Well, I haven't lived up to my plan to post regularly, but I couldn't pass on this one.  Cheery Lynn Designs Challenge Blog is hosting a Mother's Day Challenge.  See it here:  http://cheerylynndesignschallenge.blogspot.com/2013/04/cheery-lynn-designs-challenge-77.html
     I don't expect to win the challenge.  I just want to share how easy it is to make fun favors when you have great tools. 
     I recently posted a comment on a FB page that Cheery Lynn's Flourish Leaf Strip is my all time favorite die.  So detailed!  Cuts several at once!  It's just way cool!  Anyway, I used it for the Mother's Day favors for church that I have been working on this week.  The first two pictures show ones on which I used Cheery Lynn Designs Cutie 2 for the roses.  Fantastic!

I made many more, and I did use the CLD leaves on all of them.  However, I made other flowers just for variety.  The tag is made with Fiskars XXL Tag punch and a computer generated sentiment.  I covered wrapped Twix bars with a 1/4 sheet of a handmade paper that Costco sold about 5 years ago.  I finished the ends using my Fiskars Crimper and Fiskars pinking shears.  I hope the ladies at church enjoy them.  They were made with love.   

 

This is last year's pic, but this is what I've been working on this afternoon, more bottles of boos!  Those are marshmallow peeps in the bottles.  I wasn't planning to make any and gave away most of my frapuccino bottles, but had a request for more.  Son Bumper is running a large corn maze again this year, and these were a hit out there last year.  I think I'll also send a few to work with DIL Vicki for decorations at the vets' office where she works.  She's in a new office this year, so they won't have seen last year's stuff.  Pretty simple, but lots of grins!

     It has been so long since I posted anything on this blog, I decided to let the world, if anyone is looking, know that I am still alive. 
     Most of my projects of late, have been for the family or for challenges on Fiskateers.com/blog, my favorite place to play.  These are just a few of the more recent.
     I'm still battling pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, but may be winning at last.  My last two CT scans have shown slight improvements.  My specialist in Denver, CO--I live in CA--thinks I may be headed for remission!  I am most thankful, and praise God for His touch in my life. 

     Although the illness, and accompanying medications, consume a lot of energy, I am blessed to be able to give more time and energy to my family lately.  My primary responsibility has been the care of 2 1/2 year-old Sequoia.  What a delight she is!  She completely drains me, but she is so amazing, so much fun, that I could never complain!
     The projects posted today are just a random sampling of things I've done lately.  Lord willing, I'll get organized and post more often, maybe even with explanations.  No promises!  :o)

JustRite Friday Challenge #054

     It's been a while since I've posted, but JustRite Stampers' current challenge was too tempting.  The prize sounds wonderful, and the sketch looks like a fun challenge, especially for someone that never makes square cards!  It also gave me a chance to try out a technique I just learned, cut and fold.  I love double-sided paper, but always hate to use it on cards, because that usually means gluing down one beautiful side With this technique you can see both sides!  Love it!  So I had some fun on this one.  Hope you like it!

CIC22, Final Take, #3

     Among other things, my son is a commercial fisherman.  He just bought his own boat and will spend most of the summer in Alaska hauling in lots of salmon, Lord willing!  My son understands that the Great Physician, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords is also the Master Fisherman.  I made this card with those thoughts in mind. 

The net was recycled from a little bag of candy.  The cool stamps are from Clear Dollar Stamps.  First you stamp these fun circles, then you can add pieces and parts to make fish, pineapples and trees.  Cute!  And I don't have to color anything in.  I haven't got that down well at all.  The sentiment is from a different set but also from CDS.  Just had to put them together!  Love it! 

    

CIC22, Take Two

I've really enjoyed this stamp set from Clear Dollar Stamps.  The wavy sentiments can be trails from the included bee or butterfly, which I used here, or stems for flowers that are part of the set.  Really cute!  I got the Cuttlebug Daisy Quilling set in the mail last week.  That's fun, too!  Here I used a vellum for my focal point.  I can see a lot of scrap paper being cut into quilling strips and made into flowers!  This was my second attempt at the daisy and I liked it enough to put it on a card.  Tada!  Take Two!

Clearly Inspired Challenge #22

     Okay, where did February go?  I know it's a short month, but I think this year it only last a couple of weeks!   Either that, or I'm getting old and that makes time go faster!  It's true, I know.  Ugh!     When I suddenly realized it was March 1, and granddaughter Sequoia is officially 14 months old, I also realized I need to get my entries posted for the Clearly Inspired Challenge.  This month it's a sketch challenge.  I never know how far I can stray from the sketch so I don't!  Here's take one:

I saw a dingbat font that had a smiley little crab similar to this.  That gave me the idea.  I used punches for all but 6 little legs.  The shells in front I made from a small scalloped circle which I cut and scored.

He makes me smile.  Hope you are smiling, too!