FOCUS friday

I am participating in Ali Edwards One Little Word class over at Big Picture.  My word for the year is FOCUS.  I talked about it in this post.  I thought I would share a pic of the project.

I am using a Lime 8.5x11 We R Memory Keepers album for the project.   I love the color of this album.  I found some My Minds Eye pattern paper at my local scrapbook store for .20 a piece!  I think it goes with the album perfectly.  Of course I had to add a couple of butterflies (compliments of a Martha Stewart punch).  

Reading and getting healthy are on my list of things to focus on this year.  I admit the getting healthy thing is a struggle.  I am reading a wonderful book right now called Made To Crave by Lysa TerKeurst (so I am reading about getting healthy!)  I am hoping this will help me discover some things about my over eating.  I really like it so far.  I will try to remember to write a review when I am done. 
 

Hope you have a GREAT weekend!       

Thursday Chirp

I thought I would make Thursdays my Cricut day, hence the name Thursday Chirp.  I want to push myself to use it more.  I've been surfing and finding some amazing projects.  I think there is a bit of a learning curve - some cartridges are pretty complicated for my pea brain.  My goal is to use it regularly and LEARN!  (That would be part of my OLW: FOCUS goals). 

I broke out my Wild Card cartridge, watched several you tube videos and made this little Valentine with matching envelope.  I used Core'dinations cardstock that was recommended by several Cricut users.  I was very excited to use the cardstock - I've had it for awhile - got it at Hobby Lobby 50% off!

I had fun making this.  Hope you enjoy it.  Please let me know.  I LOVE comments.  I made it easier to leave comments; you don't have to log in to anything or type a made up word to verify. 

Stamps: Verve
Cardstock: Core'dinations
Pattern Paper: Basic Grey
Ink: Memento black
Misc: Jolee's embellie, pearls, PTI double end banner, button and floss
Cricut info : Wild Card cart cut at 4 3/4" (used card, envelope, liner and frame)

PTI Blog Hop

Nicole issued a challenge to use a stamp set that either hasn't been inked up or hasn't been used in a while.  I decided to get out my Signature Series: Dress Form and matching die.  Here is what I came up with...

Sorry the picture is not the best. 

I used my FAVORITE PTI die Banner Borders for the top of the card (where the sentiment is).  I have used that die so much - it is a must-have!

Stamps: PTI Signature Series:dress form

Cardstock: PTI Rustic white and Pure Poppy
Pattern Paper: PTI distressed dots
Ink: SU black (craft), PTI tea dye
Misc: twine, PTI dies, ribbon, emboss folder, Paper Studio pearls and gems

Clean and Simple (CAS) Monday

Howdy!  Long time no blog!  Splitcoaststampers has a CAS challenge every Monday and this week it is to use flourishes.  I just happen to have a card that I made recently with a flourish!  Thought I'd share it with you...

It doesn't get much simpler than this.  I think that is the card style that most suits me; clean and simple.

Stamps: Stampabilities and PTI Daily Designs Sentiments
Cardstock: PTI kraft
Pattern Paper: none
Ink: SU Tempting Turquoise and Melon Mambo (craft spots)
Misc: Jolee's flowers embellie, PTI double ended baner die

Amazing LIFE

Well, I started 2011 with good intentions but the days have gotten away from me.  I plan to refocus and start creating this weekend. 

My 92 year old grandmother passed away just after midnight Monday night.  The funeral was today.  She lived an amazing life with my grandfather (who passed in 1999).  They traveled the world.  I remember their trips would be for a month at a time.  I remember them bringing me souvenirs from all over the world; a purse from Africa, pajamas from China, etc.  I remember going to their house to view slides (this was the 70s and 80s) on a projector, of all the amazing and fantastic places they had been.  I remember staring at a majestic photo of the Great Wall of China that hung in their home.  It was something like this...

My grandfather worked for Standard Oil and in the mid-60s they lived on the island of Antigua for a year.  I found this picture of Antigua. 

After he retired he did some consulting work and they lived in Venezula. 

I wonder if they saw any waterfalls like that while living there?  Beautiful.

They also lived in Tanzania...

I asked my grandmother (I called her Mimi) one time where did she love to visit the most in the world.  Her answer: Africa.  I think I can see why. 

What an amazing life.  Both her and my grandpa were from small towns in Kansas.  Growing up, I bet they never imagined where life would take them.  She was generous, kind, and loving.  I am blessed to have known her, let alone be her granddaughter.  

 

Christmas Thank You's

This is going to be a quick post.  I wanted to share a couple of Christmas Thank You cards I've made.   

This card was basically a copy of a card Nicole Heady did a while back. I LOVE her designs.