Trying to get back to normal...

Whatever NORMAL is! 

Hello friends. It's been quite a few weeks since I posted and today's post will be very short. I just wanted to stop and let you know I am really alive and well.

Like most of you, the Christmas holidays before and after that wonderful time of year, takes a lot of our time and energy. It seems I have been on the run since before Thanksgiving. Today I'm playing "catch up". I returned home from a 13 day stay in North Carolina and Virginia on Monday late evening. Gosh, I hate those 5+ hour flights, but had a wonderful time with my family, so it was worth the hours, not only in the air, but the layovers.

I am going to be working on New Year cards, Thank you's, and a brief newsletter, hopefully in a few days. Yes, I didn't miss type New Years cards. :} I was able to send out family Christmas cards, but did not get cards out to friends and extended family. Maybe next year I will do a better job at that. We'll see how that goes!

What are your New Year plans? I hope something safe and fun. My hubby and I will not be attending our churches New Year activities tonight which includes playing games, worship and communion to usher in the New Year. He came down with a cold the second week of December and unfortunately, it has turned into bronchitis and he has not been feeling well for 2+ weeks. He finally agreed to going to Urgent Care yesterday afternoon. That was a 3 1/2 hour ordeal, but he did get some prescriptions to help his healing along. He will be staying home the rest of the week, which is so unusual for him.  I think in the 34 years I have been married to him, he has only taken perhaps, 2 days off from work because of sickness.

Have a Blessed and Happy New Year  

and I hope you will have a chance to do something CRAFTY!

Hugs,
Bernadette

What a Wonderful Time of the Year!

I just returned home from Scottsdale, AZ  late last night. Steve and I left the day after Thanksgiving to visit friends and take care of our little "cottage" there.  We will be renting it out again from January through March and I wanted to wash curtains, windows, dust blinds, and do some scrubbing.We also bought a couple of pieces of new furniture and I did some rearranging.

This was taken several years ago before and added landscaping.  Although we didn't add much. This little place has given me so much pleasure even though it's a 1983 Mobile Home. I enjoy it as much as my new 2013 manufactured home here in San Marcos, CA.

I love my front porch here in San Marcos

My favorite side of the house

We had a wonderful time, although Steve had to leave on Sunday afternoon to be back to work, I stayed until Wednesday early evening. What a joy to spend time with old friends. 

Do you find when you have good friends, no matter how long you've been apart, you just pick up that relational bond when you do see each other? They always make me feel special when I see them and go out of their way when I'm there. It truly was a time I needed to regroup. Thanks, Barb, John, Sue, Alan, Randy, Wendy, Linda and all the rest of you who blessed my heart while I was there. You and Road Runner Lake Resort is certainly a special place!

Might post title was chosen, because as a Christian, this time of year is so wonderful and so special. A time to lift the name of Jesus and remember how important His birth was, not only to believers, but to the world who are desperately in need of Him in their lives.  

John 3:16 NIV

  For God so loved the world that he gave his one 

and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but  but have eternal life.

 What a promise, what a Saviour!

Hopefully, I'll be back on track with posting cards and projects here within a couple of days. Stampin' Up! has a new catalog reveal and I'll be posting information about that.

Make it a great Thursday and do something CRAFTY my friends!

Hugs,
Bernadette

MOJO373 Tall and Skinny

Today's card is using the new MOJO373 Tall and Skinny Sketch for the end of the month challenge.  I cut my card 6x7 and will have to make an envelope to fit it, but I prefer this size.

I did keep it fairly simple  using only a few layers and 2 embossing folders.  The sketch didn't call for an embellishment in the left corner, but that spot was missing trees and really needed to be filled in.

I hope you make it a great Monday evening and will get to do something CRAFTY!
 
SU PRODUCTS
Santa and Company DSP
Old Olive CS, Soft Suede CS, Naturals White CS
Retired Wood Buttons
Woodgrain EF, On Point Textured Empressions  EF
Retired stamp: Christmas Messages


Hugs,
Bernadette

 

Twirly-Whirly Birthday

Good morning! Today I am posting a card that I have linked to two blog challenges, MOJO372 and Color Throwdown319.

The focal point on this card was spurred by Linda over at stampingschool.com. It is the Flat Pinwheel technique which is a technique that was popular 3 or 4 years ago, although this is the first time I have made one. I really enjoyed putting it together and there are endless possibilities for colors and papers.  

WARNING, these can become addictive!

I knew this would be work great for the MOJO sketch, and since I had to make a feminine Birthday card, the Color Throwdown  challenge was perfect.

I decided to use a retired SU stamp, Wishes Your Way, since it originally came with a matching Pinwheel die cut.

The pattern paper is just some I had in my stash. I was pleased it matched well with the the Pear Pizzaz. The Blushing Bride was embossed with the Perfect Polka Dots EF.

To add the blue in the color combo, I used a strip of Night of Navy CS embossed with the retired Lattice EF,  matching ink and a circle punched with the 7/8" Scallop Circle punch. A Blushing Bride button, Candy Dots and some white Bakers Twine finished up my card.

I hope you make your Thursday a great one, and as always, go do something CRAFTY my friends!

Hugs from CA,
Bernadette

Thanksgiving Re-designed Cards

Today I'm posting 2 re-designed Fall/Thanksgiving cards that I had previously posted here on my blog.  

I needed 14 cards, and I needed them ASAP. Why do we card makers either NOT send cards we've created, or are scurrying to get some made? It's still a mystery to me...

 

I really love both of these cards, but needed something a little less time intensive and using the products I had on hand. Here is what I came up with. What do you think?

Inside of Early Espresso/Crumbcake card

Both cards were stamped using the sentiment that came in the October 2014 Paper Pumpkin Kit. (I corrected this. I inadvertently put November PP Kit)

I was thrilled with this kit. So, so pretty and so MUCH product.

Here is a link to the YouTube Video Stampin' Up! has uploaded so you can see all it's GOODNESS!

If you would like to get a "Creative 30 minute Fix"and get a new project every month, you can CLICK here and subscribe under my business page. I would love to be your Creative coach, answer questions, and occasionally give you alternative projects using the months kits.

Stampin' Up! also offers a 3 month, 6 month, and 12 month subscription at a savings. Why not give it a try? You won't be disappointed.

SU PRODUCTS:
Paper: Early Espresso, Crumbcake, Old Olive, Naturals White
Ink:Tangerine Tango, Mossy Meadow, Soft Suede
Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder
Labels Collection
Brights Candy Dots
Large Oval for pumpkin pieces
Modern Label for stem
Bird Builder Punch for leaves 

I hope you make this a great Tuesday and do something CRAFTY, my friends!

Hugs, 
Bernadette

Wishing You Christmas Cheer

Today's card is a card I created for Mojo371 , Paper Players, and Christmas Stamping All Year Long (anything goes) challenge.

I'm really getting accustomed to creating the "Less is More" cards. Clean, simple and easy, you can't get much better then that! I still struggle a little always seeming to want to add the MORE, though. I believe the more I create cards like these the better and more comfortable I will become.

Do any of you struggle with this kind of card? I would love to know your creative thought process when you sit down to do one.

I did use a retired SU Christmas set, Christmas Messages, which I am still very fond of, pairing it with the new and very popular, Festival of Trees with matching punch. The sentiment was framed using the Deco Labels framelits(#1)

SU Papers: Mossy Meadow, Cherry Cobbler,Very Vanilla, and Under the Tree DSP
Very Vintage Designer Buttons

Well I'm off to link these cards up and get working on my Thanksgiving cards. I hope you have a wonderful weekend and as always, do something CRAFTY my friends!

Hugs,
Bernadette

Just Stopping by Today

Good afternoon! Just stopping by today before another day of an "empty" blog. We have had my daughter and granddaughter from Florida here for several days. We have had a wonderful time just hanging out and doing some special things.

We went to San Diego Safari Park one of my favorite places, by the way, on Saturday. The crowds were down, the sun was shinning and the animals cooperated.

This male Gorilla is over 40 yrs. old!

 

 

 

Great Lemur interactive exibit

We had a fun, but were tired. An extra treat for the evening was to go to Phil's Barbeque in San Marcos. Their Rib Tickler is great and priced right.

Sunday was our Sunday service where Pastor Aaron is doing a yearly series,  At The Movies, that uses movie clips to bring us a teaching on our relationship with the Lord. Free candy and Popcorn provided!

Panera was our next stop, then family pictures at the Forum Shopping Center.

 

This is one of the beautiful Trompe L'oeil paintings in the shopping center. We took several family pictures using this background. Beautiful, isn't it?

After a few hours of rest ( actually naps) we headed to Temecula to Chapin Winery for a wine tasting. Temecula has 39 wineries. This is the first one we have visited here since living in California.

My daughter left yesterday and my granddaughter will be leaving tomorrow evening. One of the hardest things living here on the West Coast is having 6 children and 6 GC on the East Coast, but thankfully, air travel, Skype, text messages and phone calls keeps us connected. 

I hope this didn't bore you all too much. Have a wonderful evening and I hope you get to do something CRAFTY my friends!

Hugs,

Bernadette

The Glory in Us

Sorry I have been absent most of the week. I have been finishing up Craft Fair merchandise, entertaining family from out of town, plus dealing with some disturbing PC problems. Hopefully, I'll to get the PC problem settled by this coming week.
Today I'm back with a card that I am linking to Freshly Made Sketches161 challenge and the Verve Nov2014 Inspiration challenge.

This card has to be one of my recent favorites. I love the sketch and the colors. Of course, next week it might have another favorite card! ;} 

That's it for today. Well, I need to get skedaddling. I pray you have a wonderful Sunday and get to do something CRAFTY my friends!

Hugs,
Bernadette

Tags,Tags, Tags

Just a quick Monday morning post today. I've been working on tags, cards, and money holders that I will be donating to my Parks Craft Fair.  This is just a simple set of tags that will be sold 5 to a package. 

The Cheerful Tags stamp and the Note Tag Punch make these so quick and easy. LOVE that! 

Well, I'm off to get back to finishing up my donation projects. Make it a great Monday and go do something CRAFTY my friends!

Hugs,
Bernadette

Catty CASED Card

Today's card is one that I CASEd from the 2014-2015 Stampin'Up! catalog. I had been thumbing through it and tagging pages for quite awhile. I just recently heard of a new blog to me, CASE-ing the Catty. Although , I could not enter this card, I hope to be linking my Catty cards there in the future.

There are times when I just need to create and CASE-ing, (copy and share everything) a card makes things so much easier, plus the catalog contains so much inspiration.  

CASED from page 139 in 2014-2015 Annual Catalog

I did us different DSP and card stock colors on my card, but  the base remained the Crumb Cake.

PRODUCTS
Stamp: Polka-Dot Pieces 
Paper: Crumb Cake, Hello Honey DS Paper Pack, Pool Party,Whisper White 
Ink:Holy Honey, Pool Party
Banners Framelits, Bitty Banners Framelits, 2 3/8" Scallop, 1 3/4" Scallop, Elegant Butterfly Punch
Retired Pool Party ribbon and Lattice EF

I hope you have a wonderful Friday and a relaxing and fun weekend. 
Go do CRAFTY my friends!
Hugs,
Bernadette
 

Thanks from the Whole Bunch

Yesterday I decided to play along with Color Throwdown316 using The Deconstructed Sketch#174. Hopefully, my color selection is close enough to those that ctd316 posted. I always seem to second guess myself on color selection. 

I really loved the little bird design that was in the Motley Monsters DSP. I just pulled the colors from the paper, which made things so easy. That's why I love SU, everything coordinates!

I rummage through my stamp stash to find a sentiment that would go with these cute little birds. I came across this older Taylored Expressions stamp set, Fruity Friends.  Although, it was paired with some adorable fruit, I decided it could be used with the flock of birds. What do you think?

SU PRODUCTS
Paper: Whisper White, Tangerine Tango, Basic Black, Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry
Decorative Dots EF
Large Scallop 

I'm off to do my Bible reading for the day, start wash and write some emails. I hope you make this a great Thursday and as always, go do something CRAFTY my friends!

Hugs,
Bernadette

Merry, Merry

I haven't created or posted in several days, but today I got into my Studio and got to work!

The Paper Players blog had a great sketch up and it was due soon, so I played along.

SU PRODUCTS
Cheerful Tags
Memento Tuxedo Black Ink
Whisper White CS
The beautiful new Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper which I used my Cricut to cut out the star (O0ps! I meant Snowflake!) It really worked beautifully even with the intricate cuts and at a small size. Needless to say, I was very pleased. I still love my Cricut Expression and I'm planning on using it more often in the coming months.
Frosted Sequins
Decorative Dots EF 
Stampin' Dimensionals

NON-SU -  6x6 Winter Park (Doubled-Sided card stock by Lauri Whitlock)


Well I'm going to work on some other projects I have laying on my very messy work desk.  Make it a wonderful Wednesday, and do something CRAFTY my friends!

Hugs, 
Bernadette

Pink and Gray Christmas

Today's card was not difficult, but let's just say, I'm a red, kraft, and green kind of gal. Especially for the Christmas Holiday.


Merry Monday Christmas challenge#131 was to create a card using non-traditional colors. I played with several color combos and even stamps, and the card below was my final decision. I actually like it quite well and even have a recipient in mind.  Are gray and pink your colors?

SU PRODUCTS
Stamp: Wondrous Wreath w/ matching framelit
Paper: Basic Grey, Blushing Bride, Confetti Celebration DSP, Silver Glimmer Paper
Ink: Basic Gray
Project Life Cards and Labels framelit
Apothecary Accents framelit
Rhinestones Basic Jewels
Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder - this was used on the sentiment and the flower
Stampin' Dimensionals - Lots of those!

I hope you make this Friday a great one, enjoy your weekend AND stay CRAFTY my friends!

Hugs,
Bernadette

Best Kid Ever!

I'm back again today with another little guy birthday card.  This one is being sent to my grandson, Kempton , who will be 4 years old in about 3 weeks. 

I used the Boys Will Be Boys stamp set again. The color combo in the paper is Old Olive and Basic Gray which are the colors in this piece of Santa & Co. DSP.  I did notice later in the evening that I used Slate Gray for stamping the image instead of Basic Gray. Ugh! I thought about changing the panel, but decided against it. I'm sure Kempton won't notice. ;}

I  decided to play along with the new MOJO Sketch#368 this week.  Actually, the moment I saw this sketch, I knew what stamp set I would use.  I just love when that happens! That's why I LOVE sketches. They just seem to jump start my creativity a good share of the time. Do they have the same effect on you?

Side view /inside of card

SU PRODUCTS
Stamp: Boys Will Be Boys
Ink: Smokey Slate
Paper: Basic Gray, Old Olive, Whisper White, Santa and Company DSP
Starburst Framelit
1 3/4" Circle Punch, 1/2" Circle Punch
Large Polka Dot EF
Neutrals Candy Dots

That's about it for me today. I am going to attempt to create a Christmas Card for Merry Monday before I start "stuffing"  our churches Worship Guides for this Sunday.  It's not a hard task, but usually takes about 2 1/2 hours. So, I better get this posted and START!

Go do something CRAFTY my friends!

Hugs,
Bernadette

Masculine Birthday Card

I'm delighted to be the guest this week at the Color Throwdown315 challenge!  Here are the fun, Fall colors that we have to work with:

I originally thought I would use the colors from Color Throwdown for a more Fall inspired card. As I played with different papers and the provided color combos, I had an "eureka moment".  Why not use these colors for a masculine birthday card? As you know, I'm always in need of those and sometimes they are hard to create. I really think this worked perfectly not only with the colors, but the sketch. What do you think?

SSSC241

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also, when I saw this sketch over at Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge, I knew I had to combine the both challenges. I think they worked perfectly together. Don't you?

SU PRODUCTS
Stamp: Geometrical
Paper:  Color Me Autumn DSP
Ink: Mossy Meadow
Banners framelits
Button/twine - unknown

I hope your day will be all that you planned and as always, stay CRAFTY my friends! 

Hugs,
Bernadette

Pink with Sprinkles

I needed a birthday card for our sweet little granddaughter, Amelia, who will celebrate her 1st. Birthday this Saturday. I was having a problem on paper selection and stamps, but then the mojo hit and this is what I created. It is a little plain, but I don't think Amelia will mind!

SU PRODUCTS
Stamp: Remembering Your Birthday
Papers: Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Sweet Taffy DSP
Starburst Framelit
1 3/8" Circle Punch, 7/8" Scallop Punch
Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack - Heart
Pearl Basic Jewels
Retired Ribbon
*Taylored Expressions Cupcake dies*

Make it a wonderful Tuesday and do something CRAFTY my friends!

Hugs,
Bernadette

Get Well

I needed a get well card and I didn't want to labor over it. I was cleaning out and sorting my papers and came across this older  Cosmo Cricet paper that apparently I was hoarding! I love the roses and it matched perfectly with Stampin'Up!, Rose Red. I used  the 2 1/2" circle punch  and a retired stamp by SU, Perfectly Penned, Rhinestone Basic Jewels, and the retired Lattice Folder and the Essentials paper piercing pack to complete this  card.

Jen Shults Card Sketch

That's about it for today. I hope you are having a relaxing and crafty weekend. I'm almost finished with the my reorganization in my Studio. It seems like every several months, and maybe you can relate to this, things need to be purged and organized.

Hugs,
Bernadette

A Merry Little Christmas

Today I was in the mood to make another Christmas card. At the rate I'm going, I might actually get my cards out in time this year!

I linked this over on Retro Sketches136 today. When I saw the sketch, I knew  what I products I wanted to create with. That's one reason I LOVE sketches. They just seem to spur my creativity. I hope you get a chance to hop over to the blog and see the cards others have created.

SU PRODUCTS
Festival of Trees
Color Me Autumn DSP, Mossy Meadow CS, Old Olive CS, Very Vanilla CS, Real Red CS
Mossy Meadow ink, Real Red ink
Natural Old Olive Trim
3/4" punch, 7/8" scallop punch, Star from Itty Bitty Accents Punch
Bitty Banners Framelits
Decorative Dots EF
Stampin' Dimensionals, Mono Liquid glue, Glue Dots
* the tag is n0n-SU! Cut with my Cricut using Tags,Bags, and Boxes cartridge*
 
Thanks so much for stopping by and as always, do something CRAFTY my friends!
Hugs,
Bernadette