The last day of the year

How are you going to spend your day today?  How about tonight?  Will you be celebrating the old and ringing in the new?  Yeah - the latter isn't gonna happen in our home.  Don't get me wrong.  We'll ring in the new but it'll be about 8:00, if we're lucky.

As I reflect back on this year, we were so blessed.

The Runner competed in four off-road marathons (three first places and one third place in his age division) and four off-road 50Ks (two first places, one second place and one third place in his age division) and one 55K (third place in his age division.)  He is a MACHINE!

We went to three parties, several city-sponsored concerts and celebrated our 21st wedding anniversary.  The daughter visited from Chicago to celebrate Mother's Day with me.

I went on seven retreats and one all-day crop at a friend's home, five scrapbook conventions and helped two friends organize their craft rooms.  I work in my playground almost every day and I cannot even begin to tally up all the cards and craft projects I worked on or all the flowers I made.  Just know there were oodles!

I continued to enjoy volunteering with the fire department: Super Bowl Sundae, badge pinnings, retirements, monthly meetings, station tours, scholarship committee, bake sale, spaghetti dinner, TLC cards to honor firefighter's birthdays and anniversaries.  And I can't forget all the deviled eggs (in excess of 200) I made to take to different events.

I joined forces with Vicki to help the beautiful children in Uganda.  Can I just say I am in awe!?!  The generosity of so many will help these children tremendously.  We have collected over $2,000 in cash as well as over $200 in Walmart gift cards.  Neither Vicki nor I ever - in our wildest imaginations (and hopes) - expected to receive donations of this magnitude.  And the craft supplies - oh my goodness.  I have boxes and boxes and boxes stacked in two different closets.  Just after the first of the year, I will go on a shopping spree that will beat all others.  My cart(s) will be filled with clothing and shoes for each of these children as well as hygiene supplies, toiletries, book bags, school supplies and toys.  In about one month, everything will be shipped to them.  Josephine promised to take pictures - and you know I'll be posting them.

You know you gotta take the good with the bad, right?  Well, here's the not-so-good stuff:  Tendinitis in my ankle which meant wearing a boot for two weeks and three bouts of sinusitis.  But if that's all the health issues we have, I'll take it.  We are so fortunate!

As you look to the new year, hold onto what is GOOD.  Let go of what is BAD.  It is really just that simple.

October, November and December

Where does the year go?  I ask myself this every single year - and I'm sure you do, too.  It seems the older I get, the quicker the year goes by.  Not that I'm old - it's just an observation.

October is National Boss Day ... my friend's boss received this one.  How nice to work for somebody that you like enough to give him/her a card.

 

A spry 61-year old gentleman received this card on his birthday.  I hope he enjoyed it!

Ahhhhhhhhhhh ... Halloween.  I created several, but this one was my favorite, by far!

November: the month to give thanks.  This pilgrim spoke volumes to me.

It's also a month of anniversaries and birthdays.  This card was for a former neighbor to give to his wife on their first anniversary.

This card was for a guy that has a thing for skulls - I just couldn't resist.

 

Not only do we celebrate Christmas in December, some celebrate their birthdays as well.  Some men like skulls and some like baseball.  The Cleveland Indians, specifically.  Right, Dave?

Like us, some marry in December.  Happy anniversary, George and Sweet Alice!

Now.  Where do I begin to choose a favorite Christmas card?  Many were created this year and I agonized over choosing ONE that I liked best.  Actually, I couldn't choose just one, so here are my four faves.

Are you noticing a trend here with the browns and greys?  I chose these colors more often than not this year.  I wonder where my tastes will take me next Christmas.

 

 

I just looked at my lists and the numbers shocked me.  I created just shy of 500 cards this year.  No wonder choosing just ONE favorite for each month was difficult!  Thank you for looking at my creations from 2014.  Do you have a favorite?  Please let me know!!!

July, August and September

July was a busy month.  Lots of birthdays, lots of cards.  And, as you can see, lots of favorites!  The first one went to my friend, Vicki ... you know Vicki.  She's the "nest lady" so when I saw this image, it had her name all over it.

Many times my cards do not say "happy birthday" ... I leave that for the sender to write their sentiment inside the card.

There's just something about these vintage photos that make me melt.  When I see them, I just have to use them on a card. 

 

I'm sure it was a happy day for my special friend when she got this card. 

No doubt in my mind, this was my absolute favorite.  The picture is of my great grandmother and I created this for my cousin to give to her daughter for her birthday.  I pulled out all the stops on this one and enjoyed the process.  My cousin actually had it framed before giving it to Lisa.  I hope she enjoys it every time she looks at it.

August was a busy month, too.  Lots of birthdays and here are a few of my favorites:

A hand-made apron deserves a thank you card!!!  Thank you again, Julie.

 

Right out the chute in September I had to create this card for The Runner's friend that was diagnosed with cancer.

On a happier note, this special 90th birthday card was for a very special friend of our family.  These little girls reminded me of Charlotte.

She asked for "colorful" and this is what she got.  I love every single color on this card.

Not only did a 50-year-old receive this card, but his wife surprised him with a trip to the beach for his birthday.

Only three months left.  Please come back tomorrow and see my favorites!

April, May and June

As promised, I am back with a few of my favorites.  Easter arrived in April this year and I just couldn't choose my favorite, so you'll get to see two:

 

May, in my mind, means Mother's Day.  Creating cards for this holiday is bittersweet for me, but I am happy that my cards put a smile some faces.

 

Isn't it amazing how different two cards can look when they have the same background, but different embellishments?  I couldn't choose between the two as "favorites" so you'll see both of them.

 

Even though Mother's Day cards are difficult (mentally) for me to make, they're probably my favorite.  That statement probably doesn't make much sense - what I mean is that I can pull out all the bells and whistles.  By the way: "bells and whistles" translated means lace, flowers, glitter, bling, tulle and all things girlie. 

 

This one is probably the most simple card I have ever created - yet, look at all there is to it.  Perfect for a teenager's birthday.

 

June = Father's Day.  Here's one for a fisherman.  We all know that rulers (or in this case, a tape measurer) is need to tell the 100% true story.

 

And, of course, a girlie one, which I really enjoyed creating.

Don't forget to come back tomorrow to see what I'm going to share with you: July, August and September.

Recharging

Yes, I am recharging my batteries.  After the Christmas-card-frenzy, I'm ready to recharge.  I haven't created a card in FIVE DAYS - unheard of in my life.  I'm not physically creating, but you wouldn't believe how much creating I'm doing in my brain.  Oh yeah ... I've got big plans for 2015.

The majority of my creating seems to be on cards.  Since I didn't start this blog until mid-year, I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorites with you.  As I viewed the cards by month, initially I thought I would choose just one.  Well, that was an impossibility, which is quite obvious.  Since I'll be featuring so many cards, I think I'll just break it down and give you a little taste over the next four days.  Sooooo, let's begin with January 2014:

Shocker!  I was able to choose just one of my favorites for January and this went to one of my favorite people on her birthday.

Just can't not feature a Valentine (or hearts) for the month of love, can I?

This was for Susan to give to her husband ... on their 19th anniversary (see how I drew the square around the number 19?)

March winds blew in St. Patrick's Day cards, birthday cards, thank you cards and "just because" cards.

The word band says "capture life's moments" ... and I'm sure he does every single day.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again.  People just don't take the time to send a thank you card.  That makes me so sad ... and it's really quite the pet peeve with me.

Please come back tomorrow to see my favorites for April, May and June.  Please tell me which one is your favorite!

Drake

Kristi also asked me to create this collage so that she could give it to her brother.  I hope it makes him happy.

Drake may not be Kristi's dog, but she loves him, too.

What a sweet face.  No wonder he's loved by so many people.

Woof!  Something tells me this little guy doesn't have a lot of "woof" to give.  He's too gentle.

Love this picture and I'm sure they do, too, since it is a reminder of something scary with such a happy ending.

Oh yeah ... Drake's Place.

Yes, he is a best friend, playful and so spoiled.

There's no doubt in my mind.  Drake IS a family member and loved by everybody.