The Joy That Is Kyla

Hello!

My friend Connie sent me these wonderful photos of her daughter Kyla. The pure joy that radiates from this beautiful child just makes me smile. Her mom writes: "My little girl is definitely a charmer…she smiles at everyone (seriously, she does) and they swoon…big and tall, old and young. She has a happy heart, except when take something away from her. LOL".

This joy needed to be shared. Check out that dancing girl! What a welcome gift this week! Thank you Connie!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Wishing you a happy one!

Barbara Diane

Fairies on Butterflies, Bringing Color to the Flowers

Hello!

I made this card this weekend for my friend Bill. I can't send it to him yet as he would not be able to know it was there (he had another brain bleed, a second 6+ hour surgery, a plate removed from his skull, complications with blood pressure, etc.) But I wanted to make something for him and I will keep it until he can. So here are the fairies on their butterflies bringing color to the flowers with their magic. Thank you again to all who have sent prayers and good thoughts for Bill.

The sweet fairies are Mo Manning digital images. the butterfly, the flower and the message are all stamps from Stampendous. The flower pot I cut and drew free hand.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Wishing you a wonderful week!

Barbara Diane

A Day Of Extremes

Hello!

Yesterday was a day of conflicting emotions. It was my oldest son Jim's birthday and also it was my friend Bill's.

Jim lives in a group home and loves to go out to eat so I took him to his favorite Rocky Rococo's for pizza - a gift from our friend Alemalu - where he also was given a huge M&M cookie because it was his birthday. Jim is a diabetic but this was a special day - and he loved it! After we ate I took Jim to the WI Craft Market to choose his birthday gifts. Jim loves arts and crafts and is a very talented "folk artist" so he had a great time looking at everything and a hard time choosing only a few! When I talked to Jim last night he was working on one of his paintings. He had a happy birthday.

Bill's birthday was at the extreme other end of emotions. When I talked to one of his sisters last night about 9:00 pm he was still in surgery - it having started at 3:00 pm - as he had suffered a second brain bleed. In addition, he has an infection somewhere and a lung culture was taken as well as a CT scan. When I had last had talked with his sisters they said that he was possibly being taken off the respirator - but it was not to be and yesterday his condition became even more serious. Bill's birthday was filled with sadness.

I told Bill's sisters Debbie and Kathy of the comments and e-mails I have received sending prayers and good wishes for their brother - the blogger community is so wonderful! Thank you to all of you out there who are keeping Bill in your thoughts and prayers. God bless you.

Wishing you a good weekend and praying that Bill has one also.

Barbara Diane

At A Loss

Hello,

Another friend is seriously ill - I can't seem to get my mind around it all. My friend Bill suffered a brain aneurysm/brain bleed and is not expected to live. It was such a short time ago we met daily to talk of updates of our friend Sal's condition and then she was gone. A few days ago Bill - who lives 2 doors down from me - came by with a gift of a peach and a "Have a peach of a day!" and now he is on a ventilator, a hole drilled in his head and in intensive care. It's too much to take in.

I am struggling with life issues and not being able to create at the moment, I hope to return soon. In the meantime, I thank all of you who continue to leave comments and e-mails - you are very kind.

Wishing you a good week.

Barbara Diane

A Tea Party With A Friend

Hello!

This sweet little girl having tea with her cute bunny friend is called "Some Tea" and is one of Mo Manning's digital images found here http://www.mosdigitalpencil.com/

Thanks for stopping by today!

Wishing you a creative and fun afternoon!

Barbara Diane

Double Happy Birthday Wishes

Hello!

This cute little elephant is a free digital image from Dustin Pike's blog. I finally took the time to figure out how to reverse images on my computer and so could make these two to wish a Happy Birthday! You can visit Dustin to see his wonderfull creations at http://dustinpike.blogspot.com/

Thanks for stopping by today!

Very rainy and dark day here in this part of WI. Hope the sun comes out soon!

Barbara Diane

JUNE Page of Birthday Calendar

Hello!

The month of JUNE page of my birthday calendar.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Barbara Diane

Take Time . . .

Hello!

Another of Mo Manning's digital images - today it is "Chickies" and he is a cutie! He can be found at http://www.mosdigitalpencil.com/ I love the children!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Wishing you a good Monday!

Barbara Diane

Spotlighting Technique

Hello!

I have always loved the look created by the spotlighting technique and have not used it for some time now. This sweet little girl with her baby doll is one of Mo Manning's digital images "I Love It!" and can be found at http://www.mosdigitalpencil.com/

Thanks for stopping by today!

Wishing you a happy Sunday! After a record heat wave followed by chilly temperatures - today we have some sun here in this part of WI and it is a bit warmer! Such strange weather!

Barbara Diane

Combined Stamp Images

Hello!

On my last visit to our local Archiver's I saw that they had a display of new stamps and this one of 'Patsy Pixie' from Stamping Bella caught my eye. I love their dainty and detailed images and you can check out their site at http://stampingbella.com/ to see what all they have!

I added the little bird from the 'Cupcake Birdy' stamp set from Inky Antics and you can see all of their great stamps at http://www.inkyantics.com/

Thanks for stopping by today!

Wishing you a great weekend!

Barbara Diane

A Card For All Who Leave Your Lovely Comments

Hello!

This card is for all of you who leave me your lovely comments - they bring a smile to my face to read them every day! Thank you! Knowing that someone reads my blog and likes my work is what keeps me going! God bless you for your kindness!

You can find this wonderful and fun digital image at http://www.mosdigitalpencil.com/ He is Mo Manning's "Cheshire Cat" - isn't he great?

Thanks for stopping by today!

Some severe storms coming into this part of WI today! We have been having such high, record breaking temperatures over the past week and now a significant drop to much lower temps always means storms. A good day to stay in but have to go out to an appointment so hopefully it will not be raining!

Wishing you a creative day!

Barbara Diane

"Missing You" Card

Hello!

After I finished this 'missing you' card I had to smile as it is SO HOT here in this part of WI that I thought maybe he just wants to get inside by the air conditioning! :<) Clever fellow!

The digital image is "Alli Wants In" from Mo Manning at http://www.mosdigitalpencil.com/

Thanks for stopping by today!

Wishing you cool breezes wherever you are! I thank my good friend Doug every day for the gift of the air conditioning unit! No more sweltering days in this small apartment with fans that can only move the hot air around and humidity high enough to produce rain. :<)

Barbara Diane

Some Color On A Rainy Monday

Hello!

We have a dark and rainy Monday morning here in this part of WI. Mo Manning's cute 'JoJo' is wishing you a "Good Morning!" all dressed up in these happy colors!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Wishing you some color and/or sunshine!

Barbara Diane

Second Post Today!

Hello!

Another post today!

I love Mo Manning's art - I can color her images all day! I especially love the children. In this card I have combined two of her images "Rafe" and "Baby Steps" and I have altered the angel for this card. The original image has him on a Christmas ornament but I detached him to be lying on top of the round opening instead. I also drew in some butterflies, grass and a flower to add some detail to create a little landscape for the baby.

It took me a long time before I tried the digital images, but once I did - I was a fan forever! They are so much fun to work with as they can be altered to size, reversed, etc. The images are much cheaper in cost to purchase and can be stored on your computer! You can't beat that! I still do purchase the wooden and clear stamps if I see one that I absolutely have to try but most of the images I now use are digital.

If you haven't yet, check out Mo's challenge blog at http://mosdigitalchallenge.blogspot.com/ to see all of the beautiful sample cards and projects that her designer team makes and all of the wonderful entries sent in by her fans! You will want to make your own! All of her digital images can be seen and purchased at http://www.mosdigitalpencil.com/ and you can see her new images as she posts her new creations on her personal blog at http://www.digitalpenciltoo.blogspot.com/ Have fun!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Wishing you sunshine and some fun this weekend!

Barbara Diane

Black & White Plus One Color Week - Day #5

Hello!

Today's card is the last of the black and white plus one color for this week. This sweetheart is "Little Girl In Kimono" and is one of Mo Manning's beautiful digital images. You can purchase her here at http://www.mosdigitalpencil.com/

Thanks for stopping by today!

Next week I will have lots of color to share. :<) Wishing you a great weekend!

Barbara Diane

Black & Whote Plus One Color Week - Day #4

Hello!

This has been fun creating cards using only one color with the black and white image. The sweet fairy on today's card is the last of the digital images from Daisies that I used this week. You can find them all at http://adayfordaisies.blogspot.com/

Thanks for stopping by today!

Wishing you something fun!

Barbara Diane

Black & White Plus One Color Week - Day #3

Hello!

Something a little different today using one color with black and white. I added a few more lines for hair on the child but otherwise just used a marker to outline the image. This again is one of the beautiful digital images from "A Day For Daisies" at http://adayfordaisies.blogspot.com/ You can click on the image to see a larger photo.

Thanks for stopping by today!

We have sunshine today in this part of WI and it is lovely!

Barbara Diane