn't up to me so I sat back and let him in all his 4 year old wisdom run with it so here it is :)

I used one of my old SU! sets called "When I grow up" and inside sentiment reads: I want to be just like you. That sentiment could not be more true with our son ...... he adores his dad & does all the beautiful things like walking in his shoes, wearing his shirt, wanting to ride a motorcycle like daddy (yes, dh has had a Harley and yes, little ds has his own motorcycle, too!) They are an amazing duo and the sheer blessing of his birth still amazes me today with it's splendor as a true gift from God. Truth be told, he shouldn't be here ....... and the fact that he is is testament to us that God graces you with all that you can behold if you believe.

I have had a lump in my throat all day and yes, shed plenty of tears, missing my dad today. We lost him too soon and my world has never, ever been the same ....... but I wanted to remember the good things about him and celebrate the husband I have, too. He's a father and an extraordinary one at that, so here's to you, sweetie! (He LOVED the card, btw! Chuckled, touched the paper pieced hat and just had the most peculiar smile on his face ........ I think he *gets* it ;)

Happy Father's Day to all fathers - the ones here to celebrate, and the ones smiling down on us from above :)

Deets: SU! Cardstock Taken with teal, blue,

DSP = MAMBI mat stack, PTI white, cream = unk

Brads by K & Co,

buttons were grab bag, threaded with ribbon from Joanns,

image colored with prismacolors,

paper-pieced hat with 3-d zots

Happy Birthday, Penny Black !!

Thanks for stopping in to comment on your vacations - such terrific stories! Scroll down to previous post if anyone would like to post for some BLOG CANDY ...... it ends tomorrow! :)

This card was soooo much fun to make -- it's in honor of Penny Black's birthday! Check them out here --> http://pennybfriendssaturdaychallenge.blogspot.com/2009/06/birthday-celebrations.html and stop by to wish them a Happy Birthday! I have had this PB stamp for the longest time and this was the PERFECT time to ink it up! I love this image - it just has fun and fetistivity all over it :) I paired it with some shimmery dsp from Heidi Grace, gingham *friends forever* ribbon & lotsa SU cardstock. I had a big boo-boo with this one, rofl, as originally it was a blue card but I was talking with my dd in the craftroom and wasn't paying close enough attention to the fact that I had my "cut" blade on the scorer rather than the "fold!" Oopsie! But I love the addition of red - gives it an extra little pop ....... and someone please tell me I'm not the only one who has ever done that, tee hee!

Close up of the dancin' cutie trio :)

Inside of card ...... Herd it's your Birthday and I am blessed to spend this one with you, Penny Black :) Here's to many, many more!

TFL!!

Deets: Cardstock: Bazzill red, SU! blue, mustard, tangerine, whisper white

Heidi Grace DSP, ric-rac, K & Co big bling, K & Co yellow brads, flower brads, designer printed ribbon, Cuttlebug piecing, prismacolor markers

A true Honor :)

What an honor and a blessing to receive this lovely blog support award from one of my treasured friends, Carolyn http://pmsetc.blogspot.com/ . I met her on the SCS when I first joined and she instantly extended the olive branch and made me feel welcomed! I am honored, touched and blessed to receive this from her! I visit her blog and am blown away by the sheer beauty of her work - each piece a small showcase in art all wrapped up in the ribbon of paper and bows! Thank you, for all you do!!

I am not very gifted in the area of cardmaking and blogs, lol, but I appreciate very very much the visits you make, the cards we share & the comments/suggestions on the occasional challenges I dare to enter ;) I love to create and have fun in the process and have made some lifelong, everlasting friendships along the way and your support through life issues and creating have meant the world to me! So I pass this award on as well and dedicate it to

THE SISTERS in the SISTERHOOD!!

Karen, Mary, Kadie, Sandra, Catherine, Judy, Jeanette, Tanja, Susan, Gael, Sweet P ....... to name just a few. Without you all, I'm sure I wouldn't be doing all that I am in the creative world :) Scoop this up and add it to your blogs, ladies! Love ya!!

Happy Huggabug Bday!

Don't you just love all the new stamps at stampingbella? I bought a couple at their sale and am loving the new styles as well as the Bellas. This one I made for the uber talented, majorly star power Sandra - it reminded me of her little dd after I colored one similiar for a practice run, tee hee! I pair it with some K & Co stack vintagy looking paper, added ribbons, stickles, pearls and lotsa love :)

I intended to show the gorjuss card for Miche but I can't seem to find it - yikes! Happy Birthday to all the May/June beauties! xoxoxo

CAS Scrappin' my baby :)

Oh how happy am I! I had a few moments free and decided to do a few CAS scrapbooking pages -- like this one :) I had these funny pictures of my baby girl when she was 2 {she's now 10!} playing in the sprinkler, looking like a big flower :) And yes, that's how far behind I am in my scrapbooking, lol! I have soooo many photo boxes it is unreal ~ and I'm dedicated what part of the summer we'll be here to getting some of them scrapped and into albums.

One way (probably the ONLY way) I will be able to scrap more is by using more of a CAS (clean 'n simple!) approach since I tend to overwork the pages, embellish them to the point of ridiculousness, lolol, and then it takes me forever to get them done ............ some SU! dsp, cardstock, big prima flowers & brads, stickers, ribbon & voila! I love the colors on this one and see one tiny little ooopsie - can you find it? ;) Tee hee!
Happy Scrapping, friends!

Welcome - Part 2! :)

Welcome back! Please make sure you scroll back to the previous post if this is your first visit - craft room tour starts with Part 1 and thanks for looking! Here is a side view - some changes since these were taken and we added a small bookshelf for all the scrapbooks on a cart ~ that's my treadmill in the back with my beloved gmas hand-stitched quilt on it for when it gets chilly in here for me ........ she was 83 when she made that quilt for Tony and I, God bless her! She passes away 3 years on Halloween day and I am not sure she'll ever know what a gift that quilt is to us ......... (love you, grammy!) There is so much space in the open area behind the desk that I've been able to put up a buffet, folding table for extra space for crafting friends. Have yet to thave that "big reveal stampalooza" - friends come by and look but can someone please stop by and visit and stamp with me?!! :)

I plan to buy one of those wall hanging bars for the punches - some are in boxes but these are the ones that get the most use .....

Aren't these handy dandy! I can't tell you how much fun they are -- just a few stamps that you want to have hanging around to see and use ..... the rolling carts are filled with mostly UM but these guys keep me smiling - they are Happy Stamps :)

My lotsa stuff on here and changes by the day board :)

Sniff, sniff ...... from wonderful friend Lauriloo! (paperville) A memorial to Lady, which still to this day warms my heart. What a gentle, thoughtful and beautiful gift, to be treasured forever!

*hugs!* So that's a little tour - thanks for stopping by! :)

Blessings!

x0x0x0

Welcome to my craft room! :)

Come on in! My wonderful husband spent weeks and weeks and weeks tearing our former garage down to the base concrete and rebuilding an entire room for me to craft in *sniff, sniff! Love you honey!* There are a few photos, so this is Part 1 of the tour :)
This is the DARLING door hanger sent from the lovely Catherine (Paper addict!) Thank you, sweetie! It hangs on the door as a reminder of all the goodness inside the room and of the terrific friend that sent it my way!
I love love love the ocean - it's my favorite place

to be and spend many hours there with the kids - under the swaying palm trees, tropical breeze blowing by, warm sunshine ...... and making Sandcastles! :) That was the inspiration behind the

room's theme (decor?) Sadly, the shelves are not in yet and I have the small spacers shelves to do the trick until we figure out what is going to go up for all the scrapbooks and embellies ... the sandy colored tile is my sand and feels SO GOOD under my bare feeties each day, so comforting and easy to clean up, too :)

It's difficult to get a good picture from this room since he added a hideaway door (I can lock myself in and hide! LOL!!) but if I stand behind it to take a photo, all I get is one small part of the wall, tee hee!

I really love this comfy office chair, especially since it was FREE! How lucky for us -- BIL happen to be at the right place at the right time when a friend gave him his 300.00 office chair when his business moved ..... lucky, lucky me! Notice my small basket of SOTC swaps under the table? LOL!

My desk -- did you ever meet Scrappy? That's the darling Build-a-bear workshop bear my kids took me to buy for my birthday :) Yes, we actually stuffed it, made a wish, found some adorable scrapbooker clothes for it and we had the best day ever! I love how they thought of me and planned the whole event by themselves (but did tell me that I had to drive them to a certain mall, lol) but I wasn't sure what it was all about, but their giggles, their laughter and joy was unmatched :*)

I have my fabulous friend Mary (alatteinkinfun) to thank for sending us a link to organize more -- you'll see the ink shelf up there that was spot on what I was looking for.

Longish view - table, shelf, bulletin board full of things I'm working on and can't put away yet - the colorful, rolling bins (Cropper Hopper) are full of stamps that are non-SU! They are labeled per company. Handy dandy baby wipes containers are full of brads & what not ....... I am thinking green and realized what a wonderful container they are although not so elegant ;)

Mostly paper storage - ie, desk slots are full of DSP, as are the bins and the CH on the top shelf. Basket is full of ribbons, jars are full of ribbon, the very bottom shelf has containers full of ribbon ...... oh I just love it! The 6 photo storage boxes (colored) are full of pictures still waiting to be scrapped ......... just as sooooon as I finish those card swaps lol! What else - the green bin is gone as are the cricut, photo maker, cuttlebug and on a seperate shelf - I see they are hanging out with my Clip it UP in this picture - small bins are full of DCWC 12 x 12 paper packs, I have another , um, slight addiction in that area ;)

Side view .........

TFL! Check back for part 2!