Happy Mother's Day!

 Coffee/Tea of the Day - Lavender Lemon Tea

Happy Mother's Day to all of the mothers, aunts, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers out there! :) I hope you are truly celebrated for the amazing women that you are!

I made cards for my MIL and aunt using some neat digitals from Shawn Petite. these can be found in her member's resource library. it's free to register, and she shares some neat printables, both things that she has created as well as vintage ephemera. she is a very talented artist, and I am always inspired.

I have used her gelli plate image as the base, printing the beautiful vintage floral image directly on top. some matting, lace, tickers, and butterflies to embellish. still trying to keep everything that I mail fairly flat. I don't remember if the butterflies are from Shawn's printable or from another artist, possibly Artymaze, Shabbydabbydoodah, or Mad Paper Crush. I have been cutting out so many pieces for the baby journal that I can't remember exactly who did each one. maybe some day I will be better organized! ;)

each of you have a most amazing day, knowing that you are loved and cherished!

Jennifer

Sending Love Sunflowers

 Coffee/Tea of the Day - Pumpkin Spice coffee

Good morning and happy weekend! :)

I needed a thinking of you type card to someone who is going through some struggles. that is all of us from time to time, and I know how much it meant to me to receive some encouragement in the mail. 

Recently I purchased the Sunflowers for Ukraine digital image collection from Gecko Galz on Etsy. 100% of the proceeds go to Samaritan's Purse Ukraine relief efforts. I thought the bright happy sunflowers could hopefully bring a smile to the recipient. 

The images were printed onto linen paper for a little bit different look. one of the talented designers at The Graphics Fairy did this in a recent journal, and the look is lovely. a simple card with some distressing and fun little embellishments. the beautiful lace is from SU!

everyone have an amazing weekend! I am still getting the pieces together for the baby journal, all while recovering from the mump! yep. I had them when I was a young girl, but evidently my weakened immune system from long covid has left me susceptible to any and every little germ that passes my way. thank goodness for antibiotics. 

thank you so much for stopping by! enjoy your weekend! :) 

Challenges:

Allsorts - anything goes with scenic option

Creative Fingers - anything goes

Krafty Chicks - all occassions

Crafty Gals Corner - spring/Easter

Creative Knockouts - flower power

Anniversary Bears on a Walk

 Coffee/Tea of the Day - Toffee Nut Latte (Starbucks treat from hubby today!)

Hello! I hope all of you are doing well! 

I want to say thank you for the very kind comments and messages regarding my health and DIL. y'all are just the best! :) I have heard that many of you are dealing with health struggles in your families as well. know that I keep you in my prayers.

Today I am sharing an anniversary card I created for Ryan and Elizabeth. I once again used the fun Lily of the Valley simply prints available on Etsy. these cute bears are called Rosy and Cosy.  I cut out the bears twice and added some foam tape for extra dimension. the papers and flowers are from the new Carta Bella Flora collection. sentiment stamp is by SU! luscious purple silk ribbon and vintage buttons complete the card. simple, because I wanted to mail it with first class postage, so taking care to not add too many layers.

I am a huge fan of our postal service here in the States. they work so hard through all types of weather. I never have a problem when stamp prices increase, because these people deserve every penny. but hubby and I were taken aback when we mailed our grand-daughter's birthday card. I typically mail my cards in padded envelopes to give some extra protection to the layers and elements. it cost more than $5 to mail her card, even though it weighed less that 2 ounces. whoa nelly! that is almost double the price I used to pay. so I am trying to be cautious about what I send using the padded envelopes, not so much to avoid the postal service, but trying to be good stewards of our money. so from here on out I will save the fancy cards to go in larger packages that include other fun goodies. :) moms and grandmoms gotta spoil! :D

for the next few weeks, I will be sharing process photos of making the latest baby journal. Danielle has a baby shower at her parents' home several hours away over Mother's Day weekend. I would really like to be able to attend, so am working hard to get the journal finished by then. also hoping I feel well enough to go....

May you have an absolutely joyous weekend surrounded by the people who love you! :)

Jennifer

Easter Blessings

 Coffee/Tea of the Day - Turmeric tea with ginger and orange

Sending Easter blessings to all of you who celebrate the holiday. He has risen! :) oh, what hope lies in those three words! I am often overwhelmed by the depth of God's love and faithfulness. He never once leaves us. what comfort!

I have several cards to share today. I had to keep them fairly simple because I wanted to mail them through regular first class. 

Main images are found for free at Create with TLC. vintage fussy cut images are from The Graphics Fairy. Papers are from 49 & Market and Asuka Studios. 

Simple embellishments. Organza ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon and little flowers are by Prima. Stamps are from Tim Holtz. inside of each card is decorated similar to the envelopes. 

 

This last card was made for a very special young lady. our youngest son, Ryan, and his wife, Elizabeth, have become foster parents to a 13 year old girl! she moved in this weekend. she is someone they knew from their church youth group. I wanted to send her a little something to say hello. :)

and lastly I ask for your prayers for our daughter-in-law, Lauren. she had a mini stroke several days ago. she is currently resting at home, with more tests to come in the upcoming week. We are so thankful that God kept her safe in the midst of all that happened. She is currently taking baby aspirin to help thin the blood. Our daughter-in-law, Danielle, who is pregnant, is also taking baby aspirin. She was told that mothers who have had covid, which they both have had, are at a higher risk of stroke. so lots of prayers and trusting in God's healing.

May you know how much you are treasured and loved! Happy Easter!

Jennifer

Happy 1st Birthday, Lyra!

 Coffee/Tea of the Day - Hazelnut Spice coffee

Hello to everyone!  :)

Please forgive my long absence. I have what is now being called 'long covid', having been sick since Christmas. thankfully the vaccinations and booster shots prevented me from being hospitalized or being any worse than it has been, but oh my goodness, I am so ready to be over this. ugh.  

anyhow, on to crafty stuff! :)

our first grand-daughter celebrated her one year birthday last weekend. oh my heart! she is such a delight! because we live so far away, plus with me being sick, we weren't able to go to her celebration, but we did have a fun video chat after her big party. she doesn't just walk, she RUNS everywhere! :D  

because I haven't been feeling well, my inking and coloring skills are at a minimum right now. along to the rescue came Lily of the Valley pre-colored digital images! they are called Simply Prints in the Etsy store. so many adorable designs to choose from. (P.S. they currently have a BIG sale, so now would be an excellent time to add some of these cuties to your stash!)

for this card, I used the Birthday Fairy simply print paired with some of the pretty designer paper from the Backing paper collection.  I also added a pastel pink gingham paper, I think from either Carta Bella or Echo Park. it was a piece in my stash that no longer had the markings.  .A Wink of Stella glitter pen was brushed over the fairy wings, wand, antennae, and package bow. gotta have some sparkle! :) The image was cut with a Spellbinders die, pale pink seam binding and bright pink floral trim are topped with a flower from Wild Orchid Crafts. a small pink ticket butterfly & cupcake ephemera, and vintage buttons complete the card. 

I am trying to finish Easter cards so they can be mailed out tomorrow. I'll be back next week to show you those.

I truly hope all of you are well. I have missed sharing with you on my blog, but really am going to do better posting. I plan to start work on a baby journal for our newest grand-daughter, due the end of August! :)  I'll share the process of creating that, as I take a VERY long time to make a junk journal. 

much love to each of you! 

Jennifer 

Happy New Year 2022!

 Coffee/Tea of the day - Cinnamon Macadamia nut coffee

Image from 

Old Design Shop

Wishing you and yours a safe, healthy, and prosperous New Year!

More crafts to come in the next few months. Thank you for your support and sticking with me! :)

Ribbon and Fabric Banner for Bedroom

 Coffee/Tea of the Day - Caramel Vanilla Hazelnut coffee

Hello and happy Monday to all of you! sorry I didn't get this photo posted when I promised. With out of town guests and then a quick trip to St. Louis to see everyone there, I lost track of time. I do apologize.

This was a fun banner to make! I used ribbons and trims from Really Reasonable Ribbon, fabric strips from an old flannel sheet, and denim from some worn out blue jeans. I really do like to repurpose, can you tell?! ;) some of the ribbons and tulle were from Tyler and Danielle's wedding, so they were perfect to include in the banner for their room. the colors in the room are artichoke green, burgundy, and mustard yellow. 

my husband made the sign using word art from Hobby Lobby and some old fencing boards. he has made several signs like this for all around our house. one of his favorite things to do is take old windows and doors and turn them into neat wall hangings. we also have an old screen door as a trellis on the back of our barn for the passion flower Mick gave me last year. it's fun to take old things we find in antique stores and give them new life. :)

Starting the big craft room clean out this week. I will TRY to not get distracted by all of the wonderful things I uncover! :D 

much love to all of you!

Jennifer

Happy 4th of July and email followers

 Coffee/Tea of the Day - Spiced Hazelnut coffee

image by

The Graphics Fairy

Happy 4th of July to all of my friends living in the USA! I hope you have a fun as well as safe celebration surrounded by those dear to your heart. :)

I have been informed of a service to follow blogs via email now that feedburner has deactivated this tool. It is called follow,it. I believe that I have imported all of those email addresses who follow my blog this way. Please let me know if you don't receive notices of upcoming posts. 

I haven't been doing much papercrafting recently, but did make a wonderful ribbon and fabric banner to hang in one of our bedrooms. I will share that with you this week. We are slowly trying to redo all of our sons' bedrooms so that they are a bit more updated when they come to visit. So far we have two completed. Eventually we will tackle the entire house. my next big project is to get my craft room cleaned and organized. ugh. that is going to take a VERY long time. :/ 

so thank you to everyone who continues to follow my little blog and post such lovely comments.  :) I appreciate all of you!

much love to everyone and have a most amazing day!

Jennifer

Happy Mother's Day!

 Coffee/Tea of the Day - Ginger Peach green tea

Happy Mother's Day to all of the moms, grandmas, great-grandmas, aunts, and other significant women out there! :) Celebrate you today, and the many ways you bring love and contribute to your families!

I do know that this day is not always an easy one for those who have lost crucial people in their lives. to you, know that I pray you find some measure of comfort in the love of those nearby.

I haven't yet been able to craft the way I used to, but I did manage to make a few cards for my MIL, aunt, and new mom, Lauren. :)

They are all similar in style, with just a few minor differences. The lovely vintage woman image is a freebie on the Gecko Galz blog. The background paper and roses are from a post at the Graphics Fairy about cabbage rose wallpapers. I cut the flowers from one of the wallpaper images. 

I stitched around the main image and background papers after matting. The button and floral stamps are from my vintage stash, and the crochet trim has been avocado dyed.  a paper doily and sequins were added to complete each card.

Thank you so very much to all of you who have left comments or contacted me about our new granddaughter! you are so wonderful! :) her parents are asking that her personal details not be shared online or on social media, so we respect their desire for privacy. but oh my goodness, she is such a sweetie! we had a fabulous time visiting them for a few days. maybe one day we will all live closer to one another again. 

before I forget, those of you who follow my blog via email, I have received notice that this option will no longer be available after July of this year. I am absolutely awful about visiting the blogs that I follow, and I appreciate the convenience that email alerts provide. hopefully something else will come about so that we can continue to get notices in our inbox. 

know that you are all loved!

Jennifer 

Challenges:

Gecko Galz monthly ch - Secret Garden using a product from GG

She's Here! :)

Coffee/Tea of the Day - Spiced Macadamia coffee

image courtesy of The Graphics Fairy

 Our precious grand-daughter arrived last weekend, on the Saturday before Easter. :)  She was born via caesarean section. Both mom and baby are doing well at home. Hubby and I planted a flowering dogwood tree in our backyard to honor this special moment. We hope to go visit them this coming weekend. Thank you for your kind words of encouragement as well as your prayers. Y'all are the best! :)

Happy Easter!

 Coffee/Tea of the Day - Earl Grey Lavender tea

Happy Easter to all of you! I hope you have a most blessed day, surrounded by those you love. :)

I apologize for not being around. My health has really been struggling these past few months, seeming to get worse. :( I spend most of my time either in bed or on the couch. The upside is that I am getting a lot of reading done as well as watching some wonderful programs through various streaming services.  of course nothing quite beats the beautiful bird song I hear each day or cuddles with our cat and dog.  those are the best!

our sweet little grand-daughter is to be born within the next few days. to say we are all excited is quite the understatement! :) I did make her a journal, but finished within an hour of leaving to visit Mick and Lauren in St. Louis for their virtual baby shower. hopefully we will be able to visit the entire family in May, so I will try to remember to take pictures of both the baby journal and Mick's garden journal then.

(both vintage images from The Graphics Fairy)

With so much divisiveness and antagonism in our county, no, in our world, please remember that love is the great unifier. We are told by Jesus to love our neighbors, all of our neighbors. Let compassion and kindness prevail in our lives, always. :) 

A Few Journal Photos

 Coffee/Tea of the Day - Creamy Chestnuts coffee

Hello and happy weekend! 

I apologize that I have taken so long to get a few project photos to you. I haven't been doing very well this past week. Still rough, so will only share a minimal of details on these, coming back to update later. I hope you can understand.

The first is the cover and tassel for an entertainment themed journal I made for Ryan and Elizabeth. it is filled with game, movie, and music pages & ephemera. I believe the paper is from a Carta Bella collection. the fabric is some from Etsy. the game pieces and papers are vintage. the tassel hooks onto the bow at the spine. this was the only photo I took before mailing it to them for Christmas.

The next few pictures are of the handyman themed journal I made David. I took an old Reader's Digest book and altered it. many of the pockets and tuck spots in the journal are made from pages from the actual book. the spine is Tim Holtz fabric. I found the vintage handle and number placket on Etsy. the handle is screwed into the book cover. I was so happy that my Crop-A-Dile actually punched through the cover with ease. 

this is the inside cover. I added the verse that I have on my blog. I thought that was a perfect way to begin. :) this journal is filled with so many vintage items: first day of issue postal envelopes, pages from manuals, sales flyers, postage stamps, receipts, labels, and book pages just to name a few. I love including lots of actual vintage ephemera in these journals. .the papers used in this book are from Michael's and several Authentique collections. I will try to get more photos of this one later. can't even attempt holding a camera right now. ugh.

I believe I had mentioned that I had made a garden themed journal for Mick and one with a nautical theme for Tyler and Danielle. I still had signatures, or sections, left over from each journal because they just became too full of goodness. ;) so Mick has asked for me to make him another garden journal using the remaining pieces. I am also working on a baby journal for he and Lauren. yep, they are expecting a baby girl in April! hooray!!!I knew that I had a few extra months to get that one finished, so didn't push myself with the Christmas deadline like I did on the others. 

I am very much a novice when it comes to making journals, so please be understanding. I am really having fun with them though, and look forward to getting better with each journal I make. :)

all of you take care, stay safe & healthy, and have a great weekend!

Project Photos Coming Soon

 Coffee/Tea of the Day - Coconut Caramel Hazelnut coffee

Hello! I hope that everyone is doing well, staying safe and healthy. A new day, a new year, ready for blessings in abundance! New opportunities to spread love and kindness! :)

Thank you to all of you who have so sweetly left comments sent emails or cards. You are much appreciated and loved! :)

I will soon share a few photos of projects I worked on in the past year. yes, I am THAT slow! :D I have started making junk journals and love it! oh my gosh, what took me so long to try one myself? a perfect way to incorporate my shabby/vintage style with re-purposed items and a touch of sass & whimsy. ;) ha!

I made journals for each of our sons and their wives, but didn't get photos of most of them since I was racing to get them in the mail for Christmas. The journal I made for my husband for our anniversary is still a work in progress. he is so understanding! I was able to get his handyman journal finished for a Christmas gift, so at least he has one complete. (I am still adding bits and bobs to it, although I don't think he has noticed yet. grins!)

The biggest shocker to the family is that I am actually sewing in all of these journals! that is the first thing every single one of them noticed. ;)  it is no secret that my old sewing machine and I didn't always see eye to eye, pardon the pun. The repair man even commented that he had never seen a machine that gave someone such difficulties as mine. I was given an older sewing machine from someone who was cleaning house several years ago. Inspired by the many fabulous journal makers on YouTube, I decided it was time to get it out and make a fresh, new start. Lo and behold, I am having so much fun! I go through almost an entire spool of thread with each journal I make. Just goes to show you that we should never stop trying new things or exploring past ones!

My love and prayers to each of you. Stay safe and healthy!

See you soon,

Jennifer

*Update 01/14/21 - I apologise that I have not yet posted photos. I haven't been doing well this past week. Hopefully I can get pictures added over the weekend. Thank you for understanding.

Happy New Year 2021!

 Coffee/Tea of the Day - Highlander Grog coffee

Sending each of you wishes for a healthy, happy New Year! May you be blessed in abundance today and all year through.

with much love,

Jennifer 

Have You Learned Nothing? Christmas Cat Card

 Coffee/Tea of the Day - Creamy Chestnuts coffee

Hello and Happy Friday to each of you! :)

I want to begin by saying a very heartfelt thank you to those of you who have reached out to me with emails, messages, cards, and letters. You bring me such joy and make my heart so happy! Thank you so much!

I am grateful every morning that I wake up, surrounded by so much love from my family and our sweet furbabies. I am overwhelmed by the blessings in my life, even in the midst of strife and serious health issues. God is so very, very good, each and every day. :)

Janis, the person behind the ever fun Cat Lover's Blog Hop, reached out to me to see how I was doing. She is such a sweetheart! I knew I wanted to try to make a project to play along, but wasn't sure how well I would be feeling. Please be understanding that this card took me almost all day to create. Fussy cutting is not my friend any longer. ugh. my brain can't wrap around how to work scissors, and then my shaky hands don't want to cooperate. I must say that it was nice to pick up my paintbrushes again. 

I patterned the shading of the cats off of the two sweeties in Tyler and Danielle's home - Rowan and Stella. A makeup brush was used to apply ink to the cat's fur while I watercolored the other elements. a glitter gel pen and white gel pen were used for accents. The cutie stamps are from the Tim Holtz and Simon Says Stamp collaboration in September.  The saying, "Have you learned nothing from last year's tree?" reminds me of what we go through every year with our cats. :D 

Rowan on the left and 

Stella on the right

The Christmas tree is a vintage image I found online. I made it extra big before printing so that it would look like the cats were sitting at the tree base. a doily and plaid paper represent the tree skirt. Some coffee dyed paper is the bg.

Thank you so very much for stopping by! if you have a moment, grab a cuppa and visit all of those who are participating in the blog hop. Lots of inspiration and fabulous sponsors. :)

love to all of you,

Jennifer

Challenges:

1.  SUYP - Halloween or anything goes
2.  Aud Sentiments - anything goes w/a sentiment
3.  Crimbo Crackers - anything Christmas (waving hi, Ruth!!!)
4.  Merry Little Christmas Ch - anything Christmas

Look Deep into Nature Birthday Card

 Coffee/Tea of the Day - Maple Walnut coffee

Hello and Happy Weekend! :) I hope you have something fabulous planned, even if it's hanging out and relaxing.

I am sorry that I haven't shared much recently. working very diligently on hubby's journal for our anniversary at the end of this month, and I am extremely slow. :/  but I am oh, so thankful for the moments when I feel well enough to craft. isn't this such a wonderful activity that can bring so much joy and be therapeutic as well?

the card for today has been picked by my family as one of their all time favorites that I have made. I created it for our son's birthday. as much as I am a tree hugger, Mick is even more so! he loves nature with a passion. he has asked me to make him a gardening journal, so that will be next month's project. ;)

I used the amazing papers from the Simple Stories Simple Vintage Great Escape collection. I have purchased so many sheets from this collection. it is definitely a favorite. I am also using quite a few of these papers in hubby's journal. this is a fairly large card so that it could accommodate the journaling card. in case you can't read it very well, it says, "Look deep into nature and you will understand everything better." isn't that so lovely?

green twine is from Really Reasonable Ribbon, burlap ribbon is a stash item as are the vintage buttons, and little flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts. I think the wooden mushroom came from World Market. I bought the pack quite a while ago. everyone in our family laughs because I am forever picking up little tidbits when out on walks. the mini pinecone came from Camp, as did the little seed pod portion. I covered that in distress crackle paint. love the way it turned out! the piece of bark is just a smidgen I found. isn't that bit of moss on it so precious? makes my heart swoon. :)

I didn't get a photo of it, but I stamped a mushroom on the inside and then stamped again with water rather than ink. it created a gorgeous watercolor look. I think I added the word 'explore' as well as a birthday sentiment. my memory is just not the same these days.

Thank you so much for stopping by! Take care and know that you are deeply loved! :)  Jennifer

Challenges:

1.  Creative Fingers - anything goes
2.  Craft Rocket - birthday
3.  DL Art - birthday
4.  Crafty Creations - anything goes
5.  Paper Funday - anything goes w/back to school option
6.  TTCRD - anything goes
7.  Crafter's Castle - anything goes
8.  Crafty Calendar - anything goes
9.  Crafts Galore Encore - anything goes
10.  Classic Design - anything goes

A Special Labrador Card for Hubby

Coffee/Tea of the Day - Coconut coffee to be followed by Lavender Mint iced tea later today :)

Hello and welcome to the start of a brand new, marvelous week! :) what wonders to behold!

I am slow getting my projects posted, and I do apologize for that. still not feeling real whippy, so everything is taking even longer to get accomplished these days. one of our lovely DIL's was at camp last week with her youth group. it was a delight to see her and spend an hour or two with her each day! Palmer was able to go out to camp on their last day, and he was over the moon to see Elizabeth again! we are huge pet lovers in our family, and our beloved cats and dogs are treasures. I think I have more photos of the pets than I do my children! ha!

on that note, I want to share a card I made for Dave. our Labradors have held very special places in our hearts. my sons have never known life without at least one in the house. so I knew when it was time to make a card for David, I needed to include one of our precious pups.

I found the vintage image online. sorry, but if I don't write absolutely everything down these days, I forget. I will try to do better. gosh, I can't remember from which Etsy store I found the paper either. I think the tag is from either Shabby Dabby Doo Dah or Artymaze. ugh. this head of mine....

lots of distressing and ink squirty tool. vintage buttons are from my stash, and the seam binding is from Zipper Stop.

I made the wonderful decision this weekend to give away all of my Copic markers to one of my DIL's. I never use them and have over 300. she is an artist, and they will get great use. I feel as if a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. no pressure to try to master Copic shading and blending. wooohooo! as the saying goes, you gotta do you, and Copics are most definitely NOT me! ;)  she is very excited, and I can't wait to see how she uses them.

all of you have a most amazing week! love to each of you! :)

Jennifer

Challenges:

Corrosive Ch - anything goes

Crafter's Castle - anything goes

Sisterhood of the Snarky Stampers - D is for dogs

Craft Rocket - for the men/boys

Crafty Creations - anything goes

Classic Design - anything goes

Country View - do what makes you happy ( this card combines LOTS of my happy! my hubby, our dogs, crafting, vintage, vintage buttons!, distressing...)

Crafty Animals - anything goes with an animal

Creative Crafters - anything goes

TTCRD - anything goes

Floral Teacup Birthday Card

Runner Up Winner at Morgan's Art World

Coffee/Tea of the Day - Spiced Hazelnut

Hello and happy weekend! :)

I apologize that I haven't been back to share more of my craft projects. I had a bit of a setback and ended up in the hospital. ugh... since being home, I am just so very tired and worn out. haven't felt up to doing much other than lying on the courch or in bed reading or sleeping. 

anyhow, you want to see crafty stuff! ;)

so this is a birthday card I created for my MIL. poor thing has been in lockdown at her assisted living center since the first of March. she is struggling, because she really loves to get out and DO. she has much more energy than I do these days. this is the card I added to her gift.

The image is a vintage one that I found online as are the old seed covers.  the book page in the bg is vintage. flowers and leaves are from Wild Orchid Crafts, organza ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon, cotton trim is from my stash as are the vintage buttons. the doily was avocado stained. who would have ever thought avocados would create a pink dye? not me, that is for sure! sentiment stamp is from Purple Onion Designs. I know it's a bit casual for this card, but it is the only birthday sentiment I could find in my collection that was large enough.oh yes, I forgot about the little heart charm. another stash item.

the ceiling fan was blowing my ribbon around, so that is why the tails are up in the air. :)

all of you have a most amazing weekend! thank you for your continued support, encouragement, and love!

Jennifer

Challenges:

613 Avenue Create - anything goes or sentiment is the focus

Allsorts - flowers all over

Crafty Calendar - add a ribbon

Crafty Friends - happy birthday

Creative Fingers - anything goes

A Bit More Time to Craft - anything goes

Crafts Galore Encore - anything goes

A Perfect Time to Craft - anything goes

Creations in Pink - more pink than any other color

Creative Craft Cottage - add flowers

Morgan's Art World - anything goes

Fab 'n Funky - anything goes with pink

Botanical Birthday

Coffee/Tea of the Day - Pumpkin Spice coffee (I love this flavor and drink it all year long)

Hello and Happy Monday! a beautiful new week is before us, full of miracles and possibilities! :)

I am back to share with you a birthday card I created for one of my daughters-in-law. She loves purples and lavenders, so I tried to incorporate those into the card. I am still not well enough to do any watercoloring of images, so am relying on the beautiful things I find on Etsy. just tying a bow or trying to glue flowers is a challenge these days. my head and fingers just can't get in sync. ;)

but anyhow, the papers and images come from 2 of my favorite digital shops on Etsy - Roxy's Creations and ShabbyDabbyDoDah. I also used a piece of script paper from Shawn Petite. It is in her free resource library, and I absolutely love it! it's about a strong, empowered woman, which is exactly who my DIL is. :) all you have to do to access the library is become a subscriber. it's free, which is fabulous because I have learned so much from this very talented artist. she is very generous with her freebies, but then so are the other 2 stores that I linked. you can subscribe to their newsletters for free as well.

not too much fancy or complicated on this card. vintage buttons and trims from Really Reasonable Ribbon. words are Tim Holtz dies and flower is from Wild Orchid Crafts.

thank you so very much for the uplifting and supportive comments and emails that you have sent. it brightens my day, that is for certain! 

my prayer for all of you is that you are surrounded by love, health, and peace. :)

Jennifer

Floral Wedding Card in Greens and Purples

Coffee/Tea of the Day - Spiced Hazelnut Rum

Hello and Happy Friday to you! :)
I am sharing the first of several projects that I have recently created. I will spread out the posts over several days, as I am feeling well enough to get to the computer. btw, thank you for the kind and encouraging comments left on my previous post! :) y'all are amazing!!!

The first card was created for our son's wedding last month. the card is a bit larger than a typical size. sorry, I didn't get it measured.
digital papers and images are from Roxy's Creations. She has some gorgeous paper kits and vintage ephemera pieces in her store. if you sign up for her newsletter, she occasionally sends out freebies. I think the pieces used here are from the green and purple kits. I printed both out at the same time for this and another project I will be sharing shortly.

flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts, word die is by Tim Holtz, seam binding is from Zipper Stop, and the vintage buttons, doily, burlap ribbon, & sequins are from my stash. "Love" was embossed with copper ep.

Thank you very much for stopping by! I hope you have a most amazing weekend! :)

Hello! :)

Coffee/Tea of the Day - Santa's White Christmas coffee (I am in a Christmas kind of mood)

Hello to all of you who have so kindly and faithfully stuck with me and my little blog. I apologize for being away for so long. My health is fading, but I am still hanging in there. :) I have about an hour or two each morning when I can get a few things done, but otherwise I am in bed or lying on the couch. Obviously, as with everyone, the pandemic hit us hard. Two of our sons had the virus, but oh, so thankfully have recovered. Our middle son's wedding was put on hold, and only two weeks before the scheduled date, they received notice to proceed. It was a lovely, although much smaller event than they had originally planned, but such a glorious day! :) Camp received notice that they could open with strict guidelines at the very last minute. David has been scrambling to get everything ready and in place. This is the first week of programmed camps, so we are thankful!

I have been doing a bit of crafting here and there. photos are saved on my computer, and just need editing & watermarks. Then I will begin to post here. I will try for this weekend....

I hope and pray that all of you are safe and healthy. :) please take care of yourselves and loved ones.

Until I see you again, remember that you are so very loved!

Jennifer

Happy Easter! :)

Coffee/Tea of the Day - Amaretto coffee

Good morning and Happy Easter! :) hoping that each of you is having a most amazing weekend so far and enjoying the blessings that surround you!

I have several photos to share with all of you, to hopefully brighten your day with a bit of spring.

To begin, I was recently inspired by a post by Sandy Allnock in which she drew a hopscotch game on the sidewalk in front of her home. I thought that was such a fun idea! We live on one of the main streets in our town, so our sidewalk is always filled with joggers, dog walkers, and people just celebrating being outside. So on one of our sunny days, I did the same thing, although not even close artistically to what she created! The neighbor girls came over several times to play hopscotch, which they had never played before. it was fun for their mom to teach them. :)

On another sunny day this past week, Dave and Palmer were in the front yard and took a photo of the precious spring flowers growing around one of our trees. I so love this one! I keep emphasizing 'sunny' days, because we have also had several days of snow and rain this week, with more on the way.

Lastly, I was able to get some cards made to send out to family, friends, and even our fabulous mail carrier. it took me several days to make them, even though they are simple. but I was so happy to craft! :)

One of the amazing artists that I follow on YouTube is Shawn Petite. both Dave and I love to watch her create. it's not only inspiring, but she has such a gentle way about her. She kindly shared the images from several Easter and Spring cards she recently made. I used those images, adding my own bit of shabbiness to each. The crochet trim is avocado dyed. and yes, I am adding avocado dyeing to my repertoire of  coffee and tea staining! :)

Shawn shares free downloads to those who subscribe to her newsletter. no cost to sign up, but be prepared to be inspired! Check out her store and blog, as well as her YouTube channel.

Thank you for your kind and encouraging comments, as well as stopping by for a cup of coffee!
Have a most beautiful day! remember that you are so deeply loved!
Jennifer

Happy One Year Anniversary!

Coffee/Tea of the Day - Gingerbread coffee

Hello! I hope that today finds each of you safe and healthy in this ever changing world. Remember that kindness, as always, matters. :)

One of our sons and his wife celebrated their one year anniversary yesterday. I waited to post to ensure that they had received their card in the mail. Dave is making something ever so spectacular for them in his workshop, also known as the garage!, but we don't have any way to get it to them since both of our states are currently under lock down orders. On a positive note, it gives us something to look forward to! :)

my energy for crafting is at a bare minimum, as it took me a full day to make this card, but oh goodness, did it ever feel good to get crafty!

I can't remember where on the internet that I found this vintage image, but it was just perfect for a one year anniversary card. I used my ink squirty tool in two shades of ink on it. goodness gracious, was that ever hard to do! last time I had cancer, my left arm stopped working. this time it's my right. it took all I had just to do that little bit of inking. sigh....

decorative papers are by Echo Park. I thought they were a bit too stark white, so I coffee dyed them! I love the vintage feel they took on! the little tissue paper border is a snippet from a package I received. yep, I really do re-purpose everything! ha! vintage buttons, ticket, and burlap/lace trim are from my stash. actually, Dave gave me two jars of gorgeous vintage buttons for Valentine's Day, and these are some of them. what a guy! :) gingham ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon.

I know that our lives are all topsy turvy right now, but there are still so many blessings to count. don't lose sight of the goodness that surrounds you! may you have health and peace in the midst of the turmoil.

with love to all of you,
Jennifer

Challenges:
ArtsyStamper - lots of layers
CreativFusion - love and happiness
Corrosive Ch - anything goes
A Place to Start - unconventional household item (coffee for dyeing and wrapping tissue paper)
2 Sisters on the Blog - dots and/or stripes (both on the two designer papers)
A Bit More Time to Craft - anything goes
Crafts Galore Encore - anything goes
Creatalicious - anything goes w/optional layer it up
A Vintage Journey - celebration (celebrating love & marriage, of course!, my precious family, feeling well enough in the midst of my health yuck to craft, and the many blessings in my life!)

Update and trying to get crafty

Coffee/Tea of the Day - Pumpkin Spice Hazelnut coffee (it's my go to comfort flavor!)

Hello and Happy weekend!
I apologize for my absence. still struggling with health issues, but finding joy in the beauty of each day. :) so many blessings to count!!!

when I feel well enough, I am attempting to put together my first journal. it is great fun! I have been coffee staining almost everything in sight, since I always have an abundance of coffee and grounds in my house! ha! ;)

I am still reading every day. that is an essential for me. also watching lots of movies. thank goodness for Netflix and VuDu! :) of course my favorite thing to watch is the wildlife outside my windows. The birds and other little critters are wonderful and can entertain for me hours....

I want to thank those of you who have left comments or sent emails inquiring about my health. you are so kind! I am not always able to respond, but your messages touch my heart.

My prayers are with everyone around the world as we deal with the coronavirus concerns. may calm minds and healing prevail.

much love to all of you and enjoy your weekend! :)
Jennifer

Wishing You a Happy New Year!

Coffee/Tea of the Day - Victorian Earl Grey tea

Sending wishes to each of you for a most Happy and Joyful New Year! :) May it overflow with blessings in abundance!

Thank you to those of you who have left such kind messages of support and comfort. Y'all are the best!
I am currently battling the flu on top of everything else, so I apologize that I haven't made it around to leave holiday greetings. hopefully this will move along in the next week, and I will be able to get a bit of computer time.

Love to everyone!
Jennifer