Foxy Cute

I was a blog slacker this weekend! I didn't post for two days and it was nice to have a little break. Instead I spent some time Saturday crocheting, sipping sangria and trying to trick myself into believing it was a lovely spring day while it was cold, cloudy and wet. 

Now it's Monday and I'm back to share a Pebbles' Special Delivery card with you...I couldn't leave you hanging too long! :) 

(Buy Now - $4.99)

I've created a number of Special Delivery greeting cards for you to date. Are you still resisting the temptation to add this adorable collection to your stash?  Well, Amazon is selling the die cut accents to this line at 44% off and the 12 x 12 paper pad is 14% off. It just might be time to do some shopping. :)

About the sangria...I've always wanted to make some and I finally got around to it! I found it's a lot like making soup since you can toss in whatever you have on hand. I used a inexpensive bottle of merlot, a bottle of Izze's Sparkling Blackberry soda, 1/2 cup of gin and then tossed in some raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, pear, apple and the juice of a half lemon and an orange. It sat in the refrigerator for about five hours before drinking. Now I'm dreaming of all the other varieties I can make. Maybe next time I'll start with a white wine and peach soda? :)

Crochet

I'm posting a little later today then usual since I decided to get the grocery shopping done first thing this morning. Funny thing happened while the young man who bagged my groceries helped me out to the car...he asked, "Any exciting plans for the day?" I felt a little embarrassed to admit that my exciting plan was to spend the afternoon crocheting, but I did. Then he blows me away by saying, "Cool! I knit!" Maybe I should mention that I shop at Whole Foods and perhaps this guy was a bit a hippy? Anyway, I thought that was pretty awesome!

One of the goals I have for my blog this year is to share some of the other crafty things I do besides playing with paper...like crocheting this cute little granny square banner. What do you think? I love how it looks in the family room with other handmade items and vintage treasures. 

Currently I have a few crochet projects in the works......I like variety. 

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My father-in-law is turning 90 this year so I started an afghan similar to this for him.

I'm also working on a fishnet style, warmer weather scarf for me. I always need a sweater/layers in the summer when we go out to eat since restaurants are almost always over air-conditioned.

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A third crochet project I'm working is this gorgeous shawl. I'm not really a shawl person, but I love this one!

I'll share all of these projects with you when they're completed.

So, what are your exciting plans for the day?

Spring

It looks like spring, but it feels like winter around here with below freezing temperatures at night. Yesterday's high only reached 45 degrees! Brrrrr! I'm ready for spring! How about you? 

Well, since I have no control over the weather I'll have to make like it's spring with a Pebble's Garden Party collection card instead. 

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I absolutely adore the pleated butterflies from this line! I'm really tempted to stick them directly on the wall! I just might....stay tuned.

Guess who helped me photograph this card?

If you guessed Oreo...you would be right on the money! He's such a good little assistant! ;)

In the House!

Finally got the new printer! A Canon Pixma iP8720! Looks like I'll be printing a lot of Project Life photos over the next few days...four weeks worth to be exact! Hopefully, I'll get some of those weeks completed to post on Saturday. 

For some crafty sharing...I have a couple cards posted at SEI Lifestyle this week created with their fabulous March Cardmaking Kit. 

Here's a look-see at one of the cards. I hope you have a chance to hop over and see them both. Enjoy!

How About a Crafty Challenge?

For those of you crafty folks who enjoy a good challenge, how about taking one from Bella Blvd. to mix and match several of your favorite collections?  I found it pretty fun and easy to do this with the new Max, Molly, Family Forever and Lucky Starz collections because Stephanie designs these lines to coordinate perfectly! 

 (Buy Now - $4.99)

(Buy Now - $4.99)

Yes indeed, I used all four of the latest Bella Blvd. collections for each design...one girly and one masculine...they all work so well together, don't you think? Which will make you one successful paper crafter! :)

You + Me

Oh how I love the Chickaniddy Date Night collection, let me count the ways! I could make dozens and dozens of cards with this line and not run out of ideas! However, when my creative mojo takes a leave of absence, using a sketch helps to get me back on track. 

Each month Chickaniddy will feature a card sketch that one designer will 'use', another will 'tweak' and a third will 'change it.' Today I'm the 'change it' gal. 

Supplies: Paper (DN140S04; DN140S05; DN140S06; DN140S08; DN140S11) Silver Foil Paper (CN14SP002) Stickers (DN14EB03; DN14EB05)  Enamel Hearts (DN14EB07) Brads (DN14EB06)

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For my 'You + Me' card I adopted the hearts and pennants theme but arranged it the way I wanted using lots of pretty Date Night patterns and colors. And the gorgeous foil paper...a favorite of mine! 

Currently...

...looking forward to indulging in the slice of Godiva cheesecake brought home from the Cheesecake Factory during last night's birthday celebration!

...remembering how delicious the Craig's Crazy Mixed Up Carrot Cake Cheesecake was!

...playing with yarn on a daily basis. I have OCD (obsessive crocheting disorder)!

...streaming Grey's Anatomy on the iPad.; usually while crocheting.

...trying to always find the positive in every situation.

...eating a healthy diet of fish, lean meats and fresh organic fruits and vegetables (when I'm not stuffing my face with cheesecake).

...pinning this precious photo this morning.

...crafting with paper, always crafting with paper!

...scrapping our Project Life album. I'm keeping up with it even though my dead printer isn't! New printer on the way.

...going on a walk today. It's supposed to get up to 77 degrees!

...loving our flowering plum tree. It's right outside the living room window...like a giant bouquet of flowers!

...hating that winter will rear it's ugly head again early next week when the high for the day will be in the 30's!

...discovering a few more gray hairs. Ugh!

...enjoying that my wonderful husband is doing the grocery shopping for me today!

...thinking I'd like to start another, small cross stitch project.

...feeling thankful that my family is happy, healthy and life is good!

...hoping that Christopher gets into summer camp this year. We're on the waiting list. This would be the first time it didn't happen for him in the past seven years. He really really looks forward to it!

...listing to the smooth jazz station on Pandora most afternoons.

...smelling coffee! I love and savor my morning cup!

...finishing a warm weather fishnet scarf in a beautiful shade of green.

...starting on an afghan for Dan's father who is turning 90 next month.

So what's currently happening for you?

A Perfect Day for a Birthday

It's a glorious day in the neighborhood with the sun shining brightly and an expected temperature of 70 degrees! It's a perfect day for a birthday! My birthday! :) Thought I'd start my day playing with paper...the Molly collection from Bella Blvd. 

(Buy Now - $2.99)

This super girly line seemed like the perfect collection to play with on my big day! Cheerful, colorful and full of rad accents! 

Remember the icy flowering plum tree photo I showed you on Tuesday morning?

Here's the same tree this morning. I'm thrilled that the ice didn't ruin the flowers. It's  only in bloom for seven to ten days each year and I would really miss it! 

After taking photos of the tree, I turned around to see my big furry boy Latte settled in on the couch. Isn't he beautiful? And fluffy? Very very fluffy! ;)

Yes, it's the perfect day for a birthday! :)

Hello Spring

It's the day I've been longing for all winter long...spring! My favorite season! After several days of cold, clouds and ice, the sun is shining brightly and temperatures are expected to reach about 65 degrees! Hello spring! I've missed you so! 

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To welcome in the new season I created this tweet little birdie card with Pebbles' new Special Delivery collection. These adorable birds remind me of the symphony of chirping I wake to each morning. FYI...this collection is 21% off today on Amazon! :) 

We have a couple resident Carolina Wrens living in a nest outside our kitchen window and we're looking forward to watching them raising a new clutch this spring. Here's a picture from last year. They're so sweet!

Happy Spring! 

Do You Cross Stitch?

Crafty folks typically enjoy more than one kind of craft and if there were enough hours in the day I would dabble in a little bit of everything. I would make quilts, paint and play with clay. Earlier this year I mentioned that I used to cross stitch and during the last Christmas break I decided to start a new project. It's been years since I picked up a needle, Adia fabric and some DMC floss!

I chose this silhouette pattern from Etsy. It was the perfect project to get me back into stitching...not too difficult.

I created a frayed edging and hung it up in the family room. 

Here's another look at those shelves before hanging the cross stitch. And there's my big boy Latte sitting in the chair! He's such a fluff ball!

So, what crafts do you enjoy?