Hi Honey, I’m Home!

After 40 days (and 40 nights), I’m home! The weather forcast wasn’t very promising for today, but I didn’t care. I was going to come home. As it turned out, the worst of the snow stopped this morning and I had some wet roads but no slick roads. Phew!!!

It’ll be a few days before I have some new stuff to share with you. Before I start unpacking, I’m going to rearrange the furniture in my creative space to add a few more storage pieces and hopefully make more room! I left with three Rubbermaid bins and came home with three. That’s a good law of averages. Used some, bought some!!!

I'll be around to visit your blogs in the next few days! I'm not even going to try to catch up on commenting but please know that I'll be checking it all out!!!

That’s it for tonight! I get to sleep in my own bed tonight!!!

Blessings,

Christine

Paper Maniac Blog Hop

Welcome to Christine’s blog on your way through the Magical Mystery Blog Hop from Paper Maniac. If you came here from Dana Grothaus’ blog, your headed the right direction. If you didn’t and want to take the hoppity hop hop, you can begin at the Paper Maniac Store blog!

When I thought of about something I could make based on a Beatles song, I immediately thought of this cute paper from Sassafras Lass’s Sunshine Lollipop that I got at Paper Maniac. If you scroll down for several posts, you’ll know how much I love this paper! And it’s on sale right now for just $1.69 for 24 sheets of double sided 6x6 paper! The felties are from the same Sassafras Lass line.

Have you guest what my song is yet?

Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds

Picture yourself in a boat on a river,
With tangerine trees and marmalade skies
Somebody calls you, you answer quite slowly,
A girl with kaleidoscope eyes.

Cellophane flowers of yellow and green,
Towering over your head.
Look for the girl with the sun in her eyes,
And she's gone.

Lucy in the sky with diamonds,

Follow her down to a bridge by a fountain
Where rocking horse people eat marshmallow pies,
Everyone smiles as you drift past the flowers,
That grow so incredibly high.

Newspaper taxis appear on the shore,
Waiting to take you away.
Climb in the back with your head in the clouds,
And you're gone.

Lucy in the sky with diamonds,

Picture yourself on a train in a station,
With plasticine porters with looking glass ties,
Suddenly someone is there at the turnstile,
The girl with kaleidoscope eyes.

Lucy in the sky with diamonds

Now, before I send you on to the next stop, let me show you what you can win and how to enter.

Don’t you just love Cosmo Cricket paper. It’s one of my favorite lines! You could win all three of these newly released mini decks, the Flourishes clouds background stamp and a pack of American Craft pearl brads. All you have to do is leave a comment on each of the blogs along the way. Easy isn’t it?

Those who are new to Paper Maniac have an extra chance of winning. (Paper Maniac is the store where I get my Copics through the Copic Coloring Club.) All you have to do is register January 30-31 to be entered into another random drawing for a $20.00 gift certificate. How great is that?

Now, head over to Rona Mallard’s blog to continue on your way. Don’t forget to leave a comment!!!

Blessings,

Christine

Other Details:
Image-The Greeting Farm
Medium-watercolor paint
Border Punch-Martha Stewart

Brother In Law Update

I want to update those of you that read my blog on my Brother-In-Law.  I’ve told  you that he’s been in the hospital and came home but was still very ill.

What I didn’t tell you was that his condition was terminal and that he passed away Tuesday at 12:45 am.  He was a wonderful man, father and husband that would do anything for anyone.  He invited me to stay here for 8 months while I was getting my heart transplant just to name one of the things that he has done for me.  I would never be able to count the number of times he fixed my cars when I was younger.  He will be missed by all that have known him.  I wish comfort and piece to my sister and niece.  They are both beautiful women and lost their treasured loved one too early.

All of our family will be traveling to Brigham City this weekend for the funeral on Saturday and then they (me included) will be going home Sunday.  I think that the Lord made things happen so that I would not go home until my sister had the help and comfort that she needed to deal with what He had in store. 

Thanks to everyone for the concern and well wishes during this time.  I have really appreciated that you are their for me!

Blessings,

Christine

Mariposa Beauty

It’s Flutter By Wednesday again!  Are you enjoying FBW since we moved to our new challenge blog!  We seem to be receiving a lot more participants so I guess you guys do!!!

I saw this beautiful Mariposa stack from DCWV and immediately broke my New Years resolution!  I had said that I wasn’t going to buy any paper until March.  Oops!!!  There are so many beautiful papers in that pack.  A lot of them are better for scrapbooking.  I have taken a lot of beautiful photos in my garden and plan to scrapbook them and this paper will be perfect!

I punched the MS doily lace border bunch and a bunch of MS butterflies for this card.  I also colored some tiny pearls and the Basic Grey pearl swirl with a Bic marker to add to the cuts.  I tied a bow with black organza ribbon and added the Papertrey Inc. sentiment.  I also used my favorite CAS layout.  I don’t really consider this card CAS because of all the patterns but thought that layout would work great!

The challenge this week at Flutter By Wednesday is open.  So all you have to do is include a butterfly, fairy or angel on your project.

If you'd like to play along, go check out all of the other lovely DT blogs by clicking on their links on the right sidebar and then go to the Flutter By Wednesday challenge blog to link up your card.

It’s been great visiting with my sister and things are settling down here so I will definitely be going home on Sunday!  I really miss my home and can’t wait to sleep in my own bed.  I’m sure that my kitty has been missing me!!!

Blessings,

Christine

Challenges:
Simon Says -- Punch It

Red-Headed Charlotte

This is day two of the Greeting Farms relay and we got to play with this cutie pie, Charlotte!

Of course, I watercolored her and used Sassafras Lass DP.  I tied a polka dot bow around it and added some Papertrey buttons and she’s done. 

This has been fun and it’s a great way to keep my mind off of all that’s going on here.   I sure hope I’ll get to play along with the other days.

Blessings,

Christine

Challenges:
Charisma Cardz--Fruity colors with the option of fruit
Dare U 2 Digi--buttons
Allsorts--Hearts and flowers
The Pink Elephant--Polka dots, bow and pink
Creative Card Crew--Punch it

Mer Ian Relay

I snuck away for a few minutes this afternoon to work on this cute Mer Ian!

The Greeting Farm is having a relay race during CHA.  It is so much fun.  I’m sorry I didn’t get my card done earlier so I could have told you about it but I just haven’t had a chance!  On Sunday, they posted this cute little Mer Ian and you had until Monday evening to post your card and then you will get a new image to post by the next day at 6:00 pm the next day.  I got him in with a whole 10 minutes to spare!!!

The paper is Core’dinations Color Core Nostalgia Assortment.  I love the Core’dinations cardstock.  It is so much fun to play with!  I tore a piece of light tan paper and embossed the “sand” with the CB Swiss dots folder and sanded it so the lighter colors would come out.  I then tore and sanded two of the medium aqua colors and sanded them.  Lastly I embossed the “waves” with the swirls CB folder and added some dew drops to the corners.

Now, about Ian!  I colored him with twinkling H2Os.  He is so cute and shimmery in person.  I wish I would have printed him a little bigger though.  He’s so easy to color that I think I’ll print him again to get him bigger!!!

I’m going to try to get a quick card done with today’s image.  My brother-in-law is not doing very well at all.  I haven’t said much about him on my blog except that he is ill so I stayed here in Utah to continue to help my sister.  The truth of the matter is that he is gravely ill.  They are now saying that he probably will only last a few more days.  Please keep my sister (Rose) and my niece (Trisha) in your thoughts and prayers so they may have comfort at this time.  God bless and keep them.

Blessings,

Christine

Missing for Awhile

I haven’t had any time for creating or blog hopping in the last few days and probably won’t in the next few days.

My Dell, brother-in-law, should be coming home from the hospital tomorrow but he will need a hospital bed.  I will be clearing and rearranging the furniture in the living room to make room for the bed.  Thankfully, the heaviest thing in the room is the recliner so it shouldn’t be too bad but I’ll be very sore tonight.

If all goes well with bringing him home, I will go home on Sunday.  I’m really looking forward to being home but if my sister still needs me here, I’m happy to be here.

Dell is still very sick so please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

I am going to reorganize my craft room as I put the things away that I brought here so creating will be at a minimum until I get settled in.

Just wanted to explain what is going on!

Blessings,

Christine

Flutter By Wednesday with no Card :-(

I didn’t get a chance to get a card made this week for the Flutter By Wednesday challenge. I feel really bad but it’s been quite a stressful week here at my sister’s house in Utah.

I do have some other things to share with you though. First of all, did you all notice that this little bugger was hanging out on my post last week for FBW? If you read the challenge post on the FBW challenge blog, you know that this meant that I had candy to share!

I had originally planned to be home by now and to have made some headway into my creative space reorganization and gather some things to share with the winner. Since I haven’t gotten home yet, I decided to give away this stamp set instead!

You knew it had to have something to do with butterflies didn’t you?

The lucky winner is Craft Princess! Please send me your address and I will get this ordered for you. I will be ordering it online and ship it directly to you!

Now, the challenge this week at Flutter By Wednesday is to include some type of embossing on your project as well as a butterfly, fairy or angel.

If you'd like to play along, go check out all of the other lovely DT blogs by clicking on their links on the right sidebar and then go to the Flutter By Wednesday challenge blog to link up your card.

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Today is also a new challenge at Just Buggin’. The challenge this week is Monochromatic. Make a monochromatic project with at least one die cut from your Cricut. You can make anything you'd like as long as it fits with the current challenge. The creations by the design team are being posted each day of the week so check every day for inspiration. My day is Tuesday so I’ll be posting my creation on Tuesday.

That’s about it for today! See ya back here in a day or two!!!

Blessings,

Christine

Creative Belli Guest Designer

A couple of weeks ago, Robin from the Creative Belli challenge blog contacted me and asked if I would be interested in being their Guest Designer! Well, of course!!! There theme this week is “hearts”.

My card is made with the Inkadinkado Valentine inchy set with a sentiment from Squigglefly. I watercolored the image, used some Papertrey DP, CS and buttons as well as some American Crafts ribbon.

Go check out the Creative Belli Challenge blog and see all the design teams projects. I haven’t seen them yet but you know they have to be amazing!!!

Blessings,

Christine

Believe in My Heart

I don’t set New Years Resoltions very often and keep them even less often.   I saw an idea around blog world this year that intrigued me.  A word of the year!  Instead of setting a New Years Resolution, select a theme “word” by which you will live your life this year.  My word is “BELIEVE”.

If I believe in myself, there isn’t anything I can’t do.   During the year, I will right things down when I need some help in believing in myself.  I will put them into the box (which ties shut) and then at the end of the year, I will look at the things listed in the box to see if I have trully belived in myself.  It doesn’t show much in this picture but I cut the word “Believe” in pink (upper left corner) using the Cricut Calligaphry cartridge. 

I seem to have a habit lately of buying old books when I’m at the thrift stores.  Sometimes it’s the title that grabs my attention, sometimes the cover or any number of things.  With the book used for this project, it was the title – Doughnuts to Diplomas.  I didn’t read the book before I started taking it apart but I believe it is a story (published in 1902) about a young woman who worked her way through school working as a baker.  I thought this was appropriate for the theme of this project.

I tore pages out of the book and sprayed them with pink taffey Glimmer Mist.  I then tore each page in smaller pieces and Mod Podged (yes, that is a verb) to the heart chipboard box with a very thin coat of Mod Podge on the top.  While that was all drying, I painted the Inkadinkado stamp with twinkling H2Os.  I then cut the frame out of a soda 12 pack container and 2 of white cardstock.  I glued the white onto the kraft colored side of the frame and sprayed with the Glimmer Mist.  I added some Modge Podge onto the now pink frame and sprinkled with sugary glitter. 

I made the flower in the top right corner with crepe paper (again sprayed with GM) and some scalloped circles cut out of the GMed book paper, a button and some butterflies.  I then added the Prima pearls swirl to the bottom right corner and tied the bow with ribbon and pink toele around the box (their are holes to slide the ribbon through).  I think that’s about it.  Oh, I Mod Podged the “believe” in the upper left but you can hardly see it in the photo.  One more thing, I glued on the beige lace (from Walmart) to the edge.

I really loved creating this project on a day that I had a lot of things on my mind.  It sure is nice to be able to do some creating to get through some tough times.

Now I have to go make my card for FBW!  I know, I’m waiting until the last minute!

Blessings,

Christine

Challenges:
Simon Says -- Shabby chic
Creative Inspirations -- distressing
Gingersnap Creations Random Redhead -- Resolutions

Forgetful Squigglefly

This is my first week for the Squigglefly Challenge and what did I do?  Forgot to make my post on Monday!

I hope you all forgive me!

The challenge this week is to make a clean and simple card and to include some blue!  Simple as that!!!

The “You’ve got the birthday, I’ve got the cake” sentiment is from Squigglefly and I cut the cake from the Sweet Treats Cricut cartridge.  I cut the shaped card with that cartridge as well.  I embossed the scalloped circle with CB Swiss dots and the cake with swirls and then sanded the Core’dinations cardstock to reveal some of the color.  I chalked the flame and added some glitter glue here and there.

That’s about it.  I’m working on a project right now that is really close to my “heart.” (hint-hint)  I can’t wait to share it with you later today!!!

Blessings,

Christine

Challenges:
Stamp Something -- Blue and white
The Corrosive Challenge -- Digi stamps

Where in the Word is Christine

  I’m still in Utah and don’t know when I will be going home.  I’m here to help my sister out while she is spending so much time at the hospital with her husband.

When she got to the hospital this morning, her husband (Dell), grouched her because she took him to the hospital!  The old Dell is back!!!  She did remind him that he asked her to take him and that he would have died had she not taken him!!!

Anyway, I ran out of some craft supplies and need a few things I didn’t bring so I’m off to Hobby Lobby and to have dinner with my sister and niece. 

The town that I’m in is a very small town.  As far as shopping goes, they have Shopko, Wal-Mart and two other grocery stores.  They do have a small scrapbook store and a quilt shop.  So to do other shopping I have to go to Logan, a 45 minute drive.

I’m kind of a junk food junkie but not so much here.  I got tired of the places here when I stayed here for 8 months during my transplant so maybe I’ll lose some weight!  I’ll have to stop buying candy and ice cream though!!!

Anyway, enough ramblings!  Thanks for listening.

 

Blessings,

Christine

Quilted Thank You

Everything seen on this card is from Papertrey Ink (my new obsession). That makes things easier, doesn’t it? I’ve purchased a few of Papertrey Ink’s sets but I’ve been looking at them totally intimidated. You won’t believe the talent of the ladies on their blog!!!

I stamped the bonnet girl and boy and the other square with the Papertrey’s new hybrid ink. I love this ink. I was hoping that this ink would work with watercolors and it does; beautifully!!! I had to heat set it first but then it didn’t run a bit! I just did light washes in colors to match the DP. Just perfect!

I made this card for Kim Kesti’s Dilema Challenge. She loves quilting as well as card making. She recently made a card with the same colors and patterns as a qulit block that she made. Her challenge was to either make a card that includes your favorite hobbies or to make a card based on her inspiration piece.

Isn’t that the cutest card. She is soooo talented. Can you imagine this as a quilt! It would be so cute in a little boys room!!!

I’m here in Utah for the duration. My bil is doing better but they still don’t know what all is going on and he is still in intesive care. I’ll probably be staying here until he comes home. The hospital is about a 45 minute drive so it’s a big help for Rose to have me here to take care of her dog. Then she can stay at the hospital all day or stay at her daughter’s house if she needs to be there early in the morning!

I’ve got a lot of things I’m working on right now. Of course, I have my DT projects – Just Buggin’ and Flutter By Wednesday – and I was asked to be guest designer for a challenge (more about that later this week). Plus, I’m really trying hard to get time to work on a project that is just for me!!! But of course, it will fit into a few challenges! What else would you expect!!!

Blessings,

Christine

Challenges:
Lili of the Valley -- Thank you card

Squigglefly Valentine Tag

I really should plan a little better when making a card. First of all, I didn’t choose the DP before I started coloring. Then, when I first saw this I envisioned it cut out with my 1-3/4 punch so I printed it as such. After I got done coloring, matting and choosing paper, I had no idea how to put together a card using this cute image! She is one of the new Squigglefly digi stamps to be released on Saturday!

So, here’s the story…and I’m sticking to it! I normally keep track of the challenges each day so when I make a card, I know if it will fit into any of the challenge themes. Plus, I normally use a current sketch for my card so that my layout varies from card to card. If I didn’t do that, I would use my favorite two or three layouts all the time and consequently, I’d get very bored with my own style (not to mention boring my lovely readers).

After I gathered the papers and the colored and matted image, I looked through this weeks sketches and found the perfect sketch at Card Patterns! Yay!!!

I cut the tag and added hearts with the George Cricut cartridge and tied some American Crafts ribbon to it. I used a piece of dark pink CS for my card and embossed a piece of white CS with Cuttlebug Swiss Dots. The DP is Sassafras Lass (I’ve used this stack a lot lately) and I added some pearl hearts from my stash.

Don’t forget about the Digi Day PJ Party at SNR Card Universe on Saturday at 7:00pm.

My bil is doing a little better. They figured out what was going on and got the bleeding stopped so that’s good. It’s all too technical for me to try to explain here. He will be in the hospital for a while longer though.

I have a bunch more images for you that will be included in the new Squigglefly release so gotta go!

Blessings,

Christine

Challenges:
Digital Tuesday -- Embossing
Charisma Cardz -- Anything new (new Squigglefly image)

Hint…Hint

Did you check out the new Flutter By Wednesday blog this week!  Be sure to check it out; you’ll be sorry if you don’t!!!

Blessings,

Christine

Thursday Thunks

 

 

This week we will answer some crazy questions brought to you by Kimber, the color of a clear blue sky and the number 1142010.

 

 

1. Build It Yourself Coffin Kits. Creepy, interesting, cost effective, your new hobby?  Very creepy! 

 

2. Can you blow up a balloon under water? I don’t think so unless your talking water balloons!!!

 

 

 

3. Why do you think when naming citrus fruit they simply named an orange the color it is?  The color is named after the fruit!!!

 

4. Insanity Cafe's topic of the day on Tuesday was this article. Have you ever known someone to do something embarrassingly stupid like that?  No, ‘nuff said!

5. If you got stranded high on a mountain in the snow, how many snowmen would you make? Would you name them and talk to them?  It depends on how long I was stranded.  I talk to my dog and cat all the time so I’m pretty sure I’d talk to the snowmen.

6. Have you ever tripped and fell while walking up the stairs?  Yes, last week!  Many other times as well.  I’m a clutz!

7. If you were to make your own currency what would it look like, what would you call it and would you give some to your fellow Thursday Thunkers?  It would have my favorite baby picture on it (don’t ask me why I thought of that) and it would be pink.  If you would like some pink money, it’s yours!  (Don’t ask me where that came from!)

 

8. Have you ever made a Mr. Potato Head from a real potato?  I probably did.  That’s the only way the came in the good old days!

 

Blessings,

Christine

2 . . . 2 . . . 2 Squiggleflies in One

Fourth post for today. 

Scroll down for the Flutterby Challenge.

I used two images that were released on Saturday for this card.  The background is Heart Swirls and the image is from the Make Up Kit set which includes seven other images.  What a bargain!!!

I watercolored both images as well as the background paper.  The sentiment is from Whiff of Joy. 

Did you hear about the party on Saturday night at SNR Card Universe?  Squigglefly is celebrating Digi Day with a pajama party.  So get ready for bed early and head on over to SNR Saturday at 7:00 pm central time!

Blessings,

Christine

Squiggley Bear

Third post for today. 

Scroll down for the Flutterby Challenge.

I told you that you were going to love these new images from Squigglefly.  Just take a look at this cute little bear!  After I printed the image, I thought he looked sad!  So I chose some cheerful Sassafras paper and had him hold a heart with the handwritten message “miss you”.  The ribbon is from American Crafts, the heart is cut with the Doodlecharms Cricut cart and I got the buttons at Wal-Mart.

There is a lot of dimension on this card.  The nesty mat, bear and heart are raised with foam dots.

It really worked out well that I wasn’t able to leave today to go home.  My bil has been having some tummy problems for the last several weeks and she had to take him to the hospital this morning.  They think that he has a bleeding ulcer but can’t do any tests until they get his blood counts and blood pressure back up.  Maybe tonight or in the  morning.  I still would like to go home on Friday but whatever Rose needs from me.  Other than taking care of the dog, I’ve had the day on my own so I’ve been playing a little!!!

On that note, I need to go bring the dog in since it’s getting dark out!  I’ll be back later with another Squigglefly card!  I’m way behind.  I am still making cards from last weeks release and they’ve sent me images for this weeks release.  They are so cute!  I can’t wait to color them up and make some cards!!!

Blessings,

Christine

Challenges:
 ABC Challenge -- Layers

One of the First to Know

I was looking at facebook just now and guess what came up.

The first ever Elisabeth Bell Digi Stamp!!!  Isn’t this beautiful.  I wish I had time to color it now!!!  You can get it here.  Be one of the first!!!

I’ll be back in a bit with a Squigglefly card!

Blessings,

Christine

Butterfly Charmer

It’s Flutter By Wednesday again. I {heart} Flutterby Wednesday almost as much as I love this beautiful fairy from Sketching Stamper.

She reminds me of the Pied Piper and how he played his flute and all the rats followed him to the river. 

I watercolored her in shades of blue and brown to match the paper in the DCWV Garden Party stack. With all that beautiful curly hair, I just had to color her hair red. I cut and matted her with my nesties and punched the coordinating paper with the MS doily lace punch. I added some blue and brown ribbon from Michaels. The colors don’t show up in the pic but, trust me, the ribbon is beautiful. I tied a flower on with some brown string and a vintage button and added a few extra vintage buttons. Gotta love my white vintage buttons!!!

The challenge this week at Flutter By Wednesday is open so all you need to do is be sure to include a butterfly, fairy or angel on your creation.

If you'd like to play along, go check out all of the other lovely DT blogs by clicking on their links on the right sidebar and then go to the new Flutter By Wednesday challenge blog to link up your card.

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Today is also a new challenge at Just Buggin’. The challenge this week is About Pets,  Make a pet themed project with at least one die cut from your Cricut. You can make anything you'd like as long as it fits with the current challenge. The creations by the design team are being posted each day of the week so check every day for inspiration. My day is Tuesday so I’ll be posting my creation on Tuesday.

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This Saturday at 7:00 pm is Squigglefly’s Digi Day over at SNR Card Universe!  It’s a pajama party so put on your PJs, grab a cupa’ and come play with us!  There will be lots of fun games and prizes!  See ya’ there!

Blessings,

Christine

Did You Know . . . Answer!

How many of you figured it out?

 

 

Bing Crosby’s daughter, Mary (Kristin Shepard  on Dallas) killed . . .

 

 

 

 

 

Peter Pan, Mary Martin’s son, Larry Hagman (J.R. Ewing)!

 

 

 

 

Blessings,

Christine

New Look

How do you like my new blog header? I made it myself with digi scrap stuff from Heritage Digi Scrap (I'll add the link later). Now if I can just figure out to get the new background loaded, I'll be in good shape!

I'm off to take Rose to cardiac rehab! I'll be back later with some more projects!!!

A Buggy Sewing Tag

It’s my day on the Just Buggin’ challenge blog and I have something fun to share with you today.

I have done much in this vintagey/collagey style yet but I love it! I want to get a little more proficient at it. I used a variety of inks and stamps for this tag. The center stamp is a Tim Holtz stamp, the thread spool (which I embossed) is Papertrey Ink and the embossed lace, the buttons and a ribbon knot (hiding somewhere) are Artistic Outpost. The string is MS and the lace is from Wal-Mart. The buttons and ribbon are from my stash and I’ve had that tiny spool forever!!!

My Cricut tip for today: Use Design Studio to change the proportions of your cuts. This tag would normally be a lot longer at this width but I widened it in Design Studio to be in better proportion with the stamps.

If you would like to play along with the Just Buggin’ challenge, you have until midnight tonight (est) to link your creation at the Just Buggin’ challenge blog!!!

Blessings,

Christine

Did You Know?

 

Bing Crosby’s daughter killed . . .

 

 

 

 

 

Peter Pan’s son!

 

 

 

Did I peak your interest?  More about that tomorrow!

Squigglefly released some new images again on Saturday.  I’m telling ya’, your going to love them.  I know I do!!!  My sister and I spent the evening coloring some of the new images and we will have a sisters post for you tomorrow.  We really had fun chatting and crafting.  It doesn’t get better than that!

The first challenge of the year is on at the Squigglefly blog.  The challenge is to make anything but a card.  Be sure to check out all the lovely DT projects that are posted today!  We take turns (every other week) participating in the challenges so I will have a challenge project for you next week.

I was planning on going home on Wednesday but it looks like a storm is coming mid week so I’ll probably go home on Friday!  I’m really loving the time I spending with my sister’s family but I’m ready to sleep in my own bed.  Especially on headache days!

Blessings,

Christine

Winner, Winner Chicken Dinner

The winner of the $50.00 gift card to the online craft store of your choice is:

#32—Anne

Congratulations Anne!

Now, I’m going to go cook some delicious Sausage and Vegetable Tomato soup for our dinner this afternoon! I’ll share the recipe some day soon! It is so yummy!

Blessings,

Christine

It’s My (Blogoversary) Party and I’ll Cry If I Want To!

***CANDY NOW CLOSED***

No, really I’m not going cry! Because I have a gift for you!!! That’s why!

It’s been a year since, while on a trip to Utah, my sister, Rose, talked me into starting a blog. I thought I’d post a couple of times a month about things going on in my life but how could I have known how it would change my life! Definitely for the good!!!

I’m not sure how I found the first cardmaking blog, but I’ve come to realize some things since I started my blog!

1. It’s so easy to make friends from around the world that you have never, and probably will never meet!

2. It was impossible to even imagine how much creativity there is in the blog world.

3. I absolutely LOVE papercrafting, especially cards! Since I started blogging, I have hardly made any crafts that did not involve some kind of paper! I think I love challenge blogs even more!

4. Design Teams. What the heck is a design team anyway? I love the design teams that I’m on and really enjoy pushing my talent to design even more and better creations!

That’s all I’m going to list (they are to numerable too list them all) except one last one.

5. I can procrastinate going to the post office FOREVER!!!

Knowing #5 about myself, is the good news for you. I’m going to giveaway a gift card to your favorite papercraft online store. How much, you say? I’ve tossed this around a bit. Give more than one or give one big gift card? I decided, since I’ve always given smaller gifts, this time I’m going to give a $50.00 gift card to the store of your choice!!!

So if you like to shop at then I’ll give you a gift card there. If you’d rather go to the store where they have the Copics coloring kits, Paper Maniac, then you can go there. If you LOVE as much as I do, by all means, give them a try!!! But if you want a GREAT selection, would be your choice! But I could not leave out , , (my new favorite place), or .

You get the idea, right. Where ever you want. These are just some of my favorite places to shop!!! It really doesn’t even have to be a papercraft store as long as it has something to do with your hobby! Last time I gave a lady a gift certificate to Cooks.com.

Okay, this is what you have to do! Leave a comment on this post! Post the picture at the top of this post on the sidebar of your blog with a link to my candy. While your here, have a look around and if you like my blog, please become a follower. I will pick the winner out of all the entries on Jan. 10 of the next decade (2010)!!! That’s the date I started my blog! That’s it! Easy, peasy, tight and squeezey!!!

ANYONE FROM ANY COUNTRY CAN ENTER MY GIVEAWAY.

Blessings,

Christine

Beautiful Evening

I drove to Salt Lake City today to do a little shopping and to have dinner with my dear friends and fellow heart recipient, Jim, and his wife Kitty.  I’ve talked about them before on my blog but I’ll recap a bit.  I met them when Jim and I had both moved to Utah to receive a new heart. 

Jim and Kitty also live in Boise when they are not waiting/recouping from surgery.  They will be returning to Boise at the end of March.  I can’t wait for them to get home!!!  We have really only seen each other a few times but we are like old friends each time we get together.  Our dinners usually last hours until the wait staff is trying to kick us out.  Last time, we realized it was time to go when the restaurant closed!

When Jim gets home to Boise, we will start a transplant support group charitable organization much like the one here in Utah held in cooperation with the four hospitals in SLC that perform transplants. 

Switching gears . . . about my shopping trip now!!!  I went to a great import store and found a few things to use in my newly organized (when I get home) creative room!  But most of all, I got ribbon!!!  Lot’s of ribbon!!!  Spools of 50 to 100 yards of ribbon (satin and organza – 1” and up) sell from $3.00 and up.  I absolutely love buying ribbon there because it is SUCH A BARGAIN.  Who doesn’t love a bargain!!!  Plus, I got my mother’s Mother’s Day gift in the Christmas department on clearance.  It doesn’t even look like it would be for Christmas!!!

I also stopped by Robert’s Crafts (owned by Provo Craft) and got the new Heritage and Sweet Treats cartridges for my Cricut!  Yay!!!  More toys to play, I mean tools to create with!!!

Be sure to enter my giveaway!!!  I will be drawing the winner on Monday!!!

Blessings,

Christine

A Fluttering Blog Hop

First of all, to those who haven't entered for a chance to win my blog candy (a $50 gift card), you only have five more days. What are you waiting for? Don't you want to win $50?

I’ve been promising some fun for the first challenge on the new Flutterby Wednesday blog, haven’t I? I sure hope you aren’t disappointed! It’s a blog hop!!!

Welcome to our fluttering hop!! We are so excited about our NEW Flutter By Wednesday challenge blog and our ‘new’ fluttering creations. If you just dropped in to see me, please flutter back to the beginning of the hop at Danni's blog. I don’t want you to miss a thing because I know all of the Flutter Byers will have some amazing inspiration for you along the way! If you get lost, you can always flutter back to Danni's blog where a master list of Flutter By Blog Hoppers is listed.

Our challenge this week is “new” – as in the new Flutterby Wednesday challenge blog! Take that word as literally or figuratively as you like as long as you use a butterfly, fairy or angel on your creation.

I’ve had and used the MS butterfly punch for awhile now but I recently purchased the medium/small combined punch so I decided to use it for the “new” challenge. I attempted to make it look like the butterflies were all flying up from the bow. Since I created this card several weeks ago before my trip to Utah, it’s been so hard to not create another card using that punch for all this time!

All of the paper (except white background) is from SEI Chocolat. I CB embossed the background and tied an organza bow around the whole thing adding a couple of stick pins for the antenna.

Now that you’ve seen my card, flutter on to the next stop, Harriet. I’m sure you will love what you see there. She always creates amazing cards for FBW. Well, I have to say, Harriet’s cards are always beautiful!!!

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But before you go . . .

Today is also a new challenge at Just Buggin’. Today’s challenge is “Stamping Fun” – use stamping on your project as well as a Cricut cut. You can make anything you'd like as long as it fits with the current challenge. The creations by the design team are posted each day of the week so check every day for inspiration. My day is Tuesday so I’ll be posting my creation on Tuesday.

Blessings,

Christine

Blogoversary Candy Alert

3rd post of the day. Please scroll down for a new Squigglefly card and my Just Buggin’ post!

This is just a sampling of the candy that Erika, a fellow member of the Gingersnap forum, is offering. Go check it out – you won’t be disappointed!!!

Blessings,

Christine

Little Squigglefly Reader

This is my second post for today. 

Please scroll down for my Just Buggin Challenge post!

I have another new Squigglefly digi stamp to share with you today!  I present to you (drum roll please) Ragtime Reader!

I had to color her with blond hair because this little girl reminds me of myself.  I loved to read when I was small and actually was reading before I was five.  Back in those days, we weren’t required to go to kindergarten so I was way ahead of the other kids in the reading classes!  My teacher told my mother that their was a problem with Christine in reading class.  She said that they were running out of books in the library!!!

I watercolored this cutie pie and cut matted her with my nesties.  All the paper is from Sassafras Lass, the ribbon is American Crafts and the button is Paper Trey Ink.  I used the MS doily lace punch!

I’m still having a good time here in Utah.  Things have settled down since the holidays are over now and I had a little more time to myself.  Tomorrow should be a good day to play with my paper unless I decide to take a road trip.  My sister has a follow up doctors appointment in the morning.  Thank goodness her husband is taking her!  I probably have some new people to my blog because of the Squigglefly DT.  For those who don’t know, I’m a night owl.  I usually go to sleep between 2:00 and 4:00 am and get up about noon!

That’s it for tonight!  I’m so happy you came for a visit!!!

Blessings,

Christine

Inspiring Daisies – Just Buggin’ Challenge #18

It’s Tuesday so it’s time for my turn on the Just Buggin’ Challenge blog. Our challenge this week is “In the Shadows” and this is what I made for you this week!

I used cardstock from one of the Bazzil Monochromatic packs. I love those because it takes the guess work out of if it matches or not.

The sentiment (inspire) and the frame, with shadow, are cut with the Home Decor cart. The little flourish flowers in the corners are from the storybook cart. Using, Design Studio, I was looking for something to go in the corners of this card and found these daisies that are just like the little daisies in the corner. That’s my Just Buggin’ hint for this week. Don’t use just one cartridge per project. These cuts are from two different cartridges but go perfectly together.

Be sure to use the shadow or blackout feature with your die cut.

Now, I have a non-Cricut hint for you! Do you have a huge collection of colored pearls and gems? You can color white pearls and clear rhinestones to match your project using Copics or permanent non-water based (Sharpie or Bic) markers!

If you’d like to join in on the Just Buggin’ challenge, you have until tonight to have your project posted the the blog.

Blessings,

Christine