A Little Something Something

Hey There

What to do you do when your Cuttlebug plates become  warped and distorted to the point you know one more go and it'll surely snap.  Well if you were me you'd fix your wonderful son a nice dinner, say Pretty Please and before you know it you'll have a pile of new plates. 

My son Matt works for a sign supply shop.  They supply all the sign shops in the area with anything from canvas to metal and everything in between.  They often cut supplies to order and Matt, being his mother's son, can never bring himself to toss the bits and pieces that are to small to sell. He stores them in a corner of the shop and when a customer needs just a bit of something he will give it to them.  Good customer relations.

When I got my Cuttlebug it didn't have a C plate.  I gave Matt the dimensions for both C and B plates and he found just what I needed in his little corner.  The C plate is opaque but that has never been an issue for me.  On Thursday I showed Matt my sad B plate.  He measured it and Friday he dropped off FIVE plates.  Bless his heart.    

I've left the protective sheets on four of my new plates as it is rather difficult to photograph a clear plate.  You can see my C plate on the bottom of the pile.  Okay so it doesn't say C or B plate and the corners aren't rounded off like the real thing but they work like a charm.  SO if you happen to live near a sign supply shop or may know someone who works at one you might just ask nicely.  The worst that could happen is they'll say no and you'd be no worst off but you may just get lucky and walk away with a few free plates.

Have an Amazing Day!

Blessings
Bernie
Click here to give --- It’s Free

Happy Birthday Cody

Hey There

It’s another dreary, rainy, blustery day here. It’s been raining nearly none stop all week. I am in serious need of some sunshine.

My grandson Cody turned 16 this week. Gosh it happened so fast, seems just days ago he was a little guy crawling around on my floor, now he is 6’ 2” and still growing. Funny kid, he knows I can’t get over how tall he is so he likes to put his arm around my shoulders, look down at me and smile. I’m 5’7” not exactly short but next to him I feel like a mouse. 

Cody is learning to drive and needless to say he is mad about cars, in particular Ford Mustangs. I printed a Mustang and a seat belt buckle found on a Ford sales site. This is a tri-fold card. I used Labels Three to cut out my window and frame from mirror card. For my background I used strips of card mimicking the colors in the Mustang logo and mounted the car onto it. I used a bit more mirror card and the belt buckle as a closure. On the inside I used black ribbon to form a seat belt. I hope he gets the not so subtle hint. The Celebrate sentiment was die cut from more mirror card using a Cookie Cutter die. The Happy Birthday sentiment was computer generated.

The weather guys say we will see sunny weather on Sunday. One lives in hope. Hope you all have a spectacular weekend and Have an Amazing Day!

Blessings
Bernie
Click here to give --- It’s Free

Snowman

Hi There;
Hope you are enjoying some beautiful spring time weather.  Someone should be, it is spring isn't it.  I have a feeling we are going to go straight from winter weather to summer weather over night, it's happened before.  Thankfully the flowers don't care about the weather and will bloom in spite of it.  My forsythia is covered in buds, can't wait for that riot of yellow.

This sweet snowman stamp is another no name thrift shop find. I love those tiny birds. I stamped him in Stazon then masked him and used my duster and DI to create the clouds. I then colored him with color pencils, his scarf and hat were paper pieced. The stamp has buttons on it but I covered them with a little red button from my stash and those adorable little button brads found at Big Lots along with the little snow flake at the bottom. The large snow flake was cut from mirror card with a Sizzlet die.  All mounted on a snowflake embossed card.

I am entering this in Sandra's 3rd Rudolph Day Challenge.  What's that?  Sandar has challenged us to make at least one Christmas card and or a tag ever 25th of the month.  Why not join in, you'll be glad you did come Dec. and you may even win a little something too. 




Have an Amazing Day!

Blessings
Bernie
Click here to give --- It’s Free

Good Afternoon

Hi There

I don't usually post at this time of day but you’ve all been so sweet and supportive I feel dreadful for not updating on Jim doctor’s appointment. Things have been a little frenzied here and my head it’s quite screwed on tight.

I only won half the battle with Jim’s doctor. He has agreed to taking Jim off the one medication we have felt has been doing him more harm then good but he wants to see how Jim does before considering increasing his dose of prednisone. Jim says he is already feeling better, he isn’t dizzy anymore and I‘ve noticed his memory has improved, some. Some of the other issues may take a bit longer to get out of his system but we feel we may be on the right track. Yesterday he actually felt well enough to go out to lunch and a drive around town. Can’t tell you how long it’s been since we’ve been able to do. Nothing special but it was a lovely afternoon.

Regarding the A2 size cards.  I must admit when Terry asked I needed to look it up. It seems several of you are unfamiliar with that term as well. An A2 size card is 4 ¼” X 5 ½” folded.

My card reader seems to be on the fritz. Until I get it replaced and can upload current photos I thought I’d share a card I made some years ago for my granddaughter Whitney. I don’t remember where I found the tutorial for this card. I do remember I found it confusing and ended up with a LOT of scraps as I had a dickens of a time getting it scored and cut properly. I also remember I took an oath never to try to make another like it. I don't know why but when opened flat every photo came out blue, the first photo shows it's true colors.

Okay what happened to spring?  We had one glorious day of sunshine and a brake from the winds, ONE day and it was gone again.  It is cold, overcast and blustery here.  Even had some snow, not a lot, it didn't last but still it was snow.  Come on spring!

Be Well and Have an Amazing Day!

Blessings
Bernie
Click here to give --- It’s Free

Snippets

Hi There

I do hope you’ve all had a wonderful weekend. Sat was brilliant here. Beautiful weather! My lovely hair dresser Mary gave me a fabulous hair cut. Had a wonderful lunch and a long over to catch up with a former co-worker. A trip to Michael’s with one of the last of my Christmas gift cards and a 15% off everything coupon. Couldn’t ask for more. Sunday was over cast, damp, cold and windy again. Spring is bound to win out soon.

I’ve been told it’s high time I let you all see what the old lady in The Closet looks like so I’ve add a profile photo. Let me tell you Mr. Blogger fought me on tooth and nail. I know I'm no raving beauty but good heavens I didn't expect him to kick up such a fuss. He would not allow me to up load that photo. When I finally won that battle I discovered ALL my followers had vanished, every last one of you, on top of that our Dear Mr. Blogger would not allow me to comment on any one's blog. I guess he's done pouting because all is well now. After all that I'm not sure I like me looking back at me but…

In updating my profile, I realized I never told you all we have a beautiful new great granddaughter. Hiilani was born on Nov. 14 '11. I haven’t asked permission to post her photo but I will and if it’s okay with her parents I’ll post it later.

Terry asked if my cards were A2 size. Yes Terry they usually are. On occasion I will make a larger size but I find them more difficult to do.

My card today is for my little sister, Donna. It is an easel card attached to a white A2 card. I had two little pieces of PP in my scrap file and managed to just fit them together and cut them out with SB Labels Three. The blue card beneath it is made up of two more scraps. The band across the top not only turns my square into a rectangle but hides the uneven edges of the papers beneath it. I traced a butterfly template and cut out three butterflies in three different shades of blue then ran them thru the Cuttlebug in three different EF. I distressed the edges with Broken China DI, then mounted them on to the easel with foam tape between each. I tucked the gold wire antennas into the foam tape and added a few half pearls. The flowers, feathers and pearls are from my stash.

This card was made of odds and end, bits and pieces so I’m sharing at the playground. If you don’t know what I’m talking about head over to the playground here and join the fun.  Di our lovely hostess and the Snippeters would love to have you I'm sure. I hear there are cupcakes and milk to be had and kites to be flown this week.   

Cheap Trick: I have rarely used foam tape because the white  isn’t aesthetically pleasing to me. I saw somewhere there is colored foam tape available but you all know I’m to cheap to buy all those different colors besides space is always a consideration. My solution is to use a marker and color the edges, all but makes it disappear. I adhere the tape to the underside of my project, color with marker then remove the protective cover and adhere it to my project, no inky fingers.

Have an Amazing Day!

Blessings
Bernie
Click here to give --- It’s Free

Congratulations ~ 100th Post Winner

Hi There

No, I didn't fall off the face of the earth.  I've had a bit of a bug but I'm feeling just fine today.  I do hope you are all well and enjoying spring like weather.  Spring and Winter are having a battle here.  I am always fascinated by how different the weather can be just a few short miles from one place to the next.  We live very close to the foothills of the Cascades.  In the higher elevations it is snowing gang busters.  It keeps trying to snow and hail here but gentle rains are winning and I am sure before long Spring will win out.   We are still experiencing strong winds and although we are damp here, just a few miles down the road it is very dry and the winds are causing dreadful dust storms.  Visibility has been so poor there was a 20 car pile up on Sat.  There have been several other accidents since then so the powers-that-be have been closing roads off and on since the weekend.  Thankfully no one has been injured.

I can’t believe this is my 100^th post!  I really can't believe you are actually sitting there reading what I have to say.  As promised I have a small candy to celebrate.  Truth be told I don't know how to use Mr. Linky and Random whatever,  I don't have the time or inclination to learn how they work at the moment.  Besides I wanted one of my followers to win, not someone who only stops buy when a candy is offered and I don't think you can stack the deck if you employ those.  Anywho, I've decided to simplify things and go old school.  I put the names for all my lovely followers in a bowl and had my grandson pull out a name. The winner is:

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Carys!

of CarysL Cards

Carys is only 14 years old and although my candy isn't very big I am thrilled to help fill her craft space with a few stamps, ribbons and a little flower punch. 

Congratulations sweetie. If you will send me your snail mail address at berniescraftcloset@gmail.com I’ll get this off to you as soon as possible. 

 

With all the weddings and graduations coming up I’ve made a number of these simple Congratulations cards for the craft fair. Isn’t this a fabulous stamp!  It is another well loved stamp found in a thrift shop. I suspect it is rather old, save for the manufactures name, Rubber Stampede, I could not find any other information about it.     

Cheap Trick:  Although some of the stamps I find in thrift shops are new or clean, most are not, actually some are incredibly dirty.  I give those a good scrub with Dawn dish soap and warm water then let them dry completely, usually over night.  I then use my adhesive eraser to erase the remaining ink then wipe with a baby wipe.  This almost always gets all the ink off the image and gives it a bit of 'tooth' as well.  It even gets off StazOn ink.  I've been doing this for years and can't remember who to give credit to for this great tip.  

Have an Amazing Day!

Blessings
Bernie

Click here to give --- It’s Free

Super Heroes

Hello Dear Friends;

Thank you all for your sweet comments and well wishes, they do mean a great deal. We got Jim’s test results, I’m afraid they didn’t show anything of significance so nothing will be done for him. I do believe his doctor is being far to conservative with his treatments. He has another appointment on the 21^st at which time I plan to speak to the doctor regarding it. I do realize increasing some of his medications can have some unfavorable long term side affects but we all know with end stage emphysema there is no long term in his future. I want him as comfortable as possible in the time he has left. Whatever happens we will just make the best of life as it is.

When I saw these little Valentine trading cards and a box of birthday candles in the discount bin marked 75% off I had to have them. I immediately pictured birthday cards for little boys. What little boy doesn’t love Spider Man or Transformers and since they are lenticular I’m sure they will be fascinated by the changing figures as well. The cards only measure 2 ½” X 1 ½” so I needed a big sentiment, this Studio G $1 stamp fit the bill and I believe goes well with the candle. I’ve made several of these for a craft fair.

Same cards different angle.

Have an Amazing Day!

Blessings
Bernie
Click here to give --- It’s Free

A St. Patrick’s Day Card

Hello!

Thank you all ever so much for your well wishes for Jim. His chest X-rays, CAT scans and lab work went well and most amazingly we did not have to wait more then a few minuets for each.

The blood gas draw was another story. Since Jim’s vision is poor I am the designated driver in this household. Jim has had blood gases drawn before and knew it would be very painful. He was more then a little apprehensive on the way to the hospital and insisted on telling me how to drive. When he screamed (and scared the living day lights out of me) that a car was coming ( the car was actually going the other way) I told him if he wasn’t quiet I was going to gag, blind fold and stuff him in the trunk. Honestly it’s a wonder I don’t drink.

Drawing blood for gases is not only painful but difficult under the best of circumstances. At the hospital a lovely gentleman tried once but was unsuccessful. He said he didn’t feel comfortable trying again so a sweet young lady took over. I could see on Jim’s face that it really was painful but he was being so brave. Apologizing profusely for hurting him she quit after two tries. Jim was very happy to hear the hospital’s policy is to only try three times. ATM we are waiting to hear test results and if the doctor will insist on the blood gases being done.

Poor Jim, to add insult to injury I insisted he use a wheelchair. Not good for his ego but best for him in all other respects except maybe having me as his driver. The first few tests we had a normal size wheelchair which I had no problem driving. Jim finally said ‘rolling is better then strolling‘ sat back and relaxed. He shouldn’t have spoken so soon. At the hospital we had a super size chair for people with wider then normal backsides. The lab was DEEP within the bowels of the hospital. According to Jim, yours truly managed to hit, bang and generally run into and or over everything and anything that didn’t get out of my way going and coming. I don’t need advice when driving a car but I’ve never driven a wheelchair before. Really, he could have given me some warnings, especially about the little old lady with the walker. I do admit to taking the paint off a few doorways but no one was hurt. Okay enough of that, on to my card.

Our dearest friends are Irish giving me an excellent excuse to make a St. Patty‘s Day card. I’m not sure why but I’m not totally pleased with this card. I began with an embossed dark green card and layered on a scrap of olive green paper. I wanted to high light my sentiment with a darker green but found my SB circle dies were either to small or to large so I embossed it with two different sizes at the same time then hand cut at the embossed edge of the larger size. The sentiment was computer generated then cut out with a lacey circle die. The toile ribbon is from Little Black Dress Designs. The shamrock was made by punching three hearts and inking the edges . The Happy St. Patty’s Day sentiment is a Studio G clear $1 stamp, cut out by hand as well. Finished off with ’brads’

Cheap Trick: I make my own ‘brads’. I use a standard office paper punch to punch out little circles then used my embossing tool to shape them. A little pop dot inside helps them to keep their shape on the card.


Have an Amazing Day!

Blessings
Bernie
Click here to give --- It’s Free

Mariposa Sympathy

Good Morning!
What a difference a sunny day can make.  It was a bit nippy and a little breezy but the sun was shinning and the sky crystal clear and the bluest of blue.  I donned my hat and coat and I sat on the back step just letting the sun beat down on me. It was glorious and I do feel so much the better for it.   The weather guys say today is supposed to be a repeat of the same.  Although I'll be spending the better part of the day waiting on Jim as he has his CAT scan and lab work I do plan to find some time to sit in the sun.  I do hope you will all enjoy a lovely sunny day as well.

March is National Craft Month.  Anyone who has followed me for a while wont be surprised to hear I've saved a few of my Christmas gift cards for the March sales.  This weekend every craft shop in town has a sale, the coupons have already been printed and more are arriving in the mail daily.  I'll leave you all to guess what I'll be up to this weekend. :)            


My cards today are quite simple as once again I’ve allowed this lovely paper from DCWV Mariposa matstak do all the work. I simply cut inside the printed frame, inked the white edges, threaded my ribbon thru the frame then added my sentiment behind it all. The paper seemed to lend itself to a sympathy card so I went with it.  I'm loving this matstack so much I think I'll get another. 

These are for an upcoming craft fair. I was not able to get a table at the Come On Spring craft fair as I’d hoped. It is always THE event of the season. They don’t announce a call for vendors, instead it is done by word of mouth. The mouths that promised to let me know DIDN'T.  Althought it's been treated as Top Secret information I have managed to get the name and number of the event coordinator.  Hopefully she’ll have a table for me at Christmas. Although it was the event I’d really hoped to take part in there will be others.

      

Have an Amazing Day!

Blessings
Bernie

Click here to give --- It’s Free

Christmas Angel

Hi There
I’d like to extend a warm welcome my new followers.  I hope you will enjoy your visits and come back often.  Please do leave me a comment so I know you've been here and I will be sure to visit you as well.  A big Thank You to all of you who have stopped by to leave me a comment even though I haven’t been around for a while.

Will someone please tell me spring is on it’s way, PLEASE!  I do realize I’m blessed and other parts of the country are suffering server damaging weather but I’ve had just about enough of Mother Nature’s tantrums in our neck of the woods. We have had frightening (keep you up all night wondering if your home will be blown away) winds and another 5” of the white stuff last night. I know you’re all thinking ‘Want some cheese with that whine Bernie?’ I think I have a bit of (SAD) Seasonal Affective Disorder. I need some sunshine.  I have been busy in the Craft Closet and I have tried to keep up on my commenting but simply haven’t felt like posting here. I’d like to enter my card in Sandra’s Rudolph Day Challenge so here I am.

I found this lovely 1990 Hero Arts stamp called Christmas Angel in a thrift shop. The wood block is stained with an assortment of inks, obviously well loved but after 22 years it still stamps a crisp clear image. I think the sparkle maybe distoring the photo, her face and hair seem washed out or blured in every shot I've taken.  I stamped her with Stazon ink (Why does that stuff smell so bad?) and colored her with colored pencils. I used my Quicky Glue pen on her wings and the snow behind her then sprinkled with Holographic EP. I have a box I call my ‘That Didn’t Work’ box. Whenever, for whatever reason, something is not right for it’s intended use I pop it in that little box. I try to go to that box and my scraps (snippets) before resorting to cutting into something new. The embossed back ground, scalloped oval and bow were in that box. The angel was stamped on a scrap. I cut out the tip of her wing then used my oval die to cut her out. The blue card and ribbon were also scraps so I am also entering this card in Di’s Pixies Snippet Challenge 9.  Geez Di I haven't been to the playground for such a long time I hope you'll let me have a ride on the swings. 

I’m coming up on my 100^th post. As often as I disappear I find that astounding. I will be offering a small candy to celebrate. Jim is scheduled for a number of tests and doctors appointments so I'm not sure when I'll make it to that 100 mark but stay tuned.

Please do keep Jim in your thoughts and prayer. Hopefully these test will show the doctors how to help make him more comfortable.

I hope this finds you all well and enjoying lovely weather, if not I hope you’ll wake in the morning to sunshine and good health.   
Have an Amazing Day!

Blessings
Bernie
Click here to give --- It’s Free

Happy Valentine’s Day

I hope Valentine's Day is everything you wish it to be.  Jim and I have never really celebrated Valentine’s Day. I told him when we were first dating that I thought it was a silly commercial holiday. Thirty three years later I think he is still relieved. I strongly believe if you love someone you shouldn’t wait for a holiday to tell them so. Not a day passes that we don’t say I love you and we show each other we do as well. Now that Jim can’t shop he leaves me little notes around the house saying 1-4-3 meaning I love you.  I know when I make my morning coffee on Valentine’s morning I’ll find his note in the microwave. This card will be waiting for him when he takes his 3 AM medications and does his nebulizer treatment.

I found the video tutorial and template on Splitcoaststampers. It was an amazingly easy card to make. It took me longer to make the tiny envelop for my tiny message then it did the rest of the card.  I wanted a masculine card so I used papers from DCWV Rock Star Matstak. This isn’t paper I would normally buy as I find it difficult to work with dark colors but when I found the complete 12 X 12 matstak in a thrift shop for $3 I couldn‘t pass it up.   


Have an Amazing Valentine's Day!

Blessings
Bernie
Click here to give --- It’s Free

 

Happy Birthday Little Brother

Hey There,

My card today is for my brother Ernest and will probably get to him late, again. I made this weeks ago but as usual I forgot to get it in the mail. Ernest thinks its funny that I still call him my little brother but no matter how old we get he will always be that to me. I was only four but I have a vivid picture of the day Mom and Dad brought him home.  In my minds eye I can see them getting out of Grandpa’s shinny new ‘51 Ford. Dad was beaming with pride, this was his name sake and Mom was tired but smiling from ear to ear.  The Ford was black and Ernest was bright pink, almost red. To this day his ears still turn bright pink when he is embarrassed and the sight of it always makes me laugh and takes me back to the first time I ever saw him.

I found the barbed wire on the web.  I printed it and my sentiment on a scrap of craft card stock. A book plate tied with a bit of raffia layered on a scrap of denim paper and bandanna ribbon. The stamp is from a retired Stampin’ Up set called Mini Horses. I’ve used Spellbinders Label Three again.
Have an Amazing Weekend!
Blessings
Bernie
Click here to give --- It’s Free

Happy Birthday Vicky

Hi There Sweet Friends

Gosh the weather news does not look good across the pond, I do hope my friends there are keeping warm and staying safe. It’s breezy and cold here but otherwise it is beautiful.

A short post today.  This card is for our lovely niece Vicky.  It was a quick card as I’ve let the DCWV Mariposa Matstak PP do all the work.  I think this 6.5 X 4.5  size will be much easier to use on cards then the 12 X 12. I picked up the blue in the printed butterfly to frame my sentiment and added a few more blue MS Butterflies as well. I’ve layered my ribbon over some sparkly tulle. A few tiny flowers and some gems to finish.

I used the same size Spellbinders, Label Three die for the sentiment and the frame. I traced around my die on the blue card with pencil then cut it out by hand, this gives a thinner frame then using the next large die would.   
Thank you all for your lovely comments. I do so enjoy hearing from you.

Have an Amazing Day!
Blessings
Bernie
Click here to give --- It’s Free

Liebster Award Part 2

Hello Friends
Sandra at Stamping For Pleasure has decided not to participate in awards. I’d like to pass this award on to my sweet friend Winnie at Winnie In Wonderland. She is a busy lady working more then one job but she does managed to create some lovely cards as time permits. She is very sad this weekend as she has lost her sweet little companion Miss Kitty. I hope you will pop over, see her lovely cards and leave her a little love.

Have an Amazing Day!

Blessings
Bernie
Click here to give --- It’s Free

Butterflies!

Good Morning! 
I do hope this finds you all well and keeping warm.  Chilly and windy here but the sun is shinning.  I'm hoping to spend a crafty day in  the Closet, it's warm in there.

I’d like to extend a warm welcome to my new followers. I’m thrilled to have you and hope you will enjoy your visits.

I have no idea how you lovely ladies manage to create, blog and comment so religiously. I can’t manage it, life seems to get in the way. I must admit I aggravate people because it always takes me longer to accomplish most things then it does most people. Lets faced it I’m SLOW.  Please forgive me for not commenting on your blogs more often.  I will try to do better.

I have several DCWV 12 x 12 mat stacks which have ALL gone unloved, some for years. Not sure why I keep buying PP as I have such a difficult time using it but I am determined to grow and get past that. Although I didn’t use a template I have loosely followed the One Sheet Wonder principle. This set uses DCWV The Garden Party Stack plus some cream and black cardstock. I spend quite a bit of time sitting in doctor’s waiting rooms, to keep from going totally bonkers I try to take something crafty to occupy myself while I wait. On a recent visit I sat and cut out these butterflies. I hope to sell these cards at a local spring craft fair.

 


These are quite simple but if you have any questions about what I’ve used I’ll be happy to tell you.

Have an Amazing Day!



Blessings
Bernie
Click here to give --- It’s Free

Tickled Pink!

Hi There Everyone;
I hope you are all having a wonderful day.  It is a beautiful day here.  I actually got up because the sun was shinning in my window this morning.  Loving it!

I am so thrilled, Elizabeth has awarded me the Leibster blog award!!! Thank you so much Elizabeth.  I'm in awe that anyone would find my little blog so interesting but I am delighted.   Please pop over to Elizabeth’s marvelous blog.  I am sure you will enjoy her cards and projects as much as I do, they are always lovely and so inspiring and its always a joy to hear about her trips and lovely family and to see the fabulous photos she shares.



The idea of the award is that it be given to bloggers with less than 200 followers in the hope that it will bring them new friends and followers.

It has very simple rules and they are as follows:

1 Show your appreciation of the award by thanking the person who awarded you and link back to their blog.
2 Reveal your five choices for the award and let them know.
3 Post the award on your blog.
4 Bask in the love from the most supportive people on the blog sphere - other bloggers.
5 Finally and best of all - have fun and spread the love.



The blogs I've chosen are listed below. Click on over to their sites and take a look! This was no easy task as there are so many lovely ladies out there who inspire me in so many ways.



Brenda of Benzi Stamps is a Southern Bell. Women from Alabama all seem have a certain delicate charm and Brenda’s cards convey that charm. I am always inspired by her use of color and dies.

Cindy at Creating With Heart is a high school librarian, wife, mother of 4, card maker, scrapbooker and an avid reader. She inspires me to craft because as busy as she is, somehow she manages to find time for crafting and sharing her lovely creations with us daily.  

I’ve only recently ‘met’ Laura at Lozadoodle. She is in her final year at university studying to be a children's nurse. I don't know how she manages to get her studies done and create as well.  Only 21 and so very talented.

I’ve never met Sandra H of Namagramps but somehow I just know she is one of those people who makes everyone feel welcomed and loved.  Her creations are always a delight and never ceases to inspire me.   

Sandra of Stamping For Pleasure shares her delightful creations peppered by beautifully photographed and easy to follow tutorials. Her Sunday Roast chronicles the delightful antics of her hens Harriet and Margot, not to be missed.

I hope you'll hope over and enjoy these lovely ladies work and you'll give them a little love.


Have an Amazing Day!

Blessings
Bernie
Click here to give --- It’s Free

    
   



 

Happy Valentine's Day

Hello

Second post for me today. Please scroll down for my Stamp Catalog ideas.

It’s a beautiful day here, cold but the sun is shinning. Love it! I think I’ve gotten the bugs out of my computer. I wasn’t yesterday but I’m a happy camper today.

I had a simple task yesterday, cut and emboss with my new Spellbinder’s Lacy Circle die. Pull out the die, find a scrap the right size, pull out the Cuttlebug, and plates… You’d think the next step would be to cut and emboss, right. NOT, I lost my die! I never got out of my chair.  Really the Closet is so small I don’t need to and if I do get up I need to move my chair into the door way so I can have a spot to stand. My desk is only 3 1/2’ X 2 ½’. Not a lot of space to misplace something right. I made so much noise moving things in my search Jim asked if I was packing up and moving out. Not a complete waste of time, I did get my desk cleaned and all the odds and ends put away but still no die. Before Jim called the folks in the white coats or I became completely bald from pulling my hair out I gave up. I did some (ugh, dirty word) housework, washed, dried, folded and put away a load of laundry and fixed dinner. When Jim joined me at the dinner table he said 'You've had ‘that thing‘ on your sleeve all day, what is it?'  My Lacy Circle die! Stuck to the sleeve of my sweater! I have had my dies stick to my plates before but never thought the Spellbinder’s adhesive residue was strong enough to keep a die firmly attached to my sweater for over eight hours while I all but ran a marathon.

So here is my card. Finally! I embossed my pink card with a Swirls EF. I used MS Garden Trellis under my ribbon after cutting away the scallop portion. I used EK Success scalloped border punch on my black panel then glued the scallops from the Garden Trellis to the scalloped border. Waste not - want not. Finally I adhered my Lacy Circle and centered my MS Lace Scalloped Heart on it. The flowers and feathers are from my stash are my handcrafted rhinestone swirls. The sentiment is one of many free Digis from Bird at Bird‘s Cards. All the papers were scraps so I’ll be joining the girls in the playground at Di’s Pixie's Crafty Snippets - Challenge Number 4 .  Do visit the playground, you are sure to be inspired by the amazing talent there.   

Have an Amazing Day!

Blessings
Bernie
Click here to give --- It’s Free

Stamp Catalog

I am sooooooo proud of myself. I put on my big girl panties

and cataloged ALL of my rubber and acrylic stamps. It is working so well for me I thought I’d share it with you today.

As my stamp collection grows I can no longer remember where my stamps are and I’m beginning to forget what I have. I've spent an insane amount of time searching the web for a catalog idea that would suite my needs. I came across Patter Cross’s Rolodex idea but once again space was an issue. I’ve adapted her idea and placed my cards in photo albums instead.  

I began with an 8 1/2" X 11" album until I found some wonderful 12" X 12" photo albums, you guessed it in a thrift shop. This resulted in some images being turned the wrong way but hey I can still see them and these albums take up no more space then a matstack. Years ago I bought some card stock in a thrift shop. Both were dreadful stuff, of no use on my cards but perfect for practicing and as it turns out perfect for my stamp catalog.

I stamped each image on a separate card and noted it’s location in the corner in pencil. As most of my stamps are previously loved, more often then not I don’t know the stamp name or what company it was made by so I’ve only noted their location. Do pop over and see all wonderful information Patter has noted about each of her stamps on her Rolodex cards. You may even get a few ideas on how to store your stamps.  Patter's blog is jam packed with wonderful storage and organization ideas.

I am please with my catalogs. Should one of my stamps find a new home or I decide to move it I can simply remove a card or erase and note it’s new location. I have lots of space to add new images as they find their way into my collection.



I hope someone finds this helpful. If nothing else I encourage you to make yourself a stamp catalog ASAP. The longer you wait the longer it will take.
Have an Amazing Day!

Blessings
Bernie
Click here to give --- It’s Free

Pretty, Pink, Butterflies

Good Morning
Hooray it's stopped snowing!  I hope the weather is being kind to you where ever you are.  Bless him the snowplow guy went around and cleared the driveways.  A little to late for me but just shows to go ya, he is a sweetheart.  It's warmed up so everything is melting now.  Our area wont be affected but there is a fear of flooding.

Our granddaughter Shannalee Mahealani passed away in ‘05. Had she lived she would have been 27 this past Sunday. I miss her, sometimes desperately but I can never be sad when I think of her. The mere thought of her warms my heart. It was a joy and an honor to be her grandmother, she lives on in my heart. Shanna was a bit of a diva from the day she was born. Even as a toddler she loved having a manicure. Not just having her nails painted but a full on manicure and I loved giving them to her. She could make me laugh till I ached. When we were moving in here I plugged in an old rotary dial phone temporarily. Shanna asked if she could use it. Sure she hadn't even seen one before, I asked if she knew how to use a rotary dial phone. She said ’Grandma I’m not blond!’ Which of course made me smile but when she tried to turn the dial toward the zero I laughed so hard I cried.  She said ' Grandma it's stuck.'  I couldn't speak, I had to show her how to dial it properly.  That resulted in her making a face at me. Oh she could make faces, faces that would melt your heart or bring you to tears with laughter.

Even though this card is for her mother Donna’s birthday, I had so many wonderful memories of Shanna running thru my head as I made it. Shanna loved pretty, PINK and butterflies. I think I’ve filled that bill. I love the 3-D butterfly on the top right corner. After gluing the three MS Monarch butterflies together I rubbed it over my versa mark pad then dipped it in holographic EP and heat embossed it. You can find the tutorial on making the 3-D butterfly here.    The flowers were from my stash. I Shimmer Misted it but once again I can't get that to show in my photo.  I used my heat gun to dry the mist, totally forgetting it would melt my ribbon.  Oops in the blink of an eye one tail vanished and a tiny hole appeared on the band.  Not to worry I tucked another tail in there and covered the hole with another butterfly.  The papers were scraps so I am entering it in Di’s Pixie's Crafty Snippets - Challenge Number 4

Have an Amazing Day!

Blessings
Bernie
Click here to give --- It’s Free

White,White,White

Hey There

Not to worry I haven’t injured the snowplow guy but only because I know they wont let me have sharp objects in jail and I don’t think I could survive without crafting. Actually the man is a sweetheart. He is our park handy man and if he thinks one of us old frats seniors could use a hand he will stop and help. Last year he jumped out of his truck, grabbed my shovel and dug a hole so I could plant a shrub. Somehow, I know he wouldn’t pile the show in the driveway if he could figure out how to avoid it.

I love pure white cards but I’ve never been able to create one before. Today I finally managed to resist the urge to add color somewhere. I began by embossing with a no name EF that came with my Cuttlebug. Next I created a frame with MS Garden Trellis punch and added my bow. I arranged a bouquet of two sprigs of leaves with Sizzlets Leafy branch die and flowers from my stash on a one inch circle then tucked it under the bow. I then added three MS LG Monarch Butterflies and Recollections pearls to the corners, the butterflies and flower centers. Finally I sprayed the entire card with Shimmer Mist Sparkle. This was difficult to photograph, couldn’t get it to show but it really does sparkle IRL.

Becca Feeken of Amazing Paper Grace does magical things with paper, ribbon and Spellbinders.  She also uses punches in ways that boggles my mind.  For my frame I followed Becca's turorial for Perfect Mitered Corner with Punch here.My bow is also a Becca creation she calls a Peg Bow.  You can find that tutorial here.  I’d love to make a bow maker like hers but space is at a premium in the Closet. Instead I’ve pushed my pegs into a few layers of foam board. The bottom layer is wide so I can weigh the whole thing down with my Cuttlebug. I can remove the pegs and fit the pieces into a small space.

My computer has been acting up quite a bit lately. I am no computer whiz kid but I am going to try to figure out what’s going on, hopefully I wont blow it up. If you don’t hear from me you’ll know I did something wrong.
Have an Amazing Day!

Blessings
Bernie
Click here to give --- It’s Free