I Won! I Won!

I won Jaci blog candy. Can you believe it. I'm so luck to have met so many wonderful blogging friends. Jaci gave away all of the lovely things in these three pictures!

Now that I have won another blog candy, I'm going to pay it forward again. I will be adding another prize package to my giveaway. That will be three prizes in total that you could win! Enter by clicking on the Martha Stewart picture on the right.

Blessings,

Button, Button, Who's Got the Button!

Look what I get to see on my desktop!

Isn't it lovely. The Kindred website has this and other desktop backgrounds to choose from and the best thing is they are free!

Blessings,

Lorraine at Crafty Coo is having a quicky giveaway. So head on over there and check it now (even before you enter for mine) because her's ends at midnight gmt. Don't forget to come back and enter for my candy!!!


Blessings,

My Yummy Candy with a Challenge

This message has been pre-empted for some complaining.

Before I start, I have to complain about Mr. Blogger a little. I had a heck of a time getting this post done; it took me FOREVER. I got all the pictures loaded, typed it all up and then had to mess around time and time again with the spacing. Finally got the spacing right, tried to publish it and Mr. Blogger complained about the code in one of the pictures HE posted. Deleted it, posted it again and blogger complained again! I figured out what code he didn't like, deleted that code myself then he changed all my spacing AGAIN. Well, everything else seems to be working so this is the spacing you get!!!! Mr Blogger can be frustrating sometimes! I used to be a technical writer, so I need to have everything perfect. Okay, I'll stop complaining and get to the giveaway.

Like I have said before, I have been one lucky blogger. I have won more than my share of blog candy. I truly believe in paying it forward, so I'm now having a giveaway!

One of my favorite things to do this time of year is to sit on my deck and read. I really enjoy looking out onto my back yard. This time of year it has finally started getting warm enough to sit outside and it isn't to hot to keep you indoors with the AC.

This brings me to the challenge part of my giveaway. I would love it if you would make a bookmark. Here is a bookmark that I made.



This might be a challenge to all those cardmakers out there. Notice that everything on the bookmark is flat. There can't be anything on the part that fits into the book because you don't want to damage the book! You can add embellishments to the top part of the bookmark and onto the ribbon.

What am I giving away, you ask? Well, I'm giving away two different packages. The first is a copy of the newly released Encyclopedia of Crafts by Martha Stewart. I haven't even gotten one for myself yet. I will be purchasing it online to send directly to the winner.

The next is the rubber stamp that I used to create this card.

Of course, you will get a brand new one. It is on cling mount to use with a clear acrylic block. This is a 5x7 card so, as you can see, it is a large stamp. I will also be adding some other cardmaking goodies yet to be determined some of which will be new and some others from my stash. Well, the things from my stash will be new but I'll be gathering things from my favorite stuff.



So, to enter:



1st. Please spread the word. Add a post or a sidebar link to your blog; I don't care which. When you've done that, come back here and add a comment. This will give you one entry.



2nd. Make a bookmark, post it on your blog and come back here and post a link to your bookmark. You can make up to three bookmarks to get three more entries. Please make a separate entry for each of your bookmarks. You can put them all in one post but give me three separate comments.



If you do all of these, you will be in for the candy four times!!!

******************

New addition: After thinking about this for awhile I've decided to add two more rules.


1st. I don't think I will be able to pick just one bookmark because all of you ladies are so talented. I will pick several of my favorite bookmarks (probably 5 but maybe more if I can't make up my mind) and then draw the winner out of those I've chosen.


2nd. I will pick the bookmark winner first and that person will not be eligible to win again.


I think these additions will make it more fair for everyone.

************************

Another new addition!!! I have won another candy from Jaci
so I'll be adding another prize!!!

******************

One more thing, I think there has been a little confusion. There are FOUR wasy to enter (one for adding my candy to your blog and up to three for posting bookmarks) and a chance to win THREE different prizes (1. Martha Stewart Book, 2. Paris stamp and misc. cardmaking stuff, 3. Misc. cardmaking stuff.)

So, I want something out of this too! (hehe) Since I am constantly losing bookmarks, I ask that the two people that win, send me their bookmark. If you didn't make a bookmark, please send me one anyway. I don't care if it's the bookmark they give you for free at the library or your local bookstore, just send me a bookmark!!!! You could even cut a strip of cardstock! Here's how I will pick a winner. First, I will choose my favorite bookmark. I'll keep the winning bookmark in the books that stay home with me so I won't lose it!



The other winner will be chosen at random. The winning bookmark will be able to choose which prize they want. By the time I choose the winner, I will have put the second package together and posted a picture!


You have until midnight my time on April 25th to enter. However, if I haven't had 100 entries yet, I will keep it open longer. Since each person has four chances to enter, I think we will get 100 entries before then. If we do, I will choose the winner on Sunday, April 26.


Please send lots of bookmarks my way so I can get a lot of ideas. I give bookmarks away to my friends all the time too. Maybe that's why I keep losing them!!!

***************************

Updated (again) on 4/25.

It doesn't look like I will get enough entries before the deadline, so I'm going to extend it a little. What I will do is check the number of entries every day at noon and as soon as the # of comments is over 90, I will choose a winner! Or, if it doesn't get to that before Sunday, May 3, I will pick the winners. So everyone, if you haven't made three bookmarks, go, now, make bookmarks! Remember, you can have three chances of winning!!!

Hopefully, we will find a winner before Friday because I will be unavailable next weekend. If I don't have 90 comments before I go to bed on Thursday, all entries through Sunday when I get back will be counted. Ya know what I mean?

By the way, I picked up a couple of things to add in today. You never know what will happen by the time it's all said and done!


Good luck,

P.S. Anyone can enter. If you don't have a blog, you can email your entry but you won't be able to enter the challenge part. I will ship worldwide!

To email your entry, click on the View Complete Profile link under my picture and it will take you to another screen where there is a link to send an email.


*******************CANDY IS NOW CLOSED***********************

Shoshone Falls

Look where I went today! My sis and I drove to Shoshone Falls near Twin Falls, Idaho. It's about 2 hours away from my house. The falls are on the Snake River.

For most of the year, these falls are dry. Just a trickle runs over the edge. Usually, you can only catch the falls at full force for a couple of weeks in May when the snow melt runoff is heavy. Some years they don't run like this all year. There are a series of dams upstream where the water is held in a reservoir for the farmers to use for irrigation and for recreational use in the reservoir like boating and such.

If you can see it, the little tiny dot on the falls at the left is a hawk or falcon flying in the wind created by the falls.

This year, they are dumping off some of the water because they will have to much when the spring runoff comes out of the mountains. Isn't the rainbow beautiful. I didn't think we were going to see the rainbow today but the clouds cleared just about the time we got here.

When I was a kid, almost every year my grandparents would bring us here for a picnic. There was always a lot of water running off the falls in those days. They also let people walk around the falls a lot more. We used to be able to walk out onto the rocks in the picture below. These days, they only have a couple of walkways that you go on.

When there is enough water, they harness the energy from the falls for electricity. I think they still use this old power house.

This is the view down river. A few miles down river, Evil Kenievel made is famous failed attempt to jump the Snake River Canyon on a motorcycle (in the 1970s).

Then we hit the a thrift store (didn't find much) and their tiny mall. My sis was looking for a new Easter dress. It was really a fun day to spend with my sis.

I know it's not like being there, but I hope you enjoyed the pictures.

Blessings,
Christine

Sweet Pink Saturday

It's Pink Saturday again and today I have some yummy chocolate cupcakes. Actually I haven't tasted them yet but they sure look yummy.

I'm making carrot cake for Easter dinner and I thought the kids would like cupcakes better. So this is what they are getting-- chocolate cupcakes with cherry pink frosting. Yum!!! I don't think all of them will make it to my sister's house by Sunday. Shhh - don't tell anyone how many I made.

Beverly at How Sweet the Sound hosts Pink Saturday every week. This is a very fun event. Each of us post a picture of something pink on our blog on Saturday and try to visit as many of the other blogs as possible. I'm not sure how many participate but it is in the hundreds. Big thanks to Beverly for coordinating all of it!

Sarah, I might be late to the quilting bee so serve these until I get there. I set this plate aside for you!

Blessings,

Thursday Thunks

I found this last Thursday on someone's blog and thought it would be fun to participate! I can't remember whose blog it was on; I'm sorry I can't give you the credit!

At Thursday Thunks they pick a subjec and everyone is to interpret it anyway they want. You write about it on your blog... simple as that. Go on over and play along.

1. What was the last thing you ate? Pistachios, already shelled. I didn't have to do all the work!

2. I say the color purple.. what do you think of? grape soda

3. Lamps or ceiling lights?Lamps, ceiling lights are to harsh.

4. What color rabbit is your favorite? chocolate, of course

5. Your car breaks down on a deserted road and your cell phone has no signal - what do you do? Panic!!! Then wish I still had On-Star (it works a lot of times when cells don't) and just sit and wait; that's what they tell you to do isn't it? (and starting digging under the seat for food tidbits)

6. What is one thing most of your friends do online that you just can't understand the fascination and do not participate in? Twitter

7. What do you need right now? lunch, all I've eaten today is pistachios

8. And your most serious injury you've had was....? Broken wrist.

9. What is the most evil thing you've ever done? I can't think of anything

10. Give us some random fact about you. I make Easter bunny cakes for my family dinner every Easter. This year I'm making pink cupcakes too because I love cupcakes so much!!!

Blessings,

Cuttlebug Challenge is Having a Spa Retreat

Cuttlebug Challenges is having a Spa Retreat on their blog.

They are sharing inspiration and challenges including several giveways including spa items as well as scrappie things! Go over there and check it out!!!

Blessings,

Yellow Parasol and Catching Butterflies

Isn't she just the cutest!!! I used the sketch from Crafts for Eternity except it doesn't meet the challenge because it doesn't have a rabbit!!! Cute Card Thursday's challenge is citrus colors and Simon Says is yellow and green.

She's pretty cute too, huh? I used the sketch from Sketch Saturday and that's all for this one.

Both images are Cute Daisy May downloads. I'm really liking the digital images because you can do so much with them. I used the watercolor pencils, AGAIN. I'm getting stuck in a rut, but it works for me.

That's it for tonight. I'm takin' the pup out and goin' to bed. They changed my late night TV schedule so maybe it will get me in bed earlier!!!

Blessings,

Springtime in Paris

I used the Paris street scene stamp today. Isn't it beautiful! As soon as I saw this online I knew I had to order it and it would be my favorite stamp. I definitely wanted to paint this today so when I saw the challenge at Flourishes Timeless Tuesday it was perfect. There challenge is to use your favorite stamp. The challenge at Secret Crafters is to use stripes so it fits that one too.

The next time I paint this one I'm going to try to paint it with the real watercolors. I wasn't that happy with the range of colors I had to work with using the pencils. This one took me about an hour to color and I think it would be quicker too. It's a very large stamp so I can't play around with the card much. I think it would be fun to make this into a window card.

I colored several other images today. I wanted to use the watercolor pencils a little before I tackled this one (hehe). I might even get another one before I go to bed.

Blessings to everyone,


Oh, I had one more thing. Somehow I ordered two of these stamps. I was planning on giving away some blog candy in the next couple of weeks so this stamp will definately be in the mix. I will probably get things together and post the candy on Monday. Hint: It will include a small challenge but you don't HAVE to participate in the challenge to enter.

Girly Girl Fairy

The challenge at Colour Create was to use duck egg blue and rose. I hope this is what the meant. The extra challenge was to use stitching but it wasn't compulsory. That was good because I didn't do it. I've never done stitching on a card. It's too much work to pull out the sewing machine!!!

This is one of the stamps I got in the mail today. She is "Lovely Fairy" from Auntie Amy's stamps. Isn't she cute? Once again, I used my water color pencils. I thought I had some paper that went with her but when I got her done, it just didn't work so I just used plain card stock for her. It makes the image stand out even more. Ya, that's right!! With those colors she is very girly girl!!!

One of the other stamps I got today is amazingly beautiful. It is a Paris cafe street scene. I think it will take a couple of times to get it colored correctly because it very intricate and is made for watercolors. I can't wait to start it but it will have to wait until tomorrow because if I start it now, I won't be able to sleep until I get it done! (hehe)

Blessings,

Metamorphosis

My blogger friend, Carla, is a very gifted photographer. I would like to share her talent with all of my blogger friends today. Over the last few weeks, she photographed a caterpillar egg, taking new shots every couple of days until it was a butterfly.

Also, while you're there, check out this post. She captured the hatching process from beginning to end. It is stunning!

I got some new stamps in the mail today; I'm really excited to use them!!!

Blessings,

Enjoy Butterflies

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge had a party today celebrating their new challenge. I found it a little late but was able to get in on a couple of there giveaways. One of them was to make this weeks challenge by midnight tonight ET to get into a special drawing. I have to get there quick to post a link to this card. Tell ya more later.

Okay, I seem to have forgotten how to calculate time zones. When it's 9:00 MT, it's only 11:00 ET. So I had no time issues. That's good because Mr Linky wasn't playing nice.

Now about the card. Stamptacular's challenge was to make a card portraying new beginnings. For me, the ultimate in new beginnings is the metamorphosis of a butterfly. It has particular meaning to me. As those who read my blog regularly know, I have undergone a metamorphosis of my own. Several years go I suffered a major heart attack (a spontaneous artery dissection) and ended up with diminished heart capacity. I'll get to the point quickly. Several years later I was feeling pretty bad when the docs told me I needed a heart transplant.

I felt the time that I was ill and the time I was waiting for "the call," I was a little Caterpillar crawling around. After the transplant, I was in my cocoon recovering and getting my strength back. During that time, I morphed into a butterfly with the most beautiful heart anybody could have. Needless to say, I {heart} butterflies!!!

The sentiment is cut out with the Cricut Calligraphy cartridge. That cartridge has a ton of sentiment cutouts. Way more than is on the back of the box. The butterflies are cut out with my Cuttlebug and a Quikutz die.

I'll be starting another card tonight but I probably won't get it posted for a couple of days. The weather is going to be beautiful the next 2 days so I'm going to be working in the yard. On Wednesday, were back to rainy in cold!!!

Blessings,

Strawberries!

Look! My strawberry plants are coming up!!! Yes, that is a rose vine in there with it. Last year I read (I think on the Univ of Iowa extension website) that strawberries and roses should be planted together because they give each other the nutrients that they need. So, I decided to try it. Hopefully both the strawberries and roses will do very well this year.

Last year, I didn't get very many strawberries and most of the ones I did get were eaten by the squirels. My neighbor always feeds them peanuts so I have a lot of squirels in my yard and a LOT of peanuts buried in my pots and beds. However, she moved so maybe I'll have better luck this year.

I have a trellis on the side of my deck for the roses to climb on. I planted 2 plants 3 years ago and planted one only last year. Let's hope they all grow really well this year and cover the trellis. Tomorrow is supposed to be a beautiful day so I'll be out in the garden most of the day. It gets me motivated to get in the garden when I see something like this.

Blessings,

Happy Shower Day!

.

There are three posts right in a row, so don't miss anything!!!




For this card, I used the sketch from Inspirational Sketches and Flourishes Friday Focus Challenge is paper piecing.

Isn't this image cute. The cat lying on the towel while his person is reaching for it. I paper pieced the shower curtain from the reverse side of the floral background paper. This is about the end of this paper. I have made several cards with one sheet of 12x12 reversable paper. I bought it last year to make an Easter card for a friend.

This is another digi stamp from Squigglefly. I love these downloads. If you want to try out digi stamps, they have a free download for you. The images are all very cute and they are so versitile. They come in 4x6 with two images, one to the right and one turned to the left. They also come in 8x10 with both right and left. Wouldn't this image be cute done as an 8x10 wall hanging? Once you get it on your computer, you size it to whatever will fit your needs. They are also having a blog hop this weekend so go over and get started because it ends Sunday!!!

Blessings,

Chick Loves Bunny

I used the sketch from Mojo Monday for this card. The challenge at Our Creative Corner is to make an Easter card or project.

I made a card like this a couple of days ago but this time I colored the chicky darker so hopefully he is the focal point of the card. I used the watercolor pencil on them. The little heart on the bow actually says "handmade with love" on it. I got a pack of them last week at Joanne's. I love to use them when I'm making cards for friends and family.

The image is the free Easter digi stamp that I got from Bee Crafty for putting her banner on my blog. Check her blog out for more information. She has another free digi stamp for everyone. I don't know how long she will be offering these but ya' better go take a look before it's too late.

Blessings,

Some Bunny Hearts

Over at Truly Scrumptious the challenge this week is Flower Power with a sketch. The ABC Challenge is to use hearts, and Stamp Something's challenge is to make an Easter card. This card fits all three!!! I'm getting some Easter cards made for my family and neighbors.

My inspiration for this card was one of my T-shirts. Do you know the company that makes T-shirts and stuff that is called Life is Good? They mostly sell them at sporting goods stores but we have a Life is Good store in our mall. (Yes, we only have one mall.) I have a pink T-shirt that has a small dark pink heart on the front with the words "Life is Good" under the heart. I think this is my favorite T-shirt. It has a lot of meaning for me. I would have taken a pict of it, but I have had it for a number of years and it's in pretty bad shape. Any way, I painted the flower pots like that T-shirt. Once again, I watercolored the image.

This is another digi stamp from Squigglefly. Isn't it cute! I love these downloads.
Blessings,

Polka Dot Rain

For this card I used the sketch from Friday Sketchers. As always, there were some things I would have done differently. I would have put some ribbon on the horizontal strip and also used a border punch on it. It also fits in challenge Cafe Mojo's which is Spring is in the Air.

I always put my cards together with a little bit of reposition tape first and look at. I wanted to keep this card simple because the image is quite large in relation to the card, so I thought I had enough. As soon as I put it together with permanent adhesive, I realized it needed more. Oh well!!!

The image is a digi download from Squigglefly. They are having a blog hop this weekend. You can go here to start hoppin'.

I used water colors again. I really do love the water colors!!! When my hands stop shaking I'm going to pull out the real ones. There's a funny story there.

About a year ago I bought a small professional set of watercolors that are made for artists take when they want to paint outside. I thought it would be perfect for my scraproom. At the time, I was shaking too much to use them. Yesterday, I decided to try them out again but I couldn't find them. I searched and searched for them so I just decided to clean up and maybe I would come across them. Two hours later, after organizing paper, moving things around, cleaning stamps, etc., I still hadn't found them.

So I just decided to change my mind and use my pencils instead. I knew there was a piece of paper I wanted to use on the top of the pile in my scrap paper drawer and of course, I opened the wrong drawer. I know where everything is, but can I open the right drawer the first time around? Noooo!!! Well, guess what was in the drawer I opened. My watercolors were in the drawer with my templates. I have no idea why I put them in there!!!

The bad news is that I'm still shaking too much. I don't know why I can color with pencils and then use a brush with water, but it works that way. For those that don't know, I shake because of medications that I have to take. If you want to know more, check out this post.

Blessings,

Yummy Pink Saturday

It's Pink Saturday!!! This is one of many California Pottery pieces that I have, most of them pink. Doesn't it look yummy with the pink Kisses? Yes, I sorted out all the pink kisses so I didn't taint Pink Saturday with another color!!!

Now you can see it empty. That's a sad sight after the one above, huh? :-(

And this is what I use it for normally. It is in my studio and contains various small die cuts that I made and they weren't quite right when I got ready to use them. Some day I will figure out something to do with them. A lot of them are pink; I {heart} pink!!! Maybe an art journal page. I should make it pink so I can display it for Pink Saturday!

Beverly at How Sweet the Sound hosts Pink Saturday every week. This is a very fun event. Each of us post a picture of something pink on our blog on Saturday and try to visit as many of the other blogs as possible. I'm not sure how many participate but it is in the hundreds. Big thanks to Beverly for coordinating all of it!

Pink Blessings to Everyone,

Striped Monkeys

I'm back on my regular schedule of doing my cards in the late evening again.

My Time to Craft's challenge this week is is to have some "Island Fun." The image is an Autumn Leaves clear stamp set. I made the flowers using a Cuttlebug die and I glued little seed beads in the center. My niece was going to be married last summer and I designed the invitations for her. I did these flowers (in the same colors but more pastel) for an example. However she didn't like the flowers (she wanted daisies) and then she didn't get married either.

I used my watercolors again. I really like the watercolor pencils. I'm going to have to break out the real watercolors one of these days. I would be able to get more colors with them. I kind of struggled with the greens on this one.

I bought and downloaded a couple of digital stamps today that I want to print and color. My printer is out of black ink and I need to by some different water color paper. Mine is to thick to put through the printer. So tomorrow I'll be off to Walmart to get some ink. Then I'll come home and print a coupon and go buy some new watercolor paper and whatever else I think I'll need at the time.

The weather man said it's supposed to rain tomorrow but after that, sunny and in the 60s. I'll be able to get out and get some yard work done. Yay!!! I love my garden. I'll have to wait to paint the deck until we've had about a weed of no rain though!!!

Blessings,