One Good Friend

In June of 2003 Dave and I moved from the southern suburbs of Chicago where we had both lived all our lives and started our lives together down south. We lived four years in South Carolina and now have been here in Florida for four years. In the last 8 years I have really never developed any friendships. I still have a couple of friends in the Midwest that I have maintained contact with but no real "girlfriends" that I can share everyday ups and downs with. There was a definite void in my life. However, not long ago I found a wonderful group of "online friends" with whom I have become very close with. We share the same hobby -- paper crafting but we also share our daily trials and victories. I feel like I know these gals, their husbands and their children. When I come home from a 12+ hour day of working and commuting the first thing I do after changing into my comfy clothes is pour a glass of tea and catch up with what's been going on in everyone's life and share my day with them. Often I will find a package or a note in my mailbox from one of them with just a little "something" to pick me up exactly when I need it. This card was made for one of my online friends -- Abby in Illinois -- and the stamp I used for the sentiment on the front was from another friend -- April in North Carolina. What a wonderful way to connect and support and care about one another. I am truly blessed with my online friends which really is no different than any other friend. Friendship warms the soul and soothes the spirit and tonight I am truly counting my blessings for my friends.

Challenges that I entered this card in are:

Critter Sketch Challenge

Party Time Tuesdays

Do You Stack Up

Paper-Crafting Journey

Birthday Sundaes

There is a new challenge blog getting started by a friend of mine - Kristie. The name of the blog is Birthday Sundaes. Isn't that clever? The weekly challenge will be to make a birthday card to build up our stash. Awesome idea, right? I am excited to be a part of it and hope you will check it out too. Help get the word out and you can be eligible to win a new 6x6 paper pad. Check it out HERE

One of My Favorite Blogs

I just love bright and cheery things and you don't get much cheerier than one of my favorite blogs right now.....Wee Memories. Check it out HERE and don't forgot to enter the contest for a chance to win an awesome set of Unity Stamps. While there check out Jenny's awesome Etsy shop and be sure to stop back for the Scrappy Saturday Challenge. FUN, FUN, FUN!!!

Oh Baby....

The main reason I am involved in scrapbooking is to document and preserve family memories. I picture someday all of the pages and albums I am working on belonging to my children and grandchildren so they can remember their family members and experiences growing up. Why then am I uncomfortable with the idea of scrapping pictures of me? I have asked myself that question and I think I just feel slightly vain when I create a page about me. But if I am leaving these pages and books behind for my family then I am sure they would want some pages and insight into me and my life. I try to handwrite on many of the pages after realizing that I don't have any samples of my own mother's pretty feminine handwriting and now she is gone. So here is one for my family -- it's me about 1959-1960. I love the photo's little details....bracelet, necklace, spotless saddle shoes, curly hair and chubby dimpled hands. I still have the curly hair (although it is now a different color!) and the dimples in my hand and I still love to wear jewelry. Some things never change! I used Sketch #66 from Inspired Blueprints as my inspiration for this layout.

Christmas Begins in February?

Believe it or not, I made my first Christmas card for the 2011 Christmas season today. I was spurred on by a great new-to-me challenge site called Jingle Belles. The idea is if we start now and make one Christmas card per week by the time the holidays roll around we will have (in my case) about half of our cards made. Plus they hooked up this week with Sketchy Thursdays and are offering a double chance to win. Well that was right up my alley! I also have entered it over at The Paper Variety for their Feb. 23rd "Sew Much Fun" challenge which you can check out here. I used the sketch, created the card and now have three chances to win. And who knows....come December you just might find this card in YOUR mailbox!

The Paper Variety card entry

Here is a little card I worked on today for the challenge over at The Paper Variety this week. The challenge was to use this sketch. I had fun with the interpretation of the sketch and actually took my inspiration from one of the papers in the prize package I am hoping to win. That prize is so tempting to me because Jillibean Soup is one of my FAVORITE companies out right now.

I am also going to use if for the card challenge this month at Scrappin'-n-Chattin' to use five or more solid colored pieces of cardstock.

My First Winners!

Well I have my first winners! Yay! Both winners were drawn randomly. The blog candy of the 12 sheets of Bo Bunny's Noel collection and a Little Yellow Bicycle tote bag from my first blog hop goes to: KIM!!! Congratulations -- your package will go out in Tuesday or Wednesday's mail.

The winner of the mini album is: Kristie!!! Kristie, if you would contact me I will give you your choice of my assortment of mini albums.