I Just Love You!

I just wanted to take the time to tell all of you who visit me, that I Love You! I appreciate that you read my rambling mind, the fact that I am opinionated (the political post, which I probably won't do again) and my issues with family. But, I especially love that you make such nice comments about my cards and crafts!

In the very near future, I will be posting for Blog Candy. Yes, I didn't think it was necessary but, have changed my mind. So, I have been shopping around for just the right mix of goodies!

Making this card is helping me reduce the amount of DP I have and use a set that I have not used yet. I see that all the time on B/S/T on SCS that folks have them unmounted and unused. But, when I bought this paper and set, I loved that it was whimsical looking, had flowers and a butterfly. It's difficult to see in the picture but, the butterfly has stickles on it.

BTW, I am selling some of my retired SU sets. I am trying to figure out a way to post them but, in the mean time you can go to cvansluys on SCS in the B/S/T thread to find my ad if you are interested.

Hope you have a great day!

• Stamps - I Just Love You
• Paper - SU Flowers for You DSP, Whisper White and Tempting Turquoise CS
• Ink - SU Regal Rose
• Accessories - SU Tempting Turquiose, Regal Rose, Old Olive and Lovely Lilac Markers, SU Grosgrain Ribbon, SU Scallop Border Punch, Paper Piercer, Dew Drops, Stickles
  

So Very Loved - Always

It has been nearly a month and a half since my Dad passed away. I think I am doing pretty good dealing with his not being at home when I go to see Mom. I keep expecting to see him sitting in his chair when I open the door. Mom is having a very difficult time dealing with it, which is to be expected since he was her life's partner. She has most of her grief when no one is at home. She was worried that she was crying too much but, I think as long as she is crying, that is a good thing.

Anyway, I decided to make a couple of cards to send to Lisa, my younger sister, Chris, my younger brother and Mom. I wanted to let them know how much I love them and to apologize if I said anything in grief that has caused them pain. I feel I did, don't remember what it was but, I can feel there is distance. I am hoping to say some kind words to 'mend fences'.

The Orange and White is for Mom. I cased this from Leigh Ann Baird off of SCS. I change it a bit but really liked the flowers on the panel. Wished the 'loved' showed up better. I used my markers to color the small prismas because I did not have the color I wanted.

The Blue and Kraft is for my sister, Lisa....she loves these colors. I cased this from Putri on SCS, I really like her style of cardmaking.

This one is for Chris, he lives out in Mid-coast California. He was not able to come home to visit with Dad prior to his passing away. But, he came for a week staying with Lisa and my BIL, John. He helped Mom do some repairs around the house that Dad just was not able to do. I think they had a good time catching up.

Thanks for looking and I hope that you have a great holiday weekend!!

Cindy

The supplies are in no particular order this time....sorry.

• Stamps - SU Embrace Life and So Very; Hero Arts Printers Type Alpha
• Ink - SU Tempting Teal, Chocolate Chip and Pumpkin Pie
• Paper - SU Bali Breeze, Parisian Breeze Speciality and Washington Apple DSP, Whisper White, Confetti White, Tempting Teal, River Rock, Pumpkin Pie, Baja Breeze, Kraft, Blue Bayou and Textured Tempting Teal CS
• Accessories - SU Ribbons, Punches and Buttons (except for the brown one, it is from my collection of antiques), Unknown Blue ribbon, Making Memories Button Brads and Lil' Davis Chipboard

True Blue Friends Forever

Today I have this lovely attempt at something vintage for you. I actually made it last week and posted earlier this week on SCS but have not had the time to post it here. I loved this bird image when I saw it in a little shop in St. Charles, Missouri.....a place that I have wanted to check out for about a year. Finally got up there a couple of weeks ago when my brother from California was in town for my Dad's funeral. My siblings and Mom took a much needed day away from the stress and shopped.

Anyway, I played around with the coloring for quite sometime until I came up with the blues..similar to baby bluebirds. I kept the template for the shaped kraft paper from a project I did last year. Just added the piercing because it looked too plain without something. The crocheted flower is mine and made with DMC floss (I am thinking I might like to make these and sell them, what do you think?).

Well, want to get outside and enjoy this lovely weather....especially while the humidity is low and there is a breeze. Hope your weekend is a pleasant one.

• Stamps - Birds - Inkadinkado, sentiment - Red Lead
• Paper - SU Very Vanilla, Not Quite Navy and Kraft CS, SU Bella Bleu DSP
• Ink - Ranger Archival Ink, SU Not Quite Navy
• Accessories - SU Small Oval Punch, Stamp-a-majig, Button, Trim, K&Co Urban Rhapsody Template, Paper Piercer, Prismacolor Pencils, Baby Oil, Crocheted Flower

Happy Crafting!!

Cindy

Happy Valentine's...a Day early!

Wayne came home from Phoenix last night late. He works as a consultant in the IT field and is contracted for a while in that city. He decided to stay there last weekend and visit an old college roommate who was also best man at our wedding. His 2 weeks away was tough on both of us...he missed me, our bed and life at home....notice I said me first? That is what he said when he walked in the door and gave me a HUGE hug.

But, get this....I asked him to get a box of See's Candy (for those of you who have never had it, you are missing the freshest, best tasting candy West of the Mississippi!) for my parents for Valentine's Day. You would think he would have been able to get one for me as well?! After all tomorrow is one of the biggest days to give Chocolate! Nope, unless he is keeping it a secret until tomorrow, I will be without. Oh, but wait.......he is going back to Phoenix next week!! I guess I will just have to drool thinking about it until next Thursday! I love the Dark Chocolate and anything nuts and chews.....drooling now!!!

This morning I went to Clark's school early to meet him when he got off the bus so he could give Brittany her Valentine gift. He had the biggest smile when I handed him the bag...it brings me much joy to see him happy, especially so early in the morning!!

I went to a meeting last night at his school to talk to agencies from our community that work for or provide for the disabled, in some form. And as much as I knew it already, hearing last night that Clark will not be able to be supported in a work setting just broke my heart.....I nearly cried. He has so many things physically that prohibit him from working at a job...feeding tube, wheelchair, communication device and needing help with incontinence. I guess I always hoped that there would be some way around those factors. But, after talking with Wayne this morning, I decided not to give up.....there just has to be a way to give him his dream. I may have to fight for what Clark needs but isn't that what parents do.....I know I am sounding like a broken record! LOL!!

Wayne and I are having a really nice dinner at home tomorrow night.....steaks, twice-baked potatoes, salad and then probably off to Ted Drew's Frozen Custard for dessert. Never heard of that? A St. Louis tradition dating back to the 1920's....to die for!! No gifts this year and we are both okay with that. The card above is for him...simple and easy.

• Stamps - SU Around and About and Happy Hearts
• Paper - SU Kahki, Basic Black and Whisper White CS
• Ink - SU Real Red Classic and Basic Black
• Accessories - SU Dimensionals, Making Memories Metal Love Tags (this one says Hugs and Kisses) and Creative Impressions Rub-Ons

Happy Valentine's Day and have a wonderful weekend! Happy Crafting!!

Cindy

Distressed Love

Sometimes love is stressed especially when you live with another human being, life partner, friend and soulmate. I love my husband dearly, wouldn't trade him for anyone else but....yes, there is always a but.....I could have killed him Friday night over this incident (and he me).

Friday morning DH decides that tonight we should make Pizza by scratch. Okay, I'm game...though I have never done this before and the thought of it frightens me a bit. He hands me a couple of recipe books with Pizza Dough recipes....I choose California Pizza Kitchen. Good pizza, right?! So, I go out an buy the needed ingredients along with my errands for the day.

Now he has agreed to help me make them, right? Well, the dough needs at least 2 hours rising time, then it has to be punched down and sit overnight in the fridge (according to the recipe). Well, by the time I got home it was 5pm...DH finishes his work day (working at home for the next couple of weeks) at about 5:30....Hmmm if we start now the dough will be ready by 7:30 and maybe we can eat by 8pm. That is usually the latest we ever eat but, I am okay with that.

Okay so let's jump ahead a bit.....(kitchen scene) it's now 9pm we are both extremly hungry because we still do not have the pizza yet and we are angry with each other for getting in each others way (kitchen too small). The pizza was to be cooked on a pizza stone in the oven....we do not have one but, we had a large terra cotta pot tray (never been used for plants and DH bought to try with his new grill) and DH decides to cook in his grill . Okay....all sounds like a plan.....but, the pizzas had to be transfered from the kitchen counter, where we made them to the pot tray outside....got stuck to the counter!!! That did not work.....pizza all over counter@#!!! So, he decides to make a Calzone now and pretty much throws it all on the pot tray on the grill.

He continues on, because he really wants this to work.....but, it came out burned and uncooked inside! That's when I gave up.....gave up trying to help, to talk to him and to look at him. I just kept on cleaning up the HUGE mess! Finally...after he tried picking through the pizza mess...he came over and gave me a huge hug and a much need appology. What did I eat? The left over meat and veggies....had a good taste but was totally unsatisfying!!

The conclusion of my story is.......practice earlier in the day; read the recipe first before you start cooking; practice some more; when you see that dinner is not working out....call the pizza man on the corner; don't let one little meal ruin your love for each other and most importantly, laugh at your mistakes!

Okay about my card....my first for you!! Pick a Petal has got to be one of my favorite sets! I wanted something simple but a little distressed....because love sometimes is not quite perfect. I masked the petal shape to create a heart using Rose Red. When masking a shape, cut just inside the shape to get a more crisp image...at least that is what works for me. The Certainly Celery piece was stamped with the flower from Baroque Motifs, crumpled and the edges distressed.

Have a great Sunday and happy crafting!!