Challenge Sketch-and Flutterby Card

This is a card for Twinkling Tuesday sketch challenge- I'm supposed to link it somewhere, but I guess I don't know how!

It's also one for Danni's Flutterby Challenge and the 3rd bird with one stone is this will be a get well card for my niece!

2008 - was it great?

On the whole, I had have to say, yes 2008 was a good year. Best thing of all, we didn't lose a loved one for the first time in 4 years! I'm so Thankful!

January came and went, February my mom had hip replacement surgery and that went prefectly well. She recovered quickly and is doing fine now. The first down beat for the year happened shortly after my mom's surgery - my 25 year old nephew Jeff, a policeman, was broadsided in his patrol car by a suspect they were looking for. He was medivac'd to a trauma center about 30 miles away - and has spent this year recovering. It's been a long, frustrating year for him, but he's finally been released to go back to light duty on Jan 5 - provided the hand he broke cutting wood on Dec 26 isn't going to cause a problem!

March, April, May all came and went. In June I went on an Alaskan cruise, and really enjoyed myself. July was quiet, August was a bridal shower for a very dear friend of mine, September was her wedding, and my niece's 21st birthday cruise. October I got to go to Hawaii for a week - for work! Pretty good deal! November I met up with a friend in Branson Mo, and we had a wonderful 4 day weekend, followed by Thanksgiving with the family. December brought a trip to NYC to see LIza at the Palace, almost a perfect weekend, and of course Christmas with the family, which was a little more low key since Tyler was and still is in the hospital. December also marks my 3rd cancer free year!

So - 2008 - was it great - I'll give it a 7.5. I'd give it an 8, but 2008-great-8, that's just a little too much! The two kids in the hospital this year, with severe health problems take some of the edge off an otherwise good year!

Happy New Year!

Christmas 2008

Let me start by saying I'm a Christmas Geek - there's no way to deny it! I love everything about Christmas - the sights, the sounds, the smells, the food,the baking, the decorating, the wrapping and the shopping-yes, even the shopping, though I must admit I'm doing more and more Internet shopping instead of in-store shopping..and I've always been able to be with my family at Christmas, even the years I lived in NYC, I never had a problem with my Christmas travel -

Christmas at our house when my sisters and I were growing up, was just obscene! Way more stuff than we needed, but we were the only grandchildren, only nieces, etc.,it was just us. I remember my grandfather LOVED Christmas- he grew up in the foothills in the San Joaquin Valley, and to say they were poor (he had 9 brothers & sisters) is probably an understatement. Their Christmas presents were either a piece of fruit or a pair of socks - as he grew up and had his own family, he was the biggest kid of all at Christmas! He loved presents and opening things, no matter how small the gift - a can of almonds that he got to unwrap put the biggest smile on his face, a magazine, a homemade batch of fudge, slippers, it just didn't matter. Once we realized how much he liked Christmas presents, we always made sure to get him a bunch of stuff so he could unwrap it! He's been gone 22 years and I still miss him!

We had a real Christmas Eve tradition when we were growing up - We'd always have our own family dinner, then we'd head to my grandparent's house (Mom's mom), where they would unwrap their Christmas presents, and each of us got to open 1 present, almost always pajamas, slippers or a robe, so we could use them Christmas eve and Christmas morning, and then we'd have dessert - does anyone remember the snowball Ice Cream? It was a scoop of vanilla ice cream, rolled in coconut with green holly leaves and a candy cane on top! Middle of winter and we're eating ice cream - any child's delight! Then we'd head out to my grandmother's (father's mother) where we'd get her Christmas presents - usually money - and another dessert - a child's version of heaven! Then we'd head out to some family friends for a real Christmas Eve Party - we were usually home by 11 though, so Santa could do his thing - and I can only imagine the hours my parents spent putting toys, etc. together.

Early the next morning - usually between 6 and 6:30, we'd get up and head for the tree and the living room - my parents would put on the coffee and call my grandparents to come over and watch us open presents. They lived on the block behind us, so it never took them more than 5 minutes to get there, but it seemed like an eternity! We were able to look at our stockings, but couldn't touch anything else. Then after hours of unwrapping presents, my mother would start the turkey and start getting ready for Christmas dinner, while us kids got to revel in our new treasures.

Until I was about 8, we always had Xmas dinner at my Great Grandmothers - but by the time I was 8, my sisters(younger) and I wanted to stay home with our new stuff - so my Mom started having Xmas dinner - I think at the most there were 32 people for dinner- as the older ones passed away, we got down to only about 10-11 for dinner, but now that nieces and nephews have married, etc., we're back up to about 15-16. When I was a kid, the food at the dinner table just didn't stop - and I can remember everyone having 2nds! There was more food than I can even explain! Over the years we've cut our food down a lot, and nobody has 2nds any more either - but we all get our fill!

This year was pretty much the same, except for my niece being in the hospital - she's regained feeling and movement in all but her right leg, which is still completely paralyzed. They've done MRI's, spinal taps, blood tests - all of which are negative or inconclusive. Now they're discussing whether to send her up to Standford, UC Davis or UC Santa Barbara. That did put a damper on Christmas for everyone.

Little Skyler had a blast at Christmas, and that's when you realize, Christmas really is for kids.

Enough for now

Have a great day!

On the 12th Day of Christmas....

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

On the 11th Day of Christmas.....

Over the river and through the woods - to Grandmother's house we go - ok, so there was no river and there are no woods, but to Grandmother's house I went! Ok, it my mom, but she's the kids Grandmother - and since they started talking, she became Grandma instead of Mom! Weather cooperated for a change, no rain or tule fog, and I got here about 9 am this morning - and we've been non-stop ever since, and doesn't look like it's going to stop before tomorrow. My niece in law is in the hospital - a problem with her back - 3 days already and it doesn't look like she'll get to come home today - she got a Cortisone shot on Tuesday and paralysis set in - she's a little better today - so hopefully the cortisone will start working it's way out of her system quickly - more tests ahead - the only good news in this whole situation is that my mom and I get to "babysit" for the most adorable Skyler!

on the 10th Day of Christmas...

This is an Elzybell image from A Muse - colored with Copics, and no clue about the paper!

on the 9th day of Christmas...

Easy card using Cuttlebug folder and Cricut for JOY!

On the 8th day of Christmas.....

This card fits the title perfectly!! 8 Santas! The image is made with a punch I received as an "extra" from Frantic Stamper. At first I thought it was probably too small to use, but then I kind of copied some A Muse paper - I used a 1 1/4" round punch to create the white circles then punched a Santa and placed him in the middle of the circle. Added some ribbon, and voila - 8 Santa's!

on the 7th day of Christmas....

This is just a simple Christmas card made with A Muse paper and stamps - a little bit of glitter - and there you are!

I finally gave in and got a new cell phone - I debated long and hard, before finally going with the Blackberry Storm - so far I think it's the "IPhone" for Verizon. It's definitely different and is going to take some getting used to. I will say I don't think their user guides and quick start guides are all that friendly - I had my phone for about 10 hours before I could figure out how to activate it! It might have helped if I'd found the sheet on the bottom of the box labeled - how to activate your phone - but finally it's up and working. I'll have to work with it a bit before I can come up with a real opinion - because so far I'm really only so-so about it!

Shopping, finishing the presents I'm Making, and wrapping are on the agenda for today!

On the 6th day of Christmas....

This is probably one of my favorite cards this year - the red glitter "Merry Christmas" doesn't show up too well here, but really does look nice! The sleigh is pretty shiny - I used a silver metallic ink on it - and lots of stickles on the bottom -

on the 5th Day of Christmas

I KNOW I don't have a card with 5 Gold Rings! But, I do have a Santa and Train! It's a stamp from A Muse!

on the 4th day of Christmas...

Hmm, I don't know if I have 4 calling birds..... but I do have these 3 Angel people!

on the 3rd day of Christmas...

Well, I don't remember anything about a dog in the 12 days of Christmas - but I have a friend who requested I post a doggie pic, so here's one!

Wishing you a Woofy Christmas!

The weekend in NYC was almost perfect! We were a little late in Leaving NYC last night, so I didn't get to my house until 12:45 am this morning! And yet I'm still at work today!

The weather was wonderfully cold on Friday - Saturday was 29 degrees - we did a little more in and out of shops than on Friday! Sunday was a balmy 45, and Monday was a heat wave at 65! luckily they're back to normal today!

The Liza shows were marvelous - she's in the best voice in over 10 years! Great Fun!
If anyone is going to be in NYC between now and Jan 4 - try and get a ticket - you won't be sorry!

Will post some NYC pictures soon!

Enjoy your day!

New York Friday

This week it's New York Friday - I'm leaving for the airport in a few minutes for an overnight flight to NYC - if the weather cooperates! I'm meeting a friend who's flying up from Nashville! We'll take in some Liza shows, do some shopping, do a lot of window looking and walking, and eat in a few good restaurants!

By the way, did I ever tell you how much I LOVE NYC? :) I've posted some pictures of NYC and a card to last until I get back!

Christmas on it's way

I received this image in a "swap" and it came together very nicely. A rather elegant card if I do say so myself!

More Christmas...

I used an AMuse stamp for the Santa and Sleigh across the moon, the House is also an A Muse stamp and I made the deer and the trees with Martha Stewart punches!

Xmas is coming!

Just a stamp I've had around for a long time!

Christmas Cards

This is a simple card made from a Cuttlebug embossing folder, and highlighted with some white and brown on the trees.

Didn't photograph too well, but looks good in real life!

Christmas cards Underway

I managed to get these 4 cards put together tonight...I had colored them earlier this week - but at this rate, if I can only get 4 cards done every night, I should have started back in July! Going to have to figure out a card I can mass produce quickly! Some special people will get these cards, they won't go to waste!

Christmas Cat Friday

You knew it was coming, you had to! Just 3 weeks from Christmas, and it's Friday - it just HAD to be Christmas Cat Friday!

First Christmas Card

This isn't strictly a Christmas card, I think it could be sent to anyone for a winter hello. This was my first try at a Cuttlebug embossing folder to make the green background. Then some gold highlight on what would be the ornament hangers!

Turkeys

I saw these on a blog while browsing - thought they were too cute, so I made them for one of our table decorations for our Thanksgiving dinner.

Kitty Cat Friday - Just Purrfect

These cats are just stopping by to say hello!

Happy Thanksgiving

Birthday Cards

I mailed some birthday cards over the last few days, and they were supposed to arrive one on each day for 3 days, lo and behold they all showed up today! Go figure!

Here's 2 of the 3, the 3rd picture didn't turn out!

Altered Mailbox

I haven't made one of these for a while, and had occassion to make one today! They're still fun to do!

It's a CASED card

I once saw this card and thought about how cute it was - it really made me laugh! So I made this for a friend who will really identify with it right about now!

Kitty Kat Friday!

Is it really Friday already? - Yay!




Couldn't get a good picture - this was the best of the bunch - it happens!

It's a Flutter by!

Get Well a Bella

My sister had ankle surgery, and now is on crutches for 6 weeks, then an inflatable cast for 1 year! Yikes

So this card doesn't exactly fit the situation, it's still relevant!

Turkey card

Quick Thanksgiving card!

Card with Buttons

Yellows, browns, oranges, card with buttons! All colors - Copics!

Kitty Kat - Saturday!

Here's this week's kitty cat card! I have to learn to pay more attention to the detail in the stamps -this is one that's better off colored with water ink pens, then stamped, rather than using an InkPad - that ink takes over the design! But I love this stamp and think it's so cute - no mattr that I'm such a sucker for cats and kittens! :)

Kitty Cat Friday - Later....

I worked on 6 more scrapbook pages last night - I think I've figured out a pretty good method for this -one night I print out all the pictures I want to use for the next set of scrapbook pages, the next night I create the pages, and so on! I think I've finished day 2 of the cruise, just 4 more to go! Oh, but then I found some pictures I wanted to use for Day 1, so now I have to find enough to make that work!

I'll try to get a Kitty Kat card on here sometime today.

Flutterby Wednesday

This is a card for Danni's Flutterby Wednesday. it's a new Technique, it didn't come out as I had planned, but I like it anyway!

Scrapbook pages

It's taken me 2 days to get these scrapbook pages dones - and this is only the first afternoon and evening - I have 5 more to go - This was my niece's birthday cruise, I'm making this for one of her Christmas presents - I need to keep working!

Branson, MO

I definitely recommend a trip to Branson! It doesn't need to be a week long trip- we were there 3 nights, 3+ days and that was just about right. We could have stayed one more night and seen one more show - but we'll just save that for next time!

We saw Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede, Jim Stafford, Pierce Arrow! All great, fun shows and worth seeing.

I think we lucked out onto perfect weather - perhaps a rarity!

A most enjoyable trip and one worth doing again!

More Cards!

I managed to get 2 cards done tonight - I've only known that I needed them by Saturday, for more than a month- and of course I waited until the last minute!

The first is for a birthday card for the Mom to be, the 2nd is for a baby shower! All or nothing, that's always the way it goes!

Off to Branson, MO

Leaving early tomorrow morning for Branson, MO. First time there, so don't know if these pictures do it justice or are just a lot of hype - we'll find out though!

We are scheduled to see the Jim Stafford Christmas show (1st pic) and the Belle Boat tour might just be on the agena as well. Shopping? You KNOW that's on the agenda!

Until I get my own pictures - this is what Branson is supposed to look like!

Kitty Cat Friday Halloween Style!

I couldn't get a good photo of this card, and the scan isn't much better - but trust me, this is a cute card! I couldn't find my scary Amuse cat, so had to settle for this one in black. What else can you have on Halloween/Kitty Cat Friday, but a black cat!

Flutterby card

This is my latest flutterby creation for Danni's flutterby Wednesday!