For administrative assistance day where I work, the head guys sent all the females a hanging basket. So what a truly nice gesture this was. They were absolutely gorgeous. So I decided that I would make a card for them. Here's what I came up with. I didn't want for it to be anything, too, feminine.

I used a Sketch Challenge at Splitcoast Stampers for my template. It was SC173.

The recipe includes: DCWV Red CS, DCWV PP, Misc scraps Blue CS, White Watercolor Paper, Stampendous Changito Thank U stamp, Black Stazon, TH Distress Ink in Weathered Wood, Colorbok Cats Eye Pigment Ink Cranberry, Watercolor Pencils, Dove Blender Pen, Faux Dew Drops.

WSC45

Okay so I finally decided to jump on board and join the sketch challenges at Beate's blog. This is WSC45. I had a lot of fun flipping the sketch. I created a set of 4 cards using this same sketch. I definently be watching her blog each week now and creating more card sets. These will be going to a lovely over at scrapping friends msn group as part of the Monthly Adopt a Card Maker.

Supplies used: DCWV CS, Cricut DS Ovals, The Cats Pajamas PowWow Stamps, Studio G $ Happy Birthday Stamp, Watercolor Pencils, Dove Blender Pen, Misc Ribbon, Uniball White for Doodles, Misc Brads

I Finally Did It....

Supplies used: DCWV CS, DCWV pattern paper, EK Success Beach Boogie PP, EK Success Monogram "P", Colorbok Cats Eye Pigment Ink in Ruby, Dollar Store Rubbon for title and corner embellishment, Misc Red Ribbon, Maya Road Chipboard Frame and DCWV Chipboard Arrow & Heart

What did I do? I finally completed a scrapbook page. It's been a couple of months since I last did a layout. This was so much fun. It was a scrabble challenge for a crop over at Scrapdango. The challenge was to use any of the 12 letters to unscramble and make a title for the layout. cadpryolzsit

The title that I came up with was PIT ROAD. These photos were taken of my son last summer. He rode his pocket rocket like crazy. I loved these photos and after having raced up and down the driveway, it looked as if he was taking a break on pit road. This was a super fun layout to complete. I used a Page Map from the January 2007 newsletter for my basic design.

In honor of her birthday..TracieJane is giving away blog candy..Go visit her site and leave a comment and link her up on your blog. Lets help get her blog out there.. TracieJane

I found these really cool tutorial videos recently. I decided to see what I could do with it. I just adore this creator because her creations are stunning. Go check out Dawn's Blog here there are some really wonderful videos and tutorials there.

So as I was inspired I had to try my hand at these pop up cards. The video can be found here. Here are my creations.Supplies used are KI Memories Wild Thing Smooch Paper, Studio G I Love You Stamp, EK Success Letter Press Chipboard I & U, Kimberly Watercolor Pencils, Dove Blender Pen, Colorbok Cat's Eye Magenta Ink, Misc Offray Ribbon.

Supplies Used: Bazzill CS, American Crafts Ribbon, Stickles in Black Diamond, EK Success Letter Press Chipboard C, Colorbok Cat's Eye Magenta Ink, Misc Sentiment Sticker

Be sure to check out Lil Buck's Creations..her blog is really awesome. Not to mention she's celebrating 10,000 hits and has some awesome Candy to offer.

An Old But Goodie..

I created this page sometime back. I love how it all came together..The paper doiles are dyed. This was one of the first wedding pages I created from our wedding. How often do you create pages that you forget you've done or that you haven't looked at in awhile? Today I challenge you to pull out an old album or card and take a peek at it. Have your styles changed? Have your creations improved? Perhaps it may inspire you to do a recreation of the photos or elements on your card or project. Have a blessed day everyone.

AccuCut Craft Blog

Be sure to stop by AccuCut Craft Blog...The blog is loaded with tons of cool things. They show different dies that are available as well as ways to use them..

4 The Love of Scraps

Do people ever ask you why you put so much time, money and energy into scrapbooking or creating? This question usually brings about a tremendous amount of anger within me. To me creating is a passion. A passion is an (1): emotion (2)plural : the emotions as distinguished from reason b: intense, driving, or overmastering feeling or conviction c: an outbreak of anger5 a: ardent affection : love b: a strong liking or desire for or devotion to some activity, object, or concept d: an object of desire or deep interest. I have a strong liking and devotion to this, so much so that if I could afford to quit my job and feel confident that I could make enough money doing just creating I would.

When people ask me this question, I immediately take to the defensive. That's like me asking someone, why do you play video games or why do you like to go to nascar races...you get the idea...I have a love for creating for many reasons.

1. I find that creating is a way to hide from the day-to-day routine.
2. I can escape to a happier place creating scrapbook pages about another time on a bad day.
3. I can preserve many years of memories, safely.
4. I have an amazing sense of accomplishment.
5. I know that I can brighten someones day through my creations.

And the list goes on. So what are your reasons for loving to create??? Today, take a minute or two to remember why you love to create. Make a list and share it.

~Patience~

I've recently been inspired by a fellow blogger Erica at One Creative Life. She's decided to take the word "DO" and make this the focus of her daily life for the remainder of the year. She's made a list of goals that will help her to focus on DOING.

I'm going to challenge myself to chose a new word to focus on every other month. I've decided that I'll use this as a way to work on some things that have invaded my home, my marriage and my day-to-day living. We'll look at it as a self-help therapy. So with that being said, my first and foremost challenge is "PATIENCE".

Patience: [pey-shuhns], noun
1. the quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation, or the like.
2. an ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay: to have patience with a slow learner.
3. quiet, steady perseverance; even-tempered care; diligence: to work with patience.

This is one thing that I definitely lack a lot of. Sometimes the smallest things can't set my fuse on fire and other times it can go out before it gets to the end. Hmmm...I don't really even have to ask where I get this. I can honestly say it's passed down through the generations. So here are my desires:

Be a patient wife.

Be a patient mother.

Have patience in all endeavors.

Be a patient driver.

Be patient with God.

In the coming days, I will work on a project to display as a visual reminder to remain calm and have patience in all things. I've found a couple bible verses from the New Living Translation Bible to help me remain focused through God's wisdom.

Proverbs 16:32 ~ Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 ~ Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take care of those who are weak. Be "PATIENT" with everyone.

I challenge everyone who visits here to find one word to focus on. Perhaps we can all find fault in our lives that could use a tune up. Enjoy the day and be blessed!

Patience Project Supplies: Brown & Cream Bazzill Bling Cardstock, Bazzill Bling Cream Brads, Bazzill Bling Blossoms, Kaisercraft Paper Flowers Small Taupe, Target Dollar Spot Sky Blue Paper Flowers, Chipboard Letters Marcella By K, Tim Holtz Distress Ink Walnut Stain, Misc Brown Brads

A Little Creativity Goes Along Way...

My mother was recently been diagnosed with Thymomma. It all began with a mass in her chest area that was detected through a mammogram. It was later determined that the mass (the size of a tennis ball) had to be removed. So when she went in for surgery I knew that she'd have to spend some time in ICU. Flowers are a no no! I wanted to make her something that she could have in her room and that she could cherish and remember her grand kids..I created a paper bouquet of flowers using my own design. She absolutely loved them. So did everyone else that saw them. I hope they can be enjoyed for many years to come.

They weren't able to remove the entire mass. It's not really cancer, but they'll be treating it as such. She's on her second round of chemo..Then in another 18 days, she'll begin radiation for the next 35 days. She'll also get chemo once a week. So far things are going well. Her prognosis is very good, this has a 60 - 90 % cure rate.

I was inspired by dannis doodles blog this past week. She was holding a drawing for a RAK for those who posted a comment with something that they were blessed by. I wanted to share my comment on her blog. This is my blessing. "I'm so richly blessed by family...I have wonderful parents who've tried so hard to keep us kids close knit...each Sunday, they make dinner for our families..we sit a reminisce about the younger days and just chat..So today I'm so blessed to have the wonderful family that I have." We often take life and family for granted. My mother has done this every Sunday for the past 16 years. Sometimes us kids will bring a dish but most of the time she's the provider and preparer. Since the recent diagnosis, we've all come to realize the fact that we've taken her for granted. We've been trying to give back to her what she's so graciously given for us all these years. She's so used to being the giver and the doer that she's having a hard time accepting us bringing meals into her and preparing Sunday dinner for her. Thanks Danni for helping me to realize the importance of a true blessing.

Copy Cat Cards Week #14 ~ Olympic Fever

This week at CCC we were challenged, as a result of the Bejing Olympic Games buzz, to create a card using any countries color. I chosen Yamen as the color focus of my card today. Black, White & Red. I've really enjoyed the curiosity the last 2 weeks of not knowing what the challenge will be. One thing that I've learned is that most of the countries flag either has, red white or yellow in it. Some may have more than others...Without further ado, please check out Peppermint Twist...

Supplies used: DCWV CS, DCWV PP, Misc Ribbon, Studio G Stamps, Colorbok Ink, Watercolor Pencils.

Created By Courtney....

Go check out Created By Courtney...

http://createdbycourtney.blogspot.com/

She's collecting cards to send to the troops..What a great way to show your support...Jump in a send her some cards...You may just win come blog candy...