Cherry Blossoms

I love this stamp called Cherry Blossoms by Stamp Franscisco that I got at my LSS. It is so pretty and easy to color and looks so elegant for feminine cards. Totally not a shabby chic image and different for me. I used the mosaic tile stamp from starving artists inked in vanilla craft over the top for some texture. Its very subtle and hard to see, but its there. I used the markers to color the image in blush blossom and moss with pretty in pink accenting the middles of the flowers. I scanned it slightly crooked so it looks alittle off center. I am pleased with this. I like the square cards and rarily use them so its a nice change for me.

Trying to break out

It was time to get out of my slump and I used this weeks sketch challenge from SCS to do it. I got this set Living Large, from SU a month or so ago and haven't done much with it. When I first saw it in the catty I hated it. It has grown on me over time and now I think its cute. I find it difficult to work with when the cake is a solid color. I added the layers by using my white gel pen over the colored cake and hand drawing it in. then I took a darker brown and went around it and I think it looks alright now. I need to try it with some different colors to see if it will work or not. For now, this is fine. I had a hard time laying this out for some reason. It just didn't look the same as the one in the example on SCS so I am not sure whats off. I ended up adding the little tag with the sentiment as an after-thought. I realized I needed some kind of sentiment. I usually start to design a card by chosing my colors and then cutting my card. Today I stamped the image, colored it and proceeded from there. Anyway, I hope you enjoy it. It is helping me get out of my slump.

Saying Goodbye

Today we are saying goodbye to my meme's husband Pete. My meme is what I call my grandmother, she is one of my favorite people in the entire universe and I love her to death! She was a very young when my mom had my sister and I, and never wanted to be a "grandma" so she is meme. I know, its supposed to be Mimi, like the french would spell it, but I used to write her letters when I was little and we all know I can't spell and so it stuck! My grandfather died about 5 years ago from Alzheimer's and kidney failure and he was my second favorite person in the whole universe. I have been very close to my grandparents my whole life and I feel so blessed to have them as long as I did and for my children to know them too. I am not sure how I feel about losing Pete. I am very sad for my grandmother, she is just so exhausted from the lengthy illness, and I think it will be easier after the initial grieving is done for her. He was a lovely man and so kind to her during their brief marriage. She was very happy spending her time with him. I know she has been mourning him for about a month knowing he would never recover. I am sad he is gone, but I am relieved his suffering has ended. Having cancer is an ugly way to die. I hope I go quickly when its my turn.

I am assuming that a rosary will take place this weekend and the funeral will be Monday or Tuesday. We are at the mercy of the Army here, he was a retired Colonel. Pete's kids are traveling into town from Louissianna, Houston Tx, Boston, and I forget where his son lives. His brothers live somewhere out of town too. Hopefully his daughter will do most of the plannning, she was left in charge of his affairs after his death. Now my grandmother will have to find a new home to live in, she has 6 months then she is supposed to move out so his house can be sold. She wanted it that way, they had a pre-nuptial agreement so there would be no trouble from the kids. He has his money and she came into the marriage with her own. So no trouble fighting over it at the end. Thank goodness. I secretly wish she would come live with me but she is way too independent for that and will be looking for a little townhouse or garden home someplace near my mom and dad.

Anyway, we say goodbye to a very nice man that we didn't know that well but we cared for him after knowing him just a few years. My son is sad, he is worried that everyone meme marries dies. He doesn't quite understand that its only been twice and they were not jinxed or something. He probably thinks she will find someone else and do it again. I will assure him that at 83 I think she is done marrying in her age group. The kids are worried about it and not sure how to handle it. I think we just don't have much experience yet to go by. Thanks for listening.

A little something I tried

I am in a bit of a stamp slump this week. I just haven't felt like stamping for some reason. I worked on different parts of this card all week. Its a very monochromatic card using amythist and violets with silver ink. I have a bag full of these little silver snowflakes to use as embellishments and I never can figure out how to use them.

Anyway, I stuck it on the sentiment part of this card. Added some piercing and popped it up on a demensional. I tried using the small snowflake stamp from Many Meddleys and stamping it in silver ink inside the panel on the left side of the card. Its hard to see unless the light hits it. The twill was died violet using re-inkers. Its prettier in real life LOL. Honestly, I only posted this card to see if it would motivate me to get out of my slump. We shall see if it works.

Here's something different

This is sugar. He is Blake's rabbit. He is the crazziest little rabbit I have ever seen. He loves to jump and spin while running. We actually walk him on a leash. He is not afraid of our dog at all and they have this love affair thing going on. I hope they do , I mean one bite and that rabbit is history. Mystery is the dog's name. I am crazy about this dog. She is very shy and sweet and very well behaved. Her only fault is she sheds her fur in huge amounts and so I shave her about twice a year. She looks rediculous shaved but she is way too hot and hairy if I don't. I had another dog that died last April after having her for 16yrs, and I never would say I liked Mystery when she was alive. Annie was very special to me and I always considered her my firstborn. She was the most lovable, sweet natured, smart dog I had ever had. I miss her horribly and wish she could have lived forever. This is the only picture I can find right this second of Annie. It was taken a few christmases ago at my mom's house. The little mop of a dog that is also in the shot is my mom's dog, Fancy. Fancy is probably one of the ugliest dogs I have ever seen LOL. Its not a good picture of her but she is a smooshed face dog. Her breed is 1/2 pomaranian, and 1/2 Japanese Chin. She mostly looks like a chin. She has been loosing her teeth and my mom couldn't deal with all the fur so she had her shaved. LOL. Not a pretty site. She is a sweet little dog, if you are a fan of little dogs. As you can see, we are dog people. My whole family. Not a cat in anyones family. My sister has a dog too, her name is Roxie RooRoo- a very goofy name for a dog. The dog is goofy too. She is a mix of maltese and poodle so that makes her a maltypoo. LOL. I like saying Maltypoo! I have apic someplace of Roxie but I think she was a tiny puppy. I really don't feel like looking for it right now. Anyway, this post was mostly about me and how I am a pet lover. They make me happy. Rubber stamps make me happy, my family makes me happy, food makes me happy. I am really blessed to have such a great family, even the 4 legged ones.

Another Christmas Card

This is another christmas contender. Everyone likes it best but it requires much more work and I am not sure its right either. Need to work on it a little more.

Something Stamp related

This is a card I am trying out for my christmas cards this year. I haven't settled on it yet but I am leaning towards it. The main images are from Penny Black. I have been ordering Penny Black stamps from www.addictedtorubberstamps.com lately. I plan to darken the little swirly on the bottom so it shows up better and I may change the sentiment to make it all red. I will make another to see if I like it. Anyway I thought it was a good idea to put an actual stamped project on my blog so I wouldn't look so lame. LOL. I actually haven't stamped much this week........I feel a little off for whatever reason.

Well I am trying

It seems I am a real puter tard I was trying to put my picture over above my Profile on the right side and look where it went. I need a teacher.

yippeeeee I moved my large head to the side

Okay well that was easy enough.....

So now what? I now have another computer related vice to tie up my time. Guess the housework fairies will have to do their own thing! LOL. Ok I am going to poke around now and see what this is all about!