Happy Thanksgiving!

I know that I keep saying that I am sorry for not being around lately, but I am having some life issues that I've been dealing with.  Nothing too serious, I wouldn't say ~ but I just have some at home family issues and I've not had time to be around to post.

With that being said ~ I do want to say that I am very thankful for each and every one of you who come visit my blog each day.  It is for you that I keep it up.  I also want to wish each and every one of you and your families a very Happy Thanksgiving.  I hope that today brings you even more memories to cherish of you and your loved ones.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Just a little bit of Fall fun

This past weekend Danielle wanted to rake up some of the leaves and take pictures of her and Dixie in the yard.  When we first went to the humane society and met Dixie she was playing with the leaves in the fenced in yard they have.  She just could not get enough of the leaves that fell in the play yard.  Since we've taken her home she still plays with the leaves.  She's pretty goofy!

Here's my two girls.  Adorable huh?

And Ms. Dixie ~ she's grown so much!

Don't wait until the holidays to hug your loved ones ~ make sure that each and every day they know how much they mean to you.

Have a great day!

I'm still here, really.

I'm still here ~ just very busy with life and family right now.  Thank you for sticking around while I've been in non-posting mode.  I've got a very busy day tomorrow with appointments and such but this week I hope to get back on track.

I do want to show you a card that I made for Christmas this year.  I just love snowmen and these guys are so fun and cute that I could not wait to show you!

This stamp is one that I bought many years ago and it is from A Country Welcome.  I stamped the image and colored it with my pencils and gamsol.  The stars are colored with my markers and stickles were added to them and the snowflakes.  The base card is Ballet Blue that I layered with white cs and some DP.  I've got a piece of Bashful Blue that I ran thru the cuttlebug with the snowflakes folder.  I ran ribbon across the two paper seams to hide it.  I took the sentiment and stamped it and cut it out a little wavy and added it to a piece of Ballet Blue and had cut the border.  I added it to the card with different size pop dots to give it the wavy look.  I added a white foam snow flake and one punched out with a Martha Stewart punch secured with a crystal brad and attached with a glue dot and I was complete.

So wadda ya think?  It's time to start in full blown Christmas mode.  And what have you been up to?

Back with more...

I'm not sure what just happened but blogger was doing it's own thing so I closed that last post and started another...

So... after the tree drama - that was Wednesday evening.  Thursday Betty and I were going to meet to set up our table for the Christmas Bazaar.  I think that something is always working against us ~ I don't know.

Here Ricky, his sister and I are cutting on the tree because I called the city to see if they have any means of disposing of the tree.  When the trees last year fell across the street they had a wood chipper out here taking care of it.  I called the city and they did not have any info and they were going to call me back and never did.  So we were outside cutting and bundling the branches together and it got time to leave to go meet Betty.  We went to meet her, got home and Mom and my SIL had stuff ready to BBQ.  I'm the BBQ'r in the family so I was outside in the dark BBQ-ing by flashlight.  That get's done and I've got a few last minute things to do before Friday rolls around for the sale.

Friday is here, we drive to Paris to be there for the sale which starts at 9:00 am and I'm a little excited because I see that they have some signs on the bypass (which were very, very small) but then I take a good look at what they say.  I thought that it was 9:00am to 4:00 pm - NOPE how wrong was I!!!  It was 9:00 am to 8:00 pm.  Trust me, 11 hours is a long time.  Especially when you are not really doing anything.  The show was not really advertised so we hardly had any sales.  We did have a few more on Saturday ~ I think that it was mostly vendors who were all buying from each other - but it was a little less to pack home with us.

This picture is the front looking in at our booth.  This was when we set up.

This was the first day when we got there and this was off to the left of the booth.  Our tables were in a "U" shape and it was a lot nicer than the last show.  At least we were inside away from the weather, although it was a beautiful weekend!

This was to the right of our booth.  This table had most of the cards in the baskets.

We could of done better, and I think that we will try it again in a couple of weeks.  We have all of this stuff and we need to get rid of it.  I don't know for sure yet...

I'm sorry for the long post... but this is what I've been up to.  In the next couple of days I will try to be back.  I've got some computer issues to deal with to.  But I will be back, back with bells on!

Have a great afternoon!

I'm here ~ really I'm here.

Thank you everyone for being patient with me.  I've been away for a while - but I've not been doing nothing.  I've been busy that's for sure.

My "drama" started last week.  It was last Wednesday and Danielle when Danielle came home from school.  Two of her good friends (the twins) drive her home from school and Danielle walked in the house and said that they heard this loud crack out front and it was the tree.  Well I go out there and looked at the tree in the front yard and sure enough it was cracked in 3 different places and one of the branches was actually broken off the tree and laying on another.  I thought that standing under it was probably not a good idea at that point.

Well I came in and called hubby.  He was going to run some errands after work and I told him that he should probably come home instead.  I knew that we were going to have to cut the tree down and with it getting dark early he would not have much time.  I hate to see trees fall - they are all so beautiful in their own way and it takes them so  long to grow.  When we had the ice storm this past winter there were 4  or 5 trees on the other side of the street that fell, it's so sad.

Here is the tree just before we cut it down.

Hubby and his sister pulling the branches out of the way and starting to bundle them.

The tree cracked right in the crotch of it - in 3 different places.  It's just sad...

I'll be back to show you some more of my busy week!

I wish I was there...

Oh how I wish I was here.  Here in the cabin on the card that I made.  Wouldn't that be nice?  Gentle falling snow outside, a nice warm fire and a comfy quilt with a good book to read....  I'm clicking my heels and nothing is happening...

Ok Joani, wake up!  I must be dreaming again.

I don't know what it is about cabins but I just love them.  I've always had a dream of having a cabin in the woods.  That's one of the reason's I bought this stamp years ago.  The date on it is 1998 - I've had it forever. 

This is a simple card that I made for Christmas.  I stamped the image from Great Impressions and colored it in with my pencils and gamsol.  The base card is Chocolate Chip that I layered with DP from Hot Off The Press, Garden Green and Creamy Caramel.  I just layered the image on the card then used some stickles here and there to give it a little sparkle and I was done.

This is all I've got for you today.  I'm getting ready to pack things up for tomorrow to set up at the bazaar.  If you happen to be in the Paris Kentucky area Betty and I will be at the Fairgrounds Friday and Saturday peddling our goods and we'd love to see you!

Have a super great day!

My take on the Easel card

Howdy everyone ~ I'm still here and kicking. Just life like I've said before.  I'm getting ready for the bazaar this week.  Thursday Betty and I are going to set up and then the sale is Friday and Saturday.  It's inside and I'm looking forward to this one.  If everything does not sell I plan on putting it up on Etsy.  I can probably have Danielle take a few things to school for her teachers - but she's getting too old to give little things like this to her friends.  I've tried, she says "Mom, my friends aren't like that".  HUH?  Like what??  Oh well, the mind of a teenager...

You ready for my take on the easel card?  I kept it kinda basic for now.  Whenever I make something for the first time I try to keep it basic so if I mess it up I wont feel so bad that I put too much time, effort and supplies into it.

The base is Chocolate Chip that I layered with Ballet Blue and some Linen Vanilla cs.  I stamped the image from Sleigh Bells Ring in Close to Cocoa ink and attached it to the card.  At the bottom base of the card I used some DP from Merry Moments and stamped the sentiment and holly image in Close to Cocoa also.  I then stamped the holly once more on a scrap piece and colored it with pencils and gamsol, cut it out and attached it to the base with pop dots.  Lastly I added some stickles to the main image and I was complete.

This is a side view so you can see how the card set's up by itself.  Kinda cool huh?  If you go to SCS HERE this thread will give you the directions on how to make this card.  It is actually very easy, it just looks intimidating.  If you go to the gallery on SCS and type in TLC242 it will bring up all the other cards that are posted ~ there is quite a few beautiful ones there, plan on spending some time.

That's all that I have for right now.  I hope to show you some more later today.  Have a great day!!

More digi time!!

Ready for another digi page.  This one should melt your heart...  that's if your a puppy lover like I am.

This page was made with elements from the Digital Arts Cafe, a kit called Grandma's House.

Enjoy!

My little bowling pin...

Huh?!?

I wanted to share a digi page that I made up of Dixie.  She was waiting at the front door for Ricky to come home and she looked so cute just sitting there that I had to snap a picture.  She's not the little puppy that she was ~ she's getting so big.  It was not until after I took the picture that I got to looking at her with her sweater on and noticed that she looks like a bowling pin...  Poor girl...

This page was made with elements from Creating Keepsakes.

I hope that this inspires you to make something creative.

Please help if you can...

See the cute little image above?  Well it is a new digi stamp from Pink Cat Studio.  One of the design team members Sarah Anderson has lost her little 3 year old son, Henry, to a virus on November 2nd that he was unable for him to overcome.  As a mother I could not begin to understand the pain that this loss must bring. 

Henry loved his local zoo and visited it almost every day in the summer. As a memorial, trees will be planted there in his honor. All proceeds from the sale of this digital stamp, minus Paypal fees, will go to the purchase of a memorial tree in honour of Henry.  Please help, I have.  Let's all do our part for poor Henry and his family.

Frosty's can

There I go again with the titles...  I thought that this might catch your eye Ü

As some of you know I like to alter paint cans, and these I think turned out adorable!  I'm going to take these to the Christmas bazaar and try to sell them.  You can put just about anything in them, and who would not like to get a gift in one of these?

First I would like to say that I get all my paint cans from Sherman Williams.  I go there and they sell them for something like $1.50 each.  I have seen them at Lowe's for somewhere close to $3.00.  If you'd like to make one I'd try the local paint store first before the chain stores.

I stamped my image from SU! Frost set - a set that I will always use, he's so cute... and colored the image pieces with my markers.  I covered the can with DP from Imagine That, ribbon, foam snowflakes and crystal brads.  I cut out the image with my CB and my small scallop oval nestie and layered it on to a piece of Bliss Blue cs that I cut an oval out with my coluzzle.  I added some organdy ribbon to the sides of the image with a big silver brad.  I attached the image panel to the can with some big glue dots and I was complete.

This can is basically the same thing, just different colors.  I stamped the image from SU! Frosty set and colored it in with my markers.  I covered the can with DP from Imagine That, foam snowflakes, ribbon and crystal brads.  I cut the image out with my CB and my scallop oval small nesties, adhered it to a piece of Almost Amethyst cs that I cut out with my oval coluzzle template and added some ribbon and brads to the sides then adhered it to the can with big glue dots.

This is the side of the can.  I stamped the image also from Frosty with Almost Amethyst ink and cut it out like a banner.  I tucked the edge just under the image panel and used pop dots to make it look like it's waving. 

Well - I hope that you like this post today.  I like to find different ways to package things, to get some interaction.  One year my Father had my Mother's Christmas gift packaged in a soup can - that was so fun!

I wish for you all to have a super, terrific weekend!

All Night Santa and Happy Friday!

Sorry I've not been around for a couple of days, but I had mentioned before that life just get's in the way.  I will try to post everyday ~ but I can't promise it for a little while.  Just life...  I hope that you all can understand, I'd really appreciate it.

I guess we'll get right to it.  This card I made yesterday was not anything close to spectacular, it's just another creation.  I had to post something for you.

The base card is white that I layered with Real Red and some DP from Hot off the Press.  I used my Martha Stewart punch to make the border on a piece of Real Red cs, added some ribbon and attached it to a piece of white cs before I added it to the card.  The stamp is from All Night Media and it is a Mary Englebreit stamp called Night Before Christmas Santa.  I've had it for years.  If you notice I stamped it twice and cut out Santa's mustache and added it with pop dots.  I colored it in with my pencils, gamsol and markers.  I punched it out with my Super Marvy scallop circle punch and added it to a piece of light blue cs scrap that I had cut a circle out with my Standard Circle Large Nestie and I was done.

I used the blue to add a little more color to the card since it was all red and white.

I will try to be back to post something tomorrow.  Hubby's got to work so I'll probably be on the computer for a bit.  Have a super great day!

Double Test Tubes

You know sometimes I have the hardest time just figuring out the title for the post.  Isn't that strange.  I guess you would say that bloggers would like to have a catchy title to grab ya ~ but this is all your going to get today...  Double Test Tubes. 

Yesterday I posted the test tubes that I made, now here are the double packs of them that I made.

I made these holders out of some light blue linen paper that I've had for a very long time and some dark blue paper.  The DP paper is from a paper pack I bought at Walmart almost 4 years ago.  I stamped the image from Holiday Line up and colored it in with my pencils and gamsol and adhered it to the front of the folder.  I used my scallop circle punch and punched out a scallop with dark blue paper and added a piece of light blue that I punched with my 1 3/8" circle punch.  I took the snowflake from Frosty and stamped it in Brilliant Blue and punched it out with my 1 1/4" circle punch and added it to the top of the dark blue scallop and hung it from the the ribbon that I added to the test tube.  I used my scallop border punch and added a piece of light blue paper that I used my gel pen on to make the dots to the top of the test tube to dress up the cap.

These are really fun to make - and I can't wait to see peoples faces when they see them.  Now I just have to add some candy to them.  Any ideas?  What would be small enough to put in there?  And should I put the same candy in both of them??

That's all I've got for you today.  Let me a comment and let me know what you think should fill them.

Have a super great day!

Test tubes for Christmas?!

That sounds more like a Halloween thing, doesn't it?  Well nope ~ not here.

If you remember a while back when we went to the SCS gathering I had posted a picture of all the goodies we got to take home with us and there was a test tube with Halloween M&M's in it ~ well I just had to make one.  I got a hold of Beth over at Blooming Where I'm Planted and asked her about the test tubes.  She was ever so kind to go where she went to get them and then she shipped them to me.  I'm a lucky girl!!

The base of these are Riding Hood Red that I layered with some white cs and some DP from Heidi Grace.  I used my SU scallop circle punch, my 1 3/8" and 1 1/4" circle punches for the gingerbread man tag on the front.  For the top of the bottle I used my SU scallop border punch and decorated it up with my white gel pen and my paper piercer then on the very top of the bottle I used my 1" and 3/4" circle punches.  A little ribbon and I was done. 

A very cute little gift idea for a co worker or neighbor, you think?  Tomorrow I'll show you the double one that I did.

Hope you all have a super great day!

Sweet Blog Candy

My dear Gabby over at Confessions of a Stamper is having some yummy blog candy ~ please go over and check it out!!  You'll be glad you did!!

It's Monday!

Good morning everyone!  How did you survive your weekend?  I hope that everything went well and you had a safe one.

I had all good intentions of popping in and posting this weekend and I didn't ~ I'm sorry.  Life just get's in the way sometimes.

Are you ready for something?  Well you all know how I've been working on things for the upcoming craft fair, right?  Well it is next week and I'm feeling a little nauseated just thinking about it.  It is really nerve racking.  My whole fear is that I won't have enough even though I'm sure that I have plenty.  I'd love to sell out of everything but I'm sure that I will be bringing it home with me.  If that's the case I'm going to have a yard sale! he he he...

Here ya go:

Isn't this just the cutest thing.  I found it on the web someplace and I can not remember where - If you know please let me know so I can give proper credit.

The base is Not Quite Navy that I layered with some Purely Pomegranate.  I stamped the snowflakes with a wheel from SU and the snowman is from Great Impressions.  I colored my snowman with my pencils, gamsol and markers.  The snowman is attached with a pop dot for a little more dimension.

Here is an up close view so you can see it.  The kisses are held inside with just a strip of double sided tape.

This is another one that I had made.  I used some light blue card stock that I had and some Purely Pomegranate paper.  The stamps are from Close to My Heart called Snow Friends.  I colored them with my markers and added a little stickles to the falling snow.

You like?  I think that they are adorable.  I hope that people will like them or I'll be eating lots of Hershey's kisses Ü

I hope that you all have a great day!