Feature a Friend on Friday

Hello, friends, and Happy Friday!

Today, I am pleased to share something fun with you!  Elizabeth Mindemann has a fun program on her blog, 'Broken Treasures'.  She calls it "Feature a Friend {on Friday}", and invited me to be her featured friend today!  How exciting!  Elizabeth is a Close to My Heart Demonstrator, so I thought it would be fun to pull out my CTMH stamps, and fun colors of inks and cardstocks.

I'm using two CTMH sets, D1375 Treasures, and D1400 Celebrate the Everyday.  Sadly, I think they are both retired, but I've been looking through the new catalog, and OMG, there are some DARLING stamps! So many of their stamps could be used exactly as I've used this one!  All 6 were made in about 70 minutes yesterday after 8 p.m.!

ANYwho.....I used one of the flowers and stems from the Treasures set, and decided to use the same layout with different colors, edge punches, and embellishments to create a rainbow of cards for a gift.

Stamped the sentiment on this one repeatedly for a HOORAY effect!

These needed to be relatively flat for mailing, so the fru-fru is at a minimum!  It's hard to see, but this flower was stamped, and quickly stamped twice more without reinking, for a shadowed flower.

 

So simple, but fun and delightfully colorful!

And who out there can resist Kraft?  Not me!  Ad some black ink, ribbon, and BLING and it's a winner!

Lately, I have fallen head over heels in like with red, white, and turquoise (and black :)

Absolutely could not make SIX cards with no butterflies! Used my OLD Martha Punch for these.

The yellow ink on my flower was dabbed directly onto the stamp, followed by green. Voila - easy shading!

Sorry this was photo heavy, but sure hope you enjoyed it!

If you would like to be a Featured Friday guest of Elizabeths, pop over, and leave her a comment with a little bit of love!  Be sure to tell her how she can contact you to put you on her calendar!

You need not use CTMH stamps - I did, because I had them, and they needed to be used!

I've been down for about 3 weeks now, with a terrible tooth issue - feeling some better today, so hopefully, things are on the mend.  We are so looking forward to family beginning to arrive on Sunday!  We'll have a house full next week!

Hugs!

Patti J.

Supplies used:

Cardstock: Amuse, Bazzill

Inks: Amuse, Tim Holtz Distress Inks, Tim Holtz Adirondack Dye Inks

Martha Stewart Punch

Bling: from my stash

Punches: All Martha Stewart/E.K. Success

Design Team Call

Happy Tuesday!

Just a note to let you all know about a Design Team Call at Oozak!

I'm a member of the team for four months, and it's one of 

the easiest four month terms I've ever done!

If you are looking for a fun team to be a part of,

check it out here:

   blog.oozak.com/p/oozak-design-team-call.html

Have a great day!

Patti J.

A Graduation from Chemo...

Hello!

I was surprised and delighted to receive an email telling me that my current chemo lady that I'm a 'card angel' to, has graduated from chemo!  What a blessing for her and her family.  She has a long way to go, yet, some major surgery, but she's apparently all finished with her chemo.  I needed to quickly create a graduation card to put in the mail to her today, and here's what I came up with.

Amuse CS, Doodle Pantry Image and Sentiment, Bazzill Basics Ribbon, Zig Pen for doodling, Black Colorbok CS, Perfect Layers Rulers (see sidebar for details!)

The image is yet another of Laurie's pre-colored digital images at Doodle Pantry.  Don't you just love her birdies?  This set is called "I will Survive", and has several images and sentiments.  There is a line drawing as well, so you can color the ribbon to coordinate with whatever cancer you need a card for.

I'm so pleased that my friend is finished with treatments, but now, I will have to be patient until I receive another assignment.  This time, I opted to be a 'Senior' angel, sending cards to a lonely senior citizen. Should be so much fun!  I'm looking forward to it!

Hugs and smiles,

Patti J.

It's Doodle Time.....

Happy Sunday!

We've watched it snow, really hard, all day.  Luckily, the temps are 33-35, so it's not sticking too much.

It's time for a few 'Doodles' - Doodle Pantry cards, that is!  I had some time yesterday, and just couldn't seem to stop creating once I got started.  So, without further ado, here's what I made.

 This first card uses one of Laurie's sets "Lion and Lamb".  The image stands alone - it's so pretty. I decided to add only a small strip of the DP from the set, and some bling. This set is pre-colored, so needed only to figure out the layout, print, and find the right Spellbinder die.

 

Here is another pre-colored set.  It's one of the new March releases, and is called "Pitcher and Basin". The sentiment reads "You're not as breakable as you think".  Again, the DP is from this set - isn't it pretty?  Can't believe I put the doily on upside-down!  lol...Silly me!

 

For this last card, I simply HAD to use the "Juicy Strawberry" set again!  LOVE this older set! The DP is so bright and cheerful, and those berries look good enough to eat!  I printed this image twice, and fussy cut the center berry, flowers, and leaves.  These were then popped up for dimension.  You may be able to see the depth if you enlarge...not sure. Used my Perfect Layers Rulers for the beautifully straight black mat! (See sidebar for details).

 Well, gosh - my month as Guest Designer for Doodle Pantry is flying by so quickly!  I'm really enjoying working with Laurie's wonderful images.

Wishing you a wonderful week!  I return to the dentist Tuesday, to finish up a root canal that was started 2 weeks ago.  Sure want to be done with this sore mouth!

Hugs and blessings,

Patti J.

Creations by AR Hop-A Picnic Basket!

 Hello, and welcome to the Creations by AR New Release Hop!

Today, the AR team is featuring Adela's newest creation, 'My Picnic Basket'.

Here is the sweet basket, done up with lots of grass, candy, and ribbon, just in time for Easter!  Note that I do NOT have a lid on this version.  It is an open basket!

Most of you know that I don't have a cutting machine.  

What I love best about the Creations by AR templates, is their PDF files. Each template comes in PDF, SVG, or DFX files. If you are lucky enough to own a machine, or lucky enough to own a sharp pair of scissors, you can create your own beautiful projects!

Here, I have used some pretty pearl brads, and a darling pre-colored digital image from Doodle Pantry.  For this version, a lid was added, for a typical picnic look.

 

I found some pretty double sided cardstock in my stash to create my basket with!

You are SO going to want this template!

Here is a shot with one side of the lid raised at the 'hinge'.  How cute is this???!!!

Can't you just imagine this at a wedding or baby shower, or a child's birthday party? Too much fun!

Last, here is a photo with both lids up at the 'hinges'.

You want this, I know you do!

HOW CAN YOU WIN THIS TEMPLATE?

• Leave a comment on each blog listed below
• Leave a comment on the Creations by AR Facebook Page
• Leave a comment on the Creations by AR PaperCraft Planet Group

 Blogs to visit:

Adela - http://cbyar.blogspot.com/2013/03/ar-march-blog-hop.html
Jak - http://www.jakheath.com/2013/03/creations-by-arpicnic-basket.html
Julia - http://createwithjulia.blogspot.com/2013/03/creations-by-ar-march-release-my-picnic.html
Lisa - http://www.lisasomerville.com/2013/03/my-picnic-basket-creations-by-ar-dt.html
Lori - http://savingmine.blogspot.com/2013/03/a-tisket-tasket-creations-by-ar-new.html
Patti J - http://cherisheachpreciousday.blogspot.com/2013/03/creations-by-ar-hop-picnic-basket.html
Sue K - http://suesstampingstuff.blogspot.com/2013/03/creations-by-ar-blog-hop-baskets.html
Sue M - http://www.suessentiments.org/2013/03/creations-by-ar-march-release.html

Comments will be accepted until March 24 (12:00 noon EST)

One random winner will be announced on March 25th, on the AR Facebook Page, AR PCP Group, and AR Blog.

 

 Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Hope to see you soon, and good luck - hope you are the lucky winner!

Hugs,

Patti J.

A Little Something Personal....

Hello out there!

Again, time has gotten away from me, and I do not have a card to share today, 

so I thought I'd share something a bit personal.

Some of you already know that mid-August 2012, I decided that I simply had to get healthier.

If you know me, you also know that I have tried nearly every affordable plan out there.

Fail, fail, fail....

I knew there just had to be something out there that would work for me.

A lady that I had worked with many years ago, had been on a program called, "Take Shape for Life", and was looking incredible.  I chatted with her a bit, but it took me over a year to decide to go for it.

TSFL utilitzes the Medifast Meals, and I just wasn't sure that I could be THAT disciplined.

The plan calls for eating 5 of their pre-packaged items, some of which are 'grab 'n go' type meals, such as bars, pretzel bites, etc., and others must be mixed with water and heated. The 6th meal each day is a lean and green meal that I prepare myself.  I am allowed 5, 6, or 7 oz. of lean meat, depending on whether I'm eating steak or fish, and how lean it is.

At first, I was afraid of failure, so I didn't really publicize what I was doing.  But...by week 2, I was losing weight, and decided to make myself a bit more 'accountable' by posting my weekly weight loss on Facebook.  The support from my friends, family, and health coaches, David & Sarah Buerck, has been phenomenal.

So today, I decided to find a photo that was taken last February at our daughter's wedding, and one that was taken in February of THIS year, as we prepare to celebrate a milestone anniversary...hopefully next February's photo will be even better!

This is NOT an ad for Medifast, although, this 'diet' has been as easy as falling off a log for me, and I have lost a little or a lot, consistently every week, since beginning.  

It IS, however, a plea for any of you out there that NEED to get healthier, to begin.  

Whether it's Weight Watchers, Atkins, Nutrisystem, or Medifast, do something to get started! 

 I cannot believe how wonderful I feel!  I go to the Post Office in town, daily, to pick up our mail.  I seriously had to hold on to the railing, and climb one step at a time when I began. Today, at 55.5 pounds less, I bound up and back down the steps like a high school kid.  And I am only halfway to goal!!!  

Can you imagine?  

Other things, like laying my size 22 Old Lady jeans on the bed, and my brand new Old Navy size 14 jeans on top of them, and seeing the difference, keep me motivated.  

My DH telling me how beautiful I look (yes, we do have an appt. to get his eyes checked...), and our kids and friends telling me how proud they are, keep me motivated.  

But mostly, it's feeling good, sleeping well, having no pain, no crutches to get around, etc., is what is motivating me most.

Thanks for letting me tell my story and for staying all the way to the end!
Stef Hughes, these pics are for you...finally!!!

Have a great day - Let's Get Healthy!!!

Patti J.

Taken February 2012 - L-R, Our son, my DH, our DD, our DSIL, and me

Taken February 2013 - 55 pounds less of me.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I know I've been busy lately, but I guess I've been literally hiding under a rock!  

It has just recently come to my attention that as of July 1st, we will no longer have the Blogger Reader for keeping up with all of our bloggy friends.  

And, yes, I did go to Blogger and verify...(said with an extremely sad face).
Edit: It is my understanding that we will still have the follower widget, just not the 'Google Reader'. If someone knows differently, please let me know!

Have any of you decided which other service that you are going to use for 

keeping up with your blogs?

Here are some of the options that I've had recommended by friends, and have been researching.

Feedly.com

Bloglovin.com

Bloglines.com

I would LOVE to know what you are looking into!

I wish that Blogger would stop trying to 'fix' what's not broken, but I guess we can't expect so much when we are getting this blog program for free :)

I am looking forward to reading your comments on this one!

No time to make a card for today, so here are my good thoughts for you all!

Hugs,

Patti J.

Going Green...

Hello, friends and family!

I saw that the challenge for March at Great Impressions Stamps, is 'Going Green', and just couldn't resist a clean and simple card of green!  Actually, CAS is all I have had time to create!  This card was truly a 10-minute creation...

Great Impressions Stamps: D405 Just Me. Thinking of You., Amuse cardstock, Great Impressions Shamrock Die, Adirondack "Lettuce" Dye Ink, Kaiser Craft Pearls, Dimensional Foam, Spellbinder's Die.

I folded the card, stamped the darling Great Impressions sentiment with green ink, used a Spellbinder die to cut it out, cut two strips of coordinating Amuse CS for the 'banner', and die cut two shamrocks using an Impression-Obsession die.  Popped up the sentiment with foam squares, added the shamrocks and pearls.  Voila!  Took me much longer to type it than to make it :)    Ha ha...it IS easy being green!!!

Now, on a personal note...

Thanks so much to all who have emailed, or called to check on us.  We are all okay - the last few weeks have just been very busy, leaving me little to no time to even check email, much less, create.  I appreciate each of you who have e-mailed, facebook messaged, or called to see about me.  We have a lot of personal changes going on in our lives, and they have been time consuming, and emotionally stressful, leaving me with very little computer time.  Hopefully, by mid-April or so, things will be back to more of a normal routine.

In the meantime, if I don't get by to see you, hang in there!  I am zipping by, and peeking in on you, just not able to comment on every post.

Hugs and blessings,

Patti J.

Add COLOR!

Hello, and Happy Friday!

I am really enjoying my month with Doodle Pantry - it's so much fun to work with Laurie's wonderful products again, and I've missed my 'teamies'!  Today, I'm shaing a card created with a sentiment and DP from one of her new releases Easter Egg Ants.

This is another of Doodle Pantry's PRE-COLORED sets!  Talk about a quick and easy card...just print, assemble and embellish as desired, and mail! The background paper, sentiment, AND adorable swirlies above and below the sentiment, are all part of this set.  It also comes with a fun image, with Laurie's ants, having some Easter fun!

I added black mats, a pearl/rhinestone embellishment from ZVA Creative,
and a bow tied from a scrap of ribbon. Used my Perfect Layers Rulers for the nice even matting (see sidebar for details!) Voila!

Check out Laurie's fun new releases!

Thanks oodles for stopping by today,
Patti J.

Food for thought: Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.  ~Theodore Roosevelt

Bunny Hop Winners!

The Bunny Hop Winners are posted!

Check out the Great Impressions Blog to see if you are a lucky winner!

Thanks to everyone who stopped by!

Hugs & Smiles,

Patti J.

Bunny Hop!

Welcome to the Great Impressions Stamps Bunny Hop! 

We are excited to be celebrating all things Spring!  

If you came here from Mary's blog, you are in the right place.  

If not start at the beginning with Angi.  

Be sure and leave a comment at every stop so that you are in the running for some fabulous stamping prizes!

My card was fun to make - I got to create with the Bunny Front #E783, and Bunny Back #E784.  It was a delight coloring that sweet bunny, and giving 'her' a window to sit in! The Chickadees #F318, insisted that they wanted to be a part of the hop too.  Who am I to say no to so much cuteness?  Cursive Happy Easter #C430 was the perfect sentiment. Included on the card were tree, and grass dies (All That Scraps), some Spellbinders dies, and some adorable stickers from Wal-Mart's Easter section.

 I've been seeing the cutest tree stamps, with small trunks and big tops, and could not resist an

'egg' topped tree :)

 

 This little guy has the sweetest bunny tail ever!

Up next is Shanna - she has a darling creation to share!

 

Here is the list of participants, in case you get lost, or a link doesn't work! 

Angi

Cheryl

Erin

Jenny

Joan

Mary

Patti

Shanna

Sue

Great Impressions Stamps Blog

Thanks for stopping by!

 

I have had such a wonderful time working with the Great Impressions folks...

from the DT and DT Coordinator, to the Office Staff, and even the Owner.  

This is my last post, and I will miss this team something awful!   

You all need to be sure to enter the challenges at Great Impressions - maybe you will be the next lucky Guest Designer!

 

Happy Hopping!!! 

Patti J. 

Some-bunny Unfrogettable...

Good morning!

Hope you are all doing well, today, and staying warm.

I was delighted, when Laurie from Doodle Pantry, asked me to be a Guest Designer for March!

My first card for the month should give you a giggle or two..and showcases one of the new March Releases!

 

Seriously, is this bunny-frog not the CA-UTEST?  I printed him off a couple of times, cutting around the head of the second printing, and adding it over the first with dimensional foam.  

This handsome dude is also sporting some great googly eyes, and a pom pom bunny tail. 

These pre-colored images make the quickest cards, ever!  Gotta love that :)

The DP's are both from this set, as are the sentiments.

The twine is from Doodlebug - found it at Archiver's, and the fun snapshot frame is from Sweet Stamp Shop.
I used my ever-faithful Perfect Layers Rulers for my nice straight black mat!  See my sidebar for deets!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

I'll be back soon with some more Doodle Pantry Goodness!

Be sure to check out all of the other new releases at the Doodle Pantry Store!!!

Hugs,

Patti J.

Happy Spring!

Happy March!  It will be spring before we know it...

I'm excited to announce that I'm a member of the Oozak Design Team for the next four months!

I'm the blog hostess today, and just in time for a brand new challenge - 'Anything Goes + Spring'.

I used this cute 'Some Odd Girl' Image, Sweet Thinkin' Mae, that you can find HERE, and just couldn't resist giving her some beautiful pink shades, and some pretty spring flowers.

Let's see YOUR spring creations!  Link them up over at the Oozak blog, and if you are interested in a Guest Designer spot with Oozak, just add GDT after your name (e.g. PattiGDT).  You could also be the winner of a great prize!

Thanks for stopping by - have a wonderful day!

Hope you see some sunshine :)

Patti J.

Supplies:

Some Odd Girl Stamp: Sweet Thinkin' Mae

Doodlebug DP for Paper Piecing
Perfect Layers Rulers for great even matting! (see sidebar for details)

Recollections Flowers

Doodlebug Baker's Twine

Copic Markers: E00, E21, RV21, E31, E35, E37