Something Different - A Gift!

This is a hand-painted interpretation of one of the oldest color paintings known.  It is from Egypt;  about 9 x 5 1/2 inches and painted on papyrus.  It was a gift from my niece from her recent visit to Egypt.  She was told it is considered a "house blessing".  The scanned image just doesn't do it justice - the colors are actually quite vibrant in real life.

Speaking of Egypt - my SIL (the one who fell while on a tour of Egypt and by a horrible series of bad luck wound up in ICU) was moved to a step-down unit this week.  She is being weaned off the ventilator, so we are seeing some progress, albiet very slow.  My niece is "home" in Australia - how hard it must be for her SO far away!  I'm trying to advocate for my SIL . . . I guess what I mean to say is that we can all still use your prayers. 

Have a great Wednesday!
Hugs.   

A Sympathy Card

This card was inspired by a recent challenge template that produced some outstanding cards!  One of the cards that used the pattern was by Silke Ledlow.  I'm pretty happy with it - too bad I need to give it away tomorrow!  Sometimes I like a card enough to want it to stay (forever) KWIM???

Open stamping today was wonderful!  I was very productive.  My work anniversary is tomorrow - and I finished up 24 gift tags for the home-made brownies and boxes of Girl Scout cookies that I'm giving to co-workers.  I also made this card and another I'll post later in the week.  

I'm nearly ready to hit the sack (as they say!)  Hope you all have a fabulous week!

Something "Fun"!

These are little magnets - I created them using the flat glass pebbles that used to be with my floral arranging stuff.  Aren't they fun?  The image was stamped over a light pattern, on white or vanilla cardstock.  It was punched out with a 5/8" circle punch and adhered to the glass pebble with Liquid glass.  Once dry enough to handle, a small circle of magnet was added to the backside.  

Well, TGIF.  I've had a difficult week and am really thankful for the weekend!  I have a "to-do" list for Saturday, and Sunday my dear local  friends are going to come over to play (scrap) with me.  It will be so nice see my friends again.  I was blessed with a strong Yoga practice tonight - and felt so refreshed and alive leaving there.   I'm gaining strength in the right leg (knee) and tonight was able to do some poses I've not been able to do since well before the surgery.  That felt really good!  I will sleep deeply tonight as I'm all stretched out and relaxed and I'm also tired.  

Have a wonderful weekend.

Namaste.

Sunny Day - cased from Aaron Brown

This card was CASED directly from Aaron Brown.  The only change I made was to add some "grass" and I actually think I liked her version without it better than mine.  Aaron is very talented - check out her blog here!

It's Wednesday already???   The news here - my SIL is about the same, still in ICU.  I'm exhausted (nothing new there) and work is wacky.  Otherwise, all is normal. LOL

Have a good Thursday - I'm glad we're rolling into the downside of the week. Hugs!

Hello! You're the BEST!

Hello!  It felt SO-O-O good to get into the stamp room today - and since I had a very inspiring card to case, it was pretty smooth getting the stamps back in my hand and moving over the paper!  This card by Ashley Cannon Newell inspired me!  As always, I had to change it up a little (I like it though - it's not "Ashley" quality but it's not bad).  I decorated the inside with a touch of Tulip-color design paper and a birthday greeting.  

The stamps used were a background stamp from Hero Arts (thanks Kathi - I've used this one stamp more than most of my others!); the sentiments were Close-to-My-Heart and the colors were Tulip and craft.  There is a stripe of Garden Green design paper (from Emporium) but it almost looks out of place so I would probably change that next time.  

Today I went to church in the morning, attended a Fellowship meeting afterwards, and ran more loads of laundry.  I cleaned all of my floors.  Then I allowed myself to sit and play.  At 4:30 I headed outside to enjoy the gorgeous Arizona weather while doing much needed yard work, and reminded myself that I am healthy and strong.  Blessed beyond belief!  Thankful.

Hugs.

Update

Dear friends, you are so sweet and thoughtful!  I'm doing ok - great, in comparison to others!  My niece left for home (Australia) this afternoon after a tearful goodbye in the ICU to her Mom.  I think everyone cried.  Britta is gaining ground but slowly.  She's still on the ventilator; still fighting difficult infections.  It's my watch now (meaning, I'm the only friend/family in town) so I'll continue to be very busy helping her with her recovery.  I am hoping to get into the craft room soon - as I'm going through withdrawal (I KNOW you know what I mean!).  I'll post whatever I make and just hope I haven't forgotten how to do it (making, not posting!)  LOL 

Hugs!

Thanks for the Lovely Tea!

T

This card was in response to a beautiful "High Tea" party that I was lucky enough to attend last weekend.  It was a benefit for a group-home organization - a very worthy cause!  There were over 200 people attending and the event was extremely well organized.  I had a LOVELY time! The stamps are called Lovely Shelf by Nina Brackett.  It was  inspired by Makiko Jones, here.  It's a huge set of really useful stamps!  I was glad I bought it when I got the invitation to this tea!!


My post will be short today - the short version of a very long story is that my SIL is in town in ICU.  Her daughter is here from Australia and staying with me.  We are mostly running back and forth to the hospital.  Prayers would be wonderful, for Britta, for healing and for her medical team, for wisdom.  Perhaps for Elisa, too, for comfort.  Thanks dear friends!!


Namaste.

I give up!

I give up!  I've spent the last hour searching for the source of inspiration for this card . . . with no luck!  I have the photo of the one I was trying to copy - but it's not signed and I didn't re-name it when I saved it (must have been in a gawd-awful hurry!). I wanted to link to the original and give credit for this beautiful design.  It wasn't that long ago - and the original version was a LOT just a touch more beautiful than mine, but this is passable.  If you know who it was, please tell me!   I used PTI scripts for the background (in Vanilla Cream pigment ink) then stamped in Olive ink over it with Close-to-My-Heart Love Flourishes and Moonstruck ink for the little buds.  A simple card, actually.  


Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your sweet comments!!  I didn't mean to be "fishing" for compliments with the last post - it was "pure honesty" that made me say what I said - and you have made me blush so much that I'm afraid my cheeks will look like I've been hitting the wine bottle again!   


Have a Wonderful Wednesday!

Lookie what I won !!!!

I had the most exciting package!!!  It was from a blog-candy give-away from Scrapcited's world famous Hetty Hall!  The paper (wonderful paper, by the way) and the many packages of embellishments are super!  I will be sure to post my creations with them and remind you where I "found" them!!! But wait, there's MORE - 
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Now, if this doesn't move you to go check out Hetty's blog, then I'm going to believe that you've already got her site marked in your favorites and visit her often!  Hetty has "style" - something I wish I had - but for now I'll continue to just copy all of yours!  Thanks for that, by the way.

Namaste.

On OLD stamp - so old . . .

This is a Close-to-My-Heart order for my friends this month - they all seemed to order "smaller" things and when that happens, I try to package it in a reusable gift bag for them!  ;-)

The focal image stamp is a very old CTMH set - I don't even remember what year!  I can tell you that it's a rubber stamp!  I had some difficulty using it - you know, you can't see where you're placing them!  (Oh My!  I am TOTALLY spoiled!).  But, I still love the roses and heart.   The sentiment is brand new, from the current catalog in the Veranda section and so is the way-cool stamped stitching!  I've been accusing people of sewing like this on their cards only to discover that it's a stamp!  (head-whack!)

I had a very productive weekend.  If I just had one more day . . . I think I could get caught up!  Oh well.  

Enjoy your week - make the best of it, keep focused on the happy/good.

Namaste.

Gift tag

This is the prototype for a few lot of gift tags that I'll need at the end of this month.  I have this tradition of bringing my co-workers a treat to thank them when it's my work anniversary.  I used to make little 3x3 cards, but the tags really make more sense!  This is about 3 1/2 x 3 1/2.  It was the first time I cut wool felt using the Nestabilities - it works like a charm!!!  (Now I'm going to want more Nesties in different shapes)  I see all sorts of neat felt things in my future!  Everything except the felt and the craft cardstock is from Close-to-My-Heart!  The ink colors used were Olive, Chocolate, and Vanilla Cream (Pigment). 

It's Thursday already!  I'm glad - it's been a very busy week and all I've done is work and sleep.  I need some "me" time!  LOL  Thank you for your sweet get well wishes - I'm fine, I just needed a good nights sleep to ward off the dread-muhungus.  I do apologize if I created any alarm!

I'm so looking forward to Yoga tomorrow evening!  Have a Happy Friday!

Namaste.

Another Sympathy card

I am so lucky that someone out there put out a challenge about a week ago for a sympathy card - because I've seen all sorts of wonderful and inspiring cards!  Not that I tried to case any of them - I had my own rare moment of inspiration!  It happens.  Once in a blue moon.

Everything but the lace is Close-to-My-Heart.  The sentiment is embossed with Desert Sand embossing powder (I think that color is retired - but it shouldn't be!).  Since the card base is Cocoa, there is an ivory liner inside so I could write a note to my friend. 

I'm running a low-grade temp tonight and therefore keeping myself away from others and going to bed early.  I just thought a moment visiting your blogs would cheer me up!  And it has!  Thank you all SO much - you are precious to me!