It was a special day today...

It was a special day today when I opened up my mailbox and found these beautiful cards inside...

 Card made by Carol from

http://ourlittleinspirations.blogspot.com/

 Both Cards from Darnell from

http://www.djkardkreations.com/

Card from Sue from Split Coast Stampers...her gallery can be found here

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=113778

I had a nice day today, hubby took me out to lunch.  He took to a place about 45 minutes from our house where today I could have a free meal today.  It was good, but I usually don't  eat dessert, but today, I thought I would treat myself to dessert, so I got a piece of chocolate pie, but what a disappointment!  It didn't even taste like chocolate...

So later in the day we stopped to get some  sandwiches to take home for our supper, and there on the counter under a glass dome was Carrot cupcakes calling out my name.  You know, after my chocolate pie disappointment I had to have one.   smile.

I was going to eat half of the cupcake tonight, and save the other half for tomorrow...I ATE THE WHOLE THING!   Well, I guess you know that dessert was GOOD!

Carol and Darnell, with all this rain we have been having, Your cards arrived in the mail today, soaked, I was so upset when I saw the soaked envelope, that I afraid to look inside, The cards were wet and a bit bent, so I got out my craft iron, and ironed my cards....LOL.

And then put them inside a book for a while to flatten them,   They were so pretty, and I want to keep them,  I wanted to restore them the best that I could.

Carol KNOWS that I like Pink, and she also knows how much it has been raining and raining in our area, since she lives so close to where I live.  

Jim also took me to my favorite craft store today, and bought me some goodies that I hope to show you in a post tomorrow.  Too tired to take any more pics tonight.  Coming home from our trip to the craft store was quite an adventure.  Took us more than  twice the time it should have to come home, We had to detour twice because of water over some of the roads, and we managed to get lost.

Well, it will be a day we will remember....LOL. 

"There is no such thing in any one's life as an unimportant day. "~ Alexander Woolcott

Thank you for visiting my blog today,

Blessings,

Jill

Birthday Card for my Nephew

I made this card for my nephew for his birthday.  I used a template that I found in a magazine that I purchased  "Card making and paper crafts"...
I cut my template and background papers from Darice Large Mat pack  "Neutrals"
My sentiment was stamped with a stamp from SweetNSassy, I added a googly eye, and stick on bead for the nose, and s used some dimensionals.  Added some flower soft white to the hat.

"Properly trained, a man can be dog's best friend."  ~Corey Ford

Thank you for visiting my blog today,
Blessings,
Jill

Serendipity #30 Shades of Gray

I made this card for this month's Serendipity Stamps Challenge which can be found here...

 http://serendipitystampschallengeblog.blogspot.com/2014/04/sscb30-shades-of-gray.html..

For the Challenge you are to use at least one Serendipity Stamp and make the card
Monochromatic...to fit the shades of gray challenge.

I have problems with three types of challenges...CAS challenges, One Layer Challenges, and Monochromatic Challenges....smile.

So this Monochromatic Challenge card was NOT my first try...so I just feel grateful that I managed to get one done...

"When you believe you can... YOU CAN!  ~Maxwell Maltz

Thank you for visiting my blog today...
Blessings,
Jill

My First Grid Card

I made my first Grid Card!  But first I have to show you the beautiful card that I received in the mail from Jacqueline that I used as my inspiration...

 In real life, The colors on Jacqueline's card are much prettier.  I don't think the photograph does it justice.  I asked my hubby to put a watermark on the card, since it is not my card.  He still has to show me how to do that...smile.  I have been admiring her grid cards and the other beautiful cards and projects she has done for quite a while now.  I was so thrilled when she sent me one that I could see it in real life.  She has such a gift for colors, and composition.  To see more of her beautiful cards visit these links.

http://myscrapbasket.blogspot.com/

http://mygridcards.blogspot.com/

My card certainly doesn't look as nice as hers does...but I'm happy with it as it is my first Grid card, maybe Jacqueline can give me some pointers...Thank you again Jacqueline for your lovely surprise in our mail.  You made our day.

"I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my friends, the old and the new." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thank you for visiting my blog today,
Blessings,
Jill

One of my favorites...

This week at CCEE stampers blog...http://cceestampers.blogspot.com/

The challenge is to make a card that represents your favorite movie...

I think it's easy to see on this card what my all time favorite movie is...

YOU'VE GOT MAIL!!!!    I could watch that movie, over and over, and actually I have...smile...

Movie trailer for You've Got mail ....at you tube...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCetfaS7GAo

My card was made using a pattern from Circle of Crafters.   It's where I learned how to do Iris folding and where I found the pattern for doing the snail above.. I printed out the pattern many years ago, so I am not sure if that pattern can still be found there, but there is many other great free patterns there and great instructions for doing Iris folding.

http://www.circleofcrafters.com/irisfolding/index.html

I made another card using the snail pattern you can see that card here...

http://ribbonchallenged.blogspot.com/2010/10/mmtpt114-teapot-tuesday-at-split-coast.html

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"Every great film should seem new every time you see it."

Roger Ebert

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Thank you for visiting my blog today,

Blessings,

Jill 

By the way, I forgot to ask....When I made my previous "snail" mail card four years ago.  I asked my Grandchildren if they knew what Snail Mail was?  I was surprised when neither of them heard of that saying before.  Am I dating myself that much?  LOL!

House Mouse Challenge HMFMC168

This is for this week's House Mouse Challenge HMFMC168.  You are to use a House Mouse image and add a "pop" to your card!  I went very simple with this one, because I wanted my husband's great copic coloring to be the focus of this card.  I only Popped up the top mouse image with pop dots!

The colors that my husband used are...V12, V04,  G17, V09, RV25, YG95, G14, C00, E000< R00. YR24, W1, T3, RV00, C1, G05, E41, Co, BG0000.

Stamp is Fragrant  Shower HMTR1052, By Stampabilities, House Mouse designs...

The challenge can be found here

http://housemouse-challenge.blogspot.com/2014/04/pop-it-up-for-challenge-hmfmc168.html

"April Showers bring May flowers." 

It has just started pouring down raining where I live, and thunder...so I have to quick post this card
and shut down for now...will be back later to visit blogs.

Thank you for visiting my blog today,
Blessings,
Jill 

PS.  also entered into the gruffies & Guests challenge the link can be found here...

http://gruffiesandguests.blogspot.co.uk/

 

A card for A Beautiful Saturday.

Click on photos to enlarge

I made this card for a friend for her birthday.  It's another box card.  These cards are a little bit time consuming to make but I enjoy making them.  I found the directions for this card here...

http://valitasfreshfolds.blogspot.com/2010/11/making-simple-box-card.html

It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood.  (brings back memories of Mr. Rodgers on TV)

If it had been just a little but Warmer outside today, I would have tried to move my crafting outdoors, just a bit chilly yet.

"May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun and find your shoulder to light upon" Iris Blessing

I like the above quote, because my arm is hurting today.  smile

Thank you for visiting my blog today,
Blessings,
Jill

A Day of Delight

 Click picture to enlarge

A Quick post today.  I made this card this past Saturday.  I must say that last Saturday was a Day of Delight.  It was a wonderful, almost perfect, spring day.  Hubby and I took a nice leisurely drive, and then stopped at a restaurant before going home.  The food was wonderful.  The place we stopped to eat is surrounded by a couple of acres of pretty woods and stream to walk by.  So after we were finished eating, we took a half hour or so walk around the restaurant.  Doesn't sound too exciting, but it was so relaxing and felt so good to be out in the sun, after the rough winter.  I treasure that wonderful day,
Wish I could say his week was filled with  "Days of Delight"...smile....they were NOT!  But that is life as they say.

The image was colored with copics by my husband (surprise, surprise)  The Stamp is from Penny Black, I forget the name...it's Garden something?  The sentiment is also from Penny Black.

Thank you visiting by blog today,
Blessings,
Jill

I wish you a Day of Delight!

A Hug for you

This is a very old image that I had...and never finished the card.  The challenge for the Twisted Sisters at Split Coast stampers this week.  Is to make a card for a child...and it has to have a critter on it...I thought that this might fit the challenge.

"Children reinvent your world for you".~Susan Sarandon


Thank you for visiting my blog today...
Blessings,
Jill

Birthday Card for my Niece

 Click on Pictures to enlarge

I made this birthday card for my Niece's little girl.  I was getting really upset that it wasn't getting quite the way I wanted it....then I had to remind myself that it's for a four year old.  I don't think she will notice the flaws.  My card is a Joy fold.  The image is from Sugar Nellie (Molly) The image was colored by copics by my husband.  (some of his earlier coloring from years ago).  (that's how long it's been taking me to get cards made out of ALL the images he has colored for me.  I might add a sentiment to the bottom of the card later.

Speaking of my hubby, I want to give him another "shout" out...He not only colored the images the images that he posted on his last blog post...He also made his own cards...  I showed him how to die cut, heat emboss, and dry emboss, and he when to town.

Here's the link to  his blog...  http://irishdreamweaver.blogspot.com/
And the link to the post where he made and posted his own cards....

"If you carry your childhood with you, you never become older."
~Abraham Sutzkever
 Thank you for visiting my blog today,
Blessings,
Jill

Anniversary Card

This is an anniversary card I made for a friend.  The card I had in mind...and the card I ended up with look nothing alike...smile.  This card is for a 50th Wedding Anniversary, I will put the sentiment inside.  I am so late with this card...that I will have to be happy with it so I can get a card in the mail.  
I used my stampin' Up bird punch, and embossed my birds with an Anna Griffin embossing folder so I could give my birds texture, I used peel offs to decorate and stick on beads to decorate the top of the bird cage, and for the bird's eyes.  My designer paper is from Stampin' Up.

"To Love Someone deeply
gives you strength,
Being loved by someone deeply
gives you courage."
~Lao Tzu

Thank you for visiting my blog today,
Blessings,
Jill

Birthday Card for my sister...

This is the card I made for my sister.  I had made her a box card last year for her birthday, and she liked it so much that she told me that she reluctantly gave her card to a close friend for her birthday.  I purposely made the card that when you opened the box card...inside the box at the bottom was two inserts one with her name on it signed by me...and one underneath that she could reuse the card and give it to someone else, and I also gave her an extra envelope.  I told her since she like that idea so much I would make another box card for her this year.  Ginny, is actually my step-sister but she feels more like a sister, and we try to get together to visit at least once a month.  I think one of the reasons we're close is that we didn't become sisters till we were both in our twenties...(No fights to remember as young children...LOL!)   Ginny grew up with four brothers and no sisters, till her  father married my mother.  I'm several years older than she is...but our birthday's are only one week apart,  and we usually try to get together on our Birthday Week!  I look forward to that each year.

"Everyone is the age of their heart."~Guatemalan Proverb

Thank you for visiting my blog today,
Blessings,
Jill 

I just realized that I Published this card without giving the link I wanted to add with it...
the post below shows a box card that I made before...and gives the link where I found the instructions...
 http://ribbonchallenged.blogspot.com/2012/06/box-card.html

For this card, I dry embossed two panels of an Anna Griffin Embossing folder.  I made my rolled roses with Quilled Creations, Blooming roses, and cut my circle with spellbinder dies...(Lacey Circles) my sentiment was stamped with a stamp from Stampin' Up (Elementary Elegance)

This week's Twisted Sister challenge...

I needed a birthday card for a friend who, obviously, loves dogs!  This week's Twisted Sister challenge at split coast stampers challenge fit the card I needed to make.  CarrollAnn, CA at split Coast  wants a card made this week with an image of a dog and  the color red somewhere on our card.

My dog is a digi from Squigglefly, colored with copics by my hubby  (I know surprise...LOL) and my background was stamped with a stamp from Stampin' Up  D is for Dog,  My sentiment was stamped with a stamp from Clear Stamps from Studio G. I added a balloon sticker and hand cut my banner.

"Scratch a dog and you'll find a permanent job." ~ Franklin P. Jones

*****************************************************************
In the continued tradition of the famous Darnell from  http://www.djkardkreations.com/
I want to give a shout out to my newest follower...Marisa  from

http://marisadesigns.blogspot.com/

Marisa...makes the most awesome cards....what a gift she has for her cards and beautiful projects she makes...so much eye candy on her blog.   Thank you Marisa for joining my blog...

Thank you for visiting my blog today,

Blessings,

Jill

Another Birthday Card

Another birthday card done...  I've come to the conclusion that I will NOT catch up with all the cards I need to make.  As I have said before, I am a very SLOW card maker.  It takes me hours and hours to make just one card.  I so wish I knew the secret of how some people can make 10 minute cards.
  
I did make a 10 minute card and posted it to my gallery at Split Coast stampers...and to my amazement it is my most viewed card, and my most favored card in my gallery.  Would you believe I wasn't going to post it because of the fact, I knew it only took me 10 minutes to make.  Maybe, I should go back and case my own card...see if another one like it would still take me 10 minutes to make...but that card was posted several years ago...so it might also mean I am just getting even slower as I get older...smile.

This card was made using a SweetNSassy Clear Stamp for the flower image...colored with copics by my husband.  The sentiment is  Stamped with a rubber stamp from (I believe) Heart Felt Creations.  cut out with a die from JustRite stamps, and finally a frame die from Spellbinders...

"Bloom where you're planted!" ~Mary Engelbreit

Thank you for visiting my blog today,
Blessings,
Jill

Going outside my Box

Click to enlarge pictures...

Wasn't sure which photo I liked better so I put both in...smile...

This card is definitely OUTSIDE my BOX...  I usually go safe...cards with subdued colors...smile...but today I wanted to try something different....Not sure if I like it not...but I guess we all have to start somewhere...       I look at cards by Bridget  of

http://bridgetspaperblessings.blogspot.com/   

and I so impressed at how she uses color...so Bridget if you read this...thanks for the inspiration...

and I tried...  I know it's nothing like how you put your colors together...especially in this card that Bridget made...

http://bridgetspaperblessings.blogspot.com/2014/03/snss-march-release-hop-day-4.html

What a gift she has...   I will keep trying, because, even I have to admit that I get bored just using my SAFE colors....

My iris image was rubber stamped using a stamp by Northwoods Rubber stamps, the image was colored in copics by my husband...Y00, Y17, YG61, YG67, B02, B41, E11, E13

"Always think outside the box

and embrace opportunities

that appear, wherever they might be."

~Laksmi Mittal

Thank you for visiting my blog today,

Blessings,

Jill

Birthday Card for a Friend

April is a very busy month for me in regard to needing birthday cards.  One done, many more to go...smile.  I made this card using my very favorite card fold...Center step...  My image is from a  pack of Ephemera I purchased at a stamp show two years ago.  I thought it was about time that I used it...smile.   It's from TF Designs...Ladies in Hats Collage Pack.

I used two spellbinder dies for my background...Persian  Accents, and Decorative Labels Eight.

"Count your life by smiles, not tears.  Count your age by friends, not years." 

Thank you for stopping by my blog...
Blessings,
Jill