Secret Pal

I was asked to create a card for her Secret Pal.  Oh - and she's a classical pianist.  No pianos in my stash, but I did have sheet music so I got to work and put this together.  I don't know the "pal's" name, but I wish her a happy birthday today.  Thanks, Nancy!  You'll have to let me know if she likes the card.

Making cards - it's what I've been doing ...

Oh yes ... the papers and scissors and all the other stuff have been getting a workout here in my playground.  Boss's Day, birthdays, sympathy and engagement, to name just a few.  Before long, it'll be Christmas cards all the way and I cannot wait.

First up is this boss's day card.  I wasn't too sure when she requested this image, but after I gathered all the appropriate embellishments and put them down, I was in love!  Don't forget to honor your boss on National Boss Day, October 16.

Two birthday cards coming right up.  Happy birthday, Tom (his special day is actually today!)  He is a banker and I thought this image was perfect.

This card is for an Oregon Duck's fan.  I'm sure he'll get a kick out of what I've created for him.  Happy birthday, Dustin - hope your team wins.

Sympathy cards are not my favorite type of card to create, but a necessity.  You know, it's always good to keep a couple of them in your back pocket because you never know when you're going to need one.

Congratulations to Beth on her recent engagement.  How sweet is this kissing couple?

I've got many more cards to share with you, but can't do that just yet.  You know the rules ... can't spoil surprises for those that read my blog.

Oh - and speaking of reading my blog.  I thank you for visiting and taking a peek at what I love to do.  Please leave a comment so that I know you were here.

Have a great weekend!

Oh How Time Flies

I went on a honeymoon ... with my daughter and son-in-law.  True story!!!  They were married 22 years ago today.

 

They planned their wedding when they were still in the Navy and stationed in the Aleutian Islands.  It was going to be a small affair - just the bride and groom and me.  Well, of course I was going - but to the Aleutian Islands???  They planned to honeymoon in Anchorage and since accommodations on the Islands weren't all that accommodating I suggested we meet in Anchorage and they could marry there.

 

Fortunately, the bride took me up on my suggestion and immediately got in touch with Holy Cathedral Church in Anchorage.  After numerous phone calls from my daughter to the church and convent, the date was set.  I booked my flight and made her bouquet.  A friend of mine moved to Anchorage and told me that the couple that manages the apartment building he lived in were empty-nesters and had two extra rooms that they rented out.  One quick phone call and we had a place to stay.

 

One evening, the nuns and one of the parishioners were having dinner and the wedding was the topic of conversation.  One of the nuns told us later that she said that a wedding is one of the biggest and happiest moments in a girl's life and should be celebrated with a church full of guests.  She said she felt badly that only one person (me) was going to be there.  After some discussion, they all decided that they would help "fill the church."  The first nun said, "I'll play the organ."  Another said, "I'll sing."  The third nun (below, wearing green) said, "I'll be the 'best man."  The fourth nun said, "I'll be the photographer."  After listening quietly, the parishioner (below, wearing pink) said, "We will be happy to host the reception in our home."  And so, a wedding and a reception was planned.

 

What a wonderful wedding it turned out to be all because of perfect strangers!

The woman's husband (below, sitting behind the groom) came home on his lunch hour to pop the cork and propose a toast and the priest that married them stopped in.  The bishop also came - bearing a gift he purchased during a recent trip to Russia!

 

In addition to the champagne and gifts, there was a small wedding cake, which the parishioners purchased for them.  I just wish we could remember everybody's names so that I could give them proper thanks (again.)

We enjoyed the sunny (but very cold) day taking pictures in the nearby park.  A wedding dinner was scheduled to be at the hotel where they would be spending their first night together as husband and wife.  After eating, we headed to the lounge.  The band made the announcement that there was a bride and groom in the room; the dance floor emptied and they had their first dance together.

I'll never forget picking them up the next morning - the dress she was so worried about on the plane was now all rolled into a ball and she was carrying it under her arm.  I wish I would have captured that sight on film.

 

The next few days were spent touring the area.  All. Three. Of. Us.  To this day I still joke around and remind them that mamma honeymooned with them (haha - like they need the reminder, right?)  My son-in-law has even told people that I went on the honeymoon with them.  Yes, he gets a lot of "WHAT?" but that's okay.

 

Here's the card that I created for them.  Happy anniversary, Mark and Alescia.  Many more ...

 

Trick or Treat ...

Halloween is not my favorite holiday, therefore, I didn't have very many spooky papers or embellishments in my stash.  But, I was able to work around it - without going to the store! - and it ended up being a real "treat" for me to create these cards.

This card was designed for a woman.  The hand was copied onto a manila folder - where it came from, I have no idea.  Initially, I lightly inked it with a black ink pad but it just didn't look right so I added green and literally polished the nails a bright orange.  NOW I like it!

The envelope was from a make-and-take project somewhere along the way.  I covered the back with paper to match the card and left the other side black and added a little piece of orange paper for the address.

This next card was also designed for a woman and I decided to go with the witch theme.  Again, the embossed paper was from a long-ago make-and-take project that was just sitting in a drawer.  Wish you could see the envelope in person.  That flourish looks like black patent leather.

Yessiree, one more witch card for a woman.  Oh, that rubber spider.  YIKKES.  I could barely touch it!  The spider web: again, something from a make-and-take ... wish I could remember where.  I really enjoyed making this one.  Because it's the "witching hour" I went with the clock faces.  Did you notice the spiders on the white flower?

When I was finished with these three cards and had them lined up next to each other, I wished I would have used the same image as in the first card above (the four witches) just to see how I could have mixed it all up.  The image would be the same, but everything else different.  Next time.

This card was made for a two-year old little girl.  Can't be scary for the little ones so I found this darling little child standing in a pumpkin.  How sweet is that?  The envelope, you ask?  I made this about 18 years ago from an old calendar.  See?  Nothing goes to waste.  I can't tell you how many times I nearly threw it away.  So glad I didn't.

A three-year old little girl is going to receive this card.  Just LOOK at the eyes on this little child.  This card was a little challenging for me because of the paper I chose - brown, black and beige.  Not exactly Halloween, but the pumpkins spoke to me.

Question, readers ... which one of these cards is your favorite?  I don't want to sway your decision but mine is the first one.

Happy Halloween to all!

Happy birthday to you ...

Today is my only sibling's birthday!  I won't tell you her age, but you can feel free to go ahead and give her a birthday shout-out.

Here's what I sent her to help celebrate not only her birthday but the fast-approaching season of Autumn.  Best part is that she can display it for years to come.  Not wanting to go with the traditional orange pumpkin, here's what I came up with.

I also made this heart wreath, which she can display year round.

If you know anything about me, you know that I am extremely organized and know where everything is at any given moment.  Well DANG ... somewhere around here is a letter that I wrote to my mother when she was still in the hospital after delivering my sister.  It's so sweet - written by an eight-year old who was oh-so excited to have a new sister.

Happy birthday, Dodie!!!!!

Cards, Cards and More Cards

Oh yeah ... I've been busy!  And I'm not sure the light really is at the end of the tunnel.  Not complaining - I'm doing what I love to do and it looks like I can keep on keepin' on.

This sweet little girl sure is popular.  I believe this is the third or the fourth card I've made using this precious little girl; all different, of course.  Julie was drawn to her because of the red hair - gee ... I wonder why!?!

One more popular image.  Who doesn't love a beautiful butterfly?  Must be several people, since I've created several cards using this same picture.  Thanks, Julie, for loving this one, too!

 

This special card went to a special cousin for her birthday yesterday.  Nancy, I hope you enjoyed receiving it as much as I enjoyed making it for you.  I know your sister wrote something special inside, too.

 

I still have several cards that are sitting on the dining room table but not ready to post here yet.  Stay tuned ...

 

Birthdays

This card will be sent or has already been sent to a lady in Minnesota.  This is a new customer for me and that is always exciting.  I'm not sure of the actual birth date, but I know she will be celebrating this month.  I hope she enjoys all the special touches I did on this card; lots of different products and techniques.

I delivered this card yesterday to another new customer!  She asked for something "beach-y" to give to her husband for his 50th birthday.  When she presents the card, she will reveal the surprise she has for him: she is taking him to Florida to celebrate the half-century mark.  First up is the envelope ...

 

and then the card - golly, I sure love the bathing suits on these guys ...

 and I sure hope he abides by all the Beach Rules that are on the inside of the card.

Just finished two more birthday cards and have another one I want to crank out today.  I'm sorry, but no pictures will be shared here until their special days.  (They read my blog - but the recipients of the cards shown here are not readers - yet!)  Can't wait to share with you.

Enjoy yourself, whatever it is that you are finding yourself doing this week.

Happy Everything!

I hope you are having a good weekend so far, my friends.  I would like to take just a few minutes of your time to share a few of my new creations with you.

First up is a card I created for Jerrod.  His wife surprised him with one of my birthday cards.  I hope he did have an Amazing day.

A lady I've never met received another one of my birthday cards - I think this is the third year in a row.  I hope your birthday was a happy one, Pete.

This card is for a couple that just celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary yesterday.  Phyllis and Skip, congratulations.  Keep on loving each other!

This next card went to a very dear friend of my whole family.  My mother answered an ad in the newspaper many years ago to babysit for a newborn; the author of that ad was Charlotte.  Through the years, my parents' best friends became Charlotte and Karl.  Charlotte just celebrated her 90th birthday yesterday - I just wish I could be in Florida to help her celebrate.  I understand her daughters have lots of surprises, celebrations and festivities planned.

I have more cards I recently created but can't post them here just yet - don't want to spoil it for the recipients in case they read this.  You know how that goes, right?

Okay - go ahead and finish celebrating the weekend and this beautiful weather.  See ya next time!

A Country Chic Retreat

No pictures today.  Instead, I would love to debut my new blog.  Stacy Seely, from Whitworth Ranch Retreat, has asked me to author A Country Chic Retreat.

I've already talked about going on retreats and I'm sure some of you just "don't get it" ... but that's okay because I didn't either.  I invite you to read Why We Retreat and I'm sure then you will have a better understanding.  For me, it all boils down to one thing: FELLOWSHIP.

Have you already been to Whitworth Ranch Retreat?  If so, I would love for you to leave comments and let us know what a great time you had.  Share with us what you worked on/accomplished.  When were you there?  What was your favorite meal?  A funny story?  Want to share photos?  Please send me an e-mail and I would love to post them for you.  Just please make sure you have the "go-ahead and approval" from everybody that is in the pictures - I don't want to get you (or me) in trouble.

I look forward to this new endeavor and hope you enjoy reading all about retreat-ing!

"Letters from Africa"

"You have not truly lived

until you have done something for someone

who can never repay you."

~ John Bunyon ~

 

Today I'm going to give you an opportunity to do something for someone - and perhaps win one of the fabulous gifts being offered.  My sweet friend, Vicki Boster, has been contacted by Josephine, a social worker, in Uganda.  Josephine is asking for help for abused and/or ill children.

 

Vicki has stepped up to the plate and accepted Josephine's plea and has written a post on her blog asking for your help.  Here is a letter I've copied and pasted from her blog (with her permission, of course.)

 

Josephine,

After what seems like such a long time, in actuality, a couple of months,

I finally have all the plans in place for a charitable blog project that I hope

will bring help to your beautiful children.

Soon, I will share this project with my wonderful blog readers.

You and I will pray that they will be moved to help us in this most precious charitable cause.

Please remember this project in your prayers

as we go forward with this mission -- I send love to you and your children -- so very far away-- on the other side of the world. 

Love,

Vicki

 

I am so excited to tell you that the Runner and I have accepted Vicki's invitation to help these children.  Does your heart not melt when you see them?

As Vicki states:  "It takes a village." and I am inviting you to join Vicki and me to touch the life of a child.  All that is being asked of you is to donate one $5 Walmart gift card and mail it to:

Josephine's Children

311 West Main Street

Grayson, KY 41143

The gift cards will be mailed to me, and then The Runner and I will go to Walmart and purchase the items the children need for their schooling as well as some of the personal items they so desperately need.

As you can well imagine, shipping costs to Uganda will be very expensive (probably several hundred dollars.)  Vicki is willing to bear this cost herself but if you would like to consider sending just $1 to help, she will be extremely grateful.

In addition, we would like to send crafting supplies.  I have already collected some items from very generous friends and would love more.  If you could just please look through your supplies and share.  The children could use coloring books, crayons, buttons, yarn, stickers, flowers, inks, stamps, paints, scrapbook paper, envelopes for note cards, glue sticks, foam sheets, ribbons, lace, stencils and beads.  You know you have some of these items in your craft space that you haven't touched for years!  No?  You don't want to part with your supplies, would you like to consider buying new?  It's time to share with those less fortunate.  Again, if you wish, you may add a $1 donation for shipping.

IF YOU LIVE IN THE DALLAS-FORT WORTH AREA, PLEASE CONTACT ME TO DELIVER OR ARRANGE FOR PICK UP.  There is no need for you to mail these items to Vicki and then have her mail them to me.  Please help put a smile on these faces.

Please join us in this endeavor to send some love across the waters.  Besides the "feel good" part of helping, you will have the opportunity to win some spectacular prizes.  Should you choose to deliver supplies to me, please be assured that your name will be forwarded to Vicki to ensure that you are included in the drawing for the wonderful prizes (check her post to see what YOU could win!)

This opportunity is open to everybody ... it doesn't matter where you live.  If you would like to make a $1 or a $5 donation instead of shipping items or gift cards, you may do so by sending the donation to Vicki's Paypal account (vboster1@windstream.net) ... I highly encourage you to do so.

There are numerous ways to become eligible to win a prize.  I reiterate: visit Vicki's blog.  Also, please spread the word to maximize this effort to help these children.  This project ends on December 1 and we need all the help we can get between now and then.

I spoke with Vicki this evening and she said since August 19, more than $1,800 has come in from her blog readers.  I am hoping that I can touch a few more people - and that means you - that are willing to help.

I ask that you consider sharing this endeavor on your blog or on Facebook.  Social media is a great way to spread the word.

Vicki and I will share the winners on December 1 on our blogs.  Good luck to everyone that has opened their heart to these children.