Trying to get my Mojo Back!

Good morning!

If you are still a visitor here, I am truly grateful. I mentioned a couple of months ago that life has been a bit messy and emotional and just plain 'ole tough.  My MIL was placed in memory care and has had a difficult time transitioning.  My FIL moved in with us, but shortly after moving in, got COVID pneumonia.  He was in the hospital and then rehab.  He has now been back home for a couple of months and it has been quite the transition for us empty nesters.  Giving up our master bedroom and bath on the main floor, worrying about what he is going to eat, therapists coming in and out of our house, and just having an extra person in the home. My husband is an only child, so there is no one else. Just us. All the while, trying to sell his parents' house, work our regular jobs, still see Cortney, worrying about Kyle who is currently deployed, and me throwing my back out.  (MRI pending) 

But through all this, we did celebrate 32 years together, Cortney selling her first painting at Artist in All, me finishing my 30th year of teaching, and the start of summer break. 

I guess that's life huh?

The good, the bad, the ugly. ;) 

I am not complaining, as I have learned a long time ago that everything is fleeting and enjoy even these tough moments. So we have resolved to make this time with his dad the best we can for him. Make some memories while he is with us.

Anyway, on to my card..... which is really why you stopped! 

This bearded dragon is so cute peeking out around this wall! Another adorable set from Whimsy Stamps! I used the brick stencil to create the wall. I had some left over leaf and flower die cuts in my stash and used them here for the top right corner.  I added a bit of hand stitching, which on hind sight probably didn't need.  (Since it IS hidden! LOL) but.....it's there! A bit of twine and a small clothes pin finished off the card.  

Thank you for being patient with me and still checking up on me!

 

Happy Birthday Denise!

It is a very special day today! It is Denise's birthday over at Whimsy Stamps! 

I weaved up a little card to share in her special day.  A few Whimsy dies and a simple stamp for the sentiment.  

 Wishing her a wonderful happy day!

 

Firemen are Heros

Good morning and happy weekend to you!

I have a new card today using new die sets from Whimsy Stamps called, Firefighter Trio and Fire and Ice.   Die cutting makes for a quick and easy card.  I added a sentiment from the Firefighter Stamp set.  The background paper is from the super cool new collection of papers, Grungy Numbers. A bit of twine was added, and I called it done. :)

So for all of those firefighters out there, thank you for the job you do!

 

A Couple of Hippos Doing Yoga!

Hello friends!

I hope you all had a blessed Easter!

Mine was busy and hectic as usual, but a good one.  Unfortunately, my son is deployed, my DIL and granddaughter are in Georgia.  So Facetime had to suffice this year.  My FIL is back living with us after a 6 week hospital/rehab stay.  He is doing pretty well, but a huge adjustment for all of us. 

It has been difficult to find some "me" time lately.

I did sneak in these two cards using Whimsy Stamp's new Hippo Yoga set.  You may or may not know that I have been doing yoga for the past 13 years.  So yoga is a huge part of my life! But a hippo?  Now that's a new one! ;)

I colored the images with Copics.  I added a "floor" using the Mermaid Scales Stencil.

The second card uses the same stencil and Copics.  I added some fun ribbon from like a million years ago!  

These cards make me smile, which at this point, I could use a lot of! :)

Thank you for stopping by!

At some point, I will get my life together again, and hopefully find more time to craft and post!

 

A Collection of Sweet Gnomes

Hello friends!

I am a bit late posting Whimsy Stamp's new release.... story of my life lately! But hey, better late than never! ;)  This set is called Bee Gnomies.  And who doesn't like an adorable gnome? Again, I couldn't leave any images out, so I colored all of them to make a set of cards.  All colored with Copics and then fussy cut.  The background is from the new Honeycomb Die set.  I stamped additional bees to the background and adhered them to pink paper that was embossed and cut from the die in this set.  

I had so much fun creating these cards! :)

Have a great weekend!

 

Thanks a Brunch!

Hello friends!

First off, thank you to those who reached out and left comments.  It is reassuring to know that I am not alone in this journey and that so many of you have gone through this.  It also makes my heart happy knowing that at least a few of you still visit this little blog of mine. :)

I have a quick card today using Whimsy Stamp's Brunch Buddies stamp set. Every image in this set is adorable and I knew I wanted to use as many of them as I could on my card.  I created a grid using my Scor-Pal so that each character had its own little box.  The images were colored with Copics and cut out.  I added some twine and a fork I found in my stash from like a hundred years ago.  ;)

Enjoy your day friends!

 

Faith & Gratitude

I know my posts have been more scattered and further apart.  I am not even sure how many people actually come here anymore.  But if you are one of the few that still do, I thought I'd give a quick life update.  The last 5 months have been challenging and emotional.  My mom was recently diagnosed with dementia and her husband just lost his ability to drive.  My mother-in-law also has dementia and was recently placed in memory care after leaving the house at 2 AM. It was a wake up call that my father-in-law is unable to care for her any longer.  My husband is an only child, so  it has been just him and me handling everything.  We sold their house, had his dad move in with us, and shortly after he caught CoVid.  He was hospitalized  with pneumonia.   He fortunately beat it and is now in rehab for low blood pressure and weakness.  We think he also depressed with everything that has transpired these last few months.  All the while, we have been trying to work our jobs, bring Cortney home, and fundraising for Misericordia.  Needless to say any free time lately has been sparse.  

When I saw these cards, they spoke to me.

I've had to lean into my faith a lot.

With a heart of gratitude amid the storms swirling around me. 

This set is called Angelic, by Whimsy Stamps.  

They were stamped in a waterproof black ink and water colored.  I distressed the edges with scissors and did a bit of machine stitching.  A gold bow and heart finished them off.  

IF you've hung in here....thank you for visiting, I do appreciate it!

 

Two New Cards!

Hello!

I've got a couple of cards to share today using two new sets from Whimsy Stamps.  The first stamp set is called, Bear Bubbles.  I used a no line coloring technique and Zig Clean Color Markers.  I cut the image out with the Spring Rectangles die  Glossy accents was added to the bubbles and I tied an orange bow to finish off the card. 

My second card uses the new, Don't Mean to Bug Ya set. I colored the images with Copics.  Did a funky machine stitching and added a red bow. Simple, but fun!

Thanks for stopping!

 

Vintage Easter Whimsy Stamp's Style

Good morning friends!

I have 4 cards to share today using Whimsy Stamp's new Vintage Easter Quick Card Fronts.  The images are so beautiful! Each card was made the same way, just with different color card stock.  Each one was cut out using the new  Spring Rectangles Die.  I used Gold Foundry Wax (Tim Holtz) for the edges and heat set it with an embossing gun. The center panel was popped up with Crafty Foam Tape.  I added some machine stitching along the perimeter and Stickles to the flower centers.  Just a few extra touches and these cards are done!

Thank you for visiting!

Have a great day!

 

Whimsy Stamp's New Release

Hello friends!

I have two cards to share with you today using the new stamp set by Whimsy called, Crosses.

For this first card I embossed it using Versamark and purple embossing powder, and then fussy cut it.  The background was done with a scrap piece of card stock and light blue ink to create a starburst effect.  I cut some leaves, added a glittery flower, and few clear gems to finish it off.  

My second card also uses the Crosses set as well as the new die, Heaven's Gate.  I cut it out of glittery paper, and embossed the cross in gold.  I added a red posy, leaves, gold cording, and a small sentiment tag. 

If you haven't seen Whimsy's new release, be sure to hop on over and check it out!

 

St. Patrick's Day!

Hello friends!

My posts have been few and far between these days.  My life has blown up a bit these past few months.  Short story version, my MIL was placed into memory care, we are in the process of selling her house, and now rearranging our house to accommodate my FIL.  Creating just hasn't been in the cards lately.

I do love these Quick Cards from Whimsy Stamps for easy card making.  I cut the image with the Celtic Knots Die set for a bit of interest and texture.  I created a flower of sorts for the corner and some vintage ribbon to finish it off.  

My second card uses the adorable Lucky Charm stamp set.  I did a no line coloring technique using my Zig water color markers.  For the background I used a piece of the Celtic Mix, Quick Card Fronts.  A gold ribbon was added to finish off the card.