3.29.2017

Final Days of Sale-A-Bration



We are in the final days for Stampin' Up's Sale-A-Bration.  This is the biggest sale of the year for Stampin' Up.  For every $50 you spend during S-A-B you can pick one item from the Sale-A-Bration catalog for FREE!  Stampin' Up has added 7 new products to their SAB offerings, just for these final days.  Hurry, because this sale ends on March 31st and all items are available while supplies last.





3.22.2017

Masking Challenge Sneak Peek & Winners

Happy Wednesday!  It's the first week of Spring, so I felt the need to make a floral card for this week's challenge over at StampNation.  I used a double masking technique to create this one layer card, and spotlight some of the flowers with a bit of color.


Stamps: Enchanted Garden (SugarPea Designs)
Ink: Fiesta Blue, Midnight (Catherine Pooler Designs) Various Copics
Paper: Bright White (CPD)

The design team had a lot of fun with challenge! If you are a StampNation member and want to check out the full card along with the rest of the design team and member pictures, clicky.  If you aren't yet a member, sign up today and have full access to the site.  :)

Michele has announced the $15 CAS-ual Fridays Stamps winners from our Calling All Sistahs blog hop last week.  Were you a winner?  Clicky to go find out!  Our next hop will be on the 17th and we would love to have you be a part of it!   

3.17.2017

Calling All Sistahs March Blog Hop

It's the 17th of the month and that means it time to remind my sistahs (that's you) that it is time for us to do our monthly breast self-exams and get those mammograms scheduled if we are due.  We do this each month in the form of a fun blog hop.



My card uses scraps and a second technique piece I created for the November CAS blog hop. Clicky to see that card and video.  (but be sure to come back here for the hop)


Here is the video for this card.  You can also watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=4389iuUYXCs




If you would like to be a stop on the blog hop next month, email me @ sistahoodhop@outlook.com and let me know.   You can also join our Facebook group to stay in touch with our group and get the latest updates.  I'm the last stop on this hop, so if you started somewhere in the middle please jump back to the top and visit the CAS-ual Fridays blog.  Be sure to also leave a comment on each stop on the hop for your chance to win one of the $15 gift certificates being given away to the CAS-ual Fridays store.  Let's get hopping!



Stamps: Be (CAS-ual Fridays Stamps)
Ink: Festive Berries, Picked Raspberry, Wilted Violet (Distress) Versamark
Paper: Black Cardstock (Stampin' Up) Distress Watercolor Cardstock (Tim Holtz)
Accesories: 2 Yous Fri-Dies, Sistahs Fri-Dies (CAS-ual Fridays Stamps) Blueprints 27 dies (My Favorite Things)


3.16.2017

Have You Missed Me?

Have you noticed I've been absent from the blog?  If not, it's ok, I don't blame you.  I know there is always so much going on in everyone's lives that it is sometimes hard to keep up.  I finally had to just take some time off this winter.  First I got really sick with bronchitis and couldn't keep up with my weekly posts.   It took the better part of 5 weeks and 2 doctor visits to feel better.

Then I had to make an emergency trip to California for some family issues.  My aunt had an aggressive and fast spreading tumor in her lungs.  By the time the doctors caught it, the cancer had spread to her back, liver and esophagus.  2 weeks later she passed away.  I was fortunate enough to make it down in time to see her one last time, as soon as my bronchitis cleared, about 48 hours before she passed away.  I was getting ready to see her again before my flight home when we got the call that she had passed in the night, so I stayed a few more days to be with my dad (it was his younger sister) and the rest of my family.  






On top of that I have other extended family in the area dealing with health & emotional issues, so I was able to spend time with lots of family members I don't get a chance to see all that often. Lots of hugging and a few tears were shared that week.  Thankfully I work from home, and could take this time off, but I need to get back to work to build up that emergency fund again.  My hope is that the next time I go down to visit CA it will be for a happy reason.  I was able to get some snuggles, and laughs in with my niece.  She is always good medicine for the soul.



Meeka loves cell phones.  She especially loves seeing herself on camera and helped me take this selfie.  :) 

Before I left I started a quick prayer quilt for my aunt and cousins.  I didn't realize before I got down there that my aunt is/was an avid quilter.  She has always been so creative and has made each of us blankets, scarfs, mittens, socks, hats, etc.  While I was working on this quilt I was hoping it would keep her warm in the coming months, but I also hoped it would bring her daughter comfort long after she was gone.  I prayed for both of them as well as several of my other cousins and uncles as I worked on this quilt.  I wasn't sure where this one would end up, but I was on a deadline to complete it.  I'll share more soon on a Sew Saturday, but here is one of the pictures I posted on Instagram. 


It's been hard to get back in the swing of things. I haven't been back in my sewing room since I returned from CA last week and it just dawned on me as I'm typing this why that is.  The last thing I worked on was Aunt Cathy's quilt.  I need to get back in there and work on my charity blocks for the Courage Circle at #dogoodstiches

My design team card for StampNation was due this week, so I have made 1 card.  Here is a sneak peek of the card for the Natural Elements challenge.  If you are a StampNation member you can see the full picture along with inspiration from the rest of the design team and other members HERE.


In addition to all of that I have also just completed our family taxes.  First for me and my hubby, then for our kids.  Perhaps I should ask for a commission.  ;)  I used turbo tax because it makes it so easy for me.  The program walks you through each category step by step.  I highly recommend it.  I needed a downloadable version because my desktop doesn't have a disk drive, and I found it on Amazon, so I thought I would share with you.



And then, because I was on Amazon and saw this adorable little dress that I think would look darling on my niece, I had to share it with my brother.  It comes in a dozen or more different colors.  I thought it might be perfect for her for Easter.  Unfortunately the smallest size it comes in is 2T, and she is barely in 18 months, but I am thinking it might work for her birthday.  ;)  Retail therapy truly does help when it comes in the form of pretty little things.  




That has been my Feb-March so far.  I'm need of some serious creative time to get my mojo going again.  I think I'll start by binge-watching youtube videos from my favorite crafty people, and visiting a couple of challenge blogs too.  What do you do when you find yourself in a creative slump.