Life Update and a Vintage Card

Hello friends~  I've been absent from blogging and commenting for a few weeks, but there's a good reason and a not so good reason.  Always start with the good.

My daughter gave birth to a beautiful, healthy baby girl on Jan. 15th.  

Please meet tiny Isobelle.  She weighted 5 pounds 1 oz and she is pure delight to our family.  

 

Everyone is settling in nicely at home.  Mr. "C" is completely smitten by tiny Isobelle, while little "L" doesn't quite understand why this new tiny person is now in his mama's arms.  You see, little "L" and tiny "I" are less than a year apart so my daughter basically has what they call "Irish Twins".  She'll have her hands full for a while, so I've given up all my design team positions so I can be ready to give her a hand whenever she calls.  

 

After the dust settled and life started getting back to normal, I suddenly found myself locked out of my own computer for days, so I still couldn't blog or comment.  In fact, I couldn't access my computer at all.  GAH!  Technology!!  Anyway, after some wise advice from a good friend, I was able to get back online, and there you go!  

 

I'm grateful to be back online because I didn't want to miss the challenge going on over at Double D Challenges.  The theme is "vintage / shabby chic" and as you know, that's one of my favorite styles.

 

I pulled out a very sweet, retro collection called "My Deer Friend" from Memory Place, and let the paper do all the hard work.  I simply added a scalloped die cut trim and stamped the sentiment onto a Spellbinders Label die, and mounted a floral die over the top corner.

 

I'll be adding this card to the following challenges:

Love Those Pretty Papers ~ February

Double D Challenges ~ Vintage / Shabby

Word Art Wednesday ~ Anything Goes 

 We're getting more snow today, so I'm happy to be tucked in at home and will hopefully find more time to spend in the craft room. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Bitty-Bug Valentine Card ~ CCS

Hello friends ~  It's my turn to post over at the CutCardStock blog and I've got a cutie bitty bug Valentine card for you, using quality cardstock from the store.

 

 If you'd like to pop over to see more details on how easily this card came together, click here.  

Thanks for stopping by!

Joy To The World

Good morning friends ~  I made today's card using Sunny Lane dies from scrapbook.com   

I have been loving the look of cards lately using row houses and made this card a few weeks before Christmas. 

 

 

I love how the dies do double duty, embossing the buildings while you cut.  Super cute texture!! I used a swirly background die from Lawn Fawn for the night sky and added a sparkly snow drift on the bottom.  The sentiment tile is from Poppystamps.

 

All the colors of cardstock are from Cutcardstock.  I wish I could say I'm getting a jump start on making cards for next year, but alas I'm still trying to post the cards I made last Christmas.

I'll be adding this card to the following challenge:

Word Art Wednesday ~ Anything Goes

Peace On Earth ~ Inspired by the blue tones

Krafty Chicks Challenge ~ Christmas

 

Cut It Up ~ Favorite Dies

Thanks for stopping by!

Sing Joy

Hello friends ~  The card I'm posting today was actually made over a year ago.  

 

 I never got around to posting it last year.  I'm so terrible that way.  I take all these photo's of cards I've made and don't get them posted to my blog.  I'm a procrastinator through and through.  Then I scroll through the challenges and see if I have a card that will fit.  True confession.

 

 

Anywho, my dear friend Marcia shared this cute "Sing Joy" image from Penny Black with me last year.  I just love her darling little face, singing from her heart, and maybe a little off key.

 

The sentiment is from a set called "Caroling", also by Penny Black.

A CAS design with a few extra snowflakes to add sparkle.

 

I'll be adding this card to the following challenges:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge ~ Anything Goes

 Christmas Kickstart Challenge ~ Dreaming of a Pink Christmas

 Word Art Wednesday ~ Anything Goes

 A Cut Above ~ January Challenge

 

I hope you're keeping warm, and always remember to sing JOY from your heart.

Thanks for stopping by!

*SNOW* 3D Lighted Box Ornament

Good morning friends!  I thought I'd share this snow themed 3D lighted box ornament that I made last fall.  

 

 

Every year for Thanksgiving, I gift a Christmas ornament to each of my kids, their spouses and my grandchildren.  For 2025, I made them each a lighted box ornament.

 

My son's ornament features this darling polar bear with his cub, representing my son and my sweet "P".  The polar bears are from Sue Wilson Designs.  I added design details using Copic markers.

 

 

 The "SNOW" die is from Papertrey Ink.  I added some Silk Microfine Glitter to the snowflake for added sparkle, finished off with a wintery blue pearl center.

 

The sentiment banner is from Memory Box.  Everyone enjoyed getting these handmade ornaments last year.  It was a big task, but I was up for the challenge.

I'll be adding this project into the following challenges:

Four Seasons Challenge ~ Winter

 

Cut It Up Challenge ~ Anything Goes

Word Art Wednesday ~ Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Vintage Style Valentine's ~ CutCardStock

Hello friends and Happy New Year!  It's my turn to post over at the CutCardStock blog today.  I've got some sweet vintage style Valentine's up for you.  

 

 Feel free to stop by and see how easily these came together, using great products from CutCardStock.

Thanks for stopping by!

My Favorites from 2025

Happy New Year friends!  As I say goodbye to 2025 and look forward to 2026, I reflect on all the good things that took place last year. God is immeasurably good, and He has great promises for our family for 2026.

  I thought it would be fun to ring in the new year with a recap of my favorite posts from 2025.  Here is a quick glimpse of my favorite projects.  You can click on the links if you want to see the original post. 

 

January  

The postage theme is still going strong.  I adore these spring pond stencils and all the fun stencils from Waffle Flower.

 

February

  

 As you all know, I love anything vintage.  The vintage Valentine rub-ons are so much fun to work with.

 

March 

 I enjoy making treat boxes of all kinds.  I love the rich texture on this vintage style book box.

 

April

 

 Vintage Easter on an egg shaped treat box.  What could be cuter?

 

May

 

 Tropical is a fun change of pace for me and one that I don't do enough of.

 

June

 

 Stash busting some patterned papers.  I'm always up for more of that!

 

July

 

 Loved the glitzy gold accents on this moody, floral card.

 

August

 

 I can't forget how much I enjoy using printables in my craft making.  There are so many free images you can find online.  These library cards are generic enough to use for any project.

 

September

 

 Creating my own background is something I don't often do.  I would like to get messy more often in 2026.

 

October

 

 More treat boxes... They're just too much fun!

 

November

 

 I do enjoy making these 3D lighted ornament boxes.  They're addictive, fun to make, fun to give and fun to receive.

 

December 

 

 Easel cards are a nice option when you want to make a card with that little extra something special.

 

I hope you enjoyed today's recap of 2025.  It's been a fun and creative year.  My wish for you all for 2026 is that you are blessed with health, happiness and plenty of time to do what you love. 

Thanks for stopping by!