….and so fun to watch.  Look what’s been running and playing in my backyard….    :0)

I know what you’re thinking… what does that title have to do with a simple birthday card?  LOL.  Well, read on…

First, though, I will share this card that I made for the ATS Wednesday challenge.  Lesa has taken over as our challenge coordinator and we were giving her some suggestions.  ;0)  Wednesdays seem to always sneak up on me, but since I suggested this one, I really wanted to try to play along!

I love white on white and especially with the focal image being the only thing with color.  So our challenge was a white on white card with a colored focal image.

I knew I wanted to use the colors pink & yellow.  I am making up a basket of simple cards to donate for a raffle and somehow I started out with all pink cards.  Then the only suitable basket I found was a yellow one made of wire.  (There’s Easter baskets everywhere now but try to find a plain one!)  So the rest of my cards for the basket will be in a pink and yellow theme.

I also wanted to use my Cupcake Occasions set, and looking at it, I knew the strawberry topper would be perfect.  The cupcake layer was cut out and popped up for some dimension.  I am debating about adding some Crystal Effects to the strawberry…I may go back and add that!  Just a few simple embossed layers and ribbon were added.  But I had to add some faux stitches, of course.  Someday I’m sure I’ll look back and wonder why I put stitches on everything.  Ha!

The DT did a great job with this challenge…you can see all of the cards here on the ATS blog.

stamps- Cupcake Occasions; paper- White; ink- Memento Black; accessories- Copic markers, 2″ circle punch, Cuttlebug Birthday, A2 Happy Birthday and A2 Swiss Dots folders, Circle and Labels 1 Nestabilities, pop dots, ribbon.

 So, are you still wondering about my title? 

A few weeks ago I asked for prayers for a friend but I didn’t give any information.  This is a picture of my friend, Linda, and I.  It was taken a few years ago at a Splitcoast gathering (a whole day of stamping fun).  Without going into a lot of details, here’s a “short version” for you.  Linda recently found out that she has lung cancer and it is in Stage 4.  Yesterday she also learned that there are 2 small tumors that spread to her brain.  So she will be having radiation before she can start the chemo. 

Linda has an incredible faith and knows that our Lord is in control.  She is very dear to me and I would appreciate any prayers that you can offer!  She told me last week that it was OK to post on my blog, but I didn’t ask how much.  LOL.  So I’ll keep it short. 

Have a blessed day!

Today All That Scraps is Review Previewing my new Snow Friends set!  Be sure to check out the ATS blog and gallery for some great samples by the ATS Design Team! 

I have 2 cards today that I made with the set.  The first one was also made for the SCS Dirty Dozen/Alumni January challenge.  This month, Jodi (Kharmagirl) issued the challenge.  Here’s the details:

This challenge is all about *feeling* the love…anything with texture will do the trick!

Challenge Focus: A Valentine’s Day/Love-y Dove-y card!!

Required Element: Texture!! Anything you can *feel*

Restricted Element: No RED!! Pink is ok…but no red.

Making a valentine card with no red is quite a challenge!  I decided to make a valentine card for a friend, rather than a “lovey-dovey” one.  And I used the image of the rabbit sharing his carrot because I was inspired by some of your comments (I love hearing your feedback!).  Tamrah said “…the image gives the extra touch=”love”.”  And Karen S.  said “…It is very endearing with the rabbit offering his food source to the snowman for his nose. Definitely depicts generosity …”.  Thank you, ladies, for these comments & all the others that were posted!  

For the required element of texture, I added dots of Stickles to the ribbon.  I also added it to his hat and scarf, a bit on the ground, the two tiny hearts and the center of the hearts on the corner piece of dp.  The corner piece was punched with a new Martha Stewart border punch, Valentine Lace.  That punch is so pretty!     

This second card evolved around the colors I chose.  

There were pieces left of the same dp used in the first card.  So I pulled the blue Copic marker that I used back out and looked for another one that would go well with it.  I chose one that is similar to SU!’s Cameo Coral color. 

The scrap of Cameo cardstock I found was punched with the new Martha Stewart mini-hearts border punch.  Once again I added Stickles…..gotta love Stickles!  ;0)

stamps- Snow Friends by Cookie Crumbs; paper- White, Cameo, dp- Heidi Grace; ink- Memento Black; accessories- Copic markers, Heart and Square Nestabilities, Stickles, Martha Stewart mini-hearts and Valentine Lace border punches, pop dots, Jolee’s Boutique snowflakes, ribbon.

And now for a Riley update!  I have had some requests for some new photos, so here you go.  Riley is doing great!  She is dragging off anything she can find to chew on and is just plain ol’ being a puppy.  LOL.  But we have had very few accidents!  She learned very quickly to ring her bell when she needs to go outside!  Yay! 

The first pic I took last night after I played with her.  She just wanted to lay down and sleep.  You can see her favorite toy to sleep with in the second pic….a bright pink stuffed puppy!  I took the last 2 pics in the evening too.  I found her a cute red sweater with a snowflake on it at the pet store (on Christmas clearance 75% off!).  :0)  I had to wait until she was tired, though, to put it on and take a picture.  Otherwise, she wants to chew on it.  LOL.  You can click on each of the thumbnail pics below for a larger view.

Have a great day!

Kelley sent me this blog award….thanks, Kelley!  That was so sweet!  :0)

Here’s what I found out about the award….

“This award is given to a blog that invests and believes in PROXIMITY - nearness in space, time and relationships! These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind of bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers!”The rule of the award is to now pass it on to another 8 people who demonstrate this spirit.”

So….here’s a few people who I chose to receive this award:

Lesa

Michele

Lisa

Cheryl

Michele

Jay Jay

Tracy

Tori 

Tracy

oops…I think that’s one too many…LOL.  How can you stop?  ;0)  You can check out more great friends in my blogroll!

Guess what Santa brought! 

Well, she was a bit late for Christmas, but a sweet present to ourselves anyway!  

Now if only she will train quickly….*crossing fingers*.   :0)  If you have any tips, I’d love to hear them!

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas with your friends and family!

Ok, so below is a recipe page I did a few months ago.  One of my favorite pies is a custard pie.  I just called this Berry Custard because I use blueberries or raspberries.  And if you are short on time, it can be baked in a baking dish without the crust- still yummy!

I used the House Mouse Pumpkin Pie image and just made the pie a different color.  The fun decorative paper is by Flair Designs and I purchased it at All That Scraps.  Christine has a ton of papers to choose from!

In case it’s difficult to read from the picture, here’s the recipe:

4 slightly beaten eggs

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. vanilla

2 cups  milk

cinnamon

fresh or frozen blueberries or raspberries

1 T. flour 

Blend the first four ingredients.  Stir in the milk.  Pour into a baking dish or unbaked pie shell and sprinkle with cinnamon.  Shake berries in a bag with the flour and add to the custard.  Bake @ 400° for 45 minutes.  Let cool and then refrigerate.

stamps- House Mouse Pumpkin Pie and footprints by Hero Arts; paper- SU! Pumpkin and Choc. Chip, non-SU! Blue, Red, White, and Beige, dp- Flair Designs; ink- Palette Black; accessories- Stickles, Copic markers, Nestabilities, SU! Curly Label punch

Cyndi was so sweet and sent me this blog award!  Thanks, Cyndi!  Be sure to check out the wonderful cards on her blog here. 

I think I am supposed to pick 5 others who inspire me.  How do you pick just five?  LOL. 

OK, I’ll give it a try…

1. Lesa Rapp- she may have already been nominated but I just gotta give her a shout out again!  Every month I look forward to seeing her creations on the ATS DT…I just love them all!

2.  Michelle Boyer- Michelle and I became friends through the SCS Dirty Dozen and I am continually amazed at how her mind works.  She is always coming up with something fresh and I love her style!

3.  Anna Wight- Who doesn’t love Anna’s work?  Seriously!  And I am just loving her snowflake creations recently!  Makes ya drool!  ;0)

4.  Cheryl Rowley-  I don’t get to blog hop as often as I like and I need to visit Cheryl more often than I do.  Her coloring is just gorgeous and her creations are simply adorable!

 5.  Tracy Harp- Tracy comes up with some sweet projects and I have enjoyed seeing the delicious gifts she has created this year from her own kitchen.  I’m sure her family will love them!  

Thanks again, Cyndi!

Do you love the Sarah Kay and Rachelle Anne Miller stamps from Stampavie?  Well, they just announced a Wacky Prize Giveaway.  Check it out!  The winner will be chosen November 2nd.  This should be a fun contest.  I can’t wait to see the pics!

Yay!  It’s the weekend!  I am just popping on to let you all know that Stampavie is having some blog candy!  They will be picking a winner tomorrow night.  So go check it out *here* !  Have a great weekend!  :0)

Happy Saturday everyone!  I hope the weather is as gorgeous where you are as it is here!

I just wanted to post a quick note to those of you who love the Sarah Kay images.  Stampavie posted a slide show on the DT blog of the new Sarah Kay images that will be coming soon (date not yet determined).  Go check them out!

Have a great day!  :0)

Sorry, I don’t have a photo to share today.  But I do have a few more links to some samples of Annabelle.  Check them out!  :0)

Lesa’s

Cyndi’s

Julie’s

Great job, ladies!  :0)