Love Blooms In Me

Chocolate Strawberry

While surfing the net today, I found a great blog called Lord Have Mercy. Mercy has a fun new layout on her blog. Check it out. IT was so easy to do and I think it turned out fine!

   

Fun! I got the paper from my LSS a while ago. It's from Sassafass. The strawberries are SU and I'm sorry I don't know who the verse is from. I do know it came from 1/2 off at HL. Need I say more!

Nothing new at the Bloom Zoo. Larry and Tina are planning a little get together for New Year's Eve. BB is not happy about going. He has to work until 7. I told him we'll just go for a little and wish everyone well. I really just want to see Madelyn anyhow!

I've been trying to make some cards, but I can't really get into the flow of it right now. It's that between season for me, and I did something to a nevre in my side the other day. I bent down to pick up something off the floor and thought I'd die right then. It's feeling some what better, but still sore. I've been catching up on the programs on my DVR before new things start next month.

I wish everyone a wonderful, happy, healthy New Year!

Quick NOte

Just wanting to take a minute to say hello and hope everyone had a great Christmas. On Christmas Eve Evan took us out for dinner and it was so pleasant. We ate at one of our favorite Mexican places and had some old favorites for dinner. Christmas Day Barry rested since he has to work straight until New Year's Day. I myself have been feeling a lot sorry for myself. The only after Christmas shopping I did was for a 1/2 Martha punch at WW. Not that I really need anything. I think I'm just feeling sorry for myself again! Can I tell you a secret? I'm tried. So very tried of this economy. I'm sick of the way it makes me feel. I'm sick of Barry's jobs being outsourced and FINALLY I'm sick of bill collecting calling me that don't even speak English!! That's the last straw! Oh well, such is life. I'm sure it will get better in the New Year. It just has too!

Never too early for a Valentine is it? I used a Whipper Snapper stamp I got last year at a stamp show. It still works just fine and notice the leaves on the flower? That's my new Holly punch from Martha I got on sale.

 

 

Isn't Mr Froggie a handsome toad? The idea came from the back of the HA package of stamps. I layered the gumdrops and the frog. Lots of glitter makes the old Basic Grey paper look great!

Have a wonderful New Year!

Let's Celebrate

 what we are thankful for this year!

I am so thankful that Barry is still Cancer free this year and is out of my hair for a few hours each day. I could be more thankful if he had a job in his field that paid him a salary we could live on, but I'm hopeful for the New Year.

I'm so thankful that Barry's parents are still doing well and living in Florida. We spoke with them last night and they sounded good. MIL got her cards and she loves them!

I'm thankful that my children are well and still employed. I'm thankful that I have the most beautiful Grandkids ever! Justin at 18 is SO tall and Madelyn is the prettiest ever!

And finally I'm thankful for my friends and family that care about me! It's a real joy to know that someone who isn't "suppose" to care about you does! My family is always there to care, but friends are a gift we give ourselves. I have been blessed with some many gifts. Old and new ones alike. I have a friend from way-back-when. CC and John are very special as is Laura and Hank. Then there are new friends like Gretchen and Fred who have because a special part of our family. We are truly blessed to have them all.

 

Warm wishes for this holiday season and a very Happy New Year! I'll see you in 2009! I'm taking a brake to enjoy the season!!

Friends

Here's to all my friends---Happy and A Healthy Holiday!

 

Spring Has Sprung for the Day

It's going to be 75 here in Dallas today! It's a long way from the cold, foggy, wet weather we had yesterday. We have a saying in Texas. If you don't like the weather, just wait a minute!! Very true in this case! By Sunday it's going to be in the low, low 30's again! Perfect weather to get sick in!

I finished up all my holiday shopping this morning. Not that it was much this year. It's really kind of sad, but I am comforted by the thoughts that we are kinda healthy, and rich with love and laughter when all the chickens come home to dinner on Sunday night. It's the first night of Hanukkah and Mom gets the joy of all the gang, including our friends Fred & Gretchen. I love having the tables full of family for the holidays!

 

Good news it that I'm selling cards, bad news is not for what I used to. It's better then the paper sitting on my desk, or under it, and not making any money. I love this layout. It's from a SCS layout a few weeks ago. It's perfect for using up some of those scraps laying all over. Basic Grey paper, Hero Arts verse, Stampin Up the swirl, and Martha butterfly punch.

I'm off to create a card or two today. Have a wonderful safe day and hurry back!

A Little Birdie Told Me

it's Winter in Texas!! OMG was it cold yesterday or what!!!! I had to go to the post office and almost froze my butt off! Ok, so that won't be all bad! An easy way to lose some weight. After stops at Hobby Lobby, for half price gift bags, and a trip to World Market, I hurried home to my nice warm house! I worked on some more cards yesterday. I feel a little more creative so I need to hop on it before the MOJO is gone again. Maybe it's heading to Florida for the winter!

 

This birdie card is going to be for sale, but it's going to be hard to part with. I really, really like how it turned out. I love using old sets of SU with newer things, like my new Spellbinder Label die cut. I'm really working on trying to use up some of those papers from the 6X6 Basic Grey pads I keep collecting.

 

I know, it looks alot like one of the cards I've already done this week, but it's much softer with these papers and I added a little birdie inside. Can you tell which set is sitting on my desk right now? This is the inside.

 

Stay warm and dry and hurry back!

Is It Monday?

With Barry off work yesterday it didn't seem like a normal Monday. I almost didn't even get the trash out in time! I didn't do the wash and barley got anything crafted! Well today he's working all day and I have a mission to do. I mailed Christmas cards to my MIL so she could give them to her friend who requested them. But when I spoke with her last night she said she could use some more birthday cards. Now this is the same woman who told me last week she was ok until January---that was before I mailed cards for her friend! Notice a pattern here?

 

I made this card with one of those little used SU sets that I had to have. It's makes a fun and really easy card. First I stamp out the presents on a piece of white card stock cut with my nesties. That way I get the placement I want. I love to have the presents floating out there. The presents were stamped and cut out on scrap white and then trimmed to fit! I have all these scrap pieces of paper from other cards laying around on my desk so I just found pieces that would work.

So, what are you up to today? Are you finished with your holiday cards? I need an idea for my gifts for my DIL and 18 year old grandson. I'm stumped! Yesterday Barry and I went to the Asian market to buy fruit. It's the best place, besides the Farmer's Market, and we picked up small size goodies for Larry. He loves to cook and we knew he'd love getting some of the jars and bottles of "stuff" we found. We even tea and cookies. Maddy gets crafty toys and Evan is getting a bottle of wine, but then I'm out of ideas. Since Hanukkah isn't until Sunday night, I have a few days to figure it out!

Hugs and blessing to you all!

 

Tea For Two or Three

It's my girlfriend Gretchen's fault that I have these new stamps! If she didn't call me and let me know that the stamp store on the other side of town had new Hero Arts stuff in I would have resisted for a little longer. I can blame the stamps on her, but the paper and the new nesties are a different story. I will take all the blame or credit for those! How can a person resist a sale on paper at 40% off? I am not one of them! All the paper pads are on sale at M's right now and so while Barry was away at work I couldn't resist playing. I got 2 Making Memories pads and some purple ribbon and it only cost me a few dollars. I still had a little left on my gift card and so for under 4.00 I shopped! I made up for it in the purchase of the new Spellbinders Label Two.

 

Didn't this card turn out cute? Did you know that if you click on the picture of the card you can see it in FULL size? Nice way to save a little space!

Barry is off today, but he's still cat napping so I have a little free time to myself. I told "self" to get my butt in gear, but "self" is still sitting on that BUTT!

Have a wonderful day and stay warm!

Is It Spring Yet?

If you read my blog yesterday instead of just looking at the picture (pretty as it was), I said I would show you a card I made this week that looks pretty Springy. On Black Friday I was at M's and they had all the pads of paper for 40% off and then I had an additional 25% off, so I bought a pad of Making Memories that I had been looking at just the week before. It's been out for several years, but I guess I didn't "need" it before, but when you have a chance at a bargain, you better get it! I stamped the bird out on a piece of yellow print and matted it on a piece of paper that looks like lace and then chose several others for the background. I found these buttons in a package at Wally World for .88! Yes, that's right, I got 250 spring color buttons at a bargain price!! So here is my card!

 

Barry has been off work for the last three days and now he's back today. I have a huge amount of time to myself. I do have to do some work around the house, but I have all day to do what I want. My friend Gretchen called yesterday to let me know that the stamp store had the new Hero Arts catalog in and some new stamps. Barry offered to drive me over. What a dear! I came home with some new goodies to play with. Several new HA spring sets and the new catty, along with a new copic marker and some heart shaped gems from HA. I used some of my PayPal money. Now I'd better sell all those cards on  ebay!

Have a great day and hurry back! 

Yea, The Weekend!

We've had Madelyn since yesterday afternoon, and now Grandma needs a nap!! Yes, I know, it's less then 12 hours, but she's a busy little girl!! She's eaten, crafted and watched TV. Now she's off to her Saturday morning gym class.

Pretty In Purple

 

I've had this scrap of paper on my desk and was trying to figure out a way to use it for Crhistmas cards. I love the way it turned out! The green paper is from SU as is all the card stock. The Snowman is from Penny Black. He's a very popular guy. I had more emails when I listed cards last week on ebay about the stamp then all the cards I had listed!! I'll be sorry to put away my Martha snowflake punch. I've gotten lots of use out of it.

So what are you up to this weekend? Getting your last minute shopping done? Gifts to finish making? I know lots of you don't have your cards finished. I'm done with making holiday cards. I'll make a few to send, but it's time to move on to something brighter. I have a card I made yesterday but I don't have a picture yet. Come back tomorrow and I'll show you a fun card using a Kim Hughes set of stamps. I love her work. Her stamps have nice clean bold lines.

Hugs and Kisses to you all!