Merry Christmas!!!

Christmas Greeting from beautiful, sunny rainy Florida!!!  I was hoping for 82* and sun for Christmas, but we're getting a high of 76* and thunder storms.  At least we're not getting snow or ice like so many places are.  We'll have to go to the beach another day though. :)

I wish you all a wonderful Christmas!!! Happy birthday Jesus!!!

Inky hugs!
Shelly

Light Up Your Holiday

I have a few more Christmas cards to show before the year is over.  My favorite part of this card is the sentiment - "Light Up Your Holiday with God's love!". 

Here's a close up that shows the Crystal Lacquer on the large lights and the glaze pen on the small lights.

Blessings

• We watched our friends' two youngest kids tonight.  It was such a joy to have little ones in the house.
• I think I'm finished with all of the Christmas gift and card preparation!!!!  I wouldn't be if Mark hadn't done most of the wrapping for me.  Thank God for my loving husband.
• A phone visit with my mom. In the new year she's going to visit in person!!!

I hope you have been able to find time in all of the hustle and bustle of the season to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas - Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Inky hugs!
Shelly

Wow! I won!!!!

I've won several awesome digital images recently.  I was waiting to announce that I had won them with hopes that I could show a card made with the images along with the announcement.  But with holidays and the time I lost due to my fall I haven't been able to get the cards made.  So I decided I would announce the images I won and show cards at a later time.

I was very excited to win the digital image of my choice from In Style Stamps.  I chose Ava Leaning.  I can't wait to make a card with this beautiful image.  Watch for one coming in the future.  Thank you very much, In Style Stamps.

I won the digital image of my choice from the blog hop for Busy Beauties Boutique.  I was so excited to win an image from this great new store!!!  I chose Baking Beauty.  I have fun plans for her. :)  Watch for a card in the future when I get caught up from the holidays.  Thanks so much for the fabulous image, Carolyn.

I feel very blessed and spoiled to have these special new images to play with.

Inky hugs!
Shelly

Another Sneak Peek!

It's time for another sneak peek at the new stamps that will soon be coming out at My Paper Moon.  I'm having so much fun playing with these stamps.  For this project I used the sweet cupid stamp and the Love stamp.  This calendar page fits in a 3 1/2" x 5" clear acrylic frame with a magnet on the back.
*** You can print free calendars at Red Castle, Inc.  You can choose the size, format, font, etc.  It's very user friendly. ***

Here's a closer view of the stamps.  Aren't they beautiful?

Here's  a picture of my grand dog, Caesar, wearing his wiseman costume.  I don't think it put him in the Christmas spirit to wear it. lol  Poor little guy is very shaggy.  He has a date with the groomer this weekend.

Blessings

• My husband's student's gave their Christmas play last night.  It was so good and had a great message about the true meaning of Christmas.
• Christmas cards and letters from friends and family that I don't hear from often.  It's nice to stay in touch.
• My niece helped me out in a small way last night, but it meant so much to me, because of her thoughtfulness.
• God shows me that He is there for me time and time again in my life.  It makes me think of the song, "Great is Thy Faithfulness".

Have a terrific day!!!

Inky hugs!
Shelly

Wow! I won!!!!

I'm thrilled to be one of the winners of this wonderful Christmas blog candy from Denise at KC242 Designs by Denise. Thanks so very much, Denise. I'm so excited and am really looking forward to playing with my awesome new goodies from you.

Inky hugs!
Shelly

It's Red Friday!!!

 I'm screeching in here at the last minute to post this after a good, but very busy day.  I had planned to post it earlier, but some things came up and this is the first chance I've had.

I saw this video in the Homefront Blog and just had to share it with you.  Let's remember to pray for our troops and their families over the holidays.  It must be an extra hard time for them to be apart.



No card today. It was too overcast today to get a picture by the time I remembered that I needed to. Sorry about that. I'm a bit scatterbrained with the extra holiday stuff going on and then to add to it I ended up with a knee brace and a cane yesterday. That is sure slowing me down. But hopefully it will help my knee injury.

Operation Write Home is a great organization that collects handmade cards to distribute to the troops to send home to their families and friends.  They need more cards to send.  Please help if you can.  They send cards all year long.  You can find more info here.

 Blessings

• A really nice phone visit with my mom.
• A special family time tonight.
  
• Good health care.
• My loving church family.

Have a wonderful day!!!

Inky hugs!
Shelly

There's Magic in the Air Recipe Blog Hop

Don't forget about the recipe blog hop going on through December 13th to celebrate the opening of Nina's new online store.  There are some terrific recipes along the way that I know I'll be using for holiday treats, beautiful cards, a whole bunch of great prizes, and a recipe challenge.  Come join in the fun!!  You start at There's Magic in the Air.

The sentence is: Paper cupcakes where the main ingredient is love.

Inky hugs!
Shelly

My Christmas Candy Winner!!!

I enjoyed hearing about what makes Christmas special for each of you.  Thanks for sharing. :)  As usual,  I wish I could send something to everyone, but that's not possible.  So I went to Random.com and let it choose the winner of my Christmas Mini Candy.  The winner is........

#2 gucanucksgo of Crafty Creations!!!!   Congratulations!!!!  Please contact me at
webe34him(at)bellsouth(dot)net with your mailing info.

Inky hugs!
Shelly

There's Magic in the Air Recipe Blog Hop

The recipe blog hop for There's Magic in the Air started today and lasts through December 13th. The hop is celebrating the debut of Nina's new online store, Paper Cupcakes. Each blog will be showcasing a new image and sharing a delicious recipe. There will be prizes, a recipe challenge and a chance to be the Guest Designer for the Month of February. Go on over and join the fun! The hop starts at There's Magic in the Air.

Time for Some Christmas Blog Candy

This post will remain at the top until my blog candy is given away.  Please scroll down to see today's post.
I'm giving away some mini candy to celebrate Christmas.  It's such a special time of the year for me.  Most importantly, because we celebrate Jesus' birth.  And also, because we spend extra time with family and friends enjoying traditions and making new ones.

My Christmas candy is a set of stamps by Inkadinkado called Peppermint Twist.  I chose a set that doesn't have too many sentiments in case English isn't the language of the winner.  I don't want you to end up with a bunch of stamps that are useless to you.

What do you need to do to be in the drawing for this candy?

1. Leave me a comment telling me what you like best about Christmas.If you don't know how to comment, email me at webe34him@bellsouth.net and I'll add your name in.

2. Please tell others about my blog candy.

3. Optional: Become a follower if you want.  You don't have to be a follower to win my candy.

The candy will be open through December 8th.  I'll announce the winner on December 10th.

My candy is open to everyone in the world.

Inky hugs!
Shelly

A Snowy Flight

No card today. Instead I have a calendar page for you.  My friend, Martha, made a calendar for me last year with a new page for each month that slides into a 3 1/2 x 5 acrylic, magnetic frame.  I have enjoyed it so much that I'm working on new 2010 pages.

This image is a free digital image from There's Magic in the Air.  Every Monday Nina gives away a free image and issues a fun challenge.  This week's challenge was "Anything but a Card".   Be sure to check out the fabulous projects that the DT members made.  I made my calendar page for a second great challenge also.  Easy craft Projects - Challenge is having their very first challenge!!!!   The challenge is to "Make Something Using Turquoise".  Stop by and see the wonderful projects that the DT made.  The colors in my photos aren't quite true, but they're the best I can do with only a camera on an overcast day. I miss my photo editing program.

Here you can see the dimensional snow.  I used USArtQuest Artist's cement for the snow.  It isn't a true white, so I added the glitter.  I used my glaze pen on the eye and buttons and Stickles on the hat trim.

This photo shows the frame (R) that the calendar fits in. 

There's Magic in the Air is having a recipe blog hop Wednesday, December 9th to celebrate the debut of Nina's new online store, Paper Cupcakes. Each blog will be showcasing a new image and sharing a yummy recipe. There will be prizes, a recipe challenge and a chance to be the Guest Designer for the Month of February. Sounds like a ton of fun! The hop starts at There's Magic in the Air.

Blessings

• A friend had a very special answer to prayer today.
• The joy that crafting brings.
• Enjoying quiet talk with Mark over lunch.

Have a terrific day!!!

Inky hugs!
Shelly

Dreaming of Summer

It's a cold, wet day here in Florida.  A bit unusual for us.  It's a perfect day to be inside crafting.  Today's card is for Challenge #48 called Dreaming of Summertime at Charisma Cardz Challenge Blog.  I thought it was a very appropriate challenge for today. :)  My summer card is a beach card.  I live on the coast of Florida and this image makes me think of lounging on the beach on a scorching warm summer day. lol  We actually go to the beach in the early evening during the summer most of the time to try to beat the worst of the heat.  I've been on an orange kick with cards lately.  Maybe it's all of the overcast days we've had. 

This view shows the texture on the card.  I used Crystal Lacquer on the toenails and waves and real sand on the beach.

Blessings

• Soft, cozy pj's on this cold evening.
• A husband who cares about even the small details of life that seem important to me.
• Our medical insurance. 
  
• More rain!!!
  

God made each of us one of a kind - just like snowflakes.  You're very special.

Inky hugs!
Shelly

It's Red Friday and A Sneak Peek

If you're going out somewhere this evening, why not wear red to show your support for our troops?  I have Red Fridays on my blog to show my support for our troops who are serving our country so that we can remain safe and free.

Another way I show my support for our troops is by making cards for them.  I make cards for them to send home to their families and friends and I make cards with notes in them for the heroes themselves.  I send my cards through a great organization called Operation Write Home.  Operation Write Home is always looking for more handmade cards to send to the troops.  Please consider helping out.  This is a wonderful project to do with kids too.  Below is a photo of some happy heroes that have received cards from Operation Write Home.

The two main stamps on my card today are a sneak peek at some of the new Valentine stamps coming soon at My Paper Moon.  Aren't they fabulous?  It's a privilege to be able to play with them before the release date.  I'll let you know what the release date is as soon as it's ready for announcement. I love this sentiment.  The little heart stamp is from My Paper Moon also.

Here's a close up of the fabulous Queen of Hearts image.  This image was fun to color.  I used my clear glaze pen on the roses and my clear stardust pen for the card border and accents on the crown.  The white part of the card is painted with Angel Wings Shimmerz.

Blessings

• It has rained all day here!!!  It's literally showers of blessings for us since we are having quite a drought.
• A fun family evening planned.
• Friends - they sure do enrich life. :)

Have a marvelous day!!!

Inky hugs!
Shelly

See It Shimmer

Hi friends.  It's an overcast day here on the Treasure Coast of Florida.  I had a hard time getting a photo of my card.  It's not the best picture, but you get the idea. :)  This card is made with a technique I learned from Becky at My Adventures in Stamping.

Blessings

• A wonderful online radio station with Christian Christmas music - this station offers that and so much more. And they broadcast in many different languages - you choose.   http://www.bbnradio.org/   
• Mark added another light to my craft area.  Wow! I feel like I went from a cave to a sunny beach. :)
• Happy mail :)
• The fun, teasing moments that happen every day around here with my family.

Be open to what God wants to do through you today.

Inky hugs!
Shelly