A second thank you card

Hello stamping friends. I promised a few more thank you cards. I had to google the etiquette for sending out these cards because I wasn't certain if I am supposed to send cards to the friends who sent me just cards. Interestingly, there's no hard and fast rule, I have already taken care of those who brought food to our home and/or sent flowers, so now I'm left with the card-senders. That will add about 15 or so to my "to make" list. I'm getting bored sending the one I made most of (see my previous post), so I need to try something else, with little time to spare as it is recommended thank you cards be sent no later than three weeks after the funeral. I probably won't get to everyone, so I'll give anyone left out a personal call later in February. That seems to be the general protocol.

I am trying to sell our handicapped accessible van...no small undertaking...without having to lose a lot of money. I've done the usual listings and even posted at church...not much success. I have one woman who is local and I am going to let her test-drive it tomorrow. Say a little prayer for me as I'm not the best salesperson. Once the van is sold, I can get myself into a smallish fuel-efficient slightly used car. At least, that's my prayer. I've been to the social security office and straightened that out, but still have gobs of insurance papers to complete and my health insurance, which quite literally died with my husband, to look into. I don't expect things to be simple for a while, but stay in prayer for wisdom and freedom from anxiousness.

This card is simple. The remainder of cream cs with an SU night of navy mat that is run through the Cuttlebug with a folder and the sentiment is from CTMH For Evert Occasion, (ret.). I used Versafine Majestic blue to stamp and it's on a Nestie die.

Be back tomorrow with another card or two.

Blessings,
Erica

My Beloved Husband

Hello my stamping friends. I have been away for almost a month and getting back aboard is tough, but it is what I need to do.
My beloved husband Edward,(we all called him Ed) passed on January 13th. I was with him to the very end. I kept him out of nursing homes and with his family which was what we wanted. I won't belabor how I am feeling. We had 24 joyful years and he helped me raise my three children and bury my only son. We shared a wonderful life and our faith in our heavenly Father sustained us and continues to do so for those Ed left behind. He is with God resting easy. And I, soldier on.

So, I have taken it upon myself to create my own thank you cards for those who have expressed their sympathy. We didn't have a large number of people, as we are from New York and here in Arizona we were retired. Due to Ed's disability, we did not do a great deal of socializing, so 30 or so cards will be adequate. Above, is the easy peasy one I am sending. I already have most of them sent. The stamp says it all, but it could be interpreted in two ways: God taking the hand of his servant, or, a friend/relative holding mine here on earth. At any rate, I stamped it in Memento cocoa brown and the cs is a cream color I had on hand. The image is one of the Michael Craftmart $1.50 stamps. This seems to be an addition to their Studio "G" line still selling for $1.00. I'll show another card tomorrow.

Hugs and Blessings,
Erica

Happy New Year

I am wishing my readers a Happy New Year a bit late, as I wanted to be certain it was starting off for me on a good foot. NOT! I've just returned from the vet where I took my sweet Starr Kitty to be checked out. She had a swollen rear end and was in some pain. Well, $868 later, along with a drainage tube, antiobitis and pain killers and head gear to keep from scratching her shaved butt, a rather sad look, I'v decided this is not a good beginning. Especially, as I sat down with my budget yesterday and figured out how I could  save $100 per month for furniture to finish my craftroom. Looks like that's on hold while I pay this bill. Oh well, she has my heart and is a stress relief for me, so I'll be OK.

I am also bound and determined to make a decision (once and for all time) as to whether or not to leave Stampin' Up as a demo. I was gone about 9 months and then went back about 2 yrs. ago. I'm not sure what made me come back. With so many great stamp companies now, it certainly wasn't because there were no stamps available. I think it's because I'm forced to come up with the "must have" $300 quarterly to remain and it keeps me away from the big box stores. There I tend to impulse buy and often use less than half the products I purchase. It doesn't help that I have two Michaels, 2 Jo-Anns, and one Hobby Lobby within a short driving distance. And they are always sending me coupons. I simply must get some discipline and decide. Only I can do that right!

So for the Simply Create Too Challenge No. 4, I made this card...with loads of inspiration from Michelle Zindorf, brayer queen of the midwest.  I didn't do any brayering though. I used circle, square and teeny heart punches along with the SU Top Note die to create this card. All the cs is SU and the sentiment is PC generated. In the corners, I added Ranger's liquid pearls. This card was easy to mass produce, so that's what I did for those whom I missed on the Christmas list.

Now, go and have some fun at Simply Create Too. The challenge this time is Loads of Layers. Lay it on us will ya'.

Blessings,
Erica

Simply Create Too Challenge No. 3

Good mornin' stamper friends. It's coming down to the wire. I had finished all of my cards, but needed some gift card holders. Stamp TV to the rescue. Gina K., has a tute this week in two easy to understand episodes...love these freebies... for a cute holder and I totally took advantage of it. I used dsp from a forgotten CTMH package and SU for the base. Instead of a bow, I opted for a belly band..easier to get on and off than to fumble with a ribbon. Som ric rac, a little Santa had with stickles and a blob of glossy accents...woulda' put on a pom pom, except I need to mail this. And I am off to make several more of these. BTW, this sample used a gift card I had sitting around the house. I've purchased the Merry Christmas themed cards since then. So go check out Stamp TV to learn how to make one of these. More importantly, take some time out for yourselves and visit Simply Create Too where you can get some inspiration to join us for this challenge.

Hugs & Blessings,
Erica

How Do They Do It!?

OK, stampers. I've been trying to get it all done. I'm not going to go there, because I know you have the same stuff to do as me. I take comfort in knowing that I'm Not Alone. That said, you quite understand why this card appears at Simply Create Too for Challenge no. 2 in the mid-week entry, but didn't have a post to go along with it until now. You will also quite understand why I shall not be going on and on with how I did it and what I used to make it. Just understand that there is a reason why I'm so blessed to be a part of the best design team I know and they let me get away with this.

Having said how I feel, posts for the next few weeks will be sporadic and brief as I celebrate the rest of the year. And I hope you will be doing the same.

                                               Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Blessings,
Erica (who is far tooo busy, and pooped,  to find a proper holiday widget and re-design her blog in holiday splendor as many of her fellower bloggers have done.)

Whimsical Elf

Hi Stampers. Here is a fun little elf image from CTMH. They come four to a sheet. Each one is adorable and fun to color. This little guy is ready for Christmas, don't you think? I added a strip of dsp and mixed red and green bakers' twine wrapped around the Gina K luxery white card base. I colored him with a mix of copics and Bic markers.

Well, I'm off to see my grand-daughter in a Christmas show. She is four...should be cute.

Blessings,
Erica

Little angels

Hi Stampers. Hope your week is going well. We have just finished a trio of rainy days, a rare phenom in Arizona, but one much-needed. My tiny garden and newly planted citrus trees are quite happy about it.

So, I'm still making Christmas cards. I thought I was done, but my dh needed about 10 cards. It looks like I'll be pulling my stuff out again. Although I tidied my room up, the holiday stamps are still within reach. So here's one that I couldn't part with. The sketch is CASED, but the papers and adorable angel stamp are all mine. Aren't they just the cutest and doesn't the senitment really match. My dh says the papers don't quite fit, but I can't say they don't. Bakers twine tied in a bow and then snipped over a piece of SU olive ribbon are eye-catching, don't ya' think. I used a Nestie die to frame the stamp and an MS punched snowflake touched with a bit of Rangers glitter glue and with a teeny blingie star in the center. I colored with copics.

So you will see a few more Christmas cards before the end of the year. Tomorrow, I will post a mid-way card for the embossing challenge at Simply Create Too. There's another week left to submit your embossed card. And here's a heads-up...hope the team won't mind me telling. There will be blog candy coming soon.

Blessings,
Erica