Farewell 2014

This post is going to be one of those "LIFE" posts, nothing really crafty today.  It's a little tribute and reminder to myself of what 2014 had in store for me and my family, and maybe some hope that 2015 will be full of family, fun and some miracles.

Some years I find that I'm glad to leave the old behind and look forward to the new.....this coming year, I'm a little bit unsure of what it will bring. In some ways, hopefully it will be the best year yet....in other ways, it might be one of my hardest yet.

Some highlights from 2014:

                                   My daughter and step-daughter both graduated high school. Yay!!

Ashlie and her friends graduated from Seminary.
                 

My son graduated from the LVMPD, so proud of him!

We welcomed a grand baby into the family.  My step-daughter and her husband had a little boy who just couldn't wait to get here and was two months premie....he stayed in the NICU for almost two months and is now home and weighing almost 8 lbs.  He's a little fighter and such a wonderful little guy! 

 

The first total family picture we've had taken in years and may be the last one where we have everyone together at the same time.

Thanksgiving 2014.  

One month earlier, we found out that my mom was diagnosed with ALS.  It was a pretty devastating diagnosis.  We had a family friend pass away from this disease about 25 years ago and it terrifies my mom to know that this is her journey right now.  We figure at this time she is at least a year into her symptoms.  We don't know how much time she has, how fast she will progress with this disease or how bad it will get.  As of right now, she is still functioning almost normally.  She does have issues with her speech, it almost sounds like she's had a stroke, and it's hard for her, she sometimes stumbles and slurs her words.  She also has uncontrollable sobbing fits, which frustrates and embarrasses her, she also is feeling weaker and fatigue, sometimes has problems with choking and breathing.  She is 65 years young, and the sweetest person I've had the pleasure of knowing.  I wish this wasn't her path, but am grateful for the time we have.  I think this has really rallied our family together, we've always been pretty close, but this just makes the time we have together a little more precious. 

This is only ONE of the many family pictures we took and the only one I have access too, the others are on my daughters computer and she is in TX right now.....but I think this captures us perfectly!!  

We have a pretty small family, just me and my sister as far as siblings go.  I have my two kids and my sister has her four.  We have a possible new member of the family....my son brought his darling girlfriend ( the cute redhead in the stripped sweater) to meet us for the first time and we all really love her and hope in time she becomes a permanent part of the family. We can all be pretty goofy and not take ourselves too seriously, often times we have laughing fits at ourselves.  We are all dorks and we totally embrace all of our dorkiness! 

Also, another somewhat devastating situation is with my sister.  The cute dark haired one on the left....she has what they thought was colon cancer and had surgery, they found out that it wasn't cancer, but a symptom of her stage 4 endometriosis, and she also has possible kidney cancer.  She still has tests that need done and second opinions. Lots of prayers being said for her and her family.  

Two of the most important women in my life and we are facing some hard battles ahead.  My sister is my rock and my mom is just there for me whenever I need anything.  Now, it's my turn to be there for them, for whatever they need and to be strong for them.  I'm SO grateful for our family, for the amazing parents, sister, brother-in-law, husband, kids, nieces and nephews.  

This is what life is all about.  FAMILY.  And I love mine with all my heart.

So, no matter what 2015 brings, with the help of family, God, our beliefs and each other, we will get through and we will be stronger.  

2015 BRING IT!!

Warm Wishes

I finally got this cute little guy on a card, he's been colored up for a few weeks, and I found a cute sketch over at From the Heart Stamps, I used a new embossing folder from Darice-snowflakes, I lightly ran my ink pad across the top to make  the snowflakes stand out and inked the edges as well.  The black stitched circle is a die from My Favorite Things, the sentiment is from Some Odd Girl, the snowflake die is from Lawn Fawn and the enamel dots are gumdrops from Your Next Stamp. 

I would like to enter the following challenges:
+Loves Rubber Stamps-ATG

A Birdbrain Christmas

I've been playing with the challenges over at From the Heart Stamps, they have a stamp of the month freebie that you can get if you continually play along.  I just love this fun image.....I love all the birdbrain images, they are just unique, funky and quirky.  So I finished this one yesterday and is the last Christmasy project I will work on....until next year that is.  

I used copics, spellbinder dies, chevron background stamp on the red paper and some green ribbon.  

I would like to enter the following challenges:

+From the Heart-Sketch: top 3
+From the Heart-Stamp of the Month
+Loves Rubber Stamps-ATG

Thinking of You.....

Happy Day after Christmas!  I hope everyone had a great holiday, mine was fairly quiet, just the husband and myself. My parents are with my sister in Eden Utah and my daughter went to Vegas and then Texas with her dad and his family to see the Grandparents.  

I got up super early this morning....6:30 and went shopping.  I'm not sure what in the heck I was thinking, cuz I hate shopping and crowds, but I've picked up some good deals on gift wrap, containers, etc....and then JCPenny had to be open early with doorbusters...I picked up four shirts and a cardigan.  Happy early Birthday to me!! 

Now I'm having a Lord of the Rings marathon while I'm getting some coloring and card making done....I tell ya, it's the perfect day!!  :D

I created this card using an image from CC Designs, it's a freebie on their FB page with a coloring contest to go along with it.  I colored her up with copics and used some dies from CC Designs (the banner and border) the Hearts are from Lawn Fawn, the sentiment is a rub-on from Pebbles in my Pocket. 

I hope you all have a great day and enjoy the upcoming weekend!!!

I would like to enter the following challenges:

+My Favorite Things-based off sketch #208

+Loves Rubber Stamps-ATG

Merry Christmas!!

 I just want to wish my family, in real life friends and all the wonderful friends I have met in blogland a very Merry Christmas season.  May you be happy, healthy and safe.

I'm sharing this absolutely amazing video by The Piano Guys.  I just love them and their music, plus they are local to my town and I went to school with Paul and my good friend's son works with them.  It's magic to watch them and the joy and passion that they have for their music, this video totally gives me chills everytime I watch it!  I hope you enjoy!!

Merry Christmas Polar Bear style!

....and here is the last card I finished this weekend.  I love it when I have time to color and complete a card all in the same day!

Again, I used this adorable image from Drawn with Character, the Etsy shop can be found HERE.

I colored with copics, the pattern paper is from a 6x6 Christmas pad ( I'll have to check on the company) the snowflake is a die from Lawn Fawn and the banner is part of the Blueprints 13 from My Favorite Things, a little twine and a bling gem to finish it off.  

 

I would like to enter the following challenges:
+My Favorite Things-sketch


My Favorite Things-Color palette
+Simon Says Stamp-Winter Inspiration
+Loves Rubber Stamps-ATG
+{PIN}spirational Challenge-Photo inspiration
Whimsy Inspiration-ATG

Merry Christmas, penguin style

I'm sharing another card that I finished over the weekend and I used this totally adorable penguin from Drawn with Character...you can find the Etsy shop HERE

I would like to enter these challenges:

+My Favorite Things-color palette
+Loves Rubber Stamps-ATG
+Simon Says Stamp-Winter Inspiration
 +Your Next Stamp

Warm & Cozy

Happy Sunday! 

I had some time to color and craft this weekend and got a few cards done, this first one that I'm sharing is using an image from Whimsie Doodle, it's in the freebie section, so if you want to grab it, you can find it HERE!

I used the sketch from Sugar Pea Designs and a tag from my stash that I've had FOREVER! Love using up my supplies!  I added the sentiment , the Merry Christmas is washi tape, added some ribbon, twine, faux stitching and that's about it!  I love the clean and simple sketch and usually tend to keep my cards simple as well.

Hope you like! :)

I would like to enter the following challenges:

+Whimsie Doodle-Celebrate the Holidays -won digi
+Sugar Pea Designs-sketch


+Loves Rubber Stamps-ATG
+Simon Says-winter inspiration
Whimsy Inspiration-ATG

Hang in There

Hello to everyone in blogland, hope you are having a wonderful mid-week day!  

How are your holiday preparations going? Do you celebrate? Do you bake up a storm?  Shop and be done early, or wait until the last moment?  Me....I kind of do both, I do what I can as early as I can, but still find myself waiting until the last minute to finish things up.....procrastination and I have a complicated relationship  :/

However, one thing that is not complicated is our challenge over at  A RANDOM FAN- it's Anything Goes, see.....super easy.  So make a project and share with us, we'd love to see what you've been working on!

I used this adorable image called Hanging On, colored her with copics, the tree corner is an SVG cut from Miss Kate Cuttables and the butterflies are from a Martha Stewart punch, I also distressed the background for some sky effect.

If you any of you are having a hectic/crazy time, then this card is for you!! :D

I would like to enter the following challenges:

+Loves Rubberstamps:ATG
+Creative Card Crew-ATG
+Simon Says Stamp-ATG
+Treasured Times Rubber stamps-ATG
+Sister Act Card Challenge-ATG
Whimsy Stamps-ATG
+Kraftin Kimmie-ATG
Sugar Pea Designs-ATG
+MarkerPop-ATG

Playtime Winter Penguin

I used this cutie image from 2 Cute Ink to make this card for the FB challenge, I colored with copics, used paper from the Moments and Memories 6x6 pad from Carta Bella, the snowflakes are from Lawn Fawn, the gumdrops are from Your Next Stamp and the heart is Lawn Fawn, the sentiment is from Some Odd Girl.  You can find this cute image in the 2 Cute Ink shop HERE

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

+Little Red Wagon-Snowflakes
Loves Rubberstamps-Christmas or Winter
+Eureka Stamps-ATG or Snow
+Sugar Pea Designs-Winter Wishes

Magical Winter Wishes

Hello everyone in blogland, happy Wednesday to ya!!  I hope today finds you all happy and healthy!

I'd like to share a card I made using this fabulous image from Kraftin Kimmie called Pompom Fairy, the winter fairies over at Kraftin Kimmie's are all so fabulous, but this is the one I purchased and just LOVE her.  The set comes with 3 sentiments, I used one of them for this card.

  I used some older pattern papers, some new dies (to me)  from C.C. Designs (icicles) and Lawn Fawn (snowflakes & hearts) and then some spellbinders (frames) I used gumdrops from Your Next Stamp on the centers of the snowflakes, colored with copics, added some distress ink in Antique Linen and some stickles to the icicles and snowflakes.  I added a little bit of lace as well.  

I would like to enter into the following challenges:

+Kraftin Kimmie FB GD contest

+Sugar Pea Designs-Winter Wishes

Open-Minded Crafting Fun-Unusual Christmas (hope this counts)

  + Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Sparkle and bling (glitter on ice, snowflakes and wings)
                                                         +MarkerPop-Winter/Christmas
                                             Just Inspirational Challenge-Things With Wings
                                                   + Loves Rubberstamps-Christmas or Winter
                                              + Delightful Challenge-Twinkle Twinkle (add something sparkly)
                                                   Kraftin Kimmie Stamps-Wednesday challenge ATG

Hugs

I used this darling image from Little Miss Muffet Stamps called Jr Hatter-Dorothea, I used paper from a new 6x6 pad Carte Bella's Moments and Memories line.  The hearts are dies from Lawn Fawn and the sentiment is from a clear stamp set from Jillibean, Irish Farm House Soup

I used the sketch from +Sweet Sketch Wednesday and would like to enter that challenge as well as the following challenges:


Little Miss Muffets-ATG
Whimsy Stamps Challenge-ATG
+Kraftin Kimmie FB GD contest

Happy Holidays

I just love this cute image called Mischievous from A RANDOM FAN, our new challenge is Christmas Time, and we hope you head on over and join the fun!

I colored with copics, the sketch is from Sketch Saturday, the snowflakes are from Lawn Fawn, stitched snowflakes, I just got these in the mail and LOVE them!!

I would like to enter the following challenges:
+Sketch Saturday
+Kit N Clowder-Christmas
Sugar Pea Designs- Winter Wishes
+Simon Says Monday Challenge-Holiday Cards
+MarkerPop-Winter/Christmas
+Kraftin' Kimmie-Christmas

Angel Joy

Here is my card with the image ANGEL JOY, she is a progressive freebie over at From The Heart Stamps. I used the sketch and color inspiration from Your Next Stamp challenge and the gumdrops are from YNS also.  I kept the design simple and closely followed the sketch.

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:

+From the Heart-Monthly freebie challenge

+Your Next Stamp-challenge #2

+Whimsie Doodles-Merry & Bright

+The Pink Elephant-ATG

Suzie and Snowman

So I grabbed this cutie freebie image from the Treasured Times Rubber Stamps FB page and got her done just in time to enter the challenge.  The image is designed by Erica Nicomedi.  I also colored her up with the colors to go with the My Favorite Things color palette #11.  The colors are grey, red, blue and green. 

Here is my copic list

REDS: R22,29,39,59 C5

Black: C1,3,5,7,9

Green:leaves, G67,94,99  scarf: YG03,06,09

Blue:B00,02,05

Orange: YR14,18,68

snowman, BG70,72

shading with C1,3,5

I hand cut the tree, used some super old paper from my stash (green pattern paper)

used my Heidi Swapp chevron stamp on the red, Hero Arts ribbon ladder stamp for the border around the girl and snowman, banner is from MFT Blueprints #13, a border punch and a doily.  

I would like to enter the following challenges:

+My Favorite Things-Color Challenge 11

+Kit N Clowder-Christmas

+Crafty Catz-Winter Theme

+Christmas Stamping -ATG Christmas

+Christmas at Sweet Stampin-Snowpeople

+Little Red Wagon-Layers

Sugar Pea Designs-Winter Wishes

Kraftin Kimmie-Wonderful Wednesday ATG

Oceans of Love

Sharing a card made with the Seaside Wishes stamp set from Sugar Pea Designs, LOVE this set and have used the sentiments and little accents on several cards, this is the first one using the little girl and I just think she is adorable....as are all SPD images.

I colored with copics, masked the girl and used distress ink on the background, I added white sharpie to the waves and glossy accents to the shells and crab.  I also used the stitched rectangle from My Favorite Things Blueprints, I inked the sentiment with distressed ink as well to tie in the touch of yellow on her sand pail.  

 I used the sketch over at Sugar Pea Designs and would like to enter the following challenges:

+Sugar Pea-Sketch


+Crafter's Cafe Challenge: ATG
+Penny's Challenge #204-ATG
+Through the Craft Room Door -ATG

Happy Holidays-penguin style

This week over at A Random Fan we are showcasing this adorable image called Christmas Decor and you can find it HERE.

  I've always loved penguins, as a teenager I had 4 huge penguins painted on my bedroom walls along with some art deco type images. I just think they are so cute and so fun to watch. So to give a shout out to all those cute little guys and gals out there hopping around and slappin each other upside the head.....please enjoy!! ;)

I would like to enter the following challenges:

+Party Time Tuesdays-ATG

+Delightful Challenges-Happy Holidays

+Creative Card Crew-Stripes

+Crafty Calendar Challenge-It's all about Christmas

Life's a Beach!

Here is Scuba-Ollie, you can find him HERE .  I kept him CAS too, tore the kraft paper for sand and used the crab and sentiment from Sugar Pea Designs Seaside Wishes set.  I used the same copic colors as the image on the post below.

I would like to enter the following challenges for LIFE'S A BEACH:
                                               
                                                      + Art Impressions: Zoo or Animal
                                                     Southern Girls Challenge- For the boys
                                                   + Inky Impressions Challenge-Animals
                                                    +   Digi Choosday-CAS
                                                          + Papertake Weekly-2 or 4 legs

Hogs N Kisses

Look how cute these pigs are from Whimsie Doodles!  I love this cute little piggy couple.  I put them each on their own card, with their own theme and went with a smaller size.  The card base is 4 1/4 x 4 1/4 and I kept them as CAS as I could.  

I colored her with copics using R000, 01, 02, 11, 22, her suit and bow are YG03, 25, 29, and W1, 3 for shading.

The border is a stamp that I stamped the image about six times and pieced them together to fit the edges, printed out the sentiment and the dots are a white sharpie....first time I've used one and I LOVE it!!  Photo corner is a die that is so old I can't remember the brand.

This image is called Pig-Kini and you can find her HERE

I would like to enter the following challenges for HOGS N KISSES:

+Art Impressions-Zoo or Animal 

+Inky Impressions-Animals-Top 3

+Digi Choosday-CAS

+Papertake Weekly-2 or 4 legs

Winter Wonderland at A Random Fan

We are up with another challenge over at A Random Fan and the theme is WINTER WONDERLAND, 

I used the Winter Kiss image and colored with copics.  

Other supplies used: washi, pattern paper, Christmas picks in various colors, wooden circle frame, spellbinder frame die.  Sentiment is from Some Odd Girl, Ski Bunny clear stamp set.

I would like to enter the following challenges:

+The Paper Nest Dolls:ATG  TOP 3
A Creative Romance-Winter Warmers
+C.R.A.F.T-Winter-winner
+Cute Card Thursday-Stripes
+Delightful Challenge-Pattern Paper
+Scrap Creations-Sparkle
Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps-ATG using any stamp
Little Miss Muffet Stamps-ATG

Coloring=Therapy

Just had to share my colored version of CC Designs image called Futuristic Willow.....I bought a new 6x6 paper pad from Target by American Crafts, it has fun pink and green neon with some gold, some navy floral, some stripes, dots and chevrons, so many cute papers.  I chose the neon pink and green with touches of gold to match the paper and color this image.  The gold is hard to see, but it's on her uniform, gloves, and tops of her boots.

I don't ever know how an image is going to turn out when coloring, if I picked the right colors, if my colors are going to blend well and not gunk up, if I can get the hair to turn out semi-decent....but overall, I find coloring to be very relaxing and therapeutic.  I have a stack of colored images that honestly I don't know if I will ever do anything with.....maybe they will end up in my copic journal...or maybe an art journal...if I can ever get one!

Stop, smell the flowers and say HI!!

I got this card done for a couple challenges, the image is called Rory Fairy  from Kith and Kin, I colored her during a color along with Alyce from Kit and Clowder a few months back and am just now getting her on a card.

I tend to leave off a sentiment until I know who and what occasion I will need it for, sometimes, I will just put something simple that can later be added to.

I used Broken China distress paint on a dot foam stamp, added a bunch of flowers I've had forever, punched a couple leaves, added a little tag and stamped HI, and added some stickles to the edges of the flower and all along the edge of the image.  

After looking at this for a couple days, I decided I didn't like the pink panel and took it off...much better!! 

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Little Miss Muffets-Use a bear or fairy

A Bushel of Thanks

Just getting this one in under the wire before I head out with my daughter to hand out candy for Halloween!  Hope you all have a fun and safe holiday!!

This is the freebie stamp over at From the Heart Stamps called Apple Market, love those little kittens, so cute!!

I would like to enter the following challenges

From the Heart-Monthly challenge

Warm Wishes

 Happy Wednesday!! Does it just seem like the days and weeks are flying by?  Holy Cow!  It just seems like yesterday and it was Oct 1, and now we are at the end, there are even countdowns now to Christmas.  I really don't like that....let me get through one holiday at a time, too much all at once just drives me crazy!  For me, my Christmas list will still be there the third week of December, so reminding me starting in October isn't going to get me shopping any sooner!  :/

Anyways, I'm done with my little rant and wanted to share this cutie little image from A RANDOM FAN, it's called SNOWMAN and FRIENDS and is for the new challenge which is RED, WHITE & GREEN.

I used the sketch from +Sketch Saturday, colored with copics, added some snowflakes and pattern paper and the sentiment is from Some Odd Girl.  Hope you will come join us and share your talent with us over at A RANDOM FAN!



I would like to enter the following challenges along with the Sketch Saturday challenge:

+Party Time Tuesdays-ATG
+Simon Says Stamp-Wednesday challenge -ATG
MarkerPop-ATG
The Pink Elephant-ATG
+Cupcake Inspiration-colors red/green/black-SWEET 6
+Christmas Card Challenge-Christmas or Winter
+Kraftin Kimmie Stamps-Let it Snow-winner
+Treasured Time Stamps-ATG

Thank you x2

I made up a couple of  Thank You cards for my daughter to send out.  She has done observation in several classrooms for one of her college classes and wanted to send out a thank you note.  Why did she not make the cards you may ask???  I asked her the same question and it's always "you can do it better than I can", kind of like a sandwich that tastes better when someone else makes it....I guess!!  Anyway, here are a couple that I got done today and I still have 2 more left to do.

She observed a dance class and a PE class, the PE teacher also being the football coach.....hence the football image.

The ballerina image is from Bugaboo
The Football Birdbrain image is From the Heart Stamps

I used the sketch over at Tuesday Morning Sketch for the football card

I used the sketch over at Deconstructed Sketch #174 and flipped it

Summer Scent-digi promo

Happy Wednesday bloggy friends!  Over at A Random Fan, we are showcasing this sweet digi called Summer Scent.  She is perfect for a "Thinking of You", "Just Because", "Thank You" or "Birthday" card.  I printed her a little on the bigger side, I like to have the images be the main focal point of my cards. 

I colored with copics, and used distressed ink for the clouds, and the gold elements are from Heidi Swapp. 

I would like to enter the following challenges:
Party Time Tuesday-ATG
Simon Says Stamp-ATG
City Crafter-A piece of Sky-Clouds