Arbor Day

One hundred and thirty-eight years ago, Sterling Morton planted a tree in Nebraska and he encouraged his friends and neighbors to do the same. This simple act was the beginning of Arbor Day and in 1970 President Richard Nixon proclaimed the last Friday in April as National Arbor Day, a day to plant and care for trees. Arbor Day is now celebrated across the world and in my little corner of the world, I present my celebration of Arbor Day.

Another Special Birthday

Today is an important day in my family, today it is my wonderful granddaughter, Chelsea’s, birthday! In honor of her birthday, I used a clear acetate sheet and made her a birthday card with a vellum envelope tucker inside containing her gift. Happy Birthday Chelsea, and many more healthy, happy ones!!

Indecision

Webster’s New World Dictionary defines the word “indecision” as the “inability to decide; vacillation.” I have always been a procrastinator when faced with making decisions and more often then not, turned to my long-trusted friends for help. But my new friend, Ruby Tidbits, from Bugaboo Stamps, has a new definition for “indecision” that is much more flattering and explains why I have so many shoes!

Girly-Girl

I must confess, I love girly-girl stuff! I love shopping, high heels, and plenty of glitz and glitter. I am sharing with you today two cards using the same stamp only in different colors. I suppose, if I were a true girly-girl, I would have made them in pink and purple.

Favorite Things

Combining polka-dots and a puppy dog adds up to two of my favorite things. Because this card made me grin, I'm sure it brought a smile to the face of the recipient.

Birthday in the House

Yesterday was my oldest daughter’s birthday. The card I made her is the first square card I have ever made. Happy Birthday Johnna.

Second Challenge

The blog group I am in, Eyelets, Ribbon, Paper – Oh My, has finished their second challenge. The challenge was to use a piece of ribbon as our inspiration for a card. This is my entry. To see all of the entries please visit Confessions of a left-brained stamper. Remember "woof" is dog speak for I love you.

Versatile

I like to make cards that I can use for different occasions. By adding an appropriate phrase, today’s example can easily be used to send birthday wishes, to let a friend know you are thinking of them, a get well card or as a thank you card. Regardless of the occasion, a pretty card is always appreciated.

Happy Earth Day

Today America and over 100 countries celebrate Earth Day as a reminder to appreciate and protect the environment. My card today is a honey bee on its hive, and regardless, great or small, we are all connected in the great big chain that is responsible for our earth.

Paws I Care

I love, love, love all of the kids that came with the “Paws I Care” digital stamp set and it would seem that I am not the only one crazy about this set because Whimsie Doodles was able to donate $450 to a local SPCA from the proceeds of the sale of this set.

I find myself using more and more digital stamps because of the instant gratification I get when I receive the images minutes after hitting the “pay” button as opposed to waiting for the mailman to deliver them.

By the way, “woof” is dog speak for I love you!

Coloring Wood

I think I’ve already told you I am taking an online course on the use of Copic Markers from Suzanne Dean called “Color Me Creative” Scrapbitz. Copic Markers contain alcohol-based ink that will not cause paper to breakdown giving depth and dimension to your coloring. Each class is a video with a specific theme that you can watch as many times as you wish and at the end of the video is a homework assignment. When the homework assignment is completed you post it on the website and Suzanne gives you her personal input. I am really enjoying the class and I am learning more then I expected. I highly recommend the class. Today's card is a homework assignment I completed for the class on shading wood.

Boston Marathon

Today is the 114th running of the Boston Marathon, the world’s oldest annual marathon. Sponsored by the City of Boston, 26,000 runners will run 26.2 miles to the finish line and I am proud to say I know one of the runners and one of the “watchers”.  My analytical mind questioned what they are chasing, a rabbit or perhaps a fox? Nope, they are all in pursuit of this grand ole’ lady.

Gert the Groundhog

I couldn’t help but post twice today. After many, many attempts, I finally got a picture of “Gert the Groundhog” without catching the glare from my camera’s flash. Gert and I have a long history of coexistence. Similar to her cousin, Punxsutawney Phil, she also predicts weather, just not on Groundhog Day. For example, this past September, Gert was seen carrying a huge piece of heavy-duty plastic, not just a plastic bag, but serious plastic, under my front porch to weatherproof and waterproof her home and, as she tried to tell us, we had way too much snow.

I can usually tell from Rozie’s bark when Gert is entering or exiting her home, and she knows us for sure because she will just sit there and smirk as if to say, ha-ha-ha, you can’t catch me!

Something Simple

Today looks like its going to be one of those days when the sun doesn't shine but it doesn't rain either and the temperature is not going to go up or down. Good day to stay in bed, read a book and watch movies. Not this kid, I plan on making cards.

Love My Electricity

As if attending a funeral yesterday wasn’t bad enough, we had a thunderstorm roar thru last evening bringing two claps of thunder and high winds that blew a tree branch onto the electric wires knocking out the electricity for almost three hours. It is hard to imagine what our foremothers did without electricity. God knew what he was doing when he planted me in this century. I love using all the off/on switches of modern conveniences such as computers, televisions and microwaves. Although I do live near a river, it is difficult to imagine dragging a load of dirty clothes to it and them banging them on a rock to wash them. Nope, not this kid, give me a switch! So, what does one do in the dark? I took Rozie for a walk and to have seen a shining streetlight would have been a wonderful sight.

In Memory

Today, I was one of almost three hundred people who attended the funeral of someone that I hold in the highest esteem, Carl Wass, Esquire. Carl was an attorney at the law firm where I worked and I was his secretary. Carl personified honesty, generosity, and integrity. He was devoted to his family, his church and his friends. Carl had planned to retire in January of this year but God had other plans for him. In December he was hanging Christmas lights at his home and his ladder collapsed causing an injury to his brain from which he never recovered. Our community has lost a giant of a man but the affirmation that what the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the Master calls a butterfly, is a reminder that although no longer part of this world, he now walks in Heaven with our Lord. Rest in peace dear wonderful man.

Ladybugs

1,2,3…4,5,6… Does that stir a memory? How about the children’s song “Ladybugs Picnic” from Sesame Street? The ladybugs on my card are headed to that very same picnic. As in the song they will play games, run sack races and jump rope then sit around and tell knock-knock jokes. That’s what they do, at a Ladybug Picnic.

Lovely Surprise

Yesterday, I received a lovely surprise, an absolutely stunning vase of flowers from my sweet friend Barb, the Master Gardener whose gardens are being showcased in an upcoming garden tour. Earlier this week, I helped Barb email several pictures of her gardens that will appear in a booklet distributed during the tour. Barb thinks I am a computer wizard, which simply is not true. Nevertheless, true or not true, a thank you note is in order. I share with you today the flowers and the thank you card.

Chocolate

I had a delicious breakfast today, chocolate cake with vanilla icing! Hmmm, yum. I happen to be a member of the school of thought that maintains chocolate at the top of the food chart or if you go by the updated 2005 food chart, it is part of the “orange” group, first on the left. Although it is not the entire cake, I share with you a cupcake and a card and, of course, it's chocolate.

Eyelets, Ribbon, Paper - Oh My!

I am one of fifteen members of a blog group called “Eyelets, Ribbon, Paper – Oh My”. When the group was formed, we decided to take turns issuing challenges. Our first challenge was to recycle something you normally throw away. I used the bottom of a juice can to make a refrigerator magnet. I hot glued magnets to the lid to keep them in place and then sandwiched the foam, lid, and designer paper together with hot glue. To make use of the can, I cut the top off and placed the cylinder over a newly planted lily bulb to protect it from hungry bunnies.

I am pleased with my results but my entry pales compared to those submitted by my fellow bloggers. I encourage you to visit Jax Bean Stalks listed on the right of my blog and see the other entries.

Thinking of You

I am thinking of you today.

Friends

I am absolutely positive that I have the very best friends in the entire world. In their honor, I share with you this card.

What's Up At Your End?

Wow! Yesterday’s card, “Best Buds” was a hit. Thank you all for your wonderful comments.

Today’s card is another card that makes me laugh. This sweet little lady obviously hasn’t lost her sense of fashion with her polka-dot bloomers and purple slippers.

Best Buds

Did you ever make a card just for yourself? I did and I’m sharing it with you today. While I was looking for an image of hair to use for an online copics class I am taking from Suzanne Dean called “Color Me Creative”, I found what I needed plus this too cute to believe digital stamp at Whimsie Doodles called “Paws I Care”. The best part is that the proceeds from its sale are given to a local SPCA. I used colored pencils and I must admit that these guys make me smile.

From My House to Your House, Hello!

I have several friends that although I don’t see them for various reasons, I still like to let them know I am thinking of them so I send them a card. Today’s card is one I made for just such an occasion.

When I first saw this stamp, I knew immediately that the houses were filled with gnomes. Although you can’t tell from looking at it, these houses are built on a clearing that is deep in the forest and all the male gnomes are out and about while the women folk are home busily preparing their next meal of walnuts, mushrooms, a small potato and peas. For dessert they are serving cherry preserves and their favorite beverage of mead dew (fermented honey). What a happy bunch.

Chirp, Chirp

My goodness, the neighborhood is loud this morning. Not kids playing, but birds singing. The male of the species sings to tell fellow males that this is his territory and to keep out and to attract a female and raise a family. Today’s card is a song bird with his own sheet music.

Button, Button, Who's Got the Button?

Remember this game, standing in a circle and someone passing the button then the person in the middle (affectionately known as “it”) had to guess who had the button? Buttons made from bone, horn, wood, metal and seashells were found as far back as the Bronze Age. Simple use of the button did not appear until the 13th century by the Europeans. France became the button capital of Europe and their aristocracy passed laws that limited buttons permitted for common usage. The Church got into the act and denounced them as “the devil’s snare”. To date, the Amish community considers them a sign of pride and do not wear them. So, there you have it and here’s today’s card.

In Your Easter Bonnet . . .

With all the frills upon it. May today's promise of life everlasting bring you great comfort and joy. Happy Easter.

Here Comes Peter Cotton Tail . . .

Hopping down the bunny trail, hippity hoppity Easter's on its way! I made this because my  son, John, asked me to make a card of a rabbit eating tulips for a special friend. By the time this cottontail gets to his friend’s home, he will be one fat bunny from eating all the tulips. Since I made this card, Gene Autry has been singing “Here Comes Peter Cottontail” over and over again in my brain. Here is the card. Sorry the image quality isn’t better, but I keep trying. I hope Peter leaves you lots of Easter goodies.

Spring has Sprung

Spring has sprung and I am thrilled. The weatherman informed me first thing this morning that it is expected to be in the 80’s today. Yippee!!! The hotter the weather, the better. I am going to share this simple card with you and then get busy doing some much needed yard work. Have a blessed Good Friday.

April Showers

. . . bring May flowers. Would you believe this rhyme can be traced back as early as the mid-1500s? If you are an adult, the verse reminds us that if we are patient, good things will come. If you change it just a little and ask a child, “If April showers bring May flowers then what do May flowers bring? . . . Pilgrims! Happy first day of April, may it be filled with good things to come.