It's Official

Actually 'It's Official' is next I wanted to post this beautiful card I received a few weeks ago by my friend Debi. It's an easel card and I love it she was the one that inspired me to make the two easel cards that I did. I love what Debi did with the paper piecing and frame. Thank you Debi you've had it rough lately, you & your husband are in my prayers.

OK now today was the day I filed for Social Security to start in April 2010. Yep I could have been getting it before this but I thought I would wait until I was 65, then I realized Uncle Sam changed the rules and so I filed and that will help me realize my dreams when the time comes for me to pack my my RV and journey around the U.S.A. I'm really sic'd and think this is a good move on my part.
So I did very little crafting today but spent a few hours researching and then decided it was the thing to do. I'll get back into card making tomorrow since you can't go anywhere because the weather is just horrible, at least I don't have snow. I feel so sorry for all those people with 3 feet of snow and no electricity. Please stay warm and take care.
God Bless,
Jeanine

Coffee Time

Well I'm a coffee freak, I probably drink 5-6 cups a day if not more on dark cold rainy days. So I got into the coffee thing today and just couldn't stop making these coffee cards. This first one is a OCL stamp set that I won on their blog hop its called Fueled by Caffeine. I used Copics to color everything, SU card stock and Making Memories DSP, MS 1" circle punch for the salutation.

The second card was made with SU card stock, New Jersey DSP, some ribbon from Ribbon Mania, a gold brad and I wish I knew where the cup came from I think its a Digital Image but anyway I used some puff stuff for the foam on the cups love that stuff.

This card was made with the same identical paper and card stock, ribbon and everything on this card except I used a larger coffee cup.

I love love love this card its Cocoa the mouse from SNS digi stamps and it looks like their doing a series of Cocoa images woo hoo. I used Making Memories DSP and SU (last year) In Color. I used the new SU border punch that's a SAB right now for the inside with corresponding card stock. It was a fun day and I must of had 5 full hours just to stamp and play and it felt good. Mom was watching bowling reruns on TV so she left me alone almost the whole day.

Have a good week ladies.

God Bless,

Jeanine

SU Playday

I have been waiting a whole month for this SU stamp set 'Totally Tess' and I couldn't wait to get home last night and set it up so I could use it. I doubt you can see but I paper pieced Tess's shirt and pants then I used embroidery thread for the handles on the tote bag, and actually used SU pens to color.........NOT ever again I am super spoiled with Copic's. This is a fun stamp set to send cards to other stampers with, I used Basic Grey DSP and SU white for the base. My camera is having one of those days and decided not to take a good picture after I took this birdhouse picture. Yesterday was SU play day and I look forward to these days so much, its my only chance to get out and be with other stampers. Brenda had four really cute projects set out for us, First was a sucker holder made out of 4 heart punches , second was a tutorial about the new border and corner punches which I bought but I am very disappointed in them. I spent over 2 hours today trying to make a square or rectangle and none of them came out right. I started out on typing paper but the punch ate the paper every punch so I had to switch to DSP well it did not eat the paper but I never did get four good looking sides. I'm still wagering if I will send them back, nothing should be that infuriating.
I'm sorry I haven't been around lately I have been fighting with myself over the care of my mother. I've been everywhere and talked to dozens of caregivers, I've seen many nursing homes, assisted living centers, care homes and interviewed caregivers who come into your home to care for your elder. I thought I had made my decision I didn't care Mom was wearing me down and I couldn't take it anymore she was going to a home. Then I started my search and now besides the cost I have my doubts as to what to do. Thanks to a counselor from 'A Place for Mom' I have been able to talk it out with her and she makes me feel like I'm not the bad daughter. She has told me I'm not alone and actually introduced me to others that are in the same boat as me. Well here I am still in my silent world trying to do the right thing for Mom.
Hope your weekend was wonderful.
God Bless,
Jeanine

Magnolia Madness Ends

I have finished the Magnolia Images I promised for my friend in Virginia. I am ready to mail them off but today brings freezing rain to our cold countryside so I'm not venturing out package will have to wait.

If you have any questions about the images or the makings of the cards please feel free to contact me at AZGramTN@bellsouth.net I would take the time to post all of the stuff that I used to make the cards but it doesn't appear that anyone is looking so due to depression and this dreary weather I'll skip that part.

I sure hope this week clears up pretty soon and things start looking better because weather like this could bring dis pare to a lot of people. I can't image living in Portland or Seattle where it rains 80% of the time, oh don't get me wrong I love rain but after having it for the past few weeks I'm tired of it and request it be moving on.

Now if I had my RV I would just jump in it and drive to the sunshine and stay until I got tired of it and head else where. That is my plan, I want to sell this house and 75% of everything in it store the rest in a storage unit and then go. I have a carpenter that is going to customize the RV for my stamping goodies and the rest will either be sold or stored. Now to just get moving and have some yard sales and sell on www.onlineauction.com

Well that is my big plan so guess I'll head down to the studio and get to work.

God Bless,

Jeanine

This one's for SNS

Yep I down loaded this Digi from Sweet n Sassy yesterday, I love the image and had just the right DSP to put in on. Basic Grey's new paper pack Wow I really like it, and I colored my image last night with Copic's. I started with SU card stock base, DSP, then Razberry, Kraft, then white. I used Martha Stewart border punch and then a whole row of gold brads to accent the borders. The salutation says ' You make my heart sing'.

Inside the card I used more of the Basic Grey paper, a white sheet, a brown TAC pre-made border with the salutation 'Happy Anniversary.' Don't forget to join SNS for the blog hop and fun times.

Many thoughts and prayers going out to my good friends.

God Bless,

Jeanine

Magnolia Madness Part II

Well I have had a good time with these Magnolia's. This on was really quick and easy because I used the Scor-pal on the SU card stock Pretty in Pink, I colored my image with Copic's and then stamped out TAC's Always Remember stamp set for accents.

This card is done with the SEI DSP Madeline I love this paper and I used the SU border punch on the edge SU ribbon and I was done.

Looks like I'm on a pink and brown kick with my cards today but you know what its my second favorite color combo. I used DSP The Paper Studio's Coco & Pink I used my Justrite stamps for this salutation added some SU ribbon, a felt flower and I was finished. Only a few more to go since I promised Sandy 20 Magnolia cards for her missionary friends.

Wow its not pink whats with this card well I had to shock you all somehow. I colored my image with Copic's, SU Jersy Shore DSP, the card stock is Mellow Moss by SU and Pumpkin Pie and I used SU Circle of Friendship stamp set for the circle salutation. The flower is made with SU felt flowers and a brad.
I know your thinking she sure does crank these cards out but I have a system to making cards and I'll share with you. I usually find my image or stamp and image then I go through my papers and match up 2-3 colors. I roughly cut 6 X 4 pieces of paper or use scraps and put them together in a plastic empty Stampin Up box. Later after dinner I usually sit with Mom and that's when I pull out an image with the card stock, pick my Copic pens to match and color. When its done I put the finished image and card stock into a manila envelope and it goes down to my studio to await putting it all together. Now I admit once that point comes its strictly free style I don't use patterns or sketches.

Ok I'm done babbling the snow has been a blessing for me because I have been hanging out in my Studio just playing all day. Mom checks in every so often and I come up to check on her but she mostly just sits on the couch all day long and watches TV (really she catnaps) till dinner time. It's been raining for the past day so this snow 4 inches has turned to heavy snow and ice. Take care and have a wonderful weekend.

God Bless,

Jeanine

Easel Card

I took a break from the Magnolia cards to do these Easel cards that were featured on SCS. They are so easy to make and such a delight to pose for picture taking. I used SU Going gray card stock for my base then I added SEI Madeline DSP. The Butterflies are Royal Langnickel Rub on's, I used K & Co. silver beads, Martha Stewart border punch, SU dog tag punch with Whimsical Words salutation from SU. I used SU Heard from the heart stamp set on Going Gray card stock and silver brads.

The second easel card is SU Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip, Paper Studio DSP, Vintage Vogue stamp set. I also put on the flower but couldn't tell you where I got it from, I brayered some Chocolate card stock for even more texture on the card. The lace ribbon I bought at Walmart years ago and I was hording it but pulled it out for this one of a kind card. I loved making these cards and will use the design again real soon.

Have a wonderful day and a great evening.

God Bless,

Jeanine