2013 in Review

Hello, my friends.  Today is New Year's Eve.  The last day of 2013.  As I sit here, looking back on this year, I see alot of things.  Good things, bad things, sad things, happy things and every where in between.  This has been a hard year for my family.  We've struggled with deaths in our family.  My dad passed away on Memorial Day from cancer, my uncle passed away two weeks after that from cancer, and we lost my 23 year old cousin to a drunk driving accident in July.  We've struggled financially, emotionally, and physically.  During the first few months of this year I was recovering from a broken neck and neck surgery, I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and for Christmas, I had the Shingles.

But, on the bright side, my husband and I have a stronger relationship, my daughter is doing great in 4th grade and I have three new design team positions for the new year.  I have been enjoying my current design team positions and have been stretching my boundaries with my card making.

I would like to revisit some of my most favorite cards of 2013.  These are the ones that I think turned out the best.  I hope y'all enjoy this trip down memory lane.

This one was made for Sassy Studio Designs PCP challenge

I followed a sketch challenge to create this card.

Using a new star burst technique

One of the cards made for Teapot Tuesday over at Splitcoast Stampers

Kenny K's wonderful talent just inspires me

I made this card for my dad's 65th birthday, but never got to give it to him.

Another beautiful Kenny K creation

I think this has to be my most favorite of the whole year.  I just love how this one turned out.

Using a Dustin Pike image.

I love sunflowers, and this Fred She Said set is just beautiful.

Beccy Muir created this amazing birdhouse.  It was one of the first cards that added all those flowers to.

This is one of my first tries at Gothic art.  Terri's image is just beautiful.

This was my design team call entry for Kenny K.

Using the same image from Delicious Doodles as I did previously shows the versatility of Teri's images.

My first Gothic inspired altered project.  I joined the 31 Days of Halloween Blog Hop with Smeared and Smudged this year and this was one of the projects.

A wonderful image from Rick St. Dennis.  His images are so fun.

QKR Design Team entry during October

This beautiful little girl is a QKR Design Team entry that you will see next week, but I just love it and since I created it in 2013, I wanted to showcase it.

Thank you for taking this trip down memory lane with me.  There are tons more cards that I love and have enjoyed making, but I didn't want to burn out your retinas.  I look forward to seeing each and every one of you in the new year and being able to showcase my work for another year.  Thank you for being my followers.  I have made it almost up to 100.  I'm very humbled that I have that many people interested in my work.  I truly appreciate all the wonderful comments y'all have left for me during this past year and I look forward to seeing alot more.  I love reading them.  My New Year's wish for all my friends in blog land is:

May you always have sunshine in your face, food on your table, clothes on your back, a roof over your head, family and friends surrounding you, enough faith to sustain you, and may your crafting always make you happy.

Happy New Year!

Teacher Thank You

I am seriously late posting this one.  I have already mailed it and just forgot to post it.  This is my card for last Tuesday's Teapot Tuesday.  We are sending thank yous to Barb for all she does.  Our tea party went to Evansville, MN last week.

I used a cute Teacher image from Rhoda's called Fauna Teacher to make this card.  I used colored pencils and OMS on this one.  I trimmed the image down and matted it on a very light bluish gray.  The sentiment is from Cloud 9's Stamp America.  I stamped it with Versa Fine Onyx.  I matted the sentiment on the same card stock as the image.  The background DP is from DCWV and I thought it worked perfectly with a teacher card.  I matted it on the light bluish-gray card stock too.  The card base is a light turquoise card stock from Recollections.  I did chose one other DP for the background of the whole card and it is from DCWV.  The pearls are from Queen and Co and the little flowers are from Jolie's.

Thanks for stopping by today.  If you haven't had a chance to join in the Tea Parties on SCS, click HERE for this weeks party. 

I'm also entering this card in the Tuesday Throwdown challenge for this week.

Have a wonderful day.  God bless y'all.

Teapot Tuesday #246

Howdy.  I'm bbbaaaccckkkk!!!  LOL.  I have a few more cards to showcase for y'all today.  I've been a busy little beaver this morning.  My husband is off today so he's been sleeping in the chair and I've been crafting.

I pulled out a couple of my older stamps..yes, I actually stamped the images instead of using a digi.  These beautiful images are from Blue Ridge Impressions.  They are a stamp company in Virginia that I found by accident a couple years ago.  They have some of the most beautiful images and lots and lots of Scripture.  You can't place an order online, but you can fax your order, send by mail, or call in your order.

I made this card for this week's Teapot Tuesday on SCS.  Our tea party is in Missouri this week.  We are going to visit David.  He was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer a couple years ago and isn't doing well.  To read more about his story and this week's Tea Party, click Here on Tuesday 4-16.  I am one of the cheaters who get's the email early so I can get my card made and mailed by Tuesday.  We would love to have you join in our Tea Parties.

I made a card base out of dark blue card stock from Recollections.  I found two DPs in my stash that were orange and blue, the University of Missouri's colors, which is where David went to school.  I distressed the edges of the mat to make it a little more masculine.  I stamped the word image and then the boat image with Memento Tuxedo Black ink.  I used my colored pencils to color in the image.  I chalked the background with blue chalk and highlighted the word JESUS with yellow (The Son).  I matted the image on a panel of Chocolate Chip card stock (SU) and then adhered it to the card.  I added some dark blue gems to finish it off.

I hope this card brings David some happy smiles.  Thanks for stopping in.  Have a great day.  God bless y'all.

Happy New Year

Happy 2013 everyone.  I hope that all my friends had a wonderful Christmas and a safe and blessed New Year.  We were bombarded with about 8 inches of snow right around Christmas so we had a White Christmas.  My mother was afraid she was going to be trapped up here in NE PA until the Spring Thaw.  She went home on the 28th.  I am so thankful for her visit because it sure was a big help.  Being unable to lift over 5 pounds, no stretching, bending, reaching, and having to wear this neck brace sure puts a damper on things.  

I was a little depressed when I had to send out, "gulp", store bought cards this year.  Everyone totally understands the situation, but for the past four years I have made my cards for friends and family.  But, I was able to focus more on my family and the true meaning of Christmas this year instead of how many cards I needed to get done.  So, all in all,  it was good.

I have been able to get a card done for the first Teapot Tuesday of the new year.  I have to be careful about how long I sit at my scrap desk and the movements I make, but I finished it and I thought I would share it with you. 

This card is going to Erik and Andrea who, after 19 years of marriage and some miscarriages, welcomed their baby twins, Theo and Sopris, into this world on December 19.  What a blessing and a Christmas miracle this family experienced just a few short weeks ago.  Their story touched my heart and I knew I had to try to complete this card for them.

I made a gate fold card which I thought was appropriate considering we have two babies.  I used all DP from my stash.  The ribbon was white and I used Tim Holtz Alcohol Inks to color one blue and one pink.  I attached little diaper pins to the bottoms of the ribbon.  The embellishments are from Recollections and the pink one says BABY GIRL and the blue one says BABY BOY.  I added blue and pink pearls for a little bling.

 The inside is done with the colors on the opposite flap just for a little variations.  I fussy cut the bows and the stuffed animal border from a baby paper pack I got a few years ago on clearance at AC Moore.  I used Memento Inks to stamp the sentiments which are from SU and Recollections.  I inked all the DP and Card stock with DI Vintage Photo.  The middle DP background paper has both pink and blue letters to tie both colors together.  I sure hope is brings joy to Erik and Andrea when they open it.

I hope to try and post at least once a week until I am free of this collar.  I am going to try my best to try and make some cards to encourage and bring joy to people.  I did go through the stash of cards I already have from my own creating as well as swaps and I think I could get away with not crafting for a couple of months, but it's like breathing.  I have to do it.  It's in my blood and my soul and I consider the cards I make a talent that God has given me to bless other people.  When I am not able to do so, I feel like I am missing out on my own blessing.

Thank you so much for stopping in and taking a gander.  I hope that you will continue to keep up with me as I plug along.  Thanks again for all the thoughts and prayers that have been said on my behalf.  I will also keep you posted on my progress.  God bless you all.

Wedding Card

Hi guys.  I am sharing another card that I made for the Teapot Tuesday Challenge two weeks ago.  I tried to add it to my album on SCS but it said that the pic was too big and wouldn't let me add it.  I can't take another picture because the card is already on it's way to Alan and Ellen.  So, I am going to link my blog with a post on SCS Teapot Tuesday so you guys can see it from there.  Oh well, such is life...:)

I used Stampin' Up Crumb Cake for my base.  It's a typical size A2 card.  I then used a piece of chocolate brown cardstock for a mat.  The patterned paper is from the Lost and Found Collection from My Mind's Eye.  I love the Eiffel Tower and the French wording.  I rounded the two right hand corners on the brown cardstock and the patterned paper.  I used a set of silver edged stickers from Recollections for the sentiment and the little hearts.  I tied a piece of satin ribbon around the middle and tied a knot.  On the bottom I added three pink pearls.  Congratulations Alan and Ellen.  May God richly bless your marriage.