Bella's Blog Hop

Coffee of the Day - Toasted Coconut


Welcome to my stop on Bella's blog hop! If you have arrived from the *FABBY BLOG OF SANDIE*, then you are right on track. If you lose your way at any time, then head back to the *WONDERFUL BLOG OF DENISE* to start.

Bella is an 8 year old girl who faced a very serious illnes back at Easter. When the prognosis didn't look promising, her fighting spirit overcame, but at a serious cost - she ended up with a quadruple amputation. Those of us partaking in these 4 weeks of blog hops are trying to encourage people in the crafting and blogging community to send cards of encouragement and 'thinking of you' themes to her. Please be sure to take a look at Bella's blog to learn more about this brave girl's story.

By leaving comments and sending cards, you can be entered to win prizes each week as well as the Grand Prize to be drawn on July 20. Prizes have been donated by The Stamping Boutique, Digital Delights by Louby Lou, Crissy Armstrong, Whiff of Joy, Whimsy Stamps, and many many others. For more information on the prizes and how to enter, please check out Erin's blog.

Mail cards to:

The Bella Tucker Fund
P.O. Box 199
Londonderry NH
03053 USA

Since I hadn't been feeling too well this week after my MIL's visit, I didn't have the chance to make a new card to send off to Bella. But seeing that Whimsy Stamps is one of the prize providers, I decided that this adorable lamb stamp on my all-pink card would be just the thing to make a young girl smile, well at least I hope so! This is one of my fave cards I made in the short time I was blessed to serve with the Whimsy Challenge DT. It is a gate fold card using Basic Grey Two Scoops papers. Pretty floral buttons and a Prima all tied up with soft yarn should convey thoughts of love and prayers. The lamb is covered in rock candy distress stickles, too, for a subtle shimmery shine. and my card has already gone postal! :)

Come back again next week for another card by me, as well as some blog candy I am offering. Now hop on over to *JENNI'S PHENOM BLOG*!!!


p.s. here is the link on Erin's blog for the Grand Prize info. please - let us fill Bella's mail box with lots and lots of wonderful cards!

Daddys are Heroes

Coffee of the Day - Texas Turtle in honor of my MIL visiting from San Antonio (TX Turtle is a mix of chocolate, caramel, & pecans for those of you who have previously asked. quite yummy!)

If it's Wednesday, then you know it has to be time for a new challenge with Isabella's Sketchbook! and this week the theme is near and dear to my heart - honoring our fathers.


I have been blessed many times over in my life in the area of fathers. My Daddy was not only my father, but he was my hero, a man admired in our community wherever that happened to be, and someone who's legacy lives on long past the time he was granted in this world. My boys know him probably better than they do their other grandfather, even though only Tyler met him. David still talks about him routinely. I still dream about him at least several times a week, and he has been gone almost 18 years now. Even after I was married, we still spoke on the phone at least a few times a week. When I was growing up for a long time, it was just the 2 of us. We endured things most people could never fathom or comprehend. But we survived. and he was my hero - still is and always will be. He taught me to look at life with a sense of humor, even if it might be a little twisted sometimes! ;) So he might be gone, but this card was made for him. We spent many wonderful times at the beach, which is why I chose this sandcastle image. and heroes don't always ride on white horses, sometimes they drive an old Cutlass and wear a cowboy hat........

the sentiment is from TLC Creations. the bg piece is actually a small bit of fabric I came across & frayed the edges. buttons by the shell are vintage. I used the water distressing technique on all cs edges.

Words of Wisdom from the Brave Girl Club....

Coffee of the Day - Toasted Coconut mixed with Butter Rum - oh it is TASTY!!!

I have in the past few days been introduced to a wonderful new group called the Brave Girl Club. My dream would be to one day go on one of these retreats, but until then, I am truly loving these daily emails I receive. The stamp set is next on my wish list. it is gorgeous!!! If after reading this post you, too, are interested in finding out more about this group, please click here to go to their website. Click here to subscribe to their newsletter. May you also find the courage to be who you really are created to be! :)

I wanted to share today's with all of you. It is just glorious!

Dear Gorgeous Girl,
It's a big life in a big world with big possibilities. One of the wonderful
things about all of this is that what might seem like the end....

....is actually the beginning.

Change is hard and endings are difficult and saying goodbye is painful....but
it is all part of a big life in a big world with big possibilities, and every
change, every ending and every goodbye is a step towards new and exciting things.

Every change, every ending and every goodbye is also proof of incredible
experiences that if nothing else, taught us more about ourselves and others.

We can also look back and be thankful, no matter what happened or how we "thought"
things might turn out....things turn out always exactly as they are meant to.

As the old saying goes; "Don't cry because it's over...smile because it happened"
and know that happy and amazing things are ahead for you. Your best years have not
even happened yet!

xoxo

ISO Stampin' Up refills.......

Coffee of the Day - Creme Brulee

Good morning! I hope all of you are having a glorious day! the sun is shining so beautifully in the sky here, the birds are just chirping away, and it is as lovely as you could possibly ask for. :)

Most of you know that I do almost all of my coloring for my creations with Stampin' Up! inks. When I heard that they were retiring many of their colors, I put together a small order of reinkers and contacted my demonstrator. She didn't want to put an order in at the time and said she would place it sometime in June. I told her then that I was worried about items selling out, but never heard back. Well Monday I went to the SU! website and checked. Yep, most of what I wanted had already sold out. what a disappointment. Yesterday hubby and I placed a small order for what was still available. He told me that I could check out whatever outlets I needed to in order to track down these last colors. Unfortunately, SCS won't allow any ISO threads to open until the new catty officially opens next month. I haven't found any EBay auctions for these yet, but will get started looking.

So dear bloggers I am coming to you in case any of you are parting with some of these refill colors. Please let me know and I can get payment out to you. I sure do appreciate any help you can offer. Even partial bottles will work. :) thanks!

Mellow Moss
Pixie Pink
Sage Shadow
Cameo Coral
Gable Green

Now on to why I am leaving my blog - it isn't a big reason and yet I guess it kinda is. It has nothing whatsoever to do with my health. I am actually feeling pretty good right now, knock on wood! and I must say that after talking this over with David, he is very happy for the choice I am making. He doesn't in any way want me to stop crafting. He has actually offered to take my cards to various stores to see if they will sell them. Isn't that so sweet of him?! what a hunny bunny! :)

No, instead there are just some not so pleasant folks who have been letting me know for quite a while that my blog is not effective and I have minimal crafting talent. I realize that in life we will always come across nay-sayers, but this is something I do for my pleasure, for my stress-release, and for what I thought was for sharing a bit of God's love with other people. I find that having to constantly deal with the negative aspect has begun to diminish the joy I find in blogging.

I will continue to craft and visit SNR, PCP, and the new digi group, Crafter's Digital Art. I will continue to shop my little heart out at my favorite digi shops like Isabella's, Squigglefly, The Stamping Boutique, Mo's, KPink, and Shirleys 2 Girls (to name only a few of my many faves!). But because I won't have a blog, I have to leave my DTs. There are many talented people who serve on these teams, and I hope you will visit them often.

My love and thanks go out to each one of you. I hope you will still visit here in these next few weeks.
Jennifer

A Sketchy with Isabella's Sketchbook

Coffee of the Day - Texas Turtle

Thank you for the nice comments about my blog from yesterday. I will miss all of you, without a doubt! I will still be crafting, just not blogging.

A new challenge begins over at Isabella's Sketchbook today - a sketch. I have turned it on its side for my card. I also was inspired by a card I saw by Melissa Philips. She is truly a wonder at all she creates, and I love to just gaze through her blog.

I have loved this fun coffee and chocolate digi from the moment Isabella first released it. I thought it perfect for this fun sketch. Most of the supplies for today's project come from Making Memories Vintage Findings line. The flower is a pretty little Prima, buttons that are tied onto the bow are vintage, and shimmerz was painted onto the bow of the image as well as the raised areas of the chipboard frame. I used a gold glitter gel pen to add some highlights to the cup and saucer.

I hope that you will not only play along with us this week, but also visit the other members of the DT to see what amazing things they have created. These women have so much talent!!! :)

All Good Things Must Come to an End......

Coffee of the Day - Vanilla Macadamia


..... and so as the month of June ends, so will my blog. It has been a grand and glorious ride! I thank you all! :)

A Melon Thanks with Squigglefly

Coffee of the Day - Toasted Coconut - no more icky coffee, hooray!!!

I have to start by saying thank you to every one of you who has encouraged me through this bittersweet time of Mick's graduation. It means so much to both of us that you stopped and left comments as well as emailed. You will be glad to know that I made it through the ceremony with flying colors! :) The only time I got a bit teary was during the Senior song, 'We Are One'. He is now a graduate, and I couldn't be more proud! God carries Mick close, as He always has and always will. Of that I have complete faith.

Today starts a new challenge over on the Squigglefly blog, and the theme is Picnic Time - use any kind of food image on your creation. I chose to use this cute new Shy Bear created by Lynne Stansbery called Swellin' with Melon. I paired it with an assortment of papers from the Basic Grey Lemonade collection. Had to stick with the theme now, didn't I?! grins! I also added this fun sentiment by Chesney Young. Added a big fluffy bow, Prima flower, some buttons, a Making Memories butterfly, punched butterfly, and paper pieced sun. I used my white gel pen to draw in some faux stitching. This is sized to fit into a legal envie. The watermelon seeds and bear's nose were covered with crystal effects to help them have a bit more definition.

Play along if you get the chance. and stop by to see what the other DT members have created!

Kisses for for my heart... he graduates today.....

Coffee of the Day - last day of instant! Alleluia!!!

Oh my goodness, I am going to try to get through this post without rivers of tears, but won't make any promises.

My friend Annika introduced me to a wonderful digi artist whose store is called A Day for Daisies. WOW! just beautiful images in her store!!! As soon as I saw this one, I knew I had to have it. It so reminded me of the times when the boys were babies and I would hold them, oh so tight. The image is called 'Kisses', appropriately. The card took me forever to finish, not because it is complicated, on the contrary, but instead because I kept crying and had to stop to wipe away the tears.

My precious Mick graduates from high school tonight. I am so very very proud of him. He has done so well. Everything about him just makes me love him more with each passing day. That is why it will be so very hard when he leaves for college this fall. I know with each beat of my heart that God holds Mick tight in His arms and directs every single step he takes. But I feel as if he is taking my heart with him. We have spent his lifetime getting him ready for this point. Tyler is leaving at the same time, so that is what is making this twice as tough. So it is what this graduation stands for - our lives are changing, forever changing. and I have to remember that this change is not bad. But I will miss them and I will never be the same again.

And so today, I will remember those beautiful baby kisses. and I will know that they are tucked away in my heart where they will never be forgotten. The seasons may change, but the heart remembers. and God brings comfort and love.

It is a Pink Saturday! Glory Be!!! :)

Coffee of the Day - instant, instant, I don't think my kitchen is ever going to be finished and I will have to dream of good coffee.......

Good morning! Happy Pink Saturday to you! I just love Pink Saturdays! I spend all week looking forward to them. and I have wonderful news to share with you also - I have been asked to re-join the DT of Crafts 4 Eternity full time by Michele, the lovely owner! So I will combine these 2 posts each and every week! woooo hooooo! Michele was so gracious when I had to leave the team due to my many icky illnesses. But I am back with a vengeance! Hear me roar with pinkness and my tiara! :)

My card today uses another of the wonderful images from KPink, my friend Kristen Powers. Our niece Ellen, recently graduated from high school, and I thought this digi would make the most wonderful non-traditional graduation card. She lives in San Antonio, and we have missed out on her growing up years, but hopefully she will know that we love her just the same when she sees this card. She is the sister of Wesley, the one many of you prayed for this past fall. He has done marvelously by the way, and just graduated from college himself a few weeks ago. We couldn't be more proud at how he overcame the cancer and would not for one moment let it beat him. What a trooper. That family is amazing! and we are blessed indeed to know them; bonus to be related to them!

The challenge for this week is to follow the sketch, use flowers, and flourishes. My paper comes from K & Co. Wild Raspberry. You will see that flowers grow throughout the papers as well as this inspiring image that Kristen has drawn. The flowers on the main image have been painted with shimmerz, of course. ;) I added some fun buttons from Making Memories, vintage lace, a square doily, and flourishes punched with a neat EK Success border punch. I do hope that you will play along with all of us. and check out what the rest of the C4E DT has created with this fun sketch!

I hope your day is filled to overflowing with as much pink as your heart can find! and may you know that you are loved with an everlasting love that surpasses all! YOU are the best!

What's Black & White and Red All Over? :)

Coffee of the Day - more yummy instant...... oh I will be happy once the tiling project in the kitchen is finished! :)

Okay, I couldn't resist....... as I was growing up, black & white jokes were as numerous as the grains of sand on the beach...... (yep, I am leading up to my card in a really shameless way). and I loved each and every one of those jokes. my dad and I traveled all the time, so my constant companions were books: joke books, science books, and Little House on the Prairie books. and we would sing, too, while we drove. but we'll save that for another post. ;)

So starts another fun challenge with Isabella's Sketchbook - make a black & white creation. your main image can have color, but everything else must be black and white only. The DT have, as always, come up with some wonderful cards. and just as unique & beautiful as each person! Please be sure to check them all out! and play along with us, too! you have the chance to win some fun images from Isabella's store. by the way...... she has a neat freebie in the store itself if you go take a looksie!

For my card, I used several of the shells and this beautiful lady called 'Reflections on the Beach.' I printed some neat vintage beach poster images that I found over at Clearly Vintage and used those for part of my bg. Papers are an assortment from those sent to me by my special friends Kate at i {heart} papers and Melissa. I added in some vintage buttons (love the one with the rhinestone center!) and a big bow with May Arts ribbon. it's hard to see, but right above the bow is a velvet lily by Making Memories. I plan to give this to my MIL for her birthday. The shells have been covered with opal shimmerz and then crystal effects. Shimmerz was painted on the belt buckle as well as the bow on her hat.

Again, please be sure to take a looksie at all of the gorgeousness created by the DT. then make your own black and white beauty to play along!

Exciting News and Blog Hop Winners!

Coffee of the Day - instant dissolved in milk 'cause the stove is in the dining room since hubby re-tiled the kitchen this weekend. hey, I was DESPERATE! :)

I have wonderful blog candy news which I am sure is most important to y'all, so I will get to that first. the rest can be for those of you who are gluttons for punishment..... giggles!

• The winner of the Pink Saturday prize is - PEGGY R.!!!!
• The winner of the Memorial Day prize is - Debbie @ Debbie Dabble!!!

Ladies, please contact me with your snail mail addy's so that I may get these out to you pronto quickly!

Now on to the rest of my post......

I have received the most wonderful honor of having 2 scrapbook pages published in the July issue of Scrap & Stamp Arts magazine! They have done an article on digi stamping, and my pages along with 3 cards done by Holly Young are part of the article. We used images from Squigglefly for our creations.

My first page you have seen before. I didn't know they were going to use this page, so had gone ahead and posted to my blog. Unfortunately there was a mistake with the information they used for credit below the page, so it will be printed again in the Sept. issue I have been told. The photo is from a trip David and I took last fall to Chagrin Falls. you can find it here on my blog. Lots of the vintage buttons & lace I love so much, as well as an old millinery flower. The digi frame by Rich Davis was printed onto acetate and then colored on the reverse side with Sharpie markers. I used glue dots to adhere right over the photo. Papers are My Mind's Eye.

The next page features my handsome boys! The pix were taken at the Spring Choir Concert last year, "That 70's Show." The 3 of them had a solo on the song, "Seven Bridges Road". Oh my stars, was I ever so proud of them!!!! The cute turtle digi comes from Tracey Malnofski, who you also know from The Stamping Boutique. I used paper piecing on this page. Glitter pens accent. Papers are Basic Grey Lime Rickey, cut into strips for a bargello effect. Flowers are Prima.

Ever since the mag came out, they have become super-stars at school and work. Because they have their pic in a mag that can be bought at the grocery store right next to all of the other 'teen' magazines, the boys have become celebrities. Ryan, our youngest, was taken out by a bunch of girls to a movie and dinner. Mick, our middle son who is graduating next week, went on a big solo movie date to celebrate since appearing in print. and Tyler, our oldest, just blows it all off, but the calls are coming in. It is a riot to watch them. now understand this has absolutely NOTHING to do with Mom and EVERYTHING to do with them! grins!

everyone have a great day and we will see you tomorrow! love ya!