So Sweet Of You

I have this post pre-scheduled, so I hope blogger works like a charm. I'm getting my gallbladder removed, so please say a prayer if you can that it will be uneventful. Thanks, friends.

I have a vintage shabby card today using some of my Want2Scrap staples: Nestaboard and Nestabling. It was posted earlier on the W2S blog. The gorgeous papers are by My Little Shoebox. The birdcage and sentiment are by The Craft's Meow (Fly Free and Simply Delightful sets, respectively) and stamped using Clearsnap inks.

I used my Spellbinders Classic Circle Die to die cut the rose lace and adhered it on the Nestaboard Fancy Tags Three. I then carefully added the Nestabling Fancy Tags Three - White Pearl. I just love these two together. For added effect, I added a small chipboard from the Card Size Antique Keys w/hardware - Chipboard set. A seam binding ribbon decorated with a paper rose finish the card.

Crafty Friends Challenge #5

I have a simple shabby card for you today for the Crafty Friends' Challenge to use flowers. This is my kind of challenge since I love incorporating flowers in my projects. I used The Craft's Meow's Flower Garden (flowers) and Fly Free (sentiment) stamp sets. I stamped directly on the patterned papers, which are by Pink Paislee.

The main embellishment on my card is this die cut felt flower using Spellbinders Bauble Blossoms dies. I glued it together using my new favorite fabric glue, FabriTac by Beacon Adhesives. I so wish I had discovered it sooner. That would have saved me some messy burns with my glue gun :). I added some Want2Scrap pearls with the sentiment and the Copic-colored one in the center of the flower. Speaking of Want2Scrap, they are having a 99 cent BLING SALE right now! It's time to stock up!

This card was very simple and easy to make. The collage papers make it look more layered! I hope you can play along with us with the Crafty Friends' Challenge. I'm also entering this card to the Moxie Fab's Doilies and Lace Challenge.

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Crafty Friends' Vintage Tag and Winners!

What a fun release The Craft's Meow just had. Have you checked out the new stamps? I think this was my favorite release so far. There's so much versatility and I enjoyed using them all.

Today, I have a tag for you that I created for the Crafty Friends Challenge, which is to make anything but a card. I enjoyed making this tag and should do it more often. I used my TCM's Fly Free stamp for this.

The papers are My Mind's Eye. The little sticker sentiment is Cosmo Cricket.

Please check out the rest of the CFC's ladies and see what fabulous on-cards they created for this challenge. 

Beate Johns * Charmaine Ikach * Heather Jensen * Linda Lucas

And now the winners of the 3rd NinaB Designs Blog Hop:

The Craft's Meow's Cherished Stamp Set from Viola's blog is...Anita Braddock!
The Craft's Meow's Giddy Up from Beatriz' blog is...Irish Eyes!
Spelllbinders Aster Flower Topper dies from Lea's blog is...rlovew!
Spellbinders Bauble Blossoms One from my blog is...Christine!
Want2Scrap Borders and Corners bling from Heather's blog is...Tammy(urbeyondmeasure)!

 Congratulations, winners! Please email me (via Contact tab above) with your address info. Include "NinaB Designs Blog Hop #3 winner (the prize, if possible)" in the subject line. This will assure that your email will not get lost in my inbox. I have to ask that the winners email me with their info within 4 days (till May 26) in order to claim the  prize. This will help with organization and avoiding confusion. Thanks for understanding!

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On turning 40, a Challenge and a Birthday Giveaway

Thank you all for your birthday greetings for my daughter yesterday. I didn't mention that I also celebrated my birthday this week. And I hit the big 40! I used to dread turning 40. When I was a child, I always thought 40's is my mom's age forever. And now I'm 40 and I'm the mom. I wouldn't want it any other way.

Every year on my birthday, I have a tradition to stop, reflect on my life and ask myself some important questions:  Ten Questions to Ask at the Start of a New Year or On Your Birthday

Actually, it starts as 10, but the author adds 21 more. All the questions in this article are worth checking out, but I picked some here that I want to share with you. I hope you will find these helpful as you reflect on your own life as well.

• What’s one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?
• What’s the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year?
• What area of your life most needs simplifying, and what’s one way you could simplify in that area?
• What’s one thing you could do this year to enrich the spiritual legacy you will leave to your children and grandchildren?
• What one thing do you most regret about last year, and what will you do about it this year?
• In what area of your life do you most need growth, and what will you do about it this year?
• What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in ten years? In eternity?

I want to emphasize the last one, which covers pretty much all the other questions. I strive every day to do everything with eternity in mind. Card making or stamp designing may not quickly bring eternity to our minds, but every little thing we do to honor God and to bless others has eternal significance! I have much room for improvement, but by God's grace, my life has been a testimony of His goodness. I love getting older because the more years I have, the more I can speak of God's faithfulness in my life.

Life is good because God is good. 
 (I just love this and I think I may make this into a stamp someday).

Now on to my card for today. I am the proud sponsor of the Lily Pad sketch Challenge. I am giving away several stamp sets as a prize. I hope you will play along. Here is my take on the sketch using The Craft's Meow's Simply Delightful and Fly Free sets.

Some of my dear friends have joined me on this challenge and here are their beautiful cards.

Laura

Lisa

Jennie

Now, we can't have a birthday without a giveaway. Please leave me a comment on this post and I will pick a winner to win one of my new Spellbinders die designs, Classic Scalloped Edgeabilities. The contest ends on Friday night, Oct. 28th and the winner announced soon after.