lily can read...

My sweet granddaughter Lily Anne who started kindergarten last month has always loved books and being read to.  Suddenly, she is reading and writing simple sentences.  We're a family of avid readers so of course everyone is quite excited for her!  When I saw Tammy's beautiful "free" digi of a child reading and her ADFD challenge " Use your noodle and add some doodles" I thought I'd play even though I'm bad...I mean really BAD at doodling.   I think the sweet image makes up for it though.

Hope you and yours are all happy and productive.   I've been postponing grocery shopping for at least 4 days now and have no choice if we are to eat tonight....so off I go now that the important stuff is done.
Hugs,
Kathy

Basic Grey Little Black Dress dp & brad; Prismacolor, & Copics & piecing, nesties label  and flower dies, EK edge border, Just Rite alpha stamps, ribbon and buttons from stash.

A Day for Daisies - doodling
Anything Goes Challenge - use lettering (in the book)
Make it Monday - Anything goes
Simon Says - Be inspired by a nursery rhyme
Creative Craft Challenges - Fancy edges
Moxie Fab World - Tuesday Trigger (inspired to use autumn colors)
By the Cute and Girly - Anything goes

a little Christmas...

So the postman delivered this pretty Teresa Collins dp ("Christmas Home") which I have now decided is my current favorite Christmas paper so far for 2011.  Of course I'm fickle and may have a new fave tomorrow.  Mo's little sparrow urchin, colored up with my poor Prismacolor efforts,  a pretty silken bow, some bling and a computer generated sentiment.   I thought the kraft base played nicely with the image and paper.  Nothing fancy...nothing popped but it pleases my eye.  Got to use one of the new Spica pens that I recently won to add some sparkle to the snowflakes...subtle but very pretty.

April and the grandbabies visited today and we got a preview of their Halloween costumes.  Lily will be a lovely purple butterfly fairy (adorable) and Rowan a pirate.  He wasn't in the mood to model it for us,  but we did get some lovely kisses and hugs which more than sufficed.  Lifted everyone's spirits considerably.  Hope you are all enjoying your weekends too.   

Hugs,
Kathy

Kraft cs; TC dp; Image Mo Manning; EK border punch; CB corner diecut; Magnolia flourish and snowflake diecuts; SB circle and oval diecuts; sentiment computer generated; bling by BG, Spica glitter pen; silk ribbon from  my stash 

Just Because

My blog has been neglected of late, but there's been a good reason.  For the past 18 months, I've been caring for my mom here in our home.  Her health has not been good since a bad fall about 5 years ago, but it is now rapidly declining to the point she can no longer walk or even sit up by herself.   I'm determined to keep her here and care for her for whatever time she has left.  She is frequently a bit confused (we call it foggy) and it is hard to watch her slowly fading away.  Some of our conversations are just crazy, like when she asked me yesterday how many other patients I'm currently taking care of or  tries to convince me I met my father before she did.  Yet, she still finds joy in simple things (our little dog particularly delights her) and of course visits with family and the hospice angels.  She has her frustrations at not being able to do for herself but I remind her of all she has done her entire life for so many and that it is her turn to allow others to do for her.   It's a blessing to have her here but it is difficult...exhausting...frustrating... and sometimes I doubt my ability and strength to keep going.  I'm taking it one day at a time, and so far we're okay.  Perhaps I'll share a little more about her life in future posts...she really is an amazing lady. 

This is just a quickie card I made for my beautiful daughters (with a Starbucks gift card tucked inside) "just because" I love them so and they like those coffee concoction thingies. Hope you are all having a productive, happy week.

Hugs,
Kathy

Another Graphic45 Birthday Card

I've had this paper for a LONG time and had hardly used any until recently and now I can't seem to keep my hands off of it.....sooooo pretty!  Anyway, here's yet another birthday card.

CS: Bazzill, DP: Graphic45 Once Upon a Springtime, Kaisercraft pearls, Rubons: Autumn Leaves, Sentiment: Just Rite, Liquid Pearls, MS Lace Border Punch, May Arts ribbon, Color Box inks

Shopping our Stash - No coloring allowed

xoxo

Kathy

It's Your Day

Birthdays and surprises are traditional just about everywhere, but not usually combined in a greeting card, right.....unless, of course, it's a wiper card.  Very easy to make with a few extra folds, a bit more adhesive and you can find an excellent tutorial by Beate Johns at Splitcoaststampers here.

As the card opens, up pops something extra...

a little surprise...

My lighting washed out the left side of my image but you get the drift.

I really enjoyed creating this wiper card and plan on doing more of them.

Happy Friday, my friends.  It's almost the weekend!

xoxoxo

Kathy

CS: Bazill, DP: Graphic45 Once Upon a Springtime, Nestie:  scalloped circle die,

digistamp: Bits of Ivory "A Good Book" at Cuddly Buddly Crafts paper pieced and colored with Prismacolors and OMS, Marianne: flourish and flower dies, Kaisercraft: pearls, SU dimensionals, suede ribbon: my stash, rubons: Autumn Leaves, sentiment: SRM.

CCEE Stampers - Add a bird

Craft Ribbons Challenge - Anything goes

Forever Friends Challenge - Sketch and an animal

Paper Crafting Journey - Hidden messages

Craft Sentiments - Happy Birthday

Pollycraft - Pearls and Swirls

Stamps R Us Challenge - Happy Birthday

Nettie G's Digital Gems - Anything goes

Make it Monday - Always anything goes

little red wagon - repeat a stamped image (kitten)

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Creature comforts

Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Dies to die for

Sweet Stop Sketches - Sketch

Pink Ink - Sketch

Quickie Birthday Card

Quickie card based on a sketch from I don't remember where.  I've seen several cards in blogland based on it, so in no way do I take credit for its simple but elegant design.  It was just perfect to try out my new Nestablings (LOVE them!).  They don't photograph very well on this busy paper but look great in person.    The Nestabling were surprisingly easy to use.  I got a set of the pearls and black jewels...so pretty!  

And  if the non cardmaker recipient asks me if I placed each one of those tiny pearls by hand, I think I'll just smile mysteriously and say "aren't you worth it?" 

BG Lemonade 6x6 DP, Spellbinder Nestie Large Scalloped Circle, Label Dies,  Nestabling, MS butterfly punch, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist (Snow Queen), Kaisercraft Pearls on butterfly, pink gems from stash.

Hope you're all having a restful, crafty weekend!

xoxoxo

Kathy

Good Luck

A Day for Daisies is offering some free digistamps and this sweet little pixie was perfect paired with Graphic 45's gorgeous "Once Upon a Springtime."  I love it when a project comes together so quickly!   There's some paper piecing on her dress, cap, flowers and shoes and I popped her voluptuous wings.  Tammy's images have that vintage feel...I love that they're simple but not cartoony. She has some really adorable animal and holiday images in her Etsy shop just now, and even though I normally wouldn't pay $4 for a digistamp, there's a darling Santa's list image that I'm predicting I will end up buying.   What can I say...I'm weak. 

Good Luck Pixie digistamp by A Day for Daisies; Bazzill CS; Graphic 45 Once Upon a Springtime; Spellbinder Oval, Magnolia Doohickey flourish die,  Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder, EK edge punch, MS butterfly punch, Prismacolor pencil/gamsol, Kaisercraft pearls, Liquid pearls, ribbon, SU dimensional.

Happy Tuesday, my friends!
Kathy xoxo

Challenges entered are
Little Red Wagon - Use a Die cut
Stamp Something - Anything Goes
Tuesday Throwdown - Pearls
Make it Monday - Anything Goes
Everybody Art Challenge - Flowers
Pile it On  - Layers
Catch the Bug - Let's Get Punchy
Daisy Doodles - Embossing
Ladybug Crafts - Flowers
My Mums Craft Shop - Lots of Layers
Papertake Weekly - Things with Wings
The Pink Elephant Challenge - Vintage
Craft Challenge - Children
Bee-Crafty - Beautiful borders/Frantastic Frames
Jellypark Challenges - Pass it On
Cupcake Inspirations - photo inspiration
Shopping our Stash (SOS) - vintage or shabby