Feel Better, Mrs. Hicks!

Cheery card I made for my cousin, Kim. She's recovering from surgery, and probably wouldn't mind your prayers for QUICK healing!

This card is made with cardstock from Stampin'Up!, and patterned paper from Basic Grey. The stamp is theangelcompany, hostess set.

True story about my cousin: She got married a couple of years ago and I THOUGHT her "new name" was Kim Hicks and proceded to send her Christmas cards addressed this way. Well, fastforward to January, when I "asked" her to be my friend on FaceBook and noticed that this, in fact, was NOT her name. So, when I "asked" her about it, she let me know that they've been giggling about it for a while now. Hmmm. I've decided she will ALWAYS be Mrs. Hicks to me. Although, I'm sure she was disappointed that I actually "addressed" her card correctly, this time.
Another true fact regarding my cousin, Kim: I secretly love it whenever my mom tells me that I look like Kim. And she says this a lot. It could have something to do with sulky, pensive looks, or eyerolling, but I am honored, none-the-less.

Feel Better, Girl!

Another baby shower...

Some friends and I had a baby shower for our friend, Debbie, this weekend... she's having baby #4 (and BOY #4!!) this month. A shower was much needed since her youngest is 8 and her oldest is 14!! Needless to say, she's hooked up after her shower! I made her all these thank you cards as part of her gift... I made several of each design. The card above was the invitation that I sent out to her "non-church" friends and family. I also made a fun tin to put all the cards in with "Levi" written on it (baby's name), but forgot to take a picture. I will sneak a picture in his nursery and hey, add a picture of Levi to go with it! Her boys are GREAT friends with Ben and Carly, so I'm sure Levi will make his way into our pictures before long. All these cards were made using the new Making Memories paper and accesories line, "Chloe's Closet" which were the exact nursery colors (along with the frogs!) and the fun frog stamp is from STAMPENDOUS, purchased at JoAnn's. I was pretty excited to "have" to get a new frog! Cardstock is all Stampin'Up!

This last one is actually an altoids tin that is altered to be a gift card holder.... and keepsake holder, afterwards!

Aunt Ruthie's coming to town!

Just a few "initial" cards I made for my mom's best friend, who is coming to stay at her house while my parents are STILL away. I am anxious to see her and tell her to "Make herself at home!" and you know, steal whatever she wants:) I am really enjoying my CuttleBug (still!) and Nestabilities, which I used to make the "R's"... and JustRite Stampers. Very fun. I would like to clarify that I made these LAST NIGHT, and not this morning, while the kids were raking leaves. Something tells me it wouldn't go over well with all of them to have MOM inside "playing" while THEY are outside working. I am, however, updating my BLOGS:)

Happy Birthday, Jessica!

A little birthday card for today's Birthday Girl! I met her Mama in 1986, and after about 8 or 9 months of rolling our eyes at each other, we decided to be best friends. Funny how that happens. And I giggle every time I think about Jessica. She's the complete image of her Mama. We are in so much trouble when our girls hit 14, huh, Sue?!?!?! So, Today.... Happy Birthday, Jessica! Enjoy 3...
For people who might be interested: this card features my new most favorite paper: Cosmo Cricket!! (Honey Pie line) and the stamp is from theangelcompany, iloveeaster. Cardstock from stampinUp!... because every 3 year old girl needs a really bright, pink birthday card.

Remembering...

Almost 5 years ago, Ryan and I met this little girl named Destini. She was a "first-timer" in the preschool class that we were teaching at our church. She was really shy, but the one thing she WANTED to talk about was her big sister, Naomi. Unbelieveably, Naomi was killed in a car accident just 3 days later. We never got to meet her, except through her little sister's eyes. I have learned something completely remarkable from this family: God's Grace really is sufficient. I believed this completely as soon as I saw Naomi's parents standing. Beside her casket. At her funeral. The month after. That next year. Yesterday. Today. Standing. Think about that for a minute. The night before his daughter's funeral, Kyle said to me, "Just love your kids. As much as you can". We've taken this to heart. It seemed like good advice from someone who had been asked to bear the unbearable. Think about THAT for a minute... now go hug your kids!

Ok, who's crying now? Just me? Well... Naomi would have been 21 last weekend. I made this card for her sweet family. I think if it were me, I would never want people to forget my little angel.

Happy Valentines!

Well, you are all pretty well aware that I have gotten sticky fingers at my Mom's house while she and my Dad have moved to Israel. I stole this with good intentions, and goodness knows, MOM wasn't going to be making any Valentines this year (or ever... when have you EVER made a Valentine? I'm just sayin'...) So this card is for you both! Don't worry, I won't write anything in it so you can send it to ME next year!!

Kraft paper from Stampin'Up!, patterned paper from Basic Grey... and the metal Valentines tag from Mom! You really should hide your goods better! The "happy" stamp is actually a Michael's $1 stamp that said "Happy Holidays" and I cut the whole thing apart (another favorite pastime of mine) to reposition it from lengthwise to vertical, and to have the option of using the words individually. Too much free time, I'm telling you...

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY to my parents... Have a great day! Enjoy a filafel... you know, like every other day! Miss you!

Little Miss Craft-y

Like Mother, like Daughter. When I was little, my mom ALWAYS had crafts she was working on... of course, we were NEVER allowed to touch the quilling stuff, or the paints... we were however, encouraged to cross stitch, so I can't complain, TOO MUCH!!! Mom has made up for it now, as I am "allowed" to TOUCH whatever I want in her house... of course, as you all well know, she isn't home to protect her turf. What's Yours is Mine, has become the rule. Not enough incentive, however, for her to stay home. Oh well... Here's my Little Miss working hard on her Valentines... she wanted to make them herself (I couldn't be more proud!!) and we came up with 2 different designs together. I cut out the paper and stamped the images, and she colored and assembled. I am a strong believer that HANDWRITING letters or notes to people is a lost art, and I was THRILLED to see she wrote a little note on each persons card. She took this all VERY SERIOUSLY.

If you look closely, you can see my sacred (and expensive) Stampin'Up! marker beside her... yes, I caved and actually let her use them. She knew it was a big deal, too, and kept telling me she was planning on being "very careful with your pens".

This is the card she made for all the girls... complete with a little bling, because girls like that, you know...

... and a different design for all the boys... It says "you are my prince charming" and she made it very clear to me that "Not all the boys" were so charming. Ah, and so it begins. At least she has this basic fact down.

It should be noted that her brother's version of Valentines went as follows: "The teacher said we can bring Valentines if we want. And I don't want." Ah, the socially gracious boy. (see Carly's comment above) I insisted on him AT LEAST passing out lollipops, which apparently he did WITHOUT throwing them at everyone.

So proud.