The Actual Shaker Card Video :0)

I finally figured out how to post the video. It took almost 5 hours to upload than get it on my blog...UGH!!!!

It's after 1am and I'm hitting the hay. Good Night All...or should I say Good Morning! LOL

You'll find on the info on the post before this one.

Till my next post...

Shaker Card And Almost A Video

I don't think I was so clear on the instructions on the video but I hope you will be able to get the basics. I'm so worried about making the videos too long with basic stamping, layering or adding bows. So I try to have most of the pieces together.

I forgot the colors used to do the face, hands and legs. I used Blushing Bride marker for the cheeks and Copic #31 for the skin tone and the hair was done with Soft Suede marker.

Sorry about the spot where I start laughing. My sister and I had so much fun doing the video and if you listen carefully you will hear my husband (Lee) in the background laughing and saying "cut"! I guess you can tell I'm still learning how to do these videos. :0)
As always, I wish you time to be creative but most of all time to stamp!

Till my next post...

Goodbye Our Sweet Kitty Karma

As many of you know 4 short months ago we took in a couple of kittens we found in our yard. One of the kittens (Woody who is black and white) got really sick and we thought he wouldn't make. The other kitten (Kitty Karma aka Punkin) stayed by his side and tried so hard to get him to play. Finally after we tried an alternative tratment he came around. He still has some real issues but he is up and running...literally all over the house! :0)

Then without warning Kitty Karma starting showing the same signs of neurological damage. We ran exhaustive tests and blood work. But she became paralyzed. In the end I had to carry her to the litter box and pick her up and hold her so she could eat. She was such a lovely kitten. Finally we had no other choice but to end her suffering. So on Friday November 18th we said our last goodbyes. I brought her home and buried her under our Blue Spruce.

I still feel out of sorts and keep second guessing if I could have done something different. I wonder why Woody made and she didn't. I can barely type this through the tears. I ask myself how could such a small bit of fluff in 4 months have such a impact on our lives? Our house seems quiet. Woody sniffs where she used to lay and wonders the house and cries as if he is calling for her. Even our dog Jasper seemed to know she was gone.

I think animals are amazing. That Friday evening I was sitting in my rocking chair in kind of in "numb mode" missing seeing her squeezed down in the arm of the love seat behind the pillow. Then all of a sudden Woody jumped up on me and laid across my chest just under my chin. Somehow his purr seemed louder than usual. He felt warmer too. He just curled up on me as if to say everything will be OK. And though I feel heartbroken over losing Kitty Karma, I still feel grateful to have had her even for 4 short months. She was one of the most loving and sweet kittens ever.

I hope you will enjoy the little time line of pictures of her and Woody. We may have only had her for 4 months but she lived large all 4 months! She helped us love more than we knew we could. We were so blessed to have her. :0)

Take care till my next post...

I Miss You Dad

Today is the 10 year anniversary of my Dad's death. Where have the years gone? It's hard to think of all the things he has missed over the past ten years. The births of his grandsons and another granddaughter. Even his first great grandchild. Some days I still feel such sadness that he didn't take better care of himself. Even though he was dealing with injuries sustained in his accident he would have been here longer. Then it hits me like a rock...I'm doing the same thing!!! Sure I never smoked but I don't eat right or exercise like I should...like I could. I don't want to miss out seeing my nieces and nephews grow up. But I digress! :0)

I'm sorry to say I don't have many pictures of my Dad. This is a layout I did of our last Christmas with our Dad. Anyone that knew my Dad knew how much he loved Christmas! One time he told me it's the one time of year he can do something special for us all. It was so fun talking to him a few times a week till he got our gifts. He would start calling me as soon as QVC started airing Christmas stuff! Usually right after Halloween!!! hehe He would tell me what he saw and ask what I thought of this or that. But once he got the gifts he would call and it became a little game between us. I would ask him to give me a hint and I would guess something outrageous! We both had a good laugh.

One of my favorite memories was shopping with my Dad when I was maybe 10 years old. We went and got a things we needed. We got a can opener, iron, and a toaster...not just any toaster a 4 slice one! And some other items like that. I was so excited that he let me help pick out the gifts. As I got older I realized he always bought practical gifts and always loved giving gifts for the kitchen. I think the only gift that wasn't practical was boxes of candy(Hershey Gold). He said you always need candy at Christmas! :0)

One of the other things my Dad loved was all the fun foods we would have at the holidays. No turkey for him. He was a honey baked ham kind of guy! And there better be some pies! And one of them better be lemon meringue. How we love putting out the spread. He loved playing cards with us or just sitting around talking or watching TV.

Now that he is gone when the holidays come I always try to do him proud! :0) I love to have a big spread, lots of gifts the kids will love and games or cards so we all have something to do. Still, it just isn't the same. You never really know how much one person links you all together till they are gone. I miss my Dad everyday but most of all at Christmas time.

Till my next post...

My First Stamping Video

OK, I finally tried to make a video. I SOUND LIKE A SNAKE!!! (you may want to watch without the volume on!)hehe

I forgot to mention that you needed to punch out 6 scallop shapes(your color choice) and just 3 white circles to stamp the snowman images and snowflakes on. Hopefully I will get better as I go along! Plus I think I need to figure out a better place to put the camera so I don't hit it. And I think I may need a better way to record sound. (I'd like to think it's the camera's fault I sound this way! HA!)

I didn't want to make it too long or drawn out for each detail. I figured that most of the people who follow my blog are already pretty seasoned stampers. So I thought you wouldn't need too much detail on how to use the punches or stamp.

Thank you again to Diane Chianelli for her inspiration. You can view her video on You Tube. She used a different stamp set with a bigger snowman image and the colors she used were awesome. Hers turned out so well. She also goes into more detail on how to make the treat. So feel free to check out her You Tube videos. Or if I can answer any questions feel free to ask.

Take care and hope you have had time to stamp this week!

Till my next post...

Just A Quick Post...

Hello everyone!

Yesterday was wonderful. The lovely people here in Plain City who have the Reindeer on RT 42 graciously put up a banner for my surprise for Lee for our 20th Anniversary. Lee thought it was so cool that I did it but how nice they were to go the extra mile and dress them up. They gave the husband deer flowers for his "deer" wife! :0) Hope you get a kick out of the picture. I have to say it really started our anniversary off with a smile!

Till my next post...

20th Anniversary Card

I've been busy getting ready for my 20th anniversary. It's tomorrow and I think it will be one to remember. This is the card I made for Lee. I also wrote a nice letter...and no I will not share the mushy details! HA!

I used a new set of unmounted stamps I ordered last month and the spellbinder set my friend Debb gave me for my birthday. I used the technique Denise taught us this past card night. I stamped onto the patterned cardstock and twice more on the coordinating paper from the paper pack for my acorn. I think it is so cute! Inside I used the saying "Nuts about you". I know it may be a bit cutesy for a man but I know he'll get a kick out of it.

We really both have everything a person could ask for so we usually just go out to a movie and dinner. But this is 20 years! I had to do something cool. Well, if you are from around here you know about the "Reindeer of Rt 42 Plain City, Ohio". They have been in the newspaper, on the news(you can see the interview on you tube) and they even have their own facebook page! They are about a mile from my house and I asked if they would let the deer hold up a happy anniversary banner If I went and got one. And they were so gracious and will be putting it up for me in the morning. :0) I ordered a bright colored banner. I can't wait to see it! When we leave for the movie I am going to tell Lee we have to leave early to get gas. Then we will drive up...SURPRISE! Then we can stop and have a picture taken with the deer! How fun and how out of the box. I'll post some pictures in a couple of days. And if you feel like it check out some of the crazy antics the deer get into!

I tell you when Lee and I got married 20 years ago "for better or worse", I'm sure he wasn't prepared for my "worst"! hehe But for me it has been for the better! Marrying Lee was the best thing I ever did! How fast 20 years go by. I'm looking forward to the next 20!

Till my next post...

Winter Theme Card Swap

My cards for tonight are done. I thought you might like a quick peak. I used a retired stamps from Stamping Up. I just love snowmen and snowflakes. All the cards I have been doing for the holidays have had lots of soft blue so when I did the first card it was a bit of a shock seeing the deep red and green! LOL But I have to say I love the traditional Christmas red and green combination. In the end I like how they turned out! :0)

I used all Stampin Up items except for the doily and the Gelly Roll Clear Star Glitter pen.

The colors used(ink and papers)are:
Whisper White
Basic Black (just to stamp snowman image)
Cherry Cobbler(used this color ink for inside sentiment)
Garden Green
Stampin Dimensionals
Crystal Effects(on the nose and buttons)
1/2" Scallop Dots Ribbon in Chery Cobbler
The plaid papers are from a set in the new mini catalog called Frostwood Lodge

Now all I need to do is get them in some clear protective sleeves and I'm ready to go.

Till my next post...

Halloween Treat Boxes For Card Night

Tonight is are Ladies Card Night. Usually we exchange cards but this month we could do a winter theme cards or a Halloween Treat. These are my treat boxes.

When I made my brothers "black cake", I made some extra pieces of the "cake". So I used them for my treat boxes. And I loved how they turned out!

Now for the details on what I used:

All supplies are from Stampin Up except the Orange Stickles and the pie shape die from Sizzix.

I used the 2 1/2 inch punch to make the moon. I punched it out of Whisper White cardstock and sponged it first with More Mustard Ink than Pumpkin Pie Ink. I stamped the Owl with Basic Black Ink Pad onto Whisper White cardstock and colored in the beak and bag with Pumpkin Pie marker. I than stamped an extra image for the Trick-or-Treat bag, cut it out and popped it up with a Stampin Dimensional. For the finishing touch on the owl I used the orange Stickles for the mask and on the bag. I had first started out using glitter paper cut out to make the mask. After cutting out 2 of them I went to using the stickles. I like it much better. Ok, truth be told it was easier to do the stickles! HA! 

As always I wish you time to be creative but most of all time to stamp!

Till my next post...

I'm Still Here...

Hello my stamping friends!

I have missed blogging. The last few weeks have been dealing with a very sick kitten and sick hubby. Hubby is doing great and Woody is finally turning a corner(we hope). He was up playing a bit today and has begun to finally eat dry food. So it's time to catch up, or should I say back to my normal life...always trying to catch up! LOL Hope you enjoy the pic's of the kitties. This is them resting after playing and of Jasper watching over them. Yes, I know it looks terrible all the pillows and blankets stuffed around the bottom of my bed but it is my own "kitty proofing method" to keep them out from there till there not sick anymore. Aren't I a genius! haha :0)

Hope the rest of your weekend is wonderful. And as always I wish you time to be creative but most of all time to stamp!

Till my post on Monday...

David's Black "Paper" Birthday Cake...Happy 50th!

Well, this was a real labor of love! When I turned 50 my brother and his wife sent me 50 black balloons. I laugh every time I think about it! So I knew I had to think of something fun and "black"! This cake with 50 slices would do the trick.(well, only 49...I actually left one piece out and didn't realize it till he went to open up the slices! I was mortified and upset but he still loved it. When we got home it was sitting with the extras I had made. ugh!!!)

I put a a crisp new dollar in each slice. I adhered all the pieces together with mono glue and decorated with paper flowers, black satin ribbon bands on each layer and pearls. I used a Stampin Up dimensional between each flower layer to give it bit more fullness. I couldn't find enough black pearls so I colored white ones with a black sharpie. Worked like a charm. I know my pictures don't do it justice but it really did turn out great. My nephews said "Make us a birthday cake too when it's our birthday"!

Well, I only have one more sibling that will be turning 50 in a couple of years. Now what to do for him? LOL

As always, I wish you time to be creative but most of all time to stamp!

Till my next post...

Cards For David...week 3

I can't believe there are only 3 more weeks till my brothers 50th birthday. It has been a fun challenge to send a card and gift every week for 50 weeks.

Don't you love the cards I used for inspiration?! The one to the right is by Dawn Olchefske and the other one sadly I can't find the site again.(that will teach me to write it on the picture so I know who to give credit to)

On my card I used:

Basic Gray, Basic Black, Real Red & Sahara Sand Cardstocks from Stampin Up
The cloud background and paper used for the grass is from the Welcome Neighbors retired paper pack from Stampin Up

I computer generated the saying, silver brads(unknown), stampin dimensionals, mini-glue dots, and the "blue plastic" swirls are from Queen & Co. bold sequins set

Punches used for gril are all from Stampin Up and are as follows:
1/4" circle, 1/2" circle, 13/4" circle, ornament, word window and modern label(in the inspiration cards they used the big shot scribble swirls for the "smoke")
I also used my new grass die from Die-namics of My Favorite Stamps.

Now to just put together a package with some grilling rubs and sauces and week 3 is done. :0)

As always I wish you time to be creative but most of all time to stamp!

Till my next post...

My Cup Runneth Over!

What a great Birthday I've had. I feel like I've been celebrating for a week! My brother and his family came in from Missouri to celebrate early and we celebrated my great nephew's 3rd birthday too. His birthday was the 19th. It was so fun having everyone here.

As you can see from the pictures I was showered with gifts, cards and well wishes from friends and family. I don't even know where to begin. You make my life a joy unending!!! I love you all so much! :0)

My hubby got me the big garlic holder, 5 new cook books, dinner and a movie. Of course anyone that knows Lee, knows it seems like my birthday EVERY WEEK! HA! He's always doing nice things for me and buying me what every I want. I do love being spoiled. hehe

My brother's family(from Missouri) got me the package in the 3rd picture. I asked for a cloth napkins, a new flour sifter and a bookmark. (I love bookmarks, odd, but true. hehe) I told my sister-in-law that the boys could just make them and maybe put their pictures on them and I would lament them later. I was so surprised by my bookmark she made! Great Job Barb!!! She even found just the right color of cloth napkins. Love em'! I'll have to let you know how I like the books. My husband loves the mini series on TV(Game Of Thrones). I've started them and all I can say is intense! And the perfect snack while I read. These chocolate covered Acai Berries are sooooo good! I collect kaleidoscopes and they got me one in Minnesota. It has the most lovey glass in it. If only I could show you how really beautiful it is to look through with this one. I guess what I love about kaleidoscopes are they make every thing look colorful and different each time you look through them. You just can't feel sad looking through one.

In the 4th picture is the gifts and card I got form my dear friend Debb. I was so totally SURPRISED!!! Debb, really out did herself. She sent me directions to make my own photo spot so I can get better shots of the cards I post.(she's a professional photographer...among many of her talents!) And she knows how I love bling. I will be using the beautiful gem flourishes in a personal scrapbook so I will always look at them and remember her lovely gift to me. The soft colored paper in the picture is "crepe" paper. It's the latest thing in paper crafting. The feel and texture is so cool. I'm not sure what I want to do with it yet. I almost hate to cut it up but never fear I will use it. hehe But most of all I was BLOWN AWAY when I pulled out the Spellbinder set and matching stamps form Our Daily Bread Designs. Lee was laughing at me since I was yelling "OH MY GOD, I love them, I love them! And Debb said I was hard to shop for!" I love it all. You know me so well Debb. The best gift of all is your friendship. I love you dear friend. Lots of hugs and thanks!

The 5th picture is of what was waiting for me when I got home yesterday. My neighbors brought over the most beautiful sunflowers.(They know they are one of my 3 favorites!) And Tonia found MORE dinnerware in my color!!!!! WOO HOO!!! But I have to say I love my Scooby Do pencil box. I love Scooby Do! I can't tell you how many times I've had someone stop by and catch me watching the cartoon! And get aload of my card! I just know Regina made it. :0) She is sooooo talented! I love how she made me Queen on the earth and on a throne on the front with them bringing me gifts. I tell you, I haven't always been the best neighbor but they sure treat me like I am a good neighbor. It is appreciated more then I can say. Thanks to them all.

The 6th picture is of a RAKU pot my cousin Steve made for me(his birthday is the 19th). I telling you everyone on my Mom's side of the family is so talented.

In the 7th picture is my hummingbird feeder from my sister and that's her new dog Henry. He is such a nice dog. She's had some nice dogs but Henry has something special. He just got back for a week of training. It was cool to see him doing commands. All I can say is "Mary and Mom keep up the good work with him!"

And I save the best picture for last. My vegan Birthday cake my sister bought for me. It was as delicious as it looked. We got a good laugh too since my name was spelled wrong. :0) We had a great dinner with just family on Friday night and it was just the way I wanted to spend it. Saturday on my birthday since I got up too late to go to my nephew's Birthday party in Parma, Ohio,.

What a great birthday! I feel like the luckiest woman in the world!

Till my next post...

Cards For David...weeks 5 and 4

Well, my time doing cards for my brother is just about over. I just love how my boxing card turned out. I followed the video by Dawn (Stampin Up demonstrator) on You Tube. I guess what I liked best was I was able to recycle those little boxing gloves. They were my Dad's. They were from a key-chain that had broken and he had saved them. I can remember my Dad coming out and watching boxing matches with Lee. I know my brother will take good care of them and if he ever wants to remove them from the card it has a sliding door to remove them. I can see endless possibilities using this sliding door technique!

The card this week is the skunk. It's from a stamp company called The Cat's Pajamas. I just love there stamps! I used a template from MOJO Monday and a card I saw on Splitcoast Stampers. It showed a flower or embellishment in the right corner but for a man...I don't think so! LOL I didn't do such a great job cutting out the second image of the skunk. Next time I will use an exacto knife. Still, I like how it looks popped up with dimensionals.

As always, I wish you time to be creative but most of all time to stamp!

Till my next post...