Count the stars

If you have followed my blog, you know that my husband has metastatic renal cancer that is in his spine and lungs.  He has had multiple spinal surgeries to de-bulk the tumor and has had a rod placed to strengthen his spine. This past fall, the neurosurgeon said, he would not do surgery again so he had more radiation to the area.  Unfortunately, he has a lot of nerve pain and now it is affecting his mobility. He takes a medication for the cancer which causes him to be tired (as well as all the narcotics) and have diarrhea.  He has lost 50 pounds since November and now is quite weak.  He is no longer able to drive and needs LOTS of encouragement to eat or do any activities.  Previously, he would love to spend evenings looking through his telescopes and take great pictures of the sky.  That is one thing that he can not do since he doesn't have the strength to lift the telescope pieces or the stamina to hold a steady position anymore.  Each year we would go to Florida for the Winter Star Party and he would spend many nights in IL with his friend Sheldon who designs telescopes and eyepieces.  That is one thing that I would wish he could do yet is to get enough strength to spend some time under the stars taking a few more pictures with his friend Sheldon.  So when I saw this image at Stamp Fairy I thought it would be perfect for a card for my husband.  The bear climbing out of the circle and I pop dotted another foot so he is 3-D.  I used a perfect sentiment from TLC.

Patterned Paper:  DCWV - Stardust

Cardstock:  Bazzil; Core-dination; Recollection

Stamp: Stamp Fairy - Barry Circles 1

Sentiment:  TLC, Create - Count the stars in the sky

Pop Dot - Recollection

Stars - Recollection

Spellbinders:  Small Circle, Star Circle

Border Punch:  Fiskars

Gold Stickles

Challenges

Friday Sketch Challenge - Sketch #42

Digital Tuesday Challenge - Distress

Cards for Men - Ch. 9 Animals

Pause, Dream, Enjoy Challenge - Ch. 9 - Outdoor Critters 

Tammy's Scrapin Corner - Ch. 60 Lots of Layers 

Take a deep breath

We are finally getting some spring weather in WI.  We are to have rain the rest of the week, but we have been having some warm weather.  I was wanting to get this image out last week for Mo's Challenge for Spring; however, I just didn't get it put together.  So this week I was able to use the image for pastels.  I used a wonderful sentiment from TLC.  I did use Sakura jelly glitter pen to outline the wings; however, the picture doesn't show it very well.

Patterned Paper:  My Mind's Eye

Cardstock:  Bazzil; Recollections

Stamp:  Mo Manning - Baby fairies sip

Sentiment:  TLC, Create - deep breath

Spellbinders:  Large Circle, Large Scalloped Circle

Flowers:  Recollection, Michael's

Sakura jelly glitter pen

Pearls:  Recollection

Challenges

Flutter By Wednesday - Sketch #237

Mo Manning - Ch. 182 Pastels

Creative Moments - Ch. 15 Spring

Crafty Sentiment Designs - Letter B - (blue, baby, blonde, breath)

Red Tricycle

Growing up I had a red tricycle, and I know that I put a few miles on it.  I put a picture I found the other day here to show you my red wonder.  It is an old picture - the only thing I can say is that it is in color. hehe When I saw this Unity stamp - I just had to get it.  The sentiment is from TLC.

Patterned Paper:  Simple Stories

Cardstock:  Paper Company; Bazzil; Recollection

Stamp:  Unity

Sentiment:  TLC, Create (see above for direct link)

Ink:  Distress - Fired Red

Spellbinder:  Small Circle, Small Scalloped Circle

Border Punch:  Martha Stewart

Challenges

Deconstructed Sketch - Sketch #99

QKR Stampede Challenge - Favorite Things

Make it Monday - Ch. 138 

Smile

For this card I used a free image from Torico that is just adorable.  I then used a sentiment from TLC.  I have to say as a nurse, I am ALWAYS amazed at what meds and how many meds people are on, but that is a different subject.  We could go on and debate that one for quite some time.  Then.....we could go on about the cost of medications and really get things stirred up on a Monday morning. hehe  I guess you can tell I haven't slept yet.  So here is my card.

Patterned Paper:  Paper Studio

Cardstock:  Bazzil; Recollection

Stamp:  Birdie Brown - snap

Sentiment:  TLC, Create (see above for direct link)

Border Punch:  Martha Stewart

Button:  stash

Flower:  Prima

Glossy Accents on camera on lens, view finder and flash

Challenges

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge - Sketch #183

Birdie Brown - April Freebie Challenge

There She Goes - May Flowers

Dream Valley Challenges - Things with wings

Thinking about you

Well in order to complete the Viva la Verve Challenge this month, I had to complete this sketch.  I decided to use a Verve stamp and make another card for my Mother to use in her sympathy stash. This card has lots of layers, and I had fun using my die cuts.

Patterned Paper:  My Mind's Eye - Stella Rose

Cardstock:  Paper Company; Bazzil; Recollection

Stamp:  Verve

Ink:  Memento, Rich Cocoa

Spellbinders:  Small Petite Oval; Floral Ovals; Decorative Label One

Border Punch:  Martha Stewart

Chery Lynn: Doily

Ribbon:  JoAnn's

Flowers:  Recollection

Challenges

Viva la Verve - VLVAPR2013

Tammy's Scrapin Corner - Ch. 60 Lots of layers

Make It Monday - Ch. 138

Espresso my thanks

I have been wanting to make some felt flowers for some time, but just have not taken the time to do so....until yesterday.  I decided it was time.  I wanted to play with the wonderful colors for several challenges and thought it was the perfect opportunity to pull out some felt and my Sizzix die cuts.  It was just too easy and fun.  For this card I embossed the background and used a digital image from U-printables that I just thought was adorable.  The sentiment comes from a great set from TLC.  My 17- year old son saw me with my card and even said, I could give that to a girl and ask her to go for coffee.  I thought it was funny.  I did show him that I had several "Coffee time" cards and he laughed.  Side note to see if he will need the card because he is going later today to pick out his tux for prom......so we will see how this all goes with the girls, and how many more cards I have to make hehe.

Cardstock:  Paper Company; Recollections
Stamp:  U-printables Coffee Takeaways 2
Sentiment:  TLC, Create (see above for direct link)
Die Cut:  Tim Holtz flower
Brad:  Paper Studio
Embossing Folder:  Cuttlebug
Felt:  stash

Challenges
Colour Q - Ch. 186

Play Date Cafe - 179

Challenges for Everybody - Ch. 19

Cuddle up

Sassy Cheryl has this adorable image of a boy hugging a bear. It just reminds me of my brother, Mark.  He had this brown bear and he did take him to bed every night.  Now this bear got lots of love so that Grandma needed to replace his eyes with buttons which is what this poor bear needs in the image.  That is why I left the twine hanging from my button.

Patterned Paper:  Basic Grey - Basic Kraft

Cardstock:  Bazzil; Core-dinations; Recollection

Stamp:  Sassy Cheryl - Loves Healing Hands Boy Stamp

Sentiment:  TLC, Create - In the barnyard digi and word art

Ribbon:  Michael's

Button:  stash

Border Punch:  Fiskars

Ink:  Memento, rich cocoa

Twine:  Natural Fibers

Challenges

There She Goes - Sketch #204

Sassy Cheryl - Ch. 163 Monochromatic

Basic Grey - Ch. 92 Masculine 

Crafty Sentiments - Monochromatic

Card Crafter's Circle - Ch. 72 Boys to Men

Lacy Sunshine Challenge - Monochrome 

Southern Girls - Button Up or Show Some Flair (buttons)

Paper Shelter - Ch. 109 For the Boys

Cards for Men - Ch. 8 Anything Goes

HB from the cat

I don't know about your house, but at our house...the cats rule.  Paulette at TLC has the perfect sentiment for that.  Simply Betty Stamps has a challenge that you get this image for free for it.  When I saw "Elaine" holding the cat, I just had to get the image and play in the challenge which is to also add swirls and ribbon.  I used digital paper of Bearly Mine which the rose paper does have swirls - which is just hard to see with it being in the background so I added a couple of blue flourishes.  In addition, I weaved some lace through the paper I punched with a Martha Stewart border punch.

Patterned Paper:  Bearly Mine:  Dots, Summer Roses, Christmas Light

Cardstock:  Bazzil, Core-dinations, Recollection

Stamp:  Simply Betty - Elaine

Sentiment:  TLC, Create (see above for direct link)

Flourishes:  Sizzix

Ribbon:  Offray

Lace:  Wrights

Border Punch:  Martha Stewart

Flowers:  Recollection & Zva

Challenges

Sketch & Stash - Sketch #112

Simply Betty- Ch. 2 Swirls & Ribbon

Totally Paper Crafts - Ch. 164 Flowers and Lace

Bearly Mine - Use a digi

Digital Tuesday - Birthday 

Inky Impressions - Photo Inspiration

Add a little color

The Alley Way Stamps has a challenge with a rainbow that I just thought was too fun.  They have a freebie image of a paintbrush with a wonderful sentiment.  I added Glossy Accent to the paint brush.

Patterned Paper:  Sweet Shoppe - Hello, I love you

Cardstock:  Bazzil; Core-dinations; Recollection

Stamp:  Alley Way - Feb 2013 freebie and sentiment

Glossy Accent

Spellbinder:  Small and large Circle, pennant

Embossing Folder:  Cuttlebug

Ribbon Offray

Pearls:  Recollection

Challenges

Viva la Verve - VLVAPR2013

The Alley Way - Ch. 27

Paper Crafting Journey - Sentiment

Who's the fairest?

I have this image from Crafts and Me called "Cali Girl" and I just love how her hair turned out.  She was a fun digi to work with.

Patterned Paper:  Sweet Shoppe - Happy Go Lucky

Cardstock:  Bazzil; Core-dinations; Paper Company; Recollection

Stamp:  Crafts and Me - Cali Girl

Sentiment:  TLC, Create - Who's the fairest

Button: JoAnn's Basics

Twine:  Natural Fibers

Flower:  Prima

Embossing Folders:  Cuttlebug & Sizzix

Challenges

The Sweet Shop - Sketch #207

Party Time Tuesday - Tic Tac Toe (Button, Twine, Flower)

One Stitch at a Time - Ch. 160 a digi

Have I toad you

I was working on my card for the Imagine That Challenge tonight and my 17- year old son was giving me a hard time.  So I realized I forgot to finish the image after I put the card together....I forgot the clouds that I was going to do with blue chalk.  That is the problem that I got up early and then it was one thing after another.  The sentiment for this card from a wonderful set from TLC.

Patterned Paper:  Sweet Shoppe - Coho chic; Bearly Mine - Plaid, Floral Dreams

Cardstock:  Core-dinations; Bazzil; Recollection

Stamp:  Imagine That - Bella and Skipper

Sentiment:  TLC, Create - see above for direct link

Buttons:  JoAnn's Basics

Corner Rounder:  Crreative Memories

Challenges

Sketch Saturday - Sketch #255

Imagine That - Ch. 5

Bearly Mine - Use a digi

JUGS - Color Challenge 185

Black and Gray Happy Birthday

I have been wanted to get a card made all week for the Dynamic Duo Challenge since the colors are black and gray and I just think they look so elegant together.  I used a gray paper that Paulette just had in the TLC club that is going on right now.  For this card I used a sentiment from TLC.  Also, Lesley at "Always Playing with Paper" has a Happy Birthday tribute for Vicki Burdick who I think makes wonderful cards.

Patterned Paper:  Digital Sweet Shoppe - In my happy field; TLC - Just the flowers2

Cardstock:  Bazzil

Stamp: Stampdenous

Ink: Memento, Tuxedo Black

Sentiment:  TLC, Create - Happy Birthday to You

Ribbon: Creative Impressions

Flower:  Prima

Challenges

Freshly Made Sketches - Sketch 83

Dynamic Duo - Ch. 49

Digital Tuesday Challenge - Birthday

Always Playing with Paper - Happy Birthday to Vicki B

Wishing you a happy day

Sometimes no matter how hard you try things just don't seem to go as planned or the way you want them to....so I made this card as an inspiration.  It has a wonderful sentiment from TLC.  The stamp is one from my stash that I just needed to used and worked well given the long panel and I can see this in four equal segments.  Hopefully it will be a better day.

Patterned Paper:  Authenique

Cardstock:  Core-dinations; Recollections

Stamp:  Hero Arts

Sentiment:  TLC, Create - Wishing you a happy Day

Ink:  Memento, Rich Cocoa

Button:  stash

Ribbon:  Michael's

Challenges

Mojo - Sketch 90

613 Avenue Create - color

Makie it Monday - Ch. 137

I wish you comfort

Here is another card that I made for my Mother as a gift for her sympathy stash.  It is using this weeks Play Date Cafe colors.  The sentiment is from a great set at TLC.

Patterned Paper:  American Crafts; Sweet Shoppe - Chickadee

Cardstock:  Bazzil; Recollections

Sentiment:  TLC, Create (see above for direct link)

Spellbinders:  Small petite oval; Fancy labels 2

Embossing Folder:  Sizzix

Bling:  Michael's

Challenges

Viva la Verve - VLVAPR2013

Play Date Cafe - 178

Make It Monday - ch. 137

Happy Birthday Trevor

Today my son is 17!!!  We celebrated with a party yesterday.  My daughter and her boyfriend came for the weekend.  My parents along with my brother and 3-year old nephew came for the day.  We went out to eat at Olive Garden; Trevor picked that because he loves their soup and bread sticks.  Since I recently made my nephew the firetruck cake (posted picture previously) I have been asking my son what he wanted this year for his cake.  We weren't coming up with a good solution.  I have made Elmo, Batman, horse, Winnie the Pooh, and many cakes for my kids he was even coming up with some inappropriate things for a 17 year old and showing me that they even make such cake pans.  So.....I decided on cupcakes when I saw a kit at JoAnn's this weekend for sharks.  He thought it was funny, but thought it wasn't right because it was too easy for me.  I even used store frosting since the kit had enough liners, but not enough shark items (24 liners - but only made 12 sharks).  It actually worked out well with my friend being in the hospital this week, and everything else going on it was good not to spend several hours decorating a cake.  I did get him a neat Spiderman balloon with some plates and napkins to match.
I made this card for my Mother, who is invited to a baptism.

Patterned Paper:  Paper Studio

Cardstock:  Bazzil; Core-dinations; Recollection

Sentiment:  TLC, Create - Christening Word Art

Spellbinder:  Cross, Tear drop circle

Ribbon:  May Art

Pearls & Bird:  Recollection

Ink:  Memento - Rose Bud

Flowers:  Recollection

Challenges

Sunday Sketch & Stamp - Sketch 153

Fab 'n' Funky Challenges - Ch. 167 1,2,3

Glitter n Sparkle Challenge - Ch. 29 1,2, 3

Totally Papercrafts - Ch. 163 Monochromatic

Inky Impressions - Ch. 105 Dies Cuts/punches

QKR Stampede Challenge - Ch. 35 Die cuts/punches

Paper Crafting Journey - Use a sentiment

Cupcake Craft Challenges - Ch. 239Monochromatic

What's cookin

Here is my second card that I made for the Miss Muffet Food, Glorious Food Challenge.  This is using the "Celeste Amberglow - Cooking up some love" image.  I just love all these little hearts so that is why I added to Spellbinder hearts to the bottom of card.  The sentiment is from a great TLC set. 

Patterned Paper:  Jillbean Soup

Cardstock:  Bazzil; Recollection

Stamp:  Miss Muffet - Celeste Amberglow - Cooking up some love

Sentiment:  TLC, Create see above for direct link

Spellbinder:  Heart, Resplendent Rectangles

Flowers:  Recollections

Challenges

Viva la Verve - VLVAPR2013

Cute Card Thursday - Cakewalk

Papertake Weekly - One Paper

Inky Impressions - Punches and/or die cuts

Nothin says lovin

I can't believe I forgot to post.....  I am a guest on Miss Muffet Challenges this week and I made two cards for the Food, Glorious Food Challenge.  Yesterday I went to the hospital to spend time with my friend that had her hernia surgery that is doing well.  I also started doing some spring cleaning.  My daughter is coming home this weekend with her boyfriend as well as my parents are coming to celebrate my son's birthday on Sunday so I was on a mission.  Believe my house NEEDS it.  I did purchase a sign to display about my cleaning.
My first card I used Carob that has her big cupcake along with a sentiment from TLC.   I think she is just a cutie.

Patterned Paper:  Kaiser Kraft

Cardstock:  Bazzil; Recollection

Stamp:  Miss Muffet - Carob

Sentiment:  TLC, Create - See above for direct link

Button:  stash

Twine:  Ribbon Carousel

Ribbon:  American Craft & Offray

Tag:  Creative Tags

Challenges

Sweet Stop - Sketch 206

Cute Card Thursday - Cake Walk

Papertake Weekly - One patterned paper

Fluttering by to say hello

Today the sun is shining, but then it is to rain the rest of the week.  We have had so much rain that there are areas of concern for flooding.  I just can't keep up with all the prayers for my family, friends, tragedies and everything else.  Whew.  It sounds terrible to say that praying can be a full time job, and I'm not in the religious field and hardly a Pope.
I was trying to get some happy colors from orange and blue and used that as my inspiration.  I also used this cute butterfly from Alley Way along with a sentiment from TLC.

Patterned Paper:  Sweet Shoppe - This life
Cardstock:  Bazzil; Recollections
Stamp:  Alley Way - freebie March 2013
Sentiment:  TLC, Create - fluttering by to say hello
Ribbon:  American Crafts
Flower:  Recollection
Spellbinder:  Small Circle; Tear drop Circle
Pearls:  Recollection

Challenges
Mojo - Sketch #289
Cute Card Thursday - Butterfly Kisses
Dynamic Duos - Ch. 48

Alley Way - Ch. 26