Back from my cruise

I appreciate all the comments left the last several weeks on my different blog postings.  We just returned home from a long cruise with limited internet access. ( My phone was never turned on...withdrawals here but I did it...haha) I didn't want to post I was leaving for a long cruise.

We left on Oct. 4 and returned home Nov. 16...exhausted but having an awesome time.  We flew to Rome, toured and caught Koningsdam Holland American Cruise Liner.  We did many ports-a-call in Italy, Greece, Croatia, Crete, Malta, Turkey, Montenegro, Sicily, Spain and Portugal. We then did a transatlantic cruise back to Ft. Lauderdale, rented a car and drove home.  I saved for a long time for these cruises.  Weather was great.  I won't bore you with 1000's of pics.  Here are just a few.

As of this evening and tomorrow, I will catching up on many blogs I follow.  Again, thank you for all the comments left regarding my cards.  I worked very hard to create and pre-post before we left for the cruise.

Jim making a wish in the fountain in Rome, Italy

The first Olympic village and races BC

Starting line at the first ever Olympics.  To stand on the starting line was a rush. (BC)

Athens, Greece

Santorini

Capri  Outside of Naples, Italy

can't remember...I was drinking beer...Just kidding...this was Mykonos , Greece

meal of fried enchovies

outdoor cafe on a Greek Isle

awesome cheese market in the town square in town in Spain

Find BALANCE in Life

Balancing life is a tough job right now, not just for me but for my son and daughter-in-law in particular. I made this card for her.  My son is back in medical school a 100 miles away.  He tries to get home as much as he can.  In the meantime, she is the head Nurse Anesthetist for a hospital in Greenville, SC and having a 6 year old, 3.5 year old, and a new puppy to manage pretty much by herself, I find is a tall order and "balancing act".

I was the lucky winner of a gift certificate at Stampendous through the  House Mouse and Friends Monday Challenge #299.  I chose a frog set and a House Mouse clear stamp.  The Old Goat Cling Set is also available at Stampendous.   I had bought this Froggie Balancing Cling Set a while back.

A2, I made 4 cards with different colored laundry baskets and cardstock
behind the image. I also included pop dots for dimensions, cut out images
using my Silhouette, machine stitched and using copics for coloring.

Pelican Inn Handbook

I made this small notebook/handbook to place in my little condo for family, friends and that rare ocassional renter.   Inside are pages that show:  rules governed by the HOA, phone numbers for us and emergency numbers and addresses, passwords, codes, favorite restaurants, things to do within a 10 - 30 minute drive, check-in and check-out procedures and coupons.

Being a card maker, I just HAD to put a little artwork on the front cover since it will be sitting out on a table.

Yup, another inexpensive die from Aliexpress.  I used a paper towel and rubbed different colors to get an achievable sunset or sunrise background. 

machine stitching, Stampin UP, Lawn Fawn and Tim Holtz ink pads

took pics outside and everything looks blue...the paper is WHITE

Actual notebook

You Fill My Day with Rainbows

I enjoy following 1001 cartes; I cased this particular one.  I bought my die set from Aliexpress and the paint splatter from the Silhouette Store a while back.  I made 4 cards and I must admit they were quite fun putting together.  They looked a little plain even with all the color so I added the paint splatter and glossy accents.

A2, machine stitching, pop-up dots for dimension, clear sparkle pen

I also added Glossy Accents to all cards on the paint colors.