...therefore, I am

Sunshine Mail---Join Me!

I saw it.  I applied.  I'm there!

WINTER BIRDS-SNOWMAN

Please click on the Sunshine Badge to get to the challenge blog.  You'll find all the information you need to participate.  This organization is doing some wonderful work, and you can be a part of it!  

Particiapte in bi-monthly challenges, create a greeting for someone in need, and send it.  You can find much more information at the site, but if this doesn't grab your heartstrings, well...  

I colored with my Copics, used a Memory Box die and did a little doodling around the edge of the image.  It's in the mail bringing a little sunshine to a child that needs a smile.  It's a little thing, a very little thing, a random (or not so random) act of kindness.  

The challenge for January 15th: "Snow Much Fun".

This cutie patootie image is from Bugaboo and can be found HERE.

Sassy Cheryl's Challenge : Clean and Simple

BANDIT'S MISCHIEVOUS SMILE

This week's Sassy Cheryl's challenge is hosted by Pat.  She decided to seriously challenge herself as her cards are anything but simple-they're gorgeous and have so many details and elements.  now, for me, not much aof a challenge here-just clean and simple.  Yup, that's me.  I am a clean and simple kind of gal!

My dear husband gave me a beautiful set of Faber Castell pencils for Christmas.  I am a Copic gal so coloring with pencils and oderless turpentine is a bit of a challenge for me even though our very own Sassy Judy gave me lessons.  It was MUCH easier when she was sitting by my side!

As for Bandit, here-he's the kitty of the hour!  Modeled after Cheryl's own little cat, Bandit is full of the devil.  Will you look at that smurk!  He joins a cast ofcharacters that are just too cute for words.

I hope you will join us for this week's challenge and the chance to win a couple of Sassy Cheryl images!

"DRAFT"

WUWT!!!  Here, I was so pleased that I did manage to get my card posted in time-small problem.  I saved it as a DRAFT-user error!

Hope your having a great day-still time to play along at Sassy Cheryl's---anything goes with a Sassy Cheryl's image.  GREAT sales going on at the shop, too!

Sassy Cheryl's Show Me Thursday

It's a New Year-time for resolutions and new beginnings, right?  For a number of years now, inspired by Ali Edwards, I have chosen a "One Little Word."  This year, in addition to selecting a word, I decided to join Ali Edward's class at Big Picture...and so I begin.  My word, LISTEN.

I have always considered myself a reasonably good listener, but in recent years, not so much.  I am NOT a sparkling conversationalist so in order to contribute to a conversation, I start planning what I'm going to say next.  You cannot listen when you're planning!  

Then, there are some conversations that are, well, argumentative in nature.  Being hyper-sensitive to critism, and like most of us, wanting it "My" way, I find that from time to time, I'm either on the defense or the offense---not the best mode for listening either!

For the last two years, my daughters have each chosen a word, too.  I love hearing why and how (or if) the word impacts their lives.  Their words: WRITE; PATIENCE; FAMILY.  I like it!

As for a list of resolutions-nope, not going to do anything other than one little word.  I've been thinking about these resolutions...

Like many, I'd make the list, I'd initiate the list and slowly, or not so slowly, my resolve would wavier. I'd be mad at myself for failing.  Naturally, I took comfort in knowing I was not alone in my failures. So, this year, no big, grand resolutions for the YEAR.  I 'm deciding to be gentle with myself.  Every morning is a NEW DAY so why not make a daily resolution?  At day's end, if I've kept that one small deal with myself, I can count it as a good day!

Sassy Cheryl's : #147 Anything Goes!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I'm b-a-c-k!  We literally just got home from our Christmas with family and friends.  I have to say, it was a very Merry Christmas for our family. I hope it was for yours as well.  

Moving forward---2013---can you believe it?!

What better way to kick off the New Year than a

Sassy Cheryl's "ANYTHING GOES" Challenge

hosted by our own, Cathy!  

Still in the holiday spirit around here, so...

Sally as Christmas Star Angel

Actually, I made this cutie for my dear baby "B"'s first Christmas which we were lucky enough to enjoy with her.  Honestly, no big deal to her, but we sure enjoyed expanding her wardrobe, stocking her library, and adding to her toy collection!

Clearly, this was a pretty simple card to make, but it's sweet, isn't it?  I used my Copics-the paleset of lavenders to shade her white gown, the palest of blues to highlight the image and the E21-28 range for hair and star with a dash of Stickles.  I wrapped it up with a pretty gold ribbon.  Easy peasy!

I do hope you will join us for this week challenge at Sassy Cheryl's.  Remember to use a Sassy Cheryl's image and have a ball!  The winner gets to select two of Cheryl's fabulous images.

Sassy Cheryl's : #146 I Love Snowmen!

DECKED OUT FOR THE HOLIDAYS

HANGING WITH FRIENDS

I love snowmen...and no one does them better than Sassy Cheryl!  Judy is our Sassy Cheryl's Challenge hostess this week, and she really LOVES snowmen.  I used two of Sassy Cheryl's latest-so stinkin' cute!  They make me smile!  I colored both with Copics.  

Show Me Thursday...on Monday Morning!

 

I made these for a group of ladies with whom I play cards once a month-filled them with candy!  While not a difficult project, thanks to the wonder of my Cameo Silhoutte, it was time consuming.  They were a big hit at our Christmas gathering!

I cut, color, scrap, and create in general because it gives me joy and often, gives joy, in some small way to others.  I share on this forum because I like to do that.  This is, I know, a trivial pursuit.

I cannot leave this page without responding the the tragic, terrible, heartbreaking events of this past Friday...

The Sandy Hook tragedy has been in the fore-front of my thoughts and prayers-just as I am sure, it has been with most of us.  There are no words...  I send my sincerest sympathies to the families of those who parished that awful day.  I am lifting you up in prayer knowing that  just isn't enough.   The heroic,selfless acts of the teachers in that school remind me that there is, in fact, so much good in the world.  

 

 

 

Sassy Cheryl's : #145 Feelin' the Love

THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS GIFT

LOVE...is the reason...

Sassy Jeni is our hostess this week, and she wants us to "Feel the Love."  I loved little Sally sitting with her bestest pal, Bella.  They're looking at something, right?  So, I pulled out that same Memory Box die and put the village under the star.  I'm guessing Sally's arms might be a little cold-what do you think?

Anywho...hope you will play with us this week!

SASSY CHERYL'S CHALLENGE

I colored with Copics,

did some faux stitching,

cut the image out and popped dotted it.

Other challenges I plan to enter this week:

• Challenges 4 Everybody - 2W, 3C - Always Anything Goes
• Christmas Card Challenges - 1E, must be Christmas - Die Cuts  
• Craft a Scene - M, 3E, must include a Scene - (Dec) Winter Scene (ends 29th Dec)
• Dream Valley Challenges - 2W, 3E - (2nd week) Christmas (ends 4th Jan) 
• Eclectic Ellapu - 2E - Jolly & Bright

Sassy Cheryl's Challenge : WHITE CHRISTMAS!

DECKED OUT FOR THE HOLIDAYS

This week's challenge: A WHITE CHRISTMAS.

This was my second attempt for this challenge...yeah, I struggled.  I've been so focused on cleaning out my super-sized closet in my studio...

Anywho...I love this little snowman.  I colored him with my Copics, using BV instead of Grey for the shadowing on the snowman (tip from my pal, Judy of Sassy Cheryl fame!)  I took out some Memory Box dies, cut them out in white, and used glitter and pearls for the snow effect.  The snowflakes are by Jolees.  then I picked up on the "diamond" thing.

The paper tree in the background---this is an oldie goldie, well, over 50 years old!  I found it in a box with my childhood Christmas stocking!

I hope you will join us for the Sassy Cheryl's challenge this week.  You know, you could WIN two of Cheryl's fabulous images!!!  Cheryl runs frequent sales, draws new images just about every week-all so stinkin' cute!  

Check out her work HERE

Join the challenge HERE.

From the challenge blog, you can find links to "Show Me Thursday Challenge", here coloring blog, her Etsy shop...all kinds of Sasst Cheryl goodness :-)

Do check out the rest of the design teams work...FABULOUS!!!

Sassy Cheryl's Show Me Thursday!

 

 

It's Show Me Thursday at Sassy Cheryl's!  

I put all those colored images to cards.  My style is pretty simple though, admittedly, I LOVE the gorgeous fussy cards.  Maybe it's lack of patience, maybe it doesn't feel like me, maybe it's because they cost a small fortune to mail, or maybe I just don't have the vision...but, my cards are just, well, simple!  The bottom one is about as fussy as I get!  I made the little flower-whoo hoo!  My friend, Shirley, punched bunches of the feathery leaves for me-it's an old Martha Stewart punch that I'd truly LOVE to have but can't find anywhere!

I hope you are having a GREAT week.  Many of you are preparing for Christmas as am I.  This year, we're going to try and keep it simple---remember the reason for the season.  Christmas is about LOVE, hope, new beginnings, joy, and PEACE.  

Today is my brother's birthday!  Happy Birthday, bro!  I know he won't see this post, but I'm thinking of him, remembering some of his early birthdays.  My friend calls this kind of memory, a "firefly memory."  They come out of the blue, a bright light, a tiny, bright memory.  When he was a very little boy, our father took him to NYC to see the Empire State building.  Rick's take away- (aka Ricky during those years) LIONS---the lions in front of the NYC Public Library!

It's also my dear niece's birthday-surely, that had to be Rick's BEST birthday gift ever; a daughter born on his birthday!  It's nearly a family tradition as I arrived one day before my Dad's 30th birthday :-)  My niece is a remarkable young woman, a single Mom to three energetic and cute as a button, children!

So, HAPPY BIRTHDAY Rick and Sarah!  

Wishing you both the BEST of days

and a bright, happy year!