Cards For Katie Week

Hello!

Another card for Katie - using the digital image from Lori Designs that is included in the package that you will receive in return for a donation to the Help Katie fund. So many beautiful images donated by these wonderful artists - a gift to you in thanks for helping this lovely young mother of three little boys as she battles Stage 4 stomach cancer.

You can click on the "Help Katie" poster that shows you all of the digital stamps you will receive - on the right side of my blog - to take you to Jak's blog for details of how you can make a donation or you can find them here at http://www.jakheath.com/

Katie is currently undergoing chemo and has just finished her third treatment. You can read Katie's story on her blog http://katiespaperhaven.blogspot.com/ This incredibly brave woman and her family needs your help and the many wonderful images that you receive as a thank you gift are awesome!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Huge winter storm coming our way here in this part of WI. Evidently the storm front is so big that it will affect many states in additon to WI with either a blizzard, ice or even tornados. We are to have 3-5" of snow today and 11-15" by Wednesday. Winter storm warnings, blizzard conditions. I went out this morning to get some groceries I will need and a stop to the pharmacy before it gets too bad for me to drive. I cancelled an appointment for Tuesday as I don't even think we will be able to get out of our parking lot by then.

You all take care wherever you are! Tomorrow a project for Katie.

Barbara Diane

Basket of Flowers in Display Box

Hello!

Crazy day - didn't even get to computer to work!

I made this basket and enclosed display box sometime ago. The flowers were purchased. This was a first try and I never did make another one that was finished with DP and/or stamped images. I will have to do this again some day. One more thing on my to do list! :<)

Thanks for stopping by!

Wishing you a great weekend!

Barbara Diane

A Cute - But Empty - Valentine Treat Box

Hello!

I love this little box. It is such a great size to hold a large, wrapped cookie or some yummy chocolate bars, etc. As you can see, mine is empty. I seem to have eaten all of my treat props! :<) Oh well, it is even cute when empty!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Bad weather here this morning. Snow - wet, heavy snow - foggy. Many slide offs, lanes of slowed traffic, etc. and people just trying to get to work safely. It is supposed to stop mid-morning and then more tomorrow. This means more cleaning snow off of car and moving it for the snow plow to clear the parking lot and then moving it back again. I am weary of it but I am grateful that I no longer have to fight the traffic to get to work. I am SO ready for Spring!

Barbara Diane

A Valentine Card

Hello!

I love how a card changes depending on the color of the background. This is a Valentine card that I made using one of the sweet little envelopes that were in the gift I received from Shirley Anne.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Wishing you a good one!

Barbara Diane

Join Me In Playing "Pass It Forward"

Hello!

I have joined in a new fun game over at Dorcas' blog http://dorcasdesigns.blogspot.com/. It is called 'Pass It Forward' and this is how it works:

I promise to send something handmade to the First Five People who comment on this post.

However, there's a catch. :<)

You must also post this offer and then 'pass it forward' by sending something handmade by you to five other people sometime during 2011. DURING 2011. I love that! No pressure - just sometime handmade sent to 5 other people sometime during 2011. How cool is that! :<)

If you'd like to join in the fun, then be one of the first five people to post a comment in response to this posting and something handmade will be coming your way from me at some point this year. I promise it won't have a Christmas theme! Unless of course you prefer it comes at that time of the year - even better. :<)

Thanks for stopping by today! Leave a comment if you would like to play this game with me.

Wishing you a smile!

Barbara Diane

A Gift From Shirley Anne In Australia!

Hello!

I just received a most wonderful gift package from Australia! When I saw the box covered in stamps and with the documentation of an overseas mailing, I was so excited! I wondered what it was and who could have sent it to me! It was from my friend Shirley Anne of 'Stamping For Joy' and what a surprise when I opened it!

I had heard from Shirley in December that I was the winner of a blog candy of a SU ink pad and matching ribbon - in the Melon Mambo color - and I was so excited to win. But when I saw the contents of the box I was in awe and you can see why!

This is what I won . . .

and this is what I received in the box!

The ink and ribbon AND a number of other things! :<) I just kept taking out one beautiful thing after another - I loved it! Beautiful paper, stickers, buttons, die cuts that I do not have, little envelopes, etc. You can see the card that Shirley also created for me in between the buttons ad stickers - it is lovely! Thank you Shirley Anne - your kind generosity made me very happy!

You can visit Shirley Anne on her fun blog at http://shirley-anne-stampingforjoy.blogspot.com/ to see all of her great creations! She is one busy lady and loves what she does! :<) Thank you again Shirley Anne, I am having great fun creating with these new gifts!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Wishing you some sunshine!

Barbara Diane

Magic Monkey Card

Hello!

It is SO cold here in this part of WI today! Last night the temperature reached a -15 degrees and today as I write this posting it is still only a -10! Today's high - believe it or not - is 1 degree!

Making this Magic Monkey Card was the most fun I have ever had making a card! I love the result so much that I am posting photos of this 'practice' card to share with you! I will be making more of these cards and they will look much better. I just couldn't wait to show you this 'magic' as it happens. :<)

Black and white image.

Start to pull up the insert - He's IN COLOR!

Wow! Magic!

Wasn't he black and white?

Wow! Yes he was! Lets try that again . . . and again . . . and show this to my friends! :<)

Thanks for stopping by today!

Wishing you some fun this weekend!

Barbara Diane

Pillow Box Slippers

Hello!

I knew when I saw this tutorial on Valita's Designs and Fresh Folds blog that I had to make a pair of these slippers. They are so cute! So I finally purchased the pillow box die so I could make these cute little treat holders. You can find this tutorial and many more wonderful creations on Valita's blog at http://valitasfreshfolds.blogspot.com/

Thanks for stopping by today!

It is SO cold here in this part of WI - and supposed to get even colder!

Wishing you a good day!

Barbara Diane

A Happy Card

Hello!

I love the vintage look of this paper and a little sponging on the edges with brown ink adds to the charm. The sweet smile on this image just makes ME smile when I use it. :<)

Thanks for stopping by today!

Wishing you smiles today!

Barbara Diane

Amazing Christmas Amaryllis - Two Stalks and Fourteen Blooms!

Hello!

I thought I would share some color on this very white and snowy day here in this part of WI - of my amazing Christmas Amaryllis of Fourteen Blooms.

I purchased this bulb from a local Copps grocery store. They have a small floral section that I had never really have paid much attention to as my budget does not include cut flowers and I do not have room in my apartment for plants. But at Christmas the flowers had expanded into the adjoining produce section and there by the bananas I saw these Amaryllis plants. I had some Christmas money and they were not too expensive and I remembered how I enjoyed having them in the past.

I used to have an Amaryllis bulb growing every year at Christmas time - a tradition that brought some color into my home and it is fun to watch them grow as they do this quite rapidly once the stalks start to grow. The plant I picked had two small stalks with a bud forming on each. It was called a Christmas Star and the first flower opened on Christmas Day.

Then I noticed that there were SEVEN flower buds on this one stalk. That is so unusual as the most one usually has bloom on one stalk is 2-4 flowers.

There would be more surprises as the second stalk started to bloom. Seven MORE flower buds on this stalk! I was in awe! What an amazing flower this had turned out to be!

FOURTEEN FLOWERS!

The only thing I can think of for this many flowers is that ususally there are also very tall stems and this is all that grew on this plant - two very small leaves.

For whatever reason, this was the most beautiful Amaryllis I have ever had. I will keep it very carefully over the summer so that I can enjoy this wonderful gift again next Christmas!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Wishing you some color of your own today!

Barbara Diane

Late Birthday Card For My Brother

Hello!

When I sent the Birthday Calendar I made last year to my sister-in-law Bonnnie in December, I put the new one I am making this year by my work table. Never thinking that there was still a birthday on that calendar that came after Christmas that I needed to remember to make a card! Needless to say - I forgot the birthday until I picked up the new blank calendar again to start to decorate the January page. And ironically it was my brother's birthday - Bonnie's husband! But I did get it made and it went out late and I am sorry Dick! I promise to do better next year!

For this card I used another Mo Manning digital image. Dick and Bonnie have this cute little dog that looks just like this little guy and I couldn't resist. I love the fold of the card and it was perfect to showcase all of the different poses that come with this set.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Lots of snow during the night here in this part of WI. I am getting ready to go out and clean off my car, move it so they can plow the parking lot and then go out and move it back again. We are supposed to have more snow today - about 4" and very heavy snow. Winter Advisory until midnight tonight - wonder if I will have to do this move/clean/move again multiple times today!

I am SO looking forward to Spring! Wishing you a good Monday!

Barbara Diane

A Little Sunshine

Hello!

A little sunshine for your weekend. :<) My good friend Michelle always shares great photos of her grandchildren with me. This is Paytin again - titled "Nerd Alert" - what a smile!

Thank you Michelle!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Hope this brings you a smile - it made my day! :<)

Barbara Diane

A Hug For Katie and Milk Carton Die

Hello!

I finally purchased the milk carton die from SU and it is so much smaller than I pictured it. I had previously made these treat holders from a template that I found on a blogger site and they were so much larger, so I guess I just assumed that the die would be the same size. You know what they say about assuming anything! :<)

So I was wrong but I just decreased the size of the digital image I was going to use. This was donated by Double Delight as one of the many to be given to those who took part in the Help For Katie request. It worked out fine, but the end result was so much smaller than I intended it to be. Now I will have to purchase different treats to put inside as the chocolates I had will not fit into the smaller milk carton. Guess I will have to eat them so they won't go to waste! :<)

Thanks for stopping by today!

Wishing you a wonderful weekend! Snow or no snow! :<)

Barbara Diane

Hello!

Today's card is made using the digital image donated by Mo Manning for Katie's fund. I love Mo's images and you can find them at http://www.digitalpenciltoo.blogspot.com/

Thanks for stopping by today!

We have a bit of sunshine here in this part of WI today but more snow on the way!

Wishing you some fun creative time!

Barbara Diane

A Card For Katie

Hello!

Yesterday, I wrote of the Help For Katie request that was being sent out for one of our fellow bloggers, Kate of Paper Haven, who in December was diagnosed with Stage 4 Stomach Cancer and is now receiving chemo treatments.

In return for a donation one received many digital images that had been given by various artists to help raise money for this lovely young woman and her family. I was so impressed with the beautiful images that were put together by these gracious people to help Katie.

This is a card I made for Katie using images from Studio 313. It just seemed perfect for sending well wishes and perhaps also bring a smile to both Katie and her boys. The CS, DP, markers and paper punch used are all from SU.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Wishing you some sunshine! We had quite a bit of snow again here in this part of WI.

Barbara Diane

Help for Katie

Hello!

I am writing today to ask your help for a lovely young woman who is a fellow blogger. In December Katie was diagnosed with Stage 4 Stomach Cancer and her world as she knew it was turned upside down. She has just finished with her first round of chemo and is resting before beginning again in a few days. You can read Katie's story on her own blog Paper Haven here Katie is married to Kevin and is the mother of 5 year old twins Nate & Will and Hunter aged 10.

Many talented artists have designed for the Help for Katie cause. In return for your donation you will receive specially designed images from the following:

Jak Heath Designs
Just Inklined Digital stamps
Clear Dollar Stamps
Doodle Pantry Digital Doodles
True D Doodle Designs
Waltzing Mouse stamps
Mo's Digital Pencil Studio 313
Sassy Cheryls
Tiddly Inks
Make it Crafty
Paper in the Works
By Lori Designs
Digital Delights

In addition, with your donation you will be entered into a drawing for prizes from Letraset and Paper Temptress If you donate twice you will get 2 chances to win one of the prizes.The drawing for the prizes will be made on February 10th.

All the details of these great images and how to make a donation are on Jaks blog Jak Heath.

This is Katie with her new haircut! I think she looks beautiful! :<) You would never know from this smile how much she is suffering. This is one postive and brave woman as she prepares to continue her battle. God Bless you Katie! Stay strong!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Wishing you a happy one!

Barbara Diane

January Calendar Page

Hello!

Another week begins. Very sad because of the tragedy in Arizona. Sometimes it seems our world is slowly becoming insane. So much anger - so much heartbreak in the newspapers - on every page it seems there is suffering somewhere. I know that not feeling well makes it more difficult to stay positive, but I pray for so many every day.

I have not been creating much but hope to work on some projects this week. Here is the January page of the new Birthday Calendar I have started. It doesn't really show up on the photos but I used Frosted Lace Stickles on the snowflakes and to outline the stamped images so in real life it is bright and sparkly. I will be posting a new page each month.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Wishing you some smiles and maybe some hugs. :<)

Barbara Diane