Wall Hanging

Hi friends.  No card today. :)  I made a wall hanging for my craft room.  The verse I used is last week's word art from Word Art Wednesday.  The pictures aren't very good, because I had to take them at night.  For those of you who expressed an interest in having the instructions for making the flower I made for my card in my last post, I'll try to share the instructions soon.  Life has been a tad hectic lately.  Among other things, we're preparing for hubby to have heart surgery in just over 2 weeks and there is a lot involved for that.  We would sure appreciate your prayers.

 I'm entering these challenges:

Word Art Wednesday #29 Scripture or encouraging or uplifting sentiment
Scripture Thursday #30 Scripture
Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge Anything but a card

My grand dog, Caesar, had surgery yesterday to remove a growth and as you can see he's a miserable little guy.  He'll have his stitches in for at least a week and can't jump up on anything or use the stairs.  I think it's going to be a long week for him and us.

As you can see in this picture my dog, Princess, is very upset over having her best buddy be in pain and distress and wearing a strange cone on his head. 

Blessings

• $50 tennis shoes for $12!!!
• Painted toenails for summer :)
• Watching a young squirrel play in a tree. 

Have a fabulous day!!!

Inky hugs!
Shelly

Blessings that overflow!

Isn't the sentiment on this card awesome?  "May Your Day Overflow With Blessings!".  I just love that. :)  It's from Heart & Soul Rubber Stamp Co.  I own all sorts of terrific sentiment and verse stamps from this company.  Last week I won the Word Art Wednesday Challenge and the prize is some stamps of my choice from Heart and Soul Rubber Stamp Co.  I'm thrilled to pieces to be getting new stamps from one of my favorite companies!  Anyhow, back to my card.  In the near future, I'll be sharing instructions for making the flower I made for my card.  I didn't have time to complete the instructions today.

  I'm not sure if you can tell from the pictures, but the flower is very shimmery and pearly in person.

 I'm entering these challenges:

Word Art Wednesday - #28
Stamp, Scrap, And Doodle Saturdays - Flowers
Crazy 4 Challenges Birthday Card

The other day I found this little lizard in our bedroom -up by the bed.  I realize he's just a little guy, but I still don't want him in bed with me. :)  I caught him in an empty pill bottle and booted him out of my room.  I have no clue how he got into my room.  I probably don't want to know.

 Blessings

• Fun shopping at a thrift shop with my daughter.
• A visit from my pileated wood peckers.
• Beautiful weather for friends getting married yesterday & friends having an outdoor 1st birthday party.
• Bubble baths. :)

Have a wonderful Lord's day today!

Blessings & hugs!
Shelly

Butterfly Trio

Hi friends.
Please scroll down to also see my post from earlier today.  I go from not blogging to two posts in one day.  Crazy!

I like the muted colors and inked papers on this card.  It's very "me".  The butterflies are made with the   Martha Stewart Stamp and Punch Set.  The set comes with 3 or 4 stamps that store in the punch itself.  You use the storage lid as the "stamp back".  You punch the stamped images out with the matching punch.  My sister gave me this set and I love it.  The background paper has been embossed with a Cuttlebug embossing folder.  I love this verse stamp, but sadly don't know what company it's from seeing I got it used and it's an unmounted stamp. 

Linking to:
Word Art Wednesday #27
Scripture Thursday #28
Paper Sundaes - Things with wings
Stamptacular Sunday - Butterfly Kisses
Stampin' Sisters in Christ - Any type animal, bird, or bug
Crafty Calendar - Things with Wings

Blessings

• New books
• Hubby went to 3 different stores looking for carob, so that he could surprise me with some brownies for Mother's Day.  (I can't eat chocolate.)  He's so thoughtful and loving.  The brownies are decadently delicious. :)
• My daughter found some beautiful, large pieces of coral at a garage sale for me.  Perfect for our living room redecoration.

Have a fabulous week!!!

Inky hugs!
Shelly

Butterfly Bling

Hello friends.  I hope you all had as great of a Mother's Day as I did.  Mine was filled with tons of love and some wonderful surprises.

I love the verse stamp I used on this card.  I think it is so honoring to a mother.

 I have been seeing some beautiful, glittery butterflies online lately, but don't own a large butterfly die or punch in the right size and shape, so I needed to improvise.  I found some butterfly templates at this link and used one for the basic butterfly shape.  I wanted a body for my butterfly, so I made that part up myself.  With some cardstock, glue, glitter, and flat back pearls I had my glittery butterfly. :)

Linking to:
 Word Art Wednesday #27
 Scripture Thursday #28
Let's Ink It Up - Bling
Paper Sundaes - Things with Wings
Crafty Calendar - Things with Wings
Stampin' Sisters in Christ - Any type animal, bird, or bug

Blessings

• A haircut - I hadn't had one in months.
• Loving family - near and far.
• Strawberries

Have a terrific day!!!

Inky hugs!
Shelly

Tomato-Free Tomato Sauce

Hi Friends
Yes, you read that title correctly. :)  Due to several health issues I have to follow a very restricted diet and one of the things I can't eat is tomato products.  We often have pizza on Friday evenings, because it's something quick and easy to make.  At first I couldn't eat dairy products, but we solved that problem by using soy cheese.  But then I developed an additional health problem and could no longer have tomato products or soy products.  My husband started doing the cooking several years ago due to my poor health and he can be quite innovative.  He did some online research and came up with substitutes for both the tomato sauce and the cheese.  Here is a link to the recipe for the tomato-free tomato sauce he uses.  We freeze the extra sauce and use it as we need it.  You'll need to add any extra spices you would like to make it into pizza sauce.  This recipe is just the basic tomato sauce recipe.

 For cheese on my pizza we use Daiya Mozzarella Shreds.  It's a dairy-free cheese substitute that stretches and melts like real cheese.  I enjoy this cheese in many other recipes too.  It also makes great grilled cheese sandwiches.  Here is the link to locate a store in your area that carries Daiya products.  I hope this post will help others who have restricted diets be able to eat some foods they have been missing. 
 
Blessings

• A good, heavy rain today.
• Fresh produce from our garden.
• Holding hands with my wonderful husband.

I'm linking this post to:  Better Mom Mondays, Mama Moments Monday, Modest Monday, T' Time Party, Mop It Mondays.

Have a terrific day!!!!

Blessings!
Shelly

It's Baaaaccckkk

Great news!!!  My mojo seems to be coming back.  I'm so thankful.  I went for over three weeks without doing any crafting whatsoever.  I've never gone that long without crafting, unless my health prevented me from doing so.  I was getting a bit worried.  Here I have ALL of these craft supplies and I had no desire to make a thing.  What if I stayed that way forever? lol  Normally if my mojo is a bit lacking I at least putter around and make backgrounds or color images.  I didn't even do that.  I hope my mojo had fun wherever it went.  I'm thinking it was somewhere warm and tropical. ;)

 The awesome rubber stamp I used is from Heart and Soul Rubber Stamp Co.  Sue carries a fabulous selection of Christian stamps and lots of other great stamps too.  If you're on a tight budget, you will really appreciate being able to get any of Sue's unmounted stamps for just $1.50 each.  Sue also offers her stamps on cling mount and wood and has grab bags available.  A friend sent me some card stock embossed with the Cuttlebug Allegro folder, because I love that folder and don't have it.  It makes a beautiful background.  I'm hoping Santa will leave one in my stocking. :)

Challenges I'm entering:
Word Art Wednesday
Scripture Thursday @ Little Birdie Blessings
Stampin Sisters in Christ - Make a card of praise using music

Blessings

• My dh has been able to start the process of laser surgery on his lip.  Ask me about this if you want to hear the details of how God worked this out.  We didn't think dh would ever be able to have this surgery.
• My new Ott light.  A wonderful gift that is helping me see so much better when I'm crafting.
• My doctors.  Parts of Kenya have only one doctor per every 50,000 people and I have multiple doctors who care for me.  I'm beyond blessed - I'm spoiled.  
• Giving to others.  There are so many in need and there are lots of ways to give - not just financially. 

Have a terrific day!!!

Inky hugs!
Shelly

Fall Tag Banner

Hi friends.  I'm slipping in here with this Autumn project before November is over.  I know many of you are already on to Christmas projects, but I march to the beat of a different drum. :)  Many thanks to Keri at Pressed Down, Shaken Together for the idea and tutorial for this banner.  Keri also has a great tutorial for a Christmas tag banner.  I apologize for the poor quality of my pictures.  The light in my living room is terrible.  The wall paint doesn't even look like the color it really is.  Not that you're here to see my living room wall paint anyhow. lol

 After I saw the picture of my banner I decided that I wanted to add a piece of a flourish die cut to the pumpkins to look like a vine.   I was too busy lazy to take a new picture.  Sorry. 

 I'm linking this to:
Crafty Ribbons Challenge - Anything but a card
Crafty Purple Frog Challenge - Use orange
 Terrifically Thrilling Thursday at Shelly's Images - Anything Goes

Blessings

• I've lost 40 lb. now!!!  That's 80 lb. total lost since I was on a high dose of Prednisone long term.
• Christmas music - I love it and couldn't resist any longer.  I've been singing all day.
• Rice cheese - A great alternative when you have food allergies.

Have a terrific day!!!

Inky hugs!
Shelly