House Mouse Valentine for Wayne

Happy Valentine's Day Friends! Here at last is the card I made for my husband, Wayne. I am really trying not to buy any more stamp sets for awhile as we are nearly debt free.....and that excites us!! I love this stamp for Anniversaries and Love cards! In fact, if I am going to used a stamp that is whimsical, this is the type I will use.

Wayne loved it, in fact, he chuckled when he saw the inside. I screwed up, I had a stamp that said 'to my' and did not use it. So, I scratched out 'a' and wrote 'my'. Oh well, he knows me and it's okay!

The coloring was with inkpads and blender pen. The brads were just plain metal and needed jazzing up....so what if it's for a guy, a little bling never hurt anyone! Poured Crystal Effects over the top and dumped the glitter on. The result was just enough sparkle.

Thanks for taking a look at my card today. Happy Crafting!!

Cindy

• Stamps - House Mouse, SU So Many Sayings, various sets for the inside sentiments
• Ink - Ranger Archival Black, SU Creamy Caramel, Blush Blossom, Basic Gray, Pretty in Pink, Bashful Blue Inks

Paper - SU Whisper White, Rose Red and Soft Suede CS, SU Throughly Modern DSP

Accessories - Stamp-a-majig, Unknown Brads, SU Crystal Effects, Pink Paislee Pixie Stix Glitter, Paper Piercer, SU Corner Rounder Punch, SU Soft Suede Grosgrain Ribbon, Glue Dots

Sorry for the screwy post.....just could not get it fixed to look nicer!!

Simple Chipboard Valentine

Okay....I have done my last chipboard heart card for awhile! This one was the last and I was loosing my mojo when I did it. I used a piece of crocheted trim I made a while back when I need something to do in front of the TV. Everything else is pretty straightforward except I used some Tsukineko Brilliance around the edges of the hearts for some shimmer.

Today is a lazy day....well sort of. I have to clean up my crafting area a bit but, to me that is not really working. Then I want to get a Hawaiian shirt cut out for Wayne for his birthday next month. It will still be a bit cold for him to wear it for a few more months but, knowing him he might try to wear something underneath it!

Tomorrow I will post the card I made for Wayne.....no chipboard hearts! We are going to the Zoo to watch the Penguins waddle on the sidewalk near their exhibit. Then come home and make some French Onion Soup and Steak Dinner. I just might make that cheesecake I have been promising him for awhile now to top off our Valentine dinner.

Whatever you do today or tomorrow I hope it involves loving someone close to you! Happy Crafting!!

Cindy

• Stamps - My Sentiments Exactly!


• Paper - SU Very Vanilla and Riding Hood Red CS, SU Candy Lane DSP
  
• Ink - Tsukineko Brilliance Pearlescent Biege, SU Riding Hood Red


• Accessories - Rusty Pickle Chipboard, SU Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon, Crocheted Scalloped Trim, SU Scallop Border Punch, Glue Dots, Dimensionals, Sanding Tools, Sponges

With All My Love & Lincoln's Birthday

Good Morning Friends!! Okay here is another chipboard heart. Pretty simple and easy to mail. The green circle is tinsel glitter from MS...funny how this came to be on my card. Bought some new glitter with my Michael's coupon to match the SU Bermuda Bay color. Opened the top and this was the inside liner to the bottle. So, I trimmed it down and used it. So you could say I recycled today!!

Not too much going on here expecting another snow storm this weekend. Though only about 2-4" which if we compare to New England's latest amounts, it's a dusting! St. Louis folks get all panicky....rushing out to the stores to milk, eggs and bread. I call them the French Toast people......Ha!

Last weekend I think you remember that Wayne and I were going to take a couple of days away and head to Springfield, Illinois? We wanted to go see the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (which I highly recommend) and his home. After the tour of his home we walked around the area and struck up a conversation with a National Park Service (they are in charge of the home and few blocks surrounding it) ranger. He was off duty but, answered our questions about the homes in this area and whether there was any record of the Lincoln's having interactions with the neighbors. He did not know.

Then we asked him about the color of the house. It turns out for the longest time it was painted white with green shutters. Then in the 80's preservationists started reading newspaper accounts from Lincoln's time period and found there were mentions of a sandy brown house with green shutters. They were also able, when they were doing restorations to the attic (during the Lincoln's time in the house lighting struck the house and they had a fire) the roof had to be raised a bit to do repairs to the roof. That's when they found a brick with the original paint still on it, not seen or touched by the elements for over 130 years. Interesting, huh? I love history!!


Hope you have a great day and good start to the weekend! Happy Crafting too!
Cindy

• Stamps - SU So Many Sayings
• Paper - SU Very Vanilla CS, K & Co Lovely and SU Welcome Friends DPs, Creative Cafe' Notecards
• Ink - Ranger's Archival Black
• Accessories - MS Tinsel Glitter, Dimensionals, SU Word Window Punch, SU Melon Mambo Grosgrain Ribbon, Hand crocheted Trim, SU and Rusty Pickle Chipboard, 2-Way Glue, Sanding Tools

Wild Raspberry Love Card

Good Morning Friends! I am still working with the chipboard hearts this week. Actually, I made these all in one day I am just now posting them in hopes of attracting more attention to my blog. I guess unless you are a demo for CTMH or SU or a designer for some company you are destined not to get many folks looking. It's a bit dissapointing but, that will not get me down in the dumps, I will just keep going.

I love this combination of colors together and the vintage feel. Whomever from these paper companies that design all these wonderful papers are truly brillant! I think that is something we cardmakers and scrapbookers take for granted.

I put this card on one of my Grandmother's quilts she made. My Grandmother, Mom's Mom, was not a quilter all her life, she learned late in life. In fact, she learned out of spite you could say. She was wanting a quilt to be made for my Mom and Dad when they got married nearly 54 years ago.

So, she went to the church in her area of Illinois that was doing that on a regular basis and was told that it was over a year wait. Grandma got mad and said she would just teach herself. Most folks at during that time knew how to sew already, it was the quilting that was different. This quilt is called Snowball because when you open it up, the white sections look like snowballs.

Thanks for looking and hope you have a very happy crafting day!!
Cindy

• Stamps - SU Baroque Motifs, Stampabilities Sentiment
• Paper - SU Very Vanilla, K & Co Wild Raspberry DP
• Ink - Ranger Archival Black Ink, Tsukineko Brillance Pearlescent Biege
• Accessories - SU Very Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon, SU Gold Cord, Unknown Rhinestone, Rusty Pickle Chipboard Hearts, Glue Dots, Dimensionals, Sanding Tools, Sponges

Ticket to Love

Good Frosty Morning! I have another Valentine to show you. Again, this one evolved from the chipboard hearts. I had the background paper but, did not really like the color together with the hearts....so, I used my Weathered and Linen Background stamps to soften. I also distressed the edges.

One of the things I like to do is collect things, you just never know when you are going to need them. I collect buttons and fasteners.....oh they can't be new ones. The older the better. This button, you can only see it when you click on the picture to get a closer view, is cut from an abalone shell. I love it!!

Hope you do too! Thanks always for looking at my creations, because I know time is always a factor in our lives nowdays! So, just know, I appreciate you......love you!!

Happy Crafting!!
Cindy

• Stamps - SU Linen and Weathered Backgrounds (retired)
• Paper - SU Very Vanilla CS, SU SAB Welcome Neighbor DP, K & Co Lovely DP and Creative Cafe' Notecards
• Ink - SU Creamy Caramel
• Accessories - SU Distressing Tool, Rusty Pickle Chipboard, Button, SU Gold Cord, Unknown Ribbon and Trim, Tim Holtz Ticket

Valentine Cards

Good Morning Friends! I finally got around to posting my Valentine's cards. Not sure who this one will go to yet.......

All of the cards in the next few days will be using chipboard hearts. I have a huge stash of chipboard stuff and hearts were no exception. This one in particular was from Cosmo Cricket and has two holes in the center making it look like a big button. I toyed around with putting a ribbon through it and then thought the glitter would be better.

Cards like these take me a while to play around with I start with wanting to use up something....chipboard. Then wanted to play around with some SAB DP pack from SU...the heart paper and the rest just happens. I think this card from start to finish was 30 minutes. Not bad but, not one I would would want to go into mass production for.

Anyway, thanks for looking! Hope wherever you are in the world your day is sunny and bright!
Happy Crafting!!
Cindy

• Stamps - SU Holiday Best - Hostess
• Paper - SU Whisper White, SU DSP - retired, SU SAB Neighbors DSP and Creative Cafe' Notecard
• Ink - SU Chocolate Chip
• Accessories - Cosmo Cricket Chipboard Heart, Unknown Doubleface Satin Ribbon, SU Gold Cord (retired), SU Button (retired), SU 1/4" Circle Punch, Glue Dots, MS White Chunky and Pink Tinsel Glitter, 2 Way Glue Pen

Don't forget to check my sidebar for Blog Candy giveaways!

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

Confetti Hearts

I don't remember where I found this inspiration....it wasn't the colors but the layout I suppose. My sewing machine has been in storage since the beginning of December when I was sewing Magic Pillowcases and Hawaiian Shirts for gifts. It was time to dig it out.....looks like I need to practice more as the stitches are not laying so well. And I appologize for the color....our scanner program has been sick so, I have to find another way to get better pics. C'est la vie!

I have to tell you about the great sales I picked up on yesterday. Oh you know, the stuff you could live without but, would rather not. One of the places I stopped was Michael's the 40% off coupon was burning a hole in my pocket! They have put in a Dollar Deals (I am not sure if that is the name....it was more seasonal stuff) section towards the back of the store....not the one they usually have towards the front. Anyway, for a $1 I found chipboard (feeding the addiction) house, heart, flower, splat, star shape books. I picked up the houses and stars....thinking ahead for July 4th with a "Liberty" garland.

Also for a dollar I picked up a organdy bag (about 5x7) that can be 'dressed' up with stamping.....ooooo....better yet....how about putting those jars of Denise's Lotion in (the jars came in Thursday and I bought the things needed to make a batch yesterday)? There were some cools glittered stickers in flower, butterfly and star shapes (July 4th banner??) Well, I think you get the idea here....some really great ideas came flowing when I did not have to rush about yesterday. Now I just have to get busy and get crafting!!

• Stamps - Inkadinkado, SU Short & Sweet, Rubber Stamp Tapestry (tiny heart)
• Ink - SU Real Red, Basic Black
• Paper - SU Kraft, Basic Black and Whisper White
• Accessories - Brads, Sewing Machine, Dimensionals, SU Stampin' Pastels, Blender Pen

Hope you have a great Sunday with family and friends!

Happy Crafting!!

Loaded with Valentine Love

Good Morning crafters!! I wanted to post this one this morning as a tribute to my brother, Chris, who is in car sales in California. Like nearly everyone else, he is struggling right now with the crappy economy. I wanted to cheer him up and send a Valentine too.

For the longest time, until I told him one day on the phone, he did not know that the cards were handmade. So, he was throwing them away. And for a while, that bothered me. But, then I had to tell myself that I did my part in sending a the creation, what he did with it afterwards is up to him. He's just not a saver.

Well, I am off to run errands and hit my LSS, they are having a big sale today to get ready for all the new things from CHA. Have a great Saturday....I hope to post a couple more Valentine cards later.

Happy Crafting!!
Cindy

She Lights Up His Life!

This is the card I made last night for my son to give his best girl, Brittany, for Valentine's Day. Clark, our son, and Brittany go to the same school. This is his 2nd year at this particular school for the disabled in St. Louis. We chose it because the regular high school could not meet his needs or they were going to place him in classes that would be of no use to him. So, we chose a Special School District not too far from where he lives. It has been a wonderful decision!

When Clark arrived at Southview School, Brittany, liked him right away and told him so. She invited him to Prom last year, visits him at the group home he lives in and just wants to be close to him. Isn't that what typical teenagers do? Brittany is also in a wheelchair, though she can write and speak clearly.....things Clark cannot do without devices and tools.

Anyway, when it comes to getting gifts and cards for anyone, we always give Clark choices.....since we cannot take him to stores to get them (a story for another day). I had found a sheet of postage stamp looking valentine's by K & Co. He looked them over and picked this one. When I asked him why that one? He said, "because she makes me so happy." Isn't that what we want for our children? Life for Clark is certainly not very easy so why not make it as happy for him as I can.

• Stamps - None
• Inks - None
• Paper - Bazzill, Basic Grey, K & Co, SU Confetti White
• Ribbon, Brads, Fruit Punch Stickles, Chipboard, dimensionals

I hope that you have someone or something in your life that "lights" you up too!

Happy Crafting!!