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