You are My Sunshine

Good morning stampers. Happy Weekend. Over at Simply Create Too, where I'm back to showing my cards, I made this simple card to keep me cheered up. And, along with this cheerful card I have a new car to help me along the way. I took the plunge and purchased a brand new Honda CR-V. in a 'twilight" color. Yes, the color choice did have a bit to do with the famed movie series of that name...smile. 

So, for my card, I have a 5x5 Gina K Luxury heavy weight white base. Then some SU saffron for a mat and the dsp is DCWV Lemon Flower...bright, flowery and glittery....luv it. I used a Sizzix SU Daisies no. 2 die and cut it with some yellow from my stash. The center is a Bazzil brad given to me by a friend. I computer generated the sentiment using a fave font called Artsy. I don't often do this. Note to self....could save some $$$ this way, must pursue more.

So, I'm off with the dd to run some errands in the new wheels. Hope you have a great weekend.

Blessings, Erica

Thanks so Much

Special Thank you card

Hi Stampers, I've been on a roll trying to get my mind off the 7K I will lose since nobody wants a handicapped accessible van. I've tried everything...Ebay, Craigslist, bulletin boards and AutoTrader. Alas, everyone goes to the book value in the Blue Book and quotes the price. Well, I'll have them know this van has too many bells and whistles in it to settle for the BBV. So, the dealer where I'm looking at a Honda CRV will give me several K more than the BBV, but I still owe several K, and well, it looks like I will have to eat it if I want out. and I do want out. I want a new car like never before. I am re-vamping my life..as my sweet dh wanted me to and it includes new wheels for one thing.
I made this card for one of a few friends who went the extra mile for my family. I've had these flowers forever and it was time to use them. Note to self: STOP HOARDING FLOWERS! The butterfly is a trimmed image from Gina K's Nature's Greetings. I'm giving some of her seldom used sets some lovin. I've added some SU seam binding, a button, and hemp. I used a tried & true old Hero Arts sentiment which I stamped and die-cut with a Nestibilitie. It may not be showing up, but I the cream panel is embossed with a polka dot Cuttleug folder. Gina K's cranberry cs matched my dsp and the whole shabang is mounted on a folded A2 size random creme base..source unknown.

I'll be back tomorrow with another...you guessed it...thank you card.

Blessings,
Erica

Playing wth Mojo Monday's Sketch

Hi Stamp Friends,
The weekend is upon us. I needed a break from making thank you cards following my dh's funeral, so I chose a sketch from Mojo Monday. I didn't exactly stick with it, but it did get my juices flowing. It's rare that I make a circle card. It's not that I don't like them, rather it's because a circle card needs a circle envie and I've yet to find a tute on making them. Circle cards look kinda' lost in square envies...just sayin'.

The cardstock is SU's always artichoke with SU new dsp. I used my Nestie's for all the circles and I succumbed and bought some of those pearly curly things. I did have plenty of flowers on hand though. I gaze for hours at tutes on how to make your own flowers and then throw up my hands and go to my stash. Tell me, why does anyone want to take the time to make those things and you have to buy special tools and have mouse pads to mold them with and then you have to make a special box envie and frankly, I just don't see the point...just sayin'.

Blessings,
Erica

A second thank you card

Hello stamping friends. I promised a few more thank you cards. I had to google the etiquette for sending out these cards because I wasn't certain if I am supposed to send cards to the friends who sent me just cards. Interestingly, there's no hard and fast rule, I have already taken care of those who brought food to our home and/or sent flowers, so now I'm left with the card-senders. That will add about 15 or so to my "to make" list. I'm getting bored sending the one I made most of (see my previous post), so I need to try something else, with little time to spare as it is recommended thank you cards be sent no later than three weeks after the funeral. I probably won't get to everyone, so I'll give anyone left out a personal call later in February. That seems to be the general protocol.

I am trying to sell our handicapped accessible van...no small undertaking...without having to lose a lot of money. I've done the usual listings and even posted at church...not much success. I have one woman who is local and I am going to let her test-drive it tomorrow. Say a little prayer for me as I'm not the best salesperson. Once the van is sold, I can get myself into a smallish fuel-efficient slightly used car. At least, that's my prayer. I've been to the social security office and straightened that out, but still have gobs of insurance papers to complete and my health insurance, which quite literally died with my husband, to look into. I don't expect things to be simple for a while, but stay in prayer for wisdom and freedom from anxiousness.

This card is simple. The remainder of cream cs with an SU night of navy mat that is run through the Cuttlebug with a folder and the sentiment is from CTMH For Evert Occasion, (ret.). I used Versafine Majestic blue to stamp and it's on a Nestie die.

Be back tomorrow with another card or two.

Blessings,
Erica

My Beloved Husband

Hello my stamping friends. I have been away for almost a month and getting back aboard is tough, but it is what I need to do.
My beloved husband Edward,(we all called him Ed) passed on January 13th. I was with him to the very end. I kept him out of nursing homes and with his family which was what we wanted. I won't belabor how I am feeling. We had 24 joyful years and he helped me raise my three children and bury my only son. We shared a wonderful life and our faith in our heavenly Father sustained us and continues to do so for those Ed left behind. He is with God resting easy. And I, soldier on.

So, I have taken it upon myself to create my own thank you cards for those who have expressed their sympathy. We didn't have a large number of people, as we are from New York and here in Arizona we were retired. Due to Ed's disability, we did not do a great deal of socializing, so 30 or so cards will be adequate. Above, is the easy peasy one I am sending. I already have most of them sent. The stamp says it all, but it could be interpreted in two ways: God taking the hand of his servant, or, a friend/relative holding mine here on earth. At any rate, I stamped it in Memento cocoa brown and the cs is a cream color I had on hand. The image is one of the Michael Craftmart $1.50 stamps. This seems to be an addition to their Studio "G" line still selling for $1.00. I'll show another card tomorrow.

Hugs and Blessings,
Erica

Happy New Year

I am wishing my readers a Happy New Year a bit late, as I wanted to be certain it was starting off for me on a good foot. NOT! I've just returned from the vet where I took my sweet Starr Kitty to be checked out. She had a swollen rear end and was in some pain. Well, $868 later, along with a drainage tube, antiobitis and pain killers and head gear to keep from scratching her shaved butt, a rather sad look, I'v decided this is not a good beginning. Especially, as I sat down with my budget yesterday and figured out how I could  save $100 per month for furniture to finish my craftroom. Looks like that's on hold while I pay this bill. Oh well, she has my heart and is a stress relief for me, so I'll be OK.

I am also bound and determined to make a decision (once and for all time) as to whether or not to leave Stampin' Up as a demo. I was gone about 9 months and then went back about 2 yrs. ago. I'm not sure what made me come back. With so many great stamp companies now, it certainly wasn't because there were no stamps available. I think it's because I'm forced to come up with the "must have" $300 quarterly to remain and it keeps me away from the big box stores. There I tend to impulse buy and often use less than half the products I purchase. It doesn't help that I have two Michaels, 2 Jo-Anns, and one Hobby Lobby within a short driving distance. And they are always sending me coupons. I simply must get some discipline and decide. Only I can do that right!

So for the Simply Create Too Challenge No. 4, I made this card...with loads of inspiration from Michelle Zindorf, brayer queen of the midwest.  I didn't do any brayering though. I used circle, square and teeny heart punches along with the SU Top Note die to create this card. All the cs is SU and the sentiment is PC generated. In the corners, I added Ranger's liquid pearls. This card was easy to mass produce, so that's what I did for those whom I missed on the Christmas list.

Now, go and have some fun at Simply Create Too. The challenge this time is Loads of Layers. Lay it on us will ya'.

Blessings,
Erica