Breaking the Streak . . .

I was on a roll, just not rolling on the right hill.
I'm not counting the number of consecutive days I didn't blog. . . 
I'm just going to get back on track.


Take time to be creative every day.

April Card Class

 One of my Faves
Green, Black and Cream with vintage aging. . . yummy!

Astounding Generosity!

 Fun color combination and I don't like purple!

For a Friend

 I think this was my personal favorite! Water brush, dye ink painting technique.

It's Your Day

The Class liked this one!

Beautiful Spring

Mother's Day Apron - It's an open-able card and a refrigerator magnet.

I based this off the BBQ Grill Apron that's been around for a few years now.

Mother's Apron

Another Class Favorite - Brown and Red, always a classic!

Love Tree

I Can Color!

Finally!  40 years old and I learned how to color!

Thanks Jen for the FANTASTIC class!

Wish I could come to the next class,

but fortunately for me, my feet 

will be planted firmly on the Southern California 

sandy beach!  Laguna Beach, here we come!

In real life it looks like I painted it.  I am so happy with the results.

I cam home and looked at some other things I've colored...

hmmmmmmmm. . . let's just say. . . 

not so pretty.  Copics are worth it. . .

at least to a paper and ink enthusiast like myself.

Hopefully I can hone my skills from here!

Connor's Cards and an Update!

Cards for Connor was a huge success.

Of course I had dreamed of more,

but in the end I am so pleased.

Thanks to my friends and their friends

for helping me with donations and evenings of fun!

So far, my efforts have raised $1105. 

18 women participated!  YOU ROCK!!!

Connor is still a long way from his goal, but he's not worried.

For this class I focused on the inside of the cards as well as the outside.

I did this in honor of Connor, who is

truly beautiful from the inside out.

If you can make a donation, please visit his web-site here.

Hope you enjoy Connor's Cards.

Mother's Day . . . the unusual holiday

It sure seems to me that Mother's Day

 is an unusual holiday.

Maybe when I am 

older it will make sense.

Every mother I know

hates Mother's Day

It seems to be the day

above all others

that we feel inadequate,

unqualified, and at best

tired.

Mother's Day should never, ever, ever be

on Sunday, the day that we rush about

to get children fed and dressed

in their Sunday best;

arriving at church frazzled

from the morning's drama.

(or at least in my world.)

Then we come home to hungry children,

tired children, restless children,

and we wonder if or when

this will ever really be a holiday for Mother's.

I am, however, grateful for my mother.

I owe everything to her.

I wouldn't be me without her.

I tried to liven up her day with a special surprise

at work Saturday night.

She's a night house nursing supervisor

at a very big hospital

and she works the graveyard shift

which meant no Mother's Day for her.

She was sleeping.

This was her card (also a card I used for Cards for Connor)

which I will be posting the results of soon, I promise.

And this was my dinner - the one I made.

and bought

and cleaned up.

 and these are the

reasons I "celebrate" Mother's Day.

which I guess in the end

make this unusual holiday,

the one worth celebrating.

It's a Flower, It's a Handout, It's a Post!!!

Last night I stayed up WAY too late with a

friend and my daughter.

It was soooo late . . . er. . . I mean early. . .

she and her daughter crashed at my house!

Poola (as I fondly call Paula)

my daughter and I spent a few hours in Mesa at CKC,

but then had to come home and spend some craft time. . .

We made these paper flowers.

They were supposed to be Gardenias. . .

I'll say they are Roses. . .

I will admit that I wasn't sure they were going to turn out,

but I'm glad we stuck with it! Mikensee made the pink one.

Poola's bunch isn't here, but I know they will

remind her of night. . . I mean morning together.

Thanks Poola for making my life

sweeter and definitely more vibrant!

One of the reasons my posts these days are few is that

I spend most of my craft time each week making

handouts for my beehives.

We made a book especially for keeping them in.

(I guess I should show it to you!)

The girls love them and it brings me great joy to make

them for them.

Each one of these precious daughters of God has expressed

in some way to me, their gratitude. So much so that

I can't think of NOT making them something each week.

They are designed to remind them of the lesson,

and to show them that I love them and care for their well-being.

I make 14 cards each week. I've never posted them.

This is actually a handout for this week's lesson and next.

So I have a break.

It's a good thing because the next 2 Friday nights are

Cards for Connor

and I have to design 10 cards and prep for 40 guests!

This is actually a card that opens up,

but I'm not going to tell them that.

Next week, I'll show them the secret on the inside.

I don't know why I haven't shared any of them before, but I really

love how these turned out. I hope you like them too!

Maybe I'll share them a bit more often.

Please have a wonderful week and never, ever forget who you are

or of the divinity within you.

You mean the world to someone and to me. . .

You Owe Me A Milkshake!

A little something for a friend that is very nice to me. To make one of your own you will need 2 small wash cloths, a clear plastic cup, a straw and decorations of your choice. Roll the washcloths and layer in the cup, decorate, cut the straw, insert and add a "cherry!" Supposed to have been for Valentine's Day about 2 years ago, but I finally got one done!

. . . a little something . . . Not Available at the "O"

This is a little gift that isn't available at the "O". I don't know about you, but that Overstock.com commercial is already on my nerves! This isn't that incredible, but a little gift for a friend - I have yet to make any of my own cards, but this is 16 cards to get her off to a slightly less stressful Christmas season. Money is tight around here this year, so chances are if I can't/don't make it out of my "I'm not a hoarder" stash, it won't be given.

If you would like to make a card gift box of your own, there is a very simple formula. Measure the length (L) and height (H) of your card. Measure the thickness (T) of your card pile. L + T + T and the H + T + T and cut one piece of cardstock to this measurement. For the top use the same formula adding 1/4 - 1/2 inch or L + T + T+ 1/4", cut. Now score both pieces at the THICKNESS measurement on all 4 sides. Cut one score line from each corner and for a nice flush edge cut a "V" from the cut score line. Glue tabs inside. For a standard 4 1/4 X 5 1/2 card with my pile of cards and envelopes meausring 2 1/4" I cut the bottom at 9 X 10 1/2" and 9 1/4" X 10 3/4". I scored on all sides at 2 1/4".

O, O, O. . . we'll let's just change that to HO, HO, HO and HOpe you are building up to a wonderful Christmas season with your family and those that are important to you!

It's Time for a Change

Have you ever just gotten stuck?  Stuck somewhere that you know you want out of, but aren't quite sure exactly how?  I think they call it "stuck in a rut?"  Well, I've been stuck in a rut.  I've had a tremendously trying and difficult year and much more on my plate than I care to elaborate on, but I'm tired of being stuck in the rut.  I've gone through many motions, I've accomplished  a lot, but I think I've just been being really hard on myself and very unforgiving of my weaknesses and failures.  I want out.  I want to start anew.  I'm making a change.  

Can I be the first to wish you all a very Happy Mother's Day?

Coaster Post-It note Holders

Mini Tote Boxes

5X7 Mother's Day Card

Paper Bag Tote 

Froggy Birthday Wishes

Basically Christmas

I'm gearing up for a little Christmas fun on my blog. I promised myself that if I were going to send homemade Christmas cards out that they MUST be done by Thanksgiving weekend. As a result I came up with a plan. I am making 5 Christmas Cards of 1 design for 12 days in a row. At the end I'll have made 60 Christmas cards. Those coupled with the dozen or so I've already made and have stashed in my drawer and I'll be set! Dress warm and be on the lookout!

I'm going back to the basics. These cards are fun but most of all SIMPLE! They are completely doable and utterly copyable! So watch for what's coming, complete with cutting instructions so you can pull out your supplies and make them right along with me! Make 1 or 20 of one design. It will be up to you, but I promise if you have the basics in your stash you'll be able to do my basically Christmas cards!

P.S This photo was snagged from Moo.com/blog

It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

and for my card class a little bit easier to relax and enjoy knowing they have at least some of their Christmas cards ready to go! I thoroughly enjoyed coming up with the 6 cards they made Friday night, but it was hard too. This may be one of the last 2 classes I am able to hold for a while. The economy has hit my family hard and like many we are in a huge position of uncertainty. I'm hopeful, but let all of my nearly 30 regular class members know that I may not be able to continue our scheduled classes. This for me, is one of the hardest parts of the trials my family is currently facing. I love to create, to teach and to be surrounded by friends regularly in my home; I'm sure that without it a very important part of my life will be missing. So here they are, I am hoping you find something here that inspires you!

My personal favorite. I love how this came out! A nice rustic look! So many possibilities with this idea!


The glassine envelope holds snowman parts. . . a snowman for you!

This cheerful card is easy to replicate and holds a warm sentiment framed on the inside.

I tried to get a photo that shows the reflection of the snowflakes on the snowmen. Love the clear card look!


This is a recreation of a card I made many years back. Just love to mimick Santa's belt on a card with his image. This card sparkles inside and out!

It's fun to stretch a "Christmas Card" to the point where you're not quite sure if it is one. I borrowed this idea from Yvette West. She's amazing!


May this truly be the most wonderful time of the year for you and your family. I think I'll go roast some marshmallows now!

Wedding Ensemble

I was recently hired to make a wedding ensemble for an adorable young bride I know. This is how my samples turned out. Her colors are Chocolate and Sunflower. What do you think?