More sad news . . .

I wanted to let you all know why my last two posts were late.

I had told you all that my father passed away on the 7th of November, but with the passing of his life we were so happy to have a new life on the way.  My daughter and her husband were expecting their first child.  Unfortunately they lost the baby this past week and we are all devastated to say the least.  She is recovering slowly, and we hope that when they try again they will be blessed with a lovely, healthy child.

Chocolate, Coffee & Cards Challenges #79 ~ Use A Charm

How about adding a charm to your card?!  That is the theme for our challenge over at CC&CC.  I chose to do a Thanksgiving card in which the design in the circle is a cut file that I  cut with my Silhouette.  For my charm I used a little gold cornucopia on a leaf under the bow.

We would really like you to join us for our fun challenge and see what kind of a charm you will use.  See you there!

Creative Knockout #65 ~ All That Glitters

I love the image that I got to use for this challenge at Creative Knockouts!  It is by The Paper Shelter and is just soooo cute!  She is called "Fantasy On Ice" and was a really pleasure to color with my Copics.  I framed her with a lovely die cut called "Frostyville Frame".  It is mounted on a layer of embossed snowflake paper that was dusted with Perfect Pearls, and then the glitter paper background.

The die cut on the inside is called "Snowflake Corner". and the sentiment is also a die cut.  It is done in a dark purple, but it looks black in the picture.

 

Please come join us at Creative Knockouts and show us 

your glitter and bling!

Autumn Apples

I know it is Autumn, but for some folks I think Mother Nature just jumped right to Winter!  So much snow all around the country.  If you are in one of the hard hit areas, stay warm and safe!

Here in Phoenix it is finally cooling down - 71 degrees here today, really nice.  Over night the temperatures are down in the 50's making it really feel like Fall.  And this time of year is always my favorite.  The smell of wood smoke in the air, crisp days and juicy apples!  This card is a cut file from SVGcuts from a set called Autumn Box Cards, and was cut out by my Silhouette.  I love the way the layers pop up, it gives it such nice depth!  For mailing it all folds flat, but quickly just pops back up into shape.

This card made me hungry!  Time for a nice crispy apple!

Happy Crafting

Chocolate, Coffee & Cards Challenges #78 ~ Your Favorite Holiday

We make so many cards for so many occasions, but I think we do the most cards for holidays.  Join us over at CC&CC and show us which holiday is YOUR favorite!

I chose Easter as my favorite and used this cute image called 
#511 Hatch In Egg.  It's from our super sponsor Scribbles Designs.

Come over and join us!  We would love to see YOUR favorite holiday!

Creative Knockouts #63 ~ Use A Banner

I had a lot of fun with this challenge at Creative Knockouts.  The theme of "Use A Banner" is a good one for me as I don't use them very often.  I don't know why, because I really like them!  So it was fun to come up with a design and incorporate the banner into it.

Our sponsor is the great Bugaboo, one of my all time favorites.  I used this pretty Autumn design titled "Jar - Autumn".  I colored the image with my Copic's, used tiny labels as my banner with leaves added to them and strung with dark brown cord.  Then I added the raffia and button bow.  The frame behind the image is cut with a die from dark brown burlap.

We would love to have you stop by and join us.  If you have never used a banner or not done one in a while, here is your chance to have some fun using one.  ALSO, be sure to visit the blogs of our great DT to be really inspired by some super creations!

This card is entered in the following challenges:
Cards 4 Guyz ~ #44 Thanksgiving or Thankful
PDE Linky Party ~ Banners
(PIN)spirational Challenges ~ Inspirational Image
Digistamps 4 Joy ~ Preparing for the Holidays/Fall
Freshed Brewed Designs ~ Fall Colors

On A Personal Note . . .

You may have noticed that I have not been around visiting my blogger friends much recently.  I was on a trip to Oregon to visit my daughter.  While there, my father became very ill and had to be admitted to intensive care.  He has been declining for some time and his body was failing.  Yesterday day I arrived home in time to be able to speak with him for a few hours while he was still cognizant.  He was in so much pain and suffering terribly.  The Dr.'s did all they could for him, but at 93 his poor body was shutting down.  He was placed in hospice late in the afternoon and and given the drugs he needed to be comfortable.  I left late in the evening and at 3:45 am this morning they called to tell me he had passed away.  It is hard, but he is not suffering any more.

On the bright side, I am so happy to announce I am going to be a GRANDMOTHER!  While visiting with with my daughter she found out, and we are all delighted!  The baby is due July 1, 1915.

The circle of life is a miraculous gift.