Chocolate, Coffee & Cards Challenges ~ Summer Days

So sorry this post is late.  I have been pretty busy doing things for my Pop.  At last, he is settled in and is doing pretty well.

This fun challenge at CC&CC is perfect for the beginning of summer.  It's all about things we love to do in the sunny days of this season.  Our great sponsor Eureka Stamps gave us some super adorable images to use.  Mine is called Fishing Boy.  I made a nice background for him and his fishing pole.  I added a real fishing lure of my Pop's, minus the hook, lol.  I gave this card to him for Father's Day.

We sure would love to have you join us and show us what you enjoy doing on your summer days!

CREATIVE KNOCKOUTS!!!!

I am SO HAPPY to announce that I am on a new DT!  It is a SUPER challenge blog called CREATIVE KNOCKOUTS!  I an so proud to be a part of this FAB group and look forward to a wonderful creative time with them!

My first challenge theme is "Make It Masculine", and our sponsor is 

Doctor Digi House of Stamps.

I really got a kick out of this cute character, Beach Bum Bob!  He reminds me of guys I used to see all the time hitch hiking around  the Big Island, lol!

We would be so happy to have you join us at Creative Knockouts for this FUN challenge!  Come see their super blog and meet the awesome, talented DT!

My New Love!

Since I left Hawaii 4 years ago to care for my Pop here in Phoenix it has been so hard without my cats.  I had to leave them behind.  We lived in a very rural area with no main highways and they were free to roam, and roam they did!  If I had brought them here to a busy neighborhood, I am sure they would not have survived.  Cars were nothing to them and I know they would have gotten hit.  I never would have forgiven myself for that, so I found them good homes in our neighborhood.

NOW, I have finally gotten a NEW BABY!!!  His name is ZAZU and is 9 weeks old.  What a little lovie fur ball he is!  He follows me everywhere, is always wanting to cuddle and hug - 

MY KIND OF CAT!

He has taken quite an interest in my card making too, lol!  He loves to watch my Silhouette when it is cutting.  Just adorable!

It is so GREAT to have a sweet kitty again!

A Personal Note

Hello friends.  I am sad to report that this past week and a half has been a very difficult one.  My Pop went into the hospital on Thursday the 12th of June.  He has suffered another "mini stroke" and it has left him very weak and tired.  He told me it was time and he was ready to make the transition to a nursing facility.  He is to the point that he needs more care than I can give him at home, even with the assistance of his aid twice a week.  So on Wednesday the 17th he entered his new "home".  It is a very nice place, cheerful, lovely staff, nice grounds and will give him all that he needs.  He is getting settled in, but I know it will take some time for him to come to terms with all of it.  As a child having to do this for a parent, it is something that none of us would want, but has to be done.  It's been 4 years since I moved here to Phoenix from Hawaii to care for him.  Part of me is relieved, the other half is so sad.

Scrapper's Delights Challenges

Hi there, welcome to my little bit of blog land.  Today I have a card that was for our challenge over at Scrapper's Delights.  Our theme is to use a sentiment - any occasion or message is great!  It can even be one word!

The image I have used is CU Angel Digi 4

and she was a delight to do.  I wish the picture would show her wings better.  It's hard to see the glitter embossing.  I colored her with my Copics and used a die cut frame and then added the feathers, pearls and "Cherish".

We would be delighted to have you join us for this fun challenge.  Come take a look at the lovely cards the DT have created and be inspired!

Chocolate, Coffee & Cards Challenge #66 ~ Black & White + 1 Color

Time for another great challenge at CC&CC, and this time it is with the wonderful A Day For Daisies.  Their images have such a distinctive look, and I love that look!  So choose a color and join in the fun!  The prize is a $12 gift certificate to use on their blog, FUN!!!

I went for a different type of image for this challenge, not a person!  I used the image called "Canned Pear".  My one color is lime green.

I sent this to my daughter and her husband for their 4th wedding anniversary this month.  The date is the 19th, but I sent it early so that Travis could see it before he went to Alaska.

Be sure to go see the lovely cards the DT have done for your inspiration, they are REALLY amazing!  You'll be sure to get your mojo working when you see them!

New Hydrangea Die Cut Set

Don't you just love it when you get a new item to craft with!?!  Using it for the first time is sooo exciting!  I really enjoyed playing with this item.  It is a die set from Impression Obsession of a hydrangea.  I have always loved that flower as it reminds me of my childhood.  They grew so beautifully at my Aunts house.  They reminded me of big pom-poms!

I had to punch a LOT of the tiny flowers, lol!  I used 3 colors of lavender to give it a bit of dimension.  I really like how the flower came out!  I know this die will be used again and again.

Thanx so much for stopping by.  I hope you have a wonderful week.

This card is entered in the following challenges:

Fairytale Stampers ~ Flowers, must use s stamp or digi

Storyteller ~ Summer Flowers
The Kraftyhands Challenge Blog ~ Floral Fancy
My Time To Craft ~ No Design Paper
Totally Gorgeous ~ Embossing
We Do Doobadoo ~ Different Shapes
Craft For The Chic ~ Sunny & Bright or Flowers (runs all of June)
Fussy & Fancy Friday ~ Outdoors
Creative Knockouts ~ Die Cut/PunchFrenzy

Layer It Up at Scrapper's Delights!

We sure would love to see your creation for this challenge at 

 Crafter's Delight! 

You can go crazy with all the layers you want, lol.  I think maybe I should have done a few more, but there are 6!

The image is called "Autumn Nymph", but I chose to do her in 

Spring - Summer colors.  I added a nice "dusting" of sparkle on her wings with glitter embossing, and then lots of rhinestones!

We look forward to seeing you at Crafter's Delights!


This card is entered in the following challenges:
Imagination Crafts Challenge Blog ~ All That Glitters
Sparkle & Sprinkle ~ Glitter, Embossing or Flocking Powder
The Paper Nest Dolls Norway ~ Sparkle, Glitter, Bling
Try It On Tuesday ~ Feminine and Fancy
Handmade Harbour ~ Pretty
A Song In Your HE[ART] ~ Gift Of Wings