A Valentine's Day Card and a Wedding

Being new at blogging, I am finding it difficult to

get good pictures and to figure out the layouts of the posts. I am glad I joined up with One World One Heart so I have the chance to see so many other bloggers and how they are doing with their blogs. There are so many creative people out there - it is so fun!

My vintage wedding card is so cute but it is very difficult to get the colors right - it is made with the new Graphic 45 Romantic line. I love the teal and peach colors.

The Valentine's Card was so fun to make. I found these heart shaped lollipops and thought it would be so much fun to put them on a card to give to a grandchild or your own children. There's nothing like candy for a sweet tooth!!!! (Chocolate is my personal favorite!)

One World One Heart Giveaway

Who doesn't like free stuff? I've teamed up with One World One Heart for a special "Paper from the Heart" giveaway! Here's how it works: Leave a comment on this post with your name and contact information (preferably a valid email address). On February 14th at midnight, a winner will be drawn and soon after your prizes will be sent. It's as simple as that! Below are the two (yes that's right, not 1 but 2) card kits that you could win. There will be 2 winners with 1 kit each. Each kit includes the supplies to make four cute, pre-designed cards (plus color photos of the finished examples). If you are interested in more of my kits or being notified when new kits come out, join my Make at Home Cards club!

Catch up time!!

I have been delinquent! After returning home from a great river cruise through Germany the first week of December, I felt a little panic getting ready for Christmas. This Christmas was special because we were able to have all of our children and spouses home for a week. We planned many fun things including a trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming and thoroughly enjoyed each others company.

On Jan. 4th, my sister-in-law went into the hospital for a stem cell transplant and I made daily trips to the hospital to spend time with her and to keep her walking the halls! She made it through the procedure incredibly well and was out of the hospital 2 1/2 weeks later. She is such a trooper! Since that time I have been going up to West Haven (west of Ogden) to help with her care. She is doing so well and hopefully this will prevent further chemo treatments for multiple myeloma for years. Cancer just seems to be so prevalent. Having had a son go through cancer I was sympathetic to some of the things she has gone through. She is amazing and so strong. She hopes to live at least another 15 years so she can watch her grandchildren grow and hopefully see a few more brought to this earth.

Here are two Valentine cards and a thank you card to start off this New Year. My son, Brandon, is also helping me to start a monthly card kit that will have everything to make 4 different cards including envelopes and pictures of completed cards. All that will be required by the customer will be ink for distressing, adhesive, glue dots and foam dots. What a great way to show your love to others!!! Hopefully the first 4 will be posted in the next day. (I wish I was better at this computer stuff!)

Christmas in Germany

After almost 2 years of waiting, my mom and I are finally on our Christmas Market River Cruise through Germany. We are having a great time!! We are truly 2 Christmas shoppers at heart.

After flying and enduring transfers we finally arrived in Cologne, Germany after 19 hours. We immediately went to our first Christmas market in Cologne. The picture of my mom (in the green jacket) is standing in front of one of the streets with these temporary buildings that are decorated for Christmas. At night (it gets dark at 4:30 pm) everything lights up and all the people come out to enjoy the atmosphere and the food that is available at about 2/3 of the booths. The food for them is probably similar to fair food for us. Every few steps there is a booth with hot liquor and they serve it in ceramic mugs that you pay a deposit on and the deposit gets returned when the mug is returned. They stand around these logs that are stood up on their ends with lights wired in the middle of the logs. It is really interesting. They have all sorts of handicrafts, items from China, and a few booths with Christmas decorations. They have fun Christmas foods and candies and gingerbread is big here. I purchased a number of food items for our Christmas eve feast. Wood carvers are big here and the picture of the man with the carved items in front of him is the actual wood carver that I purchased a beautiful Madonna and child from.

The ship is sailing down the Rhine and will end in Basel, Switzerland. The cruise is about 8 days long and makes stops through Germany, Strausborg, France, and Basel Switzerland. We are interested in seeing if the Christmas markets are any different in France and Switzerland. I am having fun buying gifts for the children and of course a few special items for myself.

I am sorry I haven't posted cards lately, I was so busy getting ready to leave on this trip and with Thanksgiving. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with most of our family (Brandon and Rachel were in Kansas City with her family) and everyone helped with the Christmas decorations on Friday. I wanted to get the majority of them up before I left. I will be home Monday night and I hope to get some more cards up then along with some more pictures of our trip.

Snow is on its way!

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It snowed last night - not much but winter is definitely in the air. This cute penguin was downloaded from the Silhouette group and the cute small bell came from Hobby Lobby. I have been working hard getting ready for the next quarter classes. Here is a sneak peak of one class I am doing in January.

Joyful Greetings

Here is another card I have been thinking about a lot, finally I made it and I feel it turned out really cute. Cardinals seem to be in this Christmas and I particularly liked this paper. The card is plain inside. I am not selling these at the store, so if you would like some please email me and I will let you know the price structure.

I am getting ready to leave for a monthly work meeting and I noticed the weather is starting to change. It has been beautiful for about a week and a half with sun and 65 degree weather. The leaves are absolutely beautiful. I think we are looking at snow later this week - good for my son-in-law who is starting a snow removal business but not so much fun for the rest of us.

This last weekend was busy, we had family from Houston in town to see the BYU modern dance company perform. Of course, the best dancer ever is my niece from Houston and it was great fun watching her perform and I truly think she was the best dancer out there and for a sophomore that is really saying something!!

This weekend we are off to Santa Fe, New Mexico for the BYU football game and we are taking my daughter and her husband with us to visit all the art sites - it is a really strong art hub and my daughter being an artist, it gives her an opportunity to visit.

Well, off to my meeting - have a nice evening.

Vintage Santa

Just wanted to show the latest card that I have done. It is going to the store today for card kits. The inside reads, "Believe in the spirit of the season".