Joyride!

Christmas is over and it's time to think ahead to Valentine's Day! I took advantage of some great sales on Black Friday and added to my collection of Penny Black stamps. This main image is a woodblock stamp called "Joyride". The sun is adapted from a flower included in a transparent set "Mimi's Many Loves", as is the sentiment.

Same stamps,different colors! I like the 70's look!

Hope everyone had wonderful holidays! All that's left is to take down the tree and store everything up in the attic for another year.

Thanks for stopping by!

A Very Merry Christmas!

We had a wonderful visit with Michael, his parents Kim and Jim, and his sister Britany on Christmas Eve!  Cooper was a bit shy but he and Michael got along very well!   Britany has put her life as an elementary school teacher on hold and since June has been with Michael first at the Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland and now in a small apartment on the Hospital grounds.  Michael is mastering his prostheses and has amazed his therapists with his rapid progress.  Michael is upbeat, very comfortable with his new body, and determined to live life to the fullest.  He said he refuses to give the enemy any more of him than they already took!  He has gone hunting, sky-diving, competed in a hand cycle marathon and is driving his new truck with hand controls!   He has been given a beautiful German Shepherd  assist dog named Rocky who will learn to help Michael as needed. 

Cooper was bonding with Michael, but didn't have much to do with the rest of the company!  He's still learning that the world is a big place filled with people!

Larry and I ended Christmas Eve at the 7:00 pm service at our church where we had the privilege of hearing "O Holy Night" sung by a young lady who is destined for musical greatness!  It is the voice God will give me when I get to Heaven some day!  As for today, the turkey is in the oven and we will enjoy our Christmas feast, thankful for friends and family and looking forward to the New Year.

Merry Christmas to all of you! 

My Grand Newphew, Michael, is Home for Christmas!

I am happy to share with all of you that may wonder how my grand nephew Michael is doing, that he is home for the holidays in Georgia!!  This is a photo of him with a hometown friend taken at the reception held for him at the high school.  Michael is doing very well, perfecting his stride on prosthetic legs.  It is amazing all that he has accomplished in the six months since losing his legs in Afghanistan. 


Michael is an inspiration to any who meet him, including other service people being treated at Bethesda Naval Hospital.  His sister, Britany, has put her life on hold and lives with him in a small apartment at the hospital.  Michael has been honored by Team EXTREME, a group of extreme athletes that choose a wounded warrior to honor at their various events. 


We are to have the privilege of a visit from Michael and his family over the holidays and will break bread together and rejoice in the miracle of his survival and continuing progress.  Life is good!


Merry Christmas!!

Cooper

Here he is, fresh from the groomer's! Sometimes I wonder why we thought an all white dog was a good idea!

Cooper is so much a part of our family! We laugh at his antics (I think he is part cat!) and have fun tossing his "froggie" (Cooper-speak for any one of his toys). He runs like the wind at the park and has successfully kept all bad guys away from our house!




Here's Cooper's formal Christmas photo!   He is happily adjusted to his new home with us and has brought so much fun and laughter into our lives!!  I have had to lower the housekeeping standards a bit, and have been unsuccessful in teaching Cooper to pick up his toys!

Merry Christmas to all of you!!

Classic Tea Flower

This Classic Tea Flower stamp is one of the new releases in the Hero Arts 2012 Catalog. I loved it from the instant I first saw it being used by Jennifer McGuire.

I colored the flower with Copics, and over-stamped it with Hero Arts' Envelope Pattern background stamp. The Envelope Pattern softens the white background without my risking disaster by using Distress Inks for that distressed look! I have ruined many an image by poor application of Distress Inks!

I am entering this card in the December Hero Arts Challenge, following one of the sketches provided. The sketch is a simple one, allowing this flower to have center stage!

Hope everyone is on track for finishing their holiday projects. I did my shopping online this year and it's all being shipped as we speak. We don't exchange gifts, but I always end up sending something to each of the adult kids, and always the grandkids!!
We are enjoying temperatures in the high sixties and yesterday the temp reached seventy-one!! Great golfing weather for my DH! I haven't told the Wisconsin and Minnesota kids about our mild weather. Don't want to sound like I'm gloating!

Thanks for stopping by!

Hero Arts & Sizzix Reindeer

Merry Christmas! I finally took the time to play with my new Hero Arts/Sizzix reindeer set. I wanted bold colors and texture! Love how easy it is to use the die cuts included in this set.

The house is a Hero Arts cling stamp from last year I tried to make it look delicious! Lots of glitter glue on this card which doesn't show up in the photo. Sorry for the tilt; it was so windy outside!



This is the first card I made using the Reinder set by Hero Arts. I had difficulty taking a decent photo using artificial light but when I went to get the card to take it outside for a new photo, I couldn't find it .... anywhere!!

I hope everyone is enjoying the pre-holidays! We have been out of the Christmas spirit since Thursday. Can you say nasty stomach bug? This is a virus that could be used as a secret weapon!!

Cooper thinks the ornaments on our tree are for his eating enjoyment. I really think he is part kitten. He's been with us for a little over two months and we cannot remember life without him. He has stolen our hearts for sure! Ornament-eating and all.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Happy Birthday, Virginia!

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My blogging friend and Hero Hostess colleague, Virginia Lu, will soon be celebrating her 50th birthday! This card is to wish her a happy birthday and to let her know that her amazing work makes my heart sing!

Happy 50th, Virginia! I know Dr. John and the kids will make sure you have the perfect birthday. Hugs!!

Winter Scene in Blue

This image is a Hero Arts stamp called "Winter Scene". I colored it using my new Distress Stains. They are so fun to use!


This is a stamp that was part of a prize package I won from Hero Arts in a Blinkie contest. That large tree is supposed to be standing straight, but the rubber on my stamp has been placed crookedly!! Took me awhile and a few stamped images to finally figure that out!


I see this stamp as being very versatile! Not just for Christmas cards, but masculine cards, too. And changing colors can make it a totally different card.



The change in colors makes this more an Autumn scene.  Love those stains!  I only bought five, and now I think I need them all.  Santa, are you listening?

Thanks for stopping by!  Love your comments, too.