Christmas Memories

Hi friends. When I let the dogs out yesterday there was a large, black snake climbing up the side of the rain gutter on our house.  One of the dogs went after it and knocked the snake down.  The snake slid right up our back steps and on to the porch.  Totally freaked me out.  I had never watched a snake go up stairs before. lol

With approximately 16 weeks left before Christmas, that means it's time for me to panic get serious about making Christmas cards.  On this card I used a digital image by Inger Harding.  I added some Crystal Lacquer to the window panes.  The flowers are from my stash and I adhered some flat back pearls to the centers.  The sentiment is computer generated.

Challenges:

Crafty Hazelnuts' Christmas Challenge - #192 People Matter

Lacy Sunshine Challenge - #41 Include a window

Scrapbook Blessings Club - #28 Anything Goes

Allsorts Challenge - #274 Early Christmas Makes

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra - Sept. 2014 Anything Goes

Word Art Wednesday - #147 Anything Goes

Blessings:

• My husband and his mom sang as part of a trio at church this morning.  It was so beautiful to see them singing together for the first time. (This was his mom's first time singing in public.)
• Extra family time tomorrow as hubby gets part of the day off for Labor Day.
• Butterscotch hard candy to satisfy my sweet tooth occasionally. :)

Have a fabulous day!!!

Inky hugs!

Shelly

When Life Hands You Lemons.....

Hi friends.  When life hands you lemons, throw them back and ask for chocolate!  That's great advice and also the sentiment in this card. :)

This card makes me smile.  I love these little mice.  They are a free digital image from Mary Ellen at Dearie Dolls Digi Stamps.  Be sure to check out the rest of her adorable digi stamps on her blog.  She's an incredibly generous lady and very gifted.  I love the places that her imagination takes her in her drawings. :)

I added glitter to the sugar cubes to make them look real and because it's fun to play with glitter. lol

Challenges:

C.R.A.F.T. - Animal/Pet

Crafty Little Fairies - Cute and Cuddly

Brown Sugar - #109 Anything Goes

Sister Act - #72 Anything Goes

Blessings:

• My sister had her 2nd surgery in 4 months for the same problem and came through well.  Please pray for her a she heals.
• The great things we accomplish when we work together as a family.  Not only do we get things done, but it's so sweet to work together.
• A friend, who has been seriously ill, is doing much better.
• My hubby found a new paper cutter for me at a thrift shop for $2.00!

Have a wonderful day!!!

Inky hugs!

Shelly

Stacked Hearts

Hi friends.  Life took some unexpected turns and kept me from posting for awhile and from visiting other blogs too.  I'm hoping to get around to visit my blog friends this week.

My mom sent me the materials and instructions for making the hearts on this card.  She said her friend cut the hearts on a Cricut.  I stacked four hearts for this card.  I kept the card simple, because I wanted the hearts to have all the attention.

Here's a close up of the hearts.  Thanks for making it possible for me to make these fun and beautiful hearts, Mom.  I really enjoyed making them.

I'm entering this challenge:

Scrapbook Blessings Club - Love Is In The Air

 Blessings

•  Our family member that has been sick is continuing to improve. 
• A visit from a friend I hadn't seen in a long time.
• Our heater stopped, but it was something simple that my hubby could fix.  

Have a terrific day!!!

Inky hugs!
Shelly

Something New

Hi friends.  I'm coming to you with something totally new for me - an art journal page.  My online friend, Marsha, inspired me to start art journaling.  It's a more vulnerable feeling for me to share this than it is to share a card.  But I tell you I am absolutely loving art journaling.  I can't get enough of it. 

This page is about my "word" for 2014.  My word is "Determined".  I'm determined to make progress in a number of areas of my life, but exercise is one of the biggies and that is what I had in mind when I made this page.  And btw, I'm happy to report that I have been exercising faithfully so far in 2014.

Challenges I'm entering:

Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Blessings:

• Discovering art journaling.
• Blueberries
• Safety for my mom when she found herself in a bad situation on slippery roads.

Have a joy-filled day!!!

Inky hugs!
Shelly

Snowflake Legend

Hi friends.  This week just flew by for me.  It's hard to believe the weekend is already here. 

Today I have a Christmas card.  The snowflake legend stamp I used on my card is from Heart and Soul Rubber Stamps.  They have awesome stamps.  The spatter stamp is from My Paper Moon, which is another terrific place to shop for stamps.  I don't know the origin of the flourish stamp.  I embellished my card with ribbon, snowflake punches and a couple stick pins.

Challenges I'm entering:

All Sorts - Use Ribbon, no bows.

Catch the Bug - Winter Wonderland

Crafty Calendar - Let's Celebrate - Christmas Card

Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge - Winter Weather

Crazy Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge Extra - Anything Goes

Crafty Hazelnuts Patterned Paper Challenge - Anything Goes

Scrapbook Blessings Club - Celebrate Winter

Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Blessings:

• I'm so thankful that I know how to mend and alter clothing.  I use these skills nearly every week for myself or my family.  
• We're back to warm weather!!!!  I'm a cold weather wimp. lol
• I was able to do my exercise this week, despite a high pain level and a migraine.

Have a fabulous day!!!

Inky hugs!
Shelly

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Add A Little Zip To Your Card!

Hello friends.  Happy Saturday!  Are you enjoying the weekend?  I'm having a nice, quiet day at home today.

I used two new techniques on this card: The zipper flower and the chevron technique.  The instructions for the zipper flower are here and here is the link to the chevron technique.  The dp is my "shopping sin" on this card.  I really liked it when I got it, but then never used it until I made this card.

 Here's a close up of the zipper flower.  I find that the flowers can be varied quite a bit depending on the zippers you use, how tightly you pull your gathering stitch and how you coil the flower.  I finished my flower off with some ribbon and a couple stick pins.

Challenges I'm entering:

A Gem Of A Challenge - Something New - The two new techniques I used.

Allsorts  - Free & Easy

Totally Gorjuss - Ribbon - Used ribbon under my flower.

Suzy Bee's Bloomin Challenge - Anything Goes

Our Creative Corner - No More Shopping Sins! - MY shopping sin is the dp.

Blessings:

• Purple Band-aids - They make any cut feel better. :)
• A warm home on the rare, really cold days we have here.
• The ability to laugh at myself when I need to. 

Have a terrific day!!!

Inky hugs!
Shelly