Merry Christmas 2015!

Merry Christmas to all my family and friends!  I am very blessed this year to have my son and daughter here for the holiday and celebrate with them. Wishing you all Peace, Love and Joy!  Thank you so much for visiting my blog this year and can't wait to get back into my craftroom!

Christmas Eve dinner

Christmas Birthday!

My brother in law's birthday is today and he is a coffee lover like most of America so I made this Christmas travel coffee cup for him.  I added some Christmas touches to it since his birthday is a week from Christmas Day!  Must be hard to have your birthday in December with Christmas just around the corner.  We are celebrating at Longhorn Restaurant tonight!

I made a belly band for the card to make it look like the holder for the cup and I also was able to use my crimper which I haven't used for a while.  Check out this tutorial from Heather. She does a good job explaining how to do it.  I embossed the front of the card with Cuttlebug's snowflake EF.  The little tag at the top of the cup says "special day".

The inside of the card has a picture of Russ and the sentiment that says, "Hope your birthday is good to the last drop".  Happy Birthday Russ!!

Holiday Cheer and a Happy New Year!

Warm Snowman

I have made 2 different cards for my Christmas cards this year.  This is the first one.  Saw it on my favorite site, Pinterest and had to make it.  Love using glitter,  the scarf was made with white glitter paper from Michael's.  The snowflake is from Sizzix and Martha Stewart punch.  The sentiment is from Stampin up.  The background is an embossing folder from Cuttlebug.  Cute and simple, perfect for this year's card.  My second card is a punch art angel that I also saw on pinterest. White and gold glitter paper was used for the wings of the angel on this card.  Her halo is from glossy silver and gold paper.  In all, I have made 40 cards and they have all been sent out.  Inside the card reads for both cards - "May your season be touched with the simple grace of his love".  Merry Christmas!

Angel watching over you!

Disney Christmas Trip

Mark with the winner!

Christmas tree at Saratoga!

My husband, Mark and I with our friends, Cindy and Dave headed to DisneyWorld last week and stayed at Saratoga Springs!  Cindy and Dave are Disney Vacation Club Members and we had a fantastic time. The weather was great.  The first night it was a little damp with some sprinkles but perfect for the parks.  I was happy because I could wear my flip flops and capris.  The temperature ranged from mid 60's to 80 degrees, most of the time it was in the mid 70's.  We arrived on Thursday and headed to Disney Springs (Downtown Disney) and ate at T-Rex.  Friday, we went to Magic Kingdom, and then Saturday was Animal Kingdom, Sunday was Hollywood Studios and the last day was Epcot!

Pretty Poinsetta Tree!

One of our favorite rides at the Magic Kingdom was Thunder Mountain.  We just love the roller coasters and then we headed to the Haunted Mansion and Jungle Cruise.  Magic Kingdom was beautifully decorated for Christmas!  I think it was the decorated the best of all the Parks.

Animal Kingdom

Hollywood Studios

I couldn't stop taking pictures of Christmas Trees!  Everywhere you turn there was a tree or decoration to take a picture.  When we were at Epcot we weren't able to get a seat but we were able to hear Whoopi Goldberg narrate the story of Jesus' birth.  It was a fun, fun trip!  One that my husband and I will remember.

America's Christmas Tree

Thank you Cindy & Dave

Happy Birthday Sisters!

Today is my twin sister's birthdays!!  I made them a card from Graphic 45 Couture because they are fabulous!  This line is so beautiful and I love the color combinations!!  I added some flowers from Petaloos.  The sentiment on the front is from Spellbinders.  Below is a picture of Chris and Connie at their birthday party a couple of years ago but they haven't changed.  Also a picture of us as little kids, can you pick out Chris and Connie?

I Love you Chris and Connie and I hope you have the best birthday ever!!

This is only 5 of us!

Happy Birthday Chris & Connie!

Rachel's Birthday

Just a quick post to show a birthday card for my daughter's roommate.  Her birthday was last week and I made a building block card.  I used the Graphic 45 Couture paper collection.  I have been hoarding this paper line and have made several cards with it.  My sisters birthdays are coming up and I made theirs from this collection too!  Just love it!  I used Elizabeth Craft's glittered stickers on this card.  So pretty!  Happy Birthday Rachel!

Thanksgiving Day!

Happy Turkey Day!  I took this picture a couple of years ago near my sister's house and loved it. People have these inflatables for every holiday.  Love seeing them!  This turkey is huge!

For Jeremiah

My daughter's boyfriend and my boss have birthdays coming up so I made the same card for them because they both love music.  I saw this card on pinterest and thought this would be perfect. I have been told that vinyl records are making a come back.  So happy Birthday to Jeremiah and Steve!

For Steve

Happy Thanksgiving to  everyone!  Today is the first holiday without my Mom and Dad. We all thought of them the whole day.  Mom loved Thanksgiving.  She would start about 3 days before Thanksgiving making pies.  She made just about every pie that you could imagine.  She wanted to make sure that everyone had their favorite.  My siblings and I were very lucky to have such wonderful parents.  We also have wonderful memories of them at Thanksgiving!

Birthday Shoes

Love these building block cards especially for birthdays! I have made a few of these this year for birthdays and get well. Graphic 45 Couture paper collection was used for this one.  My sister-in-law is a shopper and her favorite item to purchase is shoes and handbags.  Loved making this card for her. I used cut aparts for the card and a shoe die as well as spellbinder dies.  The handbags are little 3-dimensional handbags from K & Company.

A closer look at the inside of the card.  I think Charlotte will like the saying, "A girl can never have too many shoes".  Happy Birthday Charlotte!  Enjoy your day!  Love you!

The back

My Best Friend

My mom passed away 2 months ago today on September 2nd, 2015. It is still hard to believe that she is not with us. She was my best friend.  She was always on my side no matter what was happening in my life. She made you feel that you were the most important person when she was talking to you.  Mom and Dad had 8 children and they certainly had their ups and downs but their strong faith in God got them through it all.  Dad had tuberculosis when my older sister was a baby and Mom made the trip to Worcester, Mass from Small Point, Maine every weekend with Terri.  That was not easy back in 1950-1951. Mom loved to garden, paint and play the piano. I was always so impressed that she was able to teach herself to play the piano especially after I only took lessons for a year.   Mom loved  her children, grandchildren and great-children.   My Dad died 5 years ago and my oldest sister, Terri, died 6 years ago.  They are all together again and it helps me to know that one day I will see them again.  Love you Mom and will miss you everyday.

I made this clipboard memorial of mom with a poem that my sister, Chris found on the internet shortly after my mother died.  It was perfect for Mom called A Mother's Garden.

My Mother kept a garden,

a garden of the heart,

She planted all the good things

that gave my life it’s start.

She turned me to the sunshine

and encouraged me to dream,

Fostering and nurturing

the seeds of self-esteem…

And when the winds and rain came,

she protected me enough-

But not too much because she knew

I’d need to stand up strong and tough.

Her constant good example

always taught me right from wrong-

Markers for my pathway

that will last a lifetime long.

I am my Mother’s garden.

I am her legacy-

And I hope today she feels the love

reflected back from me.

Halloween Treats

I wanted to make something special for our neighbors two little girls.  They really like arts and crafts so I thought this would really be cute for them.  The base for these cute little treats is a template for a french fry box that I saw on pinterest.  The template for the box is here.  I sponged the boxes first with Distressed Ink Black Soot from Tim Holtz.  I cut the hair for Frankenstein free hand and the nose is the tab punch from SU.  Back of the Fry Box is pictured below.

Just a quick and cute little sentiment for the back of the French Fry Box.  The ghost is sizzix die which I use every Halloween which I love.  We don't have a lot of kids in the neighborhood so I only made 4. I wanted to make a bag because I couldn't find any Halloween  bags at the stores so I made my own.  I cut 4 1/2 x 12 and scored at 6 for the base of the bag.  For the gussett, I cut 2 - 3 x 6 and scored at 1/2, 1 1/2, and 2 1/2 inch on both of the pieces.  I adhered them to either side of the bag.

I decorated the bag like a mummy.  Added some googly eyes to the bag, which I love to do!  Distress ink, wild honey was used on the strips of paper and around the bag.  Just added a little "Trick or Treat" sentiment with a sizzix bat.  I made 6 of these so I am ready now for 10 kids.  We usually only have about 6 kids.  I think I am ready for the little trick or treaters!!    Happy Halloween Everyone!!

Halloween Hospitality

I saw this card on pinterest and wanted to make it for  my brother and his wife.  They have been for the last 3 or 4 years been hosting us and other family members so that the guys can go to a football game at the Metlife Stadium.  This year the NY Jets played the Washington Redskins.  Even though we are Patriot's fans, the guys love tailgating and "football fever".  The girls go shopping which I think we get the better deal.  We had a blast! By the way, the Jets won.

Since this year it was just before Halloween, I had to make them a Halloween Thank you!! The accordion style ghost was easy to make.  When you can add "googly eyes" to anything it is always fun!  Below is the front of the card which is a sizzix bat die. This was such a cute card and I hope they like it!  Thanks again you guys and Happy Halloween!!

Front of the card

Halloween Pop up

I made this Halloween card for my son.  Saw a few of these pop up cards on pinterest and really liked how they fold inward when closed.  The square insert measures 6x6 and scored at 3 turn once and score again at 3, then score on one of the diagonals right across.  I really love using my Martha Stewart spider web border, very cool punch!!   Check out the front of the card below...

The stamp that I used is an old stamp set from Stampin up.  It is actually one of the first stamp sets I bought at a Stampin up party.  I colored it a little with copic markers and added sizzix spider, ghost and skeleton!  Spooky!!  Halloween is a fun holiday and even more fun to make cards!!!
Happy  Halloween Eric!!

Everett's Birthday

This is a pop up Thomas the train card for a 1 year old birthday party.  This video explains this card perfectly.  She does an excellent job showing just how to make this card.  I embossed the ground with cuttlebug folder and I had the Sizzix cloud die for the little clouds behind Thomas.  Loved the way it all came together!  Happy Birthday Everett!  You are adorable!!

Front of the card

Feel Better Soon!

Just a quick post to show you a punch art nurse that I saw on pinterest here.  A friend just got out of the hospital after some surgery and wanted to make him this card.  It's a building block card and a fun card to make.  Wishing him a speedy recovery for sure.

Hope you are back on your feet soon!

Travel Birthday

My son's birthday is next week so I had to get these cards in the mail for him.  He is going to be 32!  I can't believe I have a 32 year old man! Where has all the time gone!  He is a avid bicyclist so I had to use my bicycle die for  one of his cards. He also loves to travel so I made him a card from the graphic 45 collection paper that is titled "Come Away With Me".  Love this collection, it is soooo pretty!

Closer look

This card is a tunnel card. The hot air balloon die is from Memory box and it is the first time I have used it.  The clouds are from SU cupcake punch.  Fun card to make! Happy Birthday Eric! Love you and miss you!

Building Block Card for Baby

My husband has been coaching soccer for a long time and now his soccer players are having little ones of their own.  This is for Ashley's baby Samantha.  Ashley was a great soccer player so, of course, we had to get Samantha her first soccer ball!!  I have seen pictures on facebook of Samantha and she is adorable!  Love making these building block cards for babies and birthdays!!  I have seen them for "Get Well" too!

Closer look

The paper is from Echo Park.  I had some leftover from a baby album I made for a friend.  Really love this paper collection!  "Sugar and spice and everything nice", love this saying from an old poem. The bib on the front is from dies and ribbon.  Cute punch art item!!

My 1st Soccer Ball!

I want one of these for me!  

Anniversary Tunnel Card

Last Wednesday was my sister and her husband's 10th year Wedding Anniversary!  I can't believe it has been 10 years already.  This card is a tunnel card which was another fun card to make.

The card measures 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 and the inside part measures 8 x 5.  Score the outside at 4 1/4 and the inside part is scored at 2, 4 and 6.  Easy peasy!!   Hope they love it!  Happy 10th Anniversary Connie & Russ!!

Sunflower Pop up Book Card

Here is my first Pop up book card!  Easier than I thought.  My sister,  Chris gave me one she made for my birthday in August and I have been wanting to make one ever since.  I used the Graphic 45, French Country Paper which I think now is retired but I have been hoarding some sheets of it.  It is a beautiful collection but what collection from Graphic 45 isn't!  I used the cut aparts from the collection on the front with a fleur-de-lis flower from $1 bin at Michael's.   I always find great things in that $1 bin!!

Decorated the inside with more sunflower dies from Dienamics and the vine die is from Memory Box.  Love the way that this card came out but I am not sure who is going to get it.  October is a big birthday month so I am sure it will be used!  Can't wait to make another one!  Thanks for stopping by!

Shoes are the best!

My daughter's birthday was last week and I saw this card on pinterest.  I thought it was cute and perfect for my daughter who likes shoes.  Black, white and red always is a great color scheme.   The shoe die is from Die-namics, I think.  The butterfly is a Martha Stewart punch.  The flowers are from the $1 bin at Michael's.  The paper is from DSW from Joann's.  Love the Tri-shutter style cards. Happy Birthday Lindsey!!

Closer look