Just Before the End of the Year...I'm BACK!!

Hi everyone. I hope the title doesn't come across as a shout. And yet, I am quite happy. I paid for grandson for his Mac Pro and put my Surface with the dreaded Windows in mothballs. I may give it to one of my grand-daughter. Just know, I'm so excited to be rid of it. Even using it for more three years, I never fell in love with it like I have for a Mac. So now, finally all the tech I own is Apple...YES! I hope you've been weathering the Covid storm. We had it in my family and it tried its best to linger, but it's gone with no hospitalization. Since I'm a senior (living at home), with the way things ae going, if I can hold out for 3 to 4 months, I may be able to get the vaccine. i had qualms about it while it was being developed, but not anymore. If I can get a flu shot yearly, there is no reason why I shouldn't get this particular flu shot. I'm feeling as though it's worth the risk as I'm on the healthy side of 70. I have for you here, my newest interes, a junk journal. I've made three different ones, but since it's Christmas season, this is the one I'll show. It's not on You Tube, as I don't have the best camera and voice set-up, so for now, just stills will have to do. I haven't given up on cards yet, but probably will. At some point, my family will move and if I go with, I will need to give up my craftroom. Junk journaling is less space intensive...at least it appears to be from the vloggers I watch. Tell me what you think of my envelope junk journal modeled after several people, but in particular, 49 dragonflies on YT.

I'll be back with a few cards as the month goes on. Blessings, Erica

Test Only on Used Macbook

 I want to see if I can download pics the way I used to when I had a Mac and not a Windows PC. Lately, my Surface Pro doesn't want to play nice with my iPhone 11.

Well, there it is, now I have to get all my newer photos to download from the Cloud. We'll see.

Hugs & Blessings,

Erica

Simply Create Too challenge #

Hi friends,

I’m going to be short and to the point with this post. I’m having a rough time with my Windows laptop and uploading photos from my IPhone 11. I’m on my IPad now to see if I have better luck .
Simply Create Too is moving through this Quarantine. All our members are well.as far as I know👏🏾.
I say a prayer for us and our families now and then.

The red team’s theme is flowers this month. I used paper to play up mine and here it is.

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBlOPL7IN1iEMO9idZN46RhVbMKL5MOXazLwYNv3Y3v_3U1qzu8NRNwG8uHSP9Ox33T1B63M57xzlyYHjcv87A7J4NbJC-y0XcJiJnAGxbGuyoqREpw6Hn5LGIaNGji4qbOONRXZoIshzu/s1600/Erica.jpg

So Much For My New Years' Resolution & SCT Challenge no. 158, Shaped Card

Hi Friends,

It would seem that those of you who, read this, as I write,  are in for a ride of our lifetimes. Having never had to experience smallpox, polio and the dreaded black plague, this is new...to say the least.

I find hanging out in my craft room, which I highly recommend to those above 65 years on earth is the one sure way I have to assuage my anguish. I have suffered with mild anxiety for years, so it's heightened for sure.

I do retrieve three 12 yr. old grands after school and keep them until their parents come to my house to get them. That's going to be a health challenge. What a bummer, since they've finally learned to get along fairly well and leave grandma to her own devices. Well, school is officially closed until April 3rd, after which our community will be given further instructions. Sadly, that leaves me quite exposed to the virus. My efforts to avoid crowds may be for naught and I am, frankly, having to think about the reality of ceasing my earthly life.

I don't think I'm being a pessimist. Quite the opposite in fact, a realist. I am taking stock of my life. I am making certain all my paperwork is in order. I had already given explicit instructions on several other issues that arise only after death. There will be one or two minor loose ends. My progeny can handle it. They're in their 40s.

Well, enough of feeling a bit frightened and sorry for myself, having been assured a few months ago by my primary care doctor, that I could realistically look at living to 85.   Another 15 yrs., in my right mind, of course, is something to look forward to. Yet, my reality means different things to me now. And so, when my youngest daughter hugged me with all her might and told me what a great mother and example I had been to her, I stood very still and when we tearfully broke apart, there was a sense that the moment was pivotal in our lives.

So, this stair-step card takes me back to my childhood. Does anyone eat corn flakes anymore? The sentiment is a good one for the times we live in. Whatever gets you through this eventful chapter in our lives...DO IT!

The SCT challenge is here. We're a monthly challenge.  Come join us and have some fun.

Blessings,
Erica

February Birthdays

Hi Friends,

There are several birthdays in my family this month, along with Valentine's Day...so lots of reasons to make cards. I was able to use my on-hand stash for everything and that makes me quite happy. Since, I'm planning to re-focus my creativity from cards to 3D items and junk journals with planner stuff thrown in for good measure, I'm doing my best not to buy new stuff.

These two cards are for a grand-daughter turning 12, and a god-daughter turning 53. They share the same birthday and finally got to meet each other at a family re-union in Jamaica W.I., last summer. It brought my heart great joy because I love them both so very much.

So, here they are.

La la Land Crafts kits make wonderful child images and that's what my grand is getting. The second card was made using a stencil of the suns' rays as the focal point. 

I'm also entering these cards to Always Fun Challenges, #148, Anything Goes, and

 Crafty Animals, challenge no. 35, Anything Goes. And one more...Daisy Chain Challenges, no. 38.

So, hopefully you'll have time this month to make a few cards. I love checking out blogs for inspiration.

Blessings,

Erica

Less Is More Challenge, #410

The second challenge of the year and decade for me is Less Is More and the ladies have begun with colors. The Pantone colors for the year are true blue and living coral. I had a difficult time finding coral and I really never did. I combed through all my ink pads and finally settled on a retired company's pigment pad called grapefruit. I suppose one could consider this the color of pink grapefruit. 

We have a variety of pink grapefruit growing in our yard here in Arizona. It doesn't produce many, but we get to indulge yearly right about this time.

The "shaky" images are from an AE stamp set and the sentiment is from my stash where I keep stamps I've cut apart. Believe me, I have never found separating sentiments easy. I added some Nuvo drops in blue, though it may seem black.This is all set within a wonky dotted frame. I took the photo with my new iPhone 11, that is a Christmas present...to myself from me.  

LIM is a monthly challenge and they've been around for quite awhile. I'm flattered I won once, but it was a very long time ago, when they challenged us twice monthly. They truly do challenge me since simple cards aren't exactly my forte.

Join them, play and have FUN!

Blessings,

Erica

So, Happy New Year and...It's been more than a while

So, let's just simply move on, shall we?

Simply Create Too has its' first challenge of the decade, and thus, the year. I'm still designing and every year, Angie, our team leader, asks if I want to continue. I don't think there are more than two or three of the originals on our team. But I love what I do and even though I say (to myself), this may be the last year, I'm glad I'm still here.

For our challenge no. 156, we asked our DT members to go monochromatic. I hope you enjoy my card. AliExpress...a dirty word to some, but a financial boon to others, is a company that has allowed me to greatly increase my die stash. I do continue to purchase from USA based companies, but we're all on a budget of some sort right?

My card uses AE letters, flowers and mats from dies. It may seem a bit pinkish, but that's because there is white and then there is white as I've learned in my crafting years. There is some dry embossing as well. Lots of  "layer lifting" enhances the card I think.

I hope you'll consider our challenge as one of the first for you to join this year. We're easy and, yes, simple. We'd love to comment on your entries.

Happy New Year

Erica