Blast From The Past!!! Happy Holidays

Boy I have not been here in some time, I do apologize, it has been a very rough year with my health issues.
I do hope I can now start an up hill climb, time will tell, I am battling many health issues, as my friends and family well know. My Fibromyalgia, has gotten really bad and I can't take any of the new medications for it, as they will compromise my lung issues, so just have to deal with the pain with pain medication's, and they don't do much, not enough anyway.


Anyway, will maybe post a card or two over the next few days, been ordering some new stuff, hoping that will give me the boost to create!!!

So take care and hope to see you all soon, I have been silently still following quite a few of your blogs, but just not posting, or commenting or competing in the challenges, but hope to improve on that all soon.


Take care, Happy Holidays to you all, and big hugs as well.

Love Donna

Brrrrr. Baby its cold outside!!!

Hi, boy I can not wait for spring, these frigid temps can take a big hike!
Being on oxygen I have not left the house in days and I am going NUTS, and with having issue's with my meds., I can't concentrate much, but I managed to get one kind of CAS card made, would make more, as my craft romm is cold and, no matter what I do I can't seem to get the house very warm, and I am so congested from having the heat on, it is a catch 22 situation, keep the house cold and breath a bit easier, or put the heat on and be warm but have major congestion from the heat. Can't win. So for now house is cool and I am under a blanket watching tv and reading some blogs!!

Anyway, hope you all are staying warm. Will post my card now, any questions let me know.

And thanks for stopping by.

Hugs
Donna

Simple Post/Personal update

Hi all, hope everyone is doing well, would like to wish you all a very Happy New Year, have not been doing much social crafting lately, I did make a lot of Christmas cards, and cards for giving Christmas gifts, but did not have enough time to Photo them all and post the pictures to this blog, as usual of late, my health is not well, between my Fibromyalgia, and other health problems, I am very limited at what I can do, and it is not much. And I know no one wants to read about all that, so just wanted to let a few of my Friends know what is going on, as I have been getting some inquiries, so I thought I would  just make this simple post to let you know where I have been.

I do hope to be back soon, in steps I am sure, I am still wandering around watching every ones progress and beautiful work, so see you all soon.

Thanks everyone,
hugs
Donna

Challenge #45 at Joan's Gardens

Well, here I am for this week's challenge at Joan's Gardens week #45.
The guidelines for this weeks challenge can be seen HERE. Simple really, use red and white with a touch of green, negative die usage, and use some form or snowflakes, and have used something purchased at Joan's.  As I purchase most of what I use there, and by now can not remember what and where I get something, I hope I have that covered as well.

So, I think I have covered all bases, if you have any questions just ask, otherwise that is all for today. Have a wonderful week.

hugs
Donna

Christmas Card Swap

HI all,
Well, a few days later, here I am finally posting the card that I made for the card swap at our local Craft Store, we make 12 of the same card and then get back 12 different cards, this is the 5th year I have been doing it, and it is fun to see what cards you get back.

So this is the card I made this year, I did not get fancy with my blending with my copics, I just did not have enough time, as I of course waited and waited to do this till the last minute, and some of the steps I did, I would have to let things dry, like the beak of the penguin, with yellow stickles, then glossy accents here and there, and then the eyes of all the animals, each step just took time.

So this is my final card, if you have any questions ask away, take care and see you soon.

hugs
Donna

Gone but hopefully not forgotten!!

Well, here I am, how many months now, sorry but when one does not have ones health, you have nothing much. I won't go into the LONG and boring story, as it is still not over with. I was supposed to be in the hospital, with the Dr.'s changing my medications, and to do so I have to be under medical supervision for 3 to 7 days or so, I dread it, but want to get it over with. And my pain levels have been horrible to say the least, and while they are changing my medications, 2 of those days I will have NO medication at all, I can't imagine what a WITCH I will be!! My husband in a laughing manner, said, Call me when it is over with!!!  I know he is half laughing, but the other half of him could never deal with me in total pain. It will be an en lightning experience to say the least, and like I said as of right now, we still do not know exactly when this will be.

Oh well, I have been not doing much crafting, or card making. Making some cards here and there, but no energy to photo them and blog, so I have been just mailing them out.  But I did get a card made for Joan's challenge this week, so that will follow below this paragraph. I will then make another post and show the card that I made for a card swap at our local craft store, we had to make 12 of the same card and will then get back 12 different cards.

So my card today is kind of simple, we were to use white and gold and some pearls and to use an embossing folder as well, my pearls are kind of hard to see but they are there. If you have any questions, please post me, to me it is obvious what I used and did, but you never know.

Joan's Challenge this week and the guidlines can be found HERE. Joan has wonderful prizes for her challenges, and carries a wide variety of things in her store, and if she does not have, she will make every effort to help you find what you are looking for. Joan has Quick and efficent service as well.

Have a great week everyone!!

HUGS
Donna

Christmas Card Challenge at Joan's

Another week and another challenge at Joan's Garden's.  The guide lines can be found  HERE.I hope mine counts, one of the guidelines is to use something from Nature, Well I used a  Snowman and to me that is from Snow and Snow is from Mother Nature, so I hope it is ok..

Supplies used,
Stamped image is from Penny Black
Slight Alterations Stamp by Tim Holtz
Distress ink Walnut Stain
Memento ink
Copic Markers to color snowman
Liquid Pearls Snowman's nose and buttons
Martha Stewart's Texture Effect for Snow ball fuzz on Snowmans hat
Spellbinders Grand Scallop Ovals
Cheery Lynns Sprig Die
Cheery Lynn's Holly Leaf die
Gold Leaf Pen for edges of Holly leaves
Red and Green ribbon bow from stash
small gold bells for center of bow.
Picture is Below.

I guess that is it.  Thanks for stopping by. Sorry short post today.

Have a great week.
Donna

Kaileys Birthday Card

HI ,
have not gotten a lot done of late, but I did get my dear Granddaughter's  Birthday card done. She loves purple and she loves flowers, so I had this Daisy stamp and thought she would love  a purple Daisy. The Happy Birthday is a die cut from Elizabeth Crafts.

I used my copics to color it and used some stamen dust in the center along with some very fine crushed glass, so it sparkles, you can't see It much in the picture, but it does show up in real time.

Oh well, that is all for now, hopefully be back with something tomorrow. Hope you all have a great weekend.

hugs
Donna 

Starting the Christmas Card Crunch

Well as slow as I have been making cards lately I am going to be lucky starting now, and  hopefully by the time Christmas comes, my cards will all be done. I like making all different cards, not all the same.  This card is also for the Challenge at Joan's Gardens this week.

You can see the guidelines for the Challenge at Joan's HERE, and the lovely sample card by Selma can be viewed HERE.

Here is my Card.

 
The Patterned Paper I used is one of my Webster paper packs, was not sure of the name, I had opened it a long time ago, and that is where my Bird is located, part of the challenge guidelines, the die I used for my sentiment is from Cheery Lynn, I used the Poppy Stamp die for the Poinsettia's. I used liquid gold in the center of the flowers and a gold leaf pen for the edges of the flowers.
Other items used,
Cutter, glue, adhesive, Ranger paper distress-er, Aged Mahogany distress ink, and I think that was it.

If you have any questions, let me know, everything I have used can be purchased at Joan's, and if she does not have what you want, she will try her best to get it for you.

Thanks for stopping by, see you soon,
hugs
Donna 

Gorgeous day in Jersey and Joan's Challenge

Hi All, hope you are having a nice weekend, we have had some gorgeous weather compared to the rest of the summer, It is 6 Pm on Saturday night and it is wonderfully cool outside with a lovely breeze, wish it would stay like this, including the daytime!! But summer is summer I guess.

Anyway, I finally got back in my craft room today, and have done the challenge over at Joan's Gardens for this week.  The guidelines can be found HERE And of course Selma did a wonderful sample card and that you can see HERE. 

I did them to the best of my ability, I used a  Brick wall Stencil, made by  Crafters Crafts I think, and I used Paint dabbers by Ranger to add some texture, when it was dry, I went over it with some purple pan pastels to tone it down some., as I did not have a purple dabber so I had to use cranberry and another color and it just did not match with the purple, I think it all looks ok now.

I used a Memory Box die, Lorelai Leaf, and used the negative of the cut as requested, then on top of the die cut I put some rolled roses using the Memory Box Rolled Roses. The leaves are from another company Elizabeth Crafts. I made the roses white, but purple distress ink on the edges. After roses were in place and dry I put some glossy accents all over the flowers to represent some dew drops
The sentiment is a die from Elizabeth Crafts and I cut it out in deep purple and then went over it with Glossy Accents.
To me the card looks great here, but the photo does not do it justice, sorry. Most of my stuff can be purchased at Joan's, that is where I get most  of all my Memory box Dies, and so many other wonderful things. Check it out!!

I guess that is it, any questions, let me know, and thanks for stopping by.
hugs
Donna

Quick Birthday Card

Well, I guess I can still make a quick card, this was made in an hour for my husbands friends birthday picnic. I forgot to make the card, so busy busy, got it done and ready, hubby is off for the picnic as I can not take the heat and humidity that we are having right now, so I had to forgo the picnic. I hope he has a good time, he said he won't be gone long, we shall see.

This image is a Lillie of the Valley Stamp, framed and used 3D tape to raise the frame, colored it with my copics and used a Die to cut out the Sentiment.

Oh well, off for an afternoon nap and maybe then make another card!! Take care and thanks for stopping by.

Hugs
Donna

First Xmas Card of the Season with Some New Memory Box Dies!!

Well, today's card is a bit of Xmas in July! I am making this card, which will be one of many for the Holiday Season.  This card I am making with some of the dies I got from Joan's Gardens and it is for Joan's Challenge that I am making this card. You can see the guidelines for the challenge HERE, and you can see a sample card made by Selma, from Selma's Stamping Corner, HERE.

Come join the fun.

I used Memory box dies, card stock, cutter, glossing accents on the string of lights, of course my Vagabond, other adhesives, my fiskars hand punch for the tiny flowers on the tree, liquid pearls in the center of the little flowers. and  From Elizabeth Crafts is the sentiment Merry Christmas. And that is it. All of which can be purchased through Joan, and if she does not have it, she will try and get it for
you, if you ask her to!! She is a very wonderful person!!
Thanks for stopping by, and have a great weekend, mine I guess,  will be spent indoors, trying to BEAT the HEAT, or hide from the heat. Take care and thanks for stopping by.

Hugs
Donna

My Hide an Seek card, I keep playing Hide and seek with the HEAT!!!

Hi, hope you all have been doing fine and staying out of the heat we are having, I have been hiding from it for the last two weeks it seems like, I live in NJ and it has been UN Godly here, and being on oxygen makes it even  harder for me.  So I thought I would do my weekly card for Joan's challenge, last minute of coarse, THAT is ME, last minute Donna.

The guidelines for the challenge at  Joan's Garden can be found HERE, and I did all that was asked, the only thing is I had no Peach paper, so the color is as close as I cold make it. Right now I am just going to post my picture of my card, I will come back tomorrow, and post what I used, I can' barely keep my eyes open, but wanted to get my card entered in the challenge, after making it, before it closes.

I am making this card to send to the receptionist in my one Doctors office as the always goes way above and beyond to help me with anything I need, so this card will be off in the mail tomorrow, I just want to do a few more things to the inside of the card.

And of course you can check out the sample card for the challenge, HERE at Selma's stamping corner, wonderful inspiration.

Oh well, off to bed, see you all tomorrow, thanks for stopping by.

Hugs
Donna

Wicked Wednesday!! I mean storm wise!!

I am going to post this one rather quickly, we are currently getting hammered with some really bad thnder storms and our street out front looks like a RIVER.  I tried to keep busy today, and did some tinkering around the house, and managed to get one card made, for me it is kind of a CAS card. I also do up the inside of my cards, but I forgot I was going to take pictures of that too, oh well, next time, uh oh, lights just flickered, BYE!!

Here is the card,

 

Supplies used,
Kraft paper for base card, Bazzil card stock, layered and I used the Martha Stewart punch around the page punch, not sure which one it is, as they are not labeled, one day I will look them all up and label them.
I colored the bird with copics, the tree, and leaves and nest and eggs with distress markers, and glossy accent on the eggs to make them stand out. Was kind of going for the water painting type look.
Memento ink around the edges of the card stock, used my cutter, stamp a ma jig, my sentiment is from Inky Antics, and the stamped image is from Stampendous.  Nesting Bird I think is the name.

Oh well, storm is getting worse, but shut down the old PC.

Thanks for stopping by, should be on again tomorrow.

hugs
Donna

Weekly Challenge At Joan's Gardens

Well, here we are, another week and another challenge at Joan's Gardens.

Hi all, don't know how your weather is , but we are baking and steaming away in NJ today, yuck poo.
Supposed to be 91 or so, I have not left the house in two days, may go get a few groceries after dark tonight, or very early tomorrow morning, and this weather may be like this well into next week, which it usually is pretty warm for the 4th of July here, and my birthday is this Friday, don't think we are doing much, usually we do dinner and a movie, we will probably  wait and do something when and if it cools off!!!

Oh, I almost forgot, I would like to wish my dear Mom, whom is no longer with us a glorious and very Happy Birthday, love you Mom and think of you very often, hope your cutting a rug up there with the family, and getting lots of holes in One!! Love and Miss you lots!!! Sorry had to get that in there, back to business. 

 I don't even like cooking in this weather, hate turning on the stove and having a battle between the AC units and the stove, and also hate going out and standing in 90 degree weather cooking on the grill, (usually give that job to hubby).  But I also feel bad for him, he works in this weather all day outside, then hate to ask him to do the grill stuff, guess we will do something!  Last night I cooked, but by the time the food was ready, I was so nauseous, I could not eat!!

Oh well, to the topic, you can find the guidelines to Joan's challenge HERE, I know it could type them out, but easy to just put in a link, sorry!!  And of course you can see Selma's lovely sample card for the challenge HERE, and I guess that is it, will post some of what I used, and if you have any questions, just let me know.
Thanks much for stopping by, and if I don't post anymore this week, I am sure I will, but one never knows, have a great weekend and a wonderful Happy and safe 4th of July.
Hugs
Donna

Here is the card,

Bazzil card stock,
Cuttle bug embossing folder, don't know which one it is, as the names are not on them, sorry. The embossing folder is colored lightly with Pan Pastels, I love using them, so creamy and soft and easy to work with, I did touch up the stems with Distress marker walnut stain.
The stamped image is from Inky Antics, and the sentiment is Hero Arts. I decided to drag out my colored pencils for this card, I like using them, and have to use them more often. I then cut them out, including the bird and put them on 3D dots and also highlighted around images with my copic marker, to give more depth. The leaves were colored with my copics. Added some glossy accents to the front of the bird feeder where the glass would be. Added some bling and done.
The background is a stamped gingham image with Impressions Obsessions stamp with Memento ink.
Memory box die woodland branch, which I got from Joan's, along with a lot of my other supplies.
The edges are done with a Martha Stewart punch.

Happy Friday!!!

Hi Everyone, or I should say fellow crafters.

Well, today I am posting just for me, no challenge, just went into my room, with nothing in mind to make and just sat down and created, well a little bit of white lie, I had some things left over from a card a made for a friend yesterday, so I decided I would start with those scraps. And the card I am posting is what I made. I hope you enjoy, I enjoyed making it, funny when you don't have to use certain products or make it a certain way, it can be easier.
Anyway, items used, was, bazzil card stock and scraps.
Dies/ Memory Box Small Madison Window, Memory Box Bella Bouquet die(flower die, did 2 different colors and green, then paper pieced them, highlighted centers with copics and put in the pearl centers), Memory Box Butterfly Delights side border die for the two little butterflies I put on, Poppy Stamps Curious Cat, Poppy Stamps Picket Fence, Flying Bird by Impression Obsession, Grass Die also by IO, Trellis die is by Cheery Lynn, Little tiny flowers were punched out by hand with the Fiskars  hand punch(which is no longer being made), in the centers of tiny flowers is liquid pearls.

Other supplies, I used by flower making tools by Susan Tierney Cockburn, adhesive, trimmer, liquid pearls, scissors, tweezers, glossy accents, Gingham stamp by IO, Various inks, copic markers, Martha Stewart punch to make curtains , and foam dots for dimension, the window is done with these as well as the trellis. All this does not show up on the pictures.

Well folks that is all she wrote, any questions, give a shout.
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, I should be creating cards, hubby is going salt water fishing so that is something I can't do, being on oxygen, I can not take the heat, so it is home I will be.

By the way, If you like the Moon, take a gander at it this weekend, look on the Internet for times, it is the closest the Moon will be getting to the Earth, so it will be brighter and bigger, Saturday and Sunday night, oh well, hugs to all!!!

Donna

    

Summer Rolls on!!! And another Challenge at Joan's Gardens

I am so annoyed with Blogger, had my whole post typed out, and links all done, and they just lost it, I don't know where it went, all that work, ARGH!!

So now this will be short and sweet, this humidity we are having here in Jersey is killing me today, struggling to breath!!

I made my card this week for hubby for fathers day, and also for the Challenge at Joan's Gardens, you can see the guidelines HERE. She has wonderful challenges, all so different and some wonderful prizes, so check it out.

Made this very CAS card in the wee hours of the am Sunday for Fathers Day, after having helped him all day Saturday type of reports for his work, I don't mind helping him, but I had hoped to make some cards, and that sure did not happen.

This week, the only thing that may have come from Joan's is my card stock, I got 3 different color packs and they are wonderful, especially for making flowers.  But as my hubby likes CAS in cards, that is what he got. My stamp was in my stash, not sure whom made it, and I used my copics to color it, and some glossy accents on his nose.

Selma's wonderful sample card can be seen HERE. From Selma's Stamping Corner. Wonderfully talented.

And my card will follow., Thanks for stopping by.  We are due for some strong thunder storms shortly, so want to get this done.

Hugs
Donna

 

And Summer Rolls On! And another Challenge at Joan's Gardens!!

Well, I hope you all had a nice weekend, we did not do too much, had to help my dear hubby type some reports for his work, so that took a good part of the day Saturday, and by the time we got done that, neither one of us wanted to cook dinner, so we ordered out and went to pick it up, and NO DISHES. Was a wonderful thing. I think we only have 5 reports or so left to do, I guess that they can't afford a secretary for my husband, so he brings small things home for me to do, and I don't mind. I just had hoped to spend the weekend making some cards, but that did not happen.

In fact the one I am going to post here, is the one that I made for him at 2 in the wee hours of the morning while he was sleeping!! And he likes his cards simple, so that is what I tried to keep it.  He also likes to fish, and I made a card related to fishing last year, so I figured I would do something different.
So I just stamped the deer head, and colored it with my copics, layered it and put some glossy accents on the black nose.
And that is it, very CAS.

I did this card for my hubby for Fathers Day, and I am also entering it in the Challenge over at Joan's Gardens, she has a weekly challenge and it is always so fun to do, and she has wonderful prizes.
Check it out, you can see the guidelines HERE, and most of my supplies have  come from Joan's gardens, this week only my cardstock came from Joan's, she sells it in packets and it comes in wonderful colors and it is so great for making flowers, it is not overly thick. My dear head stamp was from my stash, don't remember who makes it, and my glossy accents I have had for ages, and it may have come from Joan's. It is getting so hard now, to remember what came from where. With my brain anyway!!    And of course, as usual, Selma did a lovely sample card, which can be viewed HERE, on her blog, Selma's Stamping Corner, a very talented lady!!!

Hope you all have a wonderful week, I am kind of weak today, the humidity is very high here today, and that makes my breathing very difficult, even though I am indoors in the A/C, I can still feel how miserable it is outside, We are supposed to get some thunder storms this afternoon, nice napping weather!!
I went to do one or two errands, and god I felt like someone was sitting on my chest, and that was right after a breathing treatment. I can also feel at night when the humidity levels rise. I could not wait for summer, but it seems like August type weather came way too early, I know it is not 90 or 100 out, but for me it is still yucky, I miss nice long spring weather!!! Welcome to NJ.

I know rambling again, I do that quite often, sorry. Think that comes from lack of sleep.
Oh well, take care all,
Thanks for stopping by.
hugs
Donna   

Two with In a Week/MIracle here!!

Well, I almost did two in one day, but ran out of steam last night, when I went  to photograph it and upload and such, I was just way too tired. Well at least I did get it done today.

This is another one for Joan's Challenge, check out the guidelines HERE, there is also a sample card to see!! Wonderful prizes and wonderful place to pick up your supplies.

Anyway, any questions, let me know, enjoy and thanks for stopping by. The flowers were made from the Sweet William strip from Cheery Lynn, ovals are a company I can't remember, sorry. Might be Quickutz. 
For Embossing, I used my scoreboard, and did a diagonal line every 1/2 inch, you can't see in photo, but it is there!! Was going to do it the other way as well to make diamonds, but I liked the simple look the first line made.  And yes I cheated, the butterfly is store bought!!!

Sorry short posting, NAP time, just got home from the Dr. and I am battling a Sinus infection and ear infection. So need some rest.

hugs
For now
Donna

Happy Sunday and Joan's Challenge!!``````````

Hope you all are having a wonderful weekend, started out all rainy and crummy, but it is gorgeous today, even though I am indoors and not out, It got a bit warm out for me, was nice this am, all except my darn allergies, this being congested, it for the birds!! But I hate having to take allergy medications.

 Oh well, onto the challenge, I am impressed, I did not wait until the end of the week to get my challenge card done, who knows maybe I will do a 2nd one!!
Anyway, my card will follow for Joan's Challenge, if you would like to see the guidelines, go HERE, and the Sample card this week can be seen on Joan's web site as well. Everything I used can be purchased at Joan's Gardens, awesome place and service!!

Any questions on what I used or did, just give me  a shout and I will get back to you as soon as possible.
Thanks again,
hugs
Donna