What a yesterday ...

I had a day of meetings ahead of me. Not a bad day to contemplate, don't ya think? All I had to do was get myself outa bed, get cute, and get going. I did. It was also my weekly lunch day with my dear friend, Debbie. I'm not sure how we moved from hello to "my sister's cancer is back" but we did. We had salads and tears for lunch, mixed with a big slice of valued friendship. The family will face difficult decisions in the days ahead. Much prayer is needed.

I've decided (as if I have a choice) that if I have to die, and we all do, that I want to go out smiling. And I've decided that if I have to have a funeral, which I guess we do have a choice in that matter, I want mine to be positive, filled with joy & laughter, stories that lead to belly laughs, remembering a feisty fun spirit, and admiring my family for their faith and strength. Days like today remind me of where I am going and to be faithful and strong on my way there.

Once the day had ended, Kevin & I spent some time talking about friendship and matters of life and death. It's such a humbling thing to think how quickly life can change. It was such an emotional day. As sad of a day as it could have been, it was also a good day. A day to make the moments count with a treasured friend.

Life is not a "brief candle" but a splendid torch to make bright as possible before handing on to future generations.

Whoot Whoot

Love Love Love this owl! His eyes simply glow against the grainy green pattern created with "Pesto" alcohol ink on glossy paper. Birds and owls are so trendy right now! Some of the cutest owl sayings ever are included in CHF Kim Hughes "U R A Hoot" unmounted stamp set. Color me lucky to have it! Note the 3 punched black cardstock circles for embellishment. Design Hint of the Universe: accent in THREES!

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Credits:

Stamps: Birds Galore (Inkadoo Clear), U R A Hoot (CHF Kim Hughes)
Cardstock: SU Mellow Moss, Black
Inks: Versamark, Black embossing powder

Hello You!

I have a great color combo to share with you this time! Tim Holz alcohol inks are sold in color-combo packs of 3. I have one set entitled "Mountain Vineyard" which includes 3 inks colors named Espresso, Pesto, and Raisin. Great names! The tiny ink bottles look like SU reinkers. This card used only Raisin Ink and Gold Metallic on glossy paper. The bird is stamped and embossed in pink - boy does it pop! The glossy background and the sentiment are both matted with brown cardstock which offsets the pink so well. It's a bit hard to see, but there is a burgundy crystal to highlight the bird's eye. If you don't have a "bling" drawer full of various crystals - get up right now and drive to your local craft store! Oh - and don't forget the magical power of a white gel pen for "dotted" highlights!

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Credits:

Stamps: Birds Galore (Inkadoo Clear), Hello You (Hero Arts Wood)
Cardstock: Pink (unknown); SU Chocolate Chip
Inks: SU Chocolate Chip, Versamark, Pink Embossing Powder

Circle Punches: Stampin' Up

A Little Bird Told Me

By far, my favorite alcohol ink application was applied to glossy paper (photo quality). It was easy-fast-fun-and you get a good result every time! Simply apply desired color combo of alcohol inks by drops onto a Tim Holtz felt applicator, add a squirt of blending solution and "dab-dab-dab"the glossy paper and watch the blended background appear! Oooooh - where's my artist smock?! I added a drop of metallic silver to this particular background, to match the silver embossed birdcage stamp. How TWEET!

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Credits:

Stamps: Bird in Cage (Hero Arts/Wood); Sentiment (Michaels $1 bin)
Cardstock: SU Eggplant
Inks: Versamark, Silver & Black Embossing Powders

My Friend

Would you believe I am posting some card creations! My mom & I recently spent the day in Brown County (Nashville, IN) and enjoyed strolling back/forth between two wonderful rubber stamp stores! We took a class entitled "Birds of a Feather" and played with acetate and alcohol inks. This card is a bit hard to see but the image is stamped and embossed in black on clear acetate. Then you flip it over and coat with diamond glaze, dot with alcohol inks, press with tissue paper and let dry. Prettier in person!

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Credits:

Stamps: Flower (Magenta); Friendship Chain (Stampendous Clear)
Cardstock: SU Groovy Guava, Purely Pomegranate
Inks: SU Groovy Guave, Black

Walkin' On Sunshine

So jazzed about the sunshine today! Finally - a day without thunder, lightening, and sheets of rain! Yesterday, a gigantific flying saucer cloud hovered over Kevin's office and no, I am not making this up!

Stamp Club was last night - made 3 fun cards and learned to use the SU Classy Brass Emboss and Paper Piercing Template. Hey Mikey! I likely! The girls in club are going to start getting together monthly to work on projects and do make-n-takes. My head just S-P-I-N-S with make-n-take ideas! I mean, what a tragedy if a girl doesn't discover Copic Markers?! Coloring is so therapeutic - Kindergarten for grown-ups, I guess! "Chuckle"

It finally happened. I had to order a new hard drive for Kevin's office computer. Can anyone spell computer v-i-r-u-s? OH MYLANTA! As if it wasn't already a concern to have a 5 year old slow processor! Give me a week and I'll tell you if we survived the change-over.

Forever Stamps - why didn't anyone think of those before? Maybe they should make "forever gas" and we could prepay at the pump now?!

Things That Make Me Happy

My Guy - I know this may sound silly because I go on about him all the time, but I fall in love with him again every now and then. Seriously. It happened recently and I am going to propose to him next week.

My Nails - How fun is it to have manicured nails and pedicured (is that a word) feet?! Especially pedicured feet with cute flowers on big toes!

Flip-Flops - in different colors! My latest craze is switchflops - such an innovative idea! My sister turned me on to them and they are hot hot hot! You can get them here.

A Thousand Splendid Suns - best book I've read in awhile! Hard to imagine life in Afghanistan, and the unlikely friendship of two women brought together by the chaos of the war. Read it.

Dancing With the Stars - It's with mixed emotions that the season comes to an end. I love the show! Love the entertainment factor. But I'm kinda glad it's over because I can't imagine living with that kind of pressure from week to week.

Regina Specktor - enough said. http://www.reginaspecktor.com/ Happy songs.

My jeans - which are not so tight lately! Been eating better, it's paying off.

Post-It Notes - best invention for the human race! I always carry my brain on a post-it note in my purse.

My Copic Markers - seriously. I know you know I love them. They just come in darn handy for almost all my crafting projects. Right now, I'm making 30 red-hat party favors for my neighbors annual back yard get-together.

My Work Schedule - I am a better me because of it. I don't do mornings, is putting it politely.

EARTH IS CRAMMED WITH HEAVEN.

Happy Mothers Day

I hope mothers everywhere had a happy day last weekend! I'm so grateful for my mom - she's such an enjoyable spitfire who's persevered through it all! And if Kevin's mother were here, I'd thank her for raising an incredible man! This is a recent family portrait which was not taken at Walmart. To my kids I want to say that I am proud to be your mom. To my grandkids I want to say you make me feel young. To myself, I want to say "Do you realize how incredibly blessed you are?" Yes. Yes, I do.

Hey Hey-You You

Q: What have you been doing lately?

• Husband's 29x2 birthday
• Getting ready for trip to Florida, i.e. Florida-boy's college graduation
• Sister-Jean's hip surgery
• Our 28th wedding anniversary
• Went to Florida for a week to Florida-boy's college graduation - very proud moment
• Enjoyed Downtown Disney with family-personally met Tinkerbell
• Enjoyed Clearwater Beach with family-pics to follow
• Came home from Florida
• Sang at Dan & Kara's wedding-enjoyed 3 days of fun wedding activities
• Went to stamp club
• Florida-boy Keaton moved home for the summer
• Finally stocked the frig & pantry!

Look Who Came to Visit

The pretty pink girls came all the way from Georgia to visit (they brought Grandpa with them too, of course!) You are looking at three generations of pretty pink -- my sister Joyce, her daughter Laura, and her granddaughter, Rosalie. Rosalie is a DOLL - with curls just like her mommy! Elmo is "in" and so is eating macaroni & cheese with your fingers! All you have to do is say "Hello Pretty Girl" and you get smiles by the dozen. Carrying on a conversation with Rosalie was kinda one-sided, but I did hear "YUM YUM" after every bite of ice cream! We met the family for dinner this evening and she was such a good girl at the restaurant. In 4 more months, she will turn TWO YEARS OLD! Maybe then the terrible two's will hit? Naah, this kid rocks! Her bouncy curls and flashy smile will get her through the terrible two's - three's - four's and so on! Thanks for coming to visit, we're really glad you did!