Beautiful Blogger Award COMPLETED

Hello!

I received this Beautiful Blogger Award from my sweet blogger friend Dorothy (aka: CraftyCrafter) at Lavender and Old Lace http://dorothypatricia.blogspot.com/ Thank you Dorothy!!!

Do visit Dorothy's blog to see all of her beautiful creations and also, she has photos of her new puppy to share! :<)

I am to list 7 things about myself and send this award on to seven deserving bloggers.

Christmas will be here before we know it - YES it will - and it is my most favorite holiday of the year, so I will list 7 of the fun things I love about Christmas.

1. The children's expectations and joy.
2. The wonderful colors.
3. Christmas trees and fairy lights on houses.
4. The music and songs.
5. Images of Santal Claus and his elves.
6. Frosted cookies and candy.
7. Wrapping presents.

I pass this on to the following 7 deserving bloggers.

http://atelierbarbara.blogspot.com/
http://bluepoohbear753.blogspot.com/
http://chocolatecraftsandbearsohmy.blogspot.com/
http://lesscrapsdln.blogspot.com/
http://lindascraftycreations.blogspot.com/
http://terradeduendes.blogspot.com/
http://weebitofwhimsy.blogspot.com/

Thank you again Dorothy for all of your kind words and great support!

Wishing you all a great day today!

Barbara Diane

I Want This One!

Hello!

I have always loved this photo my friend Michelle sent me of her grandson Paytin (isn't that a great name!) picking out his pumpkin on a visit to the pumpkin patch - and I thought it would be perfect for a scrapbook page or a card. Everything about the photo is perfect - the look of intent on his face, the pumpkin almost as big as he is!

So when I saw this Mo Manning image - I was so excited, because here he was! :<)

The idea for the card came from one that Dawn created on her blog "My Stamping Thyme" and I liked it so much I asked if I could CASE my own version of it. You can see her card and all of Dawn's wonderful creations at http://mystampingthyme.blogspot.com/ Thank you for the inspiration, Dawn! I love your blog! :<)

I don't do scrapbooking but I know I will have to make a page for Michelle using these two little guys - the real one and the image! So cute!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Wishing you a wonderful weekend! :<)

Barbara Diane

A Day In The Life . . . Of A House Mouse

Hello!

I love the little House Mouse stamps! They are all so cute! This card took me a suprisingly long time to make but when it was finished I was very happy!

The little guy on the left is telling one of the big guys a secret, while his friend - who probably knows what it is about - stands by, patiently awaiting the wise advice. But see the one standing behind them - supposedly 'invisable' - trying to hear what is being said? The tiny one up being tossed in the air is feeling pure joy and has no worries as his bigger friend is waiting to catch him, while their friend looks on anxiously - not so sure. The two in the bottom left are deep in conversation - probably planning a food run!

You can see all of the wonderful little mice at http://www.house-mouse.com/

Thanks for stopping by today!


Hope this day in your life is happy!

Barbara Diane

A Happy Walk In The Rain

Hello!

This happy little girl out for a walk in the rain with her pet ducks made me smile when I first saw this cute image of Mo Manning's. I have always thought red and yellow as happy colors - so it just seemed right. :<)

Thanks for stopping by today!

It is actually only 61 degrees this morning in the part of Wisconsin! Unbelievable! We are to be back in the high 80's - 90 by the weekend but today the high is only forecast for 74! Love it!

Wishing you a good one!

Barbara Diane

Pet Grasshopper

Hello!

I am very late today - no Internet or e-mail service this morning. It was just restored now - we were one of 4 cities in the area to have no service. At the time I talked with someone this morning, they did not know if a line had been cut or why the lost connection. But it is back again - so here I am.

This sweet little girl is another of Mo Manning's digital images. So much fun to color. This was one of the ones I colored while dog sitting at Brandy's - before I learned to 'Heat Set the Printed Image' - so the colors are a bit smeared on the face, but did not want to waste this cute little girl and her pet grasshopper!

Thanks for stopping by today!

I received a wonderful gift yesterday. I have AC! Yes I do! Air conditioning - in my apartment - yes I do! :<) It is lovely! Thank you Doug!!!!

And I have new glasses! And I can actually see things clearly - without squinting or blinking my eyes to focus or using a magnifying glass! I struggled a year and a half with glasses not right for me because I was told I had 'to adjust' - what we insecue people do! A new eye doctor, new prescription, new glasses - whala, I can see! Guess it is time to find a new medical doctor also.

Such a good day here yesterday! :<) Wishing you a good day today!

Barbara Diane

A Most Beautiful Gift

Hello!

I received a package this weekend from my friend Helen and on opening it I could not believe my eyes at the beautiful gifts inside! A gorgeous card with a matchbox and purse set - all in beautiful soft colors and a sparkling black!

I opened the purse first, and inside was another match box and inside this box was an exquisite quilled flower necklace! Helen's quilling has always been an inspiration to me and to see her work in person, well these photos do not begin to show the loveliness of the quilled flower! And the purse itself is so beautiful - with a black satin ribbon, a beautiful flower and that fantastic black sparkling card stock!

When I opened the matchbox, inside that was a matching set of quilled flower earrings! The matchbox is lovely-with another of the beautiful flowers that Helen also made!


Click on the photo to enlarge it and see the lovely quilling work showcased against the pretty sparkling black cardstock inserts!

The card has more of Helen's quilling in the dainty rosebuds and also has three of the beautiful roses she makes! Combined with the embossing - perfection! Helen remembered my favorite colors and this card is so beautiful that I want to frame it!

I am blessed with good friends! Thank you again Helen! I love my gift! You can see all of Helen's cards and projects on her blog "Lets Create" at http://helenmade.blogspot.com/

It's going to be a Happy Day here today! I will post photos tomorrow! :<)

Wishing you a good Monday!

Barbara Diane

Asian Girl

Hello!

I love this sweet little girl and her cat - one of three little Asian girl images of Mo Manning that I have purchased. It is upsetting to see where the image ink smeared where the markers touched because I did not know to heat set the digital images! But I love to color and it would be a shame to waste these cuties so I will continue to post the cards.

Now that I know to heat set and now that I have purchased my first Copic markers -in flesh colors - I am in heaven when coloring with them! No more smearing of the black printer ink. I have hesitated to use the Copics because of my many allergies and I cannot be near solvents, etc. but these are alcohol based so I decided to try them and so far so good! I love the way they go on so smoothly and no streaking! If all goes well, I will continue to get them one at a time with my coupons! :<)

I would love, love, love to take a Copics certification class! :<) There are two levels offered now, but one has to have taken the first one to qualify to take the second and a certain amount of time has to have gone by since the first one was taken. Oh well, one can learn a lot from the many talented bloggers and the video tutorials. I am studying them all! :<)

Those of you who use Copics and have any suggestions of the above sources or personal experience, I would welcome all input! I learn from and am inspired by all of you! :<)

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

Barbara Diane

Visit to Santa Claus

Hello!

It had to happen - a Christmas card! :<)

I love all of Mo Manning's images, but when I saw this one of the two little boys visiting Santa Claus - with the one not quite sure if he likes this or not and the other so full of the Christmas spirit - it reminded me so much of my own three boys when they were young. I knew I had to have it! :<)

I know this will be one of my Christmas cards but wasn't sure of the card background color. So here are a few options. What do you think? :<) Any suggestions?

The original - no background.

Thanks for stopping by today to visit my blog!

Wishing you a great day!

Barbara Diane

Thinking of You

Hello!

Another of Mo Manning's wonderful images. I did not take a photo of the inside, but the greeting is "Thinking of You". I love this little boy and will be using him many times.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Tried to visit many of your blogs today as I was thinking of you! :<)

Barbara Diane

Mo Mannigng Digital Images

Hello!

I love Mo Manning's images! In the past I have had some of her wood stamps, but now I also have some of her digital images. Digital stamps are new for me and I have had to learn what paper to use in my printer and recently - and most importantly - to heat set the ink before coloring with markers!!!

I had received my digital imges shortly before we went to dog sit with Brandy this last time and so I printed LOTS of them to work on while we were there and it was so frustrating as the black ink would smear when touched with the markers! It took forever to color without smudging - especially the skin colors!

Here Jim and I are working on our coloring. You can see I was being very productive even if the coloring was frustrating! :<) Can't waste all of those lovely images, so will be making them into cards and projects even if they are not perfect!

Here is one of my first colored digital images - before learning to heat set. Isn't she the sweetest little girl? You can see Mo's images at http://www.digitalpenciltoo.blogspot.com/ Mo also has illustrated many children's books - click on the icon "Check Out My Books" in the right hand column on her blog. Her artistic talent in capturing the characters in her images is awesome! Mo also has a challenge blog featuring great samples at http://mosdigitalchallenge.blogspot.com/

Thanks for stopping by today!

Wishing you a nice day. We have had a break in the weather for the past few days here in this part of WI - and even though the high temperatures are to return, it has been lovely!

Barbara Diane

A Beautiful Kimono

Hello!

On looking at the Thursday, August 5th posting on my friend Patti's blog "Creations by Patti" I saw that she was making these wonderful kimono thank-you cards. The finished card was lovely and the sample kimonos were all so beautiful! The following day she posted more cards and I left Patti a comment on how much I loved them and especially the blue one! Never did I think that I would own that blue kimono card! But I do!

I received this card in the mail on Saturday and in person it is even more lovely! My photo does not do it justice! Patti left the kimono unattached so that I could see exactly how it is folded when I try to make my own. I love my blue kimono Patti! Thank you, thank you! :<)

Patti posted a great tutorial for making these fantastic kimonos on her Monday, August 9th post. To see all of this beauty go to http://www.creationsbypatti.blogspot.com/ Thank you again Patti, this gift came at a perfect time - the generosity and kindness of friends always lifts one's spirit when things get a bit lost!

Thanks for stopping by today! I hope that you had a nice Monday!

Barbara Diane

August Page of Birthday Calendar

Hello!

Notice a recurring theme? :<)

I'm afraid the heat got the best of me while I was working on this, as I didn't pay attention to what I was doing and grabbed the wrong Stickles and the "cool" air looks more like "hot" as it has gold in it! I knew after I saw it on the page that it was the wrong one, but I just wanted to get done and thought it would be fine when it dried. Wrong! One thing about a calendar page, you can't do it over! Oh well, it was a good idea! :<)

Of course, sometimes it feels like the fans are not giving out cool air at all! Poor bunny rabbit, he is thinking so hard on snow in spite of the "hot" air! Determined little guy! :>)

Thanks for stopping by today!

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

Barbara Diane

Perfect Stamp Image For My State Of Mind

Hello!

For those of you who read my blog, you are aware because of my many past complaints that I do not have air conditioning - and in my small apartment the hot temperatures of this summer are about doing me in! :<)

So, when I saw this little House Mouse stamp image, it was perfect - as it projected my state of mind exactly! :<) If you click on the photo to enlarge it, you will see that I also added Stickles to the "breeze" both in and coming out of the fan to make it even more cooling!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Wishing you cool breezes - both AC and otherwise - wherever you are! :<)

Barbara Diane

Coloring Fun Pacs

Hello!

I call these Coloring Fun Pacs. I made them for two little friends of mine - a brother and a sister who love to color. I was trying to think of a card for a child and then I thought why not let them help to make it and then I thought why not make it a project for them. Wa la!

I think that they came out cute. Hope you enjoy! The children did! :<)

They are easy to make: Cut a 5 1/2" x 12" cardstock, score and fold at 4" and 8", stamp images on 3 pieces of white cardstock and attach to the three sections with non-permanent glue, cut a 1" belly band and decorate the card, belly band and a small box of crayons (or markers) and assemble. Add name tag. Have fun! :<)

Thanks to stopping by today! Wishing you cool air wherever you are!

Barbara Diane

Chapter List For "A Love Story - Fat Cat and Little Doll"

Hello!

Now that we have reached the end of my tale "Fat Cat and Little Doll - A Love Story", I was printing it to send a hard copy to the owners of Little Doll and Fat Cat and I thought maybe that a copy of the Chapter List may help those of you who had not read the story from the beginning and would like to read it in it's entirety.

CHAPTER LIST for "A Love Story - Little Doll and Fat Cat"

7/21 Post - A Love Story - Little Doll and Fat Cat (Story Background)

7/22 Post - Little Doll Arrives At My Studio
7/23 Post - Little Doll's Display
8/2 Post - Little Doll and Lady G Agree On A Plan For The Garden Display
8/3 Post - Little Doll's Garden Is Completed
8/4 Post - Little Doll and Lady G See The New Project
8/5 Post - The New Project Gets A Name
8/6 Post - Fat Cat In All His Glory
8/9 Post - Little Doll and Fat Cat's Time Together Ends
8/10 Post - Little Doll Sends a Final Goodbye to Fat Cat and We Say Goodbye to Our Little Doll

Again, thank you to all who did follow it and sent such heart warming comments and e-mails!

Barbara Diane

Little Doll Sends A Final Goodbye to Fat Cat and We Say Goodbye to Our Little Doll

The background and first chapter of this story "A Love Story - Little Doll and Fat Cat" begins on the July 21st posting.

Hello!

After Fat Cat had left my studio and was no longer sharing our days, we were all missing him and feeling sad. Little Doll was taking the loss of her friend Fat Cat very hard and she had become very quiet. In a few days she also would be leaving me and her friend Lady G to return to live with her original owner and Lady G and I were concerned that it would be too many goodbyes for our sensitive Little Doll.

Hour after hour Lady G would sit with Little Doll, listening and being there for her small friend. "I know that you are feeling very sad that your friend Fat Cat is gone, but you shared such a wonderful experience with him, being a part of his creation and then all those hours together." "I know" said Little Doll, " and I am grateful for that. I will never forget my time here with all of you. I just miss him and now I know that soon I will be leaving you also."

"I have an idea" I said, " how would you like to send a greeting card to Fat Cat before you leave? I have some cards here that I have created and you are more than welcome to chose one and I can help you to write a little message inside." Immediately, we could see Little Doll liked this idea. "Oh, thank you!" said Little Doll, "That sounds like a wonderful idea! I still have so much I would like to say to Fat Cat!"

So I brought the container where I kept some of my finished cards and set it on a work table and stood Little Doll by the box so that she could pick a card that she liked. Little Doll searched and searched, having me take first one and then another of the cards out of the box so that she could see them. But there was one card that she kept going back to.

Finally she said "I love this card - it looks like me. This is the one I shall send to Fat Cat."

That is a lovely choice!" I said. "I will find an envelope and pen and get it ready for you to sign." "Thank you." said Little Doll, but then she seemed to hesitate. I could tell that she still had more to say so I asked, "Have you changed your mind on your choice of card? You can look through them again if you wish." "Oh no" said Little Doll, "I love this card and it will be perfect, but I was wondering if I might put something with the card when I send it to Fat Cat." "I think that would be fine" I said, "depending on the size of the item. Do you know what it is that you would like to include in the card?" "Not really" said Little Doll, "it was just an idea." "Well, why don't you sit and visit with Lady G and discuss your options while I finish getting the card ready for you to sign and when you have decided, you let me know."

"That is a good idea" she said and so I sat Little Doll on the bench next to her friend Lady G where she had been sitting while Little Doll chose her card and we explained what it was that Little Doll now wanted to do and needed her help with. "I would love to help you decide!" said Lady G, "Let's see what ideas we can come up with." So the two friends put their heads together and in a short time I heard Little Doll say, "We have decided! I would like to send one of the flower blossoms from my garden to Fat Cat as a memory of our friendship. Do you think that would be possible to fit it inside the card?" she asked me. "If it isn't too large, I am sure that one of the blossoms will be just perfect to send to Fat Cat in his card." "I am so happy to hear that!" said Little Doll. "Isn't that wonderful Lady G!" "Oh, yes!" said Lady G, "this is so exciting!"

"I would like to choose what flowers to send" said Little Doll, "would you bring some to me so Lady G can help me to chose one for Fat Cat?" asked Little Doll. "Certainly" I said and brought some of the extra blossoms left from when we decorated the garden and put them in her lap. After a few minutes of "This is a lovely one." and "Oh, this is a beautiful shade of pink" and "I think I love the red color best." Little Doll said to me, "This is what I will send." And on her lap, Little Doll had a small bouquet of both the pink and the red blossoms.

"I could not chose just one as they are all so pretty, do you think this will be too large to fit in the card?" asked Little Doll. "No" I said, "I think we can make this work just fine. You have chosen some beautiful blossoms to go with your card and Fat Cat will be so happy when he see what you have sent him."

"What do you think?" asked Little Doll of Lady G. Do you think Fat Cat will like the card and the flower blossoms I am sending to him?" "They are so lovely together" said Lady G "and perfect to send to Fat Cat. He will surely see the double message - the one you write and the unwritten one of the flowers."

So I helped Little Doll to sign her name and then to write her private message to her friend Fat Cat, which we folded and put inside the card with the flower blossoms.

Then the envelope was addressed to Fat Cat in care of my friend Andrew at his home - where Fat Cat would now be living. And Little Doll was happy and not so sad now that she had been able to say her thoughts to her friend Fat Cat. There would always be a place in her heart for her friend and now it also held the memory of the card, the flower blossoms and the message.

Then the day of my doll club meeting arrived and this meant that it was time for Lady G and me to say goodbye to our friend Little Doll. It was going to be so difficult to see her leave my studio and us as we had become so attached to this small little lady. From our first meeting and the start of Lady G's and Little Doll's friendship and the gift of red bird, through the creation of her little hat and then her very own garden and then the creation of Fat Cat and watching that love story grow. It was heartbreaking to know that we would never see Fat Cat again and now Little Doll but it had been a magical experience to have them both in our lives.

I left Little Doll and Lady G to talk in private - to say what each needed to say. When it was time for Little Doll and me to leave for the doll club meeting, Little Doll said to me, "Before we go, I would like to give Lady G one of the flower blossoms from my garden to remember me by." "Oh, Little Doll, that would be so lovely, but I will always remember you as the prettiest flower in your garden - you looked like a princess."

"Please set me by the garden" said Little Doll, "as I would like to pick one of the flowers for my friends Lady G and dove." And so I did, and so she did, and this is what she gave to Lady G. A beautiful red rose bud. "For you and dove" she said to Lady G, "to remember our time together and all that we shared."

"I will miss you Lady G" she said. "I will always hold you and dove in my heart next to Fat Cat and I will never forget you." "I will miss you too Little Doll, you will always be in my heart also." said Lady G and as she took the flower from Little Doll, she leaned over and kissed her on her cheek and gave a pat to red bird's head. "Goodbye red bird" she said, "take good care of Little Doll for us!" And the two little dolls and their two little birds sat quietly for a few moments - and said goodbye.

And so ends the love story of Little Doll and Fat Cat - and in there was also the story of Little Doll and dove and red bird and their friendship. Lady G and I had been blessed to have them in our lives and although we were sad to see them leave us we also were happy for them that now both would have homes of their own where they were loved and cared for.

Before I placed Fat Cat in his wrappings to be mailed and before I put Little Doll into her paper bag with her garden - I kissed them on their heads, told them I loved them too and would never forget them and said a blessing request that they would be happy.

EPILOGUE

I received word from Andrew that Fat Cat had arrived safely and was happily welcomed and received as a wonderful gift and would forever hold a place of honor and love as a member of Andrew's family. I knew then that Fat Cat would be happy.

When I took Little Doll from her paper bag at my doll club meeting to return her to the dollmaker who originally created Little Doll's doll body, the look of happiness on the woman's face to finally receive her doll back made me know that Little Doll would be loved and happy in her new home and that when she sat in her very own little garden she would be content.

* * * *

Thanks for stopping by today! I hope that you have enjoyed the story! A heartfelt thanks to all who sent your wonderful e-mails and comments of how you felt about this little tale. They inspired me and supported me and made me smile. There were 3 more dolls that came to stay with me during the Paper Bag Challenge and they all had their own stories. But they are for another time. Tomorrow, a card project! :<)

Hugs,

Barbara Diane

Little Doll and Fat Cat's Time Together Ends

The background and first chapter of this story "A Love Story - Little Doll and Fat Cat" begins on the July 21st posting.

Hello!

After Fat Cat's completion, he and Little Doll became inseparable. Little Doll was at first so awed with Fat Cat's size and strength and the feeling of safety and security she felt when in his presence and then, after spending more and more time with him, she came to see also his strength of character and capacity for kindness. He was simply - a wonderful cat.

The many hours Little Doll and Fat Cat spent together were filled with talking and talking and talking. Well, most often it was Little Doll doing the talking and Fat Cat listening, but he had many of his own thoughts and impressions to share with her. Much laughter was also shared as they each related one funny thing or another to each other. Many times red bird also became part of their time together, perched on Fat Cat's head, where he too entered into the lively conversations with his chirping and hopping.

"It is so wonderful to see them together" said Lady G, "and to see Little Doll so happy! But soon they will have to part and I am concerned that her heart will be broken." "I know" I said, "I am anxious too, but they have been blessed to have this time to share and when they are no longer together, the memories and friendship they feel for each other will be with them always."

So although Little Doll still spent time with her friend Lady G each day, she and Fat Cat spent many hours together - Little Doll sitting on one or the other of Fat Cat's shoulders, sometimes red bird on his head. And their friendship grew deeper.

Soon there time together was coming to an end. In a days time, Fat Cat was to leave my studio to live with my good friend Andrew, who I had created Fat Cat for as a gift. And a few days later I would be taking Little Doll with me to my doll club meeting for our last day of the Paper Bag Challenge exchange, when she would be returning to live with the person who originally had created her doll body

As Little Doll sat on Fat Cat's shoulder that last day, she was very sad. "I will miss you Fat Cat" she told him, "and our times together. I have so enjoyed knowing you. It will be so strange not to be able to see you each day and share the conversation and laughter." "We have enjoyed these hours so much, haven't we red bird?" she asked the little bird, who gave a quiet little chirp and no hop - for he was saddened too. He would be going to live with Little Doll, but his time with Fat Cat was ending also.

Fat Cat said to Little Doll, "Don't be sad my dear. Even if our time together is ending, we will always have each other in the memories of this wonderful experience and our many hours together. I have been so blessed that you and Lady G and red bird and dove were involved in my creation and the friendship you have all shared with me has been wonderful!"

"Oh, it has!" said Little Doll. "I will try not to be sad and remember instead all of the good times we had together. I hope that you are happy in your new home with Andrew! He loves cats I am told and has many 'real' cats who live with him in his home! I am sure that you will all become fast friends and you will spend many happy hours of conversation, surrounded by your new warm and furry family members!"

"But remember our secret" said Little Doll, "and keep it with you always." "I will" said Fat Cat. "Your words are forever in my heart. I love you too Little Doll."


Tomorrow will be the last chapter in this story. Fat Cat has started his journey to Andrew's home and we help Little Doll to send him a final card and momento as she now prepares to leave my studio to go to her home and Lady G and I say our own goodbyes to this lovely little lady.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Wishing you a great Monday!

Barbara Diane

Selinho Friendship Award

Hello!

In past posts you have read about my visits to the wonderful blog Terra De Duendes - Land of Elves - and how much I love and enjoy the awesome little people that live there. Today I received this gift from Duendes, who has created this friendship award in celebration of a milestone of her blog and "because as I get visits from many different places and countries, demonstrates that 'friendship has no borders'. "

That is so true - I have been so happy to come to know so many bloggers from all parts of the world! All of us brought together because of our love and sharing of beautiful crafts. I have thought for a long time, could I just create an award to pass on to others in thanks and friendship? Well, now Duendes has done just that and it is a beautiful award - featuring my favorite character of them all - with his wonderful face and bright orangey red hair! Perfection! :<)

Thank you and Beijos Duendes! I love your creation! To visit The Land of Elves and read of this gift of her award, go to http://terradeduendes.blogspot.com/

Sending thanks to all of you who read my blog and take the time to leave comments and send e-mails! I appreciate the friendship of each and every one of you and your kind words make my day and keep me motivated and inspired! :<)

Friendship really has no borders.

Barbara Diane