My Brother Vince

Hello to all my blogging friends, I hope this post finds you all well and happy!

Here is a great photo of my brother Vince and my Sister in Law Charisse prior to his diagnosis.
Isn't he handsome. He has that Magnum PI Look and smirk! Ah my sweet brother.
Always make sure you tell your family and friends you love them, because you never know!

We received another diagnosis today from an Oncologist that my brother Vince did not want to hear. He has been seen by 3 other doctors and this was the fourth that told him he has Stage 4 Adeno Carcinoma of the Esophagus and the Stomach and that it is terminal.

His family and friends have been really active, pleading for additional help to raise monies for the overwhelming medical expenses that he is facing. They have organized and put on a community fund raiser for him today. There was even  an article written about Vince's situation, that was published in the local paper.  


http://auburnjournal.com/browse.html?x=11&y=10&search_filter=Vince+Paquet&sub_type=stories


"Family and friends within the communities of Placer County, especially in Auburn, Loomis, Granite Bay and Lincoln, who know Vincent and Charisse Paquet are invited to make donations at any U.S. Bank location to the Vincent Paquet Donation Fund, Account No. 153754861653."

I am asking that if you have the means and are able to, please contribute to the fund.
Thank you in advance  for your support.
Patrice

Wedding Cards

Hello to all my blogging friends. I hope this post finds you all well and happy!

Tomorrow is the Big day my Niece Kaitlin is getting married to a really wonderful young man named Jefty. We wish them a long and happy life together! Believe it or not the wedding is less than 1 mile from our new place. The wedding and reception will be held in the Mitten Building a converted Orange Packaging bldg. It is quite the place, rustic yet very elegant. It should be a lot of fun. We are looking forward to celebrating their special day with them.

I made two cards to choose from, one elegant and one cute and fun. Both CASED from the SU website. I didn't know which one I wanted to give to them, so I let Jeff and my DD decide. They both chose the more elegant one. So that is the one I will enclose with the gift. What do you think?

Here is a shot of the second one;
So that it was not a total CASE I made the polka dot background and added pearls to the second gift as well as cut the ribbons longer on the bows, then created a different sentiment banner.

 I believe this was a card I saw on line of one of the cards that was on display at Leadership in San Antonio this month.  I had some fun with the inside by adding the stack of gift packages shown here on the left hand side of the card. That is not part of the case.
I hope you find some time to create something fun today.
Thanks for stopping by.
Patrice

I Heart SFF

Hello to all my blogging friends. I hope this post finds you all well and happy!

I (Heart) SFF because it means we have a super cool new sketch! This week Angela Walters came up with a really fun one.
Here it is;

Isn't this a super sketch! Sooo many possibilities to choose from! You are so going to have to try it!

This is what I came up with;

I had fun deciding what to make with it, then finally I thought a this would make an interesting Valentine for my honey (Jeff no peeking!).I wasn't done with this sketch so I did another one just using the three colors red, black and vanilla. Which one do you like A or B lololo.
Here is a look at the inside;

This card came together very easily and the sketch really does have a million possibilities. Nicely done Angela!
Your next stop is to visit Tammy Fite's blog, Lets see what she has created http://www.stampwithtammy.com
We would love to see what you came up with so please upload your creation to our website at  http://sketchfrenzyfriday.blogspot.com/

That's all for now. I have missed you all very much and will return with some more sketches and cards later.
Find some time to create!
Patrice

A little something until I get back

Hello to all my blogging friends. I hope this post finds you all well and happy!

Sorry I have been MIA. I have been sooo busy but I am almost done.  If you are a regular reader you might remember our Honda got hit by a drunk driver  at 3:00am Christmas morning. I know bummer right! Well come to find out the driver did not have insurance (surprise) although he said he did! We ended up going through our uninsured motorist plan. Yippee!!!!
I have had the Honda in the shop and got her all back nice and pretty. Then we decided to do all the other car repairs we have been putting off. So, both cars will have had tune ups, belts, hoses, gaskets, alignments, tires rotated, oil changes by the end of this week. I even bought a couple new hubcaps for the Honda from the dealer and ordered touch up paint to dab here and there.
I'm going to Wal-Mart to do the last oil change on the Toyota and have the tires rotated and balanced this morning. Wal Mart is having a special on oil changes for $26.95 BTW! Jeff usually does all the car stuff but, I decided to earn my keep this week ha ha! I think the last time I went to do an oil change it was $19.95. Even Wal-Marts prices are regularly now $39.00, how crazy is that! I think while I am there I will even purchase windshield wiper blades. I feel so empowered! Doesn't take much to excite me lololol
After this post I am going on line to see about car detailing prices. I'm going to try to negotiate a 2 for 1 deal or discount of some sort! Wish me luck Might as well looks like I am on a roll.
Now you know where I have been all week, I'll be back soon as I am going through creating withdrawals. But, in the meantime I have to show you a card I made while I was on the phone chatting to a friend;

I was looking through my stash of cool things I find that I keep to do something with someday and found this great elephant piece. (I think if you click on the picture you can make it bigger?) It took me all of 10 minutes total to make this card. I love when cards create themselves! Now here is a peek at the inside

This is a perfect masculine card. I think I will send it to my Brother Vince. Please continue to keep him in your prayers BTW he can use them.

I hope you find some time to create something fun today.
Thanks for stopping in.
Patrice

Merry Mondays #4

Hello to all my blogging friends, I hope this post finds you all well and happy!

Yes! It is time for another Merry Mondays super sketch challenge. We are making Christmas cards one at a time, one week at a time. No mad dash to mass produce Christmas cards for us this year. My plan is to have lots of extra time to enjoy the Holidays and not be stuck at my desk. (Which really doesn't sound like a bad thing to me either lololol) But this sure will free me up to do loads of extra fun things.

Here is Lesley's http://alwaysplayingwithpaper.blogspot.com/  wonderful sketch

 Here is what I came up with;

This was an especially fun sketch because, I could redesign a card I made last year to fit this sketch. The card was well received so I think whoever gets this one will love it too!

I used the Build a Bird Punch to make the wreath and I made the shiny berries using glitter and tacky tape. I think the combination of stripes and polka dots adds a bit of fun to the background. I used 4 different colors of green card stock also.

Here is a look at the inside;

That's it for today. I hope you enjoy the card and find some time to start making your Holiday cards!
Thanks for stopping in,
Patrice

Paper Pals Arts Challenge #127

Hello to all my blogging friends. I hope this post finds you all well and happy!

I struggled with this sketch all day long. The colors I tried to pull together were really bugging me, so I changed those up ...a lot...lololo. I was dead set on using the stamp set Friends Never Fade for some reason go figure, so I worked around that for a while until I got it the way I wanted? Then coordinating all the pieces was fun too!
Here is this tricky little sketch. Really it isn't the sketch, I think it was me lolol. I guess that's why they call them Sketch Challenges, because they are supposed to be challenging (smile)! To get some inspiration please visit their site http://www.palspaperarts.com
The PPA design team really know their stuff and made some very lovely cards out of this sketch!

Oh well here she is I hope you like it!

I added the timepiece front with the umbrella on it because it matched the paper. Believe it or not this DSP has umbrellas and watches on it! I thought it was a fun embellishment because it coordinated!

Here is a look at the inside. I "Huffed" on the colored image to stamp a light impression on the center of the inside of the card. I think it is called a second generation image, but don't quote me on that (smile)? Carey is that right?
Second generation images are perfect to use as an inside image or for making coordinating envelopes.
For those of you who do know know what "Huffing" is Carey my BFF and Mentor told me you just breath all your hot air on the previously stamped image to rehydrate it and re-stamp it. I thought she was telling me I was full of hot air at first lolol.

Have a great Monday and I hope you find some time to create.
Thanks for stopping in,
Patrice

Stampin Queens Sketch Challenge #22

Hello to all my blogging friends. I hope this post finds you all well and happy!

Jeff and the Boys and I stayed in the house all day and played in the craft room. We laughed and chatted and walked around the dogstacle course to get in and out of the room. He even brought dinner home so I didn't have to cook. He is such a sweet man. We got to play all day! I love lazy days!

I found another sketch today over at the Stampin Queens Sketch Challenge Blog
Here is their sketch and their link; http://gettincrafty.typepad.com/stampin_queens_sketch_cha

Isn't that sketch a beauty!
This is what I came up with;

Here is the inside;

This was a fun challenge and I got to use a lot of new SU items on it. Framelits Labels Collection for the scallop centers. This item is featured in the Occasions Mini. The great DSP is called Everyday Enchantment, and the Ribbons are from the Sale-A-Brations mini catalog. These items will be coming very soon in the SAB catalog starting Tuesday 1/24/2012. Yippee. I'm already booking classes. Yes!

Hope you are having a great weekend and thanks for stopping in. Are you creating something fun yet????
Patrice

A Gift For A Friend

Hello to all my blogging friends, I hope this post finds you all well and happy!

It's going to be a fun and busy weekend. I hope you all have something good planned too! Be safe and stay warm.
We are finally expecting rain too! My Little Patch of Dirt needs a drink! If it does rain it will be one less thing I can check off my list lolol.

A girlfriend of mine is having a birthday party on Sunday so, I made her this stationary set. It holds a note pad, six note cards and six matching envelopes. I thought the DSP  Attic Boutique was a perfect compliment to the Rue Des Fleurs stamp set.  I may make a tutorial for this next week as I will be busy this weekend. Let me know if you are interested and I will make one up.

I made a gift bag today to add to the gift.

Have a great weekend and if you would be so kind as to leave me a comment to let me know what you think!
Thanks for stopping in,
Patrice

Freshly Made #18 & Friday Mash Up # 42

Hello to all my blogging friends. I hope this post finds you all well and happy!

Had a few minutes today to make a card where I combined two challenges into one.
Freshly Made Sketches had a beautiful sketch and  Friday Mash Up had a color challenge that asked us to use Red Ridinghood Red, Early Espresso and Blushing Bride. Then for a bit of an extra challenge add Paper Piercing to your card. Here is their link.
http://www.fridaymashup.com

 This is the Freshly Made Sketches  challenge. Here is their link http://www.freshlymadesketches.blogspot.com

This is what I came up with combining the two.

 Here is the inside;

That's all I have for now. Hope you like it! No go on over to see what these talented design team members created. Perhaps you too will be inspired and will create something fun.
Thanks for stopping in,
Patrice

Sketch Frenzy Friday

Hello to all my blogging friends. I hope this post finds you all well and happy!

Yippee it is SFF time again. Thank goodness, I needed a sketch to give me a good pick me up today! I had to take care of a lot of business stuff with the car getting insurance quotes and our old house so I haven't had much time to play in the last couple of days !Yikes is all I can say! A day with out stamping is a day without sunshine.
Now on with our Mini Blog Hop.

Our sketch this week is from Tina Munkze. It looks very interesting and should be a good challenge. The first thing that popped into my head was a solar system lolol Really! I don't know where this stuff comes from lolol. But I thought better of it and came up with this pretty one. I really tried a CAS card.They are so very difficult for me.
Here is what I came up with;

How did I do?
I love that medallion background stamp! It really comes in handy when you need to fill a large space without a lot of layers.
Here is a shot of the inside;

Well that's it for this evening.
But I do have to share with you my Furs Coats (my fur children that is) lolol. Jeff said I only have a few diamonds, but I sure do have a lot of Fur Coats.
Everyone seemed to think I only needed a little space to stamp tonight ha.

Bob at my fingertips and Bear and Marley at my feet, literally!

Your next stop is to visit Robbie Rubula's amazing blog at http://inkedx2.blogspot.com
she always has something wonderful up her sleeve lol.
We would love to see what you came up with also, so please drop by http://sketchfrenzyfriday.blogspot.com
The cards last week were really very beautiful BTW!
Thanks for stopping by today and I hope you too find some time to create something fun!
Patrice

Merry Mondays Challenge #3

Hello to all my blogging friends, I hope this post finds you all well and happy!

I know it is Tuesday right! But it's never too late for Merry Mondays! Lesley has a great sketch for us over at http://alwaysplayingwithpaper.blogspot.com/
It is week  #3 and we are continuing our counting down to Christmas. Here is Lesley's great sketch;

 Clean and Simple cards are really very hard for me. I am usually a Santa kind of gal using traditional green and red colors but, when you are making cards all year long I figured I don't have to make 30 of the same cards any more and can have more fun with what I create. So here goes. This one is really stepping out of my comfort zone.

My niece  would love to have this fun little card. I turned and lowered the images, added some texture a few layers and lot's of fun colors.
Here is a look at the inside too.

I hand made the background strip using markers to color in the snowflakes.

So here is the deal... I couldn't handle it I had to make another card. I was not happy with the first one lolol So out of my element.  Here is my second try! I tried to make it a little old fashioned.

I added just a hint of sparkle to the Santa image and a coat to rim to the Label. The banner is lifted just a bit.

I did do something interesting to the edge of the Label to make it sparkle.
First. I put a couple drops of VersaMark reinker into the lid of a VersaMark Pad. Then I dipped the thin point of a VersaMark Pen carefully into the drops and drew a edge around the Label, every so often re dipping the VersaMark Pen into the reinker to make an even line of VersaMark around the edge. Then I sprinkled SU Heat and Stick Powder onto the edge lightly and heated it to make it tacky CAUTION! (Do not over heat)!I then applied a coat of Dazzling Diamonds to the edge and lightly pressed the DD into the tacky surface of the Heat and Stick Powder. Then lightly reheated it. I find it make a very clean line of sparkle!

That's it for today. I hope you like it and have fun creating!

Stampin Queens Sketch Challenge 21

Hello to all my blogging friends. I hope this post finds you all well and happy!

I got up early this morning  and had a few minutes to make a card from the Stampin Queens Sketch Challenge http://gettincrafty.typepad.com/stampin_queens_sketch_cha.
It was a fun sketch, lots going on and many layers. I hope you like it. Here is their sketch.

 Here is what I cam up with.

This is a peek inside.

I'll be back later to tell you how I made this card. I used lots of new product and want to share that with you.
I hope you find some time to make something fun today!
Patrice

For my Valentine

Hello to all my blogging friends. I hope this post finds you all well and happy!

I had some time today to finish up a monthly card swap for a group I am in.
 I used a stamp from the soon to be released SAB product line. The stamp set is called Sprinkled Expressions. It is just darling. The theme for this month is Valentines, Love or Romantic.

Here is the card I made;

I used Real Red and Basic Black and White CS. I even got a chance to use the new Textured Impressions Adorning Accents heart folder on the lower half of the card front for some added texture.
I wanted something extra to put on the ribbon embellishment. No red or white buttons I have caught my eye. But, I did find some heart brads in my stash. One problem they were multi colored???? So I get out a block of Oasis (green foamy stuff florists use) and some red nail polish and went to town lolol.

It is very easy to paint them while using tweezers and then stick them in the Oasis to dry.
I even pained my nails while I was at it lololol.

Here is a shot of the inside.

I used real red Classic Ink on the heart. The sentiment is from a retired Hostess set called Occasional Quotes.

That's it for today I hope you find some time to create something fun today.

Thanks for stopping in,
Patrice

Framelits- Lables Collection

Hello to all my blogging friends. I hope this post finds you all well and happy!

You all know by now about the new Framelits Dies that SU came out with in the Occasions Mini this month. I love them and have been having lots of fun with them. But, there is one draw back to their packaging. There are 6 dies total in the plastic container and they are set loosely inside the container. I was worried I would misplace one of the smaller dies in a mad dash to clean up my desk one day. So I had to use extra caution while handling them.

While blog surfing this week I have read several posts about how some of the ladies are storing their new Dies on SU Magnetic Sheets.  This is great if you have the sheets that SU sells. I looked around in my stash for what I do have and I found a couple rolls of magnetic strip with adhesive tape on one side. I opted to reinforce the tape with additional stick strip just to keep the magnetic strip from rolling back up. This is what I came up with. Let me know what you think!

Here they are fresh out of the plastic container.

Here is the reinforced 1/2 sticky strip .

The magnetic strip was very easy to cut with SU's Craft and Rubber Scissors. The thicker sticky strip helped secure it to the cardboard packaging. I added the roll of the magnetic strip to the photo to show you what it looks like. I found it a while back at a craft store.

This is what it looks like nice and secure. Notice that the finished project is standing up and how nicely the dies are held in place.

I just added this photo to show what I did with the Edgelits too. I kept the magnetic strips long just in case SU comes up with more of these wonderful little goodies.♦

Well that's my take on keeping the Labels and Edgelits dies in place. Sometimes a girl has to do what a girl has to do!

Have fun this weekend and create something fun.

Thanks for stopping in,
Patrice