Sigh...

I am having trouble updating today because it is with great sadness that I relay the  bleak news of my Grandmother.  Her doctor has advised for Hospice to step in because there is nothing medically to be done at this point.  Another "spot" of gangrene has now appeared so it's just ugliness.  She will be made as comfortable as possible. Amputation would have been too traumatic for a 98 year old and her health is extremely poor from lack of nutrition and failing kidneys.  I can only hope she finds peace and trust in the plan He has for her.  Thank you everyone for your prayers and hugs as I have shared the updates about her here.  I truly feel like she is lifted in prayers. 
And now it's time to share my Crafty Creations card for the week.  Claire issued a Fall/Halloween theme and I went with the later.  I figured I would squeak one more in before it passes us by.  Check out this prize she is offering to the winner!

I started this card using 2S4Y sketch.  Laura is back and tackling this week's challenge with a gorgeous card!  This sketch rocks Laura! 

I started by using some Theresa Collins papers.  I did some distressed edges with scissors and ink.  I couldn't be bothered to search for my special distressing tool.  Scissors work just as well in my book.  :-)  Over on Aly's Sunday Challenge all the cards this week are featuring distressing so pop on over and check it out for ideas. 

My friend, Stevie, sent me the cute clear stamp.  Also that fabulous polka dot ribbon!  Thank you Stevie!

Several challenge blogs are spotlighting Halloween cards this week so I would like to add my card in for the following entries.  Paper Playtime has cards, treat bags, and more featuring this ghoulish holiday.  Ellephantastic also has some super cute Halloween inspirations!  I love Helen's decorated mason jar.  Crazy 4 Challenges has some delightful Halloween creations to share that will surely inspire you.  But wait there is more!  Stampin for the Weekend has a Halloween theme and talk about loads of eye candy!  There are other 300 samples!  Even if you can't participate in the challenge, you should see the work featured.  I promise you will not be disappointed. 

It's time to get ready for work.  Today is a wonky weather day.  It's sunny and  in the high 70's but rain is threatening to occur any moment.  Crazy weather going on in the states.  I hope you are safe and protected from the elements.  I read that North Dakota had several inches of snow?  Prayers to all those effected by yesterdays horrible storms. 

Update on Grandmother and Forever

I do have an update about my grandmother. She is too weak to operate on. Unfortunately this means she is being made comfortable as best as they can. Thank you for your prayers! It means so much to me.

Forever
Not a word I use a lot.  I know, it probably seems like a silly fear, but to me when you use that word it "jinxes" me.  When used in the past, it seems to have the reverse effect of forever. But tonight I am using this word from a Making Memories sticker that's been hanging around too long.

The evening came to fast for me and I found my picture was to be taken inside with an overhead light which never comes out too well.  :-(  I have to get this in though because it's for Card Patterns sketch # 86 and it ends tomorrow. 

I used scraps from MME and Graphic 45 pattern papers which I sewed to the kraft base.  Then I misted a single blossom with Maya Mist and added a Kaisercraft pearl to the center.  I stamped a small swirl in black on the top and bottom and accented with some bling and tied a creamy satin ribbon around the card and finished with a black button and twine.  Pretty easy huh?  It always sounds like more than it seems at the time.  Sigh.  I am off to enjoy my Friday evening.  Hope you do too!

'Tis the Season

Well, it will be soon!  ;-)  I know I have been MIA here on my blog but family and work obligations kept me busy.  I had an early childhood conference to attend this weekend and then went to visit my 98 year old Grandmother.   I wish I could say it was a joyous event but it was rather dreary visiting her in a nursing home.  She currently has a gangrene toe that the doctor said would require amputation.  She's not eating and is very weak so surgery is questionable.  If you are a believer in the power of prayers I would appreciate one for her.  She was dreaming of eating while I sat there with her which broke my heart.  I truly don't know what direction she will seek

My  Grandmother was born on Christmas Eve and today's card is for her.  I am really praying that she pulls through for another birthday.  For you Grandma:

The new week at Crafty Creations brings us a new challenge and it's all about color.  Red, brown, and green.  The fabulous Melissa is hosting this week with Stitchy Bear Stamps as our sponsor.  A huge congrats to Melissa for her recent design team promotion to Tiddly Inks. 

My card is the Christmas Corner digital image colored in with markers.  I used a gold metallic pen that has not seen paper in years.  I forgot the odor they emit.

Challenges for this card:

2S4Y: #64 sketch

Crafty Creations: #89 "Color"

Craftalicious: #10 "Anything Goes"

Paper Cutz: #63  "Anything Goes"

Sarah Hurley: "Coloring"

The Crafty Pad: #93 "Distressed Edges"

Thanks for stopping by!

What? It's Thursday?

Yesterday I was convinced it was Thursday and instead I wake up today and it's truly Thursday.  Sigh.  I was really having a good positive week but then suddenly I lost my momentum and energy.  I guess I need to recharge? I created this card and was hoping it might be my motivation.  Hmm.  Not sure.  I was determined to use non traditional colors to make this Christmas card.  My own goal. I have been hoarding this fabulous Creative Imaginations paper and the large purple lace for a bit now.  The shame.  It struck me that I could make this work.  Crafty Creations is sponsored by Sketching Stamper Digi Stamps and Chris, the owner, was extremely kind and offered the DT the image of their choice.  I selected this stocking image because I envisioned so many different things.  What I did with it was totally different. First I printed the image on plain cardstock and tried to fill in with markers, a result that I was not happy with.  Then I printed on pattern paper and it was so -so.  Finally I found a scrap piece of Making Memories paper that I printed it on and then thought it needed some sparkle.  I filled in the houndstooth squares with Stickles.  I was hoping for more purple, not so much blue.  But eh, it is what it is.  Ultimately I am pleased but not sure it's going to be a Fab 5 for 2S4Y.  You know they are looking for a new designer to add to the team?  How cool would that be?  Go check it out!

Challenges for this card:

2S4Y: #63 Sketch

Alphabet: X for X-Mas

Anything Goes:  #20 "Ribbons"

Crafty Creations: #89 "Show a Number"

Create 4 Fun: "Use a digi"

Gingerloft: #3 "Glitter"

Okay I have to get my car to the shop.  It's overdue!  Thanks for stopping by!

Last week and winner!

Hey there!  I am back on this Tuesday to share my last Papertake Weekly card as a Guest Designer.  :-(  I have enjoyed hanging out with the DT and participating in all the fantastic challenges.  What a great term I had!  We celebrated PTW's 3rd birthday and keeping with the theme of 3, the challenge this week is three's. 
My card is based on Card Patterns sketch #85.  I am hopelessly addicted to the sketches as I mentioned here numerous times.  How could one not be?  ;-)

 I used some SEI papers to make this.  Notice the 3 circles?  Well I guess one full circle and 2 halves.  Lots of layers; 3 to be exact.  3 pearls
Challenges:
Card Patterns: #85 sketch
Just Add Ink: Pink and Bling
Papertake Weekly: 3's
Pile It On: Things in 3's
Stamp Something: "Something Punchy"

And the winner from last week's Papertake Weekly Birthday Blog Hop is....
                                                      #11 Cathy

Dawn will email you with details on how to claim your prize!  Thanks to all that entered by leaving me a sweet comment! 

A quick post

Hey!  I hope you are having a wonderful Saturday!  We are experiencing warmer temps so I am going to post this and get outside to enjoy. 

So I based this card of the lovely Laura's sketch from 2S4Y this week.  Squeaking my card in on the last day.   Also applying this to the City Crafter Challenge Blog for their holiday cards theme this week.  Fab eye candy too see at both sites!   That's it for now.  :-)
Supplies:
cardstock: Recollections
pattern papers: Making Memories
rub-on: Pink Paislee
stamps: Making Memories
ink: Hero Arts
ribbon: Martha Stewart seam binding
buttons: craft supply
bling: Bazzill swirl
floss: Prism

Boo!

Hey all!  It's Wednesday and I have a new card to share with you!  This card was a quick creation for me.  I was in a time crunch last night because it was back to school night for DD.  Can  I just tell you, I got lost a few times going to a few of her classes?  It was quite embarrassing.  I stopped to ask 3 times for directions.  Twice the students couldn't give me proper directions.  Huh?  I realized that DD was totally on her own unless she asked a teacher.  There are 22 plus trailers and numbering is not a strong point. It was great to meet her teachers though.  Even if one told me my daughter was lost during last week's tornado drill.  This was deeply troubling to me.  Apparently they were unable to find her after the drill was over.  Autistic kids don't handle  chaos very well.  She sat in the gym the entire time because that was where she was instructed to go.  Tell an Aspie something and they will follow.  She did and apparently they lost her in the mass  of students.  Boo!  Which brings me to me y card.

This card started out as my Crafty Creations card for the week.  I based it off of Jeanet's sketch found here.  She also added a twist to the challenge, use ribbon/lace  and a rubber stamp.  My stamps are from my stash  for the Paper Sundaes challenge, they are by Making Memories that I got a few years back.  I love the crow with the print background.  He has wings which applies to the  Alphabet Challenge.   Then I carried it a bit further and found that The Shabby Tea Room was asking for vintage Halloween  using this picture for inspiration.  Eek!  I can do that I thought!  I love this brocade paper and I bought some fabulous lace trim that is reminiscent of years past.  Then I read that One Stitch at a Time and The Crafty Pad  are  looking for "Spooky" cards and so I added a few stitches to the card and thought the boo is supposed to be scary or spook you right?

Papertake Weekly's Birthday Blog Hop and Giveaway!

Hey there!  We are celebrating our 3rd birthday at Papertake Weekly today!  If you arrived here from Marjanna's blog then you are on the right  track.  If not, you will want to go to here so you don't miss out on any of the creations or prizes!


This week one of  our  sponsors is:

At Lili of the Valley, we strive to produce excellent quality products with beautiful designs that enable you to make lovely cards every time, simply and easily. We also pride ourselves on taking care with everything we do to make sure you receive great products, at a good price and as quickly as possible. We hope you agree!

We are proud of the fact that all our products are made in England. 

The PTW challenge for this week  is to use any past challenge and I selected sketch #34. 

I used some Basic Grey stamps mixed with Amy Butler to create this.  The pattern paper is Sass Lass and the brown journaling spot if Jillibean.  I used Bazzill scallop edge paper and added Stickles for a little bling.  But you are probably wondering...what is the giveaway she mentioned in the title?  Okay, here it is.

how sweet are these images?  You can win these by leaving me a comment on this post and then make a card and post it on the main blog . And all you have to do is leave me a comment and then make your card and post it on the main blog (or the other way around if you want) and if Mr Random Thing chooses you, these cute little images will be yours!   That's it!  Of course, I would love for you to become a follower.  :-)  Thank you for joining us on this blog hop.  Please return to Papertake Weekly to find a previous challenge and join us in celebrating our 3rd birthday.  :)

Happy World Making Day!

I suppose everyone is busy creating away.  I am under the weather so I have not been as productive as I had wished.  Oh well.  I made two cards.

The first is for MSW.  We had a swap where we sent a partner all the supplies to make a card.  Lucy gave us this sketch to work with and also challenged us to use paint or ink.  My card is here:

Everything shown here except the ink and white cardstock was sent from my fabulous partner Bev.  Thanks Bev!

There are new sketches for the month on the blog here.   Also tomorrow there will be lots of tutorials and challenges with prizes so be sure to stop by!

My second card is for Rae's challenge.  She gave us a sketch and asked us to use non traditional Christmas colors to create a festive card.  I used scraps to create this.   Thanks Rae for inspiring me to get my holiday cards started.  :-)

Okay I am going to try and get some cards made.  Have a great day!