Always on my mind...



Finally had a chance to get into the workroom. Katie showed us this background technique last week. It is so stinkin' easy, but it has an awesome WOW factor, huh? I used the Jester border punch to create the fence. Missing friends today...

Details

Stamp: Always (SU)

Paper: Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Island Indigo

Ink: Soft Suede, Cajun Craze, Baja Breeze

Extras: Linen Thread, Large Oval Punch, Dimensionals,

Jester Border Punch (Fiskars)



Happy Birthday Julie!

Not my usual style. Thought I'd try something different for my sister-in-law. She is an awesome artist and I always feel like I need to create something more than just the simple cards I usually do.

This is a mixture of different products:
Hero Arts; Birthday stamp
Stampin' Up; Elements of Style SS, Lace
K & Co; Stickers/Thickers

Goodbye Dear Friend

I just received word that Patrick passed away. He was a dear friend of the family. He spent most of my brother's last days holding vigil. He must have known then how sick he himself was - but it didn't stop him from caring for my brother.
Patrick's heart was always open to everyone. He cared so much about the world around him. Even while my heart ached for my brother, just seeing Patrick's smile could lift me up.
Patrick, we love you. Spread your wings, dear friend, and soar...

Now you see her...

I haven’t been around here much (obviously!), but I have been working on papercrafts. Mostly it’s been in classes with Kim, Nancy or Paula. They’re great people to work with. I have a really good time with them.

Even though I haven’t had a chance to come up with some of my own stuff, it’s been nice to at least make something.

Once the basement remodel gets going I hope to have time to participate in sketch challenges. We won’t be doing any of the remodeling ourselves, just the painting when they are done with everything else. Internet might be sporadic because we are having lines replaced inside the house. We might go back to using cable too. We’re very disappointed in CenturyLink.  I hate Comcast, but we don’t have any other choice really.

Hope to be posting a card or two soon!

Thank you, Katie!



Stamps: SU - Bird on a Branch
Paper: SU - Very Vanilla
Ink: SU - Bashful Blue, Poppy Parade, Early Espresso
Extras: Spellbinders Dies, Sponge

As you may remember, I've been struggling with the right sandwich for my Big Shot, so I could use Spellbinder dies with it. I don't even know how long I've been struggling. My friend, Katie, is a HUGE help to me, walking me through a couple different sandwiches until we find one that works. Katie called me one day and told me she was placing an order and wondered if I wanted to get a Spellbinder shim to use with the Big Shot. Of course I did!! I didn't have much use for the shim until today when I wanted to use a Spellbinder die and card stock to make a mask for a card I was working on. Once more I called Katie to get the right sandwich. She walked me through it and it worked the first time!!! Yay! It was so slick, I was amazed. I want to go in my workroom and cut a bunch of stuff! I am SO stoked! Thank you, Katie!

Letting go...



Stamps: SU - Nature Walk
Paper: SU - Whisper White, Marina Mist
Ink: SU -Marina Mist, Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip
Extras: Martha Stewart Bakers Twine



Not a tradional Sympathy card for sure, but then, Daniel isn't a traditional kind of guy. He is one of James' dear friends. Once you got to know Daniel, he was just as much your friend too. Our whole family loves him. 

Stamps: SU - Button Buddies
Paper: SU - Whisper White, Marina Mist, Chocolate Chip
Ink: SU - Marina Mist, Pear Pizzazz, So Saffron, Chocolate Chip
Extras: SU - Chocolate Chip ribbon (retired), SU - Edge Punch, Mini Brads

Patrick isn't tradional either. He is another of James' dear friends. He is the one that spent the most time with James. He took care of his legal stuff and a lot of his personal needs (those the hospice didn't). I love Patrick! He is a very sunny guy. Whenever I see him I get a gentle hug and a warm smile. I wanted to create a card for him that was masculine without being macho, and just a little sweet. Like him.

Jon and I did end up flying to Oregon in December to see James. We had a pretty nice visit. It was hard to see him so sick, but it was wonderful to "see" that he was really still his same old self. I am proud to call him my brother.

Dean James Dixson
1952-2012

Christmas Card Sneak Peek



Peaceful Snowflakes
Stamps: TPC Studio - Winter Collage, SU - Peaceful Wishes
Paper: SU - Whisper White
Ink: SU - Bashful Blue

As I sit here it's a beautiful sunny day in Utah. When I took the boys for a walk at 10:00 this morning, it was already 45 degrees. I wore a sweater and my thin gloves. The boys have chain leashes instead of leather (Hershey chewed through all the leather ones when he was a pup!) so I have to have gloves to keep my hands from getting raw - and cold!

Today hasn't been a very good day for me. I spoke to my brother yesterday (the one with terminal cancer), and I could hear in his voice how he is declining. I wish I lived closer so I could be more of a support for him. I think that might help me too - but that isn't something that is going to happen, so it's better not to dwell on it. I text him at least once a day, and when we call each other I try to listen more than talk. I asked him about a month ago if he had any ideas I could use for Christmas cards. He's an artsy type of person, so I figured he might find the project a nice distraction. Yesterday he asked me if I could give him a better idea of what I was looking for. These are the samples I sent to him.

I have to keep the embellishments and layers to a minimum, because I need to mass produce and mail a lot of them to family and friends. I'd still like to have four or five more designs.

Joy
Stamps: SU - Poinsettia (Jumbo Wheel), Craftsmart - Joy
Paper: SU - Very Vanilla
Ink: SU - Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green Marker, Gold Pen, Versamark
Extras: SU - Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding, Sponge



Holly
Stamps: SU - Peaceful Wishes
Paper: SU - Whisper White, Real Red, Old Olive
Ink: SU - Real Red, Old Olive
Extras: Misc. Red Ribbon

Rudolph
Stamps: Hero Arts - Winking Reindeer
Paper: SU - Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Red Glimmer
Ink: SU - Basic Black, Crumb Cake, Regal Rose, Real Red
Extra: SU - Blender Pen

This little guy just makes me smile.

Isn't he adorable?!