May , 2016--Really???

Yup!  not much of a blogger, but thought, why not surprise everyone with a post!  But where to start is the question-- a year in flash backs--no- you can follow that on FB (if you haven't heard it in person a hundred times.)  It's May--a month that has been filled with beautiful flowers this year (that album is also on FB), Lots of new calves (also on FB), a husband still dealing with an out of rhythmheart-not serious, but hopefully being fixed soon, a friend dealing with chemo and having a rough time of it, --it's been a busy May and spring , for that  matter.  But looking ahead, a short trip to Hermann, Missiouri--  in some ways like Galena, Ill,( but possibly with more wineries!),  the fair with an older Mama (Ava), and her newest sweetheart, Anna, days filled with more scrapbooking (my sanity in an insane world), time spent with friends, more of the job I love  and who knows what else may transpire.    

Wow! It's July! and Fair time is HERE!

I guess It's been since March that I last blogged (I'm not the best blogger, obviously).  A lot has happened and now Fair time has caught up to us (This week, in fact!)  Don't ask if we're ready.  Thank Heaven, Hannah is much more on top of it all than the rest of us and she's the one that has to be ready!
A little catch up--March and April must not have been too interesting--can't remember much about them.  In May we made a little 3 day trip to Dubuque/Galena with my brother and sis-in-law.  That was a lot of fun and a great break.

In June we had to make the decision to send our beloved Lily over the Rainbow bridge.








There is nothing harder!  We had Lily a little over 5-1/2 years.  She appeared in our yard on Easter morning back then, apparently dumped, obviously with a very shady , possibly abused past.  She was scared and had obvious back leg problems--probably from being kicked a lot.  But she was the kindest soul you'd ever want to meet.  We took her in and could not have asked for a better dog.  She hardly left my side.  In her final weeks, she fell more, couldn't hear much, couldn't see much.  But she never waivered from the gentle animal she was.  It was a hard decision--the hardest --but her quality of life was not there anymore and she was failing more daily.  RIP  "Easter"  Lily Anna--we sure do miss you!

 On a lighter side, back to fair things.  The cows and calves were trimmed up this morning.  Ava, our big momma looks so good!  Her big 350 pound calf, Dusty,  is a frisky sort. He did very well with the clipping, however.  He has a lot of red in him from his Grandma (Freckles) who is red.  Kind of fun to see how the traits come down through the family.  His Dad is Black.
and Frosty, Hannah's breeding heifer also cleaned up nicely.

 I have been teaching a lot of classes.  One coming up in August is a bag in a box class--a little bag with matching cards in it--Had a "Flip-Flop themed one in June.  Aug will be bright and summery with citrus fruit and summer beverages.

This is the little bag they all go in.

Also have made some "staff Studio" cards.  These are my most recent.

 and there were several Grandkid Birthday cards along the way.  Paige turned 21 in June and Aden turned 8.  There is a story behind the little girl on Paige's--it reminds me of her Fair days--way back then!

Enough for this time.  Dakota had to stop by and say "Hi".  He spends a lot of time outside these days, when I have time to watch him.

Here's hoping everyone has a fun, crafty summer.  We're off to the Fair for the week!

Happy Saint Pats Day! and Happy Birthday, Mom!

One of my mom's favorite days was St. Pat's Day--maybe that's why one of her favorite colors was Green!  and maybe it was one of her favorite days because it was also her birthday.

My Mom was a special lady in so many ways.  She developed Rheumatoid Arthritis when she was only in her twenties.  She was walking with a cane by her thirties.  Even tho she faced many extensive surgeries in her life due to the devastating effects of the disease, and endured what must have been a tremendous amount of pain always, you would NEVER have known it!  She always had a smile on her face, a positive attitude, a total belief in God, and an optimistic outlook on each and every challenge she faced.   She only lived a very short 66 years, but she died as she lived--Tho her body was gone, her attitude  and smile were not.  I will always remember my mom as being one of the strongest people I have or will ever know.

Happy Birthday, Mom.  Even tho pink was your very favorite color, you also loved St. Pat's Green and I bet you are wearing it today as you celebrate your birthday.  You have been gone almost 26 years, but the lessons you taught us all are still alive and well!  and our love for you remains as strong as ever!   Hugs from Earth!

It's finally Spring!

Spring is definitely in the air---Baby calves, actual "green" spots along the roadways , and Easter bunny projects are happening!

 All seven of our "expected" babies are here and in great shape.  No one had problems this year , despite the cold weather  on their delivery days.  This is Lightning Bug and her little gal.  Another Mother, daughter "clone".  well, except baby has 3 white "boots".  Nothing like a big kiss from Mama.

 Below is my Grand daughter's show Mama and baby for this year--Ava and her little guy, as yet unnamed.

Another (unnamed) baby.

.

 and this is "Roxy"-- the only named one at this point in time.and the little red one is our last one born.  It's just a few hours old in this pic.

 From calves to Bunnies!   Have been busy creating fun Easter things--mostly bunnies!

 The 3 above, I made yesterday while cropping with a friend.  She made one, too.  These are my 3.  They are made of pretty paper ,  Colored Burlap and kraft paper(backing).  They are sewn together after getting a little tissue paper stuffing, the ribbon was colored using distress inks.  Really like how they turned out.

This little cutie was the result of a class I took this last week. She is a paper pieced/ mixed media project on canvas.  She just developed the sweetest personality as I made her!

  

Finally, one last look at our little nursery.  So much fun watching them all romp around in the sunshine!

Hope everyone has a Sunshiney, Crafty Week!

Brrrrrrrr, Just trying to keep warm!!

Now that I have started a new blog, I forget I have it.  Got out of the mode after my last blog-- need to get back into the regular groove of writing on it.  It's been crazy cold here like forever!  Maybe I'm in a brain freeze!
      Been working on several different things--new techniques--new projects--kids projects.

 The snow has given me many "snow days" to just hibernate in my craft room,   My favorite thing to do!

 While the furbabies enjoyed the snow for a few minutes outdoors, or from their favorite chair inside, I worked on several projects.

 This is how Dakota watches his sisters every time they go outside--he runs to his window chair and watches.  I don't have to because as soon as they come up on the deck, he gets down and runs to the door, meowing to let me know they are ready to come in .

 Back to my "projects:"   Below is the valentine card I made for my husband.  I embossed silver cardstock for the front.  The love is a IO die.

 But my most favorite new technique is used on the cards below.  It is Bokeh--or "blurring" in Japanese.  It originated in photography and now is a card making technique.

 These are my first three attempts and I love the results!  I used some of my butterflys on them and decorated them with sequins.

 The technique is easy--Ink your background in 2-3 co-ordinating colors.  Make a stencil using punches, dies, your cricut of different size circles.  Using this stencil, ink WHITE circles over the top of your inked base, overlapping different size circles, making some brighter (whiter) than others until your top is covered.  Love this look!

 There are many ways to use Bokeh, and many ways to do it.  That is my challenge this week.

 Have also been making little flowers for cards.  The tiny roses on top are a sizzix die and the pink and yellow ones are Heartfelt Creation roses.   Some are made of vellum, some of white cardstock and inked.  I will be doing a Heartfelt Creation Card Class in a month or so at the store.

 I've also been working on a friend's daughters graduation card box.  Not finished yet, but geting there.

And last, my kids class for March!  A mixed media canvas, kid style!  Kids love the die-cuts and layering and lots of color.  Should be a fun project for them.

 So that's been  my life in a nutshell the past few weeks.   Have many projects on the table in various degrees of completion or design.
              Here's to a crafty weekend.  Yes, we have MORE  snow coming Sunday and next Tuesday and-------------------  I see several more "snow days" in my immediate future.  Stay warm and Craft on!

So Far, So good--Maybe I'll continue.

Okay, the first post worked, but then things don't usually go bad until we are down the road some.  Today I will share the Other half of my passions--Crafting--actually anything using any sort of Scrapbook "stuff".  From making cards to stamping and embossing (a real love of mine) to using Mixed medium supplies to create to --yes--actual scrapbooking a scrapbook--I love it all.  And since I'm Retired from my day job (three years, now from Nursing), I have a chance to do it all full time.  Oh, did I say I work at a Scrapbook store--one that constantly, daily supplies us with all the newest, greatest supplies ever!!!  I also teach classes there--all the kids classes, a new stamping 101 class, the cricut Expression and Expression 2 classes and occasionally a card class. Retirement isn't what it use to be back in our parents time!  But it's a lot more Fun!

Above are some of the recent cards I have made.  Almost didn't get these on here--the computer (my main one) apparently has a virus and wouldn't let me download pictures to the blog--Ugggg!  It is the computer with the big anti virus program on it!  This is my back-up computer which was so slow, I quit using it 2-3 years ago.  Have a new internet system now and it seems to be working okay right now.  We'll see.  This is my favorite computer, so I hope it is "fixed".  Maybe just needed a 3 year rest!
      At any rate these are recent cards.  I have published them on several card sites I follow, so if you've seen them, I'm sorry.

The snowmen were some of my "winter" projects.  The top is a wooden board done up as a snowman and the three snowmen are on a canvas, and was a class I took.  We have the most amazing instructors at our scrapbook store--no wonder we have so much fun!  And the bottom one is a bit of spring time!  This is the canvas we will make in our March kids class at the store.  It is 3-D and involves modge podge and diecuts!