RAK and comment blessings

I’ve been remiss to share a few RAK blessings I got and I apologize to the ladies who I am blessed with their friendship! 

The first purple beauty is from none other than the RAK queen herself, Jessie Rone – on her note it said something like, it’s been a while since I send you a card so here is one.  Well, it’s been longer since I sent her one, I think!  Anyway, this card is just perfect for me since I have been blessed with the opportunity to go back to college (previously my only regret in life, that I never finished and that won’t be the case anymore!)  One thing is for sure, I do have to believe in myself – one of my apprehensions in returning was if I was going to finish what I started, I’ve been notorious for starting things and not finishing them when my interest wanes.  Thank you for this beautiful card, Jessie!  I so appreciate you!

My next card is one I received a few short weeks ago from Jennie Harper, isn’t it great?  It is to congratulate me for following my dreams of going back to school, it is so thoughtful of her!  I love the new Basic Grey Indian Summer dp she used on the hoodie (sure makes me wish I had a hoodie like it!) Thank you for being so thoughtful, Jennie! I love my card! 

THANK YOU!!  I want to give a special Thank You to each and every person who has responded either directly on my pos, sent a personal email, posted on Facebook, a forum or has called about our precious dog Shelby’s diagnosis over the weekend.  I appreciate every word of encouragement, every prayer offered up for us and most of all, for the time taken to let me know you care.  It was great hearing from people who’ve never commented on my blog before – it’s always great to see who my readers are.  Shelby seems to be doing well, the cough suppressants are keeping her coughing to a minimum and we’ve all been getting some good rest during the night (well except for me, like a mama I wake up every time she coughs, check on her in the middle of the night to give her love and make sure she is o.k. and get up to give her a pill when it’s time) but I am not complaining.  I would do it for anyone I love. 

Birthday Blessings & Sweet Award to Share

I wanted to share some birthday RAK blessings I got from stamping friends! The above card is from an SCS BRAK – not sure exactly who its from, the address label just said Mrs. Richard Engel. Thank you whoever you are!!

This next one is from Amy Johnson (amylovesnormajean) on SCS, a cute pocket card!!

This beautiful yummy cupcake card is from Jane Matsumoto (Whoopsie Daisy) who just so happens to be celebrating HER birthday today! Thank you, Jane – check out the cute flower rhinestones she stuck in the card! sweet!!

This funny chicken card is from fellow Gina K. design team member, Lynn Mercurio at Stamperosity. Thank you, Lynn- this chicken cracked me up!!

This adorable, cheerful card is from fellow Starving Artistamps design team member, Kathy Daume – who was just announced as one of the MFT Sweet 16 design team members, yea!!

and this wonderful box of goodies came from my friend Lee Murphy, another of my fellow Gina K. Design Team members…I just adore this box of goodies which was full of yummy dark chocolates, Starbuck’s giftcard and Michael’s giftcard – she totally spoiled me!

and here are a few other items she included that she made, a beautiful journal and bookmark which is tucked in the front pocket. I adore this bookmark!!! Thank you Lee---you always give from your heart!!

Lastly, I received this blog award from Brenda – I just love lemonade!! Be sure to check out Brenda’s blog-she has some mad stamping skills (that’s a good thing) Thanks, Brenda – you’re so sweet!!

Some Sweet RAKS to share!!

I am seriously SO late in sharing these RAKS and actually have several more that I haven't taken pics of yet so I'll share those another day. 

The above 2 cards were sent to me by the wonderful & thoughtful Jessie!  She is the embellishmen, layer & RAK queen-always sending love via the U.S. Mail!!  I am several cards behind...the 2nd one she sent me for Valentine's Day!  isn't that sweet??  I barely made one for my DH let alone my stamping friends!!  Jessie, you always manage to make my day with your Happy Mail!  Thank you!!
This RAK was sent to me by MFT Idol hopeful Shannon Bracken!  I won a challenge on her blog (the mosaic cb embossing folder) and she sent me all these other goodies too, cards (the Flopsey card was my sketch for Taylor's Cupcake Friday anniversary on Jan 23!) treat package & neat glass fish keychain!  Thanks for the sweet package, Shannon!!   

This package of sweet goodies came from my stamping & friend IRL Carolina!  It was a Christmas/New Year's/Valentine's gift!  One thing I realized I forgot to include in the picture was a cool paper mache alterable coffee cup!  See the get well card on the right?  Carolina was so thoughtful to send that to John to get better from his accident on Jan 16th--he was so excited to finally get something in the mail {secretly always wanting my RAKS} HA!  That cool cross says Cherish Friends and has rhinestones on it, it is so pretty.  I put it up on my shelf at my desk at work, to remind me of her friendship.  Thank you, Carolina-believe it or not, I still have a few of those pink m&m's still at my desk that I enjoy a little at a time while creating!

A Time for Everything...(long personal post to share)

A Time for Everything

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

With a heavy heart I share with you some recent sadness in & around me. 

• Last Wednesday a dear friend’s (Kay-the grandmother of Derek) best friend’s son was found dead on his 31st birthday by his brother. Being the best friend that she is, she drove 3 ½ hours to be by her friend’s side without even being asked (and having not even spoken to her directly before she headed out).
  
  
• Last Friday morning, just 4 hours into his 102nd (yes you read that right) birthday, John’s great uncle Otto died peacefully in his sleep. It was his last wish, recently having made the decision to forego meds (not sure which) and was often saying, "Lord be merciful & take me" what a blessing to have been granted his dying wish.
  
  
• On the same morning, just a day after her 7th birthday, my favorite cousin’s friends Doreen & Scott suddenly and tragically found their daughter dead in her sleep, while nursing an illness she had.  I just found out this morning.  
  
  
• During the time that I posted about Derek’s tragic accident at the beginning of last month, I have come to be familiar with one reader of my blog who participated in sending some sunshine to Derek (a series of 12 cards & books to receive one per day that each member of the family helped with!). All the while she & her family were blessing Derek; they were struggling with their own plight. Ylita does not have a blog but when I googled her, I found several others’ blogs she has signed up to send RAKS to! She didn’t just spread her love to Derek! Ylita recently had foot surgery and her beloved husband Fred is suffering with Stage 4 Cancer and I plan on sending a card to him as well as Ylita & her boys for sending cards & books to Derek. I emailed her this weekend to thank her again & asked for her address so I could send a Thank You to them. Here is her response:
  

"Thank you for your email. My family does a lot of community service and helping others. I feel this is important to teach your children about others and their needs. My boys are 14, 15 and 17 years old. Since I last emailed you, my husband was rush to the ER and today they had to remove his leg from the knee down. They found a clot they took off real fast. The cancer has also got worst and his liver is not working at all and they give maybe 2-3 weeks. My head is spinning and I don't know what end is up. He is too young to go (51)
As for sending me something, I did this from the heart. You know maybe asking for cards for my husband, he would love that. He is my biggest support in my craft world."

Thanks again
Ylita and Fred Nielsen

When asked for permission to post on my blog about sending cards, Ylita wrote:

"Good morning,

Thanks for everything and yes you can post something. He would love that. He sees all my or ours (my 15 year old is awesome at making cards) and that would put a smile on his face.
It’s been real hard on him."

Thanks

Ylita and Fred Nielsen
767 Los Flores Court
Galt, CA 95632

Will you please help spread some of your sunshine in the form of a Thinking of You card to bless this family during this difficult time? This reminds me that the world is bigger than these 4 walls, that there is something bigger & better to do, that people are what matter and if I can make a difference in one person’s life I can do it in more! It’s amazing how selfless some people can be and ready to help at the drop of a hat; Kay and Ylita & her family are perfect examples of this! I suppose sometimes when you are burdened with sorrow or trials, it’s good to remember you do not have to bottle it up – you can share it because sometimes you just have to be human and admit you’re hurting. That’s the point of my email – to tell you I’m hurting for all my loved ones and even strangers that are dealing with some really heavy, emotional times and would be so blessed to have you send them a card.  Please also keep them in your prayers! 

The inside says, wishing you comfort & peace and will be going out to all the ones hurting I mentioned above to let them know they're in my thoughts & prayers.  I used Gina K Designs Winter Trees and items from the Floral Frenzy kit.  

some Awards & Raks to share

I received the above award from Cassie (A Day in the Life of a Home Schooling Mom) who has a great blog and a real pretty smile.  Thank you, Cassie!  

And I got this new award from Rose Ann, isn't it cool?  Reminds me of the sweet act of love by my DH today - he put up a 48" storage cabinet in my stamp room today so I can get a little more organized in there (oh and get stuff off the floor which he would gripe about a LOT but I certainly don't blame him for that I was too when I would trip over stuff!) 

I am so incredible late in sharing my sweet Christmas present that arrived mid-January from Barb Schram! Barb was beside herself wondering if I would ever receive it and although the box looked like it went through the ringer and the glass broken on the frame - it arrived nonetheless, to her relief! Barb's words of encouragement are near & dear to my heart and one of the first things she wrote in her little card is congratulatory wishes for becoming part of the Gina K Designs Sr. Design Team, saying my work is always top notch!  The beautiful frame is Barb's favorite project she made for PTI and I am honored she would send it to me saying, 'How fitting for you- Because everytime you leave comments, you create with others in mind- 'You Make Everything Bloom'  I'm not lying when I say her words brought tears to my eyes.  It's incredible how a stranger can manage to touch your heart more than a person you know in real life you spend many one on one hours with.  Thank you for your kindness, friendship & wonderful gift, Barb!  It is displayed proudly on my craft table.  

Next up is the sweet Valentine we got from our niece Gabby & nephew Joey with a big bag of homemade yummy chocolate chip cookies, which Gabby insisted on 'baking' & sending to us! Included was a note that Gabby wanted to be sure Gramma Donna got cookies, too (my DMIL)! The little valentines on top are CARS - which is her current favorite movie!  We called to tell her thank you that evening while we were eating the cookies and she was so cute, saying 'I baked the cookies-you like them??  It was so cute when she was packaging them up she said, 'this one's for Auntie Donna, this one's for Nino John, this one's for Gramma Donna' - she's so cute!!! 
  
Here's the inside of the card, do you love what it says? 'the end' HA!  They also sent me a few little Avon gifts.  FUN! 
Last up is a Thank You card from our 2 little cousins I made these tins for & gave them for Christmas.   We weren't able to be with them this Christmas, but my DMIL & their mom had the idea to take a picture of them with the tins & make me this card!  Isn't it precious?  These are the moments that motivate me to do what I do *smile* 

An award & some Christmas Cards!

I received this nice award called 'The Marie Antoinette' a Real Person, a Real Award from Jenny at Craft Heaven along with a message that said she loved my blog.  Isn't that sweet?  Thank you, Jenny!  

and since it's never too late to share RAKs received (and the appropriate response for a blogger) I wanted to share with you the cards I received at Christmas!  The first one is from my sweet friend (who's like a mom) & customer Pam.  It's a miracle it got here since it didn't have postage on it (courtesy of her DH who she told needed postage-she ended up getting all of then returned for postage except mine).  Isn't it sweet? 

This cute snowman card is a Thank You/Christmas card from Sharri at iStamp4U who won my blog candy a few months ago.  Thanks Sharri!  I totally love the shine & sparkle on it!  

This adorable Coco card is from Rose Ann at Paper Delightz I am going to miss working alongside Rose Ann on the Starving Artistamps design team, she recently stepped down but of course we will always be friends!  

This adorable singing cuppie card is from Monika M.A.D. Stamper who is on the Taylored Expressions design team with me.  I love all the elements of this sweet card!!

This fun trio of cute Christmas tees is from the illustrator of the set, Melanie - Hands, Head & Heart.  Melanie and I are friends first and now we serve as Sr. Design team members for Gina K Designs.  
And last but not least is this sweet cheerful Sophia card from Jessie - Can You Say Addicted to stamps?  I totally love those fun buttons and all the layers, ribbon, brads (which Jessie definitely has a knack for adding to a card so that it's perfectly balanced & awesome!) 

I'm so blessed to call these ladies my friends!  

An award, tag & long overdue raks to share...

I received this great award from Sankari - Sankari's Sunshine Corner She is so sweet, a great stamper & one of the design team members of Papercraft Planet!

and I was tagged by my stamping buddy Barb-Explore, Dream, Discover to share 7 weird or random facts about myself.

1. I love to read-currently Jodi Picoult novels.  

2. I smashed my big toe in March under my chair wheel when I was stamping.  It hurt real bad, turned black & grew out pretty fast.  It'w now completely grown out & I'm back to normal!

3. I used to love to go to the opera, theater & travelled to The Annual Shakespeare Festival in Ashland Oregon 2 times (once in high school with my drama class and once with 5 other girlfriends when I was in my early 20's)

4. I hate having a dirty stove, refrigerator, toilet & tub.  

5. I am peeved by slamming cabinet & refrigerator doors.  

6. I am looking forward to having my dream home 

7. I would love to spend Christmas with my family in CA 

This beauty is from Jessie Rone she is just the sweetest, I believe she sends out raks on a daily basis and I am honored to have several in my happy mail arsenal! Recently one of Jessie's dreams came true - she became one of the SCS Dirty Dozen Designers!  Thank you, Jessie you are so sweet!!

Jane - Whoopsie Daisy! sent me this sweet RAK to my sister's house for Halloween when I was on vacation, she just lives 45 mins away from her.  It was so fun to get Happy Mail when I was on vacation! I totally LOVE the spider lollipop, it is so cute & original!  

Look at this beautiful bracelet Carolina surprised me with when she & her nephew Gaven came to visit me on vacation - I sure wish we had had more time together!  We chatted, made mini pizzas & watched all the kids play & of course, Gabby & Gaven love on each other! The bracelet is just gorgeous and had a little piece of paper with the Serenity Prayer on it in English & Hawaiian, which is where Carolina said the bracelet was made.  It's just perfect since I wear a lot of brown clothing.  Thank you agan, my sweet friend!!

This picture of us is so cute - Gabby didn't know Carolina very long, but look how she took to her, leaning in to her for the picture (Gaven didn't want to be in it).  For weeks Gabby talked about Gaven & his 'mom' (ha ha) - I wonder if I can convince Carolina to go back for a play date even if I'm not there??  *wink*  

A few Christmas cards, a RAK & a reminder

Here is a simple yet nice Christmas card I made using leftovers from my World Card-making event earlier this month {just realizing I never shared the cards yet-oops} since I over-cut supplies & had a few cancellations, I can now make more cards for my stash-all was not lost. I used Asela's Christmas Blessings set by Gina K Designs which has this precious little church in the country complete with Christmas tree & snowman in the yard. I chose to keep the design real simple and color very little for a big impact on the card. The church, trees & snow are outlined in stardust stickles (hard to capture in the photo). I used the mega rhinestones from Gina's store for the ribbon on the bottom of the top note die (hole punch) and dp is Ski Slope by SU! (available in the holiday mini catalog).

This next card uses the cute wooden deer in her set (but just his face, how cute) I watercolored with the Peerless Transparent Watercolors which are totally portable & easy to use! I love to stamp images & take them to the bedroom & watercolor while watching t.v. can you tell I like to multi-task? They really are awesome & have a great selection of colors. The ribbon is Alpine ribbon originals by SU! also in the mini catalog (love the colors & texture of it).

this sweet RAK is from Dawn Easton (sorry I'm so late to post it-ugh) - isn't it pretty? I just love her clean, crisp style of cards with just the right amount of layering. She's a sweetheart - Thanks again, Dawn!!

Lastly a reminder:
Tonight at 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. CST there is a Land Cruise happening in the Gina K forum on SCS! Don't miss out on the contests, challenges, prizes, and land-cruise special announcement! All the details are on this thread. See ya there!!

We're in this together-Pink Week

Since the 20th is Celebrate MFT day on SCS, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month (it's Pink Week on SCS too) and Monday's challenge Try a New Technique (TLC191) encouraged me to break out my neglected twinkling h20's - I incorporated all 3 elements in my card to share today! I used my Think Pink set, which I hadn't used in a long while.

Here is a close-up shot of the h2o's {hard to capture in the photo of the full card}.  I made pearl necklaces for the trio of ladies with liquid pearls.  All the paper (except pink pirouette card base) & embellishments are a few of the awesome goodies I got in a RAK from Lee Murphy.

Everything I got is included in this photo - isn't she the most thoughtful, sweet friend?  She sent this to me to encourage me with my health scare recently and I know she chose pink & brown for it all because just like her, I am crazy about the 2 colors together!  What was most special with this package was the pretty card she made me - she said she thought of me when she got this stamp because it reminded her of me.  That touched my heart, Lee!  I love you & appreciate your friendship too!!

Sweet Carolina - friendship's blessings

Here is the special RAK from my dear friend Carolina - that warranted a special post. Above she sent me a bunch of bloomin' boxes dies in all the In Colors since I have chosen not to invest in the big shot at this time (since I have a cuttlebug) - that was sweet! You should feel this card - on the bottom section, the swirls are black velvet! Love the kiwi, black & white combo!

Here is a CHEERFUL bouquet of flowers she sent me to brighten my day a few weeks ago. I have a personal issue right now that only my closest family & friends are privvy to and Carolina is one (if you are reading this and wonder hey, I thought I was a close friend and I don't know anything, please do not get your feelings hurt). I'm not quite ready to share in a public forum and not sure if I will. Just be assured I will be all right - I have a LOT of people praying for me and my faith in God is resolute to see me through.

When I came home to this bouquet I was moved to tears, not just filling my eyes but streaming down my face; the mere thoughtfulness of it moved me! John and DMIL nearly got tears in their eyes when they discovered it was from her too (DMIL was taken back by the fact we have never even met & she did something so sweet).

The thing is that Carolina and I have not met *yet* but have been getting close via emails, serving as guest prettie girls on Paper Pretties DT recently and it all started with winning one of her blog candies last year. I discovered she lives close to where I grew up! So naturally, we started to plan our meeting on my next trip back which is in 23 days!! I am so excited! Actually, her & her nephew Gaven are going to come for a play date with my niece Gabby (they are only about 4 months apart). Since chatting with her, we have discovered so many parallels in our lives that bonded us (we are just 2 months apart) and who knows if our paths ever crossed since we graduated the same year, perhaps we were at our high school's football games!! The night I got the bouquet is the first time we chatted on the phone, I called when she was gone but her husband Andy knew who I was (so cute he said, 'oh I've heard SO much about you!') and when I called back we talked for several hours - John as well since she was on speakerphone!

Anyway - I can hardly hold my excitement over getting a real hug from this sweet cupcake of a girl & hope I get one from Gaven too!

P.S. You may or may not have wondered why posts have been a little sporadic lately when they were so timely & daily before. I just need to slow down a little but I am still here! Oh, I am also behind on my commenting but I'll catch up there too!

RAKs received by some sweet ladies

I am seriously overdue with sharing these RAKS (and in no way is this a reflection of my lack of appreciation)!  I do apologize for the delay, life just gets away from me at times with commitments & such and I'm sure you resemble that remark, right??  

This pretty long card is by Lee - My Reality....It's All Good  Included in it was a gift card to eat out for John and I - Lee blessed us with it for our anniversary which wa so sweet, it just moved me to tears!  Since we are on a tight budget with saving for building our home we only get to eat out once a month so this was a special treat!!  We went to Olive Garden, all you can eat salad & soup, yum.  Thank you so much for your friendship & thoughtfulness.  

This multiple layered beauty is by the embellishment & layer queen herself, Jessie - Can you say???Addicted to Stamps???? I sure enjoy all Jessie's beautiful cards and I am so fortunate to be an owner of several of them since she loves to RAK!!  Thanks, Jessie!

This cute squirrel hanging from the tree is from Linsey - Outside the Lines.

Linsey is such a cheerleader, leaves the cutest, most sincere comments and made sure to use some of the chocolate satin ribbon I sent her in RAK )looks great on here and I love those glitter brads! Thank you, Linsey!  I also have several cards from her and cherish them all!  

This adorable bear & bees card is from Catherine - Inksomnia I was so happy to get this card last week!  Not just because I totally fell in love with its cuteness but because of its timing, it came on a not so great day for me, and cheered me up!  Thanks, Catherine!  She was so sweet to send a few stamped Sarah Kay images too, look forward to using them.  

Hope you enjoyed these cards - be sure to take a look at these talented, caring ladie's blogs for more inspiration!  Hope you have a wonderful day!  I will be back soon with another sweet RAK & gift from another friend and then all the cards/projects from my technique stamp club.  

TECC27: Hey Cupcake

It was a HAPPY MAIL day for me the other day - I got new Starving Artistamps, a $50 product order of SU! from my upline for winning her monthly contest and this awesome card from Taylor Van Bruggen! It is such a WOW card - DH even liked the graduated rhinestone brads. I love the colors. She sent this as a Thank You for being her Cupcake Challenge Featured Sampler a few weeks ago with some yummy ribbon I used on my card for this week's [below] Thanks, Taylor!! It has cupcake honors being prominently displayed on my cupcake stand on my desk!

Below is my card for Taylor's Cupcake Challenge [TECC27] this week. What fun that Charmaine-Oodabug Alley is her Featured Sampler - a dear blogging friend & fellow Prettie girl. I just LOVE Charmaine & all her great creations! She made not one but two cards for this week! Wow-and they are both adorable!
Here is my little goodie I got from Taylor in my card - this cupcake ribbon - isn't it just delicious?? So I took my inspiration from it for my colors: Cool Caribbean, Rose Red & Chocolate Chip. I decided to mimic the cupcakes on the ribbon for my focal image & dared not color so I didn't make the card too busy. I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out and decided to use my sentiment, 'hey cupake' on the cool caribbean background piece. Stamps are by Stampendous exclusively for Eclectic Paperie Hey There Cupcake! I adore this set -there are so many cupcake options!!