Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to a Special Friend. This is a long time friend, that has seen me through a lot of up and downs in life, and sticks with me, even if I do something, that "isn't" me. This friend would never judge me, just accepts me for who I am. It's the kind of friend that listens, really listens when I have something to say.

I chose the plane, to pull the Happy Birthday message, because as long as I have known them, they have flown planes.

The plane and banner, I found on a clip art site, awhile back, when I was thinking about what kind of birthday card I would be making. I used Martha Stewart little clear gem stickers for the wheels, her glitter pens to color the propeller and scarf. I used an old program called Scrapbook Factory to print the Happy Birthday on the banner.

Happy Birthday, Friend

Miracle

I am not sure how many of you got to watch Good Morning America, Today Show or CNN this morning. They aired the story of a young woman, here in Lenoir, NC and her strength to stay alive. Here is link to one of many articles about her. http://news.bostonherald.com/news/national/south/view.bg?&articleid=1115431&format=&page=1&listingType=natsouth#articleFull
The article also tells how Caldwell County came together, to help this young family. Her story is nothing short of a miracle. Please take a second of your time to read these articles.

Update on new kitten. Everyone said not to name it, because if I did, that meant that it was officially mine. But we have and that is ok, because he responds to Kitty Kitty the best. I have not had any responses to the flyers that I put out about the little kitten I found. I will give it till next week to say he is here to stay.
Pat put it best when she told me that it was meant for me to belong to him. Anyone that has every had a cat, knows exactly what she meant my that.

Maybe tomorrow, I will have some creative thing to post. Taking care of a baby kitten, is a very time consuming job.

Meet Ozzie

This is what I found under the hood of my car when I got home from work today. How it made it the 17 miles without getting killed, I have no ideal. We have had steady rain for 3 days now, very heavy at times today. I guess he was trying to find a dry place. He is very tame, but not quite sure about the house broken part yet. Of course, I could not put the little thing out in the rain. The wind was so strong at times, it would have blown him away. *wink*wink* I did go get kitty litter, a litter box, food, and a bowl. Did I mention the toy???
He is too gentle and tame not to belong to someone. I made several flyer's tonight with his picture on them. I will place them around the vicinity that I work at. There will probably be no sleep at my house tonight, he cries, if you put him down or leave the room. You can see by the pictures, that my DH doesn't care for him one bit. ;)

Pat's Challenge

Pat's Saturday Night Challenge was to make a card with layers. I love the card challenges. The base card is purple textured card stock. I used a pair of the scalloped scissors to cut the front of the card about 1.25 inch shorter then the back. That way the paper that I layered on the inside of the card shows. The next layer is a printed piece on the front of the card. Then came a little strip about 1/4 inch from the bottom that is the same as the background in the previous layer. Next came a piece of purple that matches the purple in the patterned paper below it and also matches the paper on the inside of the card that is exposed. I then layered my sentiment on the front. On the inside of card, I used a rub on sentiment (does that count as a layer?). Then finished it off with a green ribbon that has shades of purple dots on it to the edge of the inside of the card where it is exposed. After I had made the pictures, (which shows all flaws,) I realized that the little band that I put near the bottom didn't show up very well. I went back and added a little heart, to the left of the sentiment that matches the angel's dress. The last picture shows the heart. My DH told me I should have left it off. Oh well, to late now.

I love the sentiment on the front. I personally have experienced this kind of gift from an angel.

Hope everyone has their Monday morning smiles on. I drew mine on with lipstick. :)

Supplies used: Textured Cardstock: by Imagine That
All other papers by: Provo Scrap/Soft Serenity
Ribbon from my ribbon jar
Sentiment on front from: Inspirations
Sentiment on inside: Rub-on by Inspirations

Hau`oli la Hanau

Awhile back a friend went to Branson, and she picked me up 2 of the cutest little stamps. I think they are the most adorable little couple. Aren't I the lucky one to have such a special friend?

I free handed the surfboards that the penguin chicks are holding. The paper with the beach with water in the background is paper from one of Miss Elizabeth's collections. By now, I'm sure that everyone has guessed that purples and lavenders and all shades found in that range are my favorite colors, so I had to include them on this card also. The stamps are by Imaginisce, Snag'em Stamps from "A Shore Thing" Collection. This was a real fun little card to make. It was stress free, and it made me smile, every time I looked at them. Thanks for letting me share with you today.

Oh, in case you are wondering - Hau`oli la Hanau means Happy Birthday. Well I hope it does, that is what Google said it was.

Whoa

Yesterday morning, I was having a hard time getting awake, I get up at 5 AM. I usually jump in shower shortly after. I could not stay awake, and was going through the motions. I was fixing my hair, and opened cabinet door, and tried to squirt some gel in my hand. I noticed that the pump apparatus on the bottle, was in a closed position, but I just twisted it open and proceeded with the process. After blowing my hair for a few minutes, I realized it just wasn't doing right, and I smelled a fragrance, knowing I always use unscented, I then got suspicious. I took the bottle out from under the cabinet, and it was what I always used, but it did not smell like blueberries. As I was replacing it back in the cabinet, I spied the culprit, a new (previously unopened) bottle of hand soap. Yep, back in shower I went to wash out the soap that I had put in my hair. I guess the moral is, don't be a unconscious person when you get ready for work. *wink*wink*

Pat's Saturday Challenge

This week's Scrapbook Cafe Saturday Night challenge was to scrap something you like about autumn. Pat talked of her love of walking and shuffling in the fallen leaves. I am originally from the Mountains of NC. As a child I took for granted all the beauty that was bestowed upon us in the fall of the year. Now that I am older, much much older, the beauty of the mountains when they are in full bloom in their fall colors, is more than breathtaking. It makes you stand in awe of this beautiful gift that God, gives us year after year. The sun glistening through the golds, reds, oranges, and yellows is indescribable. One must see it for themselves. Here is my page that shows just a hint of the grandeur of the NC mountains, in the fall. These photos were taken near Todd, NC.

Heather's Spark

Heather's Friday Night Spark this past Friday was to make a Halloween card. I really can't believe it is that close to Halloween, but it is, and then Thanksgiving, then Christmas, and that means cold weather. I am not at all fond of cold weather, or snow, unless it means I get a day off from work. I detest spiders, about as much as Pat, but I thought this little red eyed spider and her little babies following behind was cute. That is as long as they stay right where I put them. I don't know who they were made by, they were leftovers from last year. Tomorrow is the deadline for Pat's Challenge, so I had better get busy on that.

Sunday evening

I hope everyone has enjoyed their weekend, as much as I have. As soon as I get some more of the pictures, I will show you what was going on at my house Sat. evening. But till then.

I think it was about back in June when Pat's Saturday Night challenge was to use flocking. I made 6 little floral note cards for the challenge. This past Saturday I needed something to bring some life to my bathroom. If you remember my son stripped the wallpaper and repainted it, a couple of months ago. I really have not deacided what theme or colors I want to go with, so have just been waiting till something grabs me. I have a stash of little frames that I pick up when they have been put way low on the clearance aisle. I used some pink card stock to mat, the 3 different designed cards. I chose the chrome frames, because that is what all the hardware on the doors and things are. I think they turned out quite well. I think that they brightened up the room. Well it is back to work, tomorrow. But that is ok, I have to work so I can buy more crafting "pretties" Isn't it a shame, that paper, and ribbon, and glue don't grow on trees, just there for the taking. :)

Tomatoes

Tomatoes, Tomatoes, Everywhere I looked, there were TOMATOES. Also, I had a bunch of onions and peppers. So I decided to make some salsa. I ended up just canning 3 jars, because I had given all the rest away, when you have 5 sons, things don't stay around to long. My husband is on BP meds and suppose to be watching his sodium intake, so awhile back I decided to use the flat cornmeal tortillas to make us some tostitos to scoop the salsa up. I just cut the little ones in quarters, put them on a sprayed baking pan, and put them in a 350 degree oven just until they turn light brown and start curling up at the corners. We have always liked these better, then store bought ones. The Salsa is just medium hot. I got to use my nestabilities to make the little tags. I am loving that thing more every day. It was so intimidating to begin with, but I will conquer it.

Hey it works

Finally, It worked this morning. Guess me and the computer both were really tired when I tried to up upload them the other night. I made a friend a small set of monogrammed note cards, for her birthday. Very Very simple, Because I needed them in about two hours. I also found the little container that something came in and I had hoarded it back, like everything else I do. I just stuck a simple little card and ribbon to it. All in about 1 hour. The cards are by Gartner, the monograms in a frame are Martha Stewart's. The Scribbles Alpha are by Rhonna Farrer. I used Martha's glitter marker set to color in some of the initials, and Glaze by Sakura for the others. I really like the Martha Stewart's little glitter markers. Thanks for stopping by.

Techical Dificulties

I guess that is what you would call it. My computer won't receive or my printer won't send my pictures from the sans card. I had taken some things I wanted to share, but guess I will wait till tormorrow to see what the problem is. I will have time over the weekend to figure it out. All you guys, hang in there till Saturday.

I'M FINISHED AND NOT AT THE LAST MINUTE

Well here is my stab at Pat's Saturday Night Challenge. We had a week and a half to get finished. That is why I am posting a day early. You know me it is usually just under the deadline time and day. This really was a lot easier project then I first thought it to be. And lots of fun also.

I have a boring life. That is what I get for telling everyone that Pat's tag album, showed the life of an "older" lady :) Well if they give prizes for the most mundane life. I'll win the gold!!! This is going to be a long post, sorry about that, I am a very long winded person, and get side tracked very easily too.
The front of my album is just plain light aqua card stock. I used my new nestabilities to cut out the 2 layers. I am learning but it is all so much fun. On the back of the cover page I told about the challenge and date, etc. The butterfly is by K&Co. The yarn, well it's been around here a long time. The fake stitching is also by K&Co.
Sunday's page shows what I ate that day. Really interesting isn't it?

Monday's shows me deciding on what paper and embellishments I want to use for this album.

Tuesday, Well that is my morning routine page. I have a picture of a raisin-cinnamon bagel, with melted butter (the real stuff) and then sprinkled (heavily) with cinnamon sugar. To wash it all down an energy drink. I usually take this into the computer room, along with the paper, and read the headlines, and check my emails. Did you notice that the little thingies that the ribbons are tied to are the pop up things off the top of the cans. They were such a pretty color, I had to save them.

Wednesday shows the regular routine I do, almost every night. Watering my flower beds. If you look close you can see the water spray in the picture.

Thursday evening after work, I canned some pickled beets, that a friend gave to me. I got to use my nestabilities again to make little tags to go on the jars.

Friday, after watering I sit on my front porch swing and watched as the sun begin to sit.

Saturday, my favorite day of the week, Chris, my middle son, came to visit. He had been out to get a haircut, and stopped by to have a glass of tea with me.

The inside page of the very back page, tells who I am, or is it Who I'm Not?

The very back has my initials and date, with a ribbon, flower, and sticker.

Thanks for staying throughout the whole thing.
-S-

Cock-a-doodle-do/Heather's Friday Spark

It's 5:00 AM. Get up, Get up!! A friend of mine likes roosters and chickens. Seems like every year, she gets something else from me with one of them on it. This also gave me the opportunity to enter Heather's challenge. Her challenge was to use something cut out. I found the picture of the original rooster while searching clip art with google. I printed this one, then enlarged it. I then printed 2 out, and one I left intact. The other one I dismembered and used those to put back on with foam dots, over the other one. I also touched up the color on both printed ones. I put him on white card stock, then used red gingham to go under that. On the bottom and top of the gingham I cross stitched with a black marker. Then I used black and yellow for the next two layers. I repeated those same colors inside and added a birthday greeting. Hope he makes you smile this morning.

Saturday

Saturday, now what are my options for the day? I don't think I will plan anything, that way I won't feel like I am pushed for time. I hate that feeling, of being rushed, or unprepared.

Last night after coming in from watering my flower beds, I began working on Pat's Saturday night challenge. As I was deciding on pictures that I taken all week to use in her challenge, I thought this one was really cool. You can look real close and see the water spraying the flower. I will try to be back tomorrow with the finished project, that I am entering in her challenge.

Did I say Christmas Presents?????

Yes I did!!

Up until a couple of years ago, I usually had my Christmas shopping always completed by October. I would even have my Christmas cards addressed. That is a joke now days. But I am trying to get a few of my "little homemade" gifts finished. This plaque is for my friend , Barbara Ann. She doesn't surf the Internet, so I should be safe in posting this. Barbara Ann loves knick knacks, and "things" as she calls them. I have sit a goal to try to get maybe two things made a week, but at least 1, so I won't be so rushed in December. I love to do the little stocking stuffers. I hope Barbara Ann will enjoy this one. Well we just about have this week licked don't we? Thanks for letting me share a part of your day.

I had gotten this little wooden plaque awhile back. It was on the clearance aisle at Wally World. I painted the edges, then added the paper that is by K&Company. The flowers were laying on my desk from another project. I then finished it off with some tied ribbons and a butterfly or two.

Last night

Last evening, when I got home from work, I had a visitor waiting on me. It was Amber, my 19 year old grand-daughter. She had gone to the college and registered for the semester. She also got to do clinicals at the hospital today, she thinks that she has made the right decision as far as her career path. She has chosen Diagnostic Sonography. August is full of birthdays and anniversaries at my house. Here is another masculine birthday card, I put together. The die cut is by Jolee. I have made it to Wednesday, so the weekend can't be too far behind. Everyone enjoy the day.

Tuesday

Boy is it hot, down our way. We have had a 10 day consecutive heat wave. I am one of the lucky ones, I have an inside job, with A/C. Thursday is a dear friends birthday. I have been blessed with his entire family's friendship. He loves to work with wood, and can make anything that he puts his mind too. He built my deck and sun room years ago, and I have enjoyed it so much. Masculine cards are so hard for me to make. So this is a simple one, that represents who he is to my husband and myself. I thought the wood grain would be an appropriate layer. The brads I cut the backs off and just adhered them to the card with foam dots. I thought they looked like nails. Thanks for looking.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BILL!!!!

Saturday's Doings

Hope everyone enjoyed their Saturday. I didn't get any paper crafting done today, but did get to work outside around the house, and some cleaning inside. I enjoy staying at home on Saturdays, and getting everything I can finished. We are still in a heat wave, in the foothills of NC. Luckily, we had two little pop up showers, but not enough to even register in the rain gauge. I live in an older home (70+ years), and it has some of the old shrubbery, that the original couple planted years ago. I love these flowers the best. The first picture is of a bunch of flowers off one of the bushes I trimmed today, that was growing out of hand. The second pic is a picture of a photo, that Emily's sister gave me. The little table it is sitting on was handmade by my grandfather years ago. I almost always keep fresh flowers on this table in memory of Emily and use this table, because that was the kind of things she liked. The photo of Emily, was chosen by her sister because, this is the place she loved best, the ocean. The Willow Tree Angels are special to me. The Angel of Strength, Emily gave to me the 2nd Christmas I knew her. She knew that I didn't think of myself as a very "strong" person, but she thought I was one of the strongest ladies she knew. And because I raised 5 boys, she said she could just image seeing me with my arm crossed standing over my sons as children and being firm with them. The other two, Emily's sister gave to me after Emily's death. The Angel with her arms outstretched is "Courage", which has a special meaning to Dee, Pat, me, and the rest of Emily's family and friends. Looking at it reminds me to have courage, and also it reminds me that Emily is the triumphant one. The third one is called "Heart and Soul", and it speaks for itself. Some of the flowers that is beside her photo have special meanings also. The Black -Eyed Susan's, represent JUSTICE. The Calla Lily leaves, are from one of Emily's that she gave me the year she died. There is a sprig of Asparagus Fern, that is also from her. And yes I do own pretty little vases, but she would have chosen the old canning jar, over a crystal vase. That is a small hint as to the great kind of person she was. Thanks for looking.

First of All

First of all, I want to thank everyone that played along with my

challenge. Every one's inspired card was wonderful. Also, congratulations to NoraAnn on being chosen as the winner.

Tomorrow will be my long time friend, Elizabeth's birthday. We go back to a time, when we were younger and we and others in a group, have so many wonderful memories. Luckily my DH has always enjoyed taking pictures, so we have plenty of photos to reflect back on.. This special group of friends took me in when I married Allan. He had known them throughout the years. They accepted me, and immediately made me feel as if I had always been friends with them. They watched my boys become men, and have been there for me many times throughout some pretty rough trials.

Elizabeth, AKA, Liz, and Scrubby, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, to a very special friend.