Hello for Florida and me

I'm having major problems with my blog.  For the longest time, I have not been able to sign on and post.  Just now, quite by accident, I was able to sign on and post this note.  I hate to think I will have to start another blog.  The problem started when I changed my last name on Google.  Bummer!

Hope to post something new soon.  This is a very busy time of the year for so many people.  See you soon.

SMILES....

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.

EEK...CREAK....What's in the house!?!

I love dimensional cards.  Pop-Up Box Halloween (150125 ) is from Lori Whitlock. I bought through the Silhouette Store last year.  I wish I had reduced the size to 5x5 for mailing but I forgot.  I'll manage to make an envelop and send to my grandson.  Hope it makes him smile.  I rubbed white on the windows and roof edges for a little more dimension and use pop-up dots for added dimension on moon.  Pretty quick and easy.

another angle (excuse the poor backdrop

side view.  I added some ghost dies

I also added at BOO button brad

Halloweenie

I continue my mission to make 4 cards weekly...2 for my grandchildren and 2 for family/friends.  AND, mail them!!!!!

I pay tribute to Dearie Dolls again using Monster Halloween Booth.  I wish I could find her email and send a picture to her....just to let her know I continue to enjoy her awesome, darling, unique images.

I did a simple print and cut, used an old Fiskar Pumpkin border die punch, onion bag, glitter pen and machine stitching.  That's all folks.....hope the grandkids will enjoy.

A2, used pop-up dots for dimension

Get Well...Hope you'll soon be fully RECOVERED

I'm revisiting and recreating this darling Art Impressions stamp U2394. ( I can no longer find it at the store so I think it is now retired.) My youngest Millennium son didn't get the pun.  In all fairness, you don't see many people recovering furniture this day and age.  This has become a throw away society.  I'll be sure to send this "get well" card to an older person.

The camera shots aren't that great.  There was a tropical storm going on and I was doing my best to take the photos outside....LOL

A2 size, copic inks, made RX in Silhouette Studio, pop-up dots
for dimension, machine stitching

female card, print and cut on Silhouette

My Birth Stone

My SIL is having a birthday.  She is a wine sommelier, a wine professional, a wine connoisseur ... I think you get the idea.  We have shared in wine tasting only to discover that some $9 bottles of wine were as good if not better than a $50 bottle of wine.  In conclusion.... it's just a matter of your taste.  haha

If she could choose her birthstone, there is no doubt in my mind that it would be a "wine cork", even though it's not a stone. I saw this sentiment all over the web so there is no one particular person I can give credit.

This is JJ Wine from Bugaboo Stamps.  I'm entering the card into their Catch the Bug Challenge BINGO. I went with the middle row going horizontal: distressed, player's choice, and dies/punches.

A2, Lil' Inker rectangle stitched die, Gina Marie circled scalloped stitched die,
copic inks, I made cork and wine opener svg a long time ago, pop-up dots

Same card but at an angle to show dimension

same image but put in a scalloped card 5x5
I apologize for lighting, outside but a lot of blue

BOO to you!

For some reason, this little House Mouse called Monster Mouse image always makes me smile and laugh.  (I don't think they sell this one any more.  Mine is a clear cling stamp.) OK, I know the reason...my brother would do stupid/silly things like this to me growing up.  I also remember him throwing a pair of scissors at me.  They missed my back because I slipped and fell.  They continued flying over my head  and  hit the refrigerator leaving a dent in it, and just missing my mom as she was walking into the kitchen.  Boy, he got his fanny spanked big time. (Ps...Yup, same brother that does the monkey faces at age 70.  In all fairness, I had been antagonizing him.)

The scissors steel die is from Aliexpress.  ( There are a lot of shops on Aliexpress that carry the scissors.) Nothing real special on my card.  I love the simplicity of it and knowing I'm sending it to my 3 1/2 year old grandson, it will get destroyed...haha

A2, rectangle die cut from Lil' Inker, Scissor die cut from Aliexpress, twine, copics
mice and paper, pumpkin brad, sentiment from Pink By Design

Love for the water!

Living right on the ocean, I get the most beautiful sunrises and even sunsets on the other side of our condo.  I'll post a few photos below.  I see lots of cruise ships, tankers, cargo ships and sailboats too. (We won't talk about the hurricanes.)

 The ocean is a little rough right now due to another tropical storm going by.  We have a FULL MOON right now and the moon reflecting and shining on the water is breath taking which is how I got the inspiration for this card.

This was a very quick, clean steel die I used to made 4 cards.  This was another very inexpensive die called Sailboat Frame from Aliexpress.  I used a circle punch for the moon and made the moon reflection on the water with my Silhouette. 

First, my card.  I made 4, leaving 2 without a sentiment until needed. Next, a sunrise from 3 days ago starting at 6 am.  I got 3 different pics all within 35 minutes.  Lastly, a sunset I got last week from the other side of condo/home.

A2, clear glitter on waves that you can't really see

Left some cards without sentiments to add later according to occasion.

6:00 AM

6:20 AM

6:35 AM
I captured these great pics with my little IPhone.  It was just another one of those early
mornings I couldn't sleep so I grabbed a cup of coffee and sat on the balcony not knowing
the awesome show I was about to get.

We have the ocean on one side and the Banana River on the other.  Lovely sunset!

Happy Birthday Mary Hannah

I'm continuing with birthday cards for Mary Hannah since I won't be able to attend her 6th birthday festivities.  It will make a total of 4...reached my goal.

A simple balloon(s) die cut from Aliexpress called balloon die.  I made the clear round do-dahs.  I wish I had brought my bucket of them with me when I moved, but I just couldn't bring it ALL....LOL

A2, distress inks smudging, machine stitching, glitter pen

I'm pretty sure I had a good time last night...

When Stella and Gus from Bugaboo Stamps first caught my eye, I knew I was going to be making cards with them.  I wound up being on the Bugaboo Team for several years.  I'm excited to be back creating with many of the characters that Jodie created.

I usually have a story to go with my cards. ( What inspired the card.) Here it is:  My grandfather was a doctor in a so-called "one horse town" in the South. As small as it was, there were plenty of people to fill the cells of the jail. Being concerned about these people, my grandfather (whom we called Daddy Doc) would visit the jail and offer free health care.  What I don't understand, every year the present and former "jailors" along with the officers of the law and Daddy Doc would take a huge group picture behind the jail!!! WHAT!! Go figure.  I hope I can find that pic and I will post one day.

The Stella Identity Theft image was used, along with the sentiment from Ginger's House. I cased Stamp-in-Play.  I added some keys and hooks from some old punches. I colored with copics.

I'm entering the Catch the Bug Challenge: ANYTHING GOES ( If I can't get to a computer to link my image, at least, I can give a "shout out" to Bugaboo Stamps and the fab team that help bring these awesome characters alive.)

A2, I made 4 cards with different colored dresses.  I also added clear
glitter pen to hair and purse and machine stitching.

OUCH...Get Better Soon

A teacher friend recently had a knee replacement.  This little house mouse from my CD was the closest image I could find but I think it will do the job.  I like taking my photo shots outside but we are still having tropical winds and I can't keep my cards still long enough to take a picture.  I really need to set up a photo spot inside...that's my next project...haha

House Mouse and Friends Monday Challenge #301 is "Anything Goes" and/or "Outdoor Fun".  I'm going with Anything Goes.  These little critters could be outdoors...haha

A2, machine stitching, bandage stamp and die set from Aliexpress, circle punch,
 glitter pen, pop-up dots for dimension

different sentiment, die cut frame from Lil Inker

Learn to Swerve

This little die has a lot of meaning to me.  I met my husband in 1969 at Pawleys Island, SC.  He had driven by our beach house in a baby blue VW Beetle.  It was an awesome summer before I headed off to college.  OK....I'm telling my age now.

I found this VW Beetle die at Aliexpress called Highway Road Car.  The center VW Beetle represents Clemson University.  Go Tigers! The yellow represent my happy color.

A2, Paper Smooches sentiment, cloud punch, pop- up dots for dimension,
stitching on border

This is for my grandson Wyatt

Hangin' Here just to say "HI"!

All little boys I've been around enjoy acting like little monkeys.  My brother is now 70 and I can remember as if it was just yesterday that he was acting like a monkey.  When I remind him of the 'good ole days', he'll give me a monkey face and sound.  He still makes me laugh.

Anyhow, Cut It Up Challenge #183 with the theme wood(s) brought back old memories which inspired me to build this card, but it will go to my grandson....not my brother.LOL  (However, I have sent him plenty of monkey cards..haha)  Now you know my secret, unless it is a seasonal card, past memories inspire my cards 90% of the time.

Every bit of this card was made using die cuts.  I bought the monkey set from Aliexpress, but when I went to get a link for my blog, the page was gone.

A2, copics for clouds and face, Paper Smooches sentiment, pop-up dots for
 dimension, dabber for edges of trees and monkey, goggle eyes

side view to show dimension

steel die set that is no longer available on Aliexpress

Never too early to say "Merry Christmas" in this day and age!

.... It's Challenge #300 at House Mouse and Friends Monday Challenge with an optional theme "Christmas".  This little House Mouse came off my CD.  I can't find it anywhere on the web to give a link. These days, computers don't come with a CD reader so I'm transferring them on to a thumb drive.

Cyberfriends, if you have ever followed my blog before, you can tell by my cards lately that I'm very predictable.  I will try to improve, but it will take time.  I'm still getting my feet wet again.

I use copics for mouse and ink.  "Merry Christmas" was computer generated on Silhouette Cameo and I added the ink drops.  Stockings were die cuts from Gina Marie Designs. 

A2, hook hanger punch, machine stitching, glitter pen on pen 

This is where I live now!!!

I had lived in Greenville, SC all my life except during my years in college in Charleston, SC.  I've been a passionate beach, water, ocean lover all my life.  I now have the opportunity to do just that!!!  I now live in Cocoa Beach, Florida.

Below are pics I took just the other morning.  I awake many a very early morning.  I grab a cup of coffee and head to the balcony.  I get quite the morning show any given morning.  This particular morning, I grabbed my old IPhone 7 and took these pics from 6:00 am - 6:35 am....that is how quick the morning sunrise changes..

The last pic is on the other side of the building where I am able to grab a a pic of the sunset.  We have the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Banana River on the other. (We won't discuss hurricanes.)

I also just finished a renovation on a little condo across the park from us.  It's also on the beach but not as high up.  I'll share the renov pics in a few days.

But cyber friends, this is why I love the beach!!! God's beauty!

6:00 AM (Sunrise)

6:20 AM (Sunrise)

6:35 AM (Sunrise)

Sunset on Banana River on other side of our building

Happy Times

Just FYI:  Just found out I was the winner at House Mouse and Friends Monday Challenge #299.  I'm a happy girl, lady, female, person!

Traveling and cruising on ships is a very happy time for me.  I'm traveling as much as possible; you don't know tomorrow's forecast.

I made this card for my grandson Wyatt; who, like most little boys, are infatuated with trucks and cars and any thing with wheels...LOL  He loves the family zoo outings.  We have the Blue Ridge Mountains close, so I thought I would throw in a few for the card.

A2, stamp and die cut set from Aliexpress, mountain die-cuts from Lawn Fawn,
sentiment from Stampabilities, edges machined stitched, pop-ups for dimension.

Copic colors, angle view to try and show dimension, stamp and die set for truck
from Aliexpress called Farm Harvest Goods