Closing in on Easter Sunday

Hi Friends,

Here comes Easter. I won't be wearing a bonnet. In fact, I can count the times on one hand in the last  20 years that I've covered my head at all. The hat industry is flat. Here's a bit of flotsom info. As a young woman newly arrived in New York City, a dear friend of mine was employed in a haberdashery. Ask someone less than 40 what that means. She also made ladies gloves with fine leathers and other materials. 

Here's my first of three Easter cards I hope to share before next week. 

I was determined to make a card with a kit, so here I've used an Authentique kit.

I'm certainly in a blue and yellow mood what with the Ukranian people so beleaguered.

Blessings,

Erica

 

Closing in on St. Patrick's Day

As St. Patrick's Day comes closer, I realize not much attention is being paid it here in the Southwest US. When I lived back east in New York, there was a parade and almost everyone wore something green....Irish or not. There's no parade here in Arizona, and little mention of the day. 

This gets me wondering whether or not there's much of an Irish population here. I'll have to pay attention this year. Apparently, I haven't been.

Well, I do have about 1/16th Irish blood according to Ancestry.com. I can actually trace it and have photos of my paternal great-grandmother who came by ship as so many Irish immigrants did in the midst of the potato famines. She was thrust into life in 

nefarious Hell's Kitchen on the lower east side of Manhattan. She didn't take to it one bit, so when a handsome smooth-talking "Negro" came selliong his vegetables from a horse-drawn wagon all the way from upstate New York, she didn't hesitate long. 

In the beautiful rolling hills of Catskill, Mary (nee Owens), bore 9 children..some not living past infancy. She was a staunch Catholic and worked as housekeeper for the local rectory's priests. We have a few stories of her life to cherish, passed over decades. We know how stories can be embellished. However, I like to envision her as this feisty older lady here on my card. The image and sentiment are from Art Impressions. She's a whole lot of sass...just sayin'. 

A Whole Lotta Sass!

Blessings,

Erica

I Feel for the Ukranian People

It's so difficult to watch on television. I keep shaking my head and repeating, "There but for the grace of God go I." I sub to Jennifer McGuire's YT channel and she is suggesting that we do a little card therapy to keep the monsters in check...aka, anxiety and depression. We all know the Ukraine flag colors, right? I created this card. My blue may be a bit too dark. What is that blue color called? If anyone knows, please comment below. The yellow is an SU long ago retired and for me it says, "Ukranian people, may you see sunshine in your lives very soon."

Keep the Ukranian people in your prayers.

Blessings, 

Erica

Less Is More Challenge no. 445

Today, it finally rained for five entire minutes. Our drought continues and fires loom in many parts of the state. I am praying.

So to ease the strain, a bit, here is my card for Less Is More. I haven't been participating for quite some time, but it's a favorite challenge of mine and I'm certain for many of you who want to try your hand at enjoying white space on a card. 

I just happened to have this tiny book diecut laying on my desk. It's been around for months and was cut using my very old Scan 'N Cut. I thought coloring the books blue with a touch of yellow and the interesting die from AliExpress would work. For the sentiment, I used a stencil called Mantras, from Dina Wakely. When we read, we seek and more often than not, find wonders. I love to read and wish I did more. Alas, the world wide web and, of course, creating cards, gets in the way. Hope you enjoy my card, or better still, a good book.

Blessings 

Erica

Well Into the Year...but can you blame me?

 Hello Everyone,

Yes, it's been that long and my excuse is standard...COVID!

Moving right along. My card takes advantage of an abundance of lace from Amazon and both an embossing and a rose diecut from Ali Express. I ran an oxide ink pad, (speckled egg) over the embossing folder prior to running it through my Spellbinders Platinum machine, to get a bit of color. I've gold embossed the sentiment from my stash onto an AliExpress tag. 

I'm pleased with the results, but can't seem to make it larger for your enjoyment. Blogger has changed a few of their features. Well, what did I expect? It's been a while.

Blessings,

Erica

P.S. I think it's large enough, but I can't find where to enhance the photo. Give me time. I have more cards to post. I've been busy creating, but not posting.

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

It's Been a While...once again.

I started out many years ago, gung ho for this blog thing. Frankly, I don't know what happened other than life evolves. What we think is important to us is indeed so, but for a time. I guess the season is drawing to a close for me. Otherwise, surely I'd be better at this.

Now don't get me wrong. I have been making cards, 4 or 5 a week, not including those requested or needed for family celebrations. And yes, I've been buying stamps and dies, etc. However, I can feel myself going in another direction. The fork was taken when I discovered travelers' notebooks and found an amazing company with quality leather items that I adore, Chic Sparrow. Now that I've invested about $1,000 on various sizes of notebook covers, I think I'm done and moving on to junk journaling. I'm very new at it and the pace I'm on is much slower than when I began making cards. We'll see where it leads. I am 70 yrs. old now. Life is expected to slow down for my age. Having knee replacement surgery this past August has taught me this.

So, here is a card for the design team I'm still on, Simply Create Too. It's the only one I've ever been on and they still want me, or at least they haven't asked me to leave. Recently, they've adopted a more "anything goes" style so that means less stress for me.

Here's my card for the challenge. There's nothing spooky about it, as I don't do Halloween, but it is seasonal at least.  Join me if you want. I'll chat with you in the near future.

Paper and ribbons is all there is for this card month's challenge.

For a better look sans the digits,
go to Simply Create Too challenge
blog.

It's Been a While

It's been a while since I've been here, but I've had fun with card kits such as Tonic and Simon Says Stamp, as well as with AliExpress. I know there is a great deal of ambivalence with the latter Alibaba company which is actually on the stock exchange. I do understand most of it. However, this country in which I live was built on capitalism and AliExpress is the epitome of it. If we for one minute believe that copyrights and patents were never stolen/infringed upon when the USA began to come into its own, we should think again.

Personally, I believe several (not all) of the stamp companies I purchase from have been raising their prices far too quickly and quite a bit. Fancy packaging may contribute to costs. I am aware that we should be producing as many items as possible right in the USA. Yet, this didn't begin overnight. I've seen, "made in China" for well over 60 yrs. I'll be 70 this month. I've seen numerous other countries producing goods for Americans. We can't expect to resolve this issue in a year or two if it has taken this long to get to the point of having to do something about it.

I just stepped off my soapbox about that subject. Suffice it to say, if I like it, I'm gonna get it from whatever source is convenient for me at that time.

A few days ago, I did some house-cleaning on my blog. The challenge design team Simply Create Too is now up-to-date and I deleted some other links on both nav bars that were no longer relevant. Blogger has changed since I last posted and it looks a bit easier for this non-tech-savvy senior to handle.

I've also returned from a wonderful vacation in Jamaica W.I. At almost 70 yrs. old, I got a passport. The time spent was wonderful and included relatives and friends.

Before I left, I had the honor of creating a birthday card for a distant aunt who turned 100. I'm praying I have 30 more healthy years to my life. In the meantime, whatever I have been blessed with, I am thankful for.

I'll be posting again in a day or two...sans the drama chat.
Blessings, Erica

Simply Create Challenge #148, Anything Goes

We have a gorgeous morning here in Arizona. We know mornings such as these won't last, so most residents are out and about. I'm content to be here in my crafty space. First church, then here and then, tonight...Game of Thrones.

I love AG challenges. You can let your mojo spirit soar to anywhere you want. So that said, I was on a roll creating rather generic cards for a minister at my church. He wanted subtle colors and basic sentiments. So this is one that I made. I got the stamp and stencil as freebies in a UK magazine. It was a double issue with several Ranger stencils, stamps and sentiments,...a real bang for the buck. These periodicals can be pricy in the US.

I hope you get a chance to play at Simply Create Too before the month is gone and hopefully you have lovely weather to enjoy if not now, very soon.

Best Wishes,

Erica

Simply Create Too challenge no. 146

Over at Simply Create Too, we have a challenge going on that is Anything Goes, with a twist to use hearts. Easy peasy, right...since it's the month for hearts. I have already submitted for my DT challenge, but I found myself with quite a few heart related dies, so here's one more.

It's a bit on the dark side. We were in the middle of a big chill here in Arizona when I took this. But you can see all the dies...from AliExpress with the exception of the circle. It's a busy card, but I especially love the letters.

Hurry over to Simply Create and play before the month is done.

Blessings,
Erica

Less Is More Challenge no. 389

Hi Friends,

The dreaded one-layer card is up and running at Less Is More and I took it on with a cute image I rarely get to use since few people to whom I send cards actually enjoy frogs.

I colored him up with Jane Davenport watercolors. I love the cute cases they come in.

I have another frog card but I had included a very ordinary sentiment and since the sentiment is the thing for this challenge, I'm not posting it. This frog holding his 'insurance legs policy' says it all, I think.

I hope you have a chance to play along with the challenge.

Blessings
Erica

Less Is More is Eight Years Old!

Bring on the party. Less Is More challenge is here for the month and celebrating it's 8th year in blog land. That's pretty impressive. Challenge blogs do come and go, but this challenge blog with its guidelines to stay clean and simple with white space as they call it, has had staying power.

Designer team members have changed but the challenge with its unique format remains the same.
I don't get as many opportunities to play as I used to, but I did have the honor to be a winner very early on. I will never forget how I did the happy dance when I found out and no one in my family got it. They do now as many a Saturday morning I can be found checking out the latest challenge.

So, I think it's fitting to make this card wishing LIM all the best. And since the blog originates from Great Britain, why not a cup of tea? And there are eight hearts on it too.

If you have never visited Less Is More, I hope you will have a chance to visit and give the challenge a try.

Blessings,

Erica

Simply Create Too Challenge No. 146, Anything Goes/Use Hearts

Hi everyone. How's the first month of the new year going for you? I hope it is running smoothly. It is for me. This week, I will be going for cataract surgery, a very popular eye operation these days...at least for those of us who have attained Medicare age. I had put mine off for as long as possible. I finally didn't have a choice if I wanted to drive at night or even go west in evenings and east in mornings. The sun, which I adore, plays havoc with my eyes. This surgery will fix it.

Simply Create Too is having it's 2nd challenge of the year, Anything Goes, Use Hearts. You don't have to use hearts, but why not since this is the month for exchanging Valentines. So my card is really all about the coffee theme, but I was able to incorporate hearts. I love this image and I'll be using it more as the year goes on.

I hope you'll get a chance to make lots of Valentine Day cards so I can enjoy your creations and comment on them too,.

Simply Create Too Challenge no. 144, Use a Different Kind of Fold

Hi friends,

Today, I had a fantastic time attending the Artistic Rubber Stamp Show, Mesa, Arizona version. It was the first time I have attended with a friend. Would you believe she is my next neighbor and we have so much in common that it's quite scary for both of us. We had a fun time and of course, spent more than we probably should have.

While there, we had the pleasure of meeting Kittie Caracciolo, who came all the way from Florida to demonstrate her lovely flower making prowess. She is a lovely person and super talented. Of course, my friend and I had to have the tool kit by Sizzix she uses to make shape her beautiful flowers.

So now that the good times are done, I wanted to tell you about the Simply Create Too challenge this month and it's our last one of 2018, since we all know how the holidays can interfere with our craft lives.

Our challenge is to create a card with folds that aren't standard, such as an A2 card and here's mine.

I enjoyed making this pretty card for my step-daughter who is a lovely young lady I am just getting to know, since she is living with her sister's family and I as she is doing a do-over with her life.

The tutorial I followed is from Scrapbooking With M.E.  Here's the direct link to her blog telling you how to, Fancy Fold Box Stepper Card. You can also find her on You Tube. Come now, You didn't think I created this all by myself did you?? I decided to make it black & white as it's my step-daughter's apparel go-to color. I think I worked it out well enough. . As my viewers rarely ask detailed questions about the how-to for my cards, I'll give details only if requested in a comment. 

I hope you will be able to squeeze in some time to make a card before the holidays really get 

underway and post it on our challenge blog.

Blessings,

Erica